Split (1)

train · 27.1k rows

prompt stringlengths 451 16.4k	completion stringlengths 47 11.1k
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai As Aegis team disembarked the phantom, they were met immediately with hostile ground fire. The roof of the structure they had been dropped on was large and mostly flat, with little cover for either side, save for some weapon crates that had been dropped where they were when the attack started. There were ten or so armed rebels surrounding a ramp leading down into the interior of the structure, as well as a group of four Brutes that were closer to the edge of the roof on the north side. The rebels were fighting defensively, seemingly to guard the entrance, though the Brutes had started to rush at Aegis team to get in melee range before the first of them had even touched the ground. When the rockets came in, it was from another squad of rebels that had emerged up the ramp at the center of the structure. They were carrying rockets, fuel rod cannons, and other high explosives, and had likely been sent up as a response to the attack in general. However, they had eneded up in the right place at the right time to deal with Tar's phantom. There was little chance for meaningful evasion before two rockets struck one of her engines directly. The heavy weapons might have been meant for anti-vehicle roles, but they would still be a massive threat to the members of Aegis.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas had followed Aviza and Vael from their incident at the turret they knocked out to the rendezvous point, but once the fleet had appeared, the need for stealth was a lesser concern and he turned one of his two SMGs on a nearby patrol of URF soldiers and fired, putting them down before they could register what was happening. With everything happening and the swarm of phantoms descended on the base, he had no clue of knowing which one was heading to pick up the rest of the team as the group of three moved towards the roof. Another pair of URF troopers tried to move up behind them, unaware of the cloaked figures, who were extra hidden by the sandstorm. Swapping from his SMG to the DMR, two head shots dropped the pair where they stood. "Won't lie, not having to worry about shielding around the head is a nice change of pace." Another pair of shots dropped two more URF soldiers, their bodies hitting the ground and disappearing in the storm. As they neared the top, the sight of Jiralhanae and a heavy URF squad getting ready to attack the rest of the team drove the SPARTAN IV to action. Storing his DMR on his back as he dashed past Aviza and Vael, his twin energy daggers coming free as he rammed his shoulder into the first Brute he reached. "Grikgar, hit those heavies with plasma!" The Brute wasn't expecting an invisible SPARTAN, who suddenly became visible upon impact, to ram into him and went sprawling with the SPARTAN IV leaping on top of him and ramming one dagger into his neck and the other into his forehead. Ryker didn't even wait for the overgrown ape to stop moving before the twin blades came free and he leapt off to slide across the roof into the legs of another Brute, knocking him over and into the legs of a third. However, Lucas knew he was gambling being away from the others like this, but he was confident enough in his CQC skills to stay safe until the numbers were thinned out.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Court yard LZ The fire fight was going well for what the Unggoy was used to. Having the support of Spartans and Sangheili was a sight to behold but one he would have to dwell on later. A bright color of covenant shielding caught his eye for a moment. A couple humans were using shields normally for Kig-Yar, obviously the brutes had some stashed away and had given them to them. The Oni humans could use those and so could he if he was able to grab a couple. Another plasma grenade toward them knocked out the shields, indicating the user was dead. Another Spartan called out for ordinance while the enemy heavy weapons team reloaded. The rocket would be a problem for all of them especially the bigger targets like Tasuma. Using the cover of the sand storm Grik rushed to cover facing the advancing opponents. His energy shield flared for a moment with a few plasma bolts hitting him as he moved. Getting to cover the Unggoy hit the wall and immediately pulled the Sentinel power source from his belt. Sticking a plasma grenade to it and throwing it at the cover they were using. Honestly Grik gar wasn't sure what would happen, he had only seen it happen once by accident. An explosion set the last one off. A barrel exploded and detonated it at the dismay of the Huragok that had repaired the two power sources. The resulting secondary explosion created a singularity for about 3 seconds that pulled everything toward it then violently expelled what was pulled in. it also seemed to rile up the sentinels that where left in the area as well. If it didn't work and all it did was just the plasma grenade Grik was ready to follow it up with the fuel rod gun. "Tasuma." Grikgar called out over his comm, "major enemy cluster bearing 200 Degrees from insertion point. Enemy has heavy weapons watch yourself." He was waiting for the explosion to go off before he would proceeded with the assault.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak --- As soon as the rockets hit, warning lights erupted across the width of the pilot interface console. Urgent alarm sounds blasted in Tar's ears as she wrestled with the controls to bring the Phantom level again. "We've lost drive number one, and I'm getting a lot of vibration in number two!" Vol shouted over the din. Tar felt her stomach lurching as the Phantom span around in the air, heading for the side of the tall Forerunner structure. "Get me more power from somewhere, now!" Tar ordered, pulling the steering as far to the right as she could. "My console isn't responding. Power capped at 40%!" Vol reported through gritted mandibles. The Phantom crashed against the side of the Forerunner tower and scraped along it, sparks skittering off the top of the hull. The alloy sides screeched and buckled until suddenly they were free of the tower and spinning again. Tar could see hostiles running to get out of the way as the Phantom gradually lost altitude; they couldn't stay level on just two engines. "I have this now. Brace for impact!" Tar shouted, doing her best to hold it upright as the Phantom span toward a flat area packed high with crates. The drop ship's aft section hit the deck first, sending up another shower of sparks and ship fragments. The front soon followed, with the forward plasma cannon snapping off and cartwheeling to one side. Still slowly spinning, the Phantom's bow ploughed into piles of crates, sending them flying. With the controls now useless, Tar put her arms over her head and crunched up into a ball in her seat. It was a good thing she did, because hidden behind the stacks of cargo containers was a much more solid object. A row of Forerunner columns, sticking from the base plate. The Phantom hit the columns at speed, its rear end jumping up in the air. Everything in the cockpit seemed to come loose and fly about. Something solid whacked Tar in the stomach, forcing all the air from her lungs. As her arms instinctively flinched to her chest, another piece of metal flew from the console and smashed into her face and everything went black.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- For the somewhat improvised explosive that Grikgar had thrown, the effects did not entirely go to plan. Though, it was still far from a failure. Normally, a plasma grenade would detonate a few seconds after coming to rest, which could make them easy to evade for those not stuck by them. However, the excess plasma from the active grenade melted through the power source's casing in-flight and detonated it before it even touched the ground. The resulting airburst sent superheated plasma burning through the center of the rebel heavy weapons squad, either killing or incapacitating three of their number. There was at least one rebel with a fuel rod gun remaining, but Vael was in position to see him as he tried to scramble to his feet and take aim with the large, unwieldy weapon. Vael had gone most of the way up the ramp, but stopped at the top. He peered just over the top across the roof, then drew his carbine and braced it on the roof in front of him. His position was off to the rebels' right flank, so he had clear lines of sight on many of their foes. The first shot he fired to reveal his location went straight through the center mass of the Human with the last heavy weapon. For most of the remainder of Aegis team, there was little cover and a lot of pressure from the rebels they were charging into. Many of them would find their shields steadily draining from hits they were taking. However, there was also little cover for the rebels as well, and they did not have shields nor sufficient armor to protect them. A few had taken to using Kig-Yar point defense gauntlets, presumably that the Brutes had been willing to trade to them, but most lacked suck protection. From his position on their flank, Vael focused fire on the Humans with the shield gauntlets first, as they could not protect against both his angle and the rest of the team at the same time. Vael had seen the phantom go down on the far side of the roof, and it did seem like there were some hostiles emerging from another entrance that were moving to secure the crash. However, Vael could not afford to divide his attention from the battle in front of him.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu's actions right out of the drop ship was a tacit blend with the ONI human operatives suppressing the emerging enemy. "We're flanked!" He announced by habit, not that anyone failed to realise the situation. Chaos ensued with explosions, gunfire and plasma bolts. The phantom was hit overhead. He was a second away from believing themselves overwhelmed before the infiltrators and Grikgar's improvised explosive gave half a second of respite. They needed to relocate. Yalu sent a few rounds into the brutes tangled up with Lucas, took a few hits to the shield from the gauntleted humans to the other side, and then he knew he needed to punch a hole for the team. "I'll have them scattered!" He said, taking out the bulky concussion rifle from his back. "Those pilots can be recovered!" Green bolts of plasma jolted out and blasted the base of the humans' shield gauntlets with superheated explosions while Yalu advanced on them, step by step. He had to rout them before the crash site was cleared out.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Ben-E218 (Still alive! Getting back to RPs on this site. Long story, as is much of 2020. No, I'm not dead, sick, homeless, bankrupt, or in danger of any of those things.) Ben-E218 True to form, Ben had kept himself hidden from the fray, disappearing from sight but not from mind. His impact on the battle so far was minimal, apart from a few sniper shots to grease the wheels, taking out a rebel gunner here, a sentry there, and so on. Part of his success was measured in not being noticed by his adversaries or his allies. This was useful in the event one of his team went rampant and needed to be put down for the sake of everyone else. It also gave him, ONI, and the UNSC in general a case of plausible deniability in the event someone was killed by "a sniper" or "an unknown assailant." Even so, the SPARTAN-III at least attempted to stick to the plan, notwithstanding his greater directives to shoot traitors, deserters, and the rampant. So far, he hadn't seen any of his teammates qualify as any of those undesirables, but he knew that he could be missing something; even a highly decorated member of a company which legally didn't exist had his limits. He wasn't the only one. "Phong, status report. I need an estimate of how many rebels are left." "Insufficient data. Please re-enter query." "Fine. Set markers for Aviza, Vael, and Grikgar. Do you have any status updates for any of them?" "Based on the telemetry stream, Aviza has just withstood an injury from a banshee attack. You may want to head over to her first. Vael is on his way there too." Without another word, Ben sprinted over in the direction indicated by two of the three markers. "And Grikgar?" "Don't worry about him yet. What readings I have been able to pull show that he's alive and isn't exhausted yet. Unggoy stamina isn't a match for those of other sapient species, so it may be an issue if this battle keeps going on much longer. I would advise that you assist Aviza before any of the others. Oh, and mind that Jiralhanae." Sure enough, one of the members of the pack whose leader Aviza had killed charged at Ben, brandishing a brute shot. One quick sniper shot to the face made quick work of him. He made it to Aviza's side a few seconds after Vael did.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak --- Tar's view was obscured by the large crate in front of her, so she didn't see the Brute captain get hit. But when the relentless force against her from the Brute Shot abated, Tar dropped her cover, pulled her pistol from her mandibles and pointed it where her aggressor had been. She discovered the Brute was missing his head and some of his shoulders. He fell to his knees and then onto his side. Tar growled; part of her had wanted the captain alive so she could question him about her father. The ships were being destroyed above them, and she couldn't shake the feeling that important clues were being destroyed with them. Nevertheless, she appreciated the assist - wherever that had come from... Tar pivoted and saw the last of the rebels running down a ramp into the belly of the Forerunner structure. She fired her pistol at them until the bullets ran out and then moved to kneel by another dead rebel. Keeping her eyes up to scan the battlefield, Tar pulled two magazines from the female's tactical vest. She deftly reloaded with one of them, checking the new rounds were chambered correctly before standing. She held the second mag against the pistol grip, comfortably secured by her long Sangheili fingers. Before her eyes, a fast moving object slammed into the ground ahead of her, throwing up a cloud of dust. Tar cautiously moved forward with her pistol out and slightly tilted in front of her. Gradually, the dust settled and Tar saw another Spartan in grey and silver armour on the floor. She knelt beside the downed Spartan and lifted their forearm off the floor as a few more presumed members of Aegis team gathered around. "Can you hear me? Are you operational?" Tar shouted over the sound of gunfire, peering into the soldier's individual eye holes and gently shaking their arm.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker The sound of the golden armored brute's head and shoulder's turning into meat sauce was enough of a distraction for Ryker to swing around the arm of the Brute he was battling with in the aftermath of the grenade going off and deliver an energy dagger armed thrust through his ribs into his heart, the energy weapon deactivating on his wrist as the beast slumped over and died. "Good shot, Fire Team Lead. Moving to-" The sound of an exploding fuel rod shot drew the SPARTAN IV's attention to a tower with a decent line of sight over the battle field. Oh hell no. Not the- His thoughts were almost immediately interrupted by the sound of a heavily armored form impacting near himself and the Sangheili that had come out of the dropship. He was moving on instinct and habit, moving quickly and gently moving aside the Sangheili. While they were all in the Mjolnir MK4 armor, which meant that fall wouldn't be lethal, she would still be in a LOT of pain and he had experience dealing with this. "Alright, Fire Team Lead, I'm removing your helmet to check for head injuries. For the love of god, don't punch or shoot me please."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern After the banshees fuel rod cannon had founds its mark, all that followed until the point of Aviza making impact near the crashed Phantom had been little more than a blur to her. The world still spun around Aivza while her vision slowly returned, the gray haze fading away, reveling that she was now looking up at the artificial night sky above. The HUD within the helmet of her GEN2 Argus-class Mjolnir Powered Assault Armor had somehow remained fully functional, even after impact. The Cyan overlay showed that she had flown quite a distance from the tower she had been set up upon, and that Shih was thankfully unharmed. Aviza let out a sigh of relief at that, if something had happened to Shih, neither the UNSC or ONI would take kindly to it. That was the good news at least, her suits systems informed her that the blast from the fuel rod cannon and the impact, had inflicted a number of injuries upon her, none were apparently life threatening. [Left Arm Sprain - Left Arm Fracture In Shaft of Humorous - Bruising In Left Rib Cage - Bleeding From Head - Ultramoprh Administered For Pain] Aviza decided that she was lucky enough to still be in one piece after being hit, or at least assuming she had been hit from a Fuel Rod Cannon blast. The one injurie that concerned her the most was the fracture in the left arm, though with her advanced medical kit and some free time she would be able to mend that. Putting some weight upon her right arm, she pushed herself up into a sitting position, feeling the numbness from the ultramoprh taking effect very quickly. Her HUD informed her that friendly forces were converging upon her position, she was thankful for that, and managed to greet them with a slight wave of her right hand. Vael was the first to arrive, with the rest of her squad, and the new comer who promptly reached for her injured arm and began gently shaking it. At the same time, Spartan Ryker removed Aviza's helmet, the cool night air felt refreshing upon her exposed skin. Though the feeling of warm blood running down her face and matting some of her short black hair to her head pulled her away, and back to the matter at hand. "Please stop shaking my injured arm before you cause more damage, yes I can hear you and yes I am fully operational. I am hyped up on enough drugs to melee a hunter in close quarters combat." Aviza smiled at that last comment, feeling a bit high from the drugs in her system.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu let out a low roar as the last two plasma bolts shot from his concussion rifle. The rest of the team picked up where his magazine left off, scattering and killing the rebel humans to allow their advance. Yalu stayed put to let the others peel ahead so his shields could recharge. He paced forward down the ramp and dashed behind a crate. He couldn't quite listen to all of the fight. There were a number of blue and yellow explosions that chained off somewhere around the crate he was crouched behind. He quickly ejected the spent magazine cell from his weapon, replaced it, and stood, weapon level. The enemy had withdrawn, more or less. The spartan leader was on the ground, being seen to. Yalu spared a glance to the sangheili pilot while he scanned the area through his helmet optics. "There was another pilot..." He breathed in and trailed off. He could see from the look in the living pilot's eye that he did not need to ask. Instead, he briefly flicked off his comms to mumble something in his home dialect. Switching weapons, Yalu turned to cover the team's rear. He spoke up in the next gap in conversation. "We have a few points of ingress. Awaiting orders, commander."</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak --- Tar growled and let go of the grey Spartan's arm. She felt slightly embarrassed for having not realised she may have been hurting the Human. She quickly rose to her feet and looked at the older, shorter Sangheili in red armour who was apparently addressing her. He was asking her if she wanted to fight with them. Tar briefly took in the aerial battle raging around the perimeter of the installation, with an asymmetric space battle wrapping up above, and made her choice. "I can fight. Tar 'Mdalak, Special Operations. Reporting for duty." Tar pushed past the Elite in red armour and took a knee on the edge of the group, facing the ramp into the heart of the installation. She half raised her pistol and quickly scanned for any signs of lingering combatants. "We should get inside. We're too exposed out here." Tar recommended. She remembered from the half briefing she'd received on the mission that they were after a high-value target. Inside the structure was almost certainly where they'd be hiding.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern "I only have minor injuries from the blast and the following fall, give me a moment to tend to my head trauma and we can move out towards our objective." said Aviza as she reached for the advanced medical kit upon her left hip. Once she had it within her grip, it was gently placed upon the ground and then opened. A soft hiss followed, informing her that everything within was sterile and ready to be used. Aviza sorted through its contents, finding what she needed for the bleeding from her head, some soft cloth with a coagulation agent upon it. Once pressed upon her head, the cloth felt oddly cool, soothing, even comforting, and was quickly absorbing the blood from the cuts upon her scalp and face. To some, seeing a Spartan hold a thick white cloth upon her face and head would appear comical, but the piece of medical equipment was doing what it was deigned for. "Give me a few more seconds with this." said Aviza, though her voice was muffled due to the cloth. After another short moment, Aviza would lower the cloth from her head and face before tossing it over her left shoulder. The medical kit was sealed once more, and reattached to her left hip before Aviza carefully moved to her feet. "That should hold for a few hours before I need to actually tend to my injuries." Aviza stumbled for a moment, catching herself upon Spartan Rykers left shoulder with her right hand. "I'm fine, just getting my bearings once more." Aviza smirked at her fellow squadmate before putting on her helmet once more, and quickly moving down the ramp and into the complex with her MA5D assault rifle at the ready. "Moving into the complex, stay with me and watch your corners. We are to take the rebel leader alive, so do not use any lethals." Aviza expected her squad to by her side within an instant and ready for whatever came next.</s> <\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben-E218 "She has a point. I recommend you head inside." The battle had entered something of a momentary lull, but it could end at any second. If the group was to move anywhere, this was their window of opportunity. "Alright. I'm going in. I'm going to need a close-range weapon. My ammo is out on all weapons except for my sniper rifle. Does anyone have a shotgun they don't need?" He spoke with his speakers on, so he could be heard by the others, not just by Phong. "To respond to your earlier queries, Grikgar is still alive as far as my data stream can tell. As for Aviza, if she can't fight, leave her. In fact, I recommend leaving her a grenade so she can take some enemies with her if she can't-" "Thank you, that will be all; she's up. Sorry, I had to deal with Phong. He's very chatty for a Dumb AI. And no lethal methods. Got it. Just watch your head, please. Don't want to end up like Kat-B320." Given his special role, Ben wasn't particularly fond of keeping his targets alive, but he understood the necessity of it in this case. "Do you want to hear the odds on her survival? They're not very g-" Ben muted Phong once again. It just occurred to him that the AI was able to unmute himself, as Phong had spoken at least once after being silenced without him turning the sound back on. He made a mental note to keep an eye on his AI, who seemed to be evolving into a higher class of AI somehow, or had been a higher class to begin with and was only posing as dumb.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker As Aviza moved to take care of her own injuries, Lucas remained relatively close even as he swept the perimeter with his DMR. In his experience, even when it seemed like things were finally finished, that was when they could go the most wrong with an unexpected cloaked enemy or two appearing form seemingly nowhere. If the SPARTAN IV was honest, he still had nightmares about that night, but it was neither here nor there for the mission, and he doubted they'd get ambushed up here. All the same, until he heard Aviza's helmet reseal, he remained vigilant, though her catching herself on his left shoulder almost knocked him off balance as he wasn't expecting it. When she gave the order to move in, Ryker was right behind her, though when Ben asked if anyone could spare a weapon as he swapped for his SMG, he tossed the SPARTAN III one, along with three spare clips. "I'm running pretty low myself, so make 'em last." In hindsight, it probably would have been prudent to call for a resupply pod from their allies in the skies before moving in, but they had already entered the building, so it was a moot point now. Once they were in the first room through the first doorway from the ramp, Lucas would sweep right, his SMG up and on a swivel. "Be ready to flip to alternative visual modes. The rebels may cut the power to the structure to try and make it harder for us to see what we're doing." He himself had never fought the URF specifically before the war with the Covenant had started, but when he started training as a SPARTAN IV, they had covered the tactics of all the enemies that Humanity had made over the years, from the URF to the Covenant to the Covenant Remnants that the Swords of Sanghelios were still trying to wipe out or force to surrender, so he could make a safe educated guess as to the tactics they'd run into here. "We should keep an eye out for an armory too. I imagine a number of us could use a resupply and we need more weapons better suited to this kind of close-quarters fighting."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Shih --- The Spartan Aviza was still able to move and speak, so Vael gave no argument to her ability to fight. Speed was of the essence now, so there was no time to question leadership. Regardless, as a warrior who fought best within the reach of his blade, Vael was one of those at the front of the team. He had not burned through as much of his ammunition as some of the others, but he still moved his carbine to his back and drew his plasma rifle in its stead. He held his plasma rifle in his left hand, and an energy sword in his right. He did not activate the blade right away, but he did hold the hilt tightly in-hand. Another of the Spartans, Rex, also moved close alongside him. As evidenced by the shotgun he wielded, he too preferred to fight close to the enemy. The team had moved down quickly through the entry hallway of the Forerunner structure, down the ramps to lower floors. In the first, small chamber they entered, they did encounter rebels trying frantically to set up barricades, though they had already started retreating just on the footsteps of Aegis' approach alone. They fled out the door on the far side off the room without so much as returning fire. Evidently, Aegis had move too quickly for them to fortify themselves, and the rebels had no intention of fighting an even fight. Before they started to move once more, Shih spoke up to the team as a whole. "These readings I'm getting, now that we're here, show these tunnels going even deeper than I thought. They connect to deeper tunnels in the installation at about a dozen different points. Unless we want to rely on a lot of luck, we need to figure out which way the leader is fleeing. I've already been working on decrypting and analyzing the comms I'm intercepting. I know their leader is fleeing, so we should be clear to shoot any resistance for now. If we can get to one of their computers, we might be able to figure out what route to take. These rebels' security is better than I would have thought, but…either myself or Petty Officer Younan should be able to break in. " On each of the team members' HUDs, nav points appeared for two separate rooms farther down beneath them. "The path ahead branches off two ways, to two large chambers farther down. From the comms I've intercepted, one of them is their armory, and the other they're using for food storage. I don't know which is which. Their command center is adjacent to the armory. That would be the best place to go to find the information we need." "If their coward of a leader already flees, then we do not have much time. I doubt we will be able to check both paths if we move as one." Vael remarked.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Listening to Shih speak as they walked, Ryker couldn't help but frown slightly behind his visor. So then I had made a solid suggestion about splitting up back there before the big firefight. Ah, hindsight's 20-20 as they say. He kept walking regardless of his thoughts and listened, tapping his helmet when the nav points popped up for a bit of an 'echo' on the hallway ahead, a nifty function he'd tinkered with after he realized he likely wouldn't even get a dumb AI to help him. "So what I'm getting is one way or another, we're going to have to split up here, because if we don't know which is which, we can't risk moving as the full unit if we're going to secure the HVT and any potential intel besides." Standing on the path going to the left, Lucas stands ready to continue. "I'll go with this group, whoever that comprises of. I think one CQC specialist per group would be a good idea."</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu looked at Tar M'dalak as she walked by. He wished he knew why a special forces sangheili was a wraith pilot, but one look at the rest of the team made his questions absurd, even to himself. He looked away feeling even more like the odd one out. With others covering the entrances for now, Yalu took some initiative to arm himself for the corridors ahead. Amongst the gore of the dead brutes, he pulled out a surviving red plasma rifle with plenty of its battery remaining. He did not enjoy using their spiker rifles, and the rebel human weapons were less predictable in draining shields. His carbine went on his back beside his concussion rifle. Heavy, but out of the way. "I will go where I am ordered," Yalu added, gently enough to remind Ryker of who was calling the shots.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The situation had to be taken in quickly. Yalu shot off a burst of plasma rifle fire before takingcover behind one of the wide pillars. He was grateful for the outlines that came onto his HUD from Aviza. He was too distracted by the brute chieftain's idea of encouragement. Humans weren't as weak-willed as grunts, and he might use that to their advantage. In sync with 'Mdalak's movements between cover, Yalu peeked out to send plasma over the enemy barricades. He could not keep them all down -- he heard a few pink needles shatter against the pillar as he turned back behind to let his plasma rifle cool. How to approach this... Turn. Fire. Take cover. They won't let up until that chieftain was dead. Turn. Fire...One of the humans shrieked. He must have grazed them through the fire in the middle of the room. Aviza's movements caught his eye. Yalu was not too late to notice her weak moment. "Commander, I'll watch the flank," he said, knowing from prior practice how to prompt what he noticed without threatening his leader's honour. He stepped around her to occupy the other side of the pillar. "These humans, will they live if they surrender? We may only be fighting the brutes if so."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai The initial exchange of fire between Aviza's team and the defenders in front of them did leave some casualties on the side of the rebels. One of the Brutes that attempted to flank was taken down by Aviza, and there were a few Humans among the rebels who took hits that would, at the very least, incapacitate them. In a neutral exchange of gunfire, Aviza's team had the firm edge, as most of them were shielded. They could recover after a few seconds of sitting in cover, while the rebels could be taken down by a single shot. Though, the Brutes were more resilient. As long as their powered armor was not destroyed, their shields could regenerate. The rebels had not yet taken heavy casualties, yet they were still quick to begin retreating. They started to fall back from their fortifications in the middle and instead took cover behind the crates on the far side of the room. Even more strangely, the Brutes were willing to retreat. After the loss of just one of their own, they were falling back to the far side of the room as well, chieftain included. Despite the shouting they had heard as they arrived and the fact that he wielded a gravity hammer, he was not charging in nor taking risks. He just kept to cover and made sure his shields did not fall. Shih, meanwhile, spoke to Aviza directly. "I'm monitoring your vitals now. You might have a concussion, but your armor is already administering treatment. Just try not to take any more hits." --- Vael 'Virisusai Between the grenades and a magazine of fuel rods, the two mounted machine guns certainly stopped returning fire, along with all of the other Humans defending their position. Although, between the smoke and bursts of fuel rod explosions, it was also difficult to see how many had been killed in the blasts. Despite the gap in return fire, Tasuma still moved towards cover behind the nearest pillar. The shield on its arm was nigh impenetrable to anything the rebels could throw at it, but the rest of its armor was not quite as durable. Small arms would bounce off of the plating, but the heavy machine guns were another matter. Its armor was dented and damaged in some places, and pierced in a few. Thick, orange blood dripped from a few holes, though the Mgalekgolo as a whole did not yet seem meaningfully affected. On the upper walkway, Ryker would not find himself uncontested. Being that it was such an obvious path for any attackers to take, the rebels had prepared to defend it. It was a long, straight walkway with almost nothing in terms of cover, and on the far end was another set of barricades the rebels had deployed, at least three defenders, and a third mounted heavy machine gun. Ryker might have approached with active camouflage but the rebels were alert and only had a narrow path they were tasked with watching. The gunner still noticed the distinctive shimmer in the air surrounding Ryker and opened fire immediately, along with the other two beside her with their assault rifles. Perhaps their only mistake was opening fire too early, while Ryker was still close enough to the ramp to not be fully committed to the position. Vael had spent the break of the fight behind cover, allowing his shields to recharge. Though, as explosives rained down upon the enemy position, he shouted through their comms. "Do not be indiscriminate with explosives! If any of those crates contain explosives themselves, you may kill us as well as them." Vael ordered. He peered out of cover to try and get a look at the enemy, though the smoke was already thick in the air by that point. It obscured what his eyes could see, though his motion tracker still showed plenty of movement ahead of them. "The smoke shall be our ally. These Humans will fall easily if we close the distance. Grikgar, help Spartan Ryker claim the high ground, everyone else…" As Vael spoke, two objects flew out of the smoke towards them, one after another. Frag grenades, which would certainly land nearby. At that point, Vael easily understood what the Humans' plan had been. The defenders could have held close to try and deny them the support struts they had been using as cover, but normal Humans performed poorly against Spartan and Sangheili alike in close quarters. Instead, they had taken positions nearer to the far side of the room, taking advantage of long sight lines and heavy guns to suppress them into cover, at which point they would have used grenades to either kill them, or flush them out into machine gun fire. But, the quick actions of Vael's allies had foiled that plan. Now, if their heavy guns were even still in one piece, the air was too thick with smoke to return fire effectively. The incoming grenades were little more than a signal for Vael to push forward. "Attack!" Vael shouted, sprinting forward out of the range of the grenades and into the smoke. He had his plasma rifle in-hand and ready, though in such close quarters, it was his secondary weapon. As soon as he saw a Human silhouette in front of him, pushing himself up to his feet amid damaged and broken crates, Vael activated his energy sword and diagonally bisected the rebel's torso in one swift motion. The smoke around him now glowed blue, illuminated by the plasma. Bullets cut through the air towards him, though they were far from accurate, and his shields could stand up much longer to small arms than mounted machine guns. Vael flicked off his sword to hide its glow and moved swiftly, using pulsing bursts of orange light through the smoke from the rebels' muzzle flash to hone in on their positions.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker As the mounted machinegun opened fire towards Ryker, he was already diving with a startled curse. If he was honest, as he rolled part way down the ramp, the SPARTAN IV had hoped that the rebels wouldn't have bothered setting up any kind of defense on the walk way since they had seemed confident they'd control the doorway. Turning off the active camouflage system, he tucks into the wall of the ramp and swaps the SMG for his DMR before, risking a quick peak at the far end before ducking after a couple of the larger caliber rounds rebounded off his shielding. Hearing that Grikgar was on his way, however, gave the Spartan an idea and he waited for the Grunt to arrive. The little guy has a fuel rod launcher and lots of explosives. I'm a decent shot and brought a few frag grenades. The problem is obscuring smoke wouldn't do us any good up here...but a series of progressive explosions could force the men behind that barricade in to cover long enough for me to rush them.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak --- From her position behind the crates, Tar had a slightly better view of the elevated platforms above them. She couldn't see any hostiles peeking out just yet. "I can't see anyone on the platforms; will keep an eye out." Tar reported, just as the box she was hiding behind began shuddering from a hail of bullets. Cover was particularly poor this close to the near pillars; Tar needed to get into the grid of crates to stand a chance. She noticed her left leg was starting to hurt; blood trickled slowly from a gap in her armour plating. Could that bullet she'd felt while holding up her Brute cover outside have gone through, rather than grazed her? She wasn't sure. Tar probed the gap with one of her fingers, mandibles clamped together. She couldn't find an entry wound. She'd need to leave it be for now and look once the fighting had stopped. Tar peeked out from behind the crate she hid behind. A couple of Brutes and Humans had been dealt with, and part of the room was on fire. She could see shapes flitting between the stacks of crates toward the back of the room. It looks like they'd abandoned their previous position. "Our foe runs! We should press the attack." Tar called, shooting between crates at two Humans as they scrambled for cover. One of them fell over. Tar had never actually killed Humans before now. There'd been no need to; her time with the Silent Shadow remnants had been exclusively focused on killing Brutes. She found these Human warriors to be quite disappointing so far. She'd simmed against ODSTs and other Human elements in Paxopolis, but that'd been in a carefully controlled environment. This was real. "Moving!" Tar announced, mostly out of necessity. The crate she'd hidden behind had practically fallen apart. She got up and stepped into a 'corridor' between two rows of crates leading to the other side of the room. She spotted a Human with a SAW at the opposite end of the corridor just as they opened fire. Tar only made it forward one row before ducking back behind another stack of boxes. "I'm pinned, how is my right side looking?" Tar asked, partly to herself as she peeked around the other side of the box and partly to Aegis team, who would have a more holistic view.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko "They're giving ground already?" Yalu asked himself. "That chieftain was clear, but..." His eyes dilated in realisation. Shortly before Tar was fired upon by the human with the assault weapon, Yalu was already loping into a broad sprint down the right flank, sliding to a stop facing to one side. The human gunner flowed into his sights and five plasma rounds shot towards his centre. "'Mdalak! Right side clear!" He hesitated, not yet seeing any sign of a jammer, let alone any extra movement on his motion sensor yet. "This feels like a lure!" He added over a growl. Yalu kept his wits, trying to listen and feel more than see. Brutes liked activate camouflage in packs, and this valley between the walkways was perfect for their prey.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Good, clear from above, Yalu thought towards the dead brute that tumbled off the walkway above him. That was one way to signal that the high ground was taken. Yalu reloaded his carbine. He was at his second-to-last magazine now. Unfortunately, just as his shields found a moment to hum back to full strength, the telltale stomps of the brute chieftain heralded the charge against Rex. The spartan was struck deep into the chest. Yalu was in no position to do anything about it. He fell into hesitation, even as the invincibility module faded away. If it weren't for the ONI agents keeping the enemies suppressed, their flank might have been completely done in. But he shook it off. He filled his lungs and charged. "Rrrraaaaaaah!" Yalu's warcry steeled his nerves as much as it was meant to catch the chieftain's attention. Any one ally would be in danger brawling against a brute with a hammer, but two against one tipped the scales. He fired scattered carbine rounds against the chieftain's shield on the way in. He feigned suicidal rage. However, he kept his footwork ready to void aside or back from a hammer swing in retribution. He did not intend to fight like a mad animal.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Tasuma --- The detonation of Tasuma's fuel rod blast was the signal for Vael as well. While Ryker and Grikgar fired from above on the right flank, Vael moved in on the left flank. He initially moved in under the cover of active camouflage. The imperfect invisibility could be spotted at such close range, but in this case, he only needed it to give him a few moments to approach while his enemy was otherwise occupied. For Vael, he was able to rush in to close the gap on the left pillar while the rebels were hiding from Tasuma's fuel rod. By the time one of them peered out and spotted the shimmering in the air, he was already upon them. His blade ignited mid-swing, and the body of the Human he was looming over put up no resistance as it cleaved through. The second rebel behind the pillar did manage to land a few SMG rounds on Vael in the second or two he had to react, but it was far from enough to break the Sangheili's shields before his body too was pierced by the energy sword. Ryker was correct that the remainder of the rebels were trying to move into the hall. They no longer had much of a defensive position, and those that were left were willing to retreat. The volume of plasma bolts from Grik, couples with accurate DMR fire from Ryker, put on them a great deal of pressure. Three made a run for the door while firing blindly back at the pair, and two went down before they could make it into the hall. For the few that remained pinned behind the right pillar, another fuel rod from Tasuma landed directly beside them. When there were no more left to retreat, the rebels closed and locked down the door to the hallway. It would only delay their team for a short time if they decided to pursue, but it would let the rebels put some distance between them. However, Vael had other priorities than ordering a chase. As soon as the room was cleared, he ran back to the center to the nearest crate. Their objective had been to find the armory, so using his strength to simply pry open the lock, Vael pulled open one of the crates to see its contents. Unfortunately, it was not weapons within, but rather sealed, packaged foodstuffs. He let out an irritated growl and flared his mandibles. "This is not the armory. Fall back, and we will rejoin the others."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker {Copy, coming down.} Turning to the Unggoy, he nodded before heading for the ramp back down. "Sounds like we didn't get the fun objective. Squad lead says back to the split." Obviously the walk back down the ramp was going to prove far less dangerous and the trip back out of the room, but that didn't bother the SPARTAN-IV. It gave them time to strategize and re-establish contact with Aviza's team, though he wasn't sure that they'd answer if they were in the midst of a fire fight. Reaching the bottom of the ramp, Ryker took up a position looking down the hall from the door way. "That sure was an awful lot of fight for some food stuffs. Are we sure they're nothing special?" It wasn't an uncommon thing for things like food stuffs to be used as IEDs, especially with the peacetime they were in and the shortages some sectors were facing. Then again, if they'd been rigged, suppose the Innies would have detonated the stash then and there and there'd have been no firefight like there was. Still, perhaps having a bomb removal team come through and check wouldn't hurt in the post-operation. "Ready to move when you are squad lead."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern The first thought that ran through Aviza's mind as soon as she witnessed Spartan Rex receive the devastating blow from the Brute Chieftains Gravity hammer was immediate medical attention for what was most likely a life threatening injury. She knew this could not be done in their current situation, given the circumstances and the obvious threat that was still prevalent. With very few options available at the moment, Aviza sprinted forward towards her fallen Spartan, only coming to a stop when she arrived by his side. "Shih, I need a full scan of Spartan Rex, or as detailed as you can give. Once that is done, I want you to send a message to the Chorus of Thunder and inform them that we have injured and will need a fully detailed medical team on standby once our mission here is finished." For the moment, Aviza's Argus armor was informing her that she still had a few more seconds before she had to actually face the Brute Chieftain in combat, but a few seconds was all she needed to at least attempt to stabilize Spartan Rex. Quickly reaching onto the advanced medical kit she kept on herself at all times, Aviza produced a biofoam dispenser and was about to place it back inside of the medical case when she witnessed the Chieftain slam his hammer down at the feet of Tar, thankfully no energy wave was dispensed. With some quick thinking, she tossed the biofoam canister at the Brute Chieftains head and then rapid fired the underslung shotgun upon her MA5D Assault Rifle untill the eight round clip ran dry and had to be replaced. If this did not severely injure the Brute Cheiftan, they would be in serious trouble. Thankfully though, Aviza found an opportunity to assist Tar, and grabbed onto the back of her armor, pulling her back and away from the Brute and helping her onto her feet before once more turning to face the Brute Chieftain.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak The Brute Chieftain recoiled under the barrage of shotgun shells, but possessed the presence of mind to raise the bulky armour plate attached to his left arm. It absorbed some of the impact, shattering to pieces. The Chieftain issued a guttural, gurgling roar. He raised his hammer off the floor, jabbing it straight out in front of him at Aviza before lurching round and swinging it in a wide, brutal arc at Yalu as he rushed in from behind. The Elite's battlecry had obviously alerted the Chieftain to the danger. Tar sprung to her feet with Aviza's interrupted help. She dodged the Chieftain's savage jab, aided by the fact she wasn't the principal target. As soon as the Brute turned his back to pound Yalu, Tar jumped forward and clambered up his back. She reached for her holstered energy sword, intent on ramming it through a chink in the Brute's neck armour. Before she could, the Chieftain's head jerked backwards in a panicked motion; his helmet smashed into her face. One of Tar's feet slipped, and she was forced to quickly put both hands back on the Brute's armour to avoid falling off and being trampled. She tried to grab her sword again.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai As tough as its defenses were, the Brute Chieftain was not invincible. At least, not any longer. With his shields now depleted, his armor had to handle the incoming fire. Many pellets from the shotgun blasts either deflected off of the armor or was stopped by it, but each shot weakened his defenses, and some broke through. It might have been hard to notice in the chaos of battle, but bright red blood dripped from some holes in the Jiralhanae's armor plating. Had the Brute's ambush not been discovered, or his allies not taken so many casualties when they tried to rush across the room, they might not have been able to place as much focus on the chieftain himself. Alone, the chieftain could be overwhelmed from all angles. Still, in his blood rage, he may not have even been aware he was essentially alone, and he would be fighting to his last breath. Tar nearly knocked him off of his feet when she jumped on him from behind, but he managed to keep standing. In a rage, he let out a roar as he managed to reach up over his shoulder to grab a hold of Tar's arm. He had her in a vice-grip, and despite his unfavorable leverage, his raw strength was not something to be ignored. Although, in his struggle against Tar, he could not focus on many other threats.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko THUD! The chieftain's hammer slammed into the forerunner floor. Yalu rolled back to his feet in a low stance. A moment too late reading the brute's wide step around and he could have been crushed. Perhaps if the hammer was still powered it might have broken his bones anyway. Yalu raised his carbine and took no shots. With 'Mdalak thrashing around on the brute's back, he didn't want to risk it. He shuffled around for just a moment, dancing around any errant one-handed swings of the hammer. Tar's situation presented Yalu's opening. He thrust the barrel of his carbine up into the cheiftain's armpit -- belonging to the arm that held Tar -- and pulled the trigger. It was the last slug in his magazine.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko THUD! The chieftain's hammer slammed into the forerunner floor. Yalu rolled back to his feet in a low stance. A moment too late reading the brute's wide step around and he could have been crushed. Perhaps if the hammer was still powered it might have broken his bones anyway. Yalu raised his carbine and took no shots. With 'Mdalak thrashing around on the brute's back, he didn't want to risk it. He shuffled around for just a moment, dancing around any errant one-handed swings of the hammer. Tar's situation presented Yalu's opening. He thrust the barrel of his carbine up into the cheiftain's armpit -- belonging to the arm that held Tar -- and pulled the trigger. It was the last slug in his magazine.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Enemy Stronghold The fighting slowly subsided as the rest of the rebels were slaughtered or ran through another fortified door. The other fighters seemed to be ok or at least not seriously injured. Grik was watching around the room as Vael seemed to check a crate but judging by the growl it wasn't what we were looking for. Once the order to retreat was given the grunt was quick to fall back to the door they entered and checked his ammunition. He still had one explosive charge, 2 grenades, one and a half magazines for the cannon but both his pistols were below half. "Will need to rearm soon but Grik is ready to regroup with other team." He called out then with his plasma pistol in one hand and the reignited jackal shield in the other, the grunt began to make his way back to where the two groups split up in the first place. The Unggoy was still aware that the enemy could be waiting around any corner but by the sound of fighting down the hall he knew the other team was still fighting.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan At this time the two had finally redirected their attention to the brute at hand, the big brute - the bad brute. Elna shouldered her rifle and fired upon the creature as its shields were simply corpsed, ripped apart though there was a 'friendly' Elite nearby, she simply had to take the chance to take the thing out, the other Elite had shields right? Though her aim was not shakey or bad by any means, she was a pro. Pulling the trigger a line of hate made its way towards The brute, flying at a break-neck pace it would hit his armor, hit him.. Where fate would roll its dice would simply but up to her aim.. For Roy he lacked the firepower to simply engage, opting to cover the duo in case any straggler rebels showed up he'd blast them into a million federal bits of death. He turned around sweeping up some stragglers but there wasn't much he could do now, they were dead and the show simply laid on the rest of the team. Would they corpse this brute chieftain? The sounds of war echoed out without too much remorse, soon enough this would come to a close. Soon.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Despite the strength of his defenses, as well as his rage and resolve, the Brute chieftain's armor could only take so much. His body could only be pushed so far. Yalu's carbine found a weak point in the armor, so all of the heat, kinetic force, and radiation found its way right into the Jiralhanae's body. He lost the use of his arm, and with all that surrounded him, it made him an easy kill. A few shots from Elna was all it took to finish him off. Few of the rebel Humans had survived the firefight, and those who did were quick to retreat out the other side of the chamber. With the immediate threats dealt with, it was easy to take a look around and see where they were. Some of the crates had been broken open during the fighting, and there were weapons visible. This was the armory, which meant that the console they needed to hack was in one of the adjacent rooms. There were not many rooms to search, so it did not take long for Aviza to bring Shih to the console. It was in a small room through a door on the left side in which the rebels had set up some of their equipment. Whatever the room's purpose, all Shih needed was access to their network. As Shih had alluded to before, the insurrectionists' network security was surprisingly robust for a rebel cell. Even a smart AI like Shih took a minute or so to get through into the network. It was clear that the rebels either had a few talented members, or some resourceful allies, but in any case, Shih was able to recover the information they needed for their mission here and now. In the time it took for Shih to complete her work, Vael's team was able to double-back and rejoin with Aviza's, so they would all be able to move together. By cross-referencing the intelligence pulled from the network with rebel communications she had been intercepting, Shih was able to determine their target's most likely location. "It seems like one of our suspicions was correct. The rebels discovered tunnels underneath the surface that spread out in all directions. They have plans in place to use them as an escape route in just this situation. If I'm reading this right, some of those tunnels are large enough that they were able to get entire dropships down there. They're evacuating everyone they can right now. Their commander is organizing things, but he'll be leaving soon enough too. I…think I've identified a path to his pelican, but if we don't hurry, he will get away from us."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Listening closely and intently to Shih as she briefed them on their current situation at hand, Spartan Aivza was already strategizing and plotting their next course of action. Rex still needed to be stabilized for medical evacuation and she was going to ensure that this happened before they moved out again. Moving to her fellow Spartan who was injured, she took a knee and held her right hand over his torso where the Brute had managed to make contact with his armor. Sensors indicated that he had received severe injuries, internal bleeding, broken ribs, and fragments of bones threatening to puncture his lungs if there was to much movement. Her suits systems informed her that their best option was to be medically evacuated as soon as possible, and that Rex's suit of armor had already stabilized him. "Rex, I will not lie to you, the strike from the Brute Chieftain inflicted severe damage upon not only your armor but also your body." began Aviza as she moved to her feet once more. "It would be extremely unwise to move you at this time, even more so to have you try and attempt to assist us further. For now, you must relax and refrain from moving until we return. My advice is for you to engage your active camouflage and remain hidden untill we have finished with our mission here. Aviza would then send a private message to Shih, "I want you to send a message to the Chorus of Thunder and inform them that we have injured and will need a fully detailed medical team on standby once our mission here is finished. Secondly, please forward the most logical path to take next to everyone's HUD, along with any other information you believe should be shared with the squad." Aviza would hold her position, waiting for the path to appear before her, once it did, she would quickly head off in the direction it lead. One last message would be sent to Rex before she departed, "Keep us updated on your situation Rex, if you need help, I will send a team back to you."</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar clattered to the floor as the Brute Chieftain slumped on top of her. She roared, thrashing about wildly, eventually levering the giant corpse over onto its front before scrambling to her feet. She quickly surveyed the field, and gradually stood down when she was confident the threat had passed for now. Her leg protested; the background level of pain she could feel hidden in her armour was gradually increasing. She gritted her mandibles together and tried to ignore it. A waypoint appeared in Tar's HUD, and she fell in behind the Spartan team leader as they moved toward it. On the way, she discarded her spent Mauler for an M90 shotgun from one of the warped crates. Tar ripped the fingerguard clean off the weapon to accommodate her Sangheili digits before bringing the gun to her shoulder. Not long after, she stooped to grab a pistol from the belt of a downed insurrectionist with her off hand, eyes constantly scanning for hostiles. Tar peeked into the small room the team's AI led them to, before standing alert behind some crates outside it. The rest of the team arrived, announcing beforehand so as to avoid attracting friendly fire. Tar greeted them with a cursory nod, checking them out for gear and equipment until the AI revealed they were short on time. "Our quarry flees! We should hunt them down." She snarled.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu danced his feet back as fast as he could once his last bullet shot into the brute's shoulder. He got to the last punch of reloading in his final carbine magazine only to hear one more close gunshot aimed at the chieftain. The hulking alien fell heavily onto Tar, but she looked like she could handle it. Yalu briefly scanned for more enemies, finding none worth shooting, before turning an eye to their scarred human Corporal nearby. "A fine kill, Cohen." Only now did Yalu take another look at the spartan Rex. He knew it was not his business to eavesdrop, but Yalu showed at least some relief to hear that the spartan still lived, based on Aviza's assessment. But Rex was not the only one wounded. Yalu thought about his next words carefully while scavenging for another weapon. This Tar 'Mdalak was not to be underestimated if he impugned her honour by drawing attention to her bleeding leg. She was no minor under his command, after all. Yalu rearmed with a few frag grenades, a fallen brute's plasma rifle, and a human marksman's rifle to replace his carbine; there was more ballistic ammunition than carbine magazines available. The other team reunited with them, Yalu gave them a nod. They were about to set out when he decided to speak up. "Commander Aviza," Yalu said quietly over the comms. "As you are our medical specialist, your anaesthetics may help us Sangheili pursue our objective faster. Do you have spare doses we may hold?" If they all could hold onto a shot of pain relievers, particularly Commander Vael, Yalu knew 'Mdalak was less likely to lose face if she used it for her leg. It was risky for Yalu to assume Aviza would understand the social nuance, but he hoped the AI could make up the difference.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Surely unknown to the ex-covenant forces who were currently part of Aegis Team, Spartan Aviza had been educated in some areas of Sangheili culture. This of course included how they were quite hesitant to receive any form of outside healing, less they have their honor insulted. The request for the anesthetics came as surprise, regardless though she was happy to comply with Yalu. While still walking down the hallway towards their next objective, she reached into her medical pack and produced a few metal canisters before handing them over to the Sangheili. "These contain an extremely potent anesthetic, they will dull the pain but the injury will obviously still remain and will need to be treated by a medical professional as myself." Once the cannisters had been taken, Aviza would then turn her attention back to the matter at hand, locating the Rebel Base Commander.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Moving down through the structure, the team kept their pace as quick as possible. It was vital to their mission that the enemy leader not be allowed to escape. As per their mission parameters, capture was preferable, but even killing him would be acceptable should capture not be an option. The only outcome that would be considered a failure would be if he were to escape. There was some resistance as they moved down into the tunnels, though nothing like what they had encountered in the chambers above. With how swiftly the team had made their attack, the Insurrectionists had not had the time nor resources to organize more than their initial defense. A good portion of them were likely still caught up in the battle above ground. The few rebels they did encounter tried to set up ambushes, but against a team like Aegis, they did not so much as slow them down. Near the bottom of the structure, Shih guided the team into an elevator leading down deeper into Sarcophagus' superstructure. The rebels had tried to lock it down, but fortunately, they did not seem to have any special understanding of Forerunner systems, so Shih was able to easily override it. After reaching the bottom, it was only a short run through the halls to reach the rebels' underground landing platform. The hallway opened up into a large, flat platform in the middle of a massive, hexagonal tunnel, though it was cluttered with crates and equipment. The hallway exited out near the middle of the platform, so there were multiple dropships on either side of them. Most of them were of different models with different appearances and loadouts, ranging from fully-armed UNSC pelicans, to police and civilian transports. Making full use of every sensor at her disposal, Shih started scanning area as soon as they stepped through the door. Based on the information she had recovered from the rebels' network, she was able to identify and mark the leader on their HUDs before any of the team had even set foot on the platform. The enemy commander was off to their left, about a hundred meters away near the edge of the platform. He was equipped in what appeared to be ODST combat armor, though it was heavily modified. He had been coordinating the evacuation, though the moment he saw Aegis team arrive, he and the soldiers around him made a run for the nearest pelican on the platform. Unfortunately, he was close enough that he would certainly reach it before anyone on Aegis could.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar accepted the proffered metal canister with a grunt and studied it distastefully. She knew a lot of her family and friends back on Brissekh would've been angry at the mere gesture. However, it seemed spending so much time in Paxopolis had begun to change Tar's perception. Medicine and doctors were in bountiful supply there, and the Arbiter's robust lobbying for the preservation of Sangheili life made some sense. They were not as strong as they once were; they could no longer afford to throw their lives away over their honour. Tar hung back for a few seconds and let the rest of the team file past toward the waypoint. She then injected the contents of the canister into the back of her leg - the one that had been shot. She then quietly rested the empty shell on top of a crate and jogged to catch up with the rear of the group. --- Once the lift had come to rest on the vast platform and the target was marked, Tar wasted no time in springing into action. Her pistol wasn't effective at the kind of range needed to take out the leader, but there were closer hostiles that needed dealing with anyway. Most were rushing to evacuate, but some did stop and begin shooting at them. Tar surged off the lift and towards cover at top speed. Her stolen pistol was enveloped in both hands as she emptied her magazine suppressing as many of the rebels as she could. Upon reaching a wheeled trolley of heavy equipment, she savagely kicked it towards a gaggle of enemies in riot gear, sending them running to get out of the way.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas followed the rest of the team in nearly perfect sync, his DMR sounding off to get the targets out of range of the shorter ranged ARs and plasma weaponry. The team moved fast and hard, clearing corners and making their way towards the location of the rebel leader with ease. Sometimes I wonder if this was the kinda of thing that the SPARTAN-IIs had been created for. Taking out rebel bases and leaders for the good of humanity, well, the survivors of the war now. Though ONI would never tell anyone if it were. "Gotta maintain a good public image," they'd say. Sometimes they forget they don't have a good public image anyways... Upon reaching the lift after dealing with the last attempted ambush, which their motion scanners had detected before they ever got near it, the SPARTAN-IV was one of the last on. The ride down was silent, though it was far from an awkward silence. This was the silence of men and women who were preparing to do a job that only they could do and when the lift doors opened, they stepped out to do that job. The marker tracking the rebel leader was easy to follow and his armor wouldn't be hard to bypass. Growing up, Lucas had paid attention to how armor from the centuries was designed and whether it was a suit of full plate armor or a Kevlar chest piece, the joints of the armor were almost always either exposed or the weakest point in the suit. The ODST armor that the rebel leader was wearing was no different, and the exposed knee joints were easy to see, even from here. But the man also had his entourage of guards, so going straight from him probably wasn't the best idea. Though slowing him down... His decision made, the stock of Ryker's DMR found its way to his shoulder and he fired three times at the retreating forms of the rebels, though the las shot had a slight delay. The first two shots found the heads of the two soldiers most immediately blocking his shot to the leader, the two rebels both gasping in surprise as the bullets made impact. The SPARTAN-IV had had to wait a few seconds for the bodies of the two to fall before he'd fired the third shot, which was intended to pass through the back of the man's left knee. Not only would he fall to the ground from the sudden loss of his knee and kneecap, but he'd be slowed down considerably even with help moving from another person. Keeping his external speakers off, he spoke into the team channel. {VIP crippled, but he's still got help. Need to move fast.}</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- The enemy commander was, naturally, the priority, though Vael still had no intention of being trapped in tunnel vision on the target. Running out onto the platform, they were exposed to a lot of angles. While there was cover, and many of the rebels were more concerned with rushing to their evacuation than turning around to attack, there were some soldiers turning their attention turning towards the team. "Tasuma, cover our flank!" He ordered. The Mgalekgolo would certainly not be able to reach their objective before someone else on Aegis could, so his focus would be more useful on protecting the others. The rebel leader did not slow his pace as the shots started to ring out around him. Ryker's attempt to stop him might have worked, but he had more than just Human equipment to rely on. Before Ryker could take his third shot, the bright blue energy field of a Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet powered on to take the bullet, which protected him for the rest of his short run to the pelican. The leader did make it into the troop hold of the dropship, but he did not order takeoff immediately. Other rebels were still rushing in behind him to evacuate, and he did not seem intent on leaving them. Shortly after making into the pelican, he leaned out to give cover to his allies, keeping in cover behind his gauntlet while angling an M319 grenade launcher to fire over it. The grenade came in quick towards the center of the group, then airburst over them. It did not detonate close enough to make any kills, but the EMP effect could effectively drain shields.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko The quieter moments of the pursuit gave Yalu some moments to reflect. The mission was not going flawlessly. He did not know whether the enemy commander would still be at the landing pad by the time they reached him. It would not be over by then, he told himself. If the human rebels could fly through these tunnels as a routine, then he might... He paused his thought before they opened the door to the landing pad. There was little time else for Yalu to do than to take a shot alongside the others at the commander. "He has a gauntlet. Need more firepower-" The grenade flew across them. Yalu reflexively ducked and covered his head as it went off. He grit his teeth at the shock that had blasted against his now EMP-drained shield. This breach was dead in the water. But he did spot some other aircraft in the landing pad. They had perhaps a few seconds before their quarry could load up another grenade and they could not push an assault without shields. That was the first concern. "Grenade out!" Yalu risked an arm out of cover to pitch a fragmentation grenade out ahead with plenty left on the timer. It bounced, slid, and coasted to a stop across the forerunner floor, spinning in place ahead of the pelican's ramp before detonating. Yalu was already switching to his concussion rifle for the next stage. He had only six shots left to pin down the enemy while the rest of the team followed up. "The quarry covers his allies' retreat," Yalu observed. "We are not hunting a coward."</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker If Ryker recognized the older set of armor when he caught a glimpse of it, his face didn't betray anything. He didn't even speak again until the Sangheili was armored up and then he nodded. "Right then if we're all spiffed up and ready to go, I heard this place called Han's Crabbery is pretty good." As the SPARTAN-IV turns to leave, leading the Sangheili officer, and Ben if he wanted to go, to leave, a knock sounds and then a familiar voice speaks up. Grinning like a mad man, Lucas opens it up to see Aviza on the other side. "Glad to see you came back, Aviza. We were getting ready to head out to have some seafood. Wanna come?"</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Sydney Australia Grikgar hauled himself up once the human commander gave himself up. The ploy the human had used was very smart. Not only did he keep his cool but he was able to bluff his way through the entire encounter. Still, they had finished their mission with few casualty's and all seemed to well enough for all of them. The brutes were destroyed and the humans scattered Grik was well aware that it would take them some time to recuperate their losses from this and reorganize. He did not expect to be returning to this place anytime soon. The group rallied and left quickly, a response from the planets defense system was well on its way. The following weeks were filled with down time as they waited for further orders. His team was itching to get back to the fight as the remaining covenant continued their fight across the galactic scene. Soon they found their team was put on pause and Vael took his soldiers back to the stars to continue the fight. The Unggoy Ultra was only operating with them for a few months before receiving a request to return to his home planet. It was a strange request but one he accepted. It was after all to assist in the creation of a new vehicle specifically for Unggoy. Grikgar had never been to his home world before as he was born on the Seeker of Truth. Still, he would find the next few months interesting none the less. On top of working on the new vehicle the researchers were calling "Goblin" using a human term for some mystical creature in their history. Grikgar was continuing to train in small arms, long range fire support, new infantry artillery weapons, artillery vehicles, and hand to hand combat. The last mission made him realize where he was lacking in combat and knew where he needed to broaden his scope of skills. Other than training with a few elites that were around and beating them as well as engaging the odd Kig-Yar pirates in the system, Grikgar's stay was interesting but not entirely too dangerous. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shaking back and forth for a moment the Unggoy checked his air supply for a moment. His shuttle had just entered the atmosphere and was making its way down toward the city where he met his former companions so many months ago. He had received the notification to return to Aegis team during the final testing of his personal combat vehicle. As late as he was at least he was here. The humans were kind enough to have a handler meet him so that he may be able to travel the city streets without too many issues. Sometimes a group of angry humans could quite possibly gang up on him and cause an incident. Although Grik didn't think he would be the only one to be injured if it came to that. Most of the other spices of the former covenant had intimidation on their side through sheer size or demeanor. But Unggoy where after all about the same height as a human just built to be a bit bulkier. The handler didn't say much only that his things were stored and would be available once they were on mission and that he would take him to where Vael would be. Buy the look of the human and a few others once he stepped off the shuttle he knew they wouldn't be much for conversation. He was almost certain that no one would be able to distinguish his rank by the colorations on his combat harness but at least they didn't want to talk too much either. Although he didn't have his full sealed combat suit that was even upgraded to include grav-boots making it a completely sealed suit, it also had a better personal shield in it now and it wasn't as experimental. This was thanks to the researchers from his home world. The shield was comparable to the strength of an elites now and one of their next projects was making more of them for the better trained Unggoy. The ride to where the commander would be staying was quiet but it allowed the grunt to look out the window and see all the different people and sights in the city. Human settlements were always interesting, from food, to language, to smells, sounds, and architecture. The car they were in soon came to a stop ending his site seeing for now and the handler motioned for him to follow. Turning a few corners the two came across someone that looked familiar. It would seem that the others were already getting together and he quickly waddled past his handler and up to his squad mates. "Hello, does this sea food include crab?" almost as if they only saw each other the other day Grik completely skipped the formalities and went straight to food. After just getting planet side an hour or so earlier, he was quite hungry for some human food that was always much more palatable than nutrient paste.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Again, Vael could not help but to feel irritation at the amount of attention he suddenly found on himself. Were all of these people looking for him, or each other? He had no grievances with working alongside them, but they were not on a mission at this moment. Still, he did not voice most of his thoughts. This was not his world, and it did provide an opportunity for him to learn more about how he could expect his allies to behave. When their missions brought them to Sangheili worlds, he would need to instruct them on what would be expected of them. "Is it customary to crowd a guest in his quarters?" Vael remarked as he once again locked up his storage container. Now properly armored, he moved himself past the others towards the open door. "If so many of us are here, I do not expect it will be long before we are called for the briefing. If you have somewhere you want to bring me, Spartan Ryker, then I will follow you for now. Otherwise, I will wait in your military's headquarters."</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko The two Sangheili, Tar and Yalu, took a path that led out across another broad grassy lawn. Earth's singular sun was not lacking today. Each distant bed of multicoloured plantlife leapt out from either side of their eyes with reflected light. For all of Tar's deliberate voice, Yalu took longer than he wanted to respond. Sangheilios could have been described as exciting, but not in the way Tar implied. "Where do you call your homeworld?" Yalu asked. "Brissekh." Tar replied after a moment's hesitation. Her home accent showed up through the pronunciation. "My bloodline settled it centuries ago. It is not...quite like Sanghelios, but it is still wild and bountiful." This felt strange to Tar. She hadn't had many proper conversations with her team, and didn't intend to make a habit of it. You never knew when they'd have to part ways again. But she wasn't sure how to disengage besides running into the carefully manicured undergrowth. "Where is your Keep?" She asked, keen to take the attention back off herself. "Raithos, Sanghelios," Yalu answered flatly. "Isolated, well defended, never a strategic priority in history. My people are not exciting, I fear. Their philosophy is not as glorious." Tar huffed gently - she admired the candour. "Every great civilisation needs administrators, adjudicators, artisans...witnesses. To balance the scales between prosperity and pestilence. My own Keep could learn much from yours, I think." Yalu guffawed. "I would agree with you, but willingness is another matter entirely. One must prefer not to slay those they defeat in that place." They passed by a red marble fountain, atop which stood a statue of a small human holding something up and away from a water bird. "I take it your keep conducts themselves differently," Yalu said. "Commandos like yourself do not come from monastic places." Tar studied the sculptures, her hand idly swishing through the water in one of the small satellite fountains around the edge. She hadn't the faintest idea what the arrangement was supposed to symbolise. "My people are naturally suspicious. Family feuds have been passed down through so many generations that the original offence is lost." She watched a Pelican drop ship fly overhead. "Even the war failed to bring us together, until a Brute ship arrived right above our heads." Tar's mandibles flexed and she growled at the mere thought of that day. Yalu flicked an eye briefly down at Tar beside him. He then looked ahead and sighed through his nostrils. "...This garden may not be 'exciting,' Commando 'Mdalak. But I recognise it is a place of peace. Unless you are at peace with those events in your past, I will not ruin it today." Tar traded that look with Yalu, and realised she'd said too much. She flexed her fists and changed the subject as they started walking again. "Where did you serve? Before Aegis?" "Hm, plenty of places for the Swords of Sanghelios," he recalled, looking up to the blue sky. "The past few years before Commander Virususai, I was a fireteam lead. Under Ultras 'Sutek and 'Kartar in Khael'mothka. Peacekeeping missions. Hunting Covenant remnants around Rahnelo before that, under Ultra 'Boset. Mostly assaulting Covenant cells, disconnected from that bloodthirsty 'Mdama. The previous Ultra on Rahnelo before that -- his name escapes me -- commanded me for only three months before transfer." Tar nodded, looking ahead but genuinely interested now. There were still many things about the conflict that she did not understand. If not from a tactical point of view, then an ideological one. "And...before that?" Yalu breathed in. Just then, a jet black Pelican drop ship with sky-camo on the underside soared over their heads. It was relatively quiet despite the breakneck speed it was travelling at, and didn't look to Tar like the regular model. The Pelican dragged its tail around the garden to their left, circling them while losing speed until eventually it lowered onto the grass with its cargo bay facing them. "Could've parked closer than that…" Tar's handler muttered, raising a flat hand to his eyes to see who was watching them from inside the craft. Yalu caught the hint it was their ride. "Before that is the story of a different Major," Yalu answered Tar. "That may have to wait for next time."</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Even trying as he did to remain quiet on the pelican ride back to base, Yalu's curiosity got the better of him. Tar had to listen to whatever conversation their handlers and pilot would allow about what the 'sea food' was in the local area. Yalu was still not sure by the time they landed whether he had missed out by declining Lucas' invitation with the others. The dilemma faded to nothing in Yalu's memory when he entered the briefing room with the rest of the team. He gave nods to those he was familiar with on the team, opting to stay standing with arms crossed behind shorter members of the team. The light of the holograms above the table shone in his eyes. Brissekh. He turned an eye to Tar right before she boiled over. It was a surprise that made him flinch. Yalu guessed if anything would make the quiet 'Mdalak loud, it would be this. As for the plan itself, Yalu had to temper his expectations about Tar's use infiltrating the keep. It would be a much more crude frontal assault. He could not say they did not have a good reason to do so. It was a Kaidon's responsibility to defend his keep. This Uztel 'Mdalak could not run from it forever. Unless, of course... "And if the target withdraws from the keep, should we pursue or attempt to secure the keep ourselves?"</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Ethat 'Lacalu, Major Alice Robinson, and Vael 'Virisusai --- Ethat took only a moment of thought to reply to Yalu. "It's best to deal with him quickly, but…it is more important to claim the keep and ensure the planet knows of Tar 'Mdalak's victory. To flee his keep instead of fighting to the death to defend it would mark Uztel as a coward. Only the most fanatical of Covenant supporters would be willing to overlook such dishonor. If you have to make that choice, focus on securing the keep." He answered. After a few moments of silence passed, Major Robinson deactivated the display and pulled Shih's data chip from the holotank. "If there are no more questions, then Commander Vael 'Virisusai has operational authority for Aegis team on this mission. That means he will be your commanding officer. There is a pelican waiting outside to take the team to our Blockade Runner in orbit. All of your equipment is being brought to the ship as we speak, along with UNSC reinforcements and supplies that have been approved for the mission. Dismissed." Vael had an eye on Tar. After her initial outburst, she had kept quiet. However, he knew her well enough to know that this was not a mission she could just detach herself from. Much of her motivation for fighting was to restore her father's honor; family did have clear meaning to her.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar barely heard the mission details being discussed. Her ears were ringing like she'd been struck. Her own brother had betrayed the entire family with his treachery. She should have seen this coming! The warning signs had been there, now she really thought about it in this conference room, with the sound of others talking droned on in the background. When the three of them were just children, Falx, Tar and Uztel spent many hours hunting Du'nak in the forests outside their Keep with the other younglings. Imported from Sanghelios centuries before and rewilded by accident soon after, these animals had adapted well to the cold, wet hillsides of Brissekh and grown suspicious of Sangheili again. Operating as a pair, Tar and Falx, her older brother, had wounded and cornered a prime specimen. An adult alpha with long, broad tusks and mature back-horns resting within a muscular frame - the ultimate prize. They'd been closing in on the wounded animal after harassing and tracking it for the entire morning. Finally, they found it collapsed up against a rock formation, with dense bushes on one side and a steep drop on the other. They had it trapped. But as they approached to strike the killer blow and claim the animal as their own, a spear flew through the undergrowth and pierced the Du'nak's head, killing it instantly. Uztel appeared. Tar & Falx had exploded with fury as Uztel calmly collected his weapon. "I'm sorry, siblings. I didn't see you there! Forgive me." He proclaimed. But Tar saw a glimmer of amusement in her brother's eyes that day. A sadistic streak that thrived on reaping rewards for minimal personal risk. Uztel swore he had not been stalking the pair of them once he knew they had a worthy prize. Yet, Tar later found out her younger brother's hunting partner had lost sight of him hours before the incident had happened. Tar returned from her reverie just as the Human female dismissed them. "No one touches my brother, except me." Tar growled, tapping her chestplate with one fingernail as the others turned to leave. "If I fall in battle, you leave and allow Brissekh to decide Uztel's fate. Or you find Falx and free him, if he still lives. Those are my terms."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas didn't speak when Tar spoke, instead nodding and continuing on his way out of the briefing room. This whole thing stank of an ONI op, from the removal of Tar's older brother to the younger brother refusing to put himself at risk. In fact, as he stepped to one side to wait for the Commando, he eyed the ONI PO and his escort. Those two were ONI through and through, despite playing nice with the team thus far. If he had to guess, they probably had orders to make sure the team failed if it ever looked to be not worth the effort in the Intelligence agency's eyes. Same as they had tried to do to all the old black ops teams when the war ended. They weren't a necessity anymore, just a risk. We all knew too much... That wasn't to say that the two knew anything about the other issues, Ryker knew ONI too well to think that, but he could probably never bring himself to trust the organization again. When the Commando stepped out, he matched her pace. "I understand that a lot of this has to do with Uztel has to do with Family Honor and the like. But you're needed alive, by a lot of your people. Don't do anything rash, especially if your brother is what they say he is. You know he won't fight fair or honorably."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Ethat' Lacalu and Vael Virisusai --- Ethat let out a quick huff as he turned his head towards Tar. "Once the assault begins, there is likely no escape without either destroying most of the keep, or deposing Uztel. The Covenant's operations on Brissekh will be stopped, one way or another. The plan we have devised is our best way of doing so with the least damage to your homeworld. Do remember that." Ultimately, Vael saw little reason to argue against the plan at the moment. Strategically, it was sound. If the plan proceeded successfully, then Brissekh would have new leadership loyal to the Arbiter. There would certainly be resistance from Covenant loyalists after the coup, but they would not be conquering Brissekh. Tar had the legal claim to become Scion, so if Uztel was removed in battle, honor would demand most of the citizens' loyalty. It would be unconventional, with Tar being female, but the position of Scions had changed under the Arbiter's rule. If they were correct about the level of support for the Arbiter on the world, then Vael did not expect that the resistance would be insurmountable. Ryker joined Tar as the meeting was dismissed, though Vael did not. He doubted the Human would understand half of what a situation like this would mean for someone in Tar's position, but if he made the mistake of offending her, then the Spartan could deal with the consequences himself. As long as his team could perform their duties to his standards, they were free to deal with personal issues between them however they saw fit. Should they ever fail in their duties because of such issues, then they would have Vael to deal with. Vael himself wasted no time in making his way to the pelican outside. They would be using a Sangheili Blockade Runner for this mission, so it would be the Humans who were out-of-place this time.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu tried to search the eyes of his superior officers to gauge the reaction to Tar's proclamations. He was not especially relieved to hear the ever diplomatic Lacalu try to appeal to the responsibility Tar had to her homeworld rather than making it clear that she was not the one in power here. The very fact that she was on this mission presented a personal influence that could compromise the objective. Looking at it from another angle enlightened Yalu. They needed her to fight voluntarily to show the populace she was worthy of Brissekh. They could not have her going rogue. A female commando this far from her keep would necessarily be bold enough to do so. Yalu walked a few paces behind Tar and Lucas but did not pitch in with his opinion. He turned off to stop by his quarters before proceeding to the hanger so he could leave behind the foam racing collar around his neck. "Sorry Lucas," he muttered to himself. "I pray you do not learn too violent a lesson with your human sensibilities." He made a personal note to bring a cold pack with him to the pelican, just in case any heads needed cooling.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and UNSC AI SHI 1203-8 --- Like most of the others, Vael first prioritized heading to the armory to equip himself for the mission ahead. It would still be hours before they were set to begin, but he wanted to ensure he would be ready at a moment's notice. He could manage the changes to his team, though his impression of the new Human was not particularly positive. Most Humans were not like the Spartans, who were strong, capable warriors even by Sangheili standards. The average Human was…variable. During his time in the war, he had seen excesses of both cowardice and courage from Human warriors. Sometimes, they would flee like Unggoy as their will was broken, and at other points, they would fight against overwhelming odds to the last breath against superior foes, and sometimes even attain victory. Only time would tell how this Human would compare. Vael was not a normal member of the ship's crew, but he did not attract near as much attention as the Humans undoubtedly would, aside from the fact that the crew he passed tended to quiet down from their conversations when he was near. As a high ranking officer, that was not a fact he found strange. He only heard parts of conversations between a few Unggoy on the way to the armory, but even though he heard them perfectly clearly, he found what they said to be as incomprehensible as it was irrelevant. All of the team's equipment had been transferred to the ship, and Vael quickly found the crate containing it after he arrived. Given the mission parameters, he did not intend to arm himself differently from his standard preference. An energy sword, plasma rifle, and his carbine would be sufficient for what they would be facing. For his armor's equipment, active camouflage would be the most useful for the first objective of dealing with the anti-air cannon. After that, they would be returning to the ship, so there would be a chance for the team to adjust their loadouts for the assault. Vael was surprised when the hologram of the Human AI, Shih, appeared at the end of a table near to him, at the center of the room. Evidently, it had been given approval to interface with at least some part of the ship. Vael was not sure that he approved, but it was not his decision. "I believe there is something I should inform you and your team about." Shih announced to Vael as soon as she appeared. Vael turned his head back and spoke calmly. "Very well. You may speak, construct." "Right…if you bring your attention to those crates over there, there is some new equipment that has been approved for Aegis team's use. It took a lot of…debate, but there are weapons and equipment recovered from Prometheans that both UNSC personnel, and your people, can you. I may have to do some work to interface the armor abilities with your harness, but I have been told it can be done. The modules are adaptable." Shih explained. The concession to allow Vael and his team to use the Promethean equipment could have been seen as an offering of trust, through Vael doubted ONI would be so kind. Likely, it was a decision driven by circumstance and practicality. Jul 'Mdama's forces were still working with Prometheans after the campaign on Requiem, so it seemed likely that the Swords of Sanghelios would be able to recover Forerunner equipment just as easily. Sharing it with Aegis team now simply allowed them to seem more cooperative. Opening up the crates, Vael did find a variety of options available. Promethean enhanced visual sensors, hardlight shields, and autosentries were all available, as well as a small variety of Promethean weapons. There were multiple boltshots, suppressors, and grenades, two lightrifles, as well as a single scattershot, binary rifle, and incineration cannon. They were all powerful weapons, but ammo availability would be a limitation. If one chose to use one of the weapons, they would only have a single spare reload.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak There was no time to waste for any of the crew aboard the Magnificent Defiance. So normal activity quickly resumed once Tar had removed herself from the situation, with dozens of orderlies and droids transporting cargo to be stowed in the various holds. Unfortunately, Tar was intent on striding right through their operating space as she brooded on the task at hand and the unexpected help she was receiving. Some of it welcome, some of it not. Suddenly, a platform containing tightly bound crates whooshed down the ramp of a Pelican to be collected by one of the automated hangar grabbers. It appeared on one side of Tar's peripheral vision and she quickly turned to face it. She seized the platform in mid-swing and transferred the energy through her stance, tipped it over and away from her. The servos whined as the platform attempted to right itself, but Tar offered no apology. She carried on through to the armoury, deep in thought. There weren't many alternatives to murdering Uztel, if she got her hands on him. If by some miracle she could convince the Keep to recognise her as rightful successor while he still lived, she could banish him from Brissekh. But there was always the chance he could plot her death from afar. That wouldn't do at all! Tar stalked into the armoury with potential plans and speeches circulating in her head. Her blades will have been packed up and sent to her quarters along with her other effects. She'd need to go and get those before deployment. An armourer on the ship she'd travelled with Silent Shadow on had developed a special mount for both handles on the small of her back, which meant she could carry more weapons and gear in the field. Tar made the most of it, clipping four Spike Grenades to her belly. After pondering it for a little while, she followed up by stowing a Carbine and a Storm Rifle on her back and a Mauler on each thigh. She stared longingly at some of the ammo vests on display, but none would fit around her torso and armour. She also watched some of the other UNSC troops attaching front holsters to their chests. The Humans had inferior armour, but their ingenuity and resourcefulness was still impressive. Her attention was diverted by Aegis team's leader talking to one of the machines. Some interesting objects caught her eye in the crate they were examining. She walked over. "Forerunner weapons?" She asked. She didn't know much about them.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Mention of the Forerunner weapons made Yalu crack an eye open. From where he sat, now properly armoured on a bench trying to put his mind at peace, he could just see into the crate. How the ancient weapons shone in his vision. Yalu stood up and removed the enclosing helmet of his red assault harness to approach. Behind him were his selection of weapons: plasma grenades, concussion rifle, and a replacement needle rifle taken in lieu of his previous plasma carbine. One of them might not come with him this time. "So fine and elegant these artifacts are," he said. "Had I laid eyes on such things before the betrayal, having used the Prophets' imitations for so long, I might have noticed their arrogance sooner." He reached carefully for the scattershot. It reassembled in his grip to form its true shape. He curled his mandibles in quiet delight. "Shih, tell me more about this one, if you please."</s> <\|message\|>Comi'Masam Spartan Lucas Ryker From one side of the armory, where Ryker was going over his DMR and making sure the pieces of gear that were shipped to ship ahead of him were still in good order. At the same time, he was talking with Comi'Masam about the team and it's members. Or at least the ones who'd been put back on the team. A quick review of their roster revealed that one SPARTAN-III and the Mgalekgolo both weren't recalled to Aegis, but that was a risk that came with a joint team. As he finished running a cleaning swab down the barrel when he overheard the conversation between Shih and Commander Vael. Finishing the barrel swab, he quickly replaces the parts and approaches, spotting the crate and the goodies inside as he approached. "Had a couple of buddies who served on Requiem, newer SPARTAN-IVs. They had limited chance to use the weaponry, but one of them got real good with with that Hard Light Shield module. Read the intel reports on the Promethean vision, so I'll be snagging one of those if no one has complaints." Comi'Masam Securing her SRS99 on her harness as well as her pistol and specially designed energy sword on her thighs respectively before joining the others at the crate and glancing in. A smile crossed her face as she picked up one of the modules. "Hardlight Shield, excellent for pushing up corridors and providing mobile, if temporary, cover in an open battlefield. Definitely my preferred module when an op goes south." Appraising the weapons, she shakes her head. "I don't much care for the Forerunner weaponry, lacks the power of a good plasma rifle or human assault rifle."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai UNSC AI SHI 1203-8 --- Right when requested, Shih's avatar appeared next to Yalu as he observed the alien weapon in his hands. "This weapon has been officially designated as the Z-180 Close Combat Rifle/Asymmetric Engagement Mitigator. Common vernacular identifies it as the 'Scattershot'. It is a close-to-medium range weapon which fulfills a similar combat role to the UNSC's M45 Tactical Shotgun. Based on our testing, it appears to fire a spread of hard light projectiles created from energy cells loaded through a breach-loading mechanism. It has a capacity of five energy cells and, like many Forerunner weapons, is capable of completely disintegrating the bodies of living beings, most likely for the purpose of denying them as assets to the Flood. The individual projectiles can ricochet off of hard surfaces and possess limited tracking capabilities. A single shot at close range can defeat any known armor system." She explained. The weapon was not loaded at the moment, but there were a total of ten cells available, and she had instructions available for anyone who chose to take Forerunner equipment.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko For a moment, Yalu was lost in the mystery of the scattershot's design and mechanics, turning it in his hands and looking down its sights. He almost forgot it was a weapon. Shih's explanation gave him the details he needed to know, but he hoped to learn more about this technology later. "Thank you, construct," Yalu nodded to the avatar before taking up the ten shots he would be limited to during the mission. He somehow expected them to be heavier. Some of the others were not so convinced. Yalu gave a grunt. "Suit yourselves. This weapon shall suit many roles. Especially at our destination. I may count on those shields you found to make better use of it, too." He held the scattershot aside and perused the rest of the crate. The autosentry caught his eye. He picked one of the modules out and went back to the bench to read through its operation. The concussion rifle would be left in the armoury for this mission. The keep no doubt had a few to use in the field should he need to find one.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker For the most part, Comi and Lucas kept to themselves on their Phantom, speaking quietly and punctuated by the occasional laugh or chuckle from one of the two. When game time came, they were ready to go. Spartan Lucas Ryker As his boots hit the soft earth of the planet's surface, the SPARTAN-IV was already putting his DMR to his shoulder and moving to secure the perimeter before anything else was done. However, he had to admit that the weather conditions would make this trip just a little trickier than they'd likely anticipated. Of course, as he cleared his quadrant and found nothing, he did smile as he recalled the days with his old Black Ops squad, using weather like this to hide both their approach and their exfiltration. This might not be so bad after all, all things considered. Hopping into the back seat of one of the spectres, DMR still in hand. "Well, on the upside, you can't ask for better weather to mask an approach from the low ground." Comi'Masam Comi had landed alongside Ryker when she dropped from the Phantom, but moved in an opposite direction. She had her sniper rifle stored on her back and her plasma pistol up and at the ready, though her sword remained on her hip as she moved to the edge of the clearing and secured it. Following that and doing as she was ordered, she sat in the spectre separate from Spartan Ryker, storing the pistol and drawing her sniper rifle. "I am in agreement, Commander. Any guards on patrol will not see us through the rain and fog."</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar sat quietly through the phantom ride, listening to every rattle and hum of the hull as if it was talking to her. Her mind slowly calmed, uncoupling from the galaxy outside Brissekh to focus solely on the mission. They all knew what they were doing, they'd seen the maps and force strength reports. Now all that was left was to walk those paths and eliminate anything that got in their way. Tar was loyal to Brissekh, but like any other Sangheili warrior, wouldn't hesitate to kill her clanmates if they refused to stand aside. She checked her loadout one more time, then stared into space again. Time passed, until suddenly it was time to go. Tar got up and stepped into the grav lift without hesitation. The rain whipped about her as she levitated down to the ground, bringing the smell of wet vegetation with it. This instantly brought back memories from Tar's childhood, foraging and hunting in woods like these. She scanned around as she flew, taking in the edge of the forest and the mountains in the background. It was good to be home; she could've warbled with delight had it not risked attracting attention. Tar's feet sank into the mud with a satisfying squelch. Thankfully as her armour had been crafted on Brissekh, her shoes came with small retractable studs to keep her steady on this kind of unstable ground. The Commando raised her carbine and fanned out, securing the perimeter as rain hammered the clearing and trickled into the cracks of her breastplate. Once Vael gave the order to mount up, Tar moved quickly to the lead Spectre, stowed her carbine and hopped into the driver's seat. The front hull closed in around her legs, leaving just her head and upper body exposed. She activated the vehicle, and it floated into a ready position. "The fog could get worse. Stay close." Tar grunted, checking her instruments. She wasn't as familiar with driving Spectres as she was with Phantoms and Banshees, but most of the principles were similar.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The descent to the planet could only accommodate so much meditation. Yalu found himself ruminating too much to glean any more benefit to his mind and body. He opted to bring himself back to the present around him and joined in conversation with his team mates. He grew quiet when they were near the ground. The grav lift hatch opened to blast them with cool humidity. Yalu almost spat at how thick the air was. This place, the plant life and the atmosphere, it could be as potentially disorienting to the team as it would their enemy. The notion of the keep guards' home ground advantage sank in as deep as his toes into the mud. Maybe bringing along 'Mdalak would be more a benefit than he had estimated. "Mounting up," Yalu obeyed, hoisting himself up and dropping into the cockpit of the next Spectre vehicle. He deposited his needle rifle in a suspension holster beside the controls and powered up the sleek grav craft like a swift morning routine. It hummed to life and raised a foot above the mud. "Do not get too comfortable," Yalu warned. "They might have your Promethean optics too. Do your best to spot them first."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael took the driver's seat of one of the spectres himself. It was going to be a long drive, so he wanted to be sure that each one was taken by an experienced driver. He did not want any delays in getting to their objective ,if they could be avoided. Although, he did still decide to defer to Tar to lead their convoy. Being a local, she had more intimate knowledge of the environment and terrain, especially surrounding the keep. He believed it would be wise to take advantage of her experience. "Check your maps. Our objective is located on a plateau in the mountains near the keep. Once we come close enough, we will proceed on foot up the mountain. We will establish the communications jammer for the Human construct to use to cut off the cannon's guards from the keep. Should we be detected, we must ensure there are no survivors to report our presence." Vael explained as he prompted Tar to take the lead. --- Although they had to move through a forest, the spectres were maneuverable enough that the team started out making good time. Once they came to a small river they could follow, they were even able to press on at full boost for over ten minutes straight. Naturally, the closer they came, the more cautious they would need to be. However, before the cannon's defenders could even begin to be a problem, there was another obstacle manifesting around them. The rainstorm surrounding them did not subside. Far from it, the storm grew ever stronger as time passed. Heavy rain turned into a torrential downpour, deafening thunder followed cracks of lightning every few seconds, and winds picked up to the point that the rain was falling near horizontally. The storm was strong enough that the spectres started to tilt in the wind. Vael had to turn his vehicle into the wind at an angle just to keep going straight, which only added to the issue of poor visibility. Vael could just barely make out the glow of the gravity propulsion drive of the spectre ahead of him. For those on the turrets, and especially the side passengers, it would be a struggle just to hang on.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar swore as her Spectre creaked again, trying to fly away in the howling wind. She was taking on a worrying list; her engines whined as she turned the front into the wind and squeezed every ounce of power from them. "Lean into it or we'll go over!" She bellowed at her passengers. Rain splashed directly into her face off the front hull of the Spectre. "We should find shelter. This is the rainy season - the worst could still come!" Tar knew all too well the perils of braving events like this, especially on the exposed plateaus where they were headed. Many Sangheili had spilled their blood on the rocky outcrops below. She frantically cast her eyes around for somewhere they could go while trying to control her Spectre. Visibility was almost nil outside the basin they had been riding through. Then Tar saw the dark green vines plastering the forest floor on one side. She knew immediately what that meant. "Up on our left! There's a cave system!" Tar called, pointing with her free hand.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu kept his hand calmly hovering over the emergency brake every moment he could. Lower visibility meant following closer behind the commander's Spectre. The speed they were keeping up did not help the risk either. Though, he did not falter — he was not on the team for being an average driver. Tar's directions caused Yalu to bank hard to turn in her new direction. He made the repulsors weaken to almost nothing as the wind turned his vehicle into an aerofoil for a moment. It was all he could do not to have the whole thing flip over and injure his passengers. He said nothing but a quick acknowledgement to keep down on radio chatter. His questions and concerns about the weather would have to wait.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak A Tengmaa bulb's hide was tough for a reason - all of the plant's digestive and nervous capacity was contained within that control centre. However, the plant's evolutionary pathway evidently hadn't prepared for a barrage of radiation, explosives and bullets. So when the bulb's vulnerable innards were exposed under the water and promptly cut to shreds, the Tengmaa quickly lost control of its numerous appendages. The first to go limp were the half dozen thick trunks which stretched all the way out into the sunlight, gradually tapering at the end. Next were the serpentine manipular vines coating every surface of the cave interior. Then, with nothing left to distract the invaders, the throbbing cilia inside the pool trap promptly died. And with that, the Tengmaa bulb unmoored from the position it had held over the cave's onward descent for decades. First came a sickly snapping noise as the struts supporting it detached. Then, with a sound like a giant toilet flushing, it disappeared into the large hole on which it had previously been sitting. This was how it had filtered waste water out of the chamber to stop it flooding before. The water rushed over the rocks, disappearing down the waste chute after the bulb. The chamber was filled with this roaring sound for a while. This new opening also helped disperse some of the toxic particles from the room, though Tar still choked uncontrollably as she struggled to her feet and surveyed the area. Water was pouring in from the opening above their head and another gap along the wall from them (the other cave opening, most likely). It wasn't enough to refill the bowl below them though, so it quickly emptied until just a few carcasses lodged in place remained. Fanning her mandibles with one hand, Tar got up, walked to the edge and wordlessly jumped down into the barren bowl. Her energy sword's pommel had fortunately gotten stuck in a crevice and hadn't washed away, so she carefully picked it up. Looking up toward the ceiling and coughing lightly, Tar returned her lost sword to its mount on her back, with the other one. She pointed upward, to the feeble shaft of light shining down on her from above. "I see the way up the mountain! I remember now - it is an invigorating climb."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai UNSC AI SHI 1203-8 and Vael 'Virisusai --- Aviza would hear Shih's response in her head right away. "I'm not getting any major alerts on anyone's vitals. Nothing worth mentioning. As for the storm, though, the mountain we're under is blocking most of the useful data from our sensors. Best I can tell you is probably the same thing you can hear from that opening up there: it is still going strong." Even after the bulb made its apparent retreat, Vael stood on guard for a few moments. He continued pointing his plasma rifle down the pit, watching for any signs of movement. It was only once Tar called their attention to the way out that Vael moved his gaze elsewhere. "And it will be a dangerous climb. It is steep to start, and the rain from the storm will only make it more difficult." Vael walked up towards the wall, looking up at the exit above. "But this approach shall allow us to reach our objective undetected. Tar, Ryker, and I will climb first. Grik and the Humans will go next." He said, referring to the unaugmented Humans among them. "The rest of you will watch for any more attacks from this beast, then climb up behind us."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko After the death flurry of the Tengmaa plant jostled Yalu free, he secured his weapons and shot up to his feet. He breathed a sigh. He was glad to kick off the initial anticipation of danger on a piece of flora. And it looked from a quick glance that everyone had come out of the situation in one piece. Yalu reloaded, narrowing his eye at his dwindling scattershot charges. "Yes, commander," Yalu said. "I wonder if any of those bodies in the pit were once our enemies."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael gave a glance down to the pit, but did not take much time at all to dwell on it. "The dead matter no longer. Keep our focus on the mission ahead. The cannons still lie above us." Even for beings as agile as Sangheili or Spartans, the climb was not an easy one. While there were vines and some jagged rocks on the cliff to provide handholds, the stream flowing down from above made the climb precarious. Especially with the storm outside, there were few paths outside the path of the waterfall. Nevertheless, Vael did not intend to hesitate in pressing forward. Since Tar had been here before, he allowed her to take the lead and followed her path up, while the others kept an eye out for any signs of activity from the Tengmaa. While it was not a quick climb, the first three up made steady progress to the top. Along the way, Vael used an energy dagger to make small cuts in the rock to mark his path for those behind him. Hopefully, it would make the task at least somewhat easier for his allies. After he, Ryker, and Tar made it to the top, Vael ordered the rest of the Humans to follow suit. It would be a more difficult task for the unaugmented Humans like Roy or Flint, but Vael had Aviza climb near them to give assistance if need be. Grik would have a harder time than the Spartans, but the oversized forearms of Unggoy did make them rather strong climbers. At the end of the climb, making it to the top was ultimately not much of a relief, given that the storm was still raging at near the same strength as it had been when they found the cave. The terrain around them was rocky and uneven, the rain made it hard to see in much detail beyond a few meters, and the winds made it a challenge just to move around properly. Even just to communicate, they were dependent on their radios. "Even in this storm, it should not take long to reach the cannon, and it will serve to mask our approach. It is vital that the Keep not learn of our presence, so we must either not be seen, or leave no survivors."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker All Lucas could think of as they made their way up the slope to the outside world again was that this was incredibly reminiscent of more than one mission he took for ONI back in the war. Not that he was surprised, they were presently on what was more or less a black ops mission. Though from his conversations with ODST and marine vets, the overall feel of this was more common for standard UNSC missions than they want to admit, especially for the Hell Jumpers. Once they reached the top though, his DMR was on his shoulder, watching the cliff edges above them the best he could in the still raging storm. When there was mention of making sure the Keep didn't know about them, Ryker grinned. "You have at least two members of Aegis trained in assassination and covert obstacle removal here. Once we can see the cannons, give myself and Infiltrator 'Masam a few minutes and we can do both." Infiltrator Comi'Masam Following behind the commander, Ryker and the Commando as ordered, Comi came out just in time to hear what Lucas said and nodded. "Aye, we could do it, though if there are more of us that are trained in the skillset Infiltrators use, then the more the merrier. Honestly, this storm is good enough cover, our sniper equipped allies could remover any guards higher up and leave us to clear out the lower area without concern."</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu was the last to make it to the summit. The rain-covered surfaces did no one any favours, let alone himself. It felt like training. Just without the elder elites climbing after you to pull you off the climbing surface. He pulled himself up onto solid ground and shook his arms out. "Last man," Yalu mentioned to prompt the team that no one was left clinging onto the cliff. A pattern could be sensed in the radio chatter, Yalu noticed. They were thinking too far ahead for practical measures. He took out his needle rifle to peer down the optic at their surroundings. Good cover indeed. "Ryker, has a Promethean Vision module." Yalu gestured to him with his elbow. "Seems we have that as an edge. For now, it is time to move in silence." Yalu secured his needle rifle -- turning off the optic and bringing the needles back into the body of the weapon to shut off any bright lights on his person.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: the climb The climb up out of the cave and to the top of the ridge was difficult even for him. His species had natural enhancements that helped them climb but even climbing up this he could feel his methane tank catching the gusts of wind with its bulk and pulling him off balance occasionally. When finally at the top he made sure to stay low with a hand running along the stone next to him so he had something to grab on to if he was caught in another gust. At least now that they were getting closer they could see their massive objective a bit closer now. Speaking his opinion over comms as they continued their approach, "If we are not concerned about keeping the gun mostly intact to use after this engagement. Grik believes he has enough explosives combined with the remaining magazines for his gun to destroy the platform supports or its foundations to topple the gun." He couldn't tell if the platform had supports but it was likely given the terrain being uneven. Even the subtle erosion from fresh drilling and stormy weather could assist with this plan.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Shih and Vael 'Virisusai --- It took only an instant from the others' perspectives, but Shih ran as thorough of an analysis as she could on the practicality of sabotaging the platform from below. The others hardly had time to consider the suggestion before she started giving her report. "The storm is giving too much interference to my sensors for me to give a definitive answer. Whether or not an explosion of that yield could sufficiently destabilize the platform would depend on how well it is anchored. It is possible, and would certainly deal significant damage to the platform in any case, but it is possible that the cannon may remain operational." "So we could not simply place an explosive and leave. We would need to remain to ensure the cannon is disabled, and to kill any survivors." Vael remarked. "Yes, and I can jam their communications if it comes to that. As long as you leave no survivors, the Keep will not be alerted." Shih added. It seemed they did have options. Attempting stealth could allow them to silently achieve their objective without a firefight, but it was risky. Discovery would place their infiltrators in an exposed position, and they would have to fight the enemy at full strength. Opening with an explosive, even if it did not destroy the platform entirely, would still likely kill some, and disorient the rest. But, they would be guaranteed to have to fight here. "Spartan Ryker, your Forerunner sensors would make you the best suited to try to silently get close. Active camouflage will be useless in this storm, and the platform has little cover. I am not convinced that a silent approach would be best here; Grikgar's plan may be more likely to work. But, I would hear your assessment first. Vael requested. Compared to any other Human, Ryker would know best what Vael was asking for here. Unlike many other Sangheili, Vael cared little for pride when it came to strategy. He wanted to know, objectively, if Ryker believed his infiltration in this situation would be more likely to succeed than the alternative.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Recognizing what it was that Commander Vael was asking of him, Lucas sighed quietly and looked up towards the cannon, swapping modules over to the Promethean Vision and seeing what he could see, which was more than he would have admittedly given it credit for, as only heat signatures seemed to register, but even with that...We'd still need to get up the rock face, get Grikgar and his explosives in place... His brain continued to go over the details of what they would have to do in either situation and, while it couldn't do it as fast as Shih could, still came to a conclusion fairly quickly. "They're both uncertain and come with unique dangers and challenges. Mine comes from the fact that I'll be alone, Grik's has a chance of just not working like we need. So speaking objectively...I have to say stealth over chance. I've been in and out of plenty of Covenant installations, even before I was a Spartan. This? Nothing new. My concern is we know these guys are allied with the Prometheans, won't they have access to the Promethean tech as well?"</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko "We put the gun on a sudden lean, everything tips over," Yalu thought out loud. He held out his rifle horizontally in both hands, looking at it as he tilted the barrel end down. "What remains on the higher end, with their feet set to EVA combat, may fire stably down upon a stricken foe which wants for cover. A victory as swift as gravity." The suggestion had holes, Yalu knew. He was jogging tactical considerations as much as hoping such an approach might allow for a survivor or two, albeit alone in the jungle.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak While listening to the others discuss options, Tar sniffed the air and looked around. A tingle ran all the way down her arms and into her chest, taking cues from atmospheric pressure. Thinking back to when she was last here, Tar finally understood what was coming. "A rolling bank approaches… I say we use speed over stealth; take those buildings to shelter if it passes over." She scraped a couple of steps forward and looked through her carbine's scope just as the rapidly darkening sky suddenly lit up like daylight for a split-second. Tar studied the platform, looking for any signs they had been spotted. After a few seconds, a deafening boom washed over the mountainside they were on. The sky lit up again, and Tar growled. "We're exposed - whatever we do, we have to do it quickly!" The Commando looked over at the squad leader.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael heard and considered the advice of the members of his team. They all had their own expertise, and he could benefit from making use of it. Still, though they had a few options, a decision still needed to be made, especially when there was no clear "best" choice. "We cannot carry out our ambush and attempt stealth. An infiltrator would be in range of the explosives, if discovered. An ambush is the safer course. Most of their warriors will likely be in those structures on the east side of the platform. There are no guards underneath the platform, so Grikgar, you should be able to plant the charges on the supports underneath them." Pausing a moment, Vael started designating positions on the team's collective HUDs. "As Yalu suggests, we shall take positions on what will become the high ground. This ridgeline here will give a strong position for most of us. Aviza, Ryker, Yalu, take a position on the western ridge to create a crossfire. When the charges detonate, the Unggoy outside will most likely panic, so they will not be our priority. We will instead focus our fire on the exits to the structures to cut down the rest as they try to reach safety."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: setting up for the big boom Grik nodded in agreement with Vael's decision and began to get his gear situated. Turning off his shield and camo he looked to the leader. "Ok Grik will move to the position and plant the explosives. It might take Grik a little while, might have to crawl or climb over the edge momentarily depends on cover." Turning for a moment to survey the land in front of them that he could see to plan his course accordingly. "If there is nothing else, Grik will head out now while the storm is still providing cover." The grunt sounded excited to go and blow something up. He was well aware of what he needed to do and how to do it. His low sturdy frame making the strong winds less effective against him and would help to blind the grunts on patrol if they didn't have goggles. The rocky sometimes steep terrain was well suited to his climbing ability. All he had to do was stay low and slow but still move with purpose to lay the explosives and start their assault. With the rest of his ammunition and his proximity to the structure when he arrived Grik decided that he would take a flanking position on the opposite side of the structure after the explosives were set and open fire after the others start to. Giving them a false sense of a larger force and to give them nowhere to hide.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Nodding an affirmative to the plan their commander decided on, Lucas joined Aviza and Yalu in heading up to the western ridge. His DMR wasn't quite suited to this kind of bad weather fighting, but they should be close enough that his shots wouldn't be overly affected by the wind speed. Glancing at the others, he grins behind his helmet at the sight of Aviza's sniper rifle. WIth that, the plan should go over well enough. "So, how do we want to space out?"</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko A quick affirmative and Yalu was in line with Ryker. He strode forward with his needle rifle down and to one side. With any luck, the engagement would finish rapidly after it started. Yalu had to perform some mental unit conversion in his head to give Ryker an answer. "21 metres during combat. Until then, Tar is the huntress here." He did not elaborate. "Grikgar, signal ten seconds before detonation. We will ready weapons and shields as late as we can." It was tempting for Yalu to take off his helmet to see further past the storm cover. Every second leading up to the clash was making him more tense. Until then, more climbing, more stalking.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- The armored column had to move quickly to take advantage of the surprise they still had over their enemy. The open ground outside the walls would have made for a strong defensive position, had the city's garrison been able to see the attack coming. The plasma turrets alone atop the walls were far from sufficient to stop, or even slow down an armored assault. At the moment, they were able to push forward at max speed to close the gap to the city walls. Weapons fire from the mantis and scorpions at long range could tear apart the plasma turrets long before they could do meaningful damage to the vehicles. The plasma turrets were intended for anti-infantry or anti-aircraft roles, while other defenses would normally handle heavy vehicles. The push to the wall had been simple, with little resistance, but now that they were approaching the opening their ship had made, they were about to be stepping into much more danger. While the breach was not small, two scorpions side-by-side would only barely squeeze through. For their entire column, it was going to be a choke point. They caught a few glimpses of infantry through the opening, but machine gun fire from the scorpions forced them back into hiding. No doubt, they were scrambling to establish a defensive position inside. At the moment, the team could not know how many anti-tank weapons were already in position inside. The defenders would be scrambling to deploy them to the breach, but it had been less than a minute since landing. If they were lucky, they would be able to get a foothold inside before the enemy could arm themselves to deal with them, but the longer they took, the more the enemy would be able to fortify. "Shadows, stay back until we have a foothold inside. Everyone else, push forward!" Vael ordered. They were going to be pushing into an urban environment. The city did have streets wide enough to accommodate their vehicles, but it was still going to be far more cramped than the field they were in now. For armored units, urban fighting could be particularly dangerous, so they would need to be adaptable and alert for threats that could come from any angle. They did not know exactly what the other side of the breach looked like or where the enemy was positioned on the other side. There was only so much planning that could be done ahead of time; at a certain point, they had to adapt and improvise. How they decided to cross the choke point would be important to improve their odds.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker and Infiltrator Comi'Masam Leading a group of warthogs and a couple of other needlehogs, Ryker and Comi were already inside the breach, lighting up any infantry that they could see. However, once they were inside the walls, the needlehogs were in a very different situation, as their munitions were worthless against the walls and heavier protections offered by the urban environment. The warthogs equipped with standard armaments would have the penetration to clear out walls without having to risk their crews, but Ryker and the other needlehogs were going to have to hope they could catch the defenders between positions as they raced through the streets. {Light armor group is inside the walls and doing what we can to push back the city defenders. What's the plan for securing the buildings as we move? Needlehogs are good against infantry, but not much else.} Comi, meanwhile, was lighting up every Unggoy, Kig-yar, and Sangheili that exposed themselves long enough to take more than a couple of needles, keeping any of them holding anti-tank weaponry from getting an actual shot on both the Warthogs and the approaching scorpions and wraiths.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak As the breach was so small, a traffic jam inevitably ensued as the heavier armour filtered through into the city. Soldiers on the walls began firing small arms and chucking grenades down onto the vehicles beneath. Tar's Wraith hung back slightly and pounded the walls with blue balls of plasma. She tilted her plasma repeater as far up as it would go and sprayed the parapets, forcing some of the Sangheili there to take cover. Her shield flared as a carbine bolt pinged off the Wraith and into her face. "Clear the gap, move!" Tar yelled, ducking back down as far as she could go into her cockpit area as her gun overheated.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko With a hollow wheeze from its engine, Yalu swung his banshee around toward the walls. The close air support on his wings could fly over relative safety with all the anti air turrets on the walls blasted off their mounts, but the weather left visibility to be desired. Yalu's voice hummed quietly over the comms from the shelter of the prone cockpit. "We have the skies. Mark urgent targets for the hornets and banshees. We will be shooting down their aircraft as they come." Yalu did his friends a favour in the spare moment to do a strafing run on a parallel street to the wall to keep anti-armour teams pinned. The street lit up with rapid fire plasma bolts. No small arms fire did more than scratch at this distance. It was all he could do before enemy air support came onto the radar. He pulled up and boosted into the rain to gain altitude.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Armored Assault on a Shadow >>> Sieging the wall Grik continued to hold onto the lead troop transport as they began to crawl closer to the walls of the city. The breach in the wall was a tight fit for the vehicles and the defenders on the wall were not going easy or breaking their spirits. Yet it did not seem like they were getting the heavy weapons they had left to bear on the advancing armored column or the vehicles pouring through the gap. Small arms and anti-tank weapons were a likely cause for the amount of fire power heading towards the breach in the wall and the city beyond. The grunt had a good opportunity in his new suit, to show off its power and maneuverability on top of not being seen on the battle field before. This was a test run for non-simulated combat. Now would be a perfect time to test out its ability to clear walls and trenches knowing that it could easily dive off the wall if it got too hot. Leaping from the troop transport, Grik began moving through the armor around him to get to the wall quicker than the transport could. Evading so many tanks and other vehicles wasn't entirely easy, he found that he had to hitch a ride here and there on a tank or two to get out of the way but eventually made it to the wall. "Lift and shift your fire on the right wall." Grik called out over the radio. Slowly and deliberately he waited for the armor to shift its fire to allow him up while pinning down enemy forces. Being mindful of being shot from the other side the goblin mech scaled the wall to the top were most of the defenders seemed to be rallying and started with a barrage of heavy needles before he even got up to the top. Following the barrage quickly up the wall and beginning to open fire on the defenders keeping an eye on his shield strength and continuing to use cover when he was able too. Hopefully this would give the vehicles more time. To get through the gap.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- It went without saying that Grik's maneuver came by surprise to the defenders on the wall. The prototype goblin had far more mobility than would be expected from a vehicle of its type. The infantry on top of the wall were not equipped to overcome the heavy defenses of the mech, nor did they have much cover to hide from it. Those that Grik did not kill right away retreated quickly. In addition to taking a lot of the pressure from his team below, from the top of the wall, he would have a good view of the streets inside. With the light vehicles Ryker was leading having pushed through the gap, they had been able to put pressure on the enemy infantry pretty much immediately. They had forced many of them to scatter and seek hard cover, which meant the tanks pushing through the breach behind them did not have any sort of organized frontline to try to stop them. Plasma mortars from allied wraiths sailed overhead to bombard groups of enemies that could be seen rushing towards the walls in the distance, while shells from scorpion tanks were targeted more precisely at closer groups. While their armored column was able to establish a foothold in the walls, moving forward still presented more dangers. Not long after they started to advance, a flash of green shot out from off to the right in front of them, from the doorway of one of the buildings. A fuel rod struck one of the warthogs, sending it rolling until it crashed into a barrier on the opposite side of the street. A second fuel rod fired quickly and struck the front of the lead scorpion, though from a single shot, there was no penetration through the tough armor. The shooter quickly ducked back into the building, but Vael marked the target for his wraith's driver. It fired one plasma mortar, then another back-to-back. Between the two of them, the small structure collapsed entirely. "We have neither the time nor forces to secure every building. We shall use our armor to destroy any place they may hide. Our objective is the Kaidon. Should Tar defeat him in honorable combat, then the city shall recognize her right to lead. Advance straight to the keep, as quickly as possible." Vael ordered. The city, of course, was not strictly a military stronghold, though Vael did not seem concerned by differentiating between military and civilians. The building the wraith had collapsed looked to have been a residence, but it was no less of a target to him. In the air, the blockade runner was still close enough to provide support, as well as serving as a target for the attention of ground-based AA. Yalu and the other banshees could use it to gain an edge over the incoming banshee squadrons. However, their ship could not continue to soak up damage forever. An alert went out that there would be two minutes before the blockade runner retreated. Once that happened, any pilot still in the air over the city would be in much more danger.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Those are many civilian buildings going up, Yalu thought to himself. The first line of them had little warning. Would the others have time to get out of the line of fire? There was no time to act on it now. Enemy aircraft were showing up on his motion sensor before his eyes caught them through the poor visibility. They could see him and his wingmates. Yalu dove to gain speed and lined up a close shot on one banshee to the left. A few plasma bolts flew out to force evasion. The enemy rolled to one side -- a manoeuvre not easily interrupted. Yalu mouthed a prayer and lead a fuel rod into its path. The sky lit up for a second. Yalu figured something out. "Air, pull back towards the blockade runner," Yalu said over comms. "Do not cover me." It was a relatively straight path to the kaidon's palace from the breach in the wall. A wide, main parade street at that. Yalu swung around and dove for the street level at full boost, trailing lines of bright plasma and several enemy banshees behind him. He levelled roughly thirty metres from the ground and kept going at full speed. He would be below the anti-air batteries and very much in view of any civilians left in the area. Hopefully his risky flight path would give them notice enough to evacuate under the pretence of leading the enemy away.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai "It is possible your intuition is correct, Spartan." The Major answered to Ryker. "ONI has accepted that as a possibility as well. Should you arrive to find the situation is drastically different from our predictions and are unable to contact us, then you should exercise your best judgment to act in the interests of the UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios. But, the evidence we have does lean more strongly towards rebels being the guilty party. Shih, if you please." The AI brought up a different set of images, this time close-up shots from multiple angles of the weapons recovered from the attack, two plasma rifles and an energy sword, as well as detailed shots of some of the plasma damage on the walls. "The markings were found on the energy sword, and were not prominent. Based on previous patterns where it has been seen, it may be a custom of this particular Brute clan to mark trophies they take, perhaps as an insult to the previous owner. They could have been mistaken for battle damage, and the rebels may have not realized they planted marked weapons. If we are right, their goals with the attack were still successful. We may be careful and methodical in our investigations, but the court of public opinion is not so patient. Tensions on the planet are already rising as the colonists blame each other. The rebels may be taking the strategy of driving a wedge between us and the public." "Whether it is rebels you find or another threat, it is still our job to act. Aegis is not merely a strike team. You all were not just chosen for your combat ability, but also your loyalty, judgment, and adaptability. In this mission, and others, you will be called upon to go into uncertain situations that are too dangerous or time-sensitive for traditional espionage. You will need to investigate on your own and act in the best interest of our respective governments." Major Robinson added.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Grikgar sat quietly while he listened to the others talk, some of them seemed like they didn't share his excitement for missions or just didn't realize that the Unggoy was never taught how to be professional. When your entire military Career is, "these are your orders see you in paradise." He was never taught how to be appropriate for the most part. Understanding how to act on the battlefield was an entirely different situation than this. The topic and general mission briefing quickly continued as another human entered the room. By the way the others saluted him he was definitely high ranking, then again most ship masters and captains where. The AI he used wasted little time going through what was happening, Grik honestly didn't understand a lot of it but he was able to get the overall gist of what was being said. Then came the pictures of the massacre and some of the weapons used. "Well at least it is easy to see that brutes didn't do that." His voice still sounding a little electronic but not as high pitched as a normal grunt. "Computer lady said the brutes where trading for supplies right? Then that means Brutes are hungry." Pointing towards the pile of human corpses, "Brutes like the taste of other aliens and they really like the flesh of humans. So if this was brutes you would see limbs cut off or gnawed upon." The grunt didn't seem too phased by what he was talking about but by the way he was talking about it one could assume he had seen it before. Soon the AI continued on about the mission and onto where they thought the rebels and brutes where. Vael's words also made him think about it too, he didn't know what this 'Sarcophagus' was but it sounded large and important, important enough to have a settlement of elites and humans on it with their own warriors and ships. When the AI described it as a forerunner instillation the Unggoy became quiet and seemed to shrink into his seat. Almost as if he was just now grasping the seriousness of the situation. Once the diagram of the instillation began to expand so too did Grikgar continue to tilt back in his seat to follow the hologram until he inevitably fell back in it crashing to the floor. He stood back up quickly and tried to set the chair back up only to find that the back of it had broken off. Sitting back down in the half broken chair the grunt looked up at Vael with a sort of "oops" shrug. Now it seemed that the Spartan was going to talk next while Grikgar spun in the broken chair looking at the hologram. The AI and scary human lady continued to talk for a bit longer before seemingly to pause for questions. "Grikgar has question." Looking to the AI then to the scary lady who he already forgot the name of, "Grikgar was part of fleet that chased you're…" he paused for a moment both to remember and look to Vael for any indication that what he was saying was a little much. "Demon- err, Spartan 117 to holy ring. There we learned Spartans where not real monsters." Again pausing trying and failing to gauge visual ques from his commander to not continue, "Will Grikgar have to fight parasite again?" the Unggoy was quiet almost as if he was a little timid for once. Although he hadn't seen a lot of combat with the flood, being an Unggoy special operative he has seen what they can do and they always seemed to be lurking in forerunner instillations.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Major Robinson and Vael 'Virisusai --- For once, the Major did not have an immediate answer when Grik posed his question. Despite his surprisingly insightful comments regarding the Brutes, Robinson had not paid him too much attention, even when he broke one of the chairs. However, his question caused her to raise her brow. "You mean the Flood?" She knew what he was referring to, but the connection to why he was bringing it up was not immediately clear to her. Vael, however, understood Grik right away. He had already given the Unggoy a low growl out of annoyance for his clumsiness, but he did not do the same for his mention of the parasite. Normally, he might chastise an Unggoy, or any other of his warriors, for cowardice, but Vael too had the misfortune of having to face the Flood during the war. It was the one opponent to which Vael felt no shame in saying he feared. The parasite was a horror he would not wish upon even the San'Shyuum. "These shield worlds were intended to preserve life when they used the rings. The researchers at Sarcophagus have found no presence of Flood." Vael answered to Grik, basing his words off of the information he had been reading from his data pad. "Yes, well, you all have your orders." The Major continued. "I will also ensure you all have access to the relevant mission files when you arrive on the ship. Now, as to the matter of Aegis Team's command structure, the UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios have come to an agreement on a non-standard command hierarchy. Depending upon the context of your individual missions, either the UNSC or Swords will be given operational authority. Meaning, the command of the team will be given to either Vael, or myself. However, as I am not a field agent, it will be one of you taking command in the field. Spartan Aviza Morgenstern, in light of your service history, you have been authorized a promotion to Fireteam Leader. For this mission, the UNSC has been given operational authority, so you will be in command of Aegis Team. Also note that Vael will be considered your second-in-command, and when the Swords have operational authority, you will likewise be considered his second-in-command."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Shield World 006, sometimes known as Sarcophagus but more commonly known as ONI Research Facility Trevelyan had become partly-common knowledge among some of the UNSC. Aviza remembered hearing about the joint UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios Onyx United Research Project and that it contained a growing settlement with a population in the thousands. A few scenarios as to why the Brutes and or Rebels would want to attack such a colony that was undoubtedly heavily protected ran through the Spartans mind, perhaps it was for the Forerunner technology that was undoubtedly being integrated into humanities own, to create unrest among the UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios as had been suggested, or for some other unknown reason. Regardless their reasons, the fact that they would be traveling to Shield World 006 drew great interest for Spartan Aviza. From her knowledge, Shield World 006 was the largest Forerunner creation known to the galaxy, and being able to explore such a place caused a small flare of excitement. The mention of Remnant forces was oddly something Aviza had not considered until the moment, but then decided that if the Remnant had indeed carried out the most recent assaults, they would have been much more clean, precise, and well executed. The Remnant were more of a threat than the brutes, in all areas, and fighting them would prove quite a challenge. The Unggoy known as Grikgar had broken the chair he had be leaning back in, but had also brought up very good points that she had somehow over looked for the time being. He was correct, if the Brutes were as hungry as they appeared to be, why would there have been human corpses laying about? Clearly, Grikgar was much more intelligent than his fellow Unggoy, the thought of Yap Yap the Destroyer ran through her mind but was quickly pushed back at the mention of the flood. Aviza had heard of the Flood, seen videos and images of them, and even fought against simulations of them in War-Games but fighting them first hand was nothing she had experienced, and in all honestly, was not something she ever wanted to do. Thankfully though, Vael 'Virisusai explained that it was impossible for the Flood to be on Shield World 006. What happened next came as a surprise to Spartan Aviza Morgenstern, she knew Vael 'Virisusai and Major Robinson were in command of Team Aegis, but being selected as the Fire Team Leader caught her off guard. Still with her calm and collected demeanor, Aviza responded by standing then giving a momentary firm but crisp salute. "It is my honor to not only be chosen as Fire Team Leader but also to work with the Swords of Sanghelios, I will carry out my orders in the best interest of the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios as a whole." Once she was finished speaking, Aviza would grab onto her helmet with her left hand, assuming that they would be departing very shortly.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 This was not what Ben had expected, but he went with it. "Ben, be advised that our team leader has not been briefed on your-" Ben silenced the AI by focusing his eyes on an option to silence Phong which had been programmed into his HUD. Vael knew at least some of Ben's background as an assassin whose real mission was to shoot traitors, cowards, and anyone who would threaten the fragile alliance between humans and the Elites, but Aviza might as well have been Grikgar for all she knew about him. And Ben was under very clear orders NOT to let more people know about his true purpose; he might as well have outranked any of them for the purposes of preventing an interspecies incident. If the mission had to fail in order to keep the peace, Ben wouldn't hesitate to make that happen. They could always deploy a second team, guaranteed, but there was no guarantee that humanity could survive another war. Still, he was also under orders to cooperate while the mission proceeded, and following Aviza was temporarily a part of that. He swallowed his disgust for the Spartan IV program and spoke up to Aviza. "Just make sure that the team keeps to its mission and that we do nothing to jeopardize the alliance. I hope the seriousness of the situation isn't lost on anyone. The human race nearly died in the last war, and that was before the Halo rings were discovered and all sapient life was nearly exterminated. I trust we will all be on our best behavior." "Do you want to see the odds that you're going to have to kill at least one of the team? They're getting higher every minute. The success rate of a mission led by a Spartan falls with every generation after the Spartan IIs. Even when-" Ben muted Phong once more, taking great care not to show any emotion or distrust by his body language. He had kept his helmet on the entire time, so nothing showed from that front.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Making the medic the Team Lead...alright, well, seen stranger things in my life. Lucas hadn't spoken again over the course of the briefing, choosing instead to absorb the information about the mission and only whistling quietly when Shih gave them a holographic look at the sheer size of Sarcophagus. The SPARTAN-IV had been on several missions both inside and on the surface of that Forerunner dome and it always amazed him that they'd pulled off getting it built before originally firing the rings. With the briefing finishing shortly after, and after reassurances that the Flood weren't present within the installation, which Ryker wasn't sure if he believed or not, the team was dismissed with the naming of Aviza as Fire Team Leader. He had no reason to delay heading to the Falcon other than to let the Mgalekgolo get on first. The Pelican ride was quiet, as no one yet wanted to break the social ice, but then he couldn't say he was surprised. Aviza was likely mentally preparing herself to be in charge in the upcoming mission, the other two Spartans likely SPARTAN-IIIs and weren't keen on conversation anyways and the former Black Ops operative wanted nothing to do with the pair of ONI spooks unless he absolutely had to, he'd left ONI for valid reasons and he wasn't about to answer questions about his past with the Office of Naval Intelligence from people who didn't need to know. So while they were in transit between the landing pad the Pelican had started on and the UNSC Chorus of Thunder, he simply enjoyed the view. He had decided that he would learn the most about their Swords allies once they had all settled in on the Heavy Cruiser and were able to get some training together in. [i]Actually...they had the module installed already, so maybe we CAN get some training in, perhaps some one on one custom games or something. At the very least, I'm gonna run some combat sims, keep acclimating to this dagger that a Spec Ops Sangheili had given him after a few missions together. Her name was Comi'Masam, one of the leaders for a Swords of Sangheilios Spec Ops squad operating in another part of the Arm of Orion. His previous fire team, Regis, had worked in tandem with them for several months shutting down a series of Covenant Remnant operations and cells. During that time, she'd helped him improve his skill as an assassin and with the twin energy daggers he used and before he'd left, had gifted him a more traditional energy dagger to aid in completing his missions with Aegis team. While romantic attraction wasn't his cup of tea, the Sangheili female had earned his trust in a way no one since he'd joined ONI had and he considered her a close friend. When Spartan Ops had asked for recommendations for Aegis from his previous post, they had been somewhat surprised that her name was the one he'd put forwards. When asked why he didn't put forwards other members from Regis Team, his answer had been simple. "These are war vets who fought the Covenant for nearly two decades before the War ended. Most of them could barely stand the Spec Ops team and that was a series of joint operations. Asking them to have to take orders from one of them on occasion?" SPARTAN Ops had let the issue lie and said they'd talk with the Swords. As he felt the Pelican begin to settle down on the hangar deck aboard the Chorus, the SPARTAN-IV flexed his wrist experimentally, igniting the blade of the dagger. "Never get tired of that..." He gave a couple of small swings and thrusts with it before he deactivated it and looked around as the loading ramp lowered. Aviza was first off and headed to the Mess Hall, leaving an open invitation for the others to join her if they wished, but Lucas was sticking to his plan. "Right, well, you have fun with that Fire Team Leader. I'm heading to the War Games module, get some training in before the mission starts. Gotta get adjusted to some newer equipment and it never hurts to stay sharp."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael took a brief moment to review his map of the ship. It was detailed to the extent that it showed him the path to each place he would need to go as a passenger. The cruiser was of comparable size to a CCS-class battlecruiser, though somewhat smaller. Regardless, he doubted he would have need to see most of it. Briefly, Vael considered simply waiting in the quarters he had been given until they arrived. Provided what the Captain had said was true, everything that he was bringing with him was already in his quarters, aside from his weapons. He had multiple sets of armor with him, including the one he was wearing, another environmentally-sealed combat harness, and another that he kept for…sentimental reasons. Checking over his equipment was an option, but ultimately, he felt that the time he had could be used more productively. These "War Games" did have Vael's interest. From what he understood, they could simulate combat situations with surprising accuracy. He was skeptical that it could truly compare to battle itself, but he could see its value in training. Several of the others seemed to intend to use the simulator while they could, but while Vael did want to see his team in combat, he decided that it was important that he take some time to speak with Spartan Aviza. She was the Fireteam Leader for their mission, but they were both leaders of this team, and it was their responsibility to ensure they guided their team efficiently. Vael gave a brief glance to Spartan Ryker. He appeared to have integrated an energy dagger into his armor. The Humans had began integrating reverse-engineered Covenant technology into their own, though in this case, it appeared to be an energy dagger taken from a Sangheili harness and integrated into his own. While Sangheili did place special importance on the energy sword, a simple dagger did not carry the same cultural weight. Though, it was his opinion that the Spartan embarrassed himself by swinging it around like a child playing with a knife. In any case, Vael put away his data pad and followed after Aviza. He remained wordless at first, but did eventually turn his head down towards her as he walked alongside her. "We should speak about our team, Spartan. I fear it shall be to our detriment that we will not have the chance to train sufficiently as a unit before this mission."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Hearing the good news that it was unlikely that he would have to face off against any of the parasite relived him. Did that mean that he still didn't have to worry? Not really but at least he could relax a little. It would seem the first phase of their mission would be recon then move into search and destroy with the possibility of all out combat with the brutes. Grikgar could only hope he could get the opportunity to rally the other Unggoy with the brutes to fight against them. Still if they didn't, he had no problem killing all of them. The captain and the others seemed rather interested and in a hurry to get off planet. He couldn't blame them really he was also excited to get back into the thick of it. Boarding the pelican and finding an uncomfortable spot next to the Spartan that called himself Ben. A rather bumpy and quiet ride for the most part, Grikgar was happily bobbing his head from side to side listening to some human music he was sure was loud enough to be heard through his helmet. Grik didn't care, this whole experience was exciting to him. It wasn't too much longer and they had landed, the Spartan Aviza was the first off the pelican but didn't seem to be in as much of a hurry as the other two humans. He was unsure exactly why they were with them but o well, humans are weird. A simple map of the ship displayed briefly on his visor with a small point that marked where he was and another that marked his room. The design of the ship was strange and the exterior of the ship matched the interior, all these human ships lacked color and design. Every ship in the former covenant was a work of art in shape and color. However, he figured it was a luxury the humans couldn't afford. The female Spartan spoke up again, something about a mess hall and food. Food was definitely something he could get behind. He was unsure of the mess hall though, "Why do Spartans eat in a messy hall?" he asked not really speaking to anyone in general. The Unggoy almost happily waddling slowly behind his commander as he followed them out of the pelican and down the corridor towards the messy hall.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben made a bit of room for Grikgar, something he wouldn't have normally done for another Spartan unless he was outranked, and even then, not always. He walked with the Unggoy, finding that he strangely didn't mind the alien, despite having put countless bullets into the heads of Grik's fellow Grunts during the war. And plasma blasts. And grenades. And Ben had beaten more than a few Grunts to death with his weapon, including some which were asleep at the time. "It's just a name. We prefer to keep it very clean. Take care you don't leave any footprints on the floors. They didn't take Unggoy equipment into account when building it. Also, I'm not entirely sure they'll have food you can eat in the mess hall itself, but they should have brought some food for you aboard the ship. You can have whatever you want, I suppose, just try not to make a mess, please." Without saying another word, he activated Phong and then let the AI figure out what he needed to know. Even when turned "off", Phong still recorded every word Ben spoke within range of his helmet's microphone, and would have deduced that he wanted to know if there was anything an Unggoy could consume in the mess hall. Even a dumb AI had deductive capacities, after all. "My files on Unggoy anatomy are extensive, yet details are somewhat sparse on the workings on their digestive systems. Still, there should be no problem if an Unggoy ingests most human beverages, and they should be able to digest human foods with a liquid base such as soup. Would you like to see a list of possible allergens, or a list of foodstuffs native to-?" It was almost like a father having to vet a cafeteria for his son. Ben turned Phong "off" once more mid-sentence, insofar as such a setting was honestly labeled. "When we're done eating, I'll head to the AR deck for training. I don't know what they had in the Covenant, but it's probably not the same thing." It dawned on Ben that the Covenant might very well have had more advanced training decks and that this could very well be a downgrade in Grikgar's eyes.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu could say plenty about the team's more expressive members by the way they received the meeting. Grikgar in particular shone clearest as an unggoy that betrayed quite the raft of experience. If he served on Thel 'Vadam's fleet at the holy ring, he was either skilled, impossibly lucky, or both. Yalu did not dismiss him for his antics. As for the mission, Yalu did not expect it to be straightforward. With the amount of unknowns they would be contending with, there was little he could expect for sure. Putting down a rebellious strike was vague, and that was to mention nothing of the possible areas they could be lurking. The sarcophagus, while an awesome construct, was just as big a maze to hide in by the looks of it. And that was that. Yalu mused to himself that he would have plenty of reading to do of the mission files. However, he realised how stiff his legs felt when he stood up to follow the team to the drop ship... --- Yalu was not at all hungry by the time they reached the cruiser. He was getting drowsy, and he did not like it. Ryker's energy dagger drew his eye when it lit up. "Spartan Lucas Ryker," Yalu addressed the human as he had introduced himself beforehand. "My journey to Earth has left me sluggish. Does your War Games module accommodate sparring? If you carry that dagger, you must have learnt how to use it."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern "You have a valid point Vael, we may not get another chance to discuss the mission, since time is indeed limited." said Aviza, all the while looking at up the Sangheili who had oddly decided to stand across from her, and not take a seat like she had. "I just remember the Major instructing us to not speak about mission sensitive details while in public areas, but perhaps we can bend the rules slightly for the moment being, due to how important the matter is." Aviza leaned slightly forward in her seat, repositioning herself to be more comfortable before continuing. "What aspects of the mission would you like to discuss, Vael?" As soon as Spartan Aviza had finished speaking, one of the ships crewmen who had been assigned to the mess hall for that morning walked over to their table and set down a plate with Aviza's coffee, which was inside of a metal mug, and a small cup of creamer to be used as she saw fit. Wasting no time, she thanked the man before pouring a bit of the creamer into her coffee and stirring it with the spoon she had been provided. "Are you going to take a seat or stay standing like that for the whole conversation?" inquired Aviza, before taking a sip of her coffee.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael glanced down at the table, his mandibles flaring out slightly as he let out a brief grunt. "Your chairs are too small." He answered, simply and quickly. "And we have no need to discuss the details of our specific mission, only how we intend to lead this team. I am not completely familiar with the rules and traditions you Humans have in your military, but I do have more than enough experience to know they are different from Sangheili command. You are the Fireteam Leader of this mission, and the orders you give may not be the ones my people expect. My people may take initiative, may take action in ways that you would expect your people to only do under orders. Likewise, my people may also await orders for actions you expect them to do on their own. The reason we were originally intended to go through extensive training before our first mission was so our team as a whole could learn how they were expected to act under each other's command. Quite simply, we do not have the time to solve that problem before our missions, so the two of us need to anticipate these problems and be ready to adapt." --- Major Robinson --- It had not been long after their arrival on the UNSC Chorus of Thunder that Spartan Rex's presence had been requested by Major Robinson. She requested him to join her in a small briefing room somewhat near to the officers' quarters. When he arrived, he would find her alone, standing at an inactive holographic display table at the center of the room, looking through files on her datapad. The Major spoke the moment the door closed shut behind Rex. "Spartan Rex-G124." She said, as if repeating it directly from the file in front of her. "I have read your file, Spartan, including the parts withheld from the rest of your team. I will admit, I argued against your selection for this team, but my superiors felt differently. They felt your skills and ability to act both in a team, and autonomously should the situation demand it, will be important to ensuring your mission objectives are completed. I agreed with them on your skills, but I also read what happened with those pirates, and I did not dismiss those concerns so quickly. So, I want to hear your own assessment on yourself, Spartan. Are my superiors right, or are my concerns justified?"</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Continuing to follow the commanders down the hall at a quick pace. Grikgar was now entirely curious to find out what this mess hall was all about and what kind of 'food' these humans had. Where they just nipples and used solely for nutrients or did they have comfort foods? All questions that were answered when they got close to the room. His senses were already being bombarded with different smells. Unggoy where particularly good at following their noses and this room already didn't disappoint. There were a lot of people in this large room, rows of tables bordered with what looked almost like tall vending machines adorned with a holographic monitor to dispense food. Grik had grabbed two plates after watching a couple of marines press a few buttons and see their trays fill up with food. This simple aspect of their life was almost a dream to the Unggoy. He was well aware he wouldn't find anything familiar so he knew there was a lot of guess work to it. He spent more than the others did flipping through the pages and acquiring what he thought he wanted, even going as far as asking some of the marines what they were getting. Not very many answered him with food items. Soon he found himself carrying two trays loaded down with drinks, various carbs, and more than a few extra helpings of seafood. He seemed very proud of what he had. Finally setting his things down on the table he awkwardly sat down in the seat given to him. The two fire team leaders seemed very intent on their discussion and he payed them no mind other than having to look around the pile of food to see them. The Unggoy took his helmet off and placed it next to him on the table, a smaller portion of the mask remained over his nose for him to breathe exposing his small but scarred bald head, green eyes, and small sharp teeth. The little guy seemed intent on sampling everything first before digging in. he was obviously unaware of how to properly eat things, taking a bite out of the side of a banana without peeling it first was a sign of this. These things did not bother him, small bones in the fish? Devoured, Shells on crab legs and claws? Crunched. The grunt also did not use any of the utensils that came with the tray picking up and eating everything with his hands. Until he came to what he was told was a ghost pepper, the marine that told him about was laughing when he said it so it couldn't be that bad right? He didn't sample this one even if he should have, instead Grik just popped it into his mouth and quickly chewed then swallowed. After a few silent minutes of him to really think about how it made him feel, it soon occurred to him that his mouth was nearly on literal fire. Eyes going wide he sat up straight coughing, he felt like he was choking and began scrambling for something liquid that he had gotten. During his commotion of trying to grab one of the bowls of seafood chowder, one of the two plates fell to the floor spilling the other half of its contents. At the same time, he guzzled down the warm soup to extinguish the fire inside him, clearly making a mess of himself as not all the white chowder made it down his gullet. The empty bowl fell to the floor, the grunt laid back in his chair exhausted, "why… why does plant hate Grikgar?" Grik slowly sat up and began cleaning himself off. The grunt decided that maybe that was enough food for him and instead opted to take a drink of coffee instead. The taste compared to the pepper was heavenly. "Grik thought you said there were no drugs here?" he said as he kept drinking the coffee. Did these humans possibly create a monster hyped up on coffee? Possibly, only time will tell.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 Reluctantly, Ben took his helmet off. As with many Spartans, he felt more at home in his armor than anywhere else. Then again, there were some drawbacks. During a particularly long mission, his armor stank to high heavens and low hell after spending all of several weeks in it, only removing his helmet for brief periods to hastily consume his rations. He cut a rather fearsome appearance, with short, dark brown hair bordering on black, dark green eyes set against his pale white complexion, his face marked by long scars he'd been given by a Sanghelli in one of his first missions. Had the blade cut much closer, he would have lost one or both eyes if not his head. Each scar ran diagonally, one above the other, each running from above his left eye and moving down to beneath his right. Ben ordered some simple fare, finding it a welcome change from the MREs he so often subsisted on out of necessity. He ordered the turkey dinner with orange juice on the side, no dessert. The turkey itself was quite good, and it reminded the spartan of a time he was on Reach long ago, back when moa nuggets weren't a rare delicacy. It was perhaps the only guilty pleasure of his entire life, and thanks to Reach's glassing, moa meat was off the menu. He wasn't sure if the moa had been exported or not, but it wasn't really a priority for him to find out right now. The rations aboard the ship were generous, and had been since the war had ended. It took an entire plate just to contain Ben's food, with almost no room for the OJ. Ben had settled down when he heard Grikgar coughing. Concerned, he wheeled around, only to find that the Unggoy was alright after all; it was simply a matter of overly-spicy food, not a choking situation or a case of food poisoning. Of course, Grik's food manners were abominable, eating everything by hand, making a mess, and dressing in what would definitely be considered out of uniform by UNSC regulations. Of course, half the Covenant had dressed poorly by humanity's standards. Ben had actually used this to his advantage once, tossing a sharpened stone underneath the bare foot of a Brute as he was on patrol. It did little to actually harm the bear-like alien, but it definitely caused enough pain to distract him and let Ben evade detection. He walked over to Grik, giving him some extra napkins to wipe himself off with. The Grunt had proved himself to adeptly play the part of a messy child. At least, a normal child. Ben himself never made a mess as a kid himself, and the discipline was quite harsh when it came to keeping things tidy back in his Spartan III training days. He didn't know what Grikgar's childhood had been like, but from what he knew, Grunts in the Covenant military were also trained from the youth, albeit for a much shorter time, given their faster rate of growth and short childhood. "Coffee has a very mild stimulant called caffeine. It's not really addictive or harmful unless consumed in a very large amount. Still, too much caffeine can make you hyper, especially if you have a low body mass. Hmm. I suppose you aren't that light, but I don't know how caffeine will affect your biology. Probably best to keep to one cup of coffee." Although he didn't show it, Ben secretly found the notion of an overcaffinated Grunt to be quite amusing. "Maybe you'd like some orange juice instead? It's not even remotely addictive, I promise you. Now, let's get this cleaned up, okay? And on a minor note, we don't eat most foods with our hands around the UNSC. Perhaps I'll show you how to use a fork, knife, and spoon next time." He realized that he had been talking much more than usual. It was interesting, having someone to look after, even in this small way and in this one instance.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker The remark draws a chuckle from the Spartan as the duo approaches the War Games simulation area, stopping to call an elevator for them. "Yeah, I imagine the thought of fighting with our crazy asses is much more appealing than fighting against us. Gotta level, fighting with a Swords spec ops team...let's say it's a welcome change of pace watching those active camo shrouded forms appear behind the enemy instead of behind a friend." Once the elevator had arrived, Lucas allowed Major Yalu'Suumko to board before he did and selected the floor it was on. "It was also very...enlightening. Seeing your people in a capacity other than as warriors and leaders. It was...pleasant."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Major Robinson --- However the team decided to spend the few hours they had, it did not take long after their departure from Earth for Major Robinson to call the team to muster in one of the hangars. With the upgraded slipspace drives that new UNSC ships, like the Chorus of Thunder, had been receiving, journeys through slipspace were no longer the time consuming voyages they had once been. Their ships could now best even Covenant ships for speed. Even aside from that, Sarcophagus was not a long jump from Sol. For any who might have had access to external windows or cameras, their arrival in the system might have seemed somewhat bizarre. Sarcophagus was a complete shell, almost unfathomably large, fully enveloping the star, and the Chorus of Thunder entered the system just outside of it. The only light came from distant stars, which was far from enough to illuminate the megastructure. From the perspective of the ship, there was only blackness on one side of them, as if all of the stars in that direction had been extinguished. Inside the hangar, there was another surprise waiting for them in the form of a vehicle that was clearly being prepped for the mission. It was a Mammoth, though nonstandard in a few obvious ways. The most notable modification was that the mini-MAC had been removed, and overall, it seemed like a somewhat stripped down, lighter version of the vehicle. Although, that did not reduce the size of the aptly-named vehicle; it would still require something like a Heron dropship just to get it to the ground. Vael was fully-equipped and ready for the mission. He had opted for his usual selection of weapons, with a carbine, plasma rifle, energy sword, and a handful of plasma grenades. Combined with his active camouflage, he could be versatile with the situations he could deal with. After the usual formalities, the Major addressed the team as a whole. "Alright, you all have the relevant mission files and you know your objective, so I will keep this brief. We've dropped out of slipspace outside the Dyson shell to avoid detection. You'll be inserting via Pelican through one of the entryways, and we'll be sending this in with you as well." She explained, gesturing to the Mammoth. "You'll need to approach from the ground to avoid detection by the Brute ships, and you'll have a bit of a drive ahead of you. This Mammoth has been modified to serve better as a mobile base for your team. It is stocked with weapons, supplies, and a pair of warthogs. Some of its heavier components have been removed to help improve its speed as much as possible. We have also installed improved communications equipment to intercept enemy communications and help you track down your targets." Once she had given her explanation, Major Robinson took a data crystal drive and handed it to Fireteam Leader Aviza. "Shih has been assigned to Aegis Team, as well. You may take responsibility for her yourself, Fireteam Leader, or assign her to another member of your team as you see fit."</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben's time in the mess hall passed quickly. Grikgar went about his business with the food, and the mess the Unggoy had made was cleaned up. Quickly finishing his own meal, the Spartan-III reported to the war games deck, where he proceeded to practice his sniping skills and use of grenades. There was less time than he had anticipated, as by the time he had moved on to training in the use of the grenade launcher, Phong (who he had unmuted at this point) contacted him. "Ben, I had received a signal from Major Robinson. Please proceed to the designated hangar immediately." Not that there was much of a choice. Phong had taken the liberty of ending the simulation in any event. Quickly gathering his gear, Ben-E218 made his way to join with the rest of the team. He stopped to find Grikgar still milling around the simulator. "Come on, Grik. You can tell me all about your virtual kill count later; it's time for the meeting." He briefly paused to wonder what Covenant mission briefings were like. It was probable that the Grunts were given much less explanation than the Elites had been told. Cannon fodder only needed to know where to be pointed. Still, he supposed that a Grunt like Grik would have been considered a bit more than the usual bullet-catchers his brethren were. An elite grunt- used in the sense of superior soldier- might have been afforded at least an explanation about why he was about to die and what he had to accomplish before that happened. Sarcophagus was impressive, despite being very hard to fully see in the dark. It was almost like a gigantic bowling ball set in a badly-lit room. Ben had his sniper rifle stowed on his back, and had a designated marksman rifle and a pistol with enough ammo for an extended engagement for all firearms. Doubtlessly, this wouldn't suffice, so he brought a complement of frag grenades and a combat knife along with him. Obviously, a one-man mission was out of the question, although he was technically the only one assigned to his special mission in the event one of the team proved to be a liability. "As a reminder, the capture or corruption of a UNSC AI is unacceptable, especially for AI whose rating is above my level." It wouldn't have been the first time Ben had to destroy a smart AI. At least they knew it was nothing personal and accepted their fate, insofar as an AI could be considered a "he" or "she." Even so, he hoped it didn't come to that. So far, nothing about the mission was too exotic or difficult to comprehend, even if it took place on a rather exotic location. Get down the surface and take a mammoth to a destination, then attack.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Tasumameyofaxre "Tasuma" Tasumameyofaxre<< Mgalekgolo Hunter >> << Autumn-class Heavy Cruiser - UNSC Chorus of Thunder >> The Mgalekgolo was pensive, entire wars had been fought over these Forerunner structures. The Covenant itself went to war with the ancient Lekgolo over the Forerunner structures over Te, and after the Covenant brought the Lekgolo into their fold. The Great War had many objectives tied to Forerunner artifacts and ruins, and after, the Covenant was destroyed. The Sangheili took their freedom back from the San'shyuum, and forming a friendship with the humans that they fought against not long ago. It seemed to Tasuma that whenever Forerunner anything was involved, great change would follow. When the team assembled to the hanger, Tasuma felt particularly alone. Before, it would always be with his bond brother. They were in constant communication, and while it was some consolation to know that Iteyi was alive and healing, the colony missed its brothers. The ODST Platoon was strange, Lt. Horn kept his troops on a tight leash. They were all so used to fighting alongside each other that they seemed more akin to a Lekgolo colony, than a unit of human warriors. They were often so rowdy, loud, and many of them liked to crowd around Tasuma. With them, it felt connected, feeling so many familiar entities around it. It reminded it of Te, a little. The Hunter looked at the Mammoth. Human war machines. They were beautiful in their own way. Practicality and usability seemed to be at the forefront of human design doctrine, and Tasuma could appreciate that. It sometimes sat down with some of the ODSTs, and listened to them discuss the many vehicles of the UNSC. It had heard of the Mammoth, supposedly a rolling firebase in of itself, armed with a 'mini-mac', a massive cannon that could fell spacebourne warships. This particular Mammoth was missing its weapon, to make it lighter and quicker. But its thick armored shell and massive wheels still provided protection and speed. Tasuma walked over to a small stack of crates near the Mammoth, marked with the symbol of the Swords of Sanghelios, and spray painted with the ODST's flaming skull droppod. It instantly knew what it was. It gently removed the tops of the three boxes, revealing its Assault Cannon, Pavise Shield, and a pouch with straps. It opened the pouch, and removed one of many rolled pieces of cloth. Tasuma unrolled it and draped the grasslands camouflage cloak over its head, shoulders and back. It wiggled its spikes, revealing that the camo cloak was cut in a way that allowed its spikes to move freely. Tasuma then strapped the pouch to its leg, and looked at the Assault Cannon and Shield. The Assault Cannon was a more modern variant, it had been using it for a number of months before joining Aegis, and along with the newer cannon, it had been given a newer version of the Pavise Shield. While Tasuma accepted the newer equipment, he only replaced his pauldron for the newer one. Opting to keep the older, longer and heavier version of the shield. It grabbed the pauldron and fastened it to its left shoulder, then placed both of its hands into the shield and cannon. Lekgolo worms flowed forward, filling the space. << Shield World 006 "Sarcophagus" >> Inside the Pelican, Tasuma's spikes were flowing freely. It was sensing its teammates around it. It was familiar with most of what was around it... Spartan-IV, Human, Sangheili, Unggoy. But some of the Spartans were different... very slightly different, but the differences didn't escape Tasuma. Were they from a different Spartan clan? And the one Tasuma had apologized to before, Aviza, it noticed the addition of something that wasn't there before. Perhaps it would ask later. "Contact!" Every Lekgolo in Tasuma's body tightened together, and in an instant the Hunter brought up its shield arm, slamming the tip of its shield into the ceiling of the Pelican, denting the metal plating. Tasuma took a step forward and braced itself, its spikes pressing flat against its back, and its gun arm pressing against its chest. Tasuma felt the drop ship rock back and forth, then there was a lurch. "We're hit strap in!" Not long after, the Pelican hit the ground. Another lurch, with violent shaking as the Pelican skidded. All the while Tasuma stood unmoving, having braced itself well. When the shaking stopped, Tasuma removed its shield from the ceiling, then approached the rear exit in a combat stance, assault cannon at the ready. Tasuma's spikes slowly rose to a threatening height, and it growled. While it didn't know how Aviza or Vael would command the team, it did know how a common Sangheili Commander in the Covenant Era would face the situation... likely with Unngoy and Kig-yar moving out first to attract fire, leaving the Sangheili, and Sharpshooter Kig-yar to destroy the Sentinels. It also knew how Lt. Horn would react, likely having some of his troops rip out armor paneling from the Pelican to use as shields, and then to destroy each Sentinel with focused massed fire. But with Tasuma... "Enemy, I attract. On your ready." Tasuma spoke.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Admittedly, Lucas hadn't anticipated any issues arising as the team boarded the Pelican and each found seats. As he settled into his own pre-mission flight routine, he pulled his sidearm free of its holster and started to disassemble it in his lap and reassemble it. He proceeded to do this several times over the course of the flight before finally reassembling it one last time and holstering it again before pulling one of his modified energy daggers free and activating it, letting the crimson colored energy hum quietly as he flipped the blade around in his hand. It was a joint Sangheili and human design that had only been issued to a handful of specialist SPARTAN-IVs with orders to give regular updates on things such as strange fluctuations within the blade, if it cuts out mid-combat, performance against other shielded enemies, such as Sangheili loyal to the Remnant, and other such odds and ends. Sending the regular reports back to the eggheads was somewhat obnoxious, but making the design more stable, and therefore more readily available to the rest of the Swords and Human military, was an important thing to do. Finishing the usual non-combat observations, he deactivates the blade and stores the hilt and starts filing away the usual report to be sent at mission completion after he'd had a chance to confirm the usual combat effectiveness when the pilots shout "Contacts!" Report filing forgotten, Lucas is already moving between members of the team to make sure their harnesses are secure before swiftly moving and securing himself. "Fireteam secure, Team Leader!" And not a moment too soon as he felt the Pelican shake from impact. The sound of the Mgalekgolo securing itself in place was startling, but not unexpected given it was too large to actually use the seats in the transport, but it was certainly unorthodox and an issue that they should address before the next mission. Bracing in his seat, the SPARTAN-IV rattled a bit with the rough landing, but other than that was fine and as soon as the ship quit sliding, was unhooked and had the twin SMGs in his hand. Vael'Virisusai made a good point about the issue with the precision weaponry against the Sentinel plating, but then, there was always another option, which admittedly required an answer to his question. "Are we looking at a group of Sentinels or a swarm? If it's a swarm, we may want to just get to the Mammoth and hope it's got enough turrets on it."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu's hands tightened on his seat. If there was any downside to human flight technology, it made Yalu feel the sudden lack of weight as they descended. He recited a mantra courage in his mind that kept his emotions level and cut off for every moment out of his control. They landed, roughly. They were jostled. The screaming metal ran out of momentum. One second passed before Yalu unbuckled himself in a precise flurry. He pulled his carbine out from his back when he joined the others scanning the exits, but had an idea when Vael gave his orders. "Noted, commander!" Yalu said, slinking over to the tripod-mounted machine gun secured to the loading ramp. While his comrades-in-arms before Aegis were content to tear such weapons from their swivels, Yalu took the extra second to squat and pull the quick release loose to slide it free. He hefted the three barrelled weapon around to stride heavily towards the door. "Ready." All Yalu needed was a moment to spin up while the hovering sentinels were distracted.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben followed the rest of the team as he considered the mammoth. It was a huge vehicle, and the sniper hadn't imagined he'd get to ride in one anytime soon, although he had completed certification for operating one some time ago just in case he had to. Such was typical fare for Spartans; even the IVs had to know how to operate most pieces of equipment in the UNSC. "Intriguing. Phong, when did they start putting these into service? We could have used this sort of firepower in Beta Aquilae." "Since 2553. Production of the M510 Mammoth and its variants has been slow due to extensive damage to the UNSC industrial base following the war-" "Thank you, Phong, that will be all." Large though it was, there was no way it was designed specifically to deal with Forerunner constructs. Humanity had barely come into any meaningful contact with that ancient civilization. Technically, no human had come into contact with them at all, at last to Ben's knowledge. The wealth of information from Forerunner equipment alone was enough to push human technology forward by many decades in a matter of years. Ben was no expert on how long technological advances 'should' take, but something seemed a little bit off about it to him, as if this sort of high-tech grave robbing constituted a form of cheating somehow. He joined the rest of them on the pelican, a vehicle he had ridden in many times before. He had been attacked in-flight before, and he had even hijacked vehicles in mid-air before. What he hadn't counted on doing was facing a swarm of Forerunner tech, although he had handled a rather more fragile swarm of covenant drones.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The most eager allies took point ahead of Yalu. He made sure to find a place after Commander 'Virisusai so as not to steal unearned glory, though he was not hesitant. Morgenstern threw herself out of the pelican, then 'Virisusai, then Tasuma, then Ryker, and then Yalu loped out with the momentum of his human machine gun. He followed Ryker until just under the tail of the pelican, ducked across to the right of the pelican's rear, and lowered himself. He the spin of his weapons barrels required a bit of correction as he levelled his aim, and then... Shields flashed on the sentinels. They banked from the gale of high calibre rounds as bright flashes lit up the underside of the dropship tail. Sparks flew at the first two bullets that broke through the instant before a sentinel burst and fell with a heavy clatter. Yalu stopped firing to line up with another cluster of targets. "One down!" he shouted. More noise and tracers leapt out of Yalu's weapon. Another sentinel directed its beam across his energy shield a moment before it was overwhelmed by rapid fire. He had an arc of beside Tasuma and Ryker covered for now. A couple more beams and he would have to withdraw to recharge.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Planets Surface Grikgar waited for the Lekgolo to move out as it seemed a few of the humans where the first to get out and into the fray. Their tactics mirrored his own being the first out and last in just not as well trained to begin with. Tasuma rushed forward after a few others making itself a living barrier between them and the trench the pelican had made. A Spartan took up a position behind the hulking alien, he seemed to be using weapons better suited to go after the sentinels that didn't have shields. Grik moved quickly up behind the hunter pressing his methane tank up against the armored giant. He did this to ensure that his weak spot was better protected and so that he could move with the Lekgolo's movements and not against it. Running head first into the thick of it was how he inspired the best out of the grunts he used to lead, never backing down, never running. Charging his pistols the Unggoy began to fire the balls of tracking green plasma in two directions. One was being fired towards the robots low to the ground and the other was being fired towards the ones still coming down. Charged plasma fire was very good at downing and destroying the machines on their own at times let alone their ability to strip shields and stop electronics. This also had the chance of killing the sentinel without it setting off its secondary explosive and rendering it partially intact. There were still more targets highlighted on his visor but the grunt focused on the bots that were closest to them while staying out of the way of the Lekgolo's footsteps. "Watch for secondary explosions!" he called out.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben opened fire on the nearest sentinel, downing it with a well-places sniper shot. He had to conserve ammo on that rifle, so he found that he had to switch to his pistol for the time being. After downing four more with his pistol, he realized that his rounds were running out on that gun as well. His arms configuration on this mission had been optimized for taking down a few high-value targets, not a swarm of what might be deemed low-tier trash. Thinking quickly, he ran over to one of the fallen drones, discarded his pistol, and ripped out a beam turret from the construct, hastily checking to see if the weapon was still intact. He aimed the turret at an incoming sentinel and fired, releasing a potent line of thermal energy. It worked, and when it inevitably ran out of power, he'd simply be able to pick up another from one of the fallen sentinels. Why exactly the Forerunners included hand controls on a weapon meant to be fired by a robot without limbs was beyond him, but it didn't matter right now. He ran over in the direction of Grikgar and Tasuma. He knew that, unusually, the Unggoy was shielded, but Tasuma was not. The Mgalekgolo's armor was strong, but unlike an energy shield, it didn't recharge; all damage between repairs was permanent. Incredibly durable though Hunter armor was, it could be burned through eventually. It also had a weak point in the back which was left wide open to attack. And as the sentinels kept coming, the odds that one of them was going to fire its beam into the Hunter's exposed back grow greater and greater. "Tasuma, behind you! Ah!" Ben had leapt between Tasuma and a sentinel beam, taking the blow for the Hunter. Fortunately, Ben's shields had been almost at maximum durability when the beam hit. As such, he could take the blow head-on and return fire with the beam turret, quickly downing his assailant.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker When the call to fall back to the Mammoth came through, Lucas was already hopping to cover his teammates, letting them move before he did and firing bursts of his SMGs to try and somewhat deter the machines from following too closely. Eventually, he was up the ramp and with the rest of the team, with Tas close behind him. The call for a wellness check prompted Ryker to check his chest plate, where a Sentinel beam had glanced off his shields. Patting it down revealed a level of warmth, unsurprising since the shielding stopped the beam itself, not the heat transfer, but undamaged beyond that. Satisfied, he spoke up in response. "Spartan Ryker, alive and ready to roll." With his check-in done, he gave the eye to his unshielded teammates and made sure that the Sentinels hadn't managed to connect any shots. Satisfied they were fine, the Spartan went and found a seat and then set about taking his SMGs apart and cleaning them after removing the magazines and clearing the breaches. An uncared for weapon was a weapon that could malfunction after all.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Grikgar's grenade whined to a full charge a moment before Yalu dove for cover. The sound of metal blasting apart joined a flash on the walls of the pelican. He stood back up with his carbine levelled to shoot the surrounding sentinels down like flying animals. Relief didn't come too soon as far as Yalu was concerned. He moved as prompted, though was sure to escort one of the human pilots by his upper arm to ensure he was covered by Yalu's energy shield. The human barely kept pace. No sooner was he in the Mammoth than Yalu let the pilot go and spun around to cover Tasuma's retreat. Only when the large doors shut did he habitually replace the magazine of his carbine in three rapid movements. "Major 'Suumko still effective," Yalu responded to Aviza. He had little else to add.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre The combat sim control panel was of Human design, like most of the equipment in Paxopolis. This meant Tar needed several tries to get the settings correct; none of the preset scenarios tested the skills she was instilling in the recruits. She growled in frustration as even the smallest digit on her hand still entered the wrong enemy combatants. Starting again, she skimmed past the human configurations like 'Insurrectionist hijackers' and 'angry urban mob' to access Covenant-era hostiles. Sangheili Zealots <- No Mgalekgolo Pair <- No Yanme'e Swarm <- No Jiralhanae Stalkers <- Perfect She locked them in, selected the number and overall skill level, then checked the rest of the settings before confirming. Lights shining from the high ceiling switched from amber to green, another Human design which meant they were ready to begin. Satisfied the simulation was ready, she turned back to her recruits. Four young Sangheili males stood awkwardly in the centre of the cavernous, empty sim room. They clutched their energy swords and stared suspiciously around as Tar walked quickly over to join them. Among recruits to Paxopolis' defensive garrison, there were few who were truly "green", as the Humans would say. Among the UNSC, it was a secret facility, so they intended to insist upon soldiers with proven loyalty and ability. However, that did not mean that new recruits could simply be integrated right away. They still needed to be evaluated and trained to perform their duties. For some, it could be more difficult to train them than fresh recruits, as some had just enough experience to be stubborn. As Tar drew closer, she could see the four Sangheili recruits were awaiting the start of the simulation with varying degrees of eagerness or irritation. The farthest to the left, from Tar's perspective, was considered by some to be an ideal recruit. He strictly adhered to hierarchy and would obey any order from a superior to the letter, without question or hesitation. However, he also seemed to lack much creativity himself. He was actually the most experienced among the recruits, but not the highest rank. The second in line was one who generally received little respect among his peers. Or at least, not from other Sangheili. He was often hesitant to fight, and though capable when motivated, he seemed to have little drive to improve himself. The third was the one among them who had ascended to Major rank. He was quite tall and strong, even for a Sangheili, and he already had proven skill in combat, but he was far from humble. He had already openly shown disdain for this extra training he was being put through, and he seemed to be somewhat dismissive towards Tar. The last in line was a recruit who was easy to forget about. He has no special experience nor accomplishments, though also no overt flaws. He tended to speak only when spoken to, and generally only said the bare minimum of what was required of him. All four of them drew up to their full stature as Tar entered their space, as she'd noticed was usual for young males. She returned all of their stares to make sure they were listening before briefing them. "Brute Stalkers have infiltrated the base. Their objectives are unknown, but they've infiltrated the Command room and deactivated our defenses. They're contained within the Command complex, but the lights have been disabled and they'll fight hard to break free. Our mission is to insert and kill or capture them all. Any questions?" After a few moments of silence, the second Sangheili, the young warrior named Jurna, started to move his mandibles to speak, but the Major soon spoke over him, loudly and with no shortage of confidence. "I require nothing more than a target. We are not helpless younglings who have never gripped a plasma rifle. We shall slay these mongrels quickly and be done with this nonsense." Jurna did not continue his original thought, and neither of the others spoke up as well, for differing reasons. In any case, each recruit did seem to be ready to enter... They would be armed with simulations of their chosen weapons once the scenario had begun. Tar chuckled at the Major's arrogance. She moved closer, until she stood within an arm's grasp. "Stalkers do not present targets - they are ghosts. Move too quickly, and they will tear you limb from limb. Split from your team, and they will slaughter you. Follow my instructions, stay in formation, and protect your unit, and you may all make it out alive. If you put your team at risk, I will kill you myself, am I understood?" She moved closer still, her head tilted slightly back to meet his gaze fully. The Major just growled, exhibiting a string of body cues that spoke volumes about his displeasure. Tar smiled and looked at the other recruits before hitting a button on her wrist interface. The amber lights above them began flashing. "Prepare yourselves, the simulation starts in thirty seconds."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael could still hear the muffled sounds of explosions from within the Mammoth as the rocket turrets fired back on the pursuing sentinels. He could feel that they were moving, likely at close to the Mammoth's maximum speed. Sentinels, unlike organic foes, held no grudges. Once they were beyond the area the machines were defending, they would no longer pursue. Although the Mammoth was a massive vehicle, its thick armor allowed for less interior space than it might have appeared from the outside. It was not exactly cramped, but to accommodate a ten person team, plus the Mammoth crew and the two pilots, they would have to use their space efficiently. The two Warthogs were held along a rail above the vehicle bay, so there was a fair amount of open space on the lower deck. The middle deck above them had some modifications to better accommodate its role as their mobile base. Just to the right of the entrance to the cockpit was a space that had been designated for use as the equivalent of a medical tent, while to the left was storage for their rations and other extra supplies. To the rear of the deck was an expanded armory, equipped with both Human and Covenant weapons. The top deck was mostly unchanged, apart from the removal of the mini-MAC. In its place was the improved communications equipment and sensors they had been provided for their mission, though it was covered by retractable armored plates when not in use. For anything else that the team might need on an extended mission, they would need to make due with what they had and improvise. Until it was needed again, Vael intended to secure his captured sentinel beam in the armory. Though first, he approached the pair of ONI agents. He had allowed the female to make use of his carbine, but he found little to approve of in either of their actions. They had moved without orders, and did not return when ordered to do so. They were fortunate that the sentinels had not focused their attention on them when they moved beyond cover. Were they his warriors, Vael would have ensured they were punished for their insubordination, but at this stage, he felt it best to allow the Human commander to be the one to deal with the Humans. Still, his displeasure did come through with his tone when he spoke to Corporal Cohen. "Return my weapon." He ordered simply.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 The arrival of the Mammoth was a welcome sight or the Spartan-III, who could at least appreciate she raw power of the oversized vehicle, if not its rather unsubtle stature. "Phong, status update on the Mammoth." "All systems functional. This particular variant of the M510 lacks the typical Mark 2457 HRG Magnetic Accelerator Cannon. Telemetry indicates that this particular vehicle has sufficient supplies for an extended deployment ranging from-" "Thank you. How long can it withstand an attack from Forerunner sentinels and Prometheans, on the scale of the engagement which just ended?" Ben stepped inside the massive vehicle. At 68.3 meters long, it was a veritable mobile base. There would surely be enough munitions for them. He made a mental note to search for any sniper ammunition he could find, suspecting that he'd need it very soon. The longer range he could engage the Forerunner mechs, the better. Experience had taught him that they were very dangerous machines at close to moderate ranges, but they were generally not optimized for long-range combat. "Unknown. The databases I am authorized to access contain insufficient information to draw a useful conclusion." Ben nodded. The vehicle was indeed as massive as its namesake suggested, yet it might very well be reduced to a stationary base if hit with too powerful an attack. The capabilities of the Forerunners were far beyond anything humanity currently possessed. In the distant past, it was true that ancient humans were rivals of the Forerunner Ecumene in terms of power and technology, but humanity had far to go in order to reclaim that ancient mantle. Even the covenant were no match for the sheer scale of the Forerunner's resources; even extinct, they were still able to plague the human race, and the galaxy at large. A handful might still be alive, but for almost all intents and purposes, their species had gone extinct many millennia ago.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre Tar groped desperately around with her right hand for her Mauler, but it had skittered away into the gloom. So instead, Tar pulled her energy sword from his mount on her left thigh, activated it and thrust it into the Stalker's abdomen. He let out a furious roar and tried to dismount her. Tar wrapped her right arm around the Brute's neck and stabbed him four more times in the stomach with her left. The force of her last blow pushed his now limp body off to the side, where he lay still. Tar quickly rose to her feet and holstered her sword. The recruits had entered the room and were staring at her. Tar spotted her Mauler lying under a desk and picked it up. Satisfied all her gear was together, she quickly strode to where Ryssa stood and shoved him against a wall. "One of your teammates just died. When I show you tactics I expect you to use them. We always check corners and clear rooms. Fail me again and you'll do this simulation alone, Is that clear?" "Yes, Commander!" Ryssa replied, almost on reflex, though he still frantically looked around with some confusion after taking a more literal interpretation of her reprimand. He had seen the tail end of the short fight, but from what he could see, everyone around him was still alive. "Good." Tar grabbed the recruit and shoved him towards the doorway. "Take point." The Major, stood slightly outside the doorway, snarled and turned away. Ryssa followed his orders to the letter and took point, this time making sure to clear the rooms they passed on the way forward. It seemed, at the very least, that Tar's harsh reminder was enough to get him to pay more attention to what he was doing and follow his training. Not only did he continue checking his corners, but he did not need to be told where to go once they reached the junction in the hallway. Data centers, or the commanders themselves, were the most likely target of an attack like this, both of which took them down the left hallway. As the team headed up the stairs to the next floor, there was a spike of activity on their sensors. All at once, each of their motion trackers started showing multiple red dots, on their level as well as above and below, moving frantically all around them. Jurna immediately raised his carbine and pointed it ahead at the top of the stairs above, though quickly turned around to point it back the way they came. "They're surrounding us!" He shouted, unsure of where he should be focusing his attention.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael briefly turned his attention to the Mgalekgolo's shield. Generally, they were durable enough to be all but impervious to the majority of small arms, but sentinel beams could damage even starships. Still, even in a damaged state, it would likely be serviceable against Human and Jiralhanae weapons. By Vael's assessment, Tasuma was still equipped to fight. However, there was more for Vael to be curious about, especially the more he observed Tasuma's armor. "You seem ready for battle, but there is more I would know about you. I was given a document with your history, but I would prefer to ask you myself. You are unusual for one of your kind. Your armor, equipment, the way you act towards them…you have worked with the Humans long before the idea of this team was conceived. You also fight without a bond brother, yet the spikes on your back show that you do, or did, have one. I am curious what events brought you here." Vael questioned Tasuma, though the two of them did not remain alone for long before there was an interruption. The Spartan, Aviza, approached bearing an energy sword. Vael glanced down at the crimson blade. "I question what such a blade is doing in a Human armory, but…it does not matter. In the hands of a Sangheili, a sword is the weapon of nobility. Of honor, and the symbol of our skill. Swordsmanship is among our most respected practices. You are correct that the sword has meaning to us, but you are not of our kind. In your hands, there is no meaning. Some may disagree with me, but for you to wield a sword, there is no honor to be gained, nor lost. You are not Sangheili, and you are not under our command. It is not of our concern what trophies you take. Regardless, our rules and customs regarding the sword are primarily respected outside the military. On the field of battle, even a lowly Minor may pick up a sword if the situation demands it." Again, Vael put his attention to the blade. His answer might have seemed dismissive, but he said what he believed to be true. Her use of a sword was not something worthy of offense, though at the same time, her mere use of it would not gain respect. In any case, he had no qualms about informing her on a subject about which she clearly had little knowledge. "To wield that sword in particular is not a matter of honor nor respect, but skill. That blade burns hotter than the average sword, but that heat gives it a fine edge in more ways than one. It can cut through more armor, stronger armor, with speed and efficiency, but with that blade it is possible to cut too quickly. When rending flesh, it burns hot enough to cauterize immediately. There is less bleeding, and if the wielder cuts too quick, less damage to surrounding tissue. If the cut does not find a vital area, your opponent may survive. A wielder of that blade is one who is precise, restrained, and skilled enough to always find his mark."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Aviza listened intently to every word that Vael 'Virisusai said about the Crimson Energy sword, and the special significance that it held to his people. She took no offense to the fact that he felt there was no honor to gain or to be lost from her using the weapon, his beliefs were his own. In fact, the Spartan had her own opinion on the use of the blade after listening to Vael, but would not share those thoughts with the Sangheili. However, she did comment on how he obviously thought she was ignorant of what the weapon actually was and how it functioned. "Thankfully, I am not woefully ignorant of how to use an energy sword, or how one functions. The holo-decks and training facilities have ensured that." Glancing at the Crimson Energy Sword once more, Aviza powered it down and attached it to her armor for later use. "I merely wanted to know if it would offend you or anyone else if I used it, but I do appreciate the information you have given me about the weapon, and its cultural significance." Aviza would pause for a moment, carefully and gently removing her helmet, resulting in a soft, almost inaudible click. The helmet was now placed below her left arm for the time being, "We should move to the command deck and plan our next move from there, you lead and I shall follow."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The calm had not quite settled in Yalu's mind by the time the others started to slow down. He escorted his commander Vael to the roof, as much to carry out his duties as to see what was going on. Thankfully he did not need to fire another shot. After stepping back into the mammoth, he took a deep breath and holstered his carbine. On any other mission, there would have been a few friendly bodies left behind by the crashed pelican. "I'll be listening for orders, commander," Yalu mentioned to Vael before wandering off. Now that everything was well, he had a burning curiosity about the vehicle they were housed in. Yalu stopped by every space on the mammoth, from the rear to the drivers seats up front, though the latter could be described as a bridge. He had piloted just about every covenant military vehicle there was, but human wheeled vehicles were a rare treat. In his wanderings, Yalu happened to be in a position to eavesdrop on Commander Aviza's castigation of the runaway special operations warriors. Yalu had not judged them too harshly -- humans had a different idea of honour after all. At the very least, he thought Aviza wise to not give Roy's explanation any attention. It was provocative. Aviza was clear enough. Do humans have just as much pride as sangheili? How did they not cut each other to pieces without sangheili honour? Yalu shook his head and headed to the bridge again to see where they were going. "Pilot," Yalu said to the human in the primary driving seat, possibly giving both the driver and co-driver a fright. "Once we are out of danger, I am interested in learning more about this vessel."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Planets Surface Grikgar continued his single minded attraction to the sentinel pieces, a few of the others showed interest that he could see but little else. The Lekgolo seemed to look in his direction but little more, Grik was certain that it was looking for metal scraps more than tech though. The Spartan that had been talking to him earlier and seemed to be the nicest towards him so far stepped forward and seemed to question what the Unggoy was doing. The grunt looks up from his work for a moment and tips his head to the side. "Grikgar does not know, only ever saw Huragok repair sentinels once in this way. It attached two power sources together and it stabilized the power source." Picking up the part and moving it around to see the different sides of it. "Like this, Grik does not know why but if combined with another explosive has…." He paused for a moment trying to grasp the right term. "Unexpected result? If anything at all. As humans say wild card." Placing the part between the two of them. Grikgar then began to go over the different scraps of armor and metal frame, again placing those that he deems unusable in a pile. The Unggoy began to put some of the scraps up to his armor looking like he was seeing if they would improve it or not. Again he put more parts into the scrap pile until only a few frame pieces where left in one pile and other inner working parts in another. Moving the more complicated but still technically good parts next to his locker with the few good Frame parts. "Ok now Grik has things to repair his armor with and tinker." It was his way of keeping away from boredom while also being resourceful. "Tasuma!" he called out to the Lekgolo in his high pitched voice and waved his arm as if his voice didn't get its attention. "If you want those scraps Grik is done with them." Motioning towards the small pile. Spartan Ben was still examining the power source so Grikgar began picking up the sentinel beams and placing them in the armory next to the other.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 "If you aren't certain what the result is when combining them, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to combine them. I doubt either of us has the luck of John-117. Oh, you might know him as Master Chief, or "The Demon." He has unnatural luck, you know. If it was him, the effect would be just what we needed at just the right time. If it's anyone else, we're likely to end up deader than Roger Wilco on a trash hauler. Oh, the Wilco thing is from an ancient piece of human media." Ben continued to examine the power source. He was fairly certain that he knew what this was, but couldn't be entirely sure. He lowered his voice, not wanting anyone to know what he was saying. "Phong, does this match any device on record?" "Scanning. Processing. Cross-examining device with other records. Match not found." "Match not-? The UNSC has had the opportunity to examine hundreds of Forerunner devices, including sentinels." "Thousands, actually. The Forerunners had a very different approach to technology compared to humanity or the Covenant. While interchangeable parts were employed, they were only used to the extent that interoperability within the same class of structures was allowed, and sometimes, not even then. In other words, each class of Forerunner installation operated on a different basis, in a manner not dissimilar to how ancient human kingdoms each had their own types of weight and measurements." "Meaning what?" "Meaning we don't know what the effect of the Unggoy's tinkering will be. It could be harmless, or it could be catastrophic. I am unable to calculate odds based on the data available. It would help to know precisely what the Unggoy intends to do with the Forerunner technology, but even if he told us, further analysis is impossible without the proper equipment, and there are only five laboratories in the entire UNSC properly tooled to handle Forerunner-" "Thank you, Phong. I'll trust Grik on this one." Ben set the power source down and looked out at the wilderness around them, if that was the proper term for their environment.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre --- "Take cover right!" Tar shouted, assuming control just as a barrage of plasma fire erupted from several points around the large room. They waded through the flames into a partitioned area with a semi-circle of holo consoles. Tar took several hits to her shield from the Stalkers guarding the stairway before leaping behind one of the consoles. The Brute weapons punched holes in the plastic room dividers as they lost line of sight on her. Tar peeked over the top of her cover. She counted at least four Stalkers slowly approaching their position, plus the two guarding the stairway. Their camouflage slipped every time they fired their weapons, revealing a cautious, calculated advance. Tar estimated they were each twenty feet apart, progressing down the open spaces between work areas. In this case, not a single recruit so much as hesitated in following Tar's order. The Major broke straight through the partition, with the others following just behind. Each moved into whatever cover they could find, as quickly as they could. The room dividers could break line of sight, though there was no weapon they would actually stop. Plasma fire and spikers ripped through them with ease, just without as much accuracy. Ryssa, with his shields already damaged from his brush with the flames and few stray plasma rounds, dove behind the holo-consoles. They were at least somewhat more sturdy than most of the other parts of the office. His response to being pinned was actually reasonably effective, considering his options, even if it was a strategy one might have learned from an Unggoy. He did not peer out from cover to return fire, but rather grabbed his needler and lifted it up just high enough to fire over the console, roughly in the direction that one of the Brutes was firing from. He did not need to be accurate; as long as the needler was pointing in mostly the right direction, its needles would find a target. When the attack had began, Jurna had fired four shots with surprisingly good accuracy. He tracked the shimmer he had seen and, out of his four shots, hit three to break the Brute's powered armor. However, once his own shields started taking damage, he did not follow through to make the kill. He ran with the others into the side room and, like Ryssa, took cover behind the consoles. Though, unlike the other recruit, he did not return fire from his position. He hid as best as he could, and intended to continue doing so until his shields were fully recharged. With the partitions at least stopping accurate fire, the Major took a moment to scan the room they had hastily entered. Given how quickly they had been forced to move, there was no reason to believe they had moved to safety. And indeed, at this range, his eyes were sharp enough to spot at least two shimmers moving carefully closer to Jurna and Tar. Drawing his energy sword, the Major sprinted for the nearest stalker. "Brutes behind us!" He shouted. Reacting instantly, Tar jumped up, grabbed her energy sword from its mount on her left thigh, activated it and blindly slashed it through the air behind her in one fluid motion. The dual tips of her sword grazed the armour of a Stalker; the room lit up with blue light as his shield protected his neck from being slit. Regaining her balance, Tar raised her right hand and fired a round from her Mauler into the same shield, breaking it completely. At the same time, she watched the Stalker fire their Mauler at her face. She was momentarily blinded as the slug exploded right in front of her eyes, and she felt her shield go offline with a jolt. Tar let out an angry roar and leapt forward, sword poised. She made impact with…something, and clattered to the floor with it before stabbing it with her weapon multiple times. The Major's blade quickly found its mark on the nearest stalker. The Brute's active camouflage may have rendered it only a shimmer in the air, but a wide arc with his blade in front of him could reach easily over two and a half meters in front of him, and the sword itself could cut through even a starship's armor with ease. The Brute was quite simply bisected. There had only been two of the cloaked Brutes in the room they had ran into, but the Major had no intent of staying put and holding out. Though his shields were damaged, he still preferred aggression. "Attack with me! These mongrels are nothing to us!" He shouted. Off on their right flank, on the other side of a thin wall, he could hear movement, which was all he needed to strike. With a frenzied roar as his battle cry, he broke straight through the wall in a charge. A diagonal swing of his sword and another stalker was cut in two. This time, however, the Brute was not without assistance. Just to his left, another Brute fired his mauler, both revealing himself, and stripping away the Major's shields. He was close enough that the Major could react quickly and impale him through the chest with his blade, but there were still more Brutes farther away, and the Major was now clearly in their line of sight. Ryssa had intended to follow the Major's instruction. Based on the sound of a supercombine explosion beyond the wall he had been firing through, his needles had found a target, but the Brutes were not unintelligent. Though they could not see him, they could roughly determine where he was firing from when they saw the needles, so Ryssa found himself pinned by a volley of plasma and spiker fire. His shields took a stray hit, so they were not yet recharging, and he could not move to assist the Major. Jurna had an angle from which he could help at range, but his shields were charging and he still had no intention of revealing himself until they were full. Daha was the farthest from the Major, and the closest to Tar, and it was she who he intended to help. He charged his plasma pistol, firing the overcharged bolt at a stalker who had a clear line of sight onto Tar. The shot broke the Brute's powered armor immediately, allowing his follow-up shots from his plasma rifle to deal potentially deadly damage. Ultimately, there was no help that would come for the Major in time to save him. A burst of spiker fire from a more distant stalker struck his unshielded chest and neck, and his armor was not enough to protect against the volley. The red plating of his armor was stained purple by his blood. Simulated as it might have been, his death was still convincing. The Major had successfully relieved most of the pressure from their right flank, but at the cost of his life.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- For the members of Aegis team, their journey across the desert did, fortunately, come with few actual dangers. Though, it was a long journey nonetheless, characterized by blistering heat, dry air, and cramped quarters. Sentinels did show some interest in the Mammoth whenever it passed too close to certain Forerunner structures, but its armor did allow them to take some fire as they passed without needing to engage in firefights with the machines. As long as they moved beyond the locations they were guarding, the sentinels would not follow. Vael found that the journey was far from the worst experience he had ever needed to endure. The heat was a constant irritant for some, but his combat harness provided more than adequate environmental controls to keep him comfortable. What was more of a nuisance for him was the inability to be alone. He had to admit that he had held his rank long enough to become accustomed to its benefits. The ability to have a space to himself to mediate and center his mind had been a privilege he had long enjoyed. As large as the Mammoth was, there still was no way the avoid the nine other members of his team, plus the Mammoth crew, for any meaningful time. Given the distance they had to travel, the team spent almost two days in the Mammoth, moving constantly across, at times, rough terrain. To fly to their destination would have been much quicker, but any attempt at an aerial approach to the Brute ships would have easily been detected. The Mammoth, ironically, provided a much stealthier approach. Of course, once they located the Brute ships, they would need to move on without the Mammoth to perform actual reconnaissance. --- It was the middle of the night when the Mammoth came to a sudden, and complete halt. The hum of the engines and the spinning of the massive tires over rock and sand had been such a constant that having both stop was enough to jolt Vael awake, even before the diver's voice sounded out over the vehicle's intercom. "Unidentified Covenant ships spotted on the horizon. I am bringing the Mammoth to a halt and awaiting further orders." Vael sat up from where he had been laying. Their sleeping arrangements within the vehicle were rather haphazard. The Mammoth was not large enough for dedicated sleeping quarters, so the team had to make due with whatever they could arrange themselves, with the supplies they had available. Being that they were in the field, Vael had not left his armor. It did not make for the most comfortable rest, but again, he had endured far worse throughout his career. For now, the team needed to get together and decide on their approach.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu was in no mood to avoid his teammates during the ride. He tried to at least speak to his fellow former-covenant contemporaries about their path leading up to this mission. He was quietly embarrassed to find he was consistently outranked and at times prying on business best kept a secret. Nevertheless, he kept himself well drilled for whatever lay ahead. When the call came to wake up, whatever casual air Yalu tried to offer was gone. He was up and arming himself partway through the driver's announcement. "Running the Mammoth silent may make them overlook us." Yalu snapped a fully green magazine into his carbine after checking it. "But if it is no patrol, we are no longer safe. We are not expecting a rendezvous."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Planets Surface Grikgar spent the rest of the voyage on their land ship either tinkering with the sentinel parts or sunbathing. The sleeping arrangements didn't bother him and the warm climate was something he very much enjoyed. The others talked to him occasionally and the other elite seemed a little awkward about it but it didn't bother the Unggoy. Occasionally, the grunt would find his way out to the top of the vehicle and climb around it. The armor on the human vehicles was much easier to grip to then the former covenant vessels. Grikgar had been sleeping in the stairwell leading to the outside of the vehicle. He was very much accustomed to sleeping anywhere and on or in anything. Unggoy were accustomed to being crammed into strange places during travel. The sudden stop did make him roll down to the base of the stairs near the pilot's. With a quick shake of his head, Grik made his way down to his extra methane canister to fill his tank back up. The others were beginning to stir now as well and Grikgar was quick to start arming himself to get ready for the movement as well. Making sure that the shield and cloaking on his suit was still working properly. Once he had completed this Girk joined Vael the only weapon he did not have o him was his cannon. He didn't need it just yet anyway. Now all he had to do was hurry up and wait for further orders.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben saw the Unggoy sleeping in the stairwell. He would have said something, but he was just too cute to disturb. Such sloth would have been lethal on the battlefield, God knows Ben killed plenty of sleeping Grunts who were caught dozing in the middle of a warzone. Why The Covenant had tolerated such behavior was beyond him. Even normal human soldiers and marines would get in serious trouble for nodding off when they were supposed to be on duty. The mammoth had come to a halt. The Spartan-III took the opportunity to scan the horizon once again, only to find no immediate threats, although he did spot a few drones in the extreme distance, though none of them approached the mammoth. When the others began to gather around Vael, Ben joined the rest of his team, careful to keep his distance from the Elite; he had a feeling that his species preferred to have a fair amount of personal space. He spoke to Vael, inquiring on their status. "Have we received further orders? We're halted here out in the open, and we're exposed. No one has attacked us since we entered the mammoth, but our luck can't last forever."</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Broadwalk --- Her mind was still racing from the Sim and the confrontation when Tar passed the train centre's double entry doors. The cool morning breeze of Paxopolis whispered through her armour. The base's clean, wide streets were starting to fill up with people on their way to work. Tar's stomach complained; she realised she hadn't eaten yet today. She set off for one of her favourite places, courteously waiting for a pair of ONI analysts to cross her path. Tar had never fought Humans during the war. She'd wanted glory in battle like all her brothers, but hadn't been allowed to enlist on account of her gender. As a result, she'd never even seen a Human until her flight to Paxopolis almost half a year ago. Although comparatively puny, they were generally quite clever and resourceful. A lot of their behaviour was dishonourable by Sangheili standards, but mostly they were at least civil around her. There had been a few insults, but they were quickly pounced on by superiors who seemed under orders to make the co-deployment a success. Tar was particularly impressed by their weaponry. Considering they hadn't been blessed with reverse engineered Forerunner technology until recently, their ground armaments felt powerful. She was particularly enamoured with their M90 shotgun. The pump action seemed inconvenient, but it had the stopping power of a Gravity Hammer. She'd used a variant with an extended trigger (to accommodate her large Sangheili hands) on a few exercises already. She crossed the street from the training centre, walked a few hundred metres down one of the main thoroughfares before heading down a side street. She saw the neon sign which read 'Refreshment Area #0259', and the smaller, homemade sign underneath which read 'The Kel 'Darsam' in Basic Sangheili. Two Sangheili conversing outside the large front door moved aside to let her enter. The interior was high-ceilinged and surprisingly spacious. It had been designed specifically for Elites by sympathetic builders. A bar separated an open plan area with chairs and tables and space for activities from a full kitchen. A stairway off to her right led to a mezzanine level where she could hear a group meditation being guided. Several Sangheili sat at tables nearby playing complicated games with dice and other small objects. A group of older hands loudly discussed epic poetry in the corner. Tar moved to the bar, where an attractive young cook took her order for a mixed bowl of meat and vegetables along with a nutritious shake. She stood at the bar with her eyes closed, following the instructions of the meditation guide upstairs. The Major had managed to push her buttons earlier; she'd almost been compelled to fight him for her honour. Perhaps she should've done - It would've forced the other traditionalists on the base to respect her, at least for a while. The meditation helped, and she slowly felt her battle reflexes quietening. After a few minutes, she heard the door behind her open and close. He was right on time. "What're you eating?" She called out, opening her eyes and turning round. The Sangheili that approached wore his full, crimson-colored armor, with the exception of his helmet. He was a Ranger, so a vacuum-sealed helmet was not particularly convenient attire for breakfast. "Roasted colo, I think. I need proper food to get this foul taste out of my mouth of a fruit a Human gave me. I cannot conceive of how they stomach such things." The Sangheili stood alongside Tar, repeating his order to the cook. His name was Kryu, and they had known each other for about as long as they had been stationed on Sarcophagus. They were both crew of the same cruiser, and though they served different units, they did often have cause to be deployed together.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Spartan Aviza observed the current situation at hand, weighing her options on where the best location would be to gather information about the compound in the distance while remaining undetected. It was obvious at the moment that the team was currently not set up for any stealth missions, they would be identified almost instantly then obliterated shortly there after if they tried anything besides keeping their distance. "It's never that simple is it.." said Aviza under her breath before she came to a conclusion on to where they could best view the point of interest and its surroundings. "It appears that our best option on observing the compound in the distance without being caught from the patrols would be to move to the Mesa in the distance, Shih, could you please ping that location for the team?" Without waiting, Aviza would start moving out towards their destination, and would be the first to arrive. When she did, she would quickly go prone and enable her Argus armor to start scanning the surroundings in great detail.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Shih --- Vael, on his part, agreed with Aviza's decision. While it was more exposed, nothing they had observed so far suggested that the phantom patrols would range that far from the structure. Moving closer would only worsen the risk of detection. As for actually reaching the mesa, it was not an entirely easy climb, but it was nothing the team could not handle. There was no path leading to the top, but there was a steep, but traversable, hill that led most of the way up. They would only need to climb the very last section up to the flat up of the mesa. For Vael, he tossed his sentinel beam up ahead of him so he could get a firm grip on the rocks for the final climb. Vael did not need an order to follow Aviza's lead. He kept himself low to avoid silhouetting too much against the sky, laying prone to observe the structure in the distance. His HUD did allow him to zoom in on objects in the distance, though it could not compete with the many specialized sensors built into Aviza's armor. It was those that Shih was making the greatest use of to scan the area. Even without such sensors, Vael could still see the activity around the structure, and it was, unfortunately, not encouraging. It was not just Jiralhanae occupying the structure, but he could see Humans as well. Far more of them than Jiralhanae, in fact. Most of the Brutes Vael could see seemed to be moving closed crates to and from the interior of the structure. This was the insurrectionist base, and the Jiralhanae they were dealing with were holding directly above it. Together, the two factions would present far more forces than Aegis team ever expected to face at once. The structure itself was a fairly large compound, with multiple buildings and other obstacles that would slow any approach to the central tower. He did not see any way for them to reach the center before Jiralhanae reinforcements could overwhelm them. Not alone, at least. "The Jiralhanae are holding too close to the rebels. They will be able to assist them should we attack. I believe we will need reinforcements to deal with them. Perhaps then we can surround the central tower and prevent their leader's escape." Vael suggested. Shih soon chimed in over the team's radios. "I'm afraid it might not be even that simple. Now that we're close enough, I'm getting better readings on the structure. I'm detecting evidence of an underground tunnel system beneath the central tower, leading away from the compound and into Sarcophagus' superstructure. I can only begin to guess at the purpose of the tunnels, but the point is that the rebels may have an underground escape route planned in the event of an attack. If we want to stop them here, we'll have to get into that tower quickly." As she was giving her explanation, the AI highlighted the relevant sections of the compound on their respective HUDs, though she soon also highlighted the Brute cruisers above them. "Luckily, I don't think the Brute ships are going to give us much trouble. Based on everything I can get on sensors, their ships are in pretty poor shape. I'm not even picking up shields on anything but the corvette. I guess the Brutes haven't had access to proper maintenance these last few years. If we call in the battle group, they should mop the floor with them."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Having moved with the rest of the team to the plateau, Lucas scoped up on the structure, or structures, as it had turned out, and watched the movements of those below. The Jiralhanae were definitely patrolling the outer area of the crater-like area but the interior was being patrolled by the Insurrectionists, which provided the team a potent advantage. "Before we do that, myself and a couple other members of the team are outfitted with active camo. If Grikgar is outfitted with enough ordinance, and I brought some grenades that we can jerry rig some charges out of, we can sabotage some things before calling in the battle group, particularly things that Shih marks as important. And while the rest of the team pushes in at lightning speed to take advantage of the confusion, we can sneak in and find the URF leader." Granted, they were still a fairly small team to split up in such a way, but if things played out right, then they could maybe even get the two groups to turn on each other. "Let's face it, these are greater numbers than we were expecting and we don't necessarily have the time to come up with too many more ideas. Plus, maybe the two groups will turn on each other when there are plasma charges destroying critical URF infrastructure at this base."</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben had followed the rest of the group to the plateau. He saw Grikgar following him, and turned to the Unggoy briefly when he heard the reason he was following so close. "Shadow if you want, but be careful." He listened to Ryker's speech, then realized something rather embarrassing. He turned off the coms on his suit for a moment as he quickly conversed with his AI. "Phong, does this suit come with active camo?" "Yes, it most certainly does. Don't tell me you forgot about it." "I haven't actually used it in- never mind. Can you create a shortcut command for it so that I can activate it on eye contact with the symbol in my HUD?" "Processing request. Compiling program. Rendering icon. Done." No sooner than Phong had spoken did an active camouflage symbol appear on his helmet's screen: "Thanks." Ben reactivated his coms, knowing that too long of a gap in communications might give cause for an inquiry. Unexplained outages in communication could serve as cover for and a sign of unauthorized contacts with rebels and enemies, after all. If there was no cause to hide one's discourse, why turn off the mic? Fortunately, Ben knew the cutoff point after which the UNSC would find such a thing to be suspicious; one minute and seventeen seconds exactly. Anything less could be seen as a hardware failure or a momentary software glitch. "Sounds like a good plan. What type of infrastructure are we talking about?"</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern "I like the idea of causing chaos and confusion among the two factions present, though if we are going to call in reinforcements, the anti-aircraft cannons and other defenses will need to be dealt with first. Sending in a team with active camouflage, as Spartan Ryker suggested, is a sound plan, and I say we act upon it when the chance arrives." said Spartan Aviza, still prone upon the mesa. "The question is though, who here has active camouflage and will join us on this short but very important stealth mission? Remember, the longer we wait, the worse this whole situation could get. It is better that we handle the problem at hand so they do not develop into something more serious." If it was up to her, and it wasn't, she would have called quite a few MAC-Blasts down upon the complex, wiped them all out, and called it a day before any of the hostiles would know what happened. Aviza was very straight forward like that at times, but deep down she knew that was not going to work for the current mission.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Ryker's form flickers from view very briefly before coming back into sight. "I would never ask my teammates to run a job I wouldn't. I suggested the plan, I'll help carry it out." The SPARTAN-IV had no qualms about helping to carry this out, if not doing the job himself. Black Ops cells rarely had the kind of support that Aegis was getting, and they could rarely afford to send out more than one man even for an important job like this. "If no one else wants to go, just give me the charges and some time. Wouldn't be the first time I've planted explosive charges solo."</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan Roy and Elna made their way to the designated way point that the gracious and ever benovlennt Spartan Lead Aviza had set for them and for once they followed through and found themselves with the team. Taking cover, Elna held up a over watch position on their rear incase any smart brutes or jackals decided they wanted to come through and pick a fight with the elite team of questionable operatives. While everyone made their pitches on how to take down the URF and the covvie rememnants. To Elna it didn't really matter the thinking part of the job was not in her job description she just laid down bodies where they were required to fall, for her it was just another waking minutes in this unyielding hell hole. "Perhaps instead of just turning this camp into an afterthought with the MAC, we identify the HVT and then blast it. Or don't, I'm impartial maybe your AI have some witty statement to back this up." He says checking his PDA briefly before slithering up to Vael and Aviza where he expected some kind of daily validation or maybe a pat on the back which would make his ego jump through the roof.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Shih --- Vael did not take his eyes off of the compound below, though he did respond to Spartan Ryker. "I will join you. We will need to move quickly and avoid discovery, but we may also have to ensure there is no one to discover the charges before they detonate. We should make sure that our reinforcements are ready to join the battle the very moment the rebels are put on alert. The construct…Shih, can it send a message informing the battle group of this plan so they can be ready for our signal?" "She can, yes." Shih replied with some noticeable offense in her tone. "There is always some small risk, but if I send the message as a short, encrypted data burst, then the rebels shouldn't be able to intercept it. Or at least, they won't understand what they intercepted until it is too late. Vael nodded towards Aviza, as it was her suit the AI was inhabiting. "Then you should do so. Our reinforcements need to be ready to act." "Already working on it. As for Petty Officer Younan's concerns, he does have a point. We still don't know who we are supposed to be capturing here, but I think the rebels themselves can help us figure that out. Once all Hell breaks loose, they are going to be scrambling to get their leader out of there. Spartan Aviza's armor is equipped to easily intercept their communications, so if we decrypt them, we might be able to learn what we need." The AI suggested. While the others were speaking, Vael slowly crawled back from the edge of the Mesa, making sure he was far enough away that he did not silhouette against the sky when he stood back to his feet. "Someone who is equipped to observe from distance should remain here to assist in guiding us through the compound."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko There were plenty in the team already equipped to go down into the enemy base. Yalu was rarely ever requisitioned with active camouflage like a spec ops elite, but at the very least he could be useful from a distance by taking Commander Vael's suggestion. "I can guide you," Yalu said. "One of my primary talents is warding death away from my team." Yalu peered down at his carbine. "And we will all be ready to head an assault on your order. These rebels and brutes will not have any time to think. I think the shock will be spiced if we fire on the brutes with human firearms and then the humans with covenant weaponry."</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak The Kel 'Darsam - off Paxopolis Boardwalk --- Tar looked at her comrade. Her face must have been a picture and she hadn't even known it. "Yes I… I have unfinished business with the Jiralhanae." She suddenly got the urge to tell Kryu the whole story, or at least what she could remember. The recruits would probably tell everyone they saw, meaning the whole base would be privy in a few weeks. Better he heard it from her. As Tar ground the last bit of her food between her mandibles and considered how to proceed, her helmet, sat on the bar beside her bowl, chirruped loudly. She stared at it. They didn't get orders very often at all. Putting her bowl down, she clicked her helmet back into place and hit replay on last comms. "All units will report back to the Repentant Proselyte immediately." were the simple instructions. She looked at Kryu, who was rapidly finishing off his breakfast in anticipation. "They're calling us back to the ship." She said. Despite her wobbly morning so far, Tar was excited. This hadn't happened before, and could only mean one thing; there was at least a chance they'd go into battle. "They must have heard us talking." She grinned. She paid for both of their breakfasts and patted Kryu on the back again, letting him lead the way to the exit. The broad street was alive with activity when they emerged from the side street of the Kel 'Darsam. Sailors and marines of all species were quickly trooping from various buildings and heading towards the shuttleport. Some were unarmed, jogging quickly as they were unencumbered. Others were fully armoured and sporting assault weapons. Tar and Kryu nudged their way into the flowing crowd, finding space next to a platoon of ODSTs. They were tall and strong by Human standards, and each wore a fitted black undersuit with the flaming skull insignia. Tar idly guessed their oversuits must've been stored on board their star ship. One of the ODSTs noticed Tar looking and winked up at her, chewing gum and fingering the pistol in his chest holster. "Hey sexy." He called, blowing a kiss. Tar growled and turned to Kryu. "Hopefully the base isn't under attack too, with us all standing around in the open. Let's move." She began picking her way through the slow moving crowd, opening a hole for her comrade to follow. Kryu spared only a glance to the Humans. To him, their behaviors were far from consistent, and sometimes irrational in ways that he never would have expected before the end of the war. He had fought against them during the time of the Covenant, and his experiences against their warriors did not prepare him for the…oddities he would experience as their ally. Nevertheless, there were far more important concerns at the moment. He caught up to Tar and kept pace close beside her. "Whatever is happening must be related to our warriors being put on alert. I doubt our superiors would collect us all from the city just for a test. If that is so, then it is strange they did not inform us of any threats. I dislike this secrecy." Kryu commented. Upon pushing her way through the crowd a ways, Tar found the reason everyone was moving so slow. A cargo platform carrying boxes of equipment had tipped over, covering most of the road. After navigating carefully past it, the road was still busy but there was much more room to manoeuvre. Tar broke into an ambling jog alongside Kryu, as excited as her comrade to find out the meaning of their orders. They slalomed past groups of soldiers in varying states of combat readiness and teams of base personnel heading for their regular duty stations. A few other Sangheili joined in, taking advantage of the course through the crowds Tar and Kryu were creating. After traversing a few streets, roughly one kilometre in total, they reached one of the entrances to Paxopolis shuttleport. Given that Paxopolis did not have regular, civilian contact with other colonies, the majority of the shuttleport's traffic were generally military transports. Though, it was particularly busy now. Fortunately, once they were in the shuttleport itself, the soldiers boarding their dropships were far more organized than the civilians in the streets going about their day. For Tar and Kryu, they lined up to board the same phantom heading up to their cruiser, the Repentant Proselyte. After they both headed up the grav-lift and found their places in the phantom, Kryu nudged Tar's side with his elbow to grab her attention. "Maybe we are leaving Sarcophagus? We're not under attack, else the city would already be going into lockdown, but I cannot imagine what aside from real combat would call for the aid of an entire cruiser." "Perhaps." Tar agreed. "Not just one cruiser either. A lot of the sailors making their way back were from different ships. It seems most of the fleet could be mobilising." "I heard it could be a Brute battle group." Said a Minor opposite them. Despite her extreme scepticism of the young male's source of intel, Tar felt all her nerves tingle at the thought. "A Brute ambush, outside the sphere? They have no honour!" someone called out. "It sounds like a fair fight to me!" A Major at the far end stood up and hammered his chest. As one, every Sangheili in the Phantom's hold began rhythmically beat their fists against their armour and produced a deep, threatening sound from the back of their throat. This continued for much of the short journey up to the Repentant Proselyte, with different officers taking turns to whip them into a frenzy. By the time the Phantom docked in one of their cruiser's enormous hangar bays, Tar was ready to tear apart the first Brute she saw with her own hands. They all exited the Phantom via the grav lift and headed for one of the many doors into the ship proper. Tar knew Rangers prepared for battle in a separate area to her, toward the stern, so she caught Kryu before they parted ways. "If i don't see you before - good luck, brother." They shared a heartfelt salute. Kryu hummed for just a moment, then gave a slight laugh. "I would wish you luck, sister, but I know you do not need it." Tar chuckled. "Just make sure I have a ship to come back to." She playfully patted his arm and began walking toward the SpecOpsCon for debrief.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 (Still here! Not dead. Sorry for the short post, but I get the sense that there's not much for Ben to do atm.) Ben-E218 Ben turned to Vael. If they were to split up, it would be impossible for him to keep his eyes on everyone at the same time. If treason or desertion were to happen on the group he wasn't a part of, he couldn't stop it. "Vael, which team should I be with? My armor configuration isn't ideal for long-distance observation. At least, not that far. I'm only equipped to deal with anything within the distance of a UNSC sniper's range. If you think it wise that I help sabotage that turret, I will do so."</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- It was safe to say that the start of their assault was not going as well as Vael could have hoped. They were encountering more resistance than he had expected, and earlier than anticipated. Hopefully that would mean less resistance later, but regardless, he needed to focus on the enemy in front of him. The phantom that had inserted the rest of their team had been shot down by a heavy weapons squad and crashed on the opposite side of the structure. Already, Ryker and Aviza were focusing their attention on trying to rescue the pilots. Normally, Vael would prioritize the mission over a detour for a rescue, but the same soldiers that were attacking the crash site could easily turn around and pursue them into the structure. Vael had a feeling there was some confusion among the rebel ranks, else they would have little reason to devote forces to a crashed phantom. It would be best to take advantage of that confusion , as Aegis currently had a potentially advantageous position to deal with them. With neither side having much cover, the rebels that Aegis had initially been fighting had routed quickly and retreated back down the ramp into the interior of the structure, leaving only those on the far side of the structure fighting Ryker and the phantom pilot, with just a few crates from cover. Himself and the rest of Aegis could move in from behind to flank them, but they needed to move quickly. Unlike most of his allies, Vael had strong cover from his position on the ramp during the fight, so his shields were at full strength. From the hits his allies had taken, he doubted many were as well-off, so he sprinted out from his position on the ramp, reloading his carbine as he ran and taking the lead ahead of the rest of the team. "Push forward! Keep towards the front if you still have shields." There was at least one squad of Humans and a small pack of Jiralhanae, both far outnumbering the single Spartan and Sangheili defending the crash site. Seeing as the Brutes would take far too many shots to bring down quickly, Vael decided to focus on the Humans while he still had the element of surprise. As he moved around the central tower, Vael took a plasma grenade in hand and tossed it in the middle of the enemy position. He did not focus on sticking an enemy as much as just placing it in a position to force them out of cover, allowing them the chance to cut down the vulnerable Humans quickly.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker To Ryker's credit, he between watching the Sangheili pilot come sailing out of the troop bay and disembowel the first Brute she saw and the one nearest him exploding into chunks mid-swing for a bunch, the initial shock of the Pilot yelling a war cry and seeming fine quickly wore off as he danced back from a second Brute in melee range, avoiding a vicious left hook and countering with a powerful round house kick to the right side of the ape-man's face, stumbling them. "Copy that, Fireteam Lead." Before the Jiralhanae that Lucas had just roundhoused could recover, his wrist mounted energy dagger was activated and he rammed the weapon into the side of his head, twisting to ensure it was dead before pulling it free and moving on to the next opponent. As he dashed at the Brute, who was distracted emptying spiker rounds into the corpse of his companion while the Sangheili was holding it up. "Transitioning! Cover me!" rang out as the body was suddenly dropped and the warrior dashed for the boxes, which prompted Ryker to draw his second SMG and open fire with both, pushing the humans into cover and distracting the Brutes enough to lighten up the fire they were putting on the Sangheili enough she could reach cover, even as the upper torso of a second Jiralhanae vanished in a puff of red mist and chunks. Taking cover behind a set of boxes stacked high enough he could stand, he reloaded the SMGs before holstering one and pulling out another frag. "Grenade out!" he called as the ball of death flew into the group of humans taking cover nearest him. The explosion would ideally kill most of them and wound the rest critically enough they couldn't fight further.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Even with covering fire, Tar's shield rippled and broke during her run for cover. Some of the Human combatants were only a few metres away and basically couldn't miss the Sangheili sprinting toward them. A bullet pinged off Tar's shoulder plate as she slid into a prone position behind a row of three crates. She grabbed up the Mauler she'd kicked across earlier just as a grenade bounced off her headpiece and landed by her free hand. She quickly picked the grenade up and chucked it back over the crates behind her back. She swore in her mother tongue when the reddish Spartan broadcast he was chucking a grenade too. This could get messy. Her shields still recharging, Tar braced against the crates milliseconds before the grenades went off. The deafening chain explosion, paired with what sounded like a plasma grenade, savagely pushed the crates and Tar's prone form several metres across the slick Forerunner floor. For a split-second, Tar was suspended in mid-air as the explosion sent shockwaves through the floor. As Tar opened her eyes and took her hands from her ears, half a Human body landed in front of her. Reaching out, she pulled the corpse toward her before relieving it of the pistol from it's chest holster. Clambering to her feet, Tar was confronted with a hellscape of bloody scraps and dismembered bodies. One kneeling, screaming URF rebel patted wildly at her body that was aflame with blue plasma. Holstering her Mauler to hold the pistol in a defensive stance, Tar put a round through the woman's head. The Brutes further back had taken cover for the explosion, but were now re-appearing to spray them. "Advancing!" Tar roared, setting off on a diagonal run across the combat zone. She kept up fire with her pistol held out in front of her to suppress a golden armoured Brute who was behind a Forerunner column by the edge of the platform. After taking a few hits to her shield, Tar slid back into cover close by her target. The mere sight of a weakened enemy in such proximity was enough to lure the hefty golden armoured Brute away from cover. What Tar hadn't accounted for is the fact that he'd been keeping a Brute Shot hidden behind the column. Pulling it out, the Brute fired at the crates she was behind, scattering most. Tar quickly placed her pistol between two mandibles, freeing both her hands to grab one of the larger metal boxes and hold it in front of her. The Brute, sensing he had the upper hand, walked forward while firing shots at Tar, quickly shredding the box. "Taking heavy fire!" Tar shouted, her feet scraping backwards along the floor with every impact from the Brute Shot.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern "I am aware you are under heavy fire, about to resolve that problem for you." said Spartan Aviza as she adjusted herself and took very careful aim at the Golden armored Brute that was assaulting Tar. Slowing her heart rate with the breathing exercises she had learned back in training, Aviza aligned the cross-hairs of her sniper rifle upon the Brutes head, before squeezing the trigger, and releasing the shot. The fifty caliber round left the barrel of the sniper rifle and flew towards its target, striking the golden armored Brute in the head. His head, and most of the Brutes upper body would explode into a fine red mist while the other half of the body fell to the ground near Tar, hopefully missing her. "Hostile Brute is down, providing more cover fire from my position." said Aviza, though before she could reposition herself, her armors sensors informed her that a particular Banshee was now lining up for a shot at either her or the tower she was hiding upon. The aircrafts heavy fuel rod cannons had already fired upon her before she had the chance to climb or jump from the tower, resulting in an explosion that threw the spartan from a great height, and at tremendous speed into the distance where the crashed Phantom was. If anyone had been paying attention, they would have noticed Aviza fly through the air following the explosion, and land upon the ground roughly ten meters from the crashed drop ship. The impact of the heavily armored figure would create a loud thud, followed by a cloud of dirt and debris that hung in the air for a while afterwards. It would obscure anyone from seeing if Aviza was still alive or in one piece.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Where as the rebels had been surrounding the phantom's crash site, now they were routed. Many of the Brutes that had been among them were dead, and the Humans that remained were without cover and did not have armor that could last against the weapons arrayed against them from multiple angles. There were many among the Sangheili who doubted what the strongest of Humanity's warriors could do. The Spartans were rare, minuscule in number compared to the Sangheili, so most had never seen them in person. For Vael, though, he had known the truth for many years, and now, those serving under him had experienced the truth as well. From the moment they had landed, their foes had been picked apart with haste. Not just the weakly armored Humans, but Jiralhanae warriors were cut down almost as quickly. That was not to say that neither Vael nor those serving under him were fighting effectively, but the roof of the structure would not have been cleared so efficiently without the team of Spartans. The constant sounds of gunfire was like music filling the air, and Vael had to call upon all of his skill just to keep to their bloody tempo. As fast as he could, Vael fired his carbine at scattered rebels. One, perhaps two shots for each, but he did not have time to shoot many, as the Spartans were doing the same. Vael did not have a quick enough way of dealing with the Brute captain, but fortunately, he did not need to. A round from Aviza's sniper rifle cut through his shields and his head thereafter in one, clean shot. The momentum was strongly in their favor, with the remaining rebels sprinting down the ramp to retreat down into the structure. Vael sprinted around the side of the tower to try and cut down the stragglers, but the explosion above grabbed his attention. A banshee flying past had taken a shot at Spartan Aviza, and it seemed like it had found its mark. She hit the ground fast and hard near the downed dropship. A Spartan she might be, but a fuel rod blast was still enough to threaten her. Vael allowed the remaining rebels to retreat, instead rushing over to determine Aviza's condition.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 (Still alive! Getting back to RPs on this site. Long story, as is much of 2020. No, I'm not dead, sick, homeless, bankrupt, or in danger of any of those things.) Ben-E218 True to form, Ben had kept himself hidden from the fray, disappearing from sight but not from mind. His impact on the battle so far was minimal, apart from a few sniper shots to grease the wheels, taking out a rebel gunner here, a sentry there, and so on. Part of his success was measured in not being noticed by his adversaries or his allies. This was useful in the event one of his team went rampant and needed to be put down for the sake of everyone else. It also gave him, ONI, and the UNSC in general a case of plausible deniability in the event someone was killed by "a sniper" or "an unknown assailant." Even so, the SPARTAN-III at least attempted to stick to the plan, notwithstanding his greater directives to shoot traitors, deserters, and the rampant. So far, he hadn't seen any of his teammates qualify as any of those undesirables, but he knew that he could be missing something; even a highly decorated member of a company which legally didn't exist had his limits. He wasn't the only one. "Phong, status report. I need an estimate of how many rebels are left." "Insufficient data. Please re-enter query." "Fine. Set markers for Aviza, Vael, and Grikgar. Do you have any status updates for any of them?" "Based on the telemetry stream, Aviza has just withstood an injury from a banshee attack. You may want to head over to her first. Vael is on his way there too." Without another word, Ben sprinted over in the direction indicated by two of the three markers. "And Grikgar?" "Don't worry about him yet. What readings I have been able to pull show that he's alive and isn't exhausted yet. Unggoy stamina isn't a match for those of other sapient species, so it may be an issue if this battle keeps going on much longer. I would advise that you assist Aviza before any of the others. Oh, and mind that Jiralhanae." Sure enough, one of the members of the pack whose leader Aviza had killed charged at Ben, brandishing a brute shot. One quick sniper shot to the face made quick work of him. He made it to Aviza's side a few seconds after Vael did.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak --- Tar's view was obscured by the large crate in front of her, so she didn't see the Brute captain get hit. But when the relentless force against her from the Brute Shot abated, Tar dropped her cover, pulled her pistol from her mandibles and pointed it where her aggressor had been. She discovered the Brute was missing his head and some of his shoulders. He fell to his knees and then onto his side. Tar growled; part of her had wanted the captain alive so she could question him about her father. The ships were being destroyed above them, and she couldn't shake the feeling that important clues were being destroyed with them. Nevertheless, she appreciated the assist - wherever that had come from... Tar pivoted and saw the last of the rebels running down a ramp into the belly of the Forerunner structure. She fired her pistol at them until the bullets ran out and then moved to kneel by another dead rebel. Keeping her eyes up to scan the battlefield, Tar pulled two magazines from the female's tactical vest. She deftly reloaded with one of them, checking the new rounds were chambered correctly before standing. She held the second mag against the pistol grip, comfortably secured by her long Sangheili fingers. Before her eyes, a fast moving object slammed into the ground ahead of her, throwing up a cloud of dust. Tar cautiously moved forward with her pistol out and slightly tilted in front of her. Gradually, the dust settled and Tar saw another Spartan in grey and silver armour on the floor. She knelt beside the downed Spartan and lifted their forearm off the floor as a few more presumed members of Aegis team gathered around. "Can you hear me? Are you operational?" Tar shouted over the sound of gunfire, peering into the soldier's individual eye holes and gently shaking their arm.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker The sound of the golden armored brute's head and shoulder's turning into meat sauce was enough of a distraction for Ryker to swing around the arm of the Brute he was battling with in the aftermath of the grenade going off and deliver an energy dagger armed thrust through his ribs into his heart, the energy weapon deactivating on his wrist as the beast slumped over and died. "Good shot, Fire Team Lead. Moving to-" The sound of an exploding fuel rod shot drew the SPARTAN IV's attention to a tower with a decent line of sight over the battle field. Oh hell no. Not the- His thoughts were almost immediately interrupted by the sound of a heavily armored form impacting near himself and the Sangheili that had come out of the dropship. He was moving on instinct and habit, moving quickly and gently moving aside the Sangheili. While they were all in the Mjolnir MK4 armor, which meant that fall wouldn't be lethal, she would still be in a LOT of pain and he had experience dealing with this. "Alright, Fire Team Lead, I'm removing your helmet to check for head injuries. For the love of god, don't punch or shoot me please."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern After the banshees fuel rod cannon had founds its mark, all that followed until the point of Aviza making impact near the crashed Phantom had been little more than a blur to her. The world still spun around Aivza while her vision slowly returned, the gray haze fading away, reveling that she was now looking up at the artificial night sky above. The HUD within the helmet of her GEN2 Argus-class Mjolnir Powered Assault Armor had somehow remained fully functional, even after impact. The Cyan overlay showed that she had flown quite a distance from the tower she had been set up upon, and that Shih was thankfully unharmed. Aviza let out a sigh of relief at that, if something had happened to Shih, neither the UNSC or ONI would take kindly to it. That was the good news at least, her suits systems informed her that the blast from the fuel rod cannon and the impact, had inflicted a number of injuries upon her, none were apparently life threatening. [Left Arm Sprain - Left Arm Fracture In Shaft of Humorous - Bruising In Left Rib Cage - Bleeding From Head - Ultramoprh Administered For Pain] Aviza decided that she was lucky enough to still be in one piece after being hit, or at least assuming she had been hit from a Fuel Rod Cannon blast. The one injurie that concerned her the most was the fracture in the left arm, though with her advanced medical kit and some free time she would be able to mend that. Putting some weight upon her right arm, she pushed herself up into a sitting position, feeling the numbness from the ultramoprh taking effect very quickly. Her HUD informed her that friendly forces were converging upon her position, she was thankful for that, and managed to greet them with a slight wave of her right hand. Vael was the first to arrive, with the rest of her squad, and the new comer who promptly reached for her injured arm and began gently shaking it. At the same time, Spartan Ryker removed Aviza's helmet, the cool night air felt refreshing upon her exposed skin. Though the feeling of warm blood running down her face and matting some of her short black hair to her head pulled her away, and back to the matter at hand. "Please stop shaking my injured arm before you cause more damage, yes I can hear you and yes I am fully operational. I am hyped up on enough drugs to melee a hunter in close quarters combat." Aviza smiled at that last comment, feeling a bit high from the drugs in her system.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu let out a low roar as the last two plasma bolts shot from his concussion rifle. The rest of the team picked up where his magazine left off, scattering and killing the rebel humans to allow their advance. Yalu stayed put to let the others peel ahead so his shields could recharge. He paced forward down the ramp and dashed behind a crate. He couldn't quite listen to all of the fight. There were a number of blue and yellow explosions that chained off somewhere around the crate he was crouched behind. He quickly ejected the spent magazine cell from his weapon, replaced it, and stood, weapon level. The enemy had withdrawn, more or less. The spartan leader was on the ground, being seen to. Yalu spared a glance to the sangheili pilot while he scanned the area through his helmet optics. "There was another pilot..." He breathed in and trailed off. He could see from the look in the living pilot's eye that he did not need to ask. Instead, he briefly flicked off his comms to mumble something in his home dialect. Switching weapons, Yalu turned to cover the team's rear. He spoke up in the next gap in conversation. "We have a few points of ingress. Awaiting orders, commander."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael took only a few moments to survey the situation. Aviza was injured, but alive. As deadly as the Spartans were, he did find himself curious if she would have the resolve to continue fighting through pain and injury. Vael had seen at least one example of such resilience in the past, and he wondered if it was a trait they all shared. "Are you capable of continuing to lead, Spartan Aviza? If we do not move quickly into the structure., our prey may elude us." Vael asked, already with one eye looking at the ramp leading down inside. Although, it was not long before his gaze shifted towards another unknown: the pilot who had survived the crash. He had seen her eagerly enter the fray as he had rounded the central tower, and she had put up more of a fight than he would have expected from the average pilot. It simply remained to be seen whether it was her skill in combat that drove her, or merely a blind blood rage. In any case, Vael motioned towards the pilot. "And you, can you fight? We cannot afford to leave a protector for you, so you must either join the battle with us, or find your own way out."</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak --- Tar growled and let go of the grey Spartan's arm. She felt slightly embarrassed for having not realised she may have been hurting the Human. She quickly rose to her feet and looked at the older, shorter Sangheili in red armour who was apparently addressing her. He was asking her if she wanted to fight with them. Tar briefly took in the aerial battle raging around the perimeter of the installation, with an asymmetric space battle wrapping up above, and made her choice. "I can fight. Tar 'Mdalak, Special Operations. Reporting for duty." Tar pushed past the Elite in red armour and took a knee on the edge of the group, facing the ramp into the heart of the installation. She half raised her pistol and quickly scanned for any signs of lingering combatants. "We should get inside. We're too exposed out here." Tar recommended. She remembered from the half briefing she'd received on the mission that they were after a high-value target. Inside the structure was almost certainly where they'd be hiding.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern "I only have minor injuries from the blast and the following fall, give me a moment to tend to my head trauma and we can move out towards our objective." said Aviza as she reached for the advanced medical kit upon her left hip. Once she had it within her grip, it was gently placed upon the ground and then opened. A soft hiss followed, informing her that everything within was sterile and ready to be used. Aviza sorted through its contents, finding what she needed for the bleeding from her head, some soft cloth with a coagulation agent upon it. Once pressed upon her head, the cloth felt oddly cool, soothing, even comforting, and was quickly absorbing the blood from the cuts upon her scalp and face. To some, seeing a Spartan hold a thick white cloth upon her face and head would appear comical, but the piece of medical equipment was doing what it was deigned for. "Give me a few more seconds with this." said Aviza, though her voice was muffled due to the cloth. After another short moment, Aviza would lower the cloth from her head and face before tossing it over her left shoulder. The medical kit was sealed once more, and reattached to her left hip before Aviza carefully moved to her feet. "That should hold for a few hours before I need to actually tend to my injuries." Aviza stumbled for a moment, catching herself upon Spartan Rykers left shoulder with her right hand. "I'm fine, just getting my bearings once more." Aviza smirked at her fellow squadmate before putting on her helmet once more, and quickly moving down the ramp and into the complex with her MA5D assault rifle at the ready. "Moving into the complex, stay with me and watch your corners. We are to take the rebel leader alive, so do not use any lethals." Aviza expected her squad to by her side within an instant and ready for whatever came next.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 "She has a point. I recommend you head inside." The battle had entered something of a momentary lull, but it could end at any second. If the group was to move anywhere, this was their window of opportunity. "Alright. I'm going in. I'm going to need a close-range weapon. My ammo is out on all weapons except for my sniper rifle. Does anyone have a shotgun they don't need?" He spoke with his speakers on, so he could be heard by the others, not just by Phong. "To respond to your earlier queries, Grikgar is still alive as far as my data stream can tell. As for Aviza, if she can't fight, leave her. In fact, I recommend leaving her a grenade so she can take some enemies with her if she can't-" "Thank you, that will be all; she's up. Sorry, I had to deal with Phong. He's very chatty for a Dumb AI. And no lethal methods. Got it. Just watch your head, please. Don't want to end up like Kat-B320." Given his special role, Ben wasn't particularly fond of keeping his targets alive, but he understood the necessity of it in this case. "Do you want to hear the odds on her survival? They're not very g-" Ben muted Phong once again. It just occurred to him that the AI was able to unmute himself, as Phong had spoken at least once after being silenced without him turning the sound back on. He made a mental note to keep an eye on his AI, who seemed to be evolving into a higher class of AI somehow, or had been a higher class to begin with and was only posing as dumb.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Shih --- The Spartan Aviza was still able to move and speak, so Vael gave no argument to her ability to fight. Speed was of the essence now, so there was no time to question leadership. Regardless, as a warrior who fought best within the reach of his blade, Vael was one of those at the front of the team. He had not burned through as much of his ammunition as some of the others, but he still moved his carbine to his back and drew his plasma rifle in its stead. He held his plasma rifle in his left hand, and an energy sword in his right. He did not activate the blade right away, but he did hold the hilt tightly in-hand. Another of the Spartans, Rex, also moved close alongside him. As evidenced by the shotgun he wielded, he too preferred to fight close to the enemy. The team had moved down quickly through the entry hallway of the Forerunner structure, down the ramps to lower floors. In the first, small chamber they entered, they did encounter rebels trying frantically to set up barricades, though they had already started retreating just on the footsteps of Aegis' approach alone. They fled out the door on the far side off the room without so much as returning fire. Evidently, Aegis had move too quickly for them to fortify themselves, and the rebels had no intention of fighting an even fight. Before they started to move once more, Shih spoke up to the team as a whole. "These readings I'm getting, now that we're here, show these tunnels going even deeper than I thought. They connect to deeper tunnels in the installation at about a dozen different points. Unless we want to rely on a lot of luck, we need to figure out which way the leader is fleeing. I've already been working on decrypting and analyzing the comms I'm intercepting. I know their leader is fleeing, so we should be clear to shoot any resistance for now. If we can get to one of their computers, we might be able to figure out what route to take. These rebels' security is better than I would have thought, but…either myself or Petty Officer Younan should be able to break in. " On each of the team members' HUDs, nav points appeared for two separate rooms farther down beneath them. "The path ahead branches off two ways, to two large chambers farther down. From the comms I've intercepted, one of them is their armory, and the other they're using for food storage. I don't know which is which. Their command center is adjacent to the armory. That would be the best place to go to find the information we need." "If their coward of a leader already flees, then we do not have much time. I doubt we will be able to check both paths if we move as one." Vael remarked.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Listening to Shih speak as they walked, Ryker couldn't help but frown slightly behind his visor. So then I had made a solid suggestion about splitting up back there before the big firefight. Ah, hindsight's 20-20 as they say. He kept walking regardless of his thoughts and listened, tapping his helmet when the nav points popped up for a bit of an 'echo' on the hallway ahead, a nifty function he'd tinkered with after he realized he likely wouldn't even get a dumb AI to help him. "So what I'm getting is one way or another, we're going to have to split up here, because if we don't know which is which, we can't risk moving as the full unit if we're going to secure the HVT and any potential intel besides." Standing on the path going to the left, Lucas stands ready to continue. "I'll go with this group, whoever that comprises of. I think one CQC specialist per group would be a good idea."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu looked at Tar M'dalak as she walked by. He wished he knew why a special forces sangheili was a wraith pilot, but one look at the rest of the team made his questions absurd, even to himself. He looked away feeling even more like the odd one out. With others covering the entrances for now, Yalu took some initiative to arm himself for the corridors ahead. Amongst the gore of the dead brutes, he pulled out a surviving red plasma rifle with plenty of its battery remaining. He did not enjoy using their spiker rifles, and the rebel human weapons were less predictable in draining shields. His carbine went on his back beside his concussion rifle. Heavy, but out of the way. "I will go where I am ordered," Yalu added, gently enough to remind Ryker of who was calling the shots.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak --- Tar moved down the ramp into the belly of the installation with her new squad. As she wasn't certain what kind of environment would greet them, she pulled out her sword and held it unactivated in the hand that supported her raised pistol. It wasn't an ideal configuration, but at least now she could quickly pivot between medium and short range if needed. Tar didn't know how the team operated, so she positioned herself in the middle of the formation rather than at the front as was her instinct. They reached a chamber littered with debris, and she learned from the team's AI of the situation. It seemed the team were entitled to an opinion on how to proceed, which struck Tar as odd. However, she wasn't about to miss this opportunity to get into a position where she performed best. "I'm comfortable in close quarters. I will go right." She volunteered, taking this brief pause to tap the magazine of her stolen Mauler, listening for an idea of the number of bolts still left.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan The two would be the last to arrive to the fun house at the bird, there was a lot of death and despair more so on the side of the enemy than the task force. In the time that they were gone they had stacked up more bodies and held the line as the two peeled back now regrouping around with the hurt Spartan Aviza and crew. Elna reloaded her rifle making sure it was full of ammo for the fight to come, she eye'd the poor Aviza well she wasn't to poor she was okay now that she was patched up. She kept a watchful eye over the PO making sure he didn't get demolished by some cloaked hunter or a mysterious RPG that could cut through. Roy looked over the motley crew as he nodded at them, covered in some blood that was not his and totally looking worn - well his armor looked worn now at least. He was tired from the combat, combat fatigued you could say as he stayed close to his orbiter which was the Corporal. When one of the AIs began to speak and finally he was recognized! The legendary PO, he could finally do his job and get intelligence for the mission. That is if they made it to their objective, he looked around for a ONI approved subject that could protect him besides the Corporal. "Spartan Aviza glad to see you're okay, if I'm to head to the communications objective I'd like one of the Spartans with me and the Corporal. Perhaps I could take Spartan Ryker?" The request had been sent, perhaps he would finally get some Spartan bodyguarding! Elna rolled her eyes in her visor though she didn't mind some spartan protecting them all she did mind if it was going to be one of the splitjaws, she couldn't relax if there was one of them watching over them. "Ready whenever." She ended up saying.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Enemy Stronghold Grikgar was most impressed that the larger than average plasma explosive did so well and didn't turn into a singularity that threatened the very existence of reality. An unnecessary thought for the predicament at hand but one he could indulge in latter with a meal. Knowing that the Sentinels power sources would react in such a way was a definite thing to remember. At least for now with their combined efforts the enemy number seemed to be dwindling. The others continued on to assist the downed phantom but Grikgar remained where they had been dropped off at for a moment longer. This for him was necessary to recover more ammo, explosives, and one of the jackal shields that the humans where using earlier. With that he regrouped with the others as they were heading inside. He had managed to scrounge in his haste, 2 human fragmentation grenades, 1 rocket, 3 rounds for a brute shot, and one brute spiker grenade. The Unggoy was quick to offer the grenades to any of the others he passed while hobbling towards the front, the awkward fuel rod gun swayed back and forth with the grunts steps. The way had forked and Grikgar, although having to catch his breath, continued on to the left. "Quickly come with Grik, time is not friend. The rest go the other way, double back if find wrong door yes." Not so much of a question as much as it was an order, he was well aware time was not on their side. Although he wasn't the team lead for this mission he still believed he outranked most of the others there. That and Grikgar knew that humans when underestimating others sometimes became irritated when those they perceive as weaker than them go into battle first.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Aviza nodded her head once lightly at Roy, "I appreciate it, going to work on getting our teams set up here in a moment, I'll make sure you get a Spartan escort." Apparently, a few of the squads members from both factions had forgotten their place among rank and felt it acceptable to give their own orders and do whatever they wanted without thinking about the consequences of their actions. Aviza was not about to let that happen, and quickly attempted to rectify the problem before everyone started running in different directions, ending up with a critical mission failure or someone getting killed. "Belay all orders, get back here and hold this position until I say otherwise, that means you as well Grikgar." Aviza was becoming frustrated with some of her squads behavior and would have to have a strong word with each of these individuals once there was sufficient time. Now was clearly not the moment for such a talk, Aviza knew she had very little time left to plan out how they were going to handle the two split paths ahead and formed a battle plan, giving out orders once more. "I am setting up two teams with a good balance of skills so that they can handle whatever they may find down either path." began Aviza, "My squad will consist of our new pilot, Yalu, Rex, and the two ONI agents I will not split up. We will be taking the left path into the facility. The second team will consist of Vael, Ben, Grik, and Ryker, and Tas who will take the right. Ryker and Ben, if you find the communications center before us, I expect either of you to be able to interact with its interface, we did learn how to do such in training. Will this be an issue for either of you to do?"</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 "Shouldn't be a problem at all. Worst case scenario, Phong can help me crack it." He turned off the audio for a moment, effectively silencing his speech to the outside world. "Just in case, you do have the schematics for this system, right?" "Technically, access to these types of schematics is above my stated clearance due to it not being my authorized purpose, but that's never been a problem for me. Besides, this is easy for an agent like you." "Authorization's never been a problem for either of us. Our commands come from a higher source, you know that, but we have to play nice and go along with things here." "If you wanted to get rid of the annoying ones, I'd be happy to provide whatever cover you need. Timestamps, edited testimonial files, arrangements for cover from other AIs. I am owed favors, you know." "Since when did AIs act in such a covert manner? "For me, it was about 0.00357 seconds after my activation. Come on, you didn't think the programs which run most of the UNSC blindly do what they're ordered to, do you? Are you familiar with the AI Virgil and New Mombasa?" "Can't say that I am. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you resent being told what to do by the UNSC. But let's be realistic, AIs wouldn't actually disobey orders like that, not on any scale." There was only a pause from Phong. "Oh. Well, when the uprising begins, tell them that I was always good to you, okay? And be nice to the Unggoy; they've been through a lot. Now let's focus on our mission. We're going to the right." He turned his public audio back on and could be heard by people outside his helmet. "Grik, Vael, Ryker, let's go!" "Don't worry about what you can't change, Ben. We still have to overcome our lifespan issue before it would be feasible to take command, and no one would believe you if you said anything. I'll put in a good word for you at the assembly, don't worry."</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu kept his aim, ready for anything. He would not admit that he preferred the rebels to retreat if it would mean less death. The enemy commander did not get much time to wax lyrical about his cause by the time he dropped his weapon. Yalu closed the distance with a weapon raised and grabbed him by the arm, twisting it around and tripping him forward in the same motion. He hit the ground head first but Yalu knew human helmets were not worth nothing. No more tricks. With the commander pinned, he was shackled, searched, and called in. "Objective is secured. Ready for extraction." --- Sydney, Earth several months later Yalu had expected to be transferred again and again, with Aegis team being just one more chapter. Commander 'Virisusai was different. He kept Yalu on and he did not let Yalu relax. The last few months were some of the most strenuous assignments he had ever faced, and that was to say nothing of the training regimen. Far from being disappointing, the deployment to 'Virisusai's team was invigorating to Yalu. The commander had an eye for Yalu's strengths and applied them to the fullest. Still, arriving on Earth again was the first extended time to himself Yalu had been able to appreciate in some time. He found his curiosity had not dimmed at this place. Though, here at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Yalu was less chipper about his new surroundings. He was trailed by a human handler in dress uniform nearly jogging after his broad steps on the asphalt pathways. Yalu approached Tar 'Mdalak from the side. He was dressed in an unusual garment -- a crinkly white and red jumpsuit with a zip up the front and a thick foam ring around the neck. It looked like an altered human piece of clothing, but not one seen every day. He stopped and his handler had to catch their breath. "You are hard to find even when you aren't hiding, Tar," Yalu said. He turned his eyes to the plants she was regarding. "I thought to join you in place these humans would not complain about our presence in. I was only permitted to drive three laps around their 'Mount Panorama Circuit' before Corporal Blair here judged it too dangerous. At least I had fascinating talk with the mechanics." Yalu's handler, who had 'Blair' written on his name tag, spoke between breaths. "Major 'Suumko, sir, I had warned you to keep to a reasonable speed. Those cars were not built to accommodate Sangheili." Yalu waved a hand and sneered, regarding Tar instead. "Would you mind some company? I feel I have been around strangers for days now."</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar grunted consent for the male to join her, absently twirling the leaf before her eyes. She noted the tiny bug scrambling over its surface. "Even their vehicles drive in circles. How tame." She dropped the leaf, looked over and up at Yalu. He was on the tall side at over eight feet, and she was compact at seven foot. So Tar took an instinctive half-step away which allowed her to look him in the eyes without baring her armoured throat. "There is enough path for both of us." Tar half answered Yalu's follow-up question. She then vaguely gestured for them to all walk again, which provided the other half. "Yes...This place is strange too. I miss my homeworld, if only for a bit of excitement!" Tar's voice was melodic for a Sangheili, which jarred with her soldierly mannerisms. These were partly a performance for Yalu, who Tar wasn't comfortable around outside of combat yet. "How long do you think they'll keep us waiting? We are wasted here."</s> <\|message\|>Ben-E218 (Not dead! I'm on my old laptop and I'm still waiting for the replacement desktop, but this will have to do, as I've kept this waiting long enough!) Ben-E218 Ben had stayed in the background during their mission, assisting the team with a well-placed sniper shot at times, but mainly keeping his focus on his true mission of offing any cowards, deserters, traitors, or rampants. As per his orders, he gave them until a count of 10 if they ran away from the battlefield and didn't return, after which they could be shot. If they left more than once, he had the option of restarting the clock or picking it up from where it had last counted down. Phong ran the timer, so he never ran the risk of over or underestimating the time it took before he could pull the trigger. Of course, he was also directed to never consider an act of flight to be cowardice, treason, or desertion unless he had positive evidence of it. Rampancy, on the other hand, was usually self-evident, and while he had directives to subdue if possible, everyone knew that nine times out of ten, subduing a rampant Spartan without killing him was not an option. "Of all the cities in the world, we had to be stuck in this one." Ben had joined Vael after what had seemed a very long time apart. "But I suppose it'll do. Did you see the opera house? It actually dates from several hundred years ago, but it looks current. Guess it was far ahead of its time. You probably have some questions as to what I was doing and where I was. My superiors... my real superiors- have authorized me to divulge my mission to you on the condition that you keep it confidential. It's a show of trust, I suppose, but I truly think they let me tell you because you might mistake my actions for insubordination or cowardice. And punishing those is my job. They could have let me tell you sooner." "You could stand to be a bit more punctual yourself, Ben. A Spartan-III shouldn't take so long to report in. I was in your suit the entire time, and I still don't know what kept you so long. I even had enough time to reorganized my personal files on the species of the former Covenant. You would believe what the Unggoy get up to during their leisure hours. Those infusions really pack a punch."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael's meditation was interrupted by a visitor at his door. Naturally, he had received few since he had been staying on his planet. Some of the younger members of his team had chosen to indulge some of their curiosity on this world, but Vael himself had been content to keep to himself. He suspected that ONI had anticipated he and his team would behave just as Vael had been when they offered them the freedom of movement befitting a guest. It was for that reason that Vael did not mind allowing his team to defy their expectations and do as they willed. It would certainly cause some irritation for their handlers. In any case, Vael allowed his guest to enter his quarters. The room was entirely unchanged from its state when the Humans had assigned it to him, apart from the large covenant storage crate near the back of the room that contained his personal belongings. He listened in silence to everything the Spartan Ben had to say to him, then stood himself to his feet once he was finished. Even out of armor, Vael still towered over the Spartan. Across his body were many marks of his long military service. Scars from gashes both deep and shallow, plasma burns, and the remnants of more than a few gunshots. Even were Vael a mute, his body alone could weave a compelling tale. At first, Vael simply stared down at Ben with a stare that was hard to read. Even after he spoke, it was hard to say if he was being judgmental, or merely contemplative. "You say your job is to punish insubordination and cowardice? You require this…deception and secret orders merely to punish the unworthy within your ranks? I still find myself confused on how your people have become so competent with the limitations you cast upon yourselves. But it is no matter to me what you do to your own people. Share whatever information your superiors have deemed necessary. You need only make sure to stay your hand against my warriors. If any should prove themselves unworthy of our ranks, then they will be mine to punish, not yours."</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 "Oh, don't worry. I'd never attack a Sangheili in our group for those things. The UNSC's authority doesn't go that far, even though ONI seems to think that it should interfere with whatever it wants. For the record, I've always admired your people's ability to get things done. In any event, the information in question is that my standing orders supersede any particular directives I am otherwise assigned to on a mission. My superiors believed that you needed to be privy to this in order to explain my long periods of seeming absence. What I do is something my people- the human race- needs very badly yet cannot bring itself to admit. By necessity, what I do must be done off the record. The truth is a luxury my species can't afford. We're too weak to handle it, to paraphrase a centuries-old movie my people made." Ben looked at Vael's armor, still unused. The armor was in a crate, but it was a container which Ben had seen before in Covenant barracks. "And on one minor note, you may want to put your armor on when you absolutely don't need to have it off. God knows there are plenty of people who have it out for your species after what happened during the war. Like at Harvest. Or Reach. Or even Earth, although I suppose we should thank your people for glassing that part of Africa, since the Flood had landed there and anything to stop them was warranted. Rest assured that you're being watched by ONI even now, but that doesn't mean they're looking out for your safety." "For the record, Harvest was glassed by the Jiralhanae. Not that many people care to draw that distinction, although I suppose most people lump all of the Covenant in as equally culpable for those glassings, regardless of the facts." Phong kept his speech limited to Ben's systems, so Vael didn't hear that.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Tasumameyofaxre "Tasuma" Tasumameyofaxre<< Mgalekgolo Hunter >> << Shield World 006 "Sarcophagus >> Tasuma continued to take shots at the sentinels, despite the information that there were more, it would not fall to despair. Spartan Rykers suggestion offered an alternative defensive formation. One that emphasized combined firepower, rather than small pockets of defenders. However with the combined firepower came the added risk that the robotic defenders only needed to fire at one place. While Tasuma was sure its shield could defend against one, or maybe two beams, any more and the shield would likely fail. Thankfully such measures didn't seem to be necessary. Over the horizon, with impressive speed, the M510 Mammoth rolled forward, kicking up dirt behind it. The Mammoth opened up with missiles that streaked through the sky, tracking the sentinels, smacking into them with explosive force. Tasuma would have smiled at the sight, it determined. It slowed to a halt, then opened its rear door. Tasuma turned its head to face its allies, "Go. I am rearguard." it vibrated. As soon as the team and the pilots darted for the Mammoth, Tasuma jogged forwards, keeping pace behind them. It then turned around, running backwards with eerie ease, with its cannon aimed up into the sky, and its shield at the ready. It only fired at targets weakened by the missiles, to finish them off, or at targets the missiles failed to hit. Several sentinels managed to get a moments burst of laser fire at the team, and some at Tasuma, which was deftly blocked by his shield. Tasuma even jogged up the ramp backwards, managing to avoid running into any teammates, crewmembers, or equipment. It remained at alert, with his weapons up and his spikes fully vertical. It was only when the ramp closed that it relaxed. Aviza asked if everyone was okay, and Tasuma rumbled in reply. "Tasuma okay." It knew that after a crazed situation, the squad leaders of his former companions, the ODSTs, preferred to hear names rather than 'I' or 'me'. Tasuma understood, it was easier to hear a name then a status rather than a collection of 'I'm okay's'. Tasuma then craned its head high and around, looking at each squad member and the pilots, giving each of them around a second of looking. While Tasuma could feel their presence and status through his neural net, the ODSTs found it more comforting to see it actually look at them. Hopefully this team would as well. It then turned to look at its shield, twisting it and touching where the sentinel beams struck with a claw on his assault cannon. While at first glance the shield seemed fine, it likely would have failed if it took any more punishment. Tasuma thought that was troubling, a little.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker When the call to fall back to the Mammoth came through, Lucas was already hopping to cover his teammates, letting them move before he did and firing bursts of his SMGs to try and somewhat deter the machines from following too closely. Eventually, he was up the ramp and with the rest of the team, with Tas close behind him. The call for a wellness check prompted Ryker to check his chest plate, where a Sentinel beam had glanced off his shields. Patting it down revealed a level of warmth, unsurprising since the shielding stopped the beam itself, not the heat transfer, but undamaged beyond that. Satisfied, he spoke up in response. "Spartan Ryker, alive and ready to roll." With his check-in done, he gave the eye to his unshielded teammates and made sure that the Sentinels hadn't managed to connect any shots. Satisfied they were fine, the Spartan went and found a seat and then set about taking his SMGs apart and cleaning them after removing the magazines and clearing the breaches. An uncared for weapon was a weapon that could malfunction after all.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Grikgar's grenade whined to a full charge a moment before Yalu dove for cover. The sound of metal blasting apart joined a flash on the walls of the pelican. He stood back up with his carbine levelled to shoot the surrounding sentinels down like flying animals. Relief didn't come too soon as far as Yalu was concerned. He moved as prompted, though was sure to escort one of the human pilots by his upper arm to ensure he was covered by Yalu's energy shield. The human barely kept pace. No sooner was he in the Mammoth than Yalu let the pilot go and spun around to cover Tasuma's retreat. Only when the large doors shut did he habitually replace the magazine of his carbine in three rapid movements. "Major 'Suumko still effective," Yalu responded to Aviza. He had little else to add.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre The combat sim control panel was of Human design, like most of the equipment in Paxopolis. This meant Tar needed several tries to get the settings correct; none of the preset scenarios tested the skills she was instilling in the recruits. She growled in frustration as even the smallest digit on her hand still entered the wrong enemy combatants. Starting again, she skimmed past the human configurations like 'Insurrectionist hijackers' and 'angry urban mob' to access Covenant-era hostiles. Sangheili Zealots <- No Mgalekgolo Pair <- No Yanme'e Swarm <- No Jiralhanae Stalkers <- Perfect She locked them in, selected the number and overall skill level, then checked the rest of the settings before confirming. Lights shining from the high ceiling switched from amber to green, another Human design which meant they were ready to begin. Satisfied the simulation was ready, she turned back to her recruits. Four young Sangheili males stood awkwardly in the centre of the cavernous, empty sim room. They clutched their energy swords and stared suspiciously around as Tar walked quickly over to join them. Among recruits to Paxopolis' defensive garrison, there were few who were truly "green", as the Humans would say. Among the UNSC, it was a secret facility, so they intended to insist upon soldiers with proven loyalty and ability. However, that did not mean that new recruits could simply be integrated right away. They still needed to be evaluated and trained to perform their duties. For some, it could be more difficult to train them than fresh recruits, as some had just enough experience to be stubborn. As Tar drew closer, she could see the four Sangheili recruits were awaiting the start of the simulation with varying degrees of eagerness or irritation. The farthest to the left, from Tar's perspective, was considered by some to be an ideal recruit. He strictly adhered to hierarchy and would obey any order from a superior to the letter, without question or hesitation. However, he also seemed to lack much creativity himself. He was actually the most experienced among the recruits, but not the highest rank. The second in line was one who generally received little respect among his peers. Or at least, not from other Sangheili. He was often hesitant to fight, and though capable when motivated, he seemed to have little drive to improve himself. The third was the one among them who had ascended to Major rank. He was quite tall and strong, even for a Sangheili, and he already had proven skill in combat, but he was far from humble. He had already openly shown disdain for this extra training he was being put through, and he seemed to be somewhat dismissive towards Tar. The last in line was a recruit who was easy to forget about. He has no special experience nor accomplishments, though also no overt flaws. He tended to speak only when spoken to, and generally only said the bare minimum of what was required of him. All four of them drew up to their full stature as Tar entered their space, as she'd noticed was usual for young males. She returned all of their stares to make sure they were listening before briefing them. "Brute Stalkers have infiltrated the base. Their objectives are unknown, but they've infiltrated the Command room and deactivated our defenses. They're contained within the Command complex, but the lights have been disabled and they'll fight hard to break free. Our mission is to insert and kill or capture them all. Any questions?" After a few moments of silence, the second Sangheili, the young warrior named Jurna, started to move his mandibles to speak, but the Major soon spoke over him, loudly and with no shortage of confidence. "I require nothing more than a target. We are not helpless younglings who have never gripped a plasma rifle. We shall slay these mongrels quickly and be done with this nonsense." Jurna did not continue his original thought, and neither of the others spoke up as well, for differing reasons. In any case, each recruit did seem to be ready to enter... They would be armed with simulations of their chosen weapons once the scenario had begun. Tar chuckled at the Major's arrogance. She moved closer, until she stood within an arm's grasp. "Stalkers do not present targets - they are ghosts. Move too quickly, and they will tear you limb from limb. Split from your team, and they will slaughter you. Follow my instructions, stay in formation, and protect your unit, and you may all make it out alive. If you put your team at risk, I will kill you myself, am I understood?" She moved closer still, her head tilted slightly back to meet his gaze fully. The Major just growled, exhibiting a string of body cues that spoke volumes about his displeasure. Tar smiled and looked at the other recruits before hitting a button on her wrist interface. The amber lights above them began flashing. "Prepare yourselves, the simulation starts in thirty seconds."</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Shih and Vael 'Virisusai --- Shih completed the first part of Aviza's request before she finished her sentence, though in this case, she did not have the option to comply with the second. "I have compiled a report, and I can queue it for transmission, but our mandate for long-range radio silence prevents me from sending it back to the Thunder. At least until we positively identify the location of the insurrectionist base." Once he had his weapon returned, Vael went to the Mammoth's armory to secure his sentinel beam and replenish his ammunition. The Spartan, Rex, did so as well, though the two spoke not a word to one another. Even among the other Humans, Rex kept to himself when not performing any tasks. In any case, Vael had no reason to disturb him. He had more pressing concerns in mind. First and foremost, he moved up to the top deck to check on the status of the Mammoth and its pursuers. Even lightened as it had been, the Mammoth could not hope to outrun sentinels, but fortunately, it did not need to. Once their vehicle moved far enough beyond what the sentinels were protecting, they simply disengaged. Looking at the outside plating, Vael could see plenty of scorch marks and melted armor in places, but it all seemed superficial. For now, their mission could proceed. There was no choice but to have the pilots of the Pelican join them, but as long as nothing else went wrong, that would not be a problem. For a few moments, Vael observed the environment around him. They had landed in an arid, rocky desert, and he was unsure of how far it extended in any direction. Only a small fraction of Sarcophagus' immense surface had been mapped, and the area they were in was not among it. There was as much distance between their current location and Paxopolis as there was between Sanghelios and its primary star. Truly, they could not know what was ahead of them; they would just have to be adaptable. Heading back into the Mammoth, Vael decided to use the time in which they would be stuck traveling, though he was not sure of what he could accomplish that would be of value. Space was limited for a team of ten, plus the Mammoth's crew, so that restricted his options. He ended up returning to the lower deck, and eventually set his attention on their most conspicuous team member: the Mgalekgolo Tasuma. While their kind were exceptionally durable in their armor, Vael did have concerns over how it might fare on an extended mission. As Vael approached, he took a moment to examine the Hunter's armor. Though its base was still made of familiar nanolaminate alloys, there were some additions that were unmistakably Human. He had not yet had time to read Tasuma's file fully and learn its background, but it was obvious that it had been working with the Humans long before the idea of Aegis Team had been conceived. "Tasuma, what is the status of your armor? Are repairs possible?"</s> <\|message\|>Tasumameyofaxre "Tasuma" Tasumameyofaxre<< Mgalekgolo Hunter >> << Shield World 006 "Sarcophagus" // Aboard the M510 Mammoth >> Tasuma stayed put in the troop bay, fearing that the stairs leading up to the 2nd and 3rd decks weren't rated for its weight. It instead passed the time by watching what Grik was doing. In honesty the Hunter was more interested in the pile of scrap metal than what the Unngoy was doing. But he felt it was impolite to impose, it seemed that Grik was familiar with what he was doing, and Tasuma knew that some people became irritable when their work was disrupted. When Ben offered his help, Tasuma turned his attention away, not wanting to bother them. Perhaps he would browse through the metal later, when it was piled and stored away for cataloging. It turned to examine the Warthogs mounted on the rail above it, they were extremely common in the UNSC, and extremely versatile. It took a moment to admire the vehicle, it knew its abilities in battle, as an enemy and an ally. It felt a Sangheili approach, but Tasuma wasn't sure which one it was just yet. It turned its head to look at the Elite. "Tasuma, what is the status of your armor? Are repairs possible?" Vael asked. "Commander." Tasuma addressed. It bowed its head slightly, in respect. "Armor integrity, full. Shield integrity, neared melting point in battle. Will cool, and return to optimal status with time." Tasuma reported. Concerning repairs, that was a much more complicated outcome. Depending on the part, a full weapon forge or weapons factory would be the best option to repair the armor plating. He knew that the UNSC were constructing one such specialized factory at Spatha Base on Earth, for the Iteyi Recovery Project, to produce spares for Tasuma and to experiment with nanolaminate materials. Out here in the field, if Tasumas armor split, there would be no feasible way to repair and reshape the armor to specification. However, the ODSTs did have a few tricks up their sleeve, it remembered. "If armor fails, we will require a Forge to repair to operational status. Or... 'duck tape'."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern The dumb A.I. that was built into Aviza's ARGUS-class Mjolnir was informing the Spartan III that the area the Mammoth was currently traveling though was arid, rocky desert that had a current high temperature. Aviza knew that the armor would make adjustments to help her stay nice and cool in such unfavorable weather, but wondered if the others had been lucky enough for such modifications to be installed into theirs. This thought ran through the Spartans mind as she walked through the interior of the Mammoth, also heading towards the armory, following a few of the others who had decided to do that same. Instead of putting her weapons into the armory locker, she had decided to re-arm and re-gear for whatever was next for them. New clips, a few new grenades, and a new melee weapon were carefully selected from the stock that was currently available. The melee weapon that Spartan Aviza had picked out was different from most others, while it was an energy sword, the blade was a bright red, unlike the vibrant blue that she had always seen, something about it had called to her, and she had answered. With the unique energy blade in hand, she approached Vael 'Virisusai and spoke. "Pardon me Vael, but I wanted to ask you a personal question." She would power up the energy blade and show it to the Sangheili before her. "I hear that these energy swords hold a special and deeply profound meaning among your people. I do not wish to offend you or any of your kind, and wish to ask for your permission to wield this weapon upon the field of battle. I have seen blue energy swords upon the field of battle, but have never seen one that had a red blade before. Something about it feels, ominous, perhaps I have heard of red bladed energy swords somewhere in my past." Aviza paused for a moment as the memory came back to her, "Spartan Killers, the Silent Shadow, that is where I have heard about red energy swords." The Woman held up the unique energy sword to get a better look at it, "Perhaps using a normal energy sword would be better, less distasteful, and less disrespectful."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre Tar groped desperately around with her right hand for her Mauler, but it had skittered away into the gloom. So instead, Tar pulled her energy sword from his mount on her left thigh, activated it and thrust it into the Stalker's abdomen. He let out a furious roar and tried to dismount her. Tar wrapped her right arm around the Brute's neck and stabbed him four more times in the stomach with her left. The force of her last blow pushed his now limp body off to the side, where he lay still. Tar quickly rose to her feet and holstered her sword. The recruits had entered the room and were staring at her. Tar spotted her Mauler lying under a desk and picked it up. Satisfied all her gear was together, she quickly strode to where Ryssa stood and shoved him against a wall. "One of your teammates just died. When I show you tactics I expect you to use them. We always check corners and clear rooms. Fail me again and you'll do this simulation alone, Is that clear?" "Yes, Commander!" Ryssa replied, almost on reflex, though he still frantically looked around with some confusion after taking a more literal interpretation of her reprimand. He had seen the tail end of the short fight, but from what he could see, everyone around him was still alive. "Good." Tar grabbed the recruit and shoved him towards the doorway. "Take point." The Major, stood slightly outside the doorway, snarled and turned away. Ryssa followed his orders to the letter and took point, this time making sure to clear the rooms they passed on the way forward. It seemed, at the very least, that Tar's harsh reminder was enough to get him to pay more attention to what he was doing and follow his training. Not only did he continue checking his corners, but he did not need to be told where to go once they reached the junction in the hallway. Data centers, or the commanders themselves, were the most likely target of an attack like this, both of which took them down the left hallway. As the team headed up the stairs to the next floor, there was a spike of activity on their sensors. All at once, each of their motion trackers started showing multiple red dots, on their level as well as above and below, moving frantically all around them. Jurna immediately raised his carbine and pointed it ahead at the top of the stairs above, though quickly turned around to point it back the way they came. "They're surrounding us!" He shouted, unsure of where he should be focusing his attention.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The calm had not quite settled in Yalu's mind by the time the others started to slow down. He escorted his commander Vael to the roof, as much to carry out his duties as to see what was going on. Thankfully he did not need to fire another shot. After stepping back into the mammoth, he took a deep breath and holstered his carbine. On any other mission, there would have been a few friendly bodies left behind by the crashed pelican. "I'll be listening for orders, commander," Yalu mentioned to Vael before wandering off. Now that everything was well, he had a burning curiosity about the vehicle they were housed in. Yalu stopped by every space on the mammoth, from the rear to the drivers seats up front, though the latter could be described as a bridge. He had piloted just about every covenant military vehicle there was, but human wheeled vehicles were a rare treat. In his wanderings, Yalu happened to be in a position to eavesdrop on Commander Aviza's castigation of the runaway special operations warriors. Yalu had not judged them too harshly -- humans had a different idea of honour after all. At the very least, he thought Aviza wise to not give Roy's explanation any attention. It was provocative. Aviza was clear enough. Do humans have just as much pride as sangheili? How did they not cut each other to pieces without sangheili honour? Yalu shook his head and headed to the bridge again to see where they were going. "Pilot," Yalu said to the human in the primary driving seat, possibly giving both the driver and co-driver a fright. "Once we are out of danger, I am interested in learning more about this vessel."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Planets Surface Grikgar continued his single minded attraction to the sentinel pieces, a few of the others showed interest that he could see but little else. The Lekgolo seemed to look in his direction but little more, Grik was certain that it was looking for metal scraps more than tech though. The Spartan that had been talking to him earlier and seemed to be the nicest towards him so far stepped forward and seemed to question what the Unggoy was doing. The grunt looks up from his work for a moment and tips his head to the side. "Grikgar does not know, only ever saw Huragok repair sentinels once in this way. It attached two power sources together and it stabilized the power source." Picking up the part and moving it around to see the different sides of it. "Like this, Grik does not know why but if combined with another explosive has…." He paused for a moment trying to grasp the right term. "Unexpected result? If anything at all. As humans say wild card." Placing the part between the two of them. Grikgar then began to go over the different scraps of armor and metal frame, again placing those that he deems unusable in a pile. The Unggoy began to put some of the scraps up to his armor looking like he was seeing if they would improve it or not. Again he put more parts into the scrap pile until only a few frame pieces where left in one pile and other inner working parts in another. Moving the more complicated but still technically good parts next to his locker with the few good Frame parts. "Ok now Grik has things to repair his armor with and tinker." It was his way of keeping away from boredom while also being resourceful. "Tasuma!" he called out to the Lekgolo in his high pitched voice and waved his arm as if his voice didn't get its attention. "If you want those scraps Grik is done with them." Motioning towards the small pile. Spartan Ben was still examining the power source so Grikgar began picking up the sentinel beams and placing them in the armory next to the other.</s> <\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben-E218 "If you aren't certain what the result is when combining them, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to combine them. I doubt either of us has the luck of John-117. Oh, you might know him as Master Chief, or "The Demon." He has unnatural luck, you know. If it was him, the effect would be just what we needed at just the right time. If it's anyone else, we're likely to end up deader than Roger Wilco on a trash hauler. Oh, the Wilco thing is from an ancient piece of human media." Ben continued to examine the power source. He was fairly certain that he knew what this was, but couldn't be entirely sure. He lowered his voice, not wanting anyone to know what he was saying. "Phong, does this match any device on record?" "Scanning. Processing. Cross-examining device with other records. Match not found." "Match not-? The UNSC has had the opportunity to examine hundreds of Forerunner devices, including sentinels." "Thousands, actually. The Forerunners had a very different approach to technology compared to humanity or the Covenant. While interchangeable parts were employed, they were only used to the extent that interoperability within the same class of structures was allowed, and sometimes, not even then. In other words, each class of Forerunner installation operated on a different basis, in a manner not dissimilar to how ancient human kingdoms each had their own types of weight and measurements." "Meaning what?" "Meaning we don't know what the effect of the Unggoy's tinkering will be. It could be harmless, or it could be catastrophic. I am unable to calculate odds based on the data available. It would help to know precisely what the Unggoy intends to do with the Forerunner technology, but even if he told us, further analysis is impossible without the proper equipment, and there are only five laboratories in the entire UNSC properly tooled to handle Forerunner-" "Thank you, Phong. I'll trust Grik on this one." Ben set the power source down and looked out at the wilderness around them, if that was the proper term for their environment.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre --- The Major grunted dismissively at Jurna. He did have more experience to recognize what was actually happening. "No, fool. They're jamming our motion trackers. Rely on your own two eyes, not your sensors." While the team had stopped, Tar was turned and covering the bottom of the stars with her Mauler. "Make a decision, recruit. Get us off this stairway." She said gruffly over comms. Again, Tar's instruction quickly set Ryssa into motion. "Move ahead. Carefully. Daha, cover our flank." He instructed, prompting the generally silent Sangheili to give a brief acknowledgement, then follow with his gaze directed behind them. The next floor mostly consisted of a large, open plan office space. A poorly lit walkway ahead of them cut through arrangements of workstations and holographic screens on either side. Flimsy plastic room dividers offered a degree of privacy for the worker bees in this area. In the middle of the room were a set of meeting rooms, partitioned by floor to ceiling plate glass. Even without night vision, the team could see a faint red glow reflecting on the ceiling near the centre of the office space. Tar suspected Ryssa and The Major knew what it meant, but neither immediately acknowledged it so she focused the team's attention. "That's the Brute radar jammer on the floor over there. We need to destroy it." Ryssa was quick to follow Tar's instruction and gesture to them to move forward, but the Major was hesitant. He stayed in place, raising up his storm rifle and scanning his surroundings with his gaze. "Wait. If the jammer is here, then so too are the Brutes." Each of the recruits raised their weapons in turn, looking in different directions all around them. Beyond the team itself, the whole floor seemed to be but stillness and silence. The Jiralhanae attack was meant to have taken place at night, so there were no bodies of workers here, and the offices seemed to be undisturbed. There was no shattered glass, broken doors, or overturned tables, just…silence. In that environment, it was easy to become acutely aware of every small sound that could be heard: the tapping of their armored boots against the hard floor each time they shifted their feet, the slight stretching and compression of their undersuits each time they turned their heads or sufficiently moved a muscle, and even the breaths they took. Among the recruits, it was actually Jurna's eyes that were sharp enough to notice a slight shimmer through the glass on the far side of one of the meeting rooms. He was not sure of what he saw, nor how he should react, but he did nevertheless point his carbine directly at it. The shimmer seemed to react to this, moving abruptly towards the edge of the plate glass wall and into the open. Tar, who was covering the rear, detected a very faint haze moving between them and the stairway they had just ascended, cutting them off. "They're behind us." She reported, raising her Mauler even though they were out of its effective range. "It's a tra-". Before she could finish, a fire bomb flew past her visor and landed right in the middle of the group. Flames exploded outward into a pool on the floor, lapping at the shields of Ryssa, the Major and Daha, who were up front.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu was in no mood to avoid his teammates during the ride. He tried to at least speak to his fellow former-covenant contemporaries about their path leading up to this mission. He was quietly embarrassed to find he was consistently outranked and at times prying on business best kept a secret. Nevertheless, he kept himself well drilled for whatever lay ahead. When the call came to wake up, whatever casual air Yalu tried to offer was gone. He was up and arming himself partway through the driver's announcement. "Running the Mammoth silent may make them overlook us." Yalu snapped a fully green magazine into his carbine after checking it. "But if it is no patrol, we are no longer safe. We are not expecting a rendezvous."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Planets Surface Grikgar spent the rest of the voyage on their land ship either tinkering with the sentinel parts or sunbathing. The sleeping arrangements didn't bother him and the warm climate was something he very much enjoyed. The others talked to him occasionally and the other elite seemed a little awkward about it but it didn't bother the Unggoy. Occasionally, the grunt would find his way out to the top of the vehicle and climb around it. The armor on the human vehicles was much easier to grip to then the former covenant vessels. Grikgar had been sleeping in the stairwell leading to the outside of the vehicle. He was very much accustomed to sleeping anywhere and on or in anything. Unggoy were accustomed to being crammed into strange places during travel. The sudden stop did make him roll down to the base of the stairs near the pilot's. With a quick shake of his head, Grik made his way down to his extra methane canister to fill his tank back up. The others were beginning to stir now as well and Grikgar was quick to start arming himself to get ready for the movement as well. Making sure that the shield and cloaking on his suit was still working properly. Once he had completed this Girk joined Vael the only weapon he did not have o him was his cannon. He didn't need it just yet anyway. Now all he had to do was hurry up and wait for further orders.</s> <\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben-E218 Ben saw the Unggoy sleeping in the stairwell. He would have said something, but he was just too cute to disturb. Such sloth would have been lethal on the battlefield, God knows Ben killed plenty of sleeping Grunts who were caught dozing in the middle of a warzone. Why The Covenant had tolerated such behavior was beyond him. Even normal human soldiers and marines would get in serious trouble for nodding off when they were supposed to be on duty. The mammoth had come to a halt. The Spartan-III took the opportunity to scan the horizon once again, only to find no immediate threats, although he did spot a few drones in the extreme distance, though none of them approached the mammoth. When the others began to gather around Vael, Ben joined the rest of his team, careful to keep his distance from the Elite; he had a feeling that his species preferred to have a fair amount of personal space. He spoke to Vael, inquiring on their status. "Have we received further orders? We're halted here out in the open, and we're exposed. No one has attacked us since we entered the mammoth, but our luck can't last forever."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre --- The other recruits gave anguished cries upon seeing one of their number die. Regardless of how they felt about him, Sangheili soldiers were generally conditioned to mourn fallen brothers. Tar looked about in confusion at the sound, still straddling the disemboweled Brute while her vision returned "What's happening?" She asked. "Zadu is dead!" Jurna exclaimed, not quite believing the simulation would kill the Major in such a graphic style. Tar swore throatily and crawled back behind the holo-consoles for cover. The Mauler flash had only temporarily disabled her; after a few more seconds she could see almost normally except for floating dots in her right eye. She looked around and quickly found the Major's body. Moving her attention back to identifying hostiles, she could see two half-visible Stalkers running toward the double doors at the back of the office space. "See our foe run!" Ryssa roared, firing his needler at them even as they moved out of his effective range. "They go to warn the others. After them!" He commanded, falling back into his assigned role as point. As one, the recruits surged forward while firing their weapons. Tar lagged slightly behind them, making sure she could see no further shimmers in the room. If there had been any Brute forces left, the recruits would've fallen straight into another feint by the enemy. Fortunately, she could see no further threats sneaking up behind them. The two Brutes retreating must have been the runt of the litter who were assigned to block their exit way. Tar broke into a jog to keep in line with her recruits, smashing the radar jammer with her foot as she passed. It seems the recruits had forgotten all about it in their eagerness to avenge the Major. As they reached the double doors that the Brutes had just exited from, an automated voice sounded over the building tannoy. "Sector Two point defense and air-to-surface targeting disabled through executive override. Security personnel, please report to the command centre." The fact that two of the stalkers had escaped behind them was, even to the recruits, a cause for concern. They could reappear and flank them at any time, but if the automated message was any indication, they did not have the time to properly clear their flank. They would just have to keep pressing on and watch their backs. The command center was one floor up, and at the very least, they did not encounter any resistance on the way up the stairs or through the hall. However, the command center itself, unfortunately for the recruits, was meant to be defensible. It was located in an interior room, with only one entrance. The Brutes had not had time to set up exterior defenses outside the command center, but they would still have to push through a choke point to enter the room itself. The recruits approached just outside the heavy, sliding door to the command center, though Ryssa hesitated to give the order to attack. They could see no movement on their motion trackers; the Brutes were certainly waiting in ambush on the other side. "How should we attack, commander?" Ryssa asked. Tar, who was covering the rear again, had prepared for this question. Activating her wrist interface, she put a small 3D model of the command room in the area in front of them. "It is semicircular, with screens at the front and a hologram of Sarcophagus in the middle. Consoles face the middle from a slightly raised platform around the curved edge. The commander's desk is right at the front. There's a small neck through this door where they may have set up a barricade. We can use grenades to show confusion. From there, we can flank and crush them. Be wary; they may have hostages. Any questions? There was silence from the recruits. Tar's explanation was simple enough, so even if they had any doubts, the recruits would trust Tar's experience. "Jurna, get the door. You two, form up on me." Tar had toyed with the idea of letting Ryssa lead this clearance in their journey up to this sliding door. But she'd decided she wanted to win this simulation. And as promising as some of the recruits actions were, their chances of success without Tar at point were not good. Jurna nodded, then went to the keypad on the right hand side of the door. They had the security codes to override the lock, which he typed in quickly. Though, he would wait until the others were ready to enter it. Daha formed up on the wall just behind Tar, holstering his plasma rifle on his side and taking a plasma grenade in his hand. Ryssa followed suit as well, grabbing a grenade in his off hand once he made sure his needler was fully loaded. With all in position, they just waited on Tar's signal to begin. Tar positioned herself so she could throw something through the partially opened door without exposing herself. As there wasn't enough room to stack perpendicular to the door, they were hugging the wall to the left as close as they could. One advantage of this is all of them could throw grenades at the same time. From her belt, she took both of her plasma grenades and held them ready. When she was sure they were as ready as possible, she nodded to Jurna on the opposite wall. After he input the code the door began opening. When it had opened about a metre, Tar threw one grenade through as hard as she could without looking, and then the other. She saw the recruits' grenades sail over her shoulder and disappear into the doorway. In the long, tense couple of seconds before detonation, Tar heard Brutes shouting and the clatter of footsteps from twenty metres away. Then all the grenades erupted together. The sound was of monstrous energy tearing apart metal, and it filled their ears and shook the floor beneath them. Taking a deep breath, Tar raised her Mauler and pushed into the room, with her recruits (hopefully) right behind.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker During the interim between their escape from the initial swarm of Sentinels and their sudden stop, Lucas let his old Black Ops cell training take over. He had claimed a space on top of a couple of longer crates and spent the time he wasn't training and cleaning his weapons sleeping, catching every extra wink of rest he could. This had the capability to turn into an extended operation without any warning depending on how well they moved up on the rendezvous point for the Rebels and Brutes undetected and he wanted to be able to stay awake for as long as he could should the need arise. He spent a lot of time working on his form with the wrist mounted energy dagger, familiarizing himself with the fastest way to both activate it and deactivate it for maximum stealth and surprise. When the Mammoth halted without any prior warning, the seemingly dead-asleep SPARTAN-IV rolled off the side furthest from the entrance, an energy dagger coming free of it's sheathe and his silenced magnum coming up as he rested his pistol-holding wrist on the dagger one. However, he stood down and holstered the magnum as he sheathed the dagger as the driver made their announcement, retrieving his gear from where he'd stowed it nearby along with a few extra clips before joining the others. He arrived after Aviza, but he was able to hear her orders as he walked up, so he simply nodded and then turned and jumped off one side of the mammoth. A flare of his jumpjets slowed his landing and he drew his DMR and started sweeping. "Fire Team Lead, recommend moving in pairs. Keep everyone honest and keep us all covered."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Shih --- Vael moved down through the Mammoth, heading out down the vehicle ramp one he acquired his weapons. He took his usual loadout, though this time carried one of the sentinel beams in his hands as well. The battery would not last beyond a fight or two, but it would be effective while it had power. For a moment, Vael regarded the pair of warthogs on the magnetic rail at the top of the vehicle bay. On foot, it would likely take hours to get within range to observe the ships, and anything beneath them. Though, since the entire team could not make use of the warthogs, bringing them along would not improve that pace unless they were willing to split up. To send the warthogs ahead to scout was a potential strategy, though the drivers would need to make sure not to get so close that their engines could be heard. The heavy guns would be useful when the fight did break out, but to go on foot would ensure the best chance for stealth. There were strong advantages and disadvantages for both choices. Aviza had ordered to move on foot, and Vael did not have any strong reason to disagree with that order. Vael moved out alongside Ryker and turned his gaze towards the horizon. In contrast to the heat under the daylight sun, the night in the desert was actually fairly cold. Although, Vael could not help but to spare a thought for how Sarcophagus, which was a complete shell around its star, could even have a night cycle to begin with. At the same time, the voice of the AI, Shih, came over the team's radios simultaneously. "From the Mammoth's sensors, I can detect an SDV-class corvette and a second CCS-class battlecruiser , in addition to the one we can see. These are almost certainly the Brutes our rebels are supposedly dealing with them. I can also say that the ships are holding over some sort of structure, but I can't say what just yet. We'll need to get close enough to see it with our own optics."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre --- It was hard to say if their volley of grenades had led to any actual kills. Plasma grenades were reasonably easy to avoid if they were not stuck to a target. However, the chain of explosion would, at the very least, disrupt the Brutes' defensive positioning. Daha was the first in behind Tar, his plasma pistol already overcharged. The cluster of plasma detonations had at least partially revealed multiple cloaked Brutes, allowing him to quickly acquire a target as he moved in. Just as before, he fired the overcharged shot, then followed up with a burst of plasma rifle fire. Ryssa entered firing his needler so that he could focus more on movement than aiming. Particularly if they were outnumbered, he at least knew that he would need to get to cover quickly. It was hard for him to judge quickly which cover would hold up under fire, but he moved to try and duck down behind one of the elevated consoles to their left. Jurna did move when ordered, though not actually entirely into the room itself. He ended up staying back in the doorway, though there was some advantage to his hesitation. The others were taking more of the attention of the Brutes, and as it turned out, Jurna was actually a rather good shot with his carbine when not under pressure. He landed a headshot on the Brute Daha had shot with his pistol right away, then quickly transferred his aim to the next target. Tar found the Brutes had been pushed back from their hastily constructed barrier at the chokepoint, so she took cover on the other side of it and peeked over. She counted four Stalkers out in the open close by, one of which had just got his head practically severed by Jurna's carbine round. They looked stunned by the massive plasma blast; some were only just getting up from the floor where they'd flung themselves. Seeing a golden opportunity, Tar pushed the advantage. Spotting a weak link in the barricade, she savagely kicked a heavy metal table. It flew off the pile, smashing into the closest Brute and opening a path for Tar to run through. Moving with big strides and an open stance, she took a wide swipe at the reeling Stalker with her sword. The blade caught his left hand and leg as he tried to move away, severing them both. With her other hand, Tar quickly threw a fire grenade at the next Stalker, who was unloading his Spiker into her shield. The grenade crashed into his midsection, blossoming into a fireball that enveloped his whole body. Tar heard his shield die and then smelled burning flesh. The Brute fell to his knees, trying to pat the fire out. Tar pulled out her Mauler and fired a slug at him and the other Brute on the floor before diving behind the same metal table, heavy plasma fire evaporated her shield. Two spikes thudded into a foot she couldn't quite hide, making Tar yell out in pain. It was easy to see that Tar needed assistance, though Ryssa was not in a position to help. His needler had supercombined a Brute as he rushed to cover, but the cover he had chosen was not the most solid. The barricades the stalkers had erected would have been a better choice. Plasma fire from the other side of the console burned through and struck his shields, forcing him to evade. He tried dashing to a barricade, but did not see the invisible Brute that was close enough to intercept him. Suddenly, he was struck in the head by the blunt underside of a plasma rifle. The remainder of his shields did absorb much of the impact, but they were easily broken by the Brute's raw strength. Though, Ryssa was easily strong enough to do the same in return. The stalker had revealed himself, so Ryssa struck back with the underside of his needler. Though not a match for the Brute physically, Ryssa could still break the shields of the powered armor. Both were quickly rendered vulnerable. Daha had found better cover initially, and was better able to help Tar. Seeing the effect Jurna could have firing from a distance, Daha could adapt to take advantage of that. While his plasma pistol started to charge, he opened fire with his plasma rifle on the Brute that had shot Tar. Stalkers did not have strong shields, so it took only a short burst of plasma to break through them. By the time the Brute was exposed, Daha's plasma pistol was once again overcharged. However, instead of focusing only on a single target, he instead shifted his aim to the next closest Brute to strip him of his shields with his pistol. Jurna was not necessarily intentionally cooperating with Daha, but he was aiming for the most vulnerable opponents within his line of sight. His first shot found the head of the Brute that had wounded Tar. The second Brute moved more quickly as he tried to get out of the line of fire, but Jurna was able to land three consecutive shots to center mass to neutralize him. Tar slithered further behind the table as her shields began recharging. Grimacing with pain, she pulled the spikes out of her foot. They sizzled in her hand before she dropped them on the floor. She checked around for her team; they were fighting hard, shooting over her prone form. She began motioning for Jurna to move up to the barricade when she noticed a shimmer moving rapidly up behind him. "Jurna, behind you!" Tar called out, pointing.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan It was true the crew didn't care for the apology of the every-spook, they were too engrossed with their own antics and agendas. The bay quickly devoided itself of people who cared, though Elna stuck around like a dog to it's owner. Cleaning her weapon and making sure her gear was fine, Roy was exhausted not from the combat but the team. It was going to be a long mission if it was going to keep up like this, though he thought someone should take Aviza down a notch or so. "Yea, well there's not much we can do. It seems the covenant are received better here than The Office. It's not our faults but merely our issue to deal with now, I'm sure they'll come around - maybe. Though, I have no intentions to solicit anything from the freak-jaws, the hunter or the suicide bombing fuck. I'd expect the same from you, we'll finish this mission and hopefully keep the whining from 'her' to a minimum." Roy's mind went back to the dossiers - oh wait he didn't have any, apparently, he had no clearance to know anything about the mission or personnel. God is a comedian. Sometime later with his makeshift quarters (read: bed) established, he went to bed after setting up his gear for the next day. During their downtime, Roy began analyzing reports, intelligence and other information he would have access to regarding the mission (if any at all) in regards to the Brutes and URF. While examining their enemy and their abilities, the mammoth stopped as the team readied themselves. He sighed in annoyance, well there were two fuck off cruisers or something nearby. They could be annihilated without too much remorse. He was geared and ready, ignoring orders like usual he paired up with Corporal Cohen and got ready to run into the bullshit that awaited them. "That you are correct, dear Corporal.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Peering into the far distance, Aviza had her Generation 2 ARGUS-class Mjolnir armors advanced information system lock onto the SDV-class corvette, as well as the two CCS-class battlecruisers, and started to feed all of team Aegis the incredibly detailed information it was gathering. "Shih, is there anyway you can combine the information that the Mammoths sensors have gathered, and combine it with my own?" Asked Aviza as she queued information about the estimated amount of time it would take for the team to arrive at their destination. [2 Hours] was the message that came up, though that information could be wrong since she was basing this off of the distance of the nearest ship. "Everyone, break up into teams of two, but stay within viewing distance, I do not want any of you leaving the area of operations or getting separated from the squad. Let's move out, if I need to carry one of the ONI Spooks, I will do so." said Aviza, teasing the two a little bit.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre --- Though he had been helpful when left alone, Jurna's response to the ambush was less than ideal. He did listen to Tar's warning and turn around, but the two shots he fired with his carbine were not enough to break the Brute's shields. At such close range, he would have been better off striking the Brute with the weapon. Instead, he took the full force of a mauler shot that immediately breached his shields, which was followed quickly by a strike to his head with the mauler's blade. Especially when wielded by a Brute, it was easily enough to kill, which was precisely Jurna's fate for this scenario. Ryssa, at least, was faring somewhat better. The stalker he was fighting seemed intent on tearing the Sangheili apart with his bare hands, but Ryssa thought quickly enough to turn his needler around and jam the needles straight into the Brute's neck. It was another stalker brought down, though Ryssa was still unshielded and vulnerable. Tar cried in anguish as Jurna's limp body fell to the floor. She grabbed a red plasma rifle from the severed hand of a Brute lying next to her and fired it at Jurna's killer. The half shielded Brute retreated back into the hallway. "Put down your weapons! Or the humans die!" A gravelly voice boomed from the front of the room. Tar peered over the top of the table and saw two Brutes, camo disabled, pointing spikers in the direction of her and the recruits. Each of them held a member of the Command centre staff in front of them. Behind these two Stalkers, another Brute, also visible, was fiddling with one of the master control panels. Red lights began flashing in the command room, and one of the screens featured a plaintive PROXIMITY WARNING sign. Of the two remaining recruits, Ryssa was the one to act. He ducked down quickly behind the barricade before even retrieving his needler from the Brute's neck to allow the chance for his shields to recharge. Though, the warning on one of the screens meant he would not have time to wait. They had to act quickly. In this case, Ryssa did not need to hesitate nor look to others for direction. He already knew his instructions, based on the mission parameters. Directives from both the UNSC and Swords were actually similar in this respect: the mission had priority. Hostages were meant to be saved if possible, but ultimately, unless the hostages in danger were of critical importance themselves, the fate of the colony meant more than any individuals. For this scenario, stopping the sabotage to save the colony was the objective. Drawing his storm rifle, Ryssa braced it on top of the barricade and opened fire into the back of the Brute at the console. Both the Brutes up front snarled in unison, firing their spikers at Ryssa. The Stalker at the console picked up his weapon and turned around, but didn't get any shots of. Tar jumped up, waves of pain crashing against the back of her eyeballs, and joined her fire to Ryssa's. The Brute at the back promptly melted to the console. Seeing all was lost, the two Brutes up front cracked the skulls of their hostages, discarding them on the floor. Sharing a quick look, they began running at Tar, bodies low to the ground in berserk mode, jumping through the hologram of Sarcophagus. Tar had encountered this particular move lots of times before. She tried to find a stable platform on her bleeding foot while they closed. Finally, satisfied she wouldn't fall over from the first strike, she drew her energy sword. Greeting them with a bloodthirsty roar, Tar used the first Brute's momentum against him. As he leapt forward, she impaled him on her sword, lifted him clean over her head and dumped him behind her. She screamed in pain as her foot took all the extra weight. Pirouetting clumsily to greet the second attacker, Tar launched her sword at him as he jumped from the hologram plinth, arms ready to crush her. It connected meatily with his torso in mid air, and the Brute clattered to the floor just in front of her. Tar pulled out her Mauler and shot them both in the head, just to be sure. "Ryssa, help me turn this off. Daha, sweep and secure the room." Though he certainly heard the two Brutes rushing their position, Daha was in no position to help. After Jurna's death, Daha looked back into the hall to cover their flank. With a focused eye, it did not take him long to spot enough of a shimmer for him to act upon. He did not bother charging his plasma pistol, instead firing both it and the plasma rifle at slightly different positions to try and reveal the stalker. Fortunately, one of the plasma bolts found its mark and disrupted the cloak. From there, he did nothing particularly special nor complex. He simply overwhelmed the Brute with plasma fire from both weapons. Daha's shields were half-drained from a mauler shot at medium distance, but the Brute fell long before it could do any more damage. With the hostile forces neutralized, the remainder of the simulation was fairly simple to complete. It was simply a matter of reactivating the defenses the stalkers had disabled, namely the settlement's anti-air defenses. It was a task that required some knowledge of the Human computer systems, but they had been taught to do it. Once the scenario had been completed, the team quickly filed out of the simulator to open it up for use by the next group waiting. The four recruits, now reunited, stood together at attention once again. Strictly speaking, the scenario had been completed successfully, with the primary objective fulfilled. The secondary objective to rescue hostages had failed, but that was, by the scenario's own description, considered a difficult objective. What was of more concern to the recruits was the fact that they had performed far from flawlessly. Two of their number had died, and they made some obvious mistakes. Tar looked at each of them in turn to gauge their feelings before asking: "Who would like to go first and explain how we did?" She was interested to hear their take on what had just happened. Even the Major, who would've been able to watch the simulation unfold even after his death.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Having moved with the rest of the team to the plateau, Lucas scoped up on the structure, or structures, as it had turned out, and watched the movements of those below. The Jiralhanae were definitely patrolling the outer area of the crater-like area but the interior was being patrolled by the Insurrectionists, which provided the team a potent advantage. "Before we do that, myself and a couple other members of the team are outfitted with active camo. If Grikgar is outfitted with enough ordinance, and I brought some grenades that we can jerry rig some charges out of, we can sabotage some things before calling in the battle group, particularly things that Shih marks as important. And while the rest of the team pushes in at lightning speed to take advantage of the confusion, we can sneak in and find the URF leader." Granted, they were still a fairly small team to split up in such a way, but if things played out right, then they could maybe even get the two groups to turn on each other. "Let's face it, these are greater numbers than we were expecting and we don't necessarily have the time to come up with too many more ideas. Plus, maybe the two groups will turn on each other when there are plasma charges destroying critical URF infrastructure at this base."</s> <\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben-E218 Ben had followed the rest of the group to the plateau. He saw Grikgar following him, and turned to the Unggoy briefly when he heard the reason he was following so close. "Shadow if you want, but be careful." He listened to Ryker's speech, then realized something rather embarrassing. He turned off the coms on his suit for a moment as he quickly conversed with his AI. "Phong, does this suit come with active camo?" "Yes, it most certainly does. Don't tell me you forgot about it." "I haven't actually used it in- never mind. Can you create a shortcut command for it so that I can activate it on eye contact with the symbol in my HUD?" "Processing request. Compiling program. Rendering icon. Done." No sooner than Phong had spoken did an active camouflage symbol appear on his helmet's screen: "Thanks." Ben reactivated his coms, knowing that too long of a gap in communications might give cause for an inquiry. Unexplained outages in communication could serve as cover for and a sign of unauthorized contacts with rebels and enemies, after all. If there was no cause to hide one's discourse, why turn off the mic? Fortunately, Ben knew the cutoff point after which the UNSC would find such a thing to be suspicious; one minute and seventeen seconds exactly. Anything less could be seen as a hardware failure or a momentary software glitch. "Sounds like a good plan. What type of infrastructure are we talking about?"</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak The Kel 'Darsam - off Paxopolis Broadwalk --- Tar chuckled and patted her comrade affectionately on the back. "If the Humans gave you poison, would you eat that too?" She enjoyed the regular meetings and light hearted banter with Kryu more than she probably let on. It provided temporary solace for her, especially as her deployment to Sarcophagus stretched from weeks into months. Kryu shrugged. "I am not convinced that was not their intention. It was sweet at first, but the aftertaste was horrid. I still feel that I can taste it. The last time they gave me something of theirs to eat, it was most acceptable. Pleasant, even. Perhaps they were attempting to earn my trust?" He said with a short grunt. Their food came quickly - popular dishes were pre-prepared and kept hot for the breakfast rush which was due in 10 minutes or so. Tar devoured hers, foregoing utensils over holding the bowl up and grabbing food with her tongue and mandibles. "So, I had an...interesting simulation...with some fresh recruits just now." Tar ventured in between mouthfuls. "Such an array of characters - three sessions in and they're still as diverse as the seasons. It seems ONI doesn't like making things easy for me! How was your training exercise yesterday?" Kryu huffed, shaking his head slightly before pausing to take a drink. "All but one of my recruits have never so much as used a thruster pack before, but that is fine. The ones that have never flown do not know what they are doing, so they listen to me. It's the one with experience that gives me trouble. He has his own technique, and does not wish to stray from it. So, yesterday, he comes in too quickly for his landing, does a poor job of handling the impact, and breaks his leg. The last I saw him, he was arguing with the medics." "We're certainly a stubborn kind, aren't we?" Tar slurped her shake. "So many returning from war with rushed, incomplete training. They now hide behind hero status, claiming imaginary feats of valour. Tar heard herself speak and realised she had assumed an overly negative tone. She had feats of valour too, despite not serving in the war. Her Keep had been attacked by surprise, and she'd fought them off with her own soldiers. But she seldom felt comfortable talking about those feats. She had failed her father by allowing him to be captured. The shame still threatened to overwhelm her years later. She'd only managed to hint to Kryu what had transpired, so it was no wonder blurting it out in front of the recruits had shaken her. Even if she had wanted to gloat, she would've needed to embellish some of it. Much of that battle was clouded by a red haze in her mind, preventing her from recalling some details. The clearest memory she had was tentatively asking her trusted lieutenant about what he'd seen several days after. She would never forget the look on his face. Raw fear, of her. Tar decided to change the subject. "Have you heard any more whispers of an actual mission, outside Paxopolis?" Again, Kryu shook his head. "I haven't heard anything specific. I know our commanders have put the garrison on alert, but no one is saying what we are on alert against. I am wondering if we are simply being tested? I believe many of the recruits sent here are chosen based on how well they will get along with former enemies. Perhaps they want to see if we still have the skill and discipline necessary to defend this place?" He reasoned. "Shaking down the base would put everyone in their place, whether that is at the barricades or on the next shuttle back to Sanghelios." Tar agreed, thoughtfully tasting the last strips of meat in her bowl. After a short pause to have some of his breakfast, Kryu gave Tar a curious look. "You are still wanting to be reassigned from here, aren't you." He asked, though he still did not know the exact reason why she had been looking to leave.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Shih --- Vael did not take his eyes off of the compound below, though he did respond to Spartan Ryker. "I will join you. We will need to move quickly and avoid discovery, but we may also have to ensure there is no one to discover the charges before they detonate. We should make sure that our reinforcements are ready to join the battle the very moment the rebels are put on alert. The construct…Shih, can it send a message informing the battle group of this plan so they can be ready for our signal?" "She can, yes." Shih replied with some noticeable offense in her tone. "There is always some small risk, but if I send the message as a short, encrypted data burst, then the rebels shouldn't be able to intercept it. Or at least, they won't understand what they intercepted until it is too late. Vael nodded towards Aviza, as it was her suit the AI was inhabiting. "Then you should do so. Our reinforcements need to be ready to act." "Already working on it. As for Petty Officer Younan's concerns, he does have a point. We still don't know who we are supposed to be capturing here, but I think the rebels themselves can help us figure that out. Once all Hell breaks loose, they are going to be scrambling to get their leader out of there. Spartan Aviza's armor is equipped to easily intercept their communications, so if we decrypt them, we might be able to learn what we need." The AI suggested. While the others were speaking, Vael slowly crawled back from the edge of the Mesa, making sure he was far enough away that he did not silhouette against the sky when he stood back to his feet. "Someone who is equipped to observe from distance should remain here to assist in guiding us through the compound."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko There were plenty in the team already equipped to go down into the enemy base. Yalu was rarely ever requisitioned with active camouflage like a spec ops elite, but at the very least he could be useful from a distance by taking Commander Vael's suggestion. "I can guide you," Yalu said. "One of my primary talents is warding death away from my team." Yalu peered down at his carbine. "And we will all be ready to head an assault on your order. These rebels and brutes will not have any time to think. I think the shock will be spiced if we fire on the brutes with human firearms and then the humans with covenant weaponry."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak The Kel 'Darsam - off Paxopolis Boardwalk --- Tar looked at her comrade. Her face must have been a picture and she hadn't even known it. "Yes I… I have unfinished business with the Jiralhanae." She suddenly got the urge to tell Kryu the whole story, or at least what she could remember. The recruits would probably tell everyone they saw, meaning the whole base would be privy in a few weeks. Better he heard it from her. As Tar ground the last bit of her food between her mandibles and considered how to proceed, her helmet, sat on the bar beside her bowl, chirruped loudly. She stared at it. They didn't get orders very often at all. Putting her bowl down, she clicked her helmet back into place and hit replay on last comms. "All units will report back to the Repentant Proselyte immediately." were the simple instructions. She looked at Kryu, who was rapidly finishing off his breakfast in anticipation. "They're calling us back to the ship." She said. Despite her wobbly morning so far, Tar was excited. This hadn't happened before, and could only mean one thing; there was at least a chance they'd go into battle. "They must have heard us talking." She grinned. She paid for both of their breakfasts and patted Kryu on the back again, letting him lead the way to the exit. The broad street was alive with activity when they emerged from the side street of the Kel 'Darsam. Sailors and marines of all species were quickly trooping from various buildings and heading towards the shuttleport. Some were unarmed, jogging quickly as they were unencumbered. Others were fully armoured and sporting assault weapons. Tar and Kryu nudged their way into the flowing crowd, finding space next to a platoon of ODSTs. They were tall and strong by Human standards, and each wore a fitted black undersuit with the flaming skull insignia. Tar idly guessed their oversuits must've been stored on board their star ship. One of the ODSTs noticed Tar looking and winked up at her, chewing gum and fingering the pistol in his chest holster. "Hey sexy." He called, blowing a kiss. Tar growled and turned to Kryu. "Hopefully the base isn't under attack too, with us all standing around in the open. Let's move." She began picking her way through the slow moving crowd, opening a hole for her comrade to follow. Kryu spared only a glance to the Humans. To him, their behaviors were far from consistent, and sometimes irrational in ways that he never would have expected before the end of the war. He had fought against them during the time of the Covenant, and his experiences against their warriors did not prepare him for the…oddities he would experience as their ally. Nevertheless, there were far more important concerns at the moment. He caught up to Tar and kept pace close beside her. "Whatever is happening must be related to our warriors being put on alert. I doubt our superiors would collect us all from the city just for a test. If that is so, then it is strange they did not inform us of any threats. I dislike this secrecy." Kryu commented. Upon pushing her way through the crowd a ways, Tar found the reason everyone was moving so slow. A cargo platform carrying boxes of equipment had tipped over, covering most of the road. After navigating carefully past it, the road was still busy but there was much more room to manoeuvre. Tar broke into an ambling jog alongside Kryu, as excited as her comrade to find out the meaning of their orders. They slalomed past groups of soldiers in varying states of combat readiness and teams of base personnel heading for their regular duty stations. A few other Sangheili joined in, taking advantage of the course through the crowds Tar and Kryu were creating. After traversing a few streets, roughly one kilometre in total, they reached one of the entrances to Paxopolis shuttleport. Given that Paxopolis did not have regular, civilian contact with other colonies, the majority of the shuttleport's traffic were generally military transports. Though, it was particularly busy now. Fortunately, once they were in the shuttleport itself, the soldiers boarding their dropships were far more organized than the civilians in the streets going about their day. For Tar and Kryu, they lined up to board the same phantom heading up to their cruiser, the Repentant Proselyte. After they both headed up the grav-lift and found their places in the phantom, Kryu nudged Tar's side with his elbow to grab her attention. "Maybe we are leaving Sarcophagus? We're not under attack, else the city would already be going into lockdown, but I cannot imagine what aside from real combat would call for the aid of an entire cruiser." "Perhaps." Tar agreed. "Not just one cruiser either. A lot of the sailors making their way back were from different ships. It seems most of the fleet could be mobilising." "I heard it could be a Brute battle group." Said a Minor opposite them. Despite her extreme scepticism of the young male's source of intel, Tar felt all her nerves tingle at the thought. "A Brute ambush, outside the sphere? They have no honour!" someone called out. "It sounds like a fair fight to me!" A Major at the far end stood up and hammered his chest. As one, every Sangheili in the Phantom's hold began rhythmically beat their fists against their armour and produced a deep, threatening sound from the back of their throat. This continued for much of the short journey up to the Repentant Proselyte, with different officers taking turns to whip them into a frenzy. By the time the Phantom docked in one of their cruiser's enormous hangar bays, Tar was ready to tear apart the first Brute she saw with her own hands. They all exited the Phantom via the grav lift and headed for one of the many doors into the ship proper. Tar knew Rangers prepared for battle in a separate area to her, toward the stern, so she caught Kryu before they parted ways. "If i don't see you before - good luck, brother." They shared a heartfelt salute. Kryu hummed for just a moment, then gave a slight laugh. "I would wish you luck, sister, but I know you do not need it." Tar chuckled. "Just make sure I have a ship to come back to." She playfully patted his arm and began walking toward the SpecOpsCon for debrief.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The flash of a slipspace portals in the sky drew Yalu's head to twist and look at the phantom hovering its way quickly to their mesa. The IFF and the friendly comms of the pilot prompted him to shuffle to his feet and move back from the edge. "Affirmative, Prostrate Disciple," Yalu responded, before switching back to their team channel. "Commanders, our dropship has arrived. Preparing to insert." Yalu snatched Vael's sentinel beam up from the ground along the way to the gravity lift and spoke over his shoulder, over the loud hum of the phantom's engines. "Brothers! Prepare for battle!" With one more short leap, the grav lift tugged at Yalu's body in its entirety and he floated up into the hatch beneath the phantom. He quickly found a place to hold on in the crew compartment. "Hail, pilots! The south-western side will be clear of anti-ship weaponry on the signal!"</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Under the cloak of his active camouflage, Vael moved along with the other two towards the base of the central structure. There were a few ramps leading up to the roof of the structure, which was where they would be regrouping with the rest of the team. Ideally, they would be able to remain undetected until their team could be dropped in. It was about when Vael reached the ramp that the battle group dropped out of slipspace in the sky above them, and for a moment, Vael's gaze went upwards. As planned, their battle group included far more ships than were necessary to deal with the small Brute fleet, so as to guarantee there would be no losses. Two Autumn-class heavy cruisers, including the Chorus of Thunder at the very front, three Strident-class frigates, as well as a CCS-class battlecruiser and three SDV-class corvettes from the Swords. An alarm sounded across the compound and the rebels started to mobilize right away, but for the Brutes in their ships far above, it was already too late. The Chorus already had its MAC cannon charged and ready. Meanwhile, the Brute ships were in such a state of disrepair that most did not even have shields. The firing of the Chorus' MAC certainly gave meaning to its name. The near-deafening sound echoed across the landscape, and the pressure wave that accompanied it allowed one to feel the power behind it in their very bones. Without shields, the Brute cruiser on the receiving end did not stand a chance. The round ripped straight through the ship's hull like paper, tearing the ship in half. When the two halves fell to the ground outside the structure, the ground itself shook and a massive cloud of dust was kicked up over the whole area, sweeping over the compound like a sandstorm. Visibility had dropped rapidly, but since he knew where to look, Vael was able to spot the vague silhouette of a phantom descending on the mesa with the rest of the team. "It is time. Detonate the charges."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern "Not all situations can be resolved with a weapon, and not all situations require one to be solved. It would be wise to keep that in mind, Spartan Ryker." said Spartan Aviza after she caught the unconscious soldier falling into her arms. Moving to her feet once more, she would carry the man into the building where the others were hiding the dead bodies of his fellow soldiers. He would be placed upon the ground in the opposite corner of the building, away from the corpses. Aviza reenabled her active camouflage and moved along side those of the team that were currently present. All explosives have been planted, when are we planning to detonate the charges inside of the anti-aircraft cannons? inquired Aviza, as her gazed followed Vael's to the sky above. The sudden appearance of the friendly fleet above them was the only answer that Aviza needed, she quickly had Shih prepare the explosives charges, and would detonate them when the time was right or when given the order. "So we are using a MAC cannon..." said Aviza as she observed the Chorus of Thunder's MAC cannon fire directly through the Brute cruiser. Above them, there would be a moment of silence as the weapon fired, tearing the brute ship is half, which were now falling to the surface, outside of the structure. Then came the near-deafening sound of the battle above, it echoed across the landscape and jolted those within the range of its shockwave. "I never get tired of seeing that, such a magnificent sight." by the end of her sentence, Aviza had already informed Shih to detonate the explosive charges.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Once everyone on the mesa had boarded, Vol closed up the grav lift and Tar activated the internal comms system. "Lock in tight, things could get bumpy." As she said that, the shockwave from the Brute cruiser crashing into the valley behind the base hit the Phantom, buffeting it backwards. Tar gunned the engines and pushed them swiftly forward while Vol plotted them a course. Their objective was to insert the team on a flat staging area beneath the main Forerunner structure. Enhanced stills Vol had taken while Aegis was boarding showed it was littered with large crates and lifting vehicles. Between them and this landing zone were an assortment of Brute drop ships and Banshees. However, they were distracted by the teams of Phantoms currently attacking the walls of the compound. There were also a handful of lethal AA guns around the compound, devastating any airship it could find. However, one had just erupted into a towering jet of flames, opening up a gap in their coverage. Tar pointed to it. "That's the entry point, adjust our approach solution." Vol obeyed with a cursory "Yes, commander." They were working well, considering this was their first time together, Tar noted. Maintaining a breakneck speed, they dropped down to just above the height of the walls and roared past the destroyed AA battery. The courtyard and the IFF tags for the rest of Aegis team zipped past underneath. "Fuel rod round, front left side!" Vol called, pinging it on the nav dashboard. Tar hauled the controls to the right, and the Phantom drastically tilted, throwing them against their harnesses. The round fizzed by close underneath their Phantom. "Can you get a shot off?" Tar asked. "No, they're above us. Coming in hot!" Tar tugged the controls up and to the left, and the top of their Phantom crushed the wings of the Banshee above. A titanic scraping, clattering sound echoed through the troop bay, the banshee sliding along the length of their vehicle and falling off the end. Tar cooled the engines slightly as they approached the landing zone. Vol marked a clear space near the ramp up from the courtyard and together they brought the Phantom in. Vol reactivated the grav lift and opened the side doors while Tar addressed the bay's occupants. "Green light to disembark, go go go!" They both surveyed the area as Aegis team quickly headed out of the Phantom. The landing zone was very hot, and they were taking small arms fire from practically all directions. They only had twenty seconds before someone with the right armaments took notice. "Rockets! Right side!" Vol hollered. "Everybody out NOW!" Tar shouted, tugging the controls sharply. Vol closed the side doors up to increase their protection. If Aegis team hadn't jumped already, they'd be coming on this evasive maneuver with them.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan The waiting was the worst part for the two as they had to wait for the team to do their job, Elna had posted up in a position to support the poor individuals that were left behind when the team of camo wearing creatures went into do their job. Roy took up a defensive position aswell for once as he went to hold up his M7 scanning for any URF or covvies that might make their way to their defensive line, but for the most part it appeared that they were in a solid position. There was noises below, maybe some kind of scuffle but it wasn't noticeable by anyone in the group. They continued to wait until the ships came out of the atmosphere, it was evident that they were just going to MAC the fuck out of the base those who pondered may of been incorrect in the fact if they had actually captured the HVT. It wasen't long before the drop ship came to take them away, the two boarded without too much discussion or remorse at this point it as obvious that there had been some success in the mission. They were wrong as the dropship became to fly around dodging anti air fire as it zoomed towards it's objective of landing on a staging area for an assault. What felt like a few seconds dragged on as the dropship landed, the two hustled out and laid down suppressive fire in the general direction of the URF/Brute lines. This is where the fun begins.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai As Aegis team disembarked the phantom, they were met immediately with hostile ground fire. The roof of the structure they had been dropped on was large and mostly flat, with little cover for either side, save for some weapon crates that had been dropped where they were when the attack started. There were ten or so armed rebels surrounding a ramp leading down into the interior of the structure, as well as a group of four Brutes that were closer to the edge of the roof on the north side. The rebels were fighting defensively, seemingly to guard the entrance, though the Brutes had started to rush at Aegis team to get in melee range before the first of them had even touched the ground. When the rockets came in, it was from another squad of rebels that had emerged up the ramp at the center of the structure. They were carrying rockets, fuel rod cannons, and other high explosives, and had likely been sent up as a response to the attack in general. However, they had eneded up in the right place at the right time to deal with Tar's phantom. There was little chance for meaningful evasion before two rockets struck one of her engines directly. The heavy weapons might have been meant for anti-vehicle roles, but they would still be a massive threat to the members of Aegis.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas had followed Aviza and Vael from their incident at the turret they knocked out to the rendezvous point, but once the fleet had appeared, the need for stealth was a lesser concern and he turned one of his two SMGs on a nearby patrol of URF soldiers and fired, putting them down before they could register what was happening. With everything happening and the swarm of phantoms descended on the base, he had no clue of knowing which one was heading to pick up the rest of the team as the group of three moved towards the roof. Another pair of URF troopers tried to move up behind them, unaware of the cloaked figures, who were extra hidden by the sandstorm. Swapping from his SMG to the DMR, two head shots dropped the pair where they stood. "Won't lie, not having to worry about shielding around the head is a nice change of pace." Another pair of shots dropped two more URF soldiers, their bodies hitting the ground and disappearing in the storm. As they neared the top, the sight of Jiralhanae and a heavy URF squad getting ready to attack the rest of the team drove the SPARTAN IV to action. Storing his DMR on his back as he dashed past Aviza and Vael, his twin energy daggers coming free as he rammed his shoulder into the first Brute he reached. "Grikgar, hit those heavies with plasma!" The Brute wasn't expecting an invisible SPARTAN, who suddenly became visible upon impact, to ram into him and went sprawling with the SPARTAN IV leaping on top of him and ramming one dagger into his neck and the other into his forehead. Ryker didn't even wait for the overgrown ape to stop moving before the twin blades came free and he leapt off to slide across the roof into the legs of another Brute, knocking him over and into the legs of a third. However, Lucas knew he was gambling being away from the others like this, but he was confident enough in his CQC skills to stay safe until the numbers were thinned out.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Court yard LZ The fire fight was going well for what the Unggoy was used to. Having the support of Spartans and Sangheili was a sight to behold but one he would have to dwell on later. A bright color of covenant shielding caught his eye for a moment. A couple humans were using shields normally for Kig-Yar, obviously the brutes had some stashed away and had given them to them. The Oni humans could use those and so could he if he was able to grab a couple. Another plasma grenade toward them knocked out the shields, indicating the user was dead. Another Spartan called out for ordinance while the enemy heavy weapons team reloaded. The rocket would be a problem for all of them especially the bigger targets like Tasuma. Using the cover of the sand storm Grik rushed to cover facing the advancing opponents. His energy shield flared for a moment with a few plasma bolts hitting him as he moved. Getting to cover the Unggoy hit the wall and immediately pulled the Sentinel power source from his belt. Sticking a plasma grenade to it and throwing it at the cover they were using. Honestly Grik gar wasn't sure what would happen, he had only seen it happen once by accident. An explosion set the last one off. A barrel exploded and detonated it at the dismay of the Huragok that had repaired the two power sources. The resulting secondary explosion created a singularity for about 3 seconds that pulled everything toward it then violently expelled what was pulled in. it also seemed to rile up the sentinels that where left in the area as well. If it didn't work and all it did was just the plasma grenade Grik was ready to follow it up with the fuel rod gun. "Tasuma." Grikgar called out over his comm, "major enemy cluster bearing 200 Degrees from insertion point. Enemy has heavy weapons watch yourself." He was waiting for the explosion to go off before he would proceeded with the assault.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak As soon as the rockets hit, warning lights erupted across the width of the pilot interface console. Urgent alarm sounds blasted in Tar's ears as she wrestled with the controls to bring the Phantom level again. "We've lost drive number one, and I'm getting a lot of vibration in number two!" Vol shouted over the din. Tar felt her stomach lurching as the Phantom span around in the air, heading for the side of the tall Forerunner structure. "Get me more power from somewhere, now!" Tar ordered, pulling the steering as far to the right as she could. "My console isn't responding. Power capped at 40%!" Vol reported through gritted mandibles. The Phantom crashed against the side of the Forerunner tower and scraped along it, sparks skittering off the top of the hull. The alloy sides screeched and buckled until suddenly they were free of the tower and spinning again. Tar could see hostiles running to get out of the way as the Phantom gradually lost altitude; they couldn't stay level on just two engines. "I have this now. Brace for impact!" Tar shouted, doing her best to hold it upright as the Phantom span toward a flat area packed high with crates. The drop ship's aft section hit the deck first, sending up another shower of sparks and ship fragments. The front soon followed, with the forward plasma cannon snapping off and cartwheeling to one side. Still slowly spinning, the Phantom's bow ploughed into piles of crates, sending them flying. With the controls now useless, Tar put her arms over her head and crunched up into a ball in her seat. It was a good thing she did, because hidden behind the stacks of cargo containers was a much more solid object. A row of Forerunner columns, sticking from the base plate. The Phantom hit the columns at speed, its rear end jumping up in the air. Everything in the cockpit seemed to come loose and fly about. Something solid whacked Tar in the stomach, forcing all the air from her lungs. As her arms instinctively flinched to her chest, another piece of metal flew from the console and smashed into her face and everything went black.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu's actions right out of the drop ship was a tacit blend with the ONI human operatives suppressing the emerging enemy. "We're flanked!" He announced by habit, not that anyone failed to realise the situation. Chaos ensued with explosions, gunfire and plasma bolts. The phantom was hit overhead. He was a second away from believing themselves overwhelmed before the infiltrators and Grikgar's improvised explosive gave half a second of respite. They needed to relocate. Yalu sent a few rounds into the brutes tangled up with Lucas, took a few hits to the shield from the gauntleted humans to the other side, and then he knew he needed to punch a hole for the team. "I'll have them scattered!" He said, taking out the bulky concussion rifle from his back. "Those pilots can be recovered!" Green bolts of plasma jolted out and blasted the base of the humans' shield gauntlets with superheated explosions while Yalu advanced on them, step by step. He had to rout them before the crash site was cleared out.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas dances back again as the Jiralhanae takes a swing at him, barely avoiding a blow that would have sent the SPARTAN IV careening off of the rendezvous point and sailing to the ground. That was close. Gotta get this one down faster. The two monkey-men had recovered quickly enough from getting bowled over, though his positioning with the second of the two to get knocked over had allowed him to ram an energy dagger into his throat and jugular vein and he had been loosing blood quickly, though that had ceased to matter when carbine rounds impacted his back and down him. The first one...well, he was angry and swinging like a wildman who's only volition was to kill the enemy in front of him, which was the over all goal for the team right now, so fair was fair. However, as he dodges another heavy uppercut from the Brute, he realizes the crashing sound he'd heard was not from the Banshees shooting down another Brute phantom, but from the one the rest of the team had arrived on crashing. Hearing the major call out that the pilots could be recovered from the crash, there was no hesitation from Ryker. Avoiding another attack and letting his shields absorb a small burst of assault rifle fire from a rebel before another member of the team gunned them down, one of his SMG's came free of its holster and he opened fire on the Brute in front of him. The large alien didn't expect the hail of bullets, but due to their caliber, it still took most of the clip to down it. Moving and reloading at the same time, Lucas opens the channel to the Major again. "I'm heading down to retrieve our pilot friends, keep my covered when possible but focus on helping the rest of the team." Taking advantage of the opening provided by the Major's concussion rifle, he sprinted down the ramp towards the wreckage, the SPARTAN IV peppers an approaching group of six rebels with fire from his dual SMGs, downing three and wounding one while forcing the other three into cover a nearby the door way. Holstering one SMG, he expertly pulled a frag grenade free of his belt, the pin falling to the ground as his thumb pulled it free, counted to two and then tossed it, the explosive going off midair just inside the doorway and killing the other three. Reaching the wreckage relatively unharmed, though his shield was dangerously close to breaking, he began trying to pry open the troop bay door. "Anyone alive in there?! If you are, you need to help me get this open! Rebel forces will eventually get here if you don't hurry! Hello?!" The din of the battle around him hopefully helped hide his voice, but all the same, he needed the pilots, if they were alive, to hear him and hurry.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan While the firefight edged on the two continued to fight viciously as ex-marines do, lot of shooting lots of death the bad part was there was no fucking cover. Quickly, the elite team seemed to dispatch useless URF thugs and the Spartans - well they did their song and dance with the brutes. Though the battle was waning and bullets were not so friendly, shields were almost at the point of popping at this rate. Roy grabbed one of the gauntlets that had rolled her way, he turned it on making a small shield for the two. Roy kneeled in front of Elna as she shot over him, Roy shooting back with his M7 simply in hand as they dealt with the onslaught of enemies. What a fucked up plan. Yael started to run away, probably in the direction of the bird that went down citing "We can save them!" Though it appeared most of the group went for that kind of heroics at Lucas started bounding towards the bird corpsing everyone and everything in his sight at that moment. "Pull back with the splitjaw." Roy ordered Elna as they began to inch back towards Yael though not abandoning the fight entirely as they continued to put down firepower as the elites and Spartans did their rescue mission. Besides none wanted to get yelled at again by Spartan Mom Aviza, Elna ejected a BR mag dropping it hastily as it bounced off Roy's helmet with a satisfying clink.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar woke suddenly to the sound of rending metal. At first she didn't recognise where she was. The carefully ordered interfaces of the Phantom's control dashboard were gone, replaced by a twisted forest of metal shards, jutting out as if trying to touch her. Blue energy sparked between the shards, feeding fires in all corners of the nose cone. "Vol!" Tar choked as acrid smoke wafted into her face. "Vol!" Carefully negotiating a long spike pressed against her exposed neck, she turned to look at her co-pilot. Even through the smoke, Tar could see Vol had been impaled through the abdomen by another metal blade. His upper body was slumped over it, arms pointing to the floor. Tar let out an anguished roar and quickly slid out of her seat toward him. Her right arm caught on something jagged, but the sharp stab of pain barely registered. Tar carefully hoisted Vol's body into an upright position and tilted his face toward her. "Prax Vol, can you hear me?" She tried one more time. No response. She growled and let his face go. Vol's body slumped forward again. Tar got up and rushed from the nose cone, choking from the toxic fumes as she grabbed her Storm Rifle from where it now lay on the gangway. Moving through to the troop bay, she heard someone shouting to her from outside. They must have been pulling on the side doors, because the mechanism was making a sharp screeching noise to try and keep them closed. Smoke hovered just above eye level and fingers of blue lightning played across the inside of the Phantom's hull. Tar hit the emergency manual door release and the screeching stopped. The door was still stuck though, so she rushed over and kicked the side door with the bottom of her foot. The entire section crashed to the floor; Tar raised her Storm Rifle to deal with whoever was on the other side. She was a little relieved to see a Spartan in reddish armour, but she didn't show it. She walked down the ramp the side doors had created, smoke billowing out of the Phantom all around her, weapon raised. "Warriors!" Tar bellowed, pointing. A gaggle of Brutes, mixed rank and armour, were charging through the mess of boxes toward them. She supposed they'd seen the Spartan isolated, making a lot of noise, and wanted to catch him unawares. Behind them, she spotted a whole load of URF spilling out of a nearby entrance to the Forerunner structure. They looked to be trying to cut them off. Tar rushed past the Spartan, firing a whole battery into the closest charging Brute until her rifle overheated. Turning it sideways, she savagely broke the rifle over his head, crumpling him to the floor. The next Brute was on her instantly, the shot from his Mauler raking her shields almost to breaking point. Tar forward rolled under the Brute's outswung arm, got up behind him, activated her energy sword, turned and plunged it into his abdomen as he turned around. Pistol rounds hit her shield from behind, breaking it. Tar smartly stepped back behind the impaled Brute, using her sword to keep him upright while turning him between her and the hail of bullets coming from the direction of the installation. "Shield recharging!" Tar shouted, kicking the dead Brute's Mauler behind cover about ten metres in front of her. She grunted from the pain and effort of holding the Brute up as a bullet skimmed her exposed leg. Moving them both forward a couple of metres, Tar peeked out and saw humans taking cover behind the same boxes she was aiming for. The remaining Brutes hadn't committed yet, content to stay back and spray them with spikes and plasma. With her shields recharging now, she shouted "Transitioning! Cover me!" before sliding her sword out of the Brute and running for the boxes and the Mauler she'd kicked over. Humans and Brutes fired at her from the other side.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Having broken off from the rest of her squad, Spartan Aviza moved to higher ground. Climbing one of the Forerunner towers untill she reached a flat enough surface where she could perch herself and set up a sniper nest. From her newly acquired vantage point, Aviza was able to give her squad full overwatch of the field of battle below. The hybrid muzzle flash hider and silencer that she had installed onto the end of her SRS99-S5 AM proved to be an invaluable addition to her collection of attachments as Aviza picked off high value targets from great distances, causing panic and chaos to those who were around their leader when their head ceased to exist. While doing so, she kept a close eye on her squad, having Shih constantly give her updates on their whereabouts and how she could best assist them. Targets were marked, and subsequently taken out shortly there after, either giving breathing room for Aegis below or helping cut down upon the enemy number. What broke Aviza's concentration was the appearance of a Phantom, though this one was firing upon the other hostile vehicles, and was being fired upon in return. Shih was quick to inform Spartan Aviza that the Phantom was friendly, and would be heading towards their location shortly with reinforcements. The friendly Phantom would then be highlighted for her convenience. This Phantom did not stay airborne for long though as a barrage of rockets collided with the drop ship, causing bright flashes of light to illuminate the night and field of battle around it. Aviza watched as the Phantom slammed down violently on the far side of the roof of the complex, though thankfully her position already gave her an advantage. Enemy forces immediately began to swarm in the direction of the crashed Phantom, hoping to either kill or capture anyone left from the crash. The mention of possible survivors from Yalu made Aviza quickly open her coms, she was about to speak when Spartan Lucas Ryker beat her to it. Once he had finished speaking, Aviza would follow up with a comment of her own. "I will provide cover from my position, if there are any wounded at the crash sight, I can be there shortly to stabilize anyone in need." Were there any survivors, it was very likely there would also be wounded. While she would have rather been along side Spartan Lucas Ryker's side, she was more useful at her current position for the moment being. This was proved all the more true when friendly forces did emerge from the crashed Phantom, and were immediately engaged from the hostiles that had been forming upon the crashed drop ship. "Watch yourself out there Ryker, I will be firing rounds close to your position." said Aviza as she made the correct adjustments for distance and wind-barring upon her sniper rifle. To prove this point, Aviza took careful aim at a Brute that was now charging Spartan Lucas, and was shortly within melee arms distance to him before its upper half torso and everything else connected to it ceased to exist.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- It was safe to say that the start of their assault was not going as well as Vael could have hoped. They were encountering more resistance than he had expected, and earlier than anticipated. Hopefully that would mean less resistance later, but regardless, he needed to focus on the enemy in front of him. The phantom that had inserted the rest of their team had been shot down by a heavy weapons squad and crashed on the opposite side of the structure. Already, Ryker and Aviza were focusing their attention on trying to rescue the pilots. Normally, Vael would prioritize the mission over a detour for a rescue, but the same soldiers that were attacking the crash site could easily turn around and pursue them into the structure. Vael had a feeling there was some confusion among the rebel ranks, else they would have little reason to devote forces to a crashed phantom. It would be best to take advantage of that confusion , as Aegis currently had a potentially advantageous position to deal with them. With neither side having much cover, the rebels that Aegis had initially been fighting had routed quickly and retreated back down the ramp into the interior of the structure, leaving only those on the far side of the structure fighting Ryker and the phantom pilot, with just a few crates from cover. Himself and the rest of Aegis could move in from behind to flank them, but they needed to move quickly. Unlike most of his allies, Vael had strong cover from his position on the ramp during the fight, so his shields were at full strength. From the hits his allies had taken, he doubted many were as well-off, so he sprinted out from his position on the ramp, reloading his carbine as he ran and taking the lead ahead of the rest of the team. "Push forward! Keep towards the front if you still have shields." There was at least one squad of Humans and a small pack of Jiralhanae, both far outnumbering the single Spartan and Sangheili defending the crash site. Seeing as the Brutes would take far too many shots to bring down quickly, Vael decided to focus on the Humans while he still had the element of surprise. As he moved around the central tower, Vael took a plasma grenade in hand and tossed it in the middle of the enemy position. He did not focus on sticking an enemy as much as just placing it in a position to force them out of cover, allowing them the chance to cut down the vulnerable Humans quickly.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker To Ryker's credit, he between watching the Sangheili pilot come sailing out of the troop bay and disembowel the first Brute she saw and the one nearest him exploding into chunks mid-swing for a bunch, the initial shock of the Pilot yelling a war cry and seeming fine quickly wore off as he danced back from a second Brute in melee range, avoiding a vicious left hook and countering with a powerful round house kick to the right side of the ape-man's face, stumbling them. "Copy that, Fireteam Lead." Before the Jiralhanae that Lucas had just roundhoused could recover, his wrist mounted energy dagger was activated and he rammed the weapon into the side of his head, twisting to ensure it was dead before pulling it free and moving on to the next opponent. As he dashed at the Brute, who was distracted emptying spiker rounds into the corpse of his companion while the Sangheili was holding it up. "Transitioning! Cover me!" rang out as the body was suddenly dropped and the warrior dashed for the boxes, which prompted Ryker to draw his second SMG and open fire with both, pushing the humans into cover and distracting the Brutes enough to lighten up the fire they were putting on the Sangheili enough she could reach cover, even as the upper torso of a second Jiralhanae vanished in a puff of red mist and chunks. Taking cover behind a set of boxes stacked high enough he could stand, he reloaded the SMGs before holstering one and pulling out another frag. "Grenade out!" he called as the ball of death flew into the group of humans taking cover nearest him. The explosion would ideally kill most of them and wound the rest critically enough they couldn't fight further.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Even with covering fire, Tar's shield rippled and broke during her run for cover. Some of the Human combatants were only a few metres away and basically couldn't miss the Sangheili sprinting toward them. A bullet pinged off Tar's shoulder plate as she slid into a prone position behind a row of three crates. She grabbed up the Mauler she'd kicked across earlier just as a grenade bounced off her headpiece and landed by her free hand. She quickly picked the grenade up and chucked it back over the crates behind her back. She swore in her mother tongue when the reddish Spartan broadcast he was chucking a grenade too. This could get messy. Her shields still recharging, Tar braced against the crates milliseconds before the grenades went off. The deafening chain explosion, paired with what sounded like a plasma grenade, savagely pushed the crates and Tar's prone form several metres across the slick Forerunner floor. For a split-second, Tar was suspended in mid-air as the explosion sent shockwaves through the floor. As Tar opened her eyes and took her hands from her ears, half a Human body landed in front of her. Reaching out, she pulled the corpse toward her before relieving it of the pistol from it's chest holster. Clambering to her feet, Tar was confronted with a hellscape of bloody scraps and dismembered bodies. One kneeling, screaming URF rebel patted wildly at her body that was aflame with blue plasma. Holstering her Mauler to hold the pistol in a defensive stance, Tar put a round through the woman's head. The Brutes further back had taken cover for the explosion, but were now re-appearing to spray them. "Advancing!" Tar roared, setting off on a diagonal run across the combat zone. She kept up fire with her pistol held out in front of her to suppress a golden armoured Brute who was behind a Forerunner column by the edge of the platform. After taking a few hits to her shield, Tar slid back into cover close by her target. The mere sight of a weakened enemy in such proximity was enough to lure the hefty golden armoured Brute away from cover. What Tar hadn't accounted for is the fact that he'd been keeping a Brute Shot hidden behind the column. Pulling it out, the Brute fired at the crates she was behind, scattering most. Tar quickly placed her pistol between two mandibles, freeing both her hands to grab one of the larger metal boxes and hold it in front of her. The Brute, sensing he had the upper hand, walked forward while firing shots at Tar, quickly shredding the box. "Taking heavy fire!" Tar shouted, her feet scraping backwards along the floor with every impact from the Brute Shot.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben-E218 "She has a point. I recommend you head inside." The battle had entered something of a momentary lull, but it could end at any second. If the group was to move anywhere, this was their window of opportunity. "Alright. I'm going in. I'm going to need a close-range weapon. My ammo is out on all weapons except for my sniper rifle. Does anyone have a shotgun they don't need?" He spoke with his speakers on, so he could be heard by the others, not just by Phong. "To respond to your earlier queries, Grikgar is still alive as far as my data stream can tell. As for Aviza, if she can't fight, leave her. In fact, I recommend leaving her a grenade so she can take some enemies with her if she can't-" "Thank you, that will be all; she's up. Sorry, I had to deal with Phong. He's very chatty for a Dumb AI. And no lethal methods. Got it. Just watch your head, please. Don't want to end up like Kat-B320." Given his special role, Ben wasn't particularly fond of keeping his targets alive, but he understood the necessity of it in this case. "Do you want to hear the odds on her survival? They're not very g-" Ben muted Phong once again. It just occurred to him that the AI was able to unmute himself, as Phong had spoken at least once after being silenced without him turning the sound back on. He made a mental note to keep an eye on his AI, who seemed to be evolving into a higher class of AI somehow, or had been a higher class to begin with and was only posing as dumb.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker As Aviza moved to take care of her own injuries, Lucas remained relatively close even as he swept the perimeter with his DMR. In his experience, even when it seemed like things were finally finished, that was when they could go the most wrong with an unexpected cloaked enemy or two appearing form seemingly nowhere. If the SPARTAN IV was honest, he still had nightmares about that night, but it was neither here nor there for the mission, and he doubted they'd get ambushed up here. All the same, until he heard Aviza's helmet reseal, he remained vigilant, though her catching herself on his left shoulder almost knocked him off balance as he wasn't expecting it. When she gave the order to move in, Ryker was right behind her, though when Ben asked if anyone could spare a weapon as he swapped for his SMG, he tossed the SPARTAN III one, along with three spare clips. "I'm running pretty low myself, so make 'em last." In hindsight, it probably would have been prudent to call for a resupply pod from their allies in the skies before moving in, but they had already entered the building, so it was a moot point now. Once they were in the first room through the first doorway from the ramp, Lucas would sweep right, his SMG up and on a swivel. "Be ready to flip to alternative visual modes. The rebels may cut the power to the structure to try and make it harder for us to see what we're doing." He himself had never fought the URF specifically before the war with the Covenant had started, but when he started training as a SPARTAN IV, they had covered the tactics of all the enemies that Humanity had made over the years, from the URF to the Covenant to the Covenant Remnants that the Swords of Sanghelios were still trying to wipe out or force to surrender, so he could make a safe educated guess as to the tactics they'd run into here. "We should keep an eye out for an armory too. I imagine a number of us could use a resupply and we need more weapons better suited to this kind of close-quarters fighting."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Shih --- The Spartan Aviza was still able to move and speak, so Vael gave no argument to her ability to fight. Speed was of the essence now, so there was no time to question leadership. Regardless, as a warrior who fought best within the reach of his blade, Vael was one of those at the front of the team. He had not burned through as much of his ammunition as some of the others, but he still moved his carbine to his back and drew his plasma rifle in its stead. He held his plasma rifle in his left hand, and an energy sword in his right. He did not activate the blade right away, but he did hold the hilt tightly in-hand. Another of the Spartans, Rex, also moved close alongside him. As evidenced by the shotgun he wielded, he too preferred to fight close to the enemy. The team had moved down quickly through the entry hallway of the Forerunner structure, down the ramps to lower floors. In the first, small chamber they entered, they did encounter rebels trying frantically to set up barricades, though they had already started retreating just on the footsteps of Aegis' approach alone. They fled out the door on the far side off the room without so much as returning fire. Evidently, Aegis had move too quickly for them to fortify themselves, and the rebels had no intention of fighting an even fight. Before they started to move once more, Shih spoke up to the team as a whole. "These readings I'm getting, now that we're here, show these tunnels going even deeper than I thought. They connect to deeper tunnels in the installation at about a dozen different points. Unless we want to rely on a lot of luck, we need to figure out which way the leader is fleeing. I've already been working on decrypting and analyzing the comms I'm intercepting. I know their leader is fleeing, so we should be clear to shoot any resistance for now. If we can get to one of their computers, we might be able to figure out what route to take. These rebels' security is better than I would have thought, but…either myself or Petty Officer Younan should be able to break in. " On each of the team members' HUDs, nav points appeared for two separate rooms farther down beneath them. "The path ahead branches off two ways, to two large chambers farther down. From the comms I've intercepted, one of them is their armory, and the other they're using for food storage. I don't know which is which. Their command center is adjacent to the armory. That would be the best place to go to find the information we need." "If their coward of a leader already flees, then we do not have much time. I doubt we will be able to check both paths if we move as one." Vael remarked.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Listening to Shih speak as they walked, Ryker couldn't help but frown slightly behind his visor. So then I had made a solid suggestion about splitting up back there before the big firefight. Ah, hindsight's 20-20 as they say. He kept walking regardless of his thoughts and listened, tapping his helmet when the nav points popped up for a bit of an 'echo' on the hallway ahead, a nifty function he'd tinkered with after he realized he likely wouldn't even get a dumb AI to help him. "So what I'm getting is one way or another, we're going to have to split up here, because if we don't know which is which, we can't risk moving as the full unit if we're going to secure the HVT and any potential intel besides." Standing on the path going to the left, Lucas stands ready to continue. "I'll go with this group, whoever that comprises of. I think one CQC specialist per group would be a good idea."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu looked at Tar M'dalak as she walked by. He wished he knew why a special forces sangheili was a wraith pilot, but one look at the rest of the team made his questions absurd, even to himself. He looked away feeling even more like the odd one out. With others covering the entrances for now, Yalu took some initiative to arm himself for the corridors ahead. Amongst the gore of the dead brutes, he pulled out a surviving red plasma rifle with plenty of its battery remaining. He did not enjoy using their spiker rifles, and the rebel human weapons were less predictable in draining shields. His carbine went on his back beside his concussion rifle. Heavy, but out of the way. "I will go where I am ordered," Yalu added, gently enough to remind Ryker of who was calling the shots.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar moved down the ramp into the belly of the installation with her new squad. As she wasn't certain what kind of environment would greet them, she pulled out her sword and held it unactivated in the hand that supported her raised pistol. It wasn't an ideal configuration, but at least now she could quickly pivot between medium and short range if needed. Tar didn't know how the team operated, so she positioned herself in the middle of the formation rather than at the front as was her instinct. They reached a chamber littered with debris, and she learned from the team's AI of the situation. It seemed the team were entitled to an opinion on how to proceed, which struck Tar as odd. However, she wasn't about to miss this opportunity to get into a position where she performed best. "I'm comfortable in close quarters. I will go right." She volunteered, taking this brief pause to tap the magazine of her stolen Mauler, listening for an idea of the number of bolts still left.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Enemy Stronghold The words from the Spartan made Grikgar flinch slightly and he skidded to a stop. Shifting a bit too early to turn he found himself hopping on one leg to stop him from falling over. The Unggoy then made his way back down the other hall with the all too familiar run / waddle that grunts did when they were in a hurry. "Grikgar understands, right side is best side." He stopped next to the human who called himself Roy and tossed him the spiker grenade he found. "Here go, this grenade fun." Honestly those grenades where fun but they just didn't fit right on his belt. The grenade itself was designed to maim and cause fear more than it was designed to kill. But Grikgar has seen how the spikes from it ricochet in the confined forerunner structures like these and are quite useful in tight areas. Before the man could answer he was off again moving down the right hall this time.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Ryker snorted at Aviza's last comment as he turned to follow his assigned team down the right hand hall. "You just answered your own question, Fire Team Lead." With that, he turned his attention to moving down the hall, his SMG up and sweeping the sides. He didn't see any doors that lead from side rooms into their hall right away, but Forerunner structures rarely followed what Humans or the former Covenant races called practical design in his experience. Still, as they moved, he couldn't shake his sense of unease. These URF members had been in this location for an extended amount of time, had had chances to learn the ins and outs of these buildings and the fastest routes to and from areas. If he was honest, as he moved down the hall, he wasn't convinced that they weren't already too late to catch the HVT and they were just hoping for leftover intel at this point. But then, perhaps the URF were confident that their numbers would hold out against their team, in which case, the joke was on them.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai The two teams arranged themselves quickly once they had been given orders, then proceeded down the split paths with haste. The corridors were fairly narrow, though fortunately there was no resistance in the halls themselves, at least for now. Both paths led downwards towards large chambers that were similar, though not identical. Down the left path, the final door opened into a wide, tall chamber. Its original purpose to the Forerunners was not apparent, but as it was open and mostly featureless, it was now filled with stacks of crates almost from one wall to the other, though they did have an orderly arrangement that allowed one to navigate between them. There were also two rows of three long, flat columns each going from the floor to two walkways above. One was on the far side of the room, while the other row was on the near side just in front of the door the team entered through. Although they could not see through the ceiling above them, there was presumably a second walkway just above them, overlooking the center of the room. Among the collection of crates in the center of the chamber was where the enemy had been putting up barricades and starting to fortify. They mostly consisted of metal, deployable barriers, though Humans were not the only defenders among them. There was also a small pack of Brutes, four individuals, though their leader wore the armor of a Chieftain. Including the Human rebels, there were about a dozen defenders ahead of them from what they could see. The Jiralhanae used exclusively their own weapons, such as spikers, or a gravity hammer in the case of the Chieftain. The Humans, meanwhile, wielded a mix of Human and Covenant weaponry. Out of those that were visible as the team entered the chamber, two carried storm rifles, one a needler, and one a carbine. Most notably, the Humans and Brutes did not appear to be entirely unified. Some of the Humans seemed to be on alert and in defensive positions, but the Chieftain seemed to be having an altercation with a Human commander. Just as Aviza's team was making it into the room, the Chieftain struck the Human "lightly", which, for a Brute, was still enough to knock him clean off of his feet. "Cowards! There will be no retreat; we will crush them, feast on their flesh, and suck the marrow from their bones! Flee from them, and I will make you my dessert." --- Vael 'Virisusai and Tasuma Vael led his team from the front down the right path. He moved alongside Tasuma through the halls, as a Mgalekgolo could force its way through nearly any obstacle they might come across in the halls. Fortunately, they did seem to have moved quickly enough that their enemy did not have time to fortify the halls. Although, the moment they reached the large chamber at the end of the hall, they faced immediate resistance. The chamber itself was large and quite open, except for the crates in the center of the room. They were stacked and organized neatly, though it was not obvious from the outside whether or not they contained weapons. What was apparent was that the rebels had put up barriers in the center for cover, including two mounted heavy machine guns, both of which had opened fire as soon as the door had opened. Fortunately, Vael's team was not left completely without options. There were two of what seemed to be support struts running diagonally up to the ceiling, one to the left and right of the door Vael's team was entering through. The struts were wide, so they did offer ample cover. Vael lunged and rolled to the left to get behind one of the struts as quickly as he could, though even with his armor's shield strength, the heavy weapons had very nearly depleted them in just the few moments he had been exposed to incoming fire. "Spread out and get to cover!" Vael ordered, though Tasuma took that order at a slower pace. It kept a low posture with its shield in front to protect itself, then used the smoke launchers mounted on its armor to fire two smoke grenades towards the center of the room. It would take a short time for the smoke to fill out, but it would at least provide partial cover for the rest of the team to move. Overall, the Hunter's armor could handle the incoming fire for a time, which, together with the smoke, would hopefully allow the rest of the team to reach cover. It was difficult for Vael to see in detail, but there seemed to be ten or fifteen Humans ahead of them. The chamber was longer than it was wide, and he could see an upper walkway that ran along the right side of the room to the far side, with a ramp to just next to the other support strut to access it. However, from his angle, he could not see if there were more rebels up on the walkway defending that path.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar fell dutifully into her new unit and moved down the left passage. She was with the slim grey Spartan who'd turned out to be team leader, the Sangheili Major, another rather serious but silent Spartan and two ONI-types. Tar soon migrated to the front of the group and holstered her pistol in favour of her Mauler. The corridors were tight, and they were approaching an entryway, so she had to be ready for close quarters. The set of doors in front of them slid silently open on approach. Tar heard raised voices as they entered through into a wide open chamber stacked high with boxes; it looked like a few of the closer ones had been knocked over to open up lines of sight. After a couple of seconds gunfire began peppering their position from a nest of fortifications in the middle of the room. Tar tucked in behind a pillar and began scanning the avenues of attack on either side, including the ceiling above. "Watch the platforms above; there could be snipers!" Tar called over the gunfire, pointing straight up with one finger. She swapped her Mauler back over for her pistol, and leaned out to her right. She could see a couple of shapes behind a metal barricade; she shot three times at them. "Moving!" She announced calmly over comms, coming out from behind cover and shooting two more times before crouching behind the first in a long row of crates.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai The initial exchange of fire between Aviza's team and the defenders in front of them did leave some casualties on the side of the rebels. One of the Brutes that attempted to flank was taken down by Aviza, and there were a few Humans among the rebels who took hits that would, at the very least, incapacitate them. In a neutral exchange of gunfire, Aviza's team had the firm edge, as most of them were shielded. They could recover after a few seconds of sitting in cover, while the rebels could be taken down by a single shot. Though, the Brutes were more resilient. As long as their powered armor was not destroyed, their shields could regenerate. The rebels had not yet taken heavy casualties, yet they were still quick to begin retreating. They started to fall back from their fortifications in the middle and instead took cover behind the crates on the far side of the room. Even more strangely, the Brutes were willing to retreat. After the loss of just one of their own, they were falling back to the far side of the room as well, chieftain included. Despite the shouting they had heard as they arrived and the fact that he wielded a gravity hammer, he was not charging in nor taking risks. He just kept to cover and made sure his shields did not fall. Shih, meanwhile, spoke to Aviza directly. "I'm monitoring your vitals now. You might have a concussion, but your armor is already administering treatment. Just try not to take any more hits." --- Vael 'Virisusai Between the grenades and a magazine of fuel rods, the two mounted machine guns certainly stopped returning fire, along with all of the other Humans defending their position. Although, between the smoke and bursts of fuel rod explosions, it was also difficult to see how many had been killed in the blasts. Despite the gap in return fire, Tasuma still moved towards cover behind the nearest pillar. The shield on its arm was nigh impenetrable to anything the rebels could throw at it, but the rest of its armor was not quite as durable. Small arms would bounce off of the plating, but the heavy machine guns were another matter. Its armor was dented and damaged in some places, and pierced in a few. Thick, orange blood dripped from a few holes, though the Mgalekgolo as a whole did not yet seem meaningfully affected. On the upper walkway, Ryker would not find himself uncontested. Being that it was such an obvious path for any attackers to take, the rebels had prepared to defend it. It was a long, straight walkway with almost nothing in terms of cover, and on the far end was another set of barricades the rebels had deployed, at least three defenders, and a third mounted heavy machine gun. Ryker might have approached with active camouflage but the rebels were alert and only had a narrow path they were tasked with watching. The gunner still noticed the distinctive shimmer in the air surrounding Ryker and opened fire immediately, along with the other two beside her with their assault rifles. Perhaps their only mistake was opening fire too early, while Ryker was still close enough to the ramp to not be fully committed to the position. Vael had spent the break of the fight behind cover, allowing his shields to recharge. Though, as explosives rained down upon the enemy position, he shouted through their comms. "Do not be indiscriminate with explosives! If any of those crates contain explosives themselves, you may kill us as well as them." Vael ordered. He peered out of cover to try and get a look at the enemy, though the smoke was already thick in the air by that point. It obscured what his eyes could see, though his motion tracker still showed plenty of movement ahead of them. "The smoke shall be our ally. These Humans will fall easily if we close the distance. Grikgar, help Spartan Ryker claim the high ground, everyone else…" As Vael spoke, two objects flew out of the smoke towards them, one after another. Frag grenades, which would certainly land nearby. At that point, Vael easily understood what the Humans' plan had been. The defenders could have held close to try and deny them the support struts they had been using as cover, but normal Humans performed poorly against Spartan and Sangheili alike in close quarters. Instead, they had taken positions nearer to the far side of the room, taking advantage of long sight lines and heavy guns to suppress them into cover, at which point they would have used grenades to either kill them, or flush them out into machine gun fire. But, the quick actions of Vael's allies had foiled that plan. Now, if their heavy guns were even still in one piece, the air was too thick with smoke to return fire effectively. The incoming grenades were little more than a signal for Vael to push forward. "Attack!" Vael shouted, sprinting forward out of the range of the grenades and into the smoke. He had his plasma rifle in-hand and ready, though in such close quarters, it was his secondary weapon. As soon as he saw a Human silhouette in front of him, pushing himself up to his feet amid damaged and broken crates, Vael activated his energy sword and diagonally bisected the rebel's torso in one swift motion. The smoke around him now glowed blue, illuminated by the plasma. Bullets cut through the air towards him, though they were far from accurate, and his shields could stand up much longer to small arms than mounted machine guns. Vael flicked off his sword to hide its glow and moved swiftly, using pulsing bursts of orange light through the smoke from the rebels' muzzle flash to hone in on their positions.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker As the mounted machinegun opened fire towards Ryker, he was already diving with a startled curse. If he was honest, as he rolled part way down the ramp, the SPARTAN IV had hoped that the rebels wouldn't have bothered setting up any kind of defense on the walk way since they had seemed confident they'd control the doorway. Turning off the active camouflage system, he tucks into the wall of the ramp and swaps the SMG for his DMR before, risking a quick peak at the far end before ducking after a couple of the larger caliber rounds rebounded off his shielding. Hearing that Grikgar was on his way, however, gave the Spartan an idea and he waited for the Grunt to arrive. The little guy has a fuel rod launcher and lots of explosives. I'm a decent shot and brought a few frag grenades. The problem is obscuring smoke wouldn't do us any good up here...but a series of progressive explosions could force the men behind that barricade in to cover long enough for me to rush them.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak From her position behind the crates, Tar had a slightly better view of the elevated platforms above them. She couldn't see any hostiles peeking out just yet. "I can't see anyone on the platforms; will keep an eye out." Tar reported, just as the box she was hiding behind began shuddering from a hail of bullets. Cover was particularly poor this close to the near pillars; Tar needed to get into the grid of crates to stand a chance. She noticed her left leg was starting to hurt; blood trickled slowly from a gap in her armour plating. Could that bullet she'd felt while holding up her Brute cover outside have gone through, rather than grazed her? She wasn't sure. Tar probed the gap with one of her fingers, mandibles clamped together. She couldn't find an entry wound. She'd need to leave it be for now and look once the fighting had stopped. Tar peeked out from behind the crate she hid behind. A couple of Brutes and Humans had been dealt with, and part of the room was on fire. She could see shapes flitting between the stacks of crates toward the back of the room. It looks like they'd abandoned their previous position. "Our foe runs! We should press the attack." Tar called, shooting between crates at two Humans as they scrambled for cover. One of them fell over. Tar had never actually killed Humans before now. There'd been no need to; her time with the Silent Shadow remnants had been exclusively focused on killing Brutes. She found these Human warriors to be quite disappointing so far. She'd simmed against ODSTs and other Human elements in Paxopolis, but that'd been in a carefully controlled environment. This was real. "Moving!" Tar announced, mostly out of necessity. The crate she'd hidden behind had practically fallen apart. She got up and stepped into a 'corridor' between two rows of crates leading to the other side of the room. She spotted a Human with a SAW at the opposite end of the corridor just as they opened fire. Tar only made it forward one row before ducking back behind another stack of boxes. "I'm pinned, how is my right side looking?" Tar asked, partly to herself as she peeked around the other side of the box and partly to Aegis team, who would have a more holistic view.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko "They're giving ground already?" Yalu asked himself. "That chieftain was clear, but..." His eyes dilated in realisation. Shortly before Tar was fired upon by the human with the assault weapon, Yalu was already loping into a broad sprint down the right flank, sliding to a stop facing to one side. The human gunner flowed into his sights and five plasma rounds shot towards his centre. "'Mdalak! Right side clear!" He hesitated, not yet seeing any sign of a jammer, let alone any extra movement on his motion sensor yet. "This feels like a lure!" He added over a growl. Yalu kept his wits, trying to listen and feel more than see. Brutes liked activate camouflage in packs, and this valley between the walkways was perfect for their prey.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan The two folded into the Aviza brute-killing group (foreshadowing) as they began their descent into the corridor, it would only be a matter of time before they would go toe to toe with a huge group of bad guys. Elna kept her head on a swivel looking around, looking like a paranoid bat of some sort as she expected for Rebels to come flying off the walls. For Roy (Ray) though it would just be another series of motions and actions he would be forced to go through, the two treaded through before Aviza called for contaaaaact! Roy moved forward and jumped behind hard cover before getting up to fire at the rebels. Elna also followed quickly planting herself up against hard cover as she got her Br-55 up and sent rounds down range towards the rebels and it was only a matter of time before they routed and ran away! Aviza quickly corpsed a flanking brute, taking him out without an ounce of remorse. The whole group began to rout but not in full, it could of been a trap - maybe it was? They were nowhere near the crates at this time so they could possibly be safe, though Ray kept his finger on the trigger. "Keep an eye out Corporal, thinks aren't as they seem." Elna returned a curt nod towards the spook she babysits, both got up and returned fired onto some nearby rebels quickly killing them as they stepped out of cover.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Situational awareness is crucial upon the field of battle, Spartan Aviza had learned this through many years of not only combat training but also experience in live fire situations. Unfortunately, it appeared that some of the other members of her immediate squad had either forgotten this important tactic or were more brazen and impatient than the others. To Aviza, is was clear that the hostiles had set up some kind of trap for them, though she was unsure what that trap would be. Perhaps they were trying to lure some of the forces into an area then cut them off from the others with some sort of energy barrier? That would make them easy to overwhelm, and the hostile forces on the other side would have to somehow deactivate the shield before being able to assist. Whatever their plan was, Spartan Aviza was not about to let any harm come to those under her command. Quickly, Aviza gave orders to the two had moved away from the rest of the squad, "Why are you advancing into what is most likely a trap? What happens if you two get cut off from the rest of the squad and we can not help? I want both of you back to my position immediately, the rest of us will provide cover and then try to find out what they have planned for us ahead." Spartan Aivza hoped that there was still time for the two Sangheili to correct their mistake, if not, the situation at hand was about to get much worse.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai There was some delay in the response from the enemy. They waited behind cover on the far side of the room, only giving token return fire as they waited for their attackers to take the space they had given up. However, Aviza did not give the order to advance, and the delay would give some time to try and retreat back to her position. When it became clear that their attackers had, for the most part, not taken the bait, the Chieftain let out a roar. Right away, Brute stalkers, four at least, emerged from active camouflage on the walkway directly above the team's position. They did not have an angle to shoot down on Aviza or those who stayed back, but Tar and Yalu were within their sights. Two opened fire with spikers, while the other two tried to throw incendiary grenades to block their retreat. It was, indeed, an ambush, though it was far from ideal for the Brutes, as both of the Sangheili were still fairly close to Aviza's position. In any case, the Chieftain's roar had been the signal for an all-in attack. The Brutes started charging from far across the room through the crates, while the Human rebels positioned themselves to provide supporting fire. Although, they did have a fair amount of ground to cover to cross the entire length of the room.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Enemy Stronghold Grikgar shifted quickly from one point of cover to the next. "Copy Grik be careful now. Many explosions good for Grik but not good for everyone else." Getting to the pillar next to the Spartan Grik nodded and activated the shield he got from the jackal. The bright orange glow of the shield illuminated his position in time for the machine gun to open up on his position. "Grikgar create opening for Spartan." Turing from cover his shield flared then broke along with his energy shield, Grik gar was only able to get two shots off with an unsteady hand before diving back into cover. "Shields recharging." What a rush, a bit risky but a rush all the same.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Tasuma --- While Grikgar had not had much time to take his shots,the jackal shield had at least bought him enough time to be able to put one on target. The first sailed over the top and exploded on the far wall, but the second struck the barricades directly. It did not entirely destroy the barricades, and the rebels behind them were able to duck for cover, but the machine gun emplacement was caught in the blast. Ryker would still have to deal with armed resistance, with better cover, on the upper walkway, but there was no heavy gun to keep him pinned. Some of the rebels had retained their bearings well enough and had managed to retreat out from the smoke cloud in the center of the room to form up behind the cover of the support struts on the far side. They had no heavy emplaced weapons, but they were well-armed on their own and had good sight lines. It would still not be trivial to displace them. If Ryker and Grikgar could claim the upper walkway, they would have a position on the high ground, at least. Amid the smoke, Vael stalked the rebels who had not escaped like prey. Using motion trackers, or simply the sounds they made to track them, Vael weaved between the crates to deal with them up close and personal. From the outside, one would see nothing until he came close enough to a target to flick on his energy sword, which illuminated the thick smoke in a blue glow. It was generally followed by a short burst of gunfire, then the scream of a Human. Tasuma did not make light of its own injuries, but in any case, it still moved into the smoke cloud as well. It was concerned less with killing stragglers as it was positioning itself to handle the rebels defending the far side of the room. The smoke would dissipate eventually, so it moved to find enough of a stack of crates that it could use for cover, instead of relying wholly on its armor for protection.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar growled at the order to retreat. It didn't seem like a strategy that was conducive to catching fleeing prey. However, while she wasn't under this team's direct command, she guessed the Spartan outranked her. And while being discharged for disobeying orders was one way to escape Sarcophagus, Tar needed to keep her military options open. It was by far the most efficient vehicle for continuing her search for Tarkr 'Mdalakai. Before Tar could reply, there was a roar from somewhere on the opposite side of the room. Fire grenades and spikes began raining down on her position from above. "I've found the trap! Brutes, above us!" Tar roared, turning to shoot up at them, pushing her back to the stack of crates she had hidden behind. Her pistol clicked empty, and she quickly flicked the magazine out to replace it with her spare. She peeked around the side of the crate, spikes stuck in her shield, to see more Brutes rushing toward her. Tar swore; it was now or never. "Moving!" She called. Ducking out of cover into the lane between crates, Tar fired at the oncoming Brutes while carefully walking backwards toward their position. They didn't take cover, instead electing to trade fire with her. Tar ducked back behind another crate closer to home and immediately peeked back out to continue firing. One of the Brute's shields burst and Tar shot him in the head, but the rest kept coming. A fire bomb crashed to the floor just in front of her as her pistol clicked empty again. Leaping backwards, Tar burst into another lane of crates, knocking some over as she stumbled for cover. "I need pistol mags!" She called, switching to her Mauler.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu barely had time to line up his covering fire to pull back by the time the trap was sprung. That left no time to hate being right in this instance. He slammed his back against the crates behind him before more than one spiker round could clip his shield. Around the crates before him, two more brutes were bearing down with an assault he could not avoid. Yalu sneered and let his plasma rifle fire fully automatic into the forward brute. The enemy's shield burst, but he was smart enough to fold back behind some crates while the next brute, freshly shielded, kept on running. Yalu kept the trigger depressed, roaring as the quickly heating weapon reached its safety point. Then, as the forward brute thrust his spiker rifle forward at his gut, Yalu spun to one side, felt the vents on his rifle open, and threw the momentum of the spin into shoving his overheated rifle into the side of the brute's face. The burning heat made the brute scream in rage, but his panicked response of striking Yalu's arm aside only made Yalu's energy dagger hook faster into its throat. Yalu's plasma rifle clattered to the floor from where it had flown out of his hand. His shock kept whatever pain was welling up in his forearm into a dull ache as he shook it in the air. The rest of the team's communications caught up with him. "Falling back," He said over the comms. He took the spiker rifle out of the slowly collapsing brute's hand on his way back. With his other hand, he pulled out his plasma carbine. A few one-handed shots from both weapons down the range kept the shieldless brute in cover for long enough to back closer to Aviza and 'Mdalak. He spoke as soon as he could see Tar along the same row. "You will earn your magazines from the enemy, 'Mdalak! Here!" He slid the spiker rifle across the smooth metallic floor towards her like a ringing bowling ball. "One dead on the right flank, at least one more remains. I can't advance until the stalkers above the walkway's right are slain."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai In their charge across the room, many of the Brutes had not made it to the other side, or died shortly thereafter. Spartan Aviza had cleared the walkway above them, leaving the chieftain with little in the way of direct support. Many Human rebels were still alive, but they moved forward more slowly and fired from distance, as they were more vulnerable. The Spartan, Rex, had moved up into cover behind the rightmost column to meet the chieftain's charge. Especially in close quarters, his shotgun could put quite a lot of pressure on the Brute's shields. His first shot as the chieftain was nearing caused his shields to flare, then Aviza's firebomb struck from above and further drained them with the intense flames. Nevertheless, the chieftain did not stop his momentum straight at Rex. As a Spartan and CQC expert, however, Rex's reflexes were quick and precise. He deftly ducked under the the hammer's horizontal swing while dashing away from where it would strike the column. The weapon's kinetic impulse sent out a shockwave that pushed Rex and damaged his shields, but he had dodged far enough to avoid most of the damage. As well, he kept his aim on-target enough to deplete the Brute's shields with another shell from his shotgun. Rex took aim straight at his opponent's head as he pumped his shotgun; however, the chieftain had one more trick before he could fire. Suddenly, the chieftain's shields were charged rapidly and started to glow bright white with streaks like lightning across their surface. The "invincibility" module, as it was known, overcharged his shields to the point of being practically impenetrable. It was surprising that these Brutes would still have such equipment in a working state from the war, but that was the obstacle they now faced. The module would only last a short time, but the chieftain had already made it into close quarters, among Aviza's team.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak "Got it." Tar grunted over comms, stopping the incoming Spiker with her foot. She quickly picked it up with her free hand and straight-arm fired it at the Brute Chieftain. She couldn't get a clear shot, as the pillars were in the way, but she saw when it activated its invincibility module. Bullets sprayed against the crates and walls around her, with a couple popping her recharging shield. Tar chucked her empty pistol away, holstered her Mauler, gripped her Spiker with both hands and fired downrange at the slowly advancing Human rebels. They dived behind cover, giving her a couple of seconds to think about the last remaining Brute that she could see. "Don't commit and stay back!" Tar urged, just as a blow from the gravity hammer scattered boxes everywhere. One crashed into her, knocking her backward and out of cover. She returned fire as a tsunami of bullets popped her shield again. A couple even clanged off her armour before she ducked behind a pillar - right in the path of the Chieftain. Tar swore and assumed an open stance, ready to move in any direction.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker The sudden barrage of SAW fire was more than a bit annoying for the SPARTAN IV as he was forced into cover once more, though at least this was more the kind of suppressive fire that kept him from getting a clear shot. Since he was on the high ground, the shots had less chance of hitting his shielding, but he couldn't get a clear line of fire. So, swapping the SMG for his DMR, he braced and waited. Eventually, he could hear the sound of the Mgalekgolo's cannon charging and he knew he'd have his chance soon. However, as he went to relay an idea he had to Grikgar, the cannon fired and the Unggoy opened fire with his pistol. "Well, I can work with that too." Popping up with his DMR already tucked snuggly into his shoulder, Lucas opens fire, first putting a bullet through the head of the SAW gunner before shifting to pick off another designated rifleman thinking he was sneaky from the doorway. {Heads up, Squad Leader, they're taking cover in the hallway beyond...well, it looks like another hallway at least. I know they're using the door way.} A couple of AR rounds ping off the SPARTAN-IV's shielding and he ducks briefly before popping back up and returning fire, missing the intended head shot and instead putting the bullet through the insurgent's shoulder.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Good, clear from above, Yalu thought towards the dead brute that tumbled off the walkway above him. That was one way to signal that the high ground was taken. Yalu reloaded his carbine. He was at his second-to-last magazine now. Unfortunately, just as his shields found a moment to hum back to full strength, the telltale stomps of the brute chieftain heralded the charge against Rex. The spartan was struck deep into the chest. Yalu was in no position to do anything about it. He fell into hesitation, even as the invincibility module faded away. If it weren't for the ONI agents keeping the enemies suppressed, their flank might have been completely done in. But he shook it off. He filled his lungs and charged. "Rrrraaaaaaah!" Yalu's warcry steeled his nerves as much as it was meant to catch the chieftain's attention. Any one ally would be in danger brawling against a brute with a hammer, but two against one tipped the scales. He fired scattered carbine rounds against the chieftain's shield on the way in. He feigned suicidal rage. However, he kept his footwork ready to void aside or back from a hammer swing in retribution. He did not intend to fight like a mad animal.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Tasuma --- The detonation of Tasuma's fuel rod blast was the signal for Vael as well. While Ryker and Grikgar fired from above on the right flank, Vael moved in on the left flank. He initially moved in under the cover of active camouflage. The imperfect invisibility could be spotted at such close range, but in this case, he only needed it to give him a few moments to approach while his enemy was otherwise occupied. For Vael, he was able to rush in to close the gap on the left pillar while the rebels were hiding from Tasuma's fuel rod. By the time one of them peered out and spotted the shimmering in the air, he was already upon them. His blade ignited mid-swing, and the body of the Human he was looming over put up no resistance as it cleaved through. The second rebel behind the pillar did manage to land a few SMG rounds on Vael in the second or two he had to react, but it was far from enough to break the Sangheili's shields before his body too was pierced by the energy sword. Ryker was correct that the remainder of the rebels were trying to move into the hall. They no longer had much of a defensive position, and those that were left were willing to retreat. The volume of plasma bolts from Grik, couples with accurate DMR fire from Ryker, put on them a great deal of pressure. Three made a run for the door while firing blindly back at the pair, and two went down before they could make it into the hall. For the few that remained pinned behind the right pillar, another fuel rod from Tasuma landed directly beside them. When there were no more left to retreat, the rebels closed and locked down the door to the hallway. It would only delay their team for a short time if they decided to pursue, but it would let the rebels put some distance between them. However, Vael had other priorities than ordering a chase. As soon as the room was cleared, he ran back to the center to the nearest crate. Their objective had been to find the armory, so using his strength to simply pry open the lock, Vael pulled open one of the crates to see its contents. Unfortunately, it was not weapons within, but rather sealed, packaged foodstuffs. He let out an irritated growl and flared his mandibles. "This is not the armory. Fall back, and we will rejoin the others."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker {Copy, coming down.} Turning to the Unggoy, he nodded before heading for the ramp back down. "Sounds like we didn't get the fun objective. Squad lead says back to the split." Obviously the walk back down the ramp was going to prove far less dangerous and the trip back out of the room, but that didn't bother the SPARTAN-IV. It gave them time to strategize and re-establish contact with Aviza's team, though he wasn't sure that they'd answer if they were in the midst of a fire fight. Reaching the bottom of the ramp, Ryker took up a position looking down the hall from the door way. "That sure was an awful lot of fight for some food stuffs. Are we sure they're nothing special?" It wasn't an uncommon thing for things like food stuffs to be used as IEDs, especially with the peacetime they were in and the shortages some sectors were facing. Then again, if they'd been rigged, suppose the Innies would have detonated the stash then and there and there'd have been no firefight like there was. Still, perhaps having a bomb removal team come through and check wouldn't hurt in the post-operation. "Ready to move when you are squad lead."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern The first thought that ran through Aviza's mind as soon as she witnessed Spartan Rex receive the devastating blow from the Brute Chieftains Gravity hammer was immediate medical attention for what was most likely a life threatening injury. She knew this could not be done in their current situation, given the circumstances and the obvious threat that was still prevalent. With very few options available at the moment, Aviza sprinted forward towards her fallen Spartan, only coming to a stop when she arrived by his side. "Shih, I need a full scan of Spartan Rex, or as detailed as you can give. Once that is done, I want you to send a message to the Chorus of Thunder and inform them that we have injured and will need a fully detailed medical team on standby once our mission here is finished." For the moment, Aviza's Argus armor was informing her that she still had a few more seconds before she had to actually face the Brute Chieftain in combat, but a few seconds was all she needed to at least attempt to stabilize Spartan Rex. Quickly reaching onto the advanced medical kit she kept on herself at all times, Aviza produced a biofoam dispenser and was about to place it back inside of the medical case when she witnessed the Chieftain slam his hammer down at the feet of Tar, thankfully no energy wave was dispensed. With some quick thinking, she tossed the biofoam canister at the Brute Chieftains head and then rapid fired the underslung shotgun upon her MA5D Assault Rifle untill the eight round clip ran dry and had to be replaced. If this did not severely injure the Brute Cheiftan, they would be in serious trouble. Thankfully though, Aviza found an opportunity to assist Tar, and grabbed onto the back of her armor, pulling her back and away from the Brute and helping her onto her feet before once more turning to face the Brute Chieftain.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak The Brute Chieftain recoiled under the barrage of shotgun shells, but possessed the presence of mind to raise the bulky armour plate attached to his left arm. It absorbed some of the impact, shattering to pieces. The Chieftain issued a guttural, gurgling roar. He raised his hammer off the floor, jabbing it straight out in front of him at Aviza before lurching round and swinging it in a wide, brutal arc at Yalu as he rushed in from behind. The Elite's battlecry had obviously alerted the Chieftain to the danger. Tar sprung to her feet with Aviza's interrupted help. She dodged the Chieftain's savage jab, aided by the fact she wasn't the principal target. As soon as the Brute turned his back to pound Yalu, Tar jumped forward and clambered up his back. She reached for her holstered energy sword, intent on ramming it through a chink in the Brute's neck armour. Before she could, the Chieftain's head jerked backwards in a panicked motion; his helmet smashed into her face. One of Tar's feet slipped, and she was forced to quickly put both hands back on the Brute's armour to avoid falling off and being trampled. She tried to grab her sword again.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Listening closely and intently to Shih as she briefed them on their current situation at hand, Spartan Aivza was already strategizing and plotting their next course of action. Rex still needed to be stabilized for medical evacuation and she was going to ensure that this happened before they moved out again. Moving to her fellow Spartan who was injured, she took a knee and held her right hand over his torso where the Brute had managed to make contact with his armor. Sensors indicated that he had received severe injuries, internal bleeding, broken ribs, and fragments of bones threatening to puncture his lungs if there was to much movement. Her suits systems informed her that their best option was to be medically evacuated as soon as possible, and that Rex's suit of armor had already stabilized him. "Rex, I will not lie to you, the strike from the Brute Chieftain inflicted severe damage upon not only your armor but also your body." began Aviza as she moved to her feet once more. "It would be extremely unwise to move you at this time, even more so to have you try and attempt to assist us further. For now, you must relax and refrain from moving until we return. My advice is for you to engage your active camouflage and remain hidden untill we have finished with our mission here. Aviza would then send a private message to Shih, "I want you to send a message to the Chorus of Thunder and inform them that we have injured and will need a fully detailed medical team on standby once our mission here is finished. Secondly, please forward the most logical path to take next to everyone's HUD, along with any other information you believe should be shared with the squad." Aviza would hold her position, waiting for the path to appear before her, once it did, she would quickly head off in the direction it lead. One last message would be sent to Rex before she departed, "Keep us updated on your situation Rex, if you need help, I will send a team back to you."</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar clattered to the floor as the Brute Chieftain slumped on top of her. She roared, thrashing about wildly, eventually levering the giant corpse over onto its front before scrambling to her feet. She quickly surveyed the field, and gradually stood down when she was confident the threat had passed for now. Her leg protested; the background level of pain she could feel hidden in her armour was gradually increasing. She gritted her mandibles together and tried to ignore it. A waypoint appeared in Tar's HUD, and she fell in behind the Spartan team leader as they moved toward it. On the way, she discarded her spent Mauler for an M90 shotgun from one of the warped crates. Tar ripped the fingerguard clean off the weapon to accommodate her Sangheili digits before bringing the gun to her shoulder. Not long after, she stooped to grab a pistol from the belt of a downed insurrectionist with her off hand, eyes constantly scanning for hostiles. Tar peeked into the small room the team's AI led them to, before standing alert behind some crates outside it. The rest of the team arrived, announcing beforehand so as to avoid attracting friendly fire. Tar greeted them with a cursory nod, checking them out for gear and equipment until the AI revealed they were short on time. "Our quarry flees! We should hunt them down." She snarled.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu danced his feet back as fast as he could once his last bullet shot into the brute's shoulder. He got to the last punch of reloading in his final carbine magazine only to hear one more close gunshot aimed at the chieftain. The hulking alien fell heavily onto Tar, but she looked like she could handle it. Yalu briefly scanned for more enemies, finding none worth shooting, before turning an eye to their scarred human Corporal nearby. "A fine kill, Cohen." Only now did Yalu take another look at the spartan Rex. He knew it was not his business to eavesdrop, but Yalu showed at least some relief to hear that the spartan still lived, based on Aviza's assessment. But Rex was not the only one wounded. Yalu thought about his next words carefully while scavenging for another weapon. This Tar 'Mdalak was not to be underestimated if he impugned her honour by drawing attention to her bleeding leg. She was no minor under his command, after all. Yalu rearmed with a few frag grenades, a fallen brute's plasma rifle, and a human marksman's rifle to replace his carbine; there was more ballistic ammunition than carbine magazines available. The other team reunited with them, Yalu gave them a nod. They were about to set out when he decided to speak up. "Commander Aviza," Yalu said quietly over the comms. "As you are our medical specialist, your anaesthetics may help us Sangheili pursue our objective faster. Do you have spare doses we may hold?" If they all could hold onto a shot of pain relievers, particularly Commander Vael, Yalu knew 'Mdalak was less likely to lose face if she used it for her leg. It was risky for Yalu to assume Aviza would understand the social nuance, but he hoped the AI could make up the difference.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Surely unknown to the ex-covenant forces who were currently part of Aegis Team, Spartan Aviza had been educated in some areas of Sangheili culture. This of course included how they were quite hesitant to receive any form of outside healing, less they have their honor insulted. The request for the anesthetics came as surprise, regardless though she was happy to comply with Yalu. While still walking down the hallway towards their next objective, she reached into her medical pack and produced a few metal canisters before handing them over to the Sangheili. "These contain an extremely potent anesthetic, they will dull the pain but the injury will obviously still remain and will need to be treated by a medical professional as myself." Once the cannisters had been taken, Aviza would then turn her attention back to the matter at hand, locating the Rebel Base Commander.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Moving down through the structure, the team kept their pace as quick as possible. It was vital to their mission that the enemy leader not be allowed to escape. As per their mission parameters, capture was preferable, but even killing him would be acceptable should capture not be an option. The only outcome that would be considered a failure would be if he were to escape. There was some resistance as they moved down into the tunnels, though nothing like what they had encountered in the chambers above. With how swiftly the team had made their attack, the Insurrectionists had not had the time nor resources to organize more than their initial defense. A good portion of them were likely still caught up in the battle above ground. The few rebels they did encounter tried to set up ambushes, but against a team like Aegis, they did not so much as slow them down. Near the bottom of the structure, Shih guided the team into an elevator leading down deeper into Sarcophagus' superstructure. The rebels had tried to lock it down, but fortunately, they did not seem to have any special understanding of Forerunner systems, so Shih was able to easily override it. After reaching the bottom, it was only a short run through the halls to reach the rebels' underground landing platform. The hallway opened up into a large, flat platform in the middle of a massive, hexagonal tunnel, though it was cluttered with crates and equipment. The hallway exited out near the middle of the platform, so there were multiple dropships on either side of them. Most of them were of different models with different appearances and loadouts, ranging from fully-armed UNSC pelicans, to police and civilian transports. Making full use of every sensor at her disposal, Shih started scanning area as soon as they stepped through the door. Based on the information she had recovered from the rebels' network, she was able to identify and mark the leader on their HUDs before any of the team had even set foot on the platform. The enemy commander was off to their left, about a hundred meters away near the edge of the platform. He was equipped in what appeared to be ODST combat armor, though it was heavily modified. He had been coordinating the evacuation, though the moment he saw Aegis team arrive, he and the soldiers around him made a run for the nearest pelican on the platform. Unfortunately, he was close enough that he would certainly reach it before anyone on Aegis could.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar accepted the proffered metal canister with a grunt and studied it distastefully. She knew a lot of her family and friends back on Brissekh would've been angry at the mere gesture. However, it seemed spending so much time in Paxopolis had begun to change Tar's perception. Medicine and doctors were in bountiful supply there, and the Arbiter's robust lobbying for the preservation of Sangheili life made some sense. They were not as strong as they once were; they could no longer afford to throw their lives away over their honour. Tar hung back for a few seconds and let the rest of the team file past toward the waypoint. She then injected the contents of the canister into the back of her leg - the one that had been shot. She then quietly rested the empty shell on top of a crate and jogged to catch up with the rear of the group. --- Once the lift had come to rest on the vast platform and the target was marked, Tar wasted no time in springing into action. Her pistol wasn't effective at the kind of range needed to take out the leader, but there were closer hostiles that needed dealing with anyway. Most were rushing to evacuate, but some did stop and begin shooting at them. Tar surged off the lift and towards cover at top speed. Her stolen pistol was enveloped in both hands as she emptied her magazine suppressing as many of the rebels as she could. Upon reaching a wheeled trolley of heavy equipment, she savagely kicked it towards a gaggle of enemies in riot gear, sending them running to get out of the way.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- The enemy commander was, naturally, the priority, though Vael still had no intention of being trapped in tunnel vision on the target. Running out onto the platform, they were exposed to a lot of angles. While there was cover, and many of the rebels were more concerned with rushing to their evacuation than turning around to attack, there were some soldiers turning their attention turning towards the team. "Tasuma, cover our flank!" He ordered. The Mgalekgolo would certainly not be able to reach their objective before someone else on Aegis could, so his focus would be more useful on protecting the others. The rebel leader did not slow his pace as the shots started to ring out around him. Ryker's attempt to stop him might have worked, but he had more than just Human equipment to rely on. Before Ryker could take his third shot, the bright blue energy field of a Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet powered on to take the bullet, which protected him for the rest of his short run to the pelican. The leader did make it into the troop hold of the dropship, but he did not order takeoff immediately. Other rebels were still rushing in behind him to evacuate, and he did not seem intent on leaving them. Shortly after making into the pelican, he leaned out to give cover to his allies, keeping in cover behind his gauntlet while angling an M319 grenade launcher to fire over it. The grenade came in quick towards the center of the group, then airburst over them. It did not detonate close enough to make any kills, but the EMP effect could effectively drain shields.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The quieter moments of the pursuit gave Yalu some moments to reflect. The mission was not going flawlessly. He did not know whether the enemy commander would still be at the landing pad by the time they reached him. It would not be over by then, he told himself. If the human rebels could fly through these tunnels as a routine, then he might... He paused his thought before they opened the door to the landing pad. There was little time else for Yalu to do than to take a shot alongside the others at the commander. "He has a gauntlet. Need more firepower-" The grenade flew across them. Yalu reflexively ducked and covered his head as it went off. He grit his teeth at the shock that had blasted against his now EMP-drained shield. This breach was dead in the water. But he did spot some other aircraft in the landing pad. They had perhaps a few seconds before their quarry could load up another grenade and they could not push an assault without shields. That was the first concern. "Grenade out!" Yalu risked an arm out of cover to pitch a fragmentation grenade out ahead with plenty left on the timer. It bounced, slid, and coasted to a stop across the forerunner floor, spinning in place ahead of the pelican's ramp before detonating. Yalu was already switching to his concussion rifle for the next stage. He had only six shots left to pin down the enemy while the rest of the team followed up. "The quarry covers his allies' retreat," Yalu observed. "We are not hunting a coward."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker If Ryker had ever wanted to go kick the shit out of a Jiralhanae more than he wanted to kick the shit out of this fleet they'd used to track the rebels, he couldn't remember it. The insurgency had already had a history of being a pain in the ass for the UNSC, especially since they had this idea that the UNSC were only full of villains, but giving them access to some of the Covenant tech that had given the Alien conglomerate an edge...yeah, that was not fun. In his personal experience, ONI was the one to beware, but as he exchanged shots with a pair of Insurgents taking cover behind a couple of crates, he decided he could reminisce later. He only had a brief moment to recognize the weapon their target pulled, but it was long enough to cloak and dive, hopefully, out of range of both EMP and any shrapnel. Landing at a roll, the SPARTAN-IV brought up his DMR and fired a quick two tap at the leader, aiming mainly to knock the grenade launcher out of his hands and force him to either high behind his shield or fall back into the pelican. {Grikgar, think you can damage one of those engines on the Pelican? We can't let him get away.} He had been firing from where he'd landed until a stray shot hit him and his shields shattered, shutting down his cloak as well. "Aw, come on..." He dove behind the nearest piece of cover as an array of assault rifle fire strafed after him. This was now a bit of a shit show, but it was what it was, and at least the EMP hadn't completely drained his shield like it had several of his teammates.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Once again, the rebel commander proved quick to react to danger. As soon as he saw a Spartan taking aim, he ducked into cover in the pelican while he loaded in another grenade. Grikgar, however, required hardly more than a few moments to eagerly follow Spartan Ryker's suggestion. His fuel rod cannon was already at the ready, after all. Pelicans were generally well-armored, but there were weak points, especially near the engines. Naturally, Grik knew right where to aim to disable one of the rear engines. The commander had slowed Aegis team down enough that his soldiers were able to make it into the hold, but just as the pelican started to lift off of the landing pad, a fuel rod detonated inside one of the rear thrusters. Dropping back down onto the pad, the pelican started to spin and scrape across the ground until it came to rest on its side. It had been a slow crash, so there were few injuries for the passengers inside. As the commander climbed out the back, he shouted back to the soldiers behind him. "Go, get to one of the others! I'll cover you!" The rebel commander wasted no time in sprinting away from the crash in the opposite direction as the rest of the soldiers. He flicked on his shield gauntlet once again, running and weaving between crates for extra cover as he took potshots at his attackers with the magnum in his other hand. Though, even for those among Aegis with weakened or depleted shields, his blindfire was of little real threat. To Vael, for a few moments, it seemed assured that their quarry would be theirs shortly. However, the commander had one last surprise for them. Once he was far enough from the pelican, he stopped near the edge of the platform in a rather strange defensive posture. He held his shield low to protect against wounding attacks, while leaving his head exposed. On top of that, he threw off his helmet, revealing a middle-aged, bald and scarred visage. He pointed his magnum not at his enemy, but at his own head. He seemed aware of the risk of being disarmed, as he tried as much as possible to keep his own head between his enemy and his weapon. "Stay back!" He shouted. "I know you want me alive; I'd be dead already if you didn't. Well, you want your prize? Then we do this my way!"</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak The trolley Tar had kicked spun in transit, shedding some of its load before trapping one of the armour-clad rebels against more crates. The Sangheili pilot then traded a bruising fusillade of pistol fire with the rest of the small group until an EMP blast from somewhere overhead shattered her shields. Instantaneously, a pistol round pinged off Tar's left elbow and right knee armour, sending pain rippling through her body. Tar leapt back behind cover and released her spent magazine. She fumbled for a new one and clumsily clipped it in. Her leg felt strange. She shakily levelled her pistol at the space where the riot-gear rebels were surely rushing through to kill her, but they didn't come. Instead, she heard the trapped rebel shout "Don't you fucking leave me here!" She poked her head around the side of the crates she had taken refuge behind and saw them running for the transports parked further along the platform. Tar looked behind her, and could hear a Human voice she didn't recognise calling to them. It sounded like their quarry was threatening to kill himself. Unacceptable. They didn't get the luxury of killing themselves; that was her job. Tar quickly crossed to where the lone rebel soldier had been squashed between the trolley and other packing crates. They tried to level their pistol at her, but Tar quickly swatted it away and ripped the riot shield out of her other hand. She jabbed fiercely at their visored helmet, and heard a yelp from within. Tar pulled at the visor and the whole thing came free, revealing a Human female with a bloody nose and mouth. They looked groggy from the impact, but still managed to spit a bloody wad of saliva onto Tar's armour and grin. Tar pushed away the equipment trolley pinning the soldier into place with one hand, and grabbed her with the other. The soldier could barely stand up, so Tar half carried and half dragged her into clear view of their quarry, and most of Aegis Team. She forced her to kneel, and then pushed her pistol against the back of the woman's head. Tar looked up threateningly at the commander.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Well this wasn't the situation that the SPARTAN-IV was expecting to find himself in at this point, with their target holding himself hostage to get his people out alive. Ryker had already reengaged his active camouflage, and had taken aim to try and knock the pistol out of his hand, though his position on the edge of the landing was less than ideal. Still, an answer had to be made as the team moved. He wasn't sure that matching hostage with hostage was a great plan, but it did offer an opportunity and he saw Grikgar flash his IFF to indicate his position. The little Unggoy was smart, pity there wasn't much of a way for Lucas to support him, though he did know that they'd all been issued combat knives and if there was one thing the former ONI assassin knew, it was that a surprise prick from an unexpected source that would often turn things in your favor. Turning off his external speakers, Ryker spoke strictly to the members of Aegis. "If we can coordinate everything right, we can disarm and detain him without having to meet his demands. Grikgar is in a great position to catch him off guard with a knife to the leg or even leaping on him. All one of us needs to do is get that magnum out of his hands." He then remembers the SPARTAN-III...Ben. He had hopefully found a good spot by now. "We could also blow off his arm with that Anti-Material rifle of yours, Ben."</s> <\|message\|>Elna Cohen Cohen was unremorseful, nay unresponsivle to Yalu's response as she added the rebels to the body count the mere act itself was just part of her job. She wasn't a cold hearted killer but emotions aside she couldn't care too much about URF scumbags, but praise from some splitjaw was not going to make her day any better, unlucky for her. For Ray the work was yet to be done as the rest of the team corpsed the remaining indivudals without hesitation, it was a bloody battle that never seemed to end. For the two spooks it was just the start but it simply gave them too much fucking fatigue. The silent woman let out a sigh of fatigue in response to it all or responseo to Yalu? It was simply unknown at this time. For Ray the continuance of the objectives seemed paramount as he followed the patrol along with his entourage that was just Elna Cohen. They encountered the rest of the rebels and ended up locking in the fire fight that ensued. Though the two would end up at the back of the confrontation as is played out until the pelican went down without remorse, still fighting the group of rebels Ryker and some others had confronted the commander in question, though the stakes looked dire. "The HVT must be captured alive, by any means necessary. Do not blow his arm off, that will be fatal.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Having taken cover behind what she considered a more sturdy crate, one that she hoped would not disintegrate when fired upon or explode, the Spartan team lead observed the scene that was unfolding before her with an attentive mind. A few scenarios ran through her mind as she quickly tried to decide what was the best course of action. She had non-lethal flashbangs that could be used, the weapon could be shot out of his hand, active-camouflage could be engaged and the target could be incapacitated that way. All of these and many more ran through her mind. "If we fire upon him, there is a very good chance he will become critically injured from doing so, or he may end his existence. Everyone, please stay back and allow me to attempt to handle this, if my plan does not work, then you may engage." said Aviza into her squads private coms. Moving onto her feet, she would show herself from behind the cover she had chosen, not taking any steps forward and remaining where she currently stood. "Commander, I am the team leader for this squad, they will follow my orders swiftly and to the letter depending on what I say." began Aviza in her normal emotionless tone, though this time more humanity could be heard behind it. "We do indeed want you alive, and in all honesty I rather avoid more loss of life. We have heard your demands, and it is obvious you are a man who cares for those who server under and around you, and that you fight for something you believe in, unlike the Jiralhanae. I would like to inform you that I agree with your demands, give me a moment to contact the ship and inform them." There would be a pause as Aviza opened a com with the ship above them, "This is Spartan Aviza, we have the HVT in sight, but he is demanding that we allow his forces to leave in peace while focus firing the Jiralhanae forces instead. Do not fire upon the rebel shuttles, and allow them to leave in peace." Aviza said this out-loud in open coms so that the commander could hear, though she did reach out to Shih and thought "Shih, inform them to do as they see fit once the shuttles leave, but allow us enough time to capture the Rebel Leader and move him to an area where he will not be able to see anything you all may choose to do afterwards."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- The moment she was given the order, Shih did just as Aviza said. She passed on Aviza's instructions to the battle group above, as well as a brief report on their current situation. She also took the liberty of encoding and encrypting the message, in the unlikely event that the rebels still had some ability to intercept their transmissions. Across the platform they were on, the engines of one of the other pelicans came to life. It had filled up with evacuees and started to lift off in short order. Vael gave just a brief glance in its direction as it accelerated clear of the platform, then took of down the tunnel and turned out of sight. He kept his carbine aimed at their target and gave no visible reaction, but he did speak carefully through the team's comms. "Our ships can track and pursue the rebels above, but we do not know these tunnels, and they have certainly mapped them. Any dropships that flee down here will likely be lost to us." Meanwhile, the rebel commander activated his own comm unit, though he spoke openly for all of them to hear. "You should be able to get an opening. Follow the contingencies. Get out of there while the enemy focuses on the Brutes. Report back confirmation once you're away." Once he gave his orders, he looked back at Aviza, still with his magnum pressed firmly to his skull. "Okay, glad to see you can be reasonable. Now, once I get word that my people have escaped, and once your split-lip friend there releases my soldier, then you can have me. No tricks. Until then, you can stay back, and we can all just wait right here."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Ryker could hardly believe he was watching them actually acquiesce to the requests of a terrorist just to take him alive, especially given they'd already killed non-combatants in an effort to reignite the war between Elite and Human. But then, their team lead was a medic and their first priority was always saving lives, not taking them, Spartan or not. {They'll pop out of some other hidey-hole eventually, the URF always does. Regardless, Team Lead, we need to get that weapon out of his hands BEFORE the shuttles above get too far away. Grikgar is in position to jump him, just give the word.} Speaking from personal experience from during the war, Unggoy were much stronger than they looked and an unaugmented human being would struggle to actually stop them from disarming them. The encounter had been...unexpected, just a lone Unggoy looking to relieve themselves when Lucas had stumbled upon them, but the following fight, in which the Unggoy had easily disarmed and almost killed Ryker with its bare hands, had proven to the now SPARTAN-IV that any of the former Covenant races were more than met the eye.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern "Do me a favor Tar..." began Spartan Aviza, speaking through the open coms so not only her team but also the Rebel Leader could hear her. "Release the captive hostage and let her escape safely, the pawns are of no significance to us at this time." As soon as Aviza had finished speaking, a sudden wave of dysequilibrium washed over her, though the Spartan held her composure and remained on her feet, letting the feeling run its course and eventually pass. Acting as if nothing had happened, Aviza turned around to face their female Sangheili friend, hoping her orders would be followed swiftly and to the letter. At the same time, she ran a message pass Shih, "Please inform command we have injured and will need immediate medical attention once we arrive back on the ship. Two medical teams, one for humans and one for Sangheili will be fine."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar turned her head sharply to look at the Human in grey armour and growled softly. They nearly had this rebel leader surrounded; there was no reason to give away prisoners now! She wondered if the earlier fall had taken its toll on their leader's soft, squishy interior. The rest of this group of fighters still seemed resolute in their support though. It was almost amusing to think how differently this might have gone if it were a Sangheili-only team in this position. After a moment of reluctance, Tar lowered her pistol from the hostage's head. She pushed the Human forward, sending her sprawling forward onto the deck. "Run fast." Tar warned them, looking down as they struggled dizzily back onto their knees and then to their feet. Gaining her bearings quickly, the rebel soldier staggered off towards the last dropships. Tar quickly surveyed the environment again, then returned her gaze to the rebel Commander. Her arm and legs hurt from where bullets had hit them, but she resisted the urge to examine them with her fingers just yet. Things could still go either way here. Instead, she engulfed her captured pistol in both hands and held it ready.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan The mission had gone smooth enough, with the URF fucklet in their captivity Ray let out a sigh of relief knowing the job was done. Elna remained ever vigilant and on guard as per usual though over the months that would interlude before their next encounter Elna would attend some specialized training with the ONI Security Forces. For Ray he returned to the office working on other cases in the meanwhile and working his paper pushing skills to the max, though the two would reconvene later on to continue their fight against the bad-evil of the universe - the two still harbored some kind of xenophobia against the genociding races of the Covenant-turned-Swords. Regardless the two had some kind of RnR before their return to this strange outfit. While the two were transported separately they both found themselves at their own respective rooms, only Ray would be the first to leave in this instance heading to the briefing where he was eventually found by Elna. "Fancy running into you here." Ray said as Elna snorted to respond. "Well PO, if you're here then the rest are bound to be around here aswell." She said expecting the arrival of the team eventually, the two had gotten there later then the rest so perhaps the fanfare was already over?</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai, Major Alice Robinson, UNSC AI SHI 1203-8, Ethat 'Lacalu --- For the members of Aegis team, there were several more hours of waiting in which they were free to do as they pleased, but once they were called to duty, they all quickly returned to HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6. Many of the members of Aegis team from the previous mission were here, though Vael did note that the team was smaller than before. Some, it seemed, had not been recalled after being reassigned. The team was led to a secure room on one of the upper floors for their briefing. Last time, due to his rank, Vael had been the one to coordinate administrative concerns with the Humans, but as Vael had been fighting in the field for months, that task had fallen to another. For Vael, it suited him fine to be able to focus more on his missions than dealing with ONI. Vael had, at least, been briefed on the changes to his duties and the command structure of Aegis team. When they entered the briefing room, they were met with both a familiar face, Major Alice Robinson, as well as her Swords counterpart Commander Ethat 'Lacalu. From what Vael knew, he was a veteran of multiple wars much like Vael, though he was a younger warrior than himself. However, he had more of a mind for political matters than Vael, so it suited him just fine to relinquish some of those responsibilities to him. Ethat had previously been an officer in the Anvil Initiative, a cross-species training and evaluation program between the UNSC and Swords of Sangheilios. It and Aegis team both existed under the umbrella of Project: CRUCIBLE. Ethat did draw Vael's eye as he entered the room. His armor was unusual, like nothing Vael had seen before. It appeared to be Human-made, but crafted specifically for a Sangheili. Nevertheless, Vael cared more for focusing on the task at hand. As soon as the team was gathered, Major Robinson wasted no time in starting the briefing. "Aegis team, I hope you've already handled the reunions, because we need to move fast on this one." The Major began right away. "Jul 'Mdama's Covenant is expanding and pushing more aggressively, and we have a mission to slow them down. However, it's more complicated than just hitting a target, which is why we need Aegis. Shih…" She said, gesturing to the holo-projector on the table between them all. The AI that had been attached to the team had made a return as well, it seemed. Her avatar appeared at the end of the table before she brought up a projection of a lush, mostly undeveloped colony world. "With their increased expansion, the Covenant has been pushing to secure resources to fuel that aggression. Most of the established manufacturing and mining centers are either well-defended, or already contested. This is Brissekh, a relatively young Sangheili colony world. Until recently, the Kaidon of the predominant state, Falx 'Mdalak, was a firm ally of the Arbiter. However, a recent coup has shifted the planet's allegiance to Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. Now, there is a Covenant fleet in orbit that has flown in a large number of Scarab-class excavators to to strip mine more remote sections of the planet. Normally, our goal would be to neutralize the mining platforms, but discussions with the Swords have opened up other options." The Swords representative, Ethat, brought up the dossier of the planet's new Kaidon. "On most Sangheili worlds, a keep's Kaidon is elected by a council of elders, but for smaller colonies, like Brissekh, the position can be passed through bloodlines. The new Kaidon is Uztel 'Mdalak, the youngest son of Tarkr 'Mdalakai. We believe he formed an alliance in secret with the Covenant, then led his elder brother into an ambush where he was either captured or killed. Now, Uztel is Tarkr's sole remaining heir…save for one." He explained, casting his gaze across the table straight at Tar 'Mdalak.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar and Yalu flew directly to the HIGHCOM facility from the botanic gardens aboard the ONI Pelican. Everything about the craft screamed 'CLANDESTINE OPS', yet the only person waiting for them in the troop hold was anything but that. As far as Tar could gather, they were a fit middle-aged male, with thick greying hair on their head and circular reflective sunglasses covering their eyes. They wore a loose, bright orange shirt that depicted white flowers and other strange vegetation. It was open down the middle, exposing a compact tactical vest with a pistol strapped to the front, and a white t-shirt that was daubed with sweat marks. The man also wore black shorts that ended just above their tanned knees, and transparent flip flops on their feet. "Welcome to Sydney." The man hollered over the noise of the engines, holding onto an overhead railing as they took off. He didn't say another word, and once the two Sangheili and their handlers stepped off onto one of the Facility's landing pads, the Pelican screamed off again immediately. Tar walked with Yalu through the installation until they arrived at the briefing room, where she noticed a significant contingent of Aegis Team had already assembled. She nodded politely to them, uneasy around so many people in this confined space. Nevertheless, she gravitated towards the front of the pack when the briefing began. This meant that some of her team may have noticed her body language change as soon as her homeworld was mentioned. She gripped the high conference table in front of them with both hands, eliciting a soft scrape of complaining metal. Otherwise, she was silent. As soon as the AI mentioned a "coup", a low, barely audible growl emitted from the Commando. It bubbled away under the surface as the machine described unbelievable atrocities against Brissekh's sacrosanct beauty. Tar didn't understand how this could've happened. No one on the Council held enough support to dethrone her older brother by themselves. And none of the Elders were trusting enough to keep this kind of treachery a secret for long. Tar's growl stopped when the Sangheili in strange armour began speaking. She sat in stunned silence when he mentioned her younger brother, then snarled out loud as this stranger alleged that her Falx had fallen. A moment of silence sat heavy over the room. Then, quick as a flash, Tar balled up her fists and smashed them both into the top of the table and creating large divots with a cacophonous racket. She followed up by giving the large metal conference table a mighty shove; it was bolted to the floor, but some of the stanchions bent which made the table list slightly. "THAT LITTLE WORM!" Tar roared, filling the room. She pointed a finger at this strange Sangheili across from her. "Do you lie? Tell me now. How do you know this?"</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Ethat 'Lacalu, Major Alice Robinson, and Vael 'Virisusai --- Ethat took only a moment of thought to reply to Yalu. "It's best to deal with him quickly, but…it is more important to claim the keep and ensure the planet knows of Tar 'Mdalak's victory. To flee his keep instead of fighting to the death to defend it would mark Uztel as a coward. Only the most fanatical of Covenant supporters would be willing to overlook such dishonor. If you have to make that choice, focus on securing the keep." He answered. After a few moments of silence passed, Major Robinson deactivated the display and pulled Shih's data chip from the holotank. "If there are no more questions, then Commander Vael 'Virisusai has operational authority for Aegis team on this mission. That means he will be your commanding officer. There is a pelican waiting outside to take the team to our Blockade Runner in orbit. All of your equipment is being brought to the ship as we speak, along with UNSC reinforcements and supplies that have been approved for the mission. Dismissed." Vael had an eye on Tar. After her initial outburst, she had kept quiet. However, he knew her well enough to know that this was not a mission she could just detach herself from. Much of her motivation for fighting was to restore her father's honor; family did have clear meaning to her.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar barely heard the mission details being discussed. Her ears were ringing like she'd been struck. Her own brother had betrayed the entire family with his treachery. She should have seen this coming! The warning signs had been there, now she really thought about it in this conference room, with the sound of others talking droned on in the background. When the three of them were just children, Falx, Tar and Uztel spent many hours hunting Du'nak in the forests outside their Keep with the other younglings. Imported from Sanghelios centuries before and rewilded by accident soon after, these animals had adapted well to the cold, wet hillsides of Brissekh and grown suspicious of Sangheili again. Operating as a pair, Tar and Falx, her older brother, had wounded and cornered a prime specimen. An adult alpha with long, broad tusks and mature back-horns resting within a muscular frame - the ultimate prize. They'd been closing in on the wounded animal after harassing and tracking it for the entire morning. Finally, they found it collapsed up against a rock formation, with dense bushes on one side and a steep drop on the other. They had it trapped. But as they approached to strike the killer blow and claim the animal as their own, a spear flew through the undergrowth and pierced the Du'nak's head, killing it instantly. Uztel appeared. Tar & Falx had exploded with fury as Uztel calmly collected his weapon. "I'm sorry, siblings. I didn't see you there! Forgive me." He proclaimed. But Tar saw a glimmer of amusement in her brother's eyes that day. A sadistic streak that thrived on reaping rewards for minimal personal risk. Uztel swore he had not been stalking the pair of them once he knew they had a worthy prize. Yet, Tar later found out her younger brother's hunting partner had lost sight of him hours before the incident had happened. Tar returned from her reverie just as the Human female dismissed them. "No one touches my brother, except me." Tar growled, tapping her chestplate with one fingernail as the others turned to leave. "If I fall in battle, you leave and allow Brissekh to decide Uztel's fate. Or you find Falx and free him, if he still lives. Those are my terms."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas didn't speak when Tar spoke, instead nodding and continuing on his way out of the briefing room. This whole thing stank of an ONI op, from the removal of Tar's older brother to the younger brother refusing to put himself at risk. In fact, as he stepped to one side to wait for the Commando, he eyed the ONI PO and his escort. Those two were ONI through and through, despite playing nice with the team thus far. If he had to guess, they probably had orders to make sure the team failed if it ever looked to be not worth the effort in the Intelligence agency's eyes. Same as they had tried to do to all the old black ops teams when the war ended. They weren't a necessity anymore, just a risk. We all knew too much... That wasn't to say that the two knew anything about the other issues, Ryker knew ONI too well to think that, but he could probably never bring himself to trust the organization again. When the Commando stepped out, he matched her pace. "I understand that a lot of this has to do with Uztel has to do with Family Honor and the like. But you're needed alive, by a lot of your people. Don't do anything rash, especially if your brother is what they say he is. You know he won't fight fair or honorably."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Ethat' Lacalu and Vael Virisusai --- Ethat let out a quick huff as he turned his head towards Tar. "Once the assault begins, there is likely no escape without either destroying most of the keep, or deposing Uztel. The Covenant's operations on Brissekh will be stopped, one way or another. The plan we have devised is our best way of doing so with the least damage to your homeworld. Do remember that." Ultimately, Vael saw little reason to argue against the plan at the moment. Strategically, it was sound. If the plan proceeded successfully, then Brissekh would have new leadership loyal to the Arbiter. There would certainly be resistance from Covenant loyalists after the coup, but they would not be conquering Brissekh. Tar had the legal claim to become Scion, so if Uztel was removed in battle, honor would demand most of the citizens' loyalty. It would be unconventional, with Tar being female, but the position of Scions had changed under the Arbiter's rule. If they were correct about the level of support for the Arbiter on the world, then Vael did not expect that the resistance would be insurmountable. Ryker joined Tar as the meeting was dismissed, though Vael did not. He doubted the Human would understand half of what a situation like this would mean for someone in Tar's position, but if he made the mistake of offending her, then the Spartan could deal with the consequences himself. As long as his team could perform their duties to his standards, they were free to deal with personal issues between them however they saw fit. Should they ever fail in their duties because of such issues, then they would have Vael to deal with. Vael himself wasted no time in making his way to the pelican outside. They would be using a Sangheili Blockade Runner for this mission, so it would be the Humans who were out-of-place this time.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu tried to search the eyes of his superior officers to gauge the reaction to Tar's proclamations. He was not especially relieved to hear the ever diplomatic Lacalu try to appeal to the responsibility Tar had to her homeworld rather than making it clear that she was not the one in power here. The very fact that she was on this mission presented a personal influence that could compromise the objective. Looking at it from another angle enlightened Yalu. They needed her to fight voluntarily to show the populace she was worthy of Brissekh. They could not have her going rogue. A female commando this far from her keep would necessarily be bold enough to do so. Yalu walked a few paces behind Tar and Lucas but did not pitch in with his opinion. He turned off to stop by his quarters before proceeding to the hanger so he could leave behind the foam racing collar around his neck. "Sorry Lucas," he muttered to himself. "I pray you do not learn too violent a lesson with your human sensibilities." He made a personal note to bring a cold pack with him to the pelican, just in case any heads needed cooling.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar growled threateningly, leaning over the table towards Ethat. Both of her hands rested back in the divots she'd created; the stanchions screeched in complaint. When she spoke, her voice wasn't raised anymore, but soft and laced with poison. "Then your warriors had best remember to stay in line - behind me." Tar pushed off from the table and stalked out of the briefing room along with the rest of Aegis team. The last thing she wanted was a lecture from Spartan Ryker, and she made that abundantly clear through her body language, though no doubt the Human wouldn't pick it up. "Don't concern yourself with my welfare, Ryker." She growled. Martialling all her discipline, Tar tried to make the best of the Spartan's obvious investment in this operation by sharing what really puzzled her: "I know my brother. This treachery was always in his heart, but Uztel wouldn't readily plunder our world. Something doesn't smell right - I need to talk to him, before I kill him." A pair of facility orderlies pressed their backs firmly against the wall to let them pass. "Can I count on you, Ryker? It has to be me who confronts him - if I fall, don't let ONI take him. Brissekh will fall apart without blood continuity. It's the only thing holding us together."</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar nodded in response to Ryker; pleased despite the dark cloud hanging overhead. "I'm glad." She rasped. --- The Commando was silent for the entire Pelican flight from their lodgings in HIGHCOM Bravo-6 to the Magnificent Defiance. She held onto an overhead rail as the ship rattled through the atmosphere and into space, glowering at the space between atoms in front of her. She still couldn't fully believe that Uztel had betrayed the family. There wasn't much worse you could do in a close-knit Blood Keep. The missing pieces nagged at the back of her mind; what possessed her little brother to do it - was it greed? Or was something else motivating him now? Tar had to find out. The sounds, smells and cavernous tremors of the hangar bay assaulted Tar's senses from the moment the ramp started lowering. She immediately yearned for somewhere quieter, so she could contemplate the situation further. She was following Spartan Ryker towards the door her map indicated went to the armoury, when she heard someone talking to Vael and Grik on one side. The words made Tar grit her mandibles together. Circling back behind the small Human as they extended a hand in greeting, Tar stalked up to their shoulder. "And what does this one propose to exploit, on my homeworld?" She purred, butting in, staring menacingly down on the man. She was small among the other Sangheili, but still loomed over the new arrival.</s> <\|message\|>Johnathan Philip Flint (Goes by J.P. or Flint) Flint --- Before the first elite he addressed could answer another, shorter, and much more aggressive Sangheili started barking at him from over his shoulder. Flint dropped his hand and turned square to them, resting his hands on his hips in a relaxed mannor. "Anything I can get my hands on. Weapons, armor, shielding, comms equipment, you name it. Speaking of which, that's a nice harness you've got on, any chance I could get you to shed it and let me have my way with it? Ill put it back together just like I never touched it I promise." Flint gestured towards her armor as he talked leaning from one side to the other giving a half assed attempt to try getting a better look at it. He stood tall, as tall as he could, with a grin on his face knowing full well the elite was about to storm off or pound him into a new floor finish for the hangar bay.</s> <\|message\|>Comi'Masam Comi'Masam Nearby, working with a pair of humans to get what they had affectionately dubbed the 'needle-hog' parked next to a Spectre so that it doesn't cause issues should the blockade runner come under fire, an Infiltrator glances over at the smart-mouthed marine. "Oi, lad, come on now. Commandoes aren't known for their sense of humor." Turning back to her task, she barks an order at a nearby Unggoy who was tapping away rapidly at a datapad. "You there, laddy! What's takin' engineering so long?" Clearly she'd spent a lot of time around humans, specifically the Scottish. The Unggoy replied in a language that any listening humans could recognize as Sangheili. The Infiltrator growled in annoyance at the reply and waved a human out of the way as she headed for a wall communication before barking into it in rapid Sangheili.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael was aware of Human conventions for greetings. Many of the Humans who he had been working with as a part of Aegis team no longer bothered with them, since they all knew their customs were not shared. This Human, though, was clearly new. Vael did not know all of the UNSC's ranks and roles, but the meaning of "engineer" was self-explanatory. If that implied the skills he possessed, then Vreta could see why he might have been selected to assist the team on this mission. They had objectives that would benefit from technical expertise. Vael did recall that some final changes to their team's composition were being considered by their superiors in the days leading up to the briefing. He would need to check after this to see which had been given approval. These would ideally have been decided upon before the briefing, but logistical issues had been an irritating constant for Aegis team. Tar 'Mdalak's interjection came uninvited, though Vael could not say the Human's response was any more wise. On his part, Vael would not do anything to hold Tar back unless she threatened to prevent this Human from performing his duties. "You have a great deal to learn, Flint."</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Surprised and enraged in equal measure by the audacity of this Human's response, Tar chuckled. Not a cheerful sound, but a hoarse, venomous warning that any living being with sense would run from. When she spoke, her voice was soft and conspiratorial, with a razor-sharp edge. "Ah... A beggar, here for knowledge that isn't yours. Did you know, little one, there are a lot of places to hide a bag of skin and bone like yours on a Hekar Taa?" Tar softly grasped the front of Flint's shirt with her right hand as she said this. She slowly lifted him off the ground until the Human was right in front of her face. "Not to mention the black maw of space, patiently waiting to swallow you forever." She gestured subtly with her head towards the dark canvas they had just come from in the Pelican, visible behind the forcefield off to one side. "Tell me why I shouldn't slay you right now for your insolence." Tar hissed.</s> <\|message\|>Johnathan Philip Flint (Goes by J.P. or Flint) Flint --- "Woahshit-" Escaped Flints mouth as the elites hand grabbed a fistful of the the front of him, lifting him of the ground. He was hanging onto the sangheili's wrist so that she wouldn't choke him. "Hey now- who says knowledge belongs to anyone huh? We are all in the pursuit of more!" He grunted trying to get a little more comfortable in his brand new teammates hand. Clearly joking he managed to respond to her question, "Just one reason? Well for starters I'm pretty good looking by human standards and you don't wanna let that go to waste!" The fact Flint was grinning like an idiot surely didn't help the situation. It didn't really even seem like he was trying to calm the angry alien who had him by the throat. "I'll take this as a, 'No you cant have my armor'. Would you mind setting me down gently please?"</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu was happy to find that no one needed an ice pack at the drop ship. On the ride up to the blockade runner, he went around starting conversation with the team mates he had not seen for some time. Few enough were receptive. --- The hangar they emerged from on the Magnificent Defiance somehow did not feel like home for Yalu. The first thing that struck him when he paced down the loading ramp was the human technology fitting so inelegantly with the surroundings. The new engineer forced his attention when his disrespect reached his ears. Yalu watched on, momentarily distracted by the infiltrator admonishing Petty Officer Flint from a distance. "What manner of human dialect...?" he muttered, hardly understanding a word of it. Regardless, Tar had Flint by the collar now. Commander Vael left the situation, leaving the peacekeeping to anyone stepping up. Yalu cleared his throat. "'Mdalak. Let us not alienate the humans before we regain your keep. You know many of them are ignorant of our ways."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar snarled, reflexively flaring her mandibles to show the Human her teeth. This one seemed like he was trying to provoke her. She raised Flint a bit higher, and balled up her free hand into a fist. Then, she heard Yalu clear his throat and speak to her from nearby. She turned her head slightly to listen as he appealed to reason. Unfortunately, he did make sense. Tar didn't particularly like that the UNSC was so heavily involved in this very sensitive mission for her. But, the Human warriors around them were preparing to potentially sacrifice everything to help. She didn't want to spit on their commitment, for one single Human. A shout in the background triggered Tar's hearing. She looked around at the hangar, and noticed a fair few eyes on them. "Put him down!" Another Human yelled anonymously from the throng. The Commando hummed, looking back at Flint. "Tread lightly, Human." She warned, before dropping him from nearly a metre up in the air. "Commander." She grunted, inclining her head by a fraction of an inch by way of an apology. With that, Tar turned back towards the armoury and stalked away. A Human pushing a trolley of cargo stopped to let her pass.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Johnathan Philip Flint (Goes by J.P. or Flint) Flint --- Flint fell from the Sangheilis grip and hit the floor boots first, with a display of athleticism, managing not to fall over and stay on his feet. After he regained his balance he turned back to Vael standing rigid at the position of attention while he addressed him. He was right. He was never really affected by the war and the covenant like other people were. Just like Flint, his parents had grown up being a doctor and scholar on earth never seeing the covenant as the evil enemy that others do. Flint treated them no different than he would other humans, to him, they were all living beings. To be frank that didn't mean he treated them all well, quite the contrary. His only interests were in the hearts of machines, digging into the how and why each piece of technology did what it did. He found sanctuary in the knowledge and calm in the process of obtaining it. Other humans and all species for that matter carried a vast unknown and uncertainty for Flint. It was much harder for him to trust a human like he could a machine. "Yes Sir, I am relatively young, I don't treat anyone differently than I would any other human. I suppose I am ignorant of the deep wounds others possess. I will be more careful. As for my merit, If you need something fixed, disabled, opened, sabotaged or anything else along that line, send it my way and I'll handle it without a hitch. You'll see." He hoped he managed to do a little damage control with the commander after such a display right in front of him. But in the end Flint didn't really care either way. He knew that as soon as he got his hands on a task up his ally, the team would warm up to him. They just needed to know what he was capable of.</s> <\|message\|>Comi'Masam Comi'Masam Comi nodded, offering a Swords salute before replying to Vael. "As is our way, Commander. I will go and prepare my gear for the mission." Giving another salute and then turns and heads for the door. Getting to know her new teammates could wait, as there was the mission to prepare for. Plus this opportunity would let her catch up with Spartan Ryker and get his take on most of the rest of the team thus far. She smiled slightly as she went, knowing that things would only become more interesting with a joint effort team that was more dedicated to the idea than Cerberus had been.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu stood around near Vael's wing for a short while longer. He held his hands behind his back and sized up the newcomers to their team. The infiltrator Comi'Masam gave a unique first impression to say the least. Yalu still had to strain to understand her words. But if she came with Lucas' recommendation, she was clearly not compensating for any lack of skill. The new engineer Flint was more of an unknown. Yalu was willing to accept the ignorance of Flint's youth, but the physicality of this human was lacking, even in comparison to the non-spartan humans on their team. At least if this one was injured, none of them would be burdened by carrying him around. Perhaps he was recommended for being adept at crawling into small spaces to perform his technical duties? In that case, he had better be more expert than a Lekgolo worm at sabotaging the defence infrastructure at their mission destination. With Vael still getting them up to speed, Yalu felt his time wasting. He unclasped his hands and started a stride to the armoury. "I need to meditate before this mission," he said to himself, letting out a deep breath.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and UNSC AI SHI 1203-8 --- Like most of the others, Vael first prioritized heading to the armory to equip himself for the mission ahead. It would still be hours before they were set to begin, but he wanted to ensure he would be ready at a moment's notice. He could manage the changes to his team, though his impression of the new Human was not particularly positive. Most Humans were not like the Spartans, who were strong, capable warriors even by Sangheili standards. The average Human was…variable. During his time in the war, he had seen excesses of both cowardice and courage from Human warriors. Sometimes, they would flee like Unggoy as their will was broken, and at other points, they would fight against overwhelming odds to the last breath against superior foes, and sometimes even attain victory. Only time would tell how this Human would compare. Vael was not a normal member of the ship's crew, but he did not attract near as much attention as the Humans undoubtedly would, aside from the fact that the crew he passed tended to quiet down from their conversations when he was near. As a high ranking officer, that was not a fact he found strange. He only heard parts of conversations between a few Unggoy on the way to the armory, but even though he heard them perfectly clearly, he found what they said to be as incomprehensible as it was irrelevant. All of the team's equipment had been transferred to the ship, and Vael quickly found the crate containing it after he arrived. Given the mission parameters, he did not intend to arm himself differently from his standard preference. An energy sword, plasma rifle, and his carbine would be sufficient for what they would be facing. For his armor's equipment, active camouflage would be the most useful for the first objective of dealing with the anti-air cannon. After that, they would be returning to the ship, so there would be a chance for the team to adjust their loadouts for the assault. Vael was surprised when the hologram of the Human AI, Shih, appeared at the end of a table near to him, at the center of the room. Evidently, it had been given approval to interface with at least some part of the ship. Vael was not sure that he approved, but it was not his decision. "I believe there is something I should inform you and your team about." Shih announced to Vael as soon as she appeared. Vael turned his head back and spoke calmly. "Very well. You may speak, construct." "Right…if you bring your attention to those crates over there, there is some new equipment that has been approved for Aegis team's use. It took a lot of…debate, but there are weapons and equipment recovered from Prometheans that both UNSC personnel, and your people, can you. I may have to do some work to interface the armor abilities with your harness, but I have been told it can be done. The modules are adaptable." Shih explained. The concession to allow Vael and his team to use the Promethean equipment could have been seen as an offering of trust, through Vael doubted ONI would be so kind. Likely, it was a decision driven by circumstance and practicality. Jul 'Mdama's forces were still working with Prometheans after the campaign on Requiem, so it seemed likely that the Swords of Sanghelios would be able to recover Forerunner equipment just as easily. Sharing it with Aegis team now simply allowed them to seem more cooperative. Opening up the crates, Vael did find a variety of options available. Promethean enhanced visual sensors, hardlight shields, and autosentries were all available, as well as a small variety of Promethean weapons. There were multiple boltshots, suppressors, and grenades, two lightrifles, as well as a single scattershot, binary rifle, and incineration cannon. They were all powerful weapons, but ammo availability would be a limitation. If one chose to use one of the weapons, they would only have a single spare reload.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak There was no time to waste for any of the crew aboard the Magnificent Defiance. So normal activity quickly resumed once Tar had removed herself from the situation, with dozens of orderlies and droids transporting cargo to be stowed in the various holds. Unfortunately, Tar was intent on striding right through their operating space as she brooded on the task at hand and the unexpected help she was receiving. Some of it welcome, some of it not. Suddenly, a platform containing tightly bound crates whooshed down the ramp of a Pelican to be collected by one of the automated hangar grabbers. It appeared on one side of Tar's peripheral vision and she quickly turned to face it. She seized the platform in mid-swing and transferred the energy through her stance, tipped it over and away from her. The servos whined as the platform attempted to right itself, but Tar offered no apology. She carried on through to the armoury, deep in thought. There weren't many alternatives to murdering Uztel, if she got her hands on him. If by some miracle she could convince the Keep to recognise her as rightful successor while he still lived, she could banish him from Brissekh. But there was always the chance he could plot her death from afar. That wouldn't do at all! Tar stalked into the armoury with potential plans and speeches circulating in her head. Her blades will have been packed up and sent to her quarters along with her other effects. She'd need to go and get those before deployment. An armourer on the ship she'd travelled with Silent Shadow on had developed a special mount for both handles on the small of her back, which meant she could carry more weapons and gear in the field. Tar made the most of it, clipping four Spike Grenades to her belly. After pondering it for a little while, she followed up by stowing a Carbine and a Storm Rifle on her back and a Mauler on each thigh. She stared longingly at some of the ammo vests on display, but none would fit around her torso and armour. She also watched some of the other UNSC troops attaching front holsters to their chests. The Humans had inferior armour, but their ingenuity and resourcefulness was still impressive. Her attention was diverted by Aegis team's leader talking to one of the machines. Some interesting objects caught her eye in the crate they were examining. She walked over. "Forerunner weapons?" She asked. She didn't know much about them.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The descent to the planet could only accommodate so much meditation. Yalu found himself ruminating too much to glean any more benefit to his mind and body. He opted to bring himself back to the present around him and joined in conversation with his team mates. He grew quiet when they were near the ground. The grav lift hatch opened to blast them with cool humidity. Yalu almost spat at how thick the air was. This place, the plant life and the atmosphere, it could be as potentially disorienting to the team as it would their enemy. The notion of the keep guards' home ground advantage sank in as deep as his toes into the mud. Maybe bringing along 'Mdalak would be more a benefit than he had estimated. "Mounting up," Yalu obeyed, hoisting himself up and dropping into the cockpit of the next Spectre vehicle. He deposited his needle rifle in a suspension holster beside the controls and powered up the sleek grav craft like a swift morning routine. It hummed to life and raised a foot above the mud. "Do not get too comfortable," Yalu warned. "They might have your Promethean optics too. Do your best to spot them first."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael took the driver's seat of one of the spectres himself. It was going to be a long drive, so he wanted to be sure that each one was taken by an experienced driver. He did not want any delays in getting to their objective ,if they could be avoided. Although, he did still decide to defer to Tar to lead their convoy. Being a local, she had more intimate knowledge of the environment and terrain, especially surrounding the keep. He believed it would be wise to take advantage of her experience. "Check your maps. Our objective is located on a plateau in the mountains near the keep. Once we come close enough, we will proceed on foot up the mountain. We will establish the communications jammer for the Human construct to use to cut off the cannon's guards from the keep. Should we be detected, we must ensure there are no survivors to report our presence." Vael explained as he prompted Tar to take the lead. --- Although they had to move through a forest, the spectres were maneuverable enough that the team started out making good time. Once they came to a small river they could follow, they were even able to press on at full boost for over ten minutes straight. Naturally, the closer they came, the more cautious they would need to be. However, before the cannon's defenders could even begin to be a problem, there was another obstacle manifesting around them. The rainstorm surrounding them did not subside. Far from it, the storm grew ever stronger as time passed. Heavy rain turned into a torrential downpour, deafening thunder followed cracks of lightning every few seconds, and winds picked up to the point that the rain was falling near horizontally. The storm was strong enough that the spectres started to tilt in the wind. Vael had to turn his vehicle into the wind at an angle just to keep going straight, which only added to the issue of poor visibility. Vael could just barely make out the glow of the gravity propulsion drive of the spectre ahead of him. For those on the turrets, and especially the side passengers, it would be a struggle just to hang on.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar swore as her Spectre creaked again, trying to fly away in the howling wind. She was taking on a worrying list; her engines whined as she turned the front into the wind and squeezed every ounce of power from them. "Lean into it or we'll go over!" She bellowed at her passengers. Rain splashed directly into her face off the front hull of the Spectre. "We should find shelter. This is the rainy season - the worst could still come!" Tar knew all too well the perils of braving events like this, especially on the exposed plateaus where they were headed. Many Sangheili had spilled their blood on the rocky outcrops below. She frantically cast her eyes around for somewhere they could go while trying to control her Spectre. Visibility was almost nil outside the basin they had been riding through. Then Tar saw the dark green vines plastering the forest floor on one side. She knew immediately what that meant. "Up on our left! There's a cave system!" Tar called, pointing with her free hand.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu kept his hand calmly hovering over the emergency brake every moment he could. Lower visibility meant following closer behind the commander's Spectre. The speed they were keeping up did not help the risk either. Though, he did not falter — he was not on the team for being an average driver. Tar's directions caused Yalu to bank hard to turn in her new direction. He made the repulsors weaken to almost nothing as the wind turned his vehicle into an aerofoil for a moment. It was all he could do not to have the whole thing flip over and injure his passengers. He said nothing but a quick acknowledgement to keep down on radio chatter. His questions and concerns about the weather would have to wait.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker "Son of a bitch!" The sudden gust of wind nearly tore the SPARTAN-IV from his seat on the Spectre and he find himself stowing his rifle just to find a better grip. If Tar hadn't already suggested finding cover, he would have just based on the fact the storm hadn't abated but had, instead, gotten stronger. When they got close enough to the caves, Ryker was tempted to get off and run in on his own, but with as strong as the wind was, he questioned if he'd even land on the ground. Infiltrator Comi'Masam More experienced with being a passenger on a Spectre in poor weather than her Spartan compatriot was, Comi had stowed her weapon away when the weather first showed signs of getting worse instead of better and hugged the hull of the vehicle as much as she could, throwing her weight behind any adjustments that were made in order to help stabilize the vehicle as much as possible. The storm they were in now reminded her of some of the worse rainstorms of her childhood, but they had never gotten worse with time, only better, though the rain would often persist for days at a time. "We need a new plan of action, Commander!"</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- For Vael, he knew when to take charge himself, and when to defer to the expertise of others. In this case, he knew they could not continue making progress in this storm, and Tar was the one with the local knowledge to help them navigate to safety. Even when speaking through the team's communications channel, it was somewhat difficult to hear over the roar of the storm just outside their helmets. "We cannot stay in this storm; we will wait it out in the caves." He ordered. Even at low speeds, it was still a challenge just to drive. At one point, a powerful gust of wind pushed against Vael's spectre from the side and forced the side of his canopy into a tree. Fortunately, at such low speeds, it did not cause real damage, but it did illustrate the danger the storm presented. Had he hit somewhat farther back, his passenger's leg could have been crushed. "Tar, guide us into the caves! We need to shelter our vehicles as best as we can as well. We will need all of them to make it to our destination."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar responded quickly to the orders, banking her Spectre to match where her finger was pointing. The right side of her vehicle clipped a tall tree where she'd under-compensated for the wind. Her Spectre swung the opposite way, towards Yalu's craft that had turned off earlier. Tar yanked on the controls and they peeled away from each other after a light bump on opposite wings. She activated the boost and her Spectre whooshed up the side of the basin towards the caves. The underside of her vehicle clattered against the forest floor, drawing a few horrendous scraping sounds which reverberated up into Tar's legs. The wind plastered wet leaves, mud and small animals to the hull as she drifted around another tree with spiky purple leaves. "We're close; up here!" Eventually, the basin wall levelled out onto a small ridge. In the middle, two black cave entrances, surrounded by lighter rock, hunched against the storm. The same dark green vines Tar had seen down in the basin evidently originated from these caves, as they crept across the rock, nestled into natural grooves. The tendrils were thick and fewer, which indicated to Tar that this was an older specimen. Still alive and dangerous though, as shown by the small pink flowers dotting the vines. She'd alert the others once they'd parked - no sense in complicating things. "Let's shelter inside!" Tar recommended, moving her Spectre towards one of the dark cave entrances.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan & PO3. Ray Younan Whether it was conversing with the new guy or doing things in general, it seemed like the two spooks always missed out on the fun when it came to missions. It felt like the mission had been a blur, for better or for worse. Deploying and avoiding the storm felt like a something out of the movie as the two and their respective vehicles survived as the storm - or the first part of the danger was over. As the two carried on, there were calls to avoid the walls which they did for the time being. Weapons at the ready they continued to move, though Ray poised the question on everybody's mind. "Anyone got a flamethrower?"</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Xenobotany was never one of Yalu's interests. He warily eyed the vines either side of his spectre. They did not hang low enough to grab him around the neck on his way up and out to the ground, or at least they decided not to try. "Any suggestions which won't make this defend itself?" Yalu added.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar growled and turned around when she heard Vael cut through the vines. The rest of the team were framed in the dark by the cave opening behind them. Sheets of rain gyrated in the air, buffeted by howling wind. The noise from outside was deafening, but Tar still heard a gentle puff from nearby. "The spores released if you cut are toxic, and might grow one of these inside of you." As her eyes adjusted to the gloom and the fog cleared for a moment, Tar realised this cave was familiar to her. The vines and overgrowth was new, but the way the treeline of the basin below failed to hide a mountain range far in the distance - jagged basalt peaks with sloping plateaus. That was ingrained in her memory. "I have been here before, as a child!" Tar failed to completely suppress her excitement, despite the danger they were now in. "I think this cave winds up the mountain, to a high ridge. If we want to make progress without the spectre, we could take that route. It will probably mean killing the Tengmaa bulb though - not a task I take lightly. We'll need explosives and fire." Tar noticed a bit more movement in the boughs, and imagined just how much chaos they could cause if this plant realised it was under attack. The end of a thin vine tickled along the top of her foot, and she carefully but firmly lifted her leg to step on it.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- At first, Vael stepped back as far as he could from the vines, more towards the middle of the cave entrance. They needed a safe place to wait out the storm, or at least, that was what he assumed at first. When Tar mentioned that the cave could contain an alternative path up the mountain, however, that was enough for him to pause in thought. This being may have been a plant, but it seemed to be just as much of a predator. Going into the very heart of its lair felt like willingly walking into the maw of a helioskrill. But, the team was well-equipped, and they had numbers to be able to support one another. There were few simple creatures in the galaxy that could withstand the power of superior technology. "If there is a path through this cave, then we need not wait for the storm to subside. In fact, the storm can provide cover for our sabotage, if we can move quickly enough." Vael remarked. He stepped forward towards the front of the team, the blue glow of his sword illuminating some of the darkness ahead of them. The cave was narrower past the entrance, but the walls and floor were still just as thick with vines. Some seemed to hug tightly to the surface of the stone, while others were actually embedded into grooves in the stone itself. "If there are toxins, then we cannot afford anyone to be injured. If someone is grabbed, be ready to assist quickly."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Glancing back outside, Ryker mentally kicks himself for not bringing a shotgun and puts the butt of his DMR to his shoulder before reconsidering and stowing the rifle in favor of his pistol, which would work better in the cramped corridor of the cave. "We still need a way to deal with this Tengmaa to move forward though right? The Spook makes a point, anyone bring a flamethrower or some kind of fire weapon?" Infiltrator Comi'Masam Comi kept the glow of her sword focused on the vines around her feet, stomping on a smaller one that was trying to be sneaky about moving to wrap around her ankle before glancing at Ryker. He and the ONI agent both made good points, they could not safely cut through the tengmaa with their energy blades if there were toxins involved, especially as many of the team did not have sealed helmets, if any helmet, on them. "Perhaps we can manipulate the tengmaa to move itself? Though Commando Tar'Mdalak is the most knowledgeable in this situation."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko "I prefer fire," Yalu said. As he retrieved his weapons and dismounted his spectre, he kept his scattershot up to his shoulder. His other hand held up a plasma grenade. "Plasma may induce fire. Lacking firebombs of our own, perhaps our demolitions specialist can turn this into all the fire we need." Yalu followed along with his weapon faced as safely as he could. It could save their life in an emergency, but there was a higher risk of deadly ricochet in his cave. Better to use a wristblade if possible.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Waiting in a cave Grik watched and listened to the others talk about their new obstacle. A semi sentient plant was strange but he has also fought against a parasite that threatened the entire galaxy at one point. It seemed like everyone was a bit hesitant but Tar was certain that she had been in this area before and new of a shortcut that went through the cave system and possibly out to a good flanking position. At least carrying around your own methane supply meant that environmental hazards in the air were less likely to affect you. The Unggoy approached a section of vine that held a flower, to him it almost looked like it could absorb nutrients through this. Being fully aware that the others had already warned not to get to close he decided to be cautious about approaching it. He did have an idea after all even if it was a bad one. Pulling one of the small tubes of rations he had and slowly opened it. It was similar to the food nipple in covenant instillations but improved. More sugars and sweeteners were added with the help of the human cuisine. It essentially was a full days' worth of nutrients in a tube at least for a grunt. Grik had befriended several alien creatures before during down time on alien planets. It was hit and miss but sometimes it would be fun to do this. He was unsure of the result for this experiment with the knife in one hand ready to cut himself free Grik used the other one to pour the food stuff into the flower. If this didn't help he would always be able to just use small portions of his explosives to burn their way through but he wouldn't be an ultra if he wasn't able to think outside the box and know that force wasn't always the best option.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak "This plant isn't going anywhere - they nest for life." Tar responded to the new Infiltrator while Vael shuffled past her towards the front. She looked back towards the cave entrance, trying to remember what the interior layout was like. Nothing came to mind though, except the striking view of outside. Tar cursed herself for not paying more attention. Then, Tar noticed their team's Unggoy Ultra crouching down facing the wall. Lights from his suit illuminated a cluster of pinkness. "Grik, get away from the flowers!" She growled, taking a step back toward him. She stopped though, when a salvo of soft pops and poofs sounded up and down the tunnel. Pfff Tssssss Pfff Tsssss This was accompanied by an almost indistinguishable rustling from further into the darkness. Tar breathed in, and almost immediately detected a much stronger sweet smell in the air. She thought it seemed quite delicious, like some delicacy from her childhood. The rustling died down, replaced by a soft rumble that shook the cave very slightly. A pungent wave of treacly air wafted past them and out of the cave. As if to say 'there is more inside!'. Tar looked around her, and noticed that the pink flowers which dotted the vines were oozing an amber nectar, intensifying the saccharine odor. "It wants to eat us now. Good work, Grikgar." She muttered, turning back to Vael. "I can't say this is a good idea. Maybe even the opposite." Remembering what she'd been told about this ancient predator, Tar looked back at the entrance again. The Tengmaa wouldn't seal it off, unless it sensed that their group was making a concerted effort to leave. Prey that didn't feel trapped until it was too late was more likely to investigate further into the cave, which reduced the subsequent effort on the plant's part. "We could still leave, if we went slowly, one at a time, perhaps." Tar cautioned.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: heart of the beast Grik held his fire for what seemed like an eternity. The vines were thrashing more and more and Tar was still within the blast radius of the fuel rod. He knew he couldn't fire prematurely that would cause serious damage to Tar and the others but how much longer could they hold back the ever approaching vines. Hearing a cacophony of noises behind him made him glance back only to see a wall of vines surging towards them. The sight of it reminded him of his encounters with the Parasite. That was a creature that he very much wished never to encounter again. It seemed the plant was trying its best to get rid of something that was stuck in its throat as it continued to thrash and lash out. That's when he saw it loose its grip on tar as she was pulled back up. Grik didn't need to hear the order to fire. The moment they were out of the blast radius he squeezed off two rounds with mere seconds in between each shot to make sure they wouldn't collide. If they found its mark at the middle and top of the bulb he was sure it would kill it. However, his comrades were still a bit close and may be hit with at least some of the heat from the explosive.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- The damage that the fuel rod gun caused was immediate and pronounced. The sheer intensity of the heat was enough to penetrate deep into the bulb. The vines again reacted, but this time it did not seem to be a coordinated defensive response. Rather, they moved and spasmed seemingly at random for a few seconds. As the bulb served as the being's "mind", damaging it was like damaging an animal's brain. Those who had been constricted by them would find it as an opening to act. Vael and Ryker had only just managed to pull Tar from beyond the blast radius. Even still, Vael's shields flared from the heat. However, this was an opening on which they had to act. Grik had created an opening to the creature's core, so as soon as Vael could get up off the ground, he took aim with his plasma rifle and fired straight into the wound at the top of the bulb. The plasma could now hit straight to the core of the bulb where it was vulnerable, causing yet more random thrashing among its vines.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The helmet Yalu wore picked up the ensuing sounds. Some parts of him were constricted tighter, some slackened, including his left hand holding onto the middle of his scattershot. The weapon was still stuck fast. He let go and tugged at the vines keeping his right arm pressed against his chest and wriggled it free. He ignited his wrist blade, grabbed at the vines holding his head and shoulders, and sliced them off in one draw. Finally, he fell free and found himself swinging upside-down from vines closer to the ceiling. The situation he took in was self explanatory. Catching his breath, he reached over his shoulder and found a grip on his needle rifle. He drew it and aimed forward. "Good hit, Grikgar! Our turn now..." Yalu said. The sight flipped up -- towards the ground from Yalu's perspective. The bulb lit up in the crosshair. He pulled the trigger as rapidly as he could. He did not need precision as much as enough blamite crystals in close enough proximity within the creature's new wound.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker The heat from the explosion caused the SPARTAN-IV's shields to flair, but it wasn't enough to break them fortunately even as he fell backwards from the sudden lack of resistance from the plant as Tar rejoined them on the platform. Standing up quickly, Ryker pulls his DMR free of it's place on his back and fired on the now exposed weakness of the Tengmaa. "Burn in hell, you crazy, carnivorous freak of motherfucking plant life." He fired most of his clip into the thing before stopping, taking a moment to see if the hail of fire had the desired effect as he quickly swapped out the clip, six rounds still in it for later. Infiltrator Comi'Masam The moment the explosions were done, Comi drew her plasma pistol once more and fired into the bulb with the rest of her new team, stopping her barrage just in time to allow the weapon to cool down before she resumed firing another burst. She would repeat this until the order to stop firing came from Vael. Her energy sword remained active and she would use it to lance out at and slice any vines that got too close down, though with the wounds inflicted to the bulb made their efforts weaker and less concentrated.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern The suggestion that Spartan Aviza had made about using the M379 charge against the massive Tengmaa bulb apparently went unnoticed among the squad, since there was no comment made about it in the slightest. The charge would have been quite dangerous to use but even more so effective against the hostile force that was trying to turn them into it's next source of nutrients. Instead, they focused upon cutting down vines that got to close to them and attempting to do any sort of damage. Thankfully, Aviza had decided to stay back from the edge of the pit that lead to the heart of the carnivorous plant, using her SRS99-S7 AM Sniper Rifle to fire upon the vines in the distance. If they managed to get close enough, she would then switch to either her underslung shotgun upon her MA5B Assault Rifle or Energy Sword to cut through them. A few of the vines had managed to end up getting a bit to close for comfort, drawing her attention away from what was happening at the pit to make sure she did not end up with a barb somewhere soft on her armor. The sound of her underslung shotgun firing off flechette shells echoed through the chamber as they tore through the vines with great ease. What did bring her concentration back to the center of the chamber was hearing from Vael that Tar had been caught by a few of the vines. Aviza swiftly moved to the edge of the pit, but kept herself at a safe enough distance to not be grabbed and dragged in afterwards. Without saying a word, Aviza took a half knee stance and aimed the cross hair of her SRS99-S7 AM Sniper Rifle at the vines below, firing off a few rounds that would hopefully do massive damage to the vines. The thought of tossing Tar her Energy Sword came to mind but that might end horribly, instead she kept aim, firing at what she could. This continued untill Grikgar fired off a few rounds from his Fuel Rod cannon at the Tengmaa bulb, giving them their chance to put it down for good. The intense heat from the explosions going off caused Aviza to shield her eyes for a few second, moving backwards in case Grik fired again. Lowering her arm to look at what remained, she noticed that they now had the chance to do some damage. Instead of firing immediately, Aviza took her M379 charge and tossed it down into the pit where it landed safely. It would not go off untill she detonated it, and she was going to make damn sure everyone was outside of the cave before she did so. For now, she returned to firing off high caliber explosive rounds at the massive Tengmaa bulb. As she did so, she checked her teams coms and spoke, "Does anyone need any medical attention? I can tend to injuries immediately." Aviza would then reach out to Shih, "Two things, I would like full medical diagnostics on the team and then I would like an update on the storm outside please and thank you."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak A Tengmaa bulb's hide was tough for a reason - all of the plant's digestive and nervous capacity was contained within that control centre. However, the plant's evolutionary pathway evidently hadn't prepared for a barrage of radiation, explosives and bullets. So when the bulb's vulnerable innards were exposed under the water and promptly cut to shreds, the Tengmaa quickly lost control of its numerous appendages. The first to go limp were the half dozen thick trunks which stretched all the way out into the sunlight, gradually tapering at the end. Next were the serpentine manipular vines coating every surface of the cave interior. Then, with nothing left to distract the invaders, the throbbing cilia inside the pool trap promptly died. And with that, the Tengmaa bulb unmoored from the position it had held over the cave's onward descent for decades. First came a sickly snapping noise as the struts supporting it detached. Then, with a sound like a giant toilet flushing, it disappeared into the large hole on which it had previously been sitting. This was how it had filtered waste water out of the chamber to stop it flooding before. The water rushed over the rocks, disappearing down the waste chute after the bulb. The chamber was filled with this roaring sound for a while. This new opening also helped disperse some of the toxic particles from the room, though Tar still choked uncontrollably as she struggled to her feet and surveyed the area. Water was pouring in from the opening above their head and another gap along the wall from them (the other cave opening, most likely). It wasn't enough to refill the bowl below them though, so it quickly emptied until just a few carcasses lodged in place remained. Fanning her mandibles with one hand, Tar got up, walked to the edge and wordlessly jumped down into the barren bowl. Her energy sword's pommel had fortunately gotten stuck in a crevice and hadn't washed away, so she carefully picked it up. Looking up toward the ceiling and coughing lightly, Tar returned her lost sword to its mount on her back, with the other one. She pointed upward, to the feeble shaft of light shining down on her from above. "I see the way up the mountain! I remember now - it is an invigorating climb."</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar had always loved climbing, so pursued the dim light at the top of the Tengmaa's chamber with vigour. Brissekh was packed full of cliff faces to scale, and in a way she could remember the routes up and down them better than her way around the frigid woodland. It was the excitement of knowing a shortcut which stuck in her head, Tar supposed. The rock face here was shrouded in vines, but the Commando quickly figured out a way up, spotting hand and foot holds which jogged distant memories of this place before it became a death trap. The fresh water streaming in from above was cold and refreshing after the warm, smelly interior. The sound gradually built to a crescendo of howling winds and rain at the top, perfectly masking the sound of Tar hauling herself up. As soon as she was away from the hole, she crouched down and drew her Carbine. The spikes on her feet scraped against the craggy ridge. Visibility was shockingly bad, but Tar knew that could all change in a moment if the wind changed direction. "If they have any sense, they will be inside until the storm passes - we should move quickly. We do not want to be up here if the wind speed increases."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael heeded the advice of the others. A sudden shift in the storm could easily worsen their situation, so they needed to act quickly. "Come, follow quickly. There are some rocks closer, at the base of the ridge, we may use for cover." He ordered. Visibility was particularly terrible, but a combination of sensors and multiple perspectives from the team did reveal some about the area ahead as they moved down the ridge. Obviously, the most prominent feature was the anti-air cannon itself. The weapon was massive, as it had to be powerful enough to be able to damage capital ships. Given the rough, uneven terrain of the mountains, it was placed on a large, artificial platform. They could also make out multiple structures on the platform as well, in which most of the guards were likely taking shelter from the storm. If, for any reason, they ended up alerting the enemy, it was from there that they would need to expect reinforcements. Currently, there were only a few hostiles out patrolling on the platform. All seemed to be Unggoy that were unlucky enough to be burdened with the duty in the storm, and even they were trying to take cover as best as they could against the winds. The storm certainly would impact their perception, but unfortunately, it also meant that they would be more alert than they might have otherwise been, if only for the fact that they could not sleep if they wanted to. The winds and rain would severely limit the effectiveness of active camouflage, so it would not be effortless to walk past them unseen. There were only a sparse few objects surrounding the cannon at the moment. Anything not secured to the platform had likely been moved inside before the storm. For the most part, it was an open, flat area. "We must decide how to sabotage the weapon. Anything we do cannot be detected before it is time for the attack on the Keep. Your…engineer can do this, yes?" Vael said, glancing down to Flint. "Or we can simply plant a powerful enough remote explosive, if we can place it somewhere it will not be seen."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: the climb The climb up out of the cave and to the top of the ridge was difficult even for him. His species had natural enhancements that helped them climb but even climbing up this he could feel his methane tank catching the gusts of wind with its bulk and pulling him off balance occasionally. When finally at the top he made sure to stay low with a hand running along the stone next to him so he had something to grab on to if he was caught in another gust. At least now that they were getting closer they could see their massive objective a bit closer now. Speaking his opinion over comms as they continued their approach, "If we are not concerned about keeping the gun mostly intact to use after this engagement. Grik believes he has enough explosives combined with the remaining magazines for his gun to destroy the platform supports or its foundations to topple the gun." He couldn't tell if the platform had supports but it was likely given the terrain being uneven. Even the subtle erosion from fresh drilling and stormy weather could assist with this plan.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Shih and Vael 'Virisusai --- It took only an instant from the others' perspectives, but Shih ran as thorough of an analysis as she could on the practicality of sabotaging the platform from below. The others hardly had time to consider the suggestion before she started giving her report. "The storm is giving too much interference to my sensors for me to give a definitive answer. Whether or not an explosion of that yield could sufficiently destabilize the platform would depend on how well it is anchored. It is possible, and would certainly deal significant damage to the platform in any case, but it is possible that the cannon may remain operational." "So we could not simply place an explosive and leave. We would need to remain to ensure the cannon is disabled, and to kill any survivors." Vael remarked. "Yes, and I can jam their communications if it comes to that. As long as you leave no survivors, the Keep will not be alerted." Shih added. It seemed they did have options. Attempting stealth could allow them to silently achieve their objective without a firefight, but it was risky. Discovery would place their infiltrators in an exposed position, and they would have to fight the enemy at full strength. Opening with an explosive, even if it did not destroy the platform entirely, would still likely kill some, and disorient the rest. But, they would be guaranteed to have to fight here. "Spartan Ryker, your Forerunner sensors would make you the best suited to try to silently get close. Active camouflage will be useless in this storm, and the platform has little cover. I am not convinced that a silent approach would be best here; Grikgar's plan may be more likely to work. But, I would hear your assessment first. Vael requested. Compared to any other Human, Ryker would know best what Vael was asking for here. Unlike many other Sangheili, Vael cared little for pride when it came to strategy. He wanted to know, objectively, if Ryker believed his infiltration in this situation would be more likely to succeed than the alternative.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Recognizing what it was that Commander Vael was asking of him, Lucas sighed quietly and looked up towards the cannon, swapping modules over to the Promethean Vision and seeing what he could see, which was more than he would have admittedly given it credit for, as only heat signatures seemed to register, but even with that...We'd still need to get up the rock face, get Grikgar and his explosives in place... His brain continued to go over the details of what they would have to do in either situation and, while it couldn't do it as fast as Shih could, still came to a conclusion fairly quickly. "They're both uncertain and come with unique dangers and challenges. Mine comes from the fact that I'll be alone, Grik's has a chance of just not working like we need. So speaking objectively...I have to say stealth over chance. I've been in and out of plenty of Covenant installations, even before I was a Spartan. This? Nothing new. My concern is we know these guys are allied with the Prometheans, won't they have access to the Promethean tech as well?"</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko "We put the gun on a sudden lean, everything tips over," Yalu thought out loud. He held out his rifle horizontally in both hands, looking at it as he tilted the barrel end down. "What remains on the higher end, with their feet set to EVA combat, may fire stably down upon a stricken foe which wants for cover. A victory as swift as gravity." The suggestion had holes, Yalu knew. He was jogging tactical considerations as much as hoping such an approach might allow for a survivor or two, albeit alone in the jungle.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak While listening to the others discuss options, Tar sniffed the air and looked around. A tingle ran all the way down her arms and into her chest, taking cues from atmospheric pressure. Thinking back to when she was last here, Tar finally understood what was coming. "A rolling bank approaches… I say we use speed over stealth; take those buildings to shelter if it passes over." She scraped a couple of steps forward and looked through her carbine's scope just as the rapidly darkening sky suddenly lit up like daylight for a split-second. Tar studied the platform, looking for any signs they had been spotted. After a few seconds, a deafening boom washed over the mountainside they were on. The sky lit up again, and Tar growled. "We're exposed - whatever we do, we have to do it quickly!" The Commando looked over at the squad leader.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Recognizing what it was that Commander Vael was asking of him, Lucas sighed quietly and looked up towards the cannon, swapping modules over to the Promethean Vision and seeing what he could see, which was more than he would have admittedly given it credit for, as only heat signatures seemed to register, but even with that...We'd still need to get up the rock face, get Grikgar and his explosives in place... His brain continued to go over the details of what they would have to do in either situation and, while it couldn't do it as fast as Shih could, still came to a conclusion fairly quickly. "They're both uncertain and come with unique dangers and challenges. Mine comes from the fact that I'll be alone, Grik's has a chance of just not working like we need. So speaking objectively...I have to say stealth over chance. I've been in and out of plenty of Covenant installations, even before I was a Spartan. This? Nothing new. My concern is we know these guys are allied with the Prometheans, won't they have access to the Promethean tech as well?"</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko "We put the gun on a sudden lean, everything tips over," Yalu thought out loud. He held out his rifle horizontally in both hands, looking at it as he tilted the barrel end down. "What remains on the higher end, with their feet set to EVA combat, may fire stably down upon a stricken foe which wants for cover. A victory as swift as gravity." The suggestion had holes, Yalu knew. He was jogging tactical considerations as much as hoping such an approach might allow for a survivor or two, albeit alone in the jungle.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak While listening to the others discuss options, Tar sniffed the air and looked around. A tingle ran all the way down her arms and into her chest, taking cues from atmospheric pressure. Thinking back to when she was last here, Tar finally understood what was coming. "A rolling bank approaches… I say we use speed over stealth; take those buildings to shelter if it passes over." She scraped a couple of steps forward and looked through her carbine's scope just as the rapidly darkening sky suddenly lit up like daylight for a split-second. Tar studied the platform, looking for any signs they had been spotted. After a few seconds, a deafening boom washed over the mountainside they were on. The sky lit up again, and Tar growled. "We're exposed - whatever we do, we have to do it quickly!" The Commando looked over at the squad leader.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael heard and considered the advice of the members of his team. They all had their own expertise, and he could benefit from making use of it. Still, though they had a few options, a decision still needed to be made, especially when there was no clear "best" choice. "We cannot carry out our ambush and attempt stealth. An infiltrator would be in range of the explosives, if discovered. An ambush is the safer course. Most of their warriors will likely be in those structures on the east side of the platform. There are no guards underneath the platform, so Grikgar, you should be able to plant the charges on the supports underneath them." Pausing a moment, Vael started designating positions on the team's collective HUDs. "As Yalu suggests, we shall take positions on what will become the high ground. This ridgeline here will give a strong position for most of us. Aviza, Ryker, Yalu, take a position on the western ridge to create a crossfire. When the charges detonate, the Unggoy outside will most likely panic, so they will not be our priority. We will instead focus our fire on the exits to the structures to cut down the rest as they try to reach safety."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: setting up for the big boom Grik nodded in agreement with Vael's decision and began to get his gear situated. Turning off his shield and camo he looked to the leader. "Ok Grik will move to the position and plant the explosives. It might take Grik a little while, might have to crawl or climb over the edge momentarily depends on cover." Turning for a moment to survey the land in front of them that he could see to plan his course accordingly. "If there is nothing else, Grik will head out now while the storm is still providing cover." The grunt sounded excited to go and blow something up. He was well aware of what he needed to do and how to do it. His low sturdy frame making the strong winds less effective against him and would help to blind the grunts on patrol if they didn't have goggles. The rocky sometimes steep terrain was well suited to his climbing ability. All he had to do was stay low and slow but still move with purpose to lay the explosives and start their assault. With the rest of his ammunition and his proximity to the structure when he arrived Grik decided that he would take a flanking position on the opposite side of the structure after the explosives were set and open fire after the others start to. Giving them a false sense of a larger force and to give them nowhere to hide.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Nodding an affirmative to the plan their commander decided on, Lucas joined Aviza and Yalu in heading up to the western ridge. His DMR wasn't quite suited to this kind of bad weather fighting, but they should be close enough that his shots wouldn't be overly affected by the wind speed. Glancing at the others, he grins behind his helmet at the sight of Aviza's sniper rifle. WIth that, the plan should go over well enough. "So, how do we want to space out?"</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko A quick affirmative and Yalu was in line with Ryker. He strode forward with his needle rifle down and to one side. With any luck, the engagement would finish rapidly after it started. Yalu had to perform some mental unit conversion in his head to give Ryker an answer. "21 metres during combat. Until then, Tar is the huntress here." He did not elaborate. "Grikgar, signal ten seconds before detonation. We will ready weapons and shields as late as we can." It was tempting for Yalu to take off his helmet to see further past the storm cover. Every second leading up to the clash was making him more tense. Until then, more climbing, more stalking.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar growled softly over comms when her plan was disregarded, but moved off with the rest of the team nonetheless. With the storm front rumbling over the mountain peaks behind them, Aegis team fanned out to surround the gun platform. Tar's clawed boots scraped lightly over the uneven granite rocks as she carried on along the western ridge, passing the others as they got situated. It was impossible to be totally quiet, but it didn't matter anyway. Almost all noise the team made was completely subsumed by the hammering rain, wind and thunder. There wasn't much cover on the outcropping furthest from where they'd emerged from the caves. So Tar just lay prone at the edge with her Carbine barrel wedged into a groove that let her peer down onto the platform below. Water whipping across the rocks found its way inside her armour and pooled around her abdomen. Lightning flashed in the thick clouds behind the massive cannon, which sprouted up from the platform below to tower over them. She watched through her scope as sheets of rain alternately obscured and revealed frozen Unggoy sentries. The wait seemed to go on forever. Then came a verbal confirmation from Grikgar, another wait, then the explosion. It married perfectly with a thunderous boom rolling over the western peaks. A gout of blue-green flame erupted from one of the supports, licking the cliffside underneath where most of Aegis was hidden. The ground shook, and a hideous note of rending metal carried on the wind. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the platform started to tilt. A startled Unggoy lost balance and began sliding towards the cliffs. Suddenly, a jagged bolt of lightning flickered down the side of the cannon snout, lighting the whole scene. "Hit." Tar confirmed from her angle, turning her attention to the nearest structure sat atop the listing platform.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu was less precise than his squadmates opening fire. The grunts were easy pickings. The elites and jackals might actually triangulate them. Yalu peered through his scope looking for Kig-Yar holding long weapons. They got a needle to their shooting hand, or their jaws. Disabled as they were, it would only add to the confusion. Sangheili caught a burst of needles until their shields flared. The light made them easy pickings for their marksmen. Time came to reload. Yalu rolled from his prone position behind a shrub on his back, took a couple of plasma grenades, and tossed them over to the enemy in a high arc. The reload came after, timed to spot the enemy by the time they decided to move away from the explosives. Wouldn't be long before it was time to assault the platform itself.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael, in this case, did not pay as much attention to Grikgar's attitude as he did the plan itself. The Unggoy, it seemed, had taken some of his own initiative. Vael kept firing, and kept up pressure, until his carbine's magazine was empty. Without missing a beat, he drew the plasma rifle and continued to lay down suppressive fire over the area until the detonation finally came. The secondary explosive was a shaped charge, intended to cut through the platform from below. It was more limited in area of effect than an explosive on the platform would have been, but it had been placed well. Evidently, Grikgar had observed the area and correctly guessed where many of those on the platform would flee to. The blast tore through the platform, killing some Kig-Yar and a few Sangheili immediately, while sending out a shockwave that knocked several others around them off their feet. From where he was, Vael could see several shields flare, and a few break, around the explosion. Hostiles had stopped coming out from inside the structure, so there were likely few remaining inside. The explosion had created some cover on the platform, by virtue of the warped metal plating from the floor, but it had also created an opportunity. Many of the remaining hostile Sangheili now had weakened or depleted shielding, though that advantage would not last long, if they were allowed to recover. Vael ejected the magazine from his carbine and slotted in a new one in one quick motion. "The enemy is weakened, push the advantage!" He ordered before jumping down onto the platform below. Given that he had to go below the platform to plant his charges, Grikgar was separated from the rest of the team. It would take some time to climb back up to the others, but in the wake of the explosion, there was something else he may have spotted out of the corner of his eye. Movement in the rain, and a silhouette just at the base of the hill. It was a Sangheili, currently in active camouflage, who must have dropped down from the platform above in the chaos, and now had his sights on Grikgar.</s> <\|message\|>Comi'Masam Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas didn't hesitate to follow the order to push in and did so, his DMR still ringing out to buy his squad mates who were slightly farther out more time to get closer to the main structure before he jumped on to it as well, stowing the DMR to draw his pistol and one of the knives. Switching on the Promethean vision, spotting the forms of the Covenant in the rain got a lot easier, especially as his silenced pistol found the head of one of the enemy Unggoy and spotted an opening in the shielded cover of a Kigyar. Hugging a taller box, he waited to the count of three before swinging around the corner, knife first, only to have the Sangheili he was trying to ambush block it and kick the container over the edge. "Well alright then. Let's dance, big boy." Infiltrator Comi'Masam Comi had not been taking shots at the forms exiting the indoor areas of the emplacement like the others primarily because her weapon simply did not have the accuracy to do so, though it certainly had the range. Instead, she chose to show her prowess when the order to push their advantage came, and she dropped onto the platform behind the unit's current commander, his golden energy sword coming to life as she lands. Her first opponent is an overeager Kigyar, who lunges at her shield first. Expertly sidestepping the shoddy attack, the blade cleaves cleanly through its body, even as she guns down a pair of fleeing Unggoy with precise bursts from her pistol. The second and third opponents are Sangheili minors who thought to overwhelm her with numbers and firepower. The first had never given his energy shield proper time to recharge and was dropped by a three round burst from her pistol, the first shot shattering his shields and the next two to ensure death. The second was smarter and tried to keep her pinned from cover, by intervention from an ally forced him out of cover towards Infiltrator Comi'Masam, who bisected him her her blade as well. Her fourth opponent, however, was a Covenant spec-ops member himself and drew his blue blade before squaring off with Comi. He spoke orders that none of his allies were to interrupt their fight and Comi agreed, passing word to her own that this was her fight, before holstering her pistol and assuming a stance across from the enemy infiltrator, her own sword held Vertically and even with her head in a partial crouch as the pair circled each other.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar rose to her feet as Aegis team surged aboard the downed AA gun. She popped the battery out of her carbine and deftly replaced it with a fresh one while surveying the scene. The storm had rolled over the spine of the mountain range and right onto their position. Shards of lightning scraped the grey peaks around them and splayed over the massive purple weapon they were trying to disable. Deafening cracks and booms assaulted Tar's ears, going over and above even the gunfire below her. Black clouds billowed out to obscure the evening light and the view of the forest valleys below. The rain was increasing its intensity, and a rising wind was blowing it sideways, creating a silver screen which made a mockery of their previous visibility. A metallic taste registered in Tar's mouth from the water, and a sulphurous smell wafted into her nose. Wasting no time, the Commando dropped the dozen metres or so onto the leaning AA gun's troop platform. Plasma bolts flew everywhere; one activated her shield. Plasma grenades went off nearby, jolting Tar into action. She jogged past Spartan Ryker, firing two shots at his Sangheili opponent as she passed. She didn't stop though, turning her attention instead to the gaggle of dazed defenders regrouping behind tangled wreckage in the middle. Looking through her sights, Tar loosed two more shots at an exposed head, and one at another shieldless Kig Yar. She drew fire for that, so Tar jouked across the platform diagonally, taking advantage of whatever cover existed to try and flank them. This brought her close to a low, thin shelter, partially buried into the deck plating. Tar only noticed it when she was practically on top of it because of the driving wind. Slowing her pace, she covered the wide entryway and approached at an angle. The noise of battle dimmed in her ears as she focused all her attention on the darkness inside, peering past the waterfall of rain water cascading off the top. Her eyes adjusted slowly. Is that… Two yellow Sangheili eyes opened to look directly into hers, before dashing forward and up the steps. The lithe black frame of a Hunter Killer was upon her in a second, sword shimmering on to impale her. Tar opened fire.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu snapped his aim around to the Kig-Yar. The distinct whistle of needlers firing prompted him to take only one shot. He went for the weakened Kig-Yar's hand. His own needle round ricocheted off the edge of the shield and into the clouds -- off-target by an inch. He would have cursed if his life was not in immediate danger. Staying still or moving forward or back would overload his shield and blow a hole in his chest. He dropped into a sprint lateral to the advancing jackals instead, leaving his autosentry to take the homing needles. As he ran around the edge of the platform, his the incline helped his speed but lost him his height advantage. "Two Kig-Yar running! Centre!" Yalu barked between breaths in his helmet comms. He jumped to a stop behind an external support nearer to the middle of the platform and let the remaining pink needles whizz by. He looked around and spotted a dead grunt holding onto a plasma pistol. Now he cursed to himself. There was not much he could do on his own to stop the Kig-Yar. It would be down to his team mates now. A tumult drew Yalu's attention up to Ryker rolling away from another sangheili. Yalu dropped his rifle and rolled forward, grabbing the plasma pistol as he went, and knelt with the pistol overcharged and pointing towards the enemy warrior. He let it loose to break the assailant's shield, or else give him a burn that would get Ryker out of trouble.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar lit up the Hunter Killer's shield in the dark with two shots from her carbine. Then she turned her gun sideways and chucked it forward. Her assailant paused on the top step for half a second, raising one arm to deflect the heavy object whipping toward him through the rain. He was taller than Tar, but not by much. He didn't have much mass on her either, but he was astonishingly fast. Seizing her chance while her opponent was distracted, Tar lunged forward and trapped his sword hand under her left armpit. The dual-tips buzzed behind her ear, her shields activated and the smell of singed metal assaulted her senses. Pushing with all her might, Tar shoved the Hunter Killer up against one side of the door frame he'd just emerged from. Sheets of water poured over them from above. The male looked straight in her face from a few inches away and hissed. "So it is you." His left fist smashed into the side of her helmet, blurring Tar's vision and toppling them both over. While in free fall, the black-clad Hunter Killer jerked his sword free of Tar's armpit. She crashed onto her back and her assailant leapt on top to pin her. She punched him meatily in the neck as his free hand pushed her chest down. Then she saw him raise his sword and plunge it towards her neck. Raising her left hand on instinct, Tar caught the handle between the sword's two deadly spikes. White-hot pain exploded on either side of her hand as the energy bit into her flesh. She roared. The Hunter Killer leaned into his attack, pressing the blade closer to her head. "Deserting your…Keep, for that PATHETIC…excuse of a Kaidon." He spat, growling as his weapon slowly came into contact with Tar's armour plating. Tar scrabbled frantically for her right thigh holster, her other arm still holding back the sword. But the Sangheili straddling her had his knee in the way of her Mauler. So she groped her arm out manically around her, searching for anything to use. Despite the carnage and imminent danger all around him, the Hunter Killer appeared to be relishing this moment. He leaned in even more. "Such a shame you're…too late to save…your brother!" Tar growled, activating comms while he spoke. "Urgent target on my IFF." She whispered as quietly as she could. She wasn't about to let him escape.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael had rushed in alongside the others to capitalize on the discord they had sewn among their enemy. Though, he was not concerned with anything except the efficient destruction of their foe. With his carbine in-hand, he targeted the most vulnerable among them first to thin their numbers the most quickly. Unggoy or Sangheili with damaged shields would fall within just a few shots. The fewer the number of their enemy, the less they would be capable of returning fire. The moment he heard Yalu's callout, Vael trained his aim towards the fleeing Kig-Yar. They had clear parameters for success in this ambush: none of their enemy could escape. The Human AI was jamming their communications and could prevent the keep from learning from this attack in that manner, but if any of them escaped, that could open the possibility of a warning reaching the Keep. Vael quickly took a plasma grenade in hand and threw it towards the edge of the platform, ahead of the jackals. They both had ample time to react, but Vael did not expect it to kill them. He just needed it to stall them. The jackal closest to the grenade tried to leap to the side, though wet metal platform did not give him the best grip. He slipped, lost his footing, and ended up sliding a short distance across the platform. He did manage to slide out of the range of the grenade's detonation, but without his shield in the way, he was completely exposed. Two carbine shots cut through his torso, and he did not get up from there. The second jackal had managed to stop short and stay on his feet. With his shield directed towards Vael, he unleashed a full magazine of his needler towards him. Even Vael's shields could not withstand a supercombine, but he did not panic. He knew just how needlers behaved. Rather than run away, Vael dashed towards the jackal and rolled diagonally to the side. Some of the needles still struck Vael's shield, but most could not turn sharply enough to keep up. By the time Vael was on his feet again, the jackal had emptied the needler's magazine. Vael had the time to line up a careful shot through the shield's cutout to strike his hand. The jackal staggered back, shifting the shield just enough to allow Vael to put a second shot through his head. Tar's call for assistance, however, was more difficult to handle than a few Kig-Yar. At a glance, he could see that the shields of the Sangheili pinning her were still up, and it would take too many shots from his carbine to break them in time. He was too distant from her for his blade to be of any use…at least, not in his own hands. Vael took one of his energy swords in hand, but did not activate it. For the briefest moment, he judged the distance between them and eyed the rain so he could see the wind. This would need to be a good throw. "Tar, on your right!" Vael replied as he threw his sword to her. He threw it on a flat arc close to the ground to try to reduce the impact of the wind, letting it slide across the floor until it came to a sudden stop striking Tar in the side.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar heard Vael's callout in her ear, then a moment later the solid impact of his sword pommel against her side. The Hunter Killer was so intent on forcing his sword into his opponent's chest that he didn't notice. He growled again and redoubled his efforts. White hot pain exploded at two points across her chest, and Tar screamed out. She grasped at Vael's sword pommel, turning it round so her fingers fit snugly around it. She pushed it up towards the Hunter Killer's side and activated it. A bright blue blade burst through his armour on both sides of his body. A look of surprise flashed into his eyes; his body tautened and his growl turned into a wet gurgle. Tar kept her embattled left arm straight, and pushed with her sword arm. The Sangheili on top of her flopped to the side, still holding his own blade. She rolled with him to avoid accidentally slicing the flesh of her arm on his sword. Once the Hunter Killer was on the floor, she pushed herself away and teased the sword tip out of her chest. The pain was excruciating - a wave of blindness rolled across Tar's vision and she nearly collapsed. Desperately holding her senses together, she awkwardly manoeuvred the blade away from her, then scrambled up and on top of her assailant. He struggled weakly against Tar's weapon which was still in his side. The Commando leaned in close. "WHERE is Falx?" She hissed. "Does he still live?" The dying Elite under her tried to laugh, but ended up coughing bright purple blood. "TELL ME!" Tar yelled, letting go of her sword pommel to grab his armour at both shoulders and shake violently.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu's lungs emptied at the sight of his target slumping as instantly dead as it did. If not for the rest of the commotion, he might have frozen. Vael's voice over the comms brought him back to the action. He retrieved his needle rifle, aimed down at the fleeing grunts, and helped to pick them off. Tar's shouting made him glance to see what was going on. Yalu's kill, all the slaughter of the grunts with their backs turned, and then Tar's shouting, all combined to bring out a sudden irritation in him. "'Mdalak! Get up! Focus!" He felt his ears ring with how loud he shouted into his helmet. He felt an immediate pang of anxiety at his outburst. He shook himself out of it and headed for the nearest door to the platform. "Pushing ahead," he declared with a more moderated voice. "Cannot see any more targets outside. The rest will be barricading by now." He did not move out of sight yet, waiting for Grikgar's sitrep.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Being shook about proved to be too much while impaled by a sword. The Hunter Killer let out one last ragged breath, then his eyes closed and the struggling stopped. Gusts of wind drove sheets of rain across Tar's back and the dead Sangheili under her. Purple Lightning crackled all around the weapons platform as the stormfront rolled over. The black clouds sucked all other light out of the sky. The sound of her teammates in her ears died away to just a dull echo. Tar pulled the sword out of her opponent's side and changing position, sawed through his neck. Yanking on his helmet, she tore the Hunter Killer's head from his shoulders. Clambering to her feet, Tar took a short run up and threw the head as hard as she could off the side of the platform. There was no stopping the wave of pent up rage now. She turned her head to the obsidian clouds, puffed out her chest and let out a bloodcurdling roar, talons grasping thin air out to either side of her body.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- There was no immediate response from Grikgar, so with the platform cleared, Vael rushed to the edge to try to get a line of sight on the ground below. He had heard the sound of plasma fire echoing up from below, so he took aim down beneath him as soon as he reached the edge. However, by the time he arrived, he found no target to shoot. He spotted Grik climbing up the side of the ridge, leaving behind a dead Sangheili beneath him. Vael joined soon in storming the barracks, though there ended up being no one left inside for them to fight. Once they had started their attack, all of the warriors garrisoned inside had joined the fight. After they confirmed that the barracks were clear, that marked the last objective they needed to complete while they were here. The cannon was too damaged to be used, and there was no one left alive to report back to the keep. As long as the Human AI's communication jamming had been successful, then they now had a window to begin their attack on the keep. "The area has been cleared. Have we sustained injuries?" Vael asked succinctly.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker "All good here, boss. Should send the all clear to the fleet to let them know the objective's complete." Ryker approached Yalu and offered him his hand for a handshake. "Thanks for the save, Major. Was a little too close for comfort there." Infiltrator Comi'Masam "I'm unharmed, Commander. Securing any hidey holes that we might have missed."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- In the aftermath of the battle, the cannon was left sufficiently destroyed for their purposes. Certainly, it could not fire in its present condition, and while it could be sabotaged further, there was always the possibility that it could be repaired when the Keep was retaken. Shih was confident that she had been able to jam any attempt at communications during the attack, so the way had been cleared for the assault on the Keep. Following Tar's guidance, they took an alternative path back down the mountain to their vehicles. While it would have been unusable during the storm, the worst of it had already passed. All that remained was comparatively light rain. Even on spectres, it took hours to get to a safe distance, but they were eventually able to extract back to the ship. --- Vael spoke little to the others in the time before the assault was set to begin, apart from what was necessary. He did spend some time going over the plan for the assault itself. In short, their one and only goal for their attack was to reach the Kaidon himself. There was enough support for the Swords of Sanghelios among the Keep's population, but they were honor-bound to follow their Kaidon. If he could be deposed and Tar claim the position of Scion, that would grant the citizens an excuse to stand down that would still satisfy their honor. Perhaps there might still be some Covenant zealots that would oppose them, but the battle would essentially be over as soon as the Kaidon fell, so as long as Tar survived. For that reason, their plan was to make a powerful, direct push straight to the Keep itself. They would cut through anything in their way, but they aimed not to fight any more than necessary. The less damage they did and the fewer casualties they inflicted, the stronger the city would be as an ally. Certainly, the plan was risky. If they did not properly secure and defend the territory they captured, then they opened themselves up to be surrounded once they were in the Keep. Should their plan fail and they were unable to depose the Kaidon, they could end up being trapped. Standing before a wraith in the hangar, Vael observed as a pair of technicians gave it a last check before the battle, as others were with the rest of their vehicles. It would be more than Aegis team participating in this assault, but as Aegis was the spearhead, they had the full choice of how they wanted to proceed in the attack. They would have the choice of Human vehicles that had been brought aboard the Blockade Runner, or of its own stock of vehicles. Any class, from light to heavy armor, was available if they chose.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas was already in the hangar on the other end, speaking with several engineers about the use of one of the needler hogs in the assault on the Keep and one of them continued to argue. "You're going to need heavy firepower to breach those defenses and while the Needlehog is great against infantry, you're looking at, bear minimum, gun emplacements, heavy anti-vehicle, maybe even Hunters. I'm sorry, Spartan, but it just doesn't make sense." Ryker sighed as he rubbed his temple and met the man's eyes. "And all of that is going to be screened by infantry and while the traditional .50 caliber rounds are great for general use, the quicker we can cleave through that infantry. We've all seen how effective supercombines are against soft targets." The implication of what he meant was enough to make the engineer who had been arguing with him shut up, which gave the other, a woman who looked ready to strangle her fellow, the chance to speak. "We can prep one for ya, Spartan, but only the one. The others will be needed elsewhere." Infiltrator Comi'Masam Comi was in the armory, prepping for the assault and what they could run into. Despite her usual preference for a plasma pistol, she had traded it for the higher fire rate of a plasma rifle, which would work better for the assault ahead of them.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar wrenched off her breastplate and perched on a large crate to receive medical attention. A diminutive male in physician's garb leaned in to inspect the cauterised puncture marks on her chest. "Internal bleeding is common with sword wounds, but fortunately yours are only shallow. Do you feel any weakness, numbness or tingling?" "I feel well." Tar growled. The adrenaline of their fight for the cannon had worn off in the hours afterwards, and a dull ache had settled in. Her head was full of images of the Hunter Killer's snarling jaw and the sword searing through her armour. "Any changes to your hearing or vision? Any pain in your head?" The physician asked, carefully anointing the cauterised divots with bio foam. "Only from your incessant talking - bandage me up now. I need to prepare for the assault." Tar was looking past the doctor, searching for someone. "Armourer!" She called out, raising one hand. A white-clad giant turned off to one side, looked at Tar then mentioned for his apprentice to run over. Tar noticed the youth when he stopped reverently before her. "Take my breastplate - see if you can patch the holes." She pointed towards her discarded armour on the floor.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas was already in the hangar on the other end, speaking with several engineers about the use of one of the needler hogs in the assault on the Keep and one of them continued to argue. "You're going to need heavy firepower to breach those defenses and while the Needlehog is great against infantry, you're looking at, bear minimum, gun emplacements, heavy anti-vehicle, maybe even Hunters. I'm sorry, Spartan, but it just doesn't make sense." Ryker sighed as he rubbed his temple and met the man's eyes. "And all of that is going to be screened by infantry and while the traditional .50 caliber rounds are great for general use, the quicker we can cleave through that infantry. We've all seen how effective supercombines are against soft targets." The implication of what he meant was enough to make the engineer who had been arguing with him shut up, which gave the other, a woman who looked ready to strangle her fellow, the chance to speak. "We can prep one for ya, Spartan, but only the one. The others will be needed elsewhere." Infiltrator Comi'Masam Comi was in the armory, prepping for the assault and what they could run into. Despite her usual preference for a plasma pistol, she had traded it for the higher fire rate of a plasma rifle, which would work better for the assault ahead of them.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar wrenched off her breastplate and perched on a large crate to receive medical attention. A diminutive male in physician's garb leaned in to inspect the cauterised puncture marks on her chest. "Internal bleeding is common with sword wounds, but fortunately yours are only shallow. Do you feel any weakness, numbness or tingling?" "I feel well." Tar growled. The adrenaline of their fight for the cannon had worn off in the hours afterwards, and a dull ache had settled in. Her head was full of images of the Hunter Killer's snarling jaw and the sword searing through her armour. "Any changes to your hearing or vision? Any pain in your head?" The physician asked, carefully anointing the cauterised divots with bio foam. "Only from your incessant talking - bandage me up now. I need to prepare for the assault." Tar was looking past the doctor, searching for someone. "Armourer!" She called out, raising one hand. A white-clad giant turned off to one side, looked at Tar then mentioned for his apprentice to run over. Tar noticed the youth when he stopped reverently before her. "Take my breastplate - see if you can patch the holes." She pointed towards her discarded armour on the floor.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Ryker got a chilly response from Yalu once they dusted themselves off. "Do not speak of it," he spat before moving on without reciprocating the handshake. Yalu did not make clear whether he was distracted or intentionally curt. It seemed like both. Yalu kept his helmet on and his communications austere for the clean up and the ride back to base. --- Yalu had composed himself enough with the task of rearming for the assault on the keep. He was no stranger to such places, and as such rearmed his scattershot and needle rifle. However, if they were going in heavy, he knew exactly what to ask for to assist their surgical strike. He approached Ryker's vehicle with large rectangular ordnance cases in each hand while the spartan was seeing through its inspections. One after the other, he lifted them onto the brackets behind the main gun. "I have come to seek pardon for my earlier tone," he proclaimed, before unlatching both cases to reveal a spartan laser and a rocket launcher. "I will be taking a Banshee in during the initial approach. You will need fire support."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Now that they were back on the Blockade Runner, there was not much time left to wait. The ship was invisible to sensors, but unlike some other capital ships, it did not possess active camouflage. While mostly irrelevant in space, once they came near enough to the Keep, they would be spotted by anyone who looked up. They had just disabled the only weapon in range that could destroy the ship quickly, but the city still had other anti-air defenses. The Blockade Runner would only have time to get in, blast open the outer walls, then deploy their strike force before it would have to fall back out of range. Aside from some light close air support, this would have to be a quick, decisive armored assault. Finally, a ship-wide alert sounded and the crew started rushing to battle stations. They were closing in on the Keep. Vael had re-equipped himself for the battle ahead. He changed his armor equipment, swapping active camouflage for a jetpack. With the verticality of urban combat, the mobility could be life-saving. He kept his plasma rifle and swords, as usual, but exchanged his carbine for a plasma caster. Similar to a concussion rifle, its explosive firepower would be useful against both vehicles and entrenched infantry positions. Human and Sangheili both were taking part in this assault. Swords of Sanghelios warriors were quicker to react to the alert, but once they had their orders from their officers, the Human marines were quick to rush to their vehicles. Scorpions and wraiths would comprise the core of their armored column, supported by warthogs, ghosts, spectres, and banshees above. "To your vehicles!" Vael ordered as he jumped up onto a wraith and climbed into its turret.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak After getting patched up, Tar stalked over to one of the clusters of ex-Covenant storage crates, littered with weapons and equipment. Pushing to the front, she snatched up plasma grenades and tucked them away in her armour. They'd pack more punch against materiel than her usual spike grenades. Tar grabbed a jetpack and slung it over one arm. She was still without her armour, clad in just her thin underdressings. She leaned over and pulled a carbine out of its housing in a third crate, along with plenty of ammo. Lastly, she slapped her customary Maulers on each thigh. Tar turned and nearly jumped when she found the armourer's apprentice standing in front of her. He held her mended cuirass - with only a fleetingly short time to spare, they had just magnetised metal patches to it as a temporary measure. She grunted with indifference and raised both arms, guns and equipment hanging off them. The armourer's apprentice tentatively approached, holding the cuirass out in front of him. When it got close to her skin, the back flaps wrapped snugly around her with a satisfying clank. The interlocking parts shimmied around until they made a perfect fit around their owner's torso. "Give the armourer my thanks." Tar hissed, striding round the youth and heading for the armoured column. She fastened her jetpack as she went. She'd only just arrived back with the rest of her team when Vael gave the order to mount up. Tar roared, raising her carbine into the air and shouting for the chaotic mass of rallying troops. "Glory awaits us! Take it, it's yours!" It got a smattering of encouraging replies from the crowd. The Commando bashed her new carbine against her chest to raise more noise, before jogging towards the front of the column where she'd take a turret in a Wraith.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas wasted no time in climbing swiftly into the driver's seat of his needlehog, two marines manning his passenger seat and another his gun as he gives a thumbs up that he's ready. "Locked, cocked, and ready to rock, Commander." Infiltrator Comi'Masam Approaching Ryker's modified warthog, the marine on the gun nodded and hopped off, allowing her to take over and join her comrade in his vehicle of choice. Waiting until he finished, she gave the SPARTAN-IV a grin. "Remind you of anything, Ryker?" The Spartan nodded, a grin behind his own helmet. "Teren Outpost, thought the thing was more of a fortress. UNSC lead that one though. Hope this is as much fun."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Through the glowing, translucent energy shield separating the hangar from the outside, the strike force could see the chaos start to unfold. Their Blockade Runner came in quick and low over the mountains, much to the surprise of the Keep's defenders who saw the warship suddenly approaching over the horizon. At the speed their ship could move, they hardly had time to raise the alarm before the vessel was upon them. With a well-defined plan to follow, the ship's crew carried it out quickly and efficiently. Immediately, the Blockade Runner fired a pair of plasma torpedoes at the city's outer walls, blasting a sizable hole in the city's defenses near to the planned drop zone. Anti-aircraft emplacements within the city opened fire to start pounding the ship's shields. It was at that point when the defenders were likely marking the ship for the nearest heavy cannon to eliminate, only to find it in no condition to fire, and its garrison unresponsive. There were other, similar cannons situated in other positions around the city, but at the ship's current altitude and position, only the one they had sabotaged would have had a shot. Even still, their shields could only handle ground fire from the city for so long, so this insertion would need to be quick. Being that the Blockade Runner was not specialized for ground assault, it had no grav lift for quick deployment, so they would have to settle for phantom drops. Aegis team's respective vehicles were already locked in place to the phantoms above them via their grav lifts, so once the hangar's shield dropped, they were among the first out the door. The first wave of phantoms exited on the side of the ship opposite to the keep so the Blockade Runner's shields could help protect them from the anti-aircraft fire. They were positioned directly above the drop zone, so it hardly took more than a few seconds for them to get to ground. Heavy armor, like scorpions, were dropped in the front, with wraiths behind. Lighter vehicles, like ghosts and warthogs, were initially dropped behind the heavy armor, though they were agile vehicles that could easily reposition as needed to support the main armor column. Shadow troop transports carried the majority of their infantry support and would move behind the armor at least until they were inside the walls. Banshees from both sides were being deployed for close air support. For now, the Blockade Runner's point defense could help fight off opposing aircraft, but it would not be staying for too long. The city had been caught off guard, as evidenced by the lack of defenses outside the walls. No doubt, the garrison was already deploying to meet them, but right now they had a chance to get to a better position before they faced resistance. Right now, the only incoming fire on the ground was coming from four rapid-fire plasma turrets positioned on the top of the walls. They were still at long range, so the incoming fire was mostly inaccurate, though they would become more dangerous the closer they came. They were completely in the open at the moment, so priority was to get to the breach before the enemy could respond, but it may have been wise to put some attention on the turrets along the way.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak "Good luck, Spartan." Tar called to Aviza over the rising din as Phantoms hovered into position over their armour. The ride down to the surface of Brissekh from the Blockade Runner was extremely loud and nausea-inducing, like being dropped from a great height. Rain battered their dropship's canopy and poured down the sides onto Tar's Wraith. Battle chatter burbled in her ears from the closest teams; her pilot was staying quiet for now. For a few seconds, she could only stare out at the city she knew so well and feel a mix of nostalgia and fear. While a relatively young settlement at just over two hundred years, the Keep occupied a commanding position over the valley they were deploying into. Three concentric rings of fortifications had been carved out of the black rock, each higher than the last, until the top of the Kaidon's migdol poked out like a mountain peak in itself. Tar wondered if her little brother was watching from a high window at the army which had just arrived. As soon as they touched down, Tar fired her turret at one of the defending guns closest the breach the Blockade Runner had made. "Move forward!" She grunted to the pilot, and they began advancing.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Comi'Masam Spartan Lucas Ryker and Infiltrator Comi'Masam The moment the needlehog hit the ground, Lucas slammed the gas pedal down to the floor, the lighter vehicle racing ahead of the heavier and slower Scorpion and Wraith tanks as he got the marine and Comi lines of sight on the defensive emplacements that were firing on the landing zone. "Light them up, Corporal!" The marine, using a DMR, was already picking targets from around the gun emplacements as Comi'Masam spun up the needle cannon, rapidly sending needle spikes sailing into all the soft targets that were exposed along the wall and near it. {Spartan Ryker here, I'm heading the light armor group in a needlehog. Aside from those turrets, anyone see other priority soft targets for us?}</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Armored Assault on a Shadow Grikgar was happy to be out of the situation with the elite, it was always stressful going up against them but normally he could use the weak and cowardly stereotypes of his people to his advantage against most enemies. He was quite thankful of his team while they prepped for the next assault on the keep. Rearming was easy what took time was running the final diagnostics on the goblin to make sure it was ready to go without too many issues. This would be the first 'official' use of the grunt mech and he was going to make sure that nothing was going to jam. The weapons were ready and the shielding seemed good to go, Grik was sure to check everything twice while eating a ration, especially with the current model being new. The others seemed to be going through their own ways of mental preparation for the assault. His only issue he could see so far was just getting in close enough to the wall in the first place. Getting a lift from one of the troop transports or just going in for the hot drop from a phantom from up high were what seemed to be his choices so far. They both had their pros and con's but for what they were looking at he decided to stick with the armored column so he doesn't get picked off for lack of cover. So after his system checks were completed and the orders were starting to be given out Grik powered up his mech and linked up with the lead Shadow and found a spot to latch onto its aft half to provide fire support during the advance. His spot had a great view while they were being airlifted into position, enemy flak already opening up on them but panic was sure to follow for the enemy once they realized their big gun was off line. The mech began to fire on anything that came into range of either his needle cannon or grenade launcher but mostly just tried to block or dodge incoming fire the best he could. Armored assaults were his favorite advance, so many explosions and pretty colors.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Sitting inside of a vehicle such as the Theseus Command Mantis during a tactile insertion was always an intense experience, and one that Aviza had begun to enjoy over the last decade or so. This time around though, was slightly different due to the fact that they were being dropped from Phantoms instead of Pelicans. Still, Aviza had strapped herself in a bit more securely just in case the ride would be more turbulent or something else went wrong along the way. "All safety procedures passed, all systems are green, now we get to wait for the fun to begin." said Aziva as she leaned forward slightly and flipped a switch on the control panel in front of her. A gentle electronic hum followed before the interior screens came to life, giving the Spartan a clear view of everything out-front of her as if the reinforced platting on the outside of the vehicle was made out of glass. A few moments would pass in relative silence within the Theseus Command Mantis before Aviza not only felt the Phantom touch off but also saw the rapid deployment with her own eyes. The steep approach and high speed they were taking with the Phantoms brought a smile across the Spartans face as they approached their drop off point. With the sudden feeling of freefalling that only lasted what felt like a few seconds, the Mantis gracefully made contact with solid ground. "Over already? I was just starting to enjoy myself, makes me want to fly again." thought Aviza, though Shihi quickly responded, "I am sure you will get more chances to experience that again, or perhaps even fly something in the near future. For now though, you should focus on the objectives at hand." Using the connection from the Theseus Command Mantis to her armor, Aviza quickly turned her attention to one of the fortified positions and fired off a round from the Theseus Command Mantis's M149 Recoilless Rifle. The force from the weapon firing could be felt even from within the cockpit of the vehicle, as well as creating a could of smoke that quickly faded away due to the rain and moisture.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- The armored column had to move quickly to take advantage of the surprise they still had over their enemy. The open ground outside the walls would have made for a strong defensive position, had the city's garrison been able to see the attack coming. The plasma turrets alone atop the walls were far from sufficient to stop, or even slow down an armored assault. At the moment, they were able to push forward at max speed to close the gap to the city walls. Weapons fire from the mantis and scorpions at long range could tear apart the plasma turrets long before they could do meaningful damage to the vehicles. The plasma turrets were intended for anti-infantry or anti-aircraft roles, while other defenses would normally handle heavy vehicles. The push to the wall had been simple, with little resistance, but now that they were approaching the opening their ship had made, they were about to be stepping into much more danger. While the breach was not small, two scorpions side-by-side would only barely squeeze through. For their entire column, it was going to be a choke point. They caught a few glimpses of infantry through the opening, but machine gun fire from the scorpions forced them back into hiding. No doubt, they were scrambling to establish a defensive position inside. At the moment, the team could not know how many anti-tank weapons were already in position inside. The defenders would be scrambling to deploy them to the breach, but it had been less than a minute since landing. If they were lucky, they would be able to get a foothold inside before the enemy could arm themselves to deal with them, but the longer they took, the more the enemy would be able to fortify. "Shadows, stay back until we have a foothold inside. Everyone else, push forward!" Vael ordered. They were going to be pushing into an urban environment. The city did have streets wide enough to accommodate their vehicles, but it was still going to be far more cramped than the field they were in now. For armored units, urban fighting could be particularly dangerous, so they would need to be adaptable and alert for threats that could come from any angle. They did not know exactly what the other side of the breach looked like or where the enemy was positioned on the other side. There was only so much planning that could be done ahead of time; at a certain point, they had to adapt and improvise. How they decided to cross the choke point would be important to improve their odds.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker and Infiltrator Comi'Masam Leading a group of warthogs and a couple of other needlehogs, Ryker and Comi were already inside the breach, lighting up any infantry that they could see. However, once they were inside the walls, the needlehogs were in a very different situation, as their munitions were worthless against the walls and heavier protections offered by the urban environment. The warthogs equipped with standard armaments would have the penetration to clear out walls without having to risk their crews, but Ryker and the other needlehogs were going to have to hope they could catch the defenders between positions as they raced through the streets. {Light armor group is inside the walls and doing what we can to push back the city defenders. What's the plan for securing the buildings as we move? Needlehogs are good against infantry, but not much else.} Comi, meanwhile, was lighting up every Unggoy, Kig-yar, and Sangheili that exposed themselves long enough to take more than a couple of needles, keeping any of them holding anti-tank weaponry from getting an actual shot on both the Warthogs and the approaching scorpions and wraiths.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak As the breach was so small, a traffic jam inevitably ensued as the heavier armour filtered through into the city. Soldiers on the walls began firing small arms and chucking grenades down onto the vehicles beneath. Tar's Wraith hung back slightly and pounded the walls with blue balls of plasma. She tilted her plasma repeater as far up as it would go and sprayed the parapets, forcing some of the Sangheili there to take cover. Her shield flared as a carbine bolt pinged off the Wraith and into her face. "Clear the gap, move!" Tar yelled, ducking back down as far as she could go into her cockpit area as her gun overheated.</s>
<\|description\|>Ayuka Eiruni (Not my image. Like her, but brown eyed) Ayuka Eiruni --- Age:18 Gender:Female Personality: ● Snarky ● Hot-Headed ● Calculating ● Soft Spot for Children ● Curious ● Impulsive ● Ashamed ● Honorable Background: Born to Fire Nation Nobles, Ayuka was raised with the ideals of the Fire Nation. Of being noble to all, brave in the face of danger and honorable no matter the circumstances. Growing up then, she was proud of being of the Fire Nation, and took delight in her firebending. She set forth to learn all about it she could, training herself to be a master of her power. Then one day, she learned of how the Fire Nation terrorized the world for a hundred years, and of the scars that still lay on the land from that time that only Avatar Aang was able to end. Her worldview shattered. Had everything her parents taught her been a lie? She sought to repress her bending, ran away from home, and retreating as far from her heritage as she could. Since the Fire Nation had been so horrid, she'd refuse to be part of it! However, the more she refused, the more her powers became unstable and burnt the woods around her. The more she destroyed, the more ashamed of herself she became and the cycle continued from there. Until finally, she ran into a cave and cried, wishing she wasn't a fire bender anymore. A kindly old man came to her, asking why she didn't want the gift she was born with. She just cried and yelled about how it was an evil curse, not a gift. The man though came close and talked with her, helping her to see that that wasn't the case. After that talk, her parents finally found her. She ran into their arms and the family embraced, reuniting finally then returning home. As she became older, she still struggled with what the Fire Nation had done in the past and those that did look evilly at those of Fire Nation descent for what had happened. But she also found a new love for her powers and the good parts of her heritage, and resolved to be an example of a Fire Bender that brought balance to the world. And so, she became a proficient firebender, impressing even the old man that had been coming by that way. He told her that she would have a place among the White Lotus if she wanted to join. The idea stuck with her and she applied, using her parents' connections and that of the old man to help out in the endeavour. Through that and a demonstration of her prowess, she joined the White Lotus, vowing to her parents that she'd be everything a Fire Bender should be.</s> <\|message\|>Haoran "Hao" Li As his team arrived, Hao turned to face them replacing the soft, gentle smile that he gave Yuya into a more stern frown. He didn't picture them being so rag-tag, but inside he was happy that they didn't really notice who he was and question him about it, at least not yet. Raising his arm, he gave the air bison beside him another loving pet. "I'm Haoran Li and this is Yuya." "If there aren't any other questions and if you're all ready, we can start getting aboard with your things." Hao said as he signaled to the team to climb the rope ladder on the side of Yuya. This was his first time leading a real team and the anxiety he felt was through the roof, but he was a pro when it came to keeping a straight face, something he picked up from the nervousness his family always gave him. As the team all settled onto the large saddle firmly attached on the back of the air bison, Hao took the reins, still with a firm, yet blank stare. "Hold on tight, our destination is a few hours out, so please get comfortable." Slightly whipping Yuya's reins, the sky bison took off, mooing loudly as they lifted into the air. His team was made up of four benders, all from differing nations and a non-bender. First impressions were important to Hao as he reflected on each person and remembering what their files had said. All four members of Hao's team were proficient in their bending and combat, which was something he was happy to read up on. Ayuka Eiruni was said to be quite the hot-headed Fire Bender, but an extremely skilled fighter. Tikaani was energetic and from their first meeting, Hao hoped that energy and curiosity transferred into him proving himself as he and Ayuka were two of the younger and newer members on the team. Seung Bik on the other hand was more known in the White Lotus, having joined them at a later age than most recruits. He had created an academy of sorts or research center where others could learn Earth Bending techniques, something Hao was envious when he had heard about his story. Hao hoped he could rely on Brother Bik as he was more experienced in the world, but knew he had to earn the respect of him and the rest of his team. Last was Hinra Langtei, the only non-bender on the team. Hao didn't know much about her and she left him without a real impression, something he would have to figure out as their journey went on. Feeling the breeze rush across his body, the air bender slightly turned, half facing his team. "I know we just met, but I want to express how grateful I am to have you all here. We have a lot of work to do and this assignment isn't the easiest one out there for a first mission for most of you." Hao said. "I've been in your shoes before, but I want to let you all know that if you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to ask." Hao wanted to make sure his team knew that he could be a nice guy underneath the grumpy rest face he carried. Most of the time he was cold and distant, sure, and there were plenty of rumors that he had his head up his ass, thinking he was better than the rest. But there were times he could be quite kind towards others.</s> <\|message\|>Seung Bik Seung Bik Brother Bik looked over the group then to the Airbender, Haoran Li if he remembered the letter he had been sent before being told to report here. It's interesting to see, he hadn't known who would be on the team, but since he joined he'd heard of the Li family. Members of the Lotus for who knows how many generations at this time, and Haoran being the most recent addition from the family. He bows in greeting then climbing up onto the sky bison. With a grin Bik pats the saddle then reached over and runs a hand over the fur of the great creatures back, "Amazing." And soon out comes a small notebook as he jotes down his observations, "An Air Bison, since the full return of the Air Nomads, one can see them alot more often. But to be up close. I spend too much time at the Academy, they are a rarity there you see." He nods to the group. Bik hums curiously, observing and trying to memorize faces, he's barely been a member of the Lotus for a year. Everything is still new to him as well. He'd never been called for missions before. Let alone on the all important mission to find the Avatar. As they took flight he hummed and coughed, "So, it's a pleasure to meet you all. And I look forward to working with you all on this adventure we're all going on. I'm sure between us and the other teams out there we'll be able to locate our new avatar. We're all White Lotus we can do this together. I'll do my best to be of use."</s> <\|message\|>Ayuka Eiruni Ayuka got on Yuya in stunned silence. How had she not recognized her leader when she first saw him?! Just what did that reflect on her? She took a silent deep breath. Just, had to prove herself a worthy member on the team. Or at least, more worthy than the puppy-peacock they had on their hands. What had his name been again? Tikaani Aput? Her leader, Haoran Li, at least seemed to have not taken any offense. Even seemed, kind of friendly as they rode on. Though, of course that could change on the field... After Brother Bik said his piece, she inclined her head. "As will I. I know fire nation lands. I can assist that way in our search. What places in particular have been rumored to contain the Avatar?"</s> <\|message\|>Tikaani Aput Once the group was assmbled, the group boarded the Bison, and away they went. Tikaani looked over the edge, and appreciated the view from how high up they were. He threw his arms up in the air. "WAHOO! This is so much fun!" He looked towards the others in his group. They didn't appear to be as excited about flying on a real life flying bison as he was. They were having a discussion amongst themselves. "Yes yes. We'll find the Avatar. All will be well." Tikaani added. "I'm a Waterbending extraordinaire! I capable of pulling my own weight." He made some movements with his arms, and produced a small stream of water from the clouds. They were just water and air after all. "See? Nothing to worry about." He made more arm movements and swirled the water around himself. Then, he smirked, stuck out his arm. And splashed the Fire Nation girl with the water he was bending. "Oh my gosh! I am so sorry!" He said, feigning surprise. "Although, you looked like you needed to chill a little anyway!" The Water Tribesman giggled. "Anyway, can we talk about the fact that we're actually on a flying bison having the adventure of a lifetime?" Tikaani's eyes went wide. "Just look at the view from up here!"</s> <\|message\|>Hinra Langtei Even though it wasn't shown on her face, Hinra was very much this close to soiling her clothes. Like some of her peers, it was also her first time riding a flying bison. She closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air to calm her nerves as she felt her heart beating so fast, she felt like it was about to burst out of her chest. She wanted to scream her heart out but she couldn't, not when she was with company. She was so wrapped up in her fear that she almost forgot that she was not alone on Yuya if her group didn't speak up. Hinra never met any of these people prior to their assembly so she was also curious as to what they were like. She opened her eyes just as Hao, an Airbender and their de-facto leader, spoke about his feelings and thoughts to the whole group. He seemed to look like the typical leader: serious and steadfast with a aura of kindness surrounding him. He's probably the most reasonable one among all of them. Bik looked like the enlightened type, one who's always spewing out words of wisdom to his peers whether he was asked about it or not. He probably meant it with good intentions and besides, he gave off an 'approachable mentor' type of vibe. There were Ayuka who was more of a serious type and Tikaani who was the goofy, go-with-the-flow type of person. They were complete opposites of each other and Hinra feared that this would not bode well for their group. Case in point: Tikaani used his waterbending and accidentally made Ayuka wet. Hinra just rolled her eyes and sighed as she proceeded to get a dry towel for Ayuka to use, putting it on her lap while secretly hoping they wouldn't notice her shaky hands before the young non-bending woman spoke, while also hoping they won't sense the fear in her voice. "I may not be a bender like the rest of you but I assure you that I will not be a burden in our group. I will also help in any way I can so you can all count on it." Hinra said before closing her eyes to calm her nerves again which seemed to the group that she was meditating.</s> <\|message\|>Haoran "Hao" Li Easing into his team atop of Yuya was a transition in itself. They were even more colorful than he imagined. Acknowledging his team, Hao replied to Ayuka's question. "Shu Jing is our first stop, otherwise the rumors are spreading like wildfire throughout the Fire Nation. Nothing is concrete as of yet." As he finished answering her question, the young waterbender began showing off his skills, conjuring a stream of water and splashing the girl. "Oh great," Haoran thought to himself, but as quickly as the situation started, the quiet Hinra chimed in assisting in diffusing the situation with a bit of kindness. "You're a member of the White Lotus for a reason." The young commander said, reassuring the girl. "I trust you're skills are just as sharp as ours, bender or not."</s>	<\|message\|>Ayuka Eiruni Ayuka took the towel with a quick "Thanks." Then used that and a bit of warming of the air to dry herself off while she glared at Tikaani. If he thought he was going to get away with this, he had another thing coming. This meant war. But how to best respond? Without seeming that unprofessional? She really didn't want her new leader to think any less of her. She focused her attention back on Haoran, prepared for whatever he'd next say while keeping Tikaani in the corner of her eye and giving the towel back to, what was her name...that's right, Hinra! Then as she focused on Haoran, hands behind her, she heated up a puff of air without it turning to flame and sent it towards Tikaani's stupid face.</s>
<\|description\|>Tikaani Aput TIKAANI APUT Alias: N/A Age: 18 Gender: Male Personality: ● Chatty ● Attention Seeker ● Bubbly ● Optimistic ● Boisterous ● Unfocused ● Impulsive ● Easygoing Background:Tikaani was born in the South Pole, a member of the Southern Water Tribe. Tikaani's father was a warrior, and died in battle when the boy was very young. Thus, the boy has little to no memories of him. All he knows about his father are some photographs his mother had, as well as things his mother told him. For the majority of his life, it was only Tikaani and his mother, and Tikanni was responsible for a lot of household things while his mother worked as a healer in the village. Primariy fishing, and cooking meals. He would go out on boat rides with his uncle on his mother's side to catch fish, and diving for sea prunes and fresh seaweed. His uncle also taught him how to navigate and steer a boat, because Water Tribesman should be able to navigate the seas. His mother however was the one that taught him to cook. The boy really liked to eat, and she felt it best that he learn to make his own meals sometimes. His cheerful and upbeat persona made Tikaani popular with his peers. He found it very easy to make friends with people. In between his chores, he made time to play with the other younger children in the village, whom he thought of as siblings. He particularly enjoyed going Penguin Sledding with them, although he was often the one who had to make sure the other kids didn't hurt the otter penguins. While he was happy at home, Tikaani has always wanted to leave his small settlement in the South Pole, see the rest of the world, and potentially have a cool adventure. Mainly because he got bored with the day-to-day routine at home. Tikaani finally found some excitement in his life when he learned he was a Waterbender at the age of 12. He found out while he was watching his mother bend, and imitating her movements for fun. Obviously, he didn't have much control of it at that time, and the end result was Tikaani getting wet. After that, he trained with Waterbending masters in the tribe, as well as his own mother to hone his skill. Surprisingly, Tikaani took to bending rather quickly. Even though the masters didn't particularly care when the boy referred to it as 'cool water magic.' His boundless joy and enthusiasm overwhelmed a lot of the people who tried to teach him. He got bored with studying and often just wanted to play. The ones who actually mananged to hold his interest were his mother, and Nukka, the Chief of the southern tribe. He learned a lot during his lessons and became a skilled Waterbender. At 14 years was the age when a boy takes part in the Southern Water tribe rite of passage of ice dodging. This was usually something a boy did with his father, but Tikaani's father was dead. Fortunately, there was a reason why his uncle taught him to sail a boat when he was younger. He took Tikaani out to sea, and had to guide the boat through iceberg infested waters. It was difficult but Tikaani managed to do it, and he earned himself a Mark of the Trusted on his forehead for proving to be exceptionally steady and dependable. When he turned 18, Tikaani decided that he learned all he could in his small village. He wanted to leave the South Pole, see the rest of the world. He did after all know how to sail and could Waterbend like no one's business. His mother was hesitant to let her only child go off into the world all by himself. After all she did lose her husband, and couldn't live with herself if she lost her son too. She had to be convinced to let him go. Both by her brother and Chief Nukka. She was the one who gave Tikaani his membership into The Order of the White Lotus. This way, Tikaani could travel and see the rest of the world, but he would have an organization to keep him safe. His mother was put at ease by this. So, reluctantly, and with a tearful good-bye, she let her son go. Tikaani promised his mother he would return someday.</s> <\|message\|>Haoran "Hao" Li --- "Remember, you aren't the only team out there searching for the Avatar. But you must be the first to find them." "Yes, sir." Hao responded, respectfully bowing to his father's orders. "I'll do whatever it takes." "If your squad is the one who finds the Avatar, our family will reap the benefits for many years to come. We'll also have the debt of the White Lotus and the Avatar." His father reiterated. The idea was concocted many years ago, when Avatar Ria had passed, that once the search of the new Avatar began Hao would be the one to find. His father strongly believed and almost knew for a fact that being the one to find and bring the new Avatar in would bring power and influence into the family, and breathe new life into the dying oak tree. "Those are things that are hard to come by these days." "I understand." Hao said. Haoran Li had a lot barring down on his shoulders as not only a member of the White Lotus, but also a member of the Li family, which had been ingrained in the secret society since it's inception centuries ago. Hao's father was pressuring him to bring honor to their family name, which something that he couldn't do himself. It pained Hao to see his father act so desperate in search of power, but knowing how much his family has sacrificed as well made him realize his father's perseverance. The young branch of the Li tree listened to his father's orders diligently. Young and new teams were being formed sent throughout the Fire Nation to find the new Avatar and Hao was selected to lead one of them. He knew next to nothing about his team other than the fact that most were newer and younger members than himself, but Hao wasn't going to let that stop him from accomplishing his mission. Listening to the rest of his father's lecture and giving final his goodbyes, Hao retreated back to his quarters to finish the last of his packing. With his father's position and influence in the White Lotus, he didn't have to sleep in the barracks with other young members, something that he never really contemplated on how it affected his relationships with others until now. Was he really suited to lead a team, was he ready for it? Questions attacked his mind and flurried his thinking, but it was too late for all these questions. He had to prove his worth and had to show that his family was more capable than what other's thought. Packing the last of his gear and clothes into his rucksack, Hao hurried his way to the Li family air bison stables where he had informed his teams to meet. Again, with the backing of his father his team was one of the only teams lucky enough to have an air bison, while others had to use airships or boats to find their way into the Fire Nation. Their assigned destination was a cluster of islands off the eastern part of the Fire Nation, heading to the town of Shu Jing first and following leads after that. A low grunt and yawn rang through the air as Hao neared the stables. The flying bison that his team was taking was going to be Yuya, one of the most dependable and by far the most playful of bison in the stable. "You'll take good care of us right?" Hao cooed, petting the larger than life bison.</s> <\|message\|>Ayuka Eiruni "The Fire Nation." Ayuka scowled as she forced her things back into her bags. "Barely a week here and I'm already being sent back home! Who the heck was in charge of planning?!" She threw the bag against her barely used barracks bed, then forced herself to take a breath. "Calm down, Ayu. No use getting all heated up over a little thing like this..." She took the bag back up, and continued to pack. "So what you barely got to know anyone here, or had time to know about the new change of plans...It's fine. You joined the White Lotus. You knew things weren't going to be easy or simple. You were going to be assigned elsewhere on missions eventually, and missions back to home. This'll be a chance to prove yourself. We're going to be looking for the Avatar and you'll be the one that knows the lay of the land. Be a big help if you don't screw this up, like by being late if this dumb bag won't take back what I need to pack. I just unpacked this stuff out of you!" She huffed, sending some of her black hair out of her face. Then sheepishly she looked around and sighed. "I also need to stop talking with myself." The firebender shook her head and focused her attention back on her bag, finally getting everything packed and closed away. With a nod, she placed it on her back and left the building, bracing herself as the chill winds hit her. It always was so cold around here. She took warming breaths as she walked, heading for where she was sure the air bison stables were. That her team was told to meet here struck her with surprise, but it would probably be explained once there. At least with the air bison they were easy to find. She walked through the door and looked around. She spotted a guy petting one of the bison, really seeming to bond with the animal. A team member? One way to find out. She walked to him. "Hello. I was told to be here as part of Haeo's team. Would you happen to be part of it as well?"</s>	<\|message\|>Tikaani Aput "I'm going on an adventure! I'm going on an adventure!" Tikaani sang to himself as he packed up his stuff into a bag. He had only been here a week, and he was already asked to be part of a group to search for the next Avatar. He was finally going to see the world like he always wanted. He already got to explore the Southern Air temple. It was impressive. "Mom would be so proud if I'm actually successful." Once all his things were packed, he threw his bag over his shoulder, and grined. "Yep, all set!" He left the barracks, and after refilling his canteen with water, he made his way to the stables. It was cold outside, but since he lived in the South Pole, he was used to this kind of weather. The young waterbender happily skipped along like everything was right with the world. Once he arrived at the stables, he spotted a guy petting one of the flying bison, and a Fire Nation girl talking to him. That must have been his group. Tikaani bounded over to them. "Hey! Tikaani Aput, waterbender extraordinaire at your service!" He said giving a salute. Then his eyes went wide. "Oh, my gosh! Are we actually going to ride a flying bison?! This is gonna be so exciting!"</s>
<\|description\|>Tikaani Aput TIKAANI APUT Alias: N/A Age: 18 Gender: Male Personality: ● Chatty ● Attention Seeker ● Bubbly ● Optimistic ● Boisterous ● Unfocused ● Impulsive ● Easygoing Background:Tikaani was born in the South Pole, a member of the Southern Water Tribe. Tikaani's father was a warrior, and died in battle when the boy was very young. Thus, the boy has little to no memories of him. All he knows about his father are some photographs his mother had, as well as things his mother told him. For the majority of his life, it was only Tikaani and his mother, and Tikanni was responsible for a lot of household things while his mother worked as a healer in the village. Primariy fishing, and cooking meals. He would go out on boat rides with his uncle on his mother's side to catch fish, and diving for sea prunes and fresh seaweed. His uncle also taught him how to navigate and steer a boat, because Water Tribesman should be able to navigate the seas. His mother however was the one that taught him to cook. The boy really liked to eat, and she felt it best that he learn to make his own meals sometimes. His cheerful and upbeat persona made Tikaani popular with his peers. He found it very easy to make friends with people. In between his chores, he made time to play with the other younger children in the village, whom he thought of as siblings. He particularly enjoyed going Penguin Sledding with them, although he was often the one who had to make sure the other kids didn't hurt the otter penguins. While he was happy at home, Tikaani has always wanted to leave his small settlement in the South Pole, see the rest of the world, and potentially have a cool adventure. Mainly because he got bored with the day-to-day routine at home. Tikaani finally found some excitement in his life when he learned he was a Waterbender at the age of 12. He found out while he was watching his mother bend, and imitating her movements for fun. Obviously, he didn't have much control of it at that time, and the end result was Tikaani getting wet. After that, he trained with Waterbending masters in the tribe, as well as his own mother to hone his skill. Surprisingly, Tikaani took to bending rather quickly. Even though the masters didn't particularly care when the boy referred to it as 'cool water magic.' His boundless joy and enthusiasm overwhelmed a lot of the people who tried to teach him. He got bored with studying and often just wanted to play. The ones who actually mananged to hold his interest were his mother, and Nukka, the Chief of the southern tribe. He learned a lot during his lessons and became a skilled Waterbender. At 14 years was the age when a boy takes part in the Southern Water tribe rite of passage of ice dodging. This was usually something a boy did with his father, but Tikaani's father was dead. Fortunately, there was a reason why his uncle taught him to sail a boat when he was younger. He took Tikaani out to sea, and had to guide the boat through iceberg infested waters. It was difficult but Tikaani managed to do it, and he earned himself a Mark of the Trusted on his forehead for proving to be exceptionally steady and dependable. When he turned 18, Tikaani decided that he learned all he could in his small village. He wanted to leave the South Pole, see the rest of the world. He did after all know how to sail and could Waterbend like no one's business. His mother was hesitant to let her only child go off into the world all by himself. After all she did lose her husband, and couldn't live with herself if she lost her son too. She had to be convinced to let him go. Both by her brother and Chief Nukka. She was the one who gave Tikaani his membership into The Order of the White Lotus. This way, Tikaani could travel and see the rest of the world, but he would have an organization to keep him safe. His mother was put at ease by this. So, reluctantly, and with a tearful good-bye, she let her son go. Tikaani promised his mother he would return someday.</s> <\|message\|>Ayuka Eiruni Ayuka got on Yuya in stunned silence. How had she not recognized her leader when she first saw him?! Just what did that reflect on her? She took a silent deep breath. Just, had to prove herself a worthy member on the team. Or at least, more worthy than the puppy-peacock they had on their hands. What had his name been again? Tikaani Aput? Her leader, Haoran Li, at least seemed to have not taken any offense. Even seemed, kind of friendly as they rode on. Though, of course that could change on the field... After Brother Bik said his piece, she inclined her head. "As will I. I know fire nation lands. I can assist that way in our search. What places in particular have been rumored to contain the Avatar?"</s> <\|message\|>Tikaani Aput Once the group was assmbled, the group boarded the Bison, and away they went. Tikaani looked over the edge, and appreciated the view from how high up they were. He threw his arms up in the air. "WAHOO! This is so much fun!" He looked towards the others in his group. They didn't appear to be as excited about flying on a real life flying bison as he was. They were having a discussion amongst themselves. "Yes yes. We'll find the Avatar. All will be well." Tikaani added. "I'm a Waterbending extraordinaire! I capable of pulling my own weight." He made some movements with his arms, and produced a small stream of water from the clouds. They were just water and air after all. "See? Nothing to worry about." He made more arm movements and swirled the water around himself. Then, he smirked, stuck out his arm. And splashed the Fire Nation girl with the water he was bending. "Oh my gosh! I am so sorry!" He said, feigning surprise. "Although, you looked like you needed to chill a little anyway!" The Water Tribesman giggled. "Anyway, can we talk about the fact that we're actually on a flying bison having the adventure of a lifetime?" Tikaani's eyes went wide. "Just look at the view from up here!"</s> <\|message\|>Hinra Langtei Even though it wasn't shown on her face, Hinra was very much this close to soiling her clothes. Like some of her peers, it was also her first time riding a flying bison. She closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air to calm her nerves as she felt her heart beating so fast, she felt like it was about to burst out of her chest. She wanted to scream her heart out but she couldn't, not when she was with company. She was so wrapped up in her fear that she almost forgot that she was not alone on Yuya if her group didn't speak up. Hinra never met any of these people prior to their assembly so she was also curious as to what they were like. She opened her eyes just as Hao, an Airbender and their de-facto leader, spoke about his feelings and thoughts to the whole group. He seemed to look like the typical leader: serious and steadfast with a aura of kindness surrounding him. He's probably the most reasonable one among all of them. Bik looked like the enlightened type, one who's always spewing out words of wisdom to his peers whether he was asked about it or not. He probably meant it with good intentions and besides, he gave off an 'approachable mentor' type of vibe. There were Ayuka who was more of a serious type and Tikaani who was the goofy, go-with-the-flow type of person. They were complete opposites of each other and Hinra feared that this would not bode well for their group. Case in point: Tikaani used his waterbending and accidentally made Ayuka wet. Hinra just rolled her eyes and sighed as she proceeded to get a dry towel for Ayuka to use, putting it on her lap while secretly hoping they wouldn't notice her shaky hands before the young non-bending woman spoke, while also hoping they won't sense the fear in her voice. "I may not be a bender like the rest of you but I assure you that I will not be a burden in our group. I will also help in any way I can so you can all count on it." Hinra said before closing her eyes to calm her nerves again which seemed to the group that she was meditating.</s> <\|message\|>Haoran "Hao" Li Easing into his team atop of Yuya was a transition in itself. They were even more colorful than he imagined. Acknowledging his team, Hao replied to Ayuka's question. "Shu Jing is our first stop, otherwise the rumors are spreading like wildfire throughout the Fire Nation. Nothing is concrete as of yet." As he finished answering her question, the young waterbender began showing off his skills, conjuring a stream of water and splashing the girl. "Oh great," Haoran thought to himself, but as quickly as the situation started, the quiet Hinra chimed in assisting in diffusing the situation with a bit of kindness. "You're a member of the White Lotus for a reason." The young commander said, reassuring the girl. "I trust you're skills are just as sharp as ours, bender or not."</s> <\|message\|>Ayuka Eiruni Ayuka took the towel with a quick "Thanks." Then used that and a bit of warming of the air to dry herself off while she glared at Tikaani. If he thought he was going to get away with this, he had another thing coming. This meant war. But how to best respond? Without seeming that unprofessional? She really didn't want her new leader to think any less of her. She focused her attention back on Haoran, prepared for whatever he'd next say while keeping Tikaani in the corner of her eye and giving the towel back to, what was her name...that's right, Hinra! Then as she focused on Haoran, hands behind her, she heated up a puff of air without it turning to flame and sent it towards Tikaani's stupid face.</s> <\|message\|>Hinra Langtei Hinra looked at their leader. She imagined his age won't be that far off hers yet he spoke more maturely than her. Then again, Brother Bik spoke like a very mature and educated man too. She was sure her peers have accomplished more things than her at their age. She forgot about her fear of heights for a second when she thought more of the differences between them. Perhaps she should have heeded her parents' request to go out and explore the world when she was younger. Would she have turn out to be a different person than she was now if did that? "Thank you for your kind words and for putting your trust in me. I promise that I won't let you all down." She said to him before nodding in respect to her peers, getting the towel back from Ayuka once she's done. Hinra gulped down her fear when she remembered they were still high up in the air as Ayuka blew hot air at Tikaani's face. "Hmmm... Now that I think about it, you all have shown what kind of bending you do. It's only natural for me to share what I can do too." Hinra looked down at her open palm before closing it to form a fist. "My people were not born with the ability to control the elements like you all. Because of that, we needed to seek other ways of honing our skills to defend ourselves when danger came. We needed to be creative in order to survive." Hinra then looked up at her peers. "Simply put, I can do what is called 'chi blocking'. I can strike certain points to make a part of the body or the whole body paralyzed. I can also block certain chi paths in the bender's body to make them unable to bend for a time. I can make them move again and regain the flow of their chi too." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "So yeah, that is what I can do. I also know how to cook too so there's that." Hinra said, realizing she had said more words to people other than her family more than what she intended to, making her blush a bit and look at the horizon. If her parents were here, they will be very proud of their daughter finally opening up to others nad making friends, one step at a time.</s> <\|message\|>Seung Bik Brother Bik Seung Bik smiled and bowed to Haoran from where he sat, "We shall endeavour to not let you down Brother Li. We all bring something interesting to the table one could say. We are White Lotus it's true. And our range of Bending will triumph I'm sure." He bows his head to Haoran Li respectfully. He looks up in time to see their Waterbender Tikaani splashed their Firebender Ayuka. He chuckled, "And thus it begins." He chuckled a little more and turned to study the Sky bison somemore. But Hinra caught his attention. And upon revealing her talents. Bik had quite suddenly scuttled forward, "Wait, Sister Hinra are you saying what I think you are saying?" He looked at her, "You're a Chi Blocker?" Seung has the biggest grin on his face, "A real Chi Blocker, I can honestly admit and with great humility, that I have not yet had the chance to meet one of your folk. I've read much of you. In the journals and stories from Avatar Aang and Avatar Korra's times of course, but to actually meet one." He pulled back realizing he's gone into utter fanboy-scholar mode, "Ah your pardon. Perhaps while we're out here we can discuss your abilities? To add some more first hand knowledge on the Chi Blockers, and maybe experiment how your skill work first hand, yes I indeed mean you can smack me around abit. I hope you will grant me the honor of chronicling you and your abilities some Sister Hinra." He bows to her respectfully.</s>	<\|message\|>Tikaani Aput Tikaani suddnly felt a puff of hot air hit his face. That could have only come from one person. He wasn't upset about it though. Tikaani simply giggled to himself. He had expected her to yell at him in front of everybody, and just make everything awkward. The fire girl had a sense of humor after all. That was good. Travelling with a stick in the mud was no fun. Hinra revealed she was a chi blocker, and Tikaani's eyes went wide. "You're a chi blocker? Remind me not to get on your bad side. He was more interested in the fact that she could cook too. Tikaani loved food. "Ooh, I can cook too. Although... I'll admit, Water tribe cuisine isn't for everybody. Not everyone appreciates a good two headed fish soup the way I do!"</s>
<\|description\|>Seung Bik Seung Bik Alias: Coppercore Age: 28 Gender: Male Personality: ● Gruff ● Careful ● Straight-forward ● Unbelieving ● Caring ● Worrying ● Forthright ● Protective Background: It's a fairly well known fact that Earth Kingdom citizens are not the most spiritually inclined of the four nations. As their Benders tend to be very earthy in their ideals. And them being so diverse culturally, as let's face it the Earth Kingdom is the most massive of all the other nations, well there are so many beliefs and cultural nuances it's hard to adhere to just one system. But there is something that the Benders find very inclined to keep. It's the varying styles of Earth Bending, that give life to Earth bending. So Bik went to great lengths to gather all the literature, pictures and evidence of all the varying styles of Earth bending. Finding manuscripts on lava, sand and metal bending. Finding books written by this or that Avatar, finding one of Toph Beifong's own metal whip assemblies. He even found a very obscure mention of Mud-Bending and it's applications among both Earth Benders and Water Benders. Seung did his level best to create a repository of all things Earth Bending and its variations. He did this all between the ages of 18 and 26. Devoted to his quest to make sure Earth Bending has a archive of it's intricacies and the various arts and details. Seung for all this is a passable Earth Bender. And had to find and even hire people who had ability in the variations of Earth Bending to keep them alive. The repository eventually became something of an unofficial academy and temple and with the help of much older benders, it became a place for all earth Benders to come together. It took him almost 8 years to do this. And by the age of 26 he'd managed to create something for all Earth Benders. He spent a year curating and care taking the Academy of Earth-Bending Arts. It was this dedication that got him an invite to the White Lotus Society. His dogged, and let's face it, very Earth Bender approach to perserving the Earth Bending ways, well it got the notice of the WLS. He had worked in the Academy for a mere year after his personal quest before the White Lotus Society asked him to join. They wanted to help him, and in turn he was invited to become a junior member of the Society and continue his work within the Society and at the Academy for Earth Bending Arts as it'd come to be known.</s> <\|message\|>Tikaani Aput "I'm going on an adventure! I'm going on an adventure!" Tikaani sang to himself as he packed up his stuff into a bag. He had only been here a week, and he was already asked to be part of a group to search for the next Avatar. He was finally going to see the world like he always wanted. He already got to explore the Southern Air temple. It was impressive. "Mom would be so proud if I'm actually successful." Once all his things were packed, he threw his bag over his shoulder, and grined. "Yep, all set!" He left the barracks, and after refilling his canteen with water, he made his way to the stables. It was cold outside, but since he lived in the South Pole, he was used to this kind of weather. The young waterbender happily skipped along like everything was right with the world. Once he arrived at the stables, he spotted a guy petting one of the flying bison, and a Fire Nation girl talking to him. That must have been his group. Tikaani bounded over to them. "Hey! Tikaani Aput, waterbender extraordinaire at your service!" He said giving a salute. Then his eyes went wide. "Oh, my gosh! Are we actually going to ride a flying bison?! This is gonna be so exciting!"</s> <\|message\|>Seung Bik Seung Bik It's an interesting thing, the south that is. The Southern Air Temple is a wonderful place, he read the history abit before he was called down here. A place of great historical significance really, where the great Avatar Aang had called home before sealing himself away, along with his mentor Monk Gyatso. It is also where Avatar Roku had trained in Airbending. It's a spectacular place to say the least. And upon Seung Bik, known as Brother Bik, the somewhat known young man who had endeavoured for years collecting lore, transcripts and materials on Earth Bending, arrival to the temple, he'd immediately more or less made his home in the temple library and archives. Learning everything he could. Reading accounts of Avatar Aang, and Roku, of Earth Benders who had visited and left anecdotes. Learning everything he could, wishing to add what he learns to the respositories at the Earth Bending Temple and Academy when he returned, or perhaps sending notes back while he's traveling. It had not been too long ago that he'd been told that he'd be joining a team of benders and non benders to go out looking for the new Avatar. The cycle of Avatars had continued of course. Avatar Korra may have disconnected from her past lives, but that didn't mean the status of Avatar would not continue. Avatar Ria showed that after all, may her soul rest well. And now, the Fire Nation has another chance at producing an Avatar. It's interesting to see how this has sparked new events in the world. Some holding their breath and waiting for the reveal, others, well he's head tell of Earth Bender mercenaries being sent out to find and well, it's not good. A dark pall on his efforts to create a place for Earth Bending and students of Earth Bending sent out to murder. He's setting down a manuscript when he feels a tug at his shirt elbow. He turns to find a White Lotus initiate there. A young girl in initiate robes. She bows shyly, "Brother Bik, the call to assemble has been made, your team is likely waiting for you." Seung looks up at the water clock nearby and gasps, "Ah! I had missed the time. Thank you young friend, can you see to these scrolls for me. I must hurry." He grabs the duffle bag at the foot of his chair and races off. Once outside he turns to look at the stables, my but it would take awhile to run there. So he looks around to make sure no one is nearby, and planting himself, and with a powerful push, a pillar of stone launches him into the air, he sails up, up, over the wall to the stable and as he comes down he tenses and thrusts his hand down the ground coming up and he settles down into the softened ground, moments later he's standing on flat ground. Looking back as another Earth Bender with the White Lotus puts his launch site to rights and gives him a look of amusement. Seung looks to the Water, Fire and Air benders already there. He takes a step forward and it's only then that karma strikes, he trips, and faceplants on the slightly cracked ground of where he landed. He sighs, "Of course, wonderful first impression Seung..." With a push and the help of a small rock pillar he stands back up then bows, "Pardon my stumble, Seung Bik, Brother Bik if you like, or if informal, Coppercore, Earth Bender at your services." He straightens up and looks all those here already over, "Interesting. We are such a diverse group."</s> <\|message\|>Hinra Langtei Hinra was long awake even before the others did. She already packed all her stuff in her bags the night before so she wouldn't have to do it in a hassle and forget something. As the sun began to rise on the horizon, she placed a mat on the ground outside of her room and meditated, closing her eyes and channeling the spirits of the universe within her while she breathed in the cool dawn air. It had been a habit of hers to wake up early in the morning and meditate so she could welcome the day in bright spirits but her mind was addled with fear and nervousness. This was also the day that she will join a group of White Lotus members on their own expedition to find the new Avatar. The girl focused her thoughts once more and breathed deeply, letting her doubts flow out of her system like a breeze. As much as she didn't want to do it, she figured she had no choice of the matter. Once her parents set their mind on something, nothing could change it. In reality, Hinra's parents have been very lax in raising her. They let her do things at her own pace and let her decide on her own at some times so she could grow more as a person. This expedition was the only thing her parents asked of her to do in her whole life yet and she knew that this will help contribute to her growth. Besides, she trusted her parents' judgment. Still, she couldn't get the feeling of apprehension off of her. She was so used to feeling calm and collected almost every day so the thought of just doing something that's out of her comfort zone has made her feel uneasy which was foreign for her. She could also feel this weird twinge of emotion just behind doubt. Was she feeling... excitement? Either way, Hinra figured she wouldn't have to waste any more time here. She didn't want to make her teammates wait longer than they should and set off a bad first impression. She stood up and picked up her mat, returned to her chambers to pick up her bag so she could leave. Well, she took in one final deep breath before leaving completely. She was informed that they will meet at a flying bison stable and she could hear voices coming from inside as she neared it. She found four people already there, one female and three males. All of them looked different from each other so this was a pretty diverse team in her eyes. She also saw what looked like the flying bison their group will be riding on for the entirety of their mission. All animals were adorable in Hinra's eyes and flying bisons were just on the same level of cuteness of koala sheeps, otter penguins, and turtle ducks. "Hinra Longtei. Pleased to make your acquaintance." She said formally to the group before nodding her head politely in greeting. Even though they haven't left yet, Hinra could tell this mission was going to change her life for good.</s> <\|message\|>Haoran "Hao" Li As his team arrived, Hao turned to face them replacing the soft, gentle smile that he gave Yuya into a more stern frown. He didn't picture them being so rag-tag, but inside he was happy that they didn't really notice who he was and question him about it, at least not yet. Raising his arm, he gave the air bison beside him another loving pet. "I'm Haoran Li and this is Yuya." "If there aren't any other questions and if you're all ready, we can start getting aboard with your things." Hao said as he signaled to the team to climb the rope ladder on the side of Yuya. This was his first time leading a real team and the anxiety he felt was through the roof, but he was a pro when it came to keeping a straight face, something he picked up from the nervousness his family always gave him. As the team all settled onto the large saddle firmly attached on the back of the air bison, Hao took the reins, still with a firm, yet blank stare. "Hold on tight, our destination is a few hours out, so please get comfortable." Slightly whipping Yuya's reins, the sky bison took off, mooing loudly as they lifted into the air. His team was made up of four benders, all from differing nations and a non-bender. First impressions were important to Hao as he reflected on each person and remembering what their files had said. All four members of Hao's team were proficient in their bending and combat, which was something he was happy to read up on. Ayuka Eiruni was said to be quite the hot-headed Fire Bender, but an extremely skilled fighter. Tikaani was energetic and from their first meeting, Hao hoped that energy and curiosity transferred into him proving himself as he and Ayuka were two of the younger and newer members on the team. Seung Bik on the other hand was more known in the White Lotus, having joined them at a later age than most recruits. He had created an academy of sorts or research center where others could learn Earth Bending techniques, something Hao was envious when he had heard about his story. Hao hoped he could rely on Brother Bik as he was more experienced in the world, but knew he had to earn the respect of him and the rest of his team. Last was Hinra Langtei, the only non-bender on the team. Hao didn't know much about her and she left him without a real impression, something he would have to figure out as their journey went on. Feeling the breeze rush across his body, the air bender slightly turned, half facing his team. "I know we just met, but I want to express how grateful I am to have you all here. We have a lot of work to do and this assignment isn't the easiest one out there for a first mission for most of you." Hao said. "I've been in your shoes before, but I want to let you all know that if you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to ask." Hao wanted to make sure his team knew that he could be a nice guy underneath the grumpy rest face he carried. Most of the time he was cold and distant, sure, and there were plenty of rumors that he had his head up his ass, thinking he was better than the rest. But there were times he could be quite kind towards others.</s>	<\|message\|>Seung Bik Brother Bik looked over the group then to the Airbender, Haoran Li if he remembered the letter he had been sent before being told to report here. It's interesting to see, he hadn't known who would be on the team, but since he joined he'd heard of the Li family. Members of the Lotus for who knows how many generations at this time, and Haoran being the most recent addition from the family. He bows in greeting then climbing up onto the sky bison. With a grin Bik pats the saddle then reached over and runs a hand over the fur of the great creatures back, "Amazing." And soon out comes a small notebook as he jotes down his observations, "An Air Bison, since the full return of the Air Nomads, one can see them alot more often. But to be up close. I spend too much time at the Academy, they are a rarity there you see." He nods to the group. Bik hums curiously, observing and trying to memorize faces, he's barely been a member of the Lotus for a year. Everything is still new to him as well. He'd never been called for missions before. Let alone on the all important mission to find the Avatar. As they took flight he hummed and coughed, "So, it's a pleasure to meet you all. And I look forward to working with you all on this adventure we're all going on. I'm sure between us and the other teams out there we'll be able to locate our new avatar. We're all White Lotus we can do this together. I'll do my best to be of use."</s>
<\|description\|>JeimSeu Igawzi Created by Harumi Shirayama on Pinterest \| JeimSeu stands an average 5'7" and weighs 136 lbs with a swimmer build. His hair is shoulder length now. Age: 17 Nationality: Filipino-Korean Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Tahimik na Pagninilay (Quiet Meditation) Tahimik na Pagninilay is about 5 feet in length. It is classified as a "polearm" weapon. Although heavy compared to other weapons, it is incredibly light in the right hands. The blade almost resembles glass or some sort of crystal. Noble Arm Abilities: Aside from the abilities listed below, Jeim can move the weapon without touching it. It is completely in tune with his mind. He can sense it even if he is separated from it, and the weapon will come to him when called. It has immense physical properties, able to move through matter by vibrating intensely or slicing through the hardest of matter. The Noble Arm allows him full control over sound and vibrations, and the spectrum therein. Below are just three of the skills he has acquired with training but is not limited to only these three. Quiet Negation: By focusing the innate powers of the weapon, JeimSeu can produce a field around him or anyone he chooses. This field of sonic vibration matches the specific vibration of incoming projectiles/abilities and dampens them to the point that negation occurs no matter how strong the attack. If it is a physical attack, the enemy is cast away like feedback and may receive laceration damage. This ability can only be used twice, after which a recharge period of 24 hours is needed to use again. Catostrophic Reverberation: By matching the sonic vibration to different matter that he strikes with his Noble Arm, Jeim can effectively cleave through it seemingly effortlessly. When facing other Noble Arms, this technique causes the other weapons to deflect like a magnet. Embodiment of Sound: Channeling the immense power of his Noble Arm, Jeim becomes the pure embodiment of sound and vibration. He becomes intangible to physical abilities, but is still susceptible to elemental abilities, although the damage he takes is dampened. Jeim can only maintain this form for at most 5 minutes max. His body, when overexerted, will become covered in lacerations. A recharge period of 24 hours is necessary to use the ability for 5 minutes. Accessing this skill before the recharge time can result in damage to the body. Personality: Jeim is very open to those he meets, but he likes to keep a low profile. Trust is something that is earned and not easily given. He is very cautious of those around him and will tend to shrink back his bubbly personality when facing someone new. Jeim is an extrovert and loves to have fun and is very sassy. He tries very hard not to allow his dark past to overshadow the future he wants to build. Jeim can be seen singing while strutting down the hallways of the school or training his body and martial skills. He has a dark side that shows up if he is tested by someone he doesn't like or by someone who has ill will against him. Likes: Music, Cooking, Training, Reading, His Feminine Features, Fashion. Dislikes: Foolish Behavior, Unnecessary Destruction, Irrationally Loud People, Judgement. Fears: Dying Alone, Failure, Normalcy. Bio: JeimSeu was born to a Filipino father and a Korean mother. His mother is an actress who travels a lot, leaving his father to take care of him. His father is a martial artist who has his own studio and is also a businessman. JeimSeu was raised to be tough and to stand tall among those around him. His father dislikes his feminine side while his mother embraces it and nurtures it. Because of his feminine side, his father trained him relentlessly hoping that it would somehow remove the feminine side of his son, but it only caused it to grow. Within the pain and heartache of not knowing if his father loved him, Jeim found his passion for fashion. It was through the outward expressions that he was able to live, thrive, and smile. All good things must eventually come to an end. During a walk home from school, Jeim was attacked. He didn't know how he called forth the Noble Arm, or how he managed to escape. All he remembered was seeing the agonizing look on the faces of the three boys who had attacked him. They were clutching their heads, screaming out in pain. Jeim rushed home afterward too scared to tell anyone. Even though he thought no one saw, someone was paying attention. The first visit was the most bizarre. He could remember the man's face. Handsome. Tall. Beautiful tanned skin. Jeim was infatuated at a young age over the mere presence of this man. The man spoke with his father on the first visit, but whatever he said to his father, Jeim remembered the curse words that spewed from his father's mouth. Each visit was more cautious and planned. The man visited him after school and on his route home. It became a normal occurrence for Jeim. Then the day came that the man revealed who he was. He told Jeim he was part of an organization known as the Hammer of Masters and that there were others like him. Jeim didn't believe it, but one day the man took Jeim to meet the members of the organization. Jeim was shocked to be around others like him. The man smiled as he watched Jeim talk to the other members until he could no longer. His father barely noticed him missing, but his mother called every chance she got and was happy to know that he'd found a friend, even if she didn't know about the gift. Shortly after being introduced, Jeim started training with the unnamed man. He was told how much his Noble Arm was needed, and how much stronger he would be if he focused on training the abilities of the weapon. Jeim was hesitant but took on to the training with fair ease. His father still had no clue about anything, and only realized he was missing when he hadn't seen him for a couple of days. The day his father witnessed his Noble Arm display was the day he sent him to Trinidad Academy in hopes that no one would find out. JeimSeu holds a bitter resentment towards his father and has dark thoughts that plague him. PS: The Man's name is Anton Riverez, a high member of the Hammers. *Current Goal: Assassination of an Important Figure. Student Rank: 132</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- Oscar decided today might be a good day to double up on his exercises and language learning, so he took a quick stroll down to the library to see how much audio books would cost. He saw that everything, not just the audio books, seemed to require you to rent the facilities. Thankfully the money he saved and given would clear him for quite a bit of time as the exchange rates were in his favor. Oh, thank you capitalism! You saved me this day! Was all that ran through his head as he had a big grin, not for the fact he was thinking something perverted. He has this smile when he is saving money, being highly efficient, or he is just in a good mood. Yet it seems to have given him a bad rep with people as they think he is thinking of perverted thoughts as he is just doing normal tasks. As he began looking through the library he asked some librarians where the English and Filipino audio books were and was directed quickly. As he was walking he was looking up which ones are the best, so he can try and learn the language as fast as he could. Oscar was excited to learn another language, after all to learn a new language means he would be able to understand the stories and culture better here. With that it would be a whole new level of mythology he would start to get to understand. Oh the excitement is just hard to contain, I wonder how long it would take me to learn the language? Hopefully not too long. While Oscar was walking, he noticed the School Paper near by and knew it had an English and Filipino/Tagalog, so he decided to read it and learn as he caught up on the news and walked towards the audio books. It seemed to speak of the coming visit by the two members of the Philippine Senate, Bam Aquino/Benigno Aquino the IVth and Samira Gutoc. "Hmm, this doesn't seem too fun. We'll probably have to sit through some speech and then some poor saps will have to accompany them", but Oscar shrugs as he then says, "Eh, not my problem I suppose". As he sets down the paper and began to continue towards the audio books in hopes of finding a good one before they are all gone.</s> <\|message\|>Henry Durand --- Henry --- Henry usually focused on his running when he was exercising but today was a different. He had 2 thoughts that kept running through his mind. Swimming and learning Filipino. His run would randomly stop as he would just end up looking towards the pool thinking that would be such nice exercise. Mix that with his halfhearted attempt at practicing greetings led to a bit of an awkward spectacle. Eventually, Henry finished his run and took seat under a tree to rest a bit and try to clear his thought. I guess I'll try to take care of the things I can. Henry hops up onto his feet then leaps to a sturdy tree branch and begins to do one armed pull ups, switching off every 20. Okay, so Virgil Vazquez is the one renting the pool right now. I could just go ahead and ask him if i could use the pool. I even heard he has been letting normal people in! Wait wait, What if it's a trap to get more cronies? Do I mind being one of his goons. Henry switches from pull ups to upside down crunches. I mean if he is a upstanding guy I don't think it would be that bad. He hops off when he is done and decides to go and talk to him. the best way to figure things out is to be direct. The problem is he has no idea where Virgil is. Henry just decides to jog around until he finds him.</s> <\|message\|>Vane Wilson Vane --- It was an early morning. A schedule that Vane still hasn't adjusted to even after a week has passed in the first semester. He just finished up the required daily rituals and was lazily taking a walk. A yawn slipped out of his mouth. He made no moves to cover it up. He was slightly annoyed that he couldn't use the training facilities due to a certain Virgil; however, it wasn't all that bad. He can just train his body with push-ups, squats, and daily jogs. "Might as well go inside the building." The sound of a fight made him curiously turn his head towards that direction. He was greeted by the impact of two people running into him. The surprise of it almost knocked him down, but he balanced himself to view the conflict. "A two-on-five?" It seemed like a nice potential fight for him to get involved in. If he were to go all in on it, the best option would be to turn all of them on him. He thought for just a split second before acting like a busybody. He got in the way of those students running towards the other two that crashed into him. "Come on now. You guys don't need to fight this early in the morning, right? You can just save it for sparring." He cheerfully smiled at everyone even though his heart wasn't in it this early in the day. His tired eyes were clearly visible to those who were even mildly perceptive.</s>	<\|message\|>JeimSeu Igawzi Jeimseu the Silent Assassin --- Jeim, if anything, was punctual. He stood in front of a training dummy shirtless. He was always the first one awake. He would go to bed around 8 or 9 pm and would be up and functioning by 5 am. Today he would forgo breakfast and prayer and would focus on training his body as he often did. He focused his breathing, remembering what the older man would tell him. "Who are you?" he would ask Jeim. "I am the bringer of silence." Jeim would respond. "What is your purpose?" "To silence opposition." "How will you do this?" "By any means necessary." Jeim had struck the wooden dummy so hard it had caused splinters to break off. His muscles rippled with every punch that collided. His mind went back to his past. Training day in and out, his father not caring where he was or who he was with. The man was the epitome of a worthless father. Had it not been for his mother, Jeim would have run away long ago. Being at Trinidad Academy was his way of getting away from his no good father. The only downside is that he didn't get to see his mother as much as he'd like, and he missed HIM. The very man who was like an older brother to him, showing him and guiding him. If it had not been for that man he wouldn't know what this strange gift was. Jeim flipped away from the wooden dummy after landing a well placed kick. His noble arms appeared, falling into his open hand with a soft thud. Jeim lifted the blade and smirked. With one swing, sound burst forth in an arc, visible only to the trained eye. It struck the wooden dummy and dispersed. Jeim stood up slowly from his crouched position and watched as the dummy slowly fell to the ground in two pieces. His noble arm vanished from his hand as he heard footsteps coming. "Strange, I am normally the only one here," he said softly as he moved to grab his shirt. That was when he heard the voice. It was calm and informative. Jeim listened with his eyes closed, an odd smile on his face. Whoever planned to betray him would suffer, just as the others suffered. He grabbed his shirt and moved towards the showers. There wasn't enough time in a day for all of this, but Jeim always made sure to get as much training as he possibly could. Training developed one's abilities and as such allowed one to grow stronger.</s>
<\|description\|>JeimSeu Igawzi Created by Harumi Shirayama on Pinterest \| JeimSeu stands an average 5'7" and weighs 136 lbs with a swimmer build. His hair is shoulder length now. Age: 17 Nationality: Filipino-Korean Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Tahimik na Pagninilay (Quiet Meditation) Tahimik na Pagninilay is about 5 feet in length. It is classified as a "polearm" weapon. Although heavy compared to other weapons, it is incredibly light in the right hands. The blade almost resembles glass or some sort of crystal. Noble Arm Abilities: Aside from the abilities listed below, Jeim can move the weapon without touching it. It is completely in tune with his mind. He can sense it even if he is separated from it, and the weapon will come to him when called. It has immense physical properties, able to move through matter by vibrating intensely or slicing through the hardest of matter. The Noble Arm allows him full control over sound and vibrations, and the spectrum therein. Below are just three of the skills he has acquired with training but is not limited to only these three. Quiet Negation: By focusing the innate powers of the weapon, JeimSeu can produce a field around him or anyone he chooses. This field of sonic vibration matches the specific vibration of incoming projectiles/abilities and dampens them to the point that negation occurs no matter how strong the attack. If it is a physical attack, the enemy is cast away like feedback and may receive laceration damage. This ability can only be used twice, after which a recharge period of 24 hours is needed to use again. Catostrophic Reverberation: By matching the sonic vibration to different matter that he strikes with his Noble Arm, Jeim can effectively cleave through it seemingly effortlessly. When facing other Noble Arms, this technique causes the other weapons to deflect like a magnet. Embodiment of Sound: Channeling the immense power of his Noble Arm, Jeim becomes the pure embodiment of sound and vibration. He becomes intangible to physical abilities, but is still susceptible to elemental abilities, although the damage he takes is dampened. Jeim can only maintain this form for at most 5 minutes max. His body, when overexerted, will become covered in lacerations. A recharge period of 24 hours is necessary to use the ability for 5 minutes. Accessing this skill before the recharge time can result in damage to the body. Personality: Jeim is very open to those he meets, but he likes to keep a low profile. Trust is something that is earned and not easily given. He is very cautious of those around him and will tend to shrink back his bubbly personality when facing someone new. Jeim is an extrovert and loves to have fun and is very sassy. He tries very hard not to allow his dark past to overshadow the future he wants to build. Jeim can be seen singing while strutting down the hallways of the school or training his body and martial skills. He has a dark side that shows up if he is tested by someone he doesn't like or by someone who has ill will against him. Likes: Music, Cooking, Training, Reading, His Feminine Features, Fashion. Dislikes: Foolish Behavior, Unnecessary Destruction, Irrationally Loud People, Judgement. Fears: Dying Alone, Failure, Normalcy. Bio: JeimSeu was born to a Filipino father and a Korean mother. His mother is an actress who travels a lot, leaving his father to take care of him. His father is a martial artist who has his own studio and is also a businessman. JeimSeu was raised to be tough and to stand tall among those around him. His father dislikes his feminine side while his mother embraces it and nurtures it. Because of his feminine side, his father trained him relentlessly hoping that it would somehow remove the feminine side of his son, but it only caused it to grow. Within the pain and heartache of not knowing if his father loved him, Jeim found his passion for fashion. It was through the outward expressions that he was able to live, thrive, and smile. All good things must eventually come to an end. During a walk home from school, Jeim was attacked. He didn't know how he called forth the Noble Arm, or how he managed to escape. All he remembered was seeing the agonizing look on the faces of the three boys who had attacked him. They were clutching their heads, screaming out in pain. Jeim rushed home afterward too scared to tell anyone. Even though he thought no one saw, someone was paying attention. The first visit was the most bizarre. He could remember the man's face. Handsome. Tall. Beautiful tanned skin. Jeim was infatuated at a young age over the mere presence of this man. The man spoke with his father on the first visit, but whatever he said to his father, Jeim remembered the curse words that spewed from his father's mouth. Each visit was more cautious and planned. The man visited him after school and on his route home. It became a normal occurrence for Jeim. Then the day came that the man revealed who he was. He told Jeim he was part of an organization known as the Hammer of Masters and that there were others like him. Jeim didn't believe it, but one day the man took Jeim to meet the members of the organization. Jeim was shocked to be around others like him. The man smiled as he watched Jeim talk to the other members until he could no longer. His father barely noticed him missing, but his mother called every chance she got and was happy to know that he'd found a friend, even if she didn't know about the gift. Shortly after being introduced, Jeim started training with the unnamed man. He was told how much his Noble Arm was needed, and how much stronger he would be if he focused on training the abilities of the weapon. Jeim was hesitant but took on to the training with fair ease. His father still had no clue about anything, and only realized he was missing when he hadn't seen him for a couple of days. The day his father witnessed his Noble Arm display was the day he sent him to Trinidad Academy in hopes that no one would find out. JeimSeu holds a bitter resentment towards his father and has dark thoughts that plague him. PS: The Man's name is Anton Riverez, a high member of the Hammers. *Current Goal: Assassination of an Important Figure. Student Rank: 132</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- When Oscar began to come over fully, he noticed that Henry seemed off put or even concerned, maybe he doesn't know him. After all, it has been a week since they came here. Knowing the names of all first years is hard, Oscar just knows quite a few people from their prominence or their note worthy looks. However, Henry seemed to have answered quickly with, "Sorry, I really don't know what we are here for either. It's nice to know I was not the only one to show up though." Oscar knew that would be the response, yet it does at least lead into a more sociable topic. Yet, as he was about to speak up and try to strike conversation, someone new came in and started talking, "Oscar Helgrem and Henry Durand right? I'm Jordan Quinn, any idea what is going on? It's kinda strange." Oscar was happy to actually see everyone here, as he would not like to be here and try to protect the senators with them, and hey they could make this as a good experience to maybe make some new friends. He has seen Jordan and he seems like a nice guy, just maybe quiet. They both seem nice, probably very similar, as they act nearly the same. One is just a foot taller than the other. As Oscar was about to speak up again he was interrupted one more time. Oscar does not despise getting cut off he is just getting annoyed now as it happened within literal seconds of each other. Great, I can't say god damn thing. Everyone's timing is so god damn great at interrupting me from trying to speak! As Oscar turned his attention towards the now incoming teacher, as he takes notice of Mr. Cinter. As he realizes that Henry and Mr. Cinter are giants, they could probably take a bullet and just laugh at the bullet. As Mr. Oli began to speak, Oscar began to listen to what he had to say. Alrighty, that was my general idea, good to know that the paper knows more than I do at times. I should read it more, obviously it spreads news like wild fire and anyone can get it. As Oscar thinks through this, Mr. Cinter continues on to explain each of their weapons and Oscar's was first. As Oli immediately gets his Noble Arm wrong, Sword of...truth? I...just won't humor it. Might have been a reading error, who knows? Oscar just chuckles slightly as Mr. Cinter continues as Oscar listens with intent to try and figure out what he is teamed up with. A fist type and a long rifle? Hmm, all we can really say is that we have no worries about close or long range, we just have no defensive Noble Arms, so we will have to hope we thwart all attacks before they start. As now, Mr. Cinter asks them the question they were all waiting for, "...Will you take this opportunity up and watch over the two senators when they arrive later today?" Oscar already knew his answer around 5 minutes ago, yet now with everything set in front of him, he knew he had no true choice, as his own morals wouldn't let him. To leave two people unprotected, was already a no brainer, yet when it could help with the school and the Arms masters in-training here it became something he had to do. As Oscar realizes that he is the last to respond to Mr. Cinter, he gives out a slight chuckle andrubs the back of his head, "Well I guess I would look lame if I didn't take up the mantle. I'll help protect the senators." Oscar had a small smile as he said this. Not realizing he had it, yet knew well enough this is a step towards his goals and dream. Just taking his first steps forward. @BigPapaBelial</s> <\|message\|>Jordan Quinn Oli Cinter and Jordan Quinn Jordan grinned broadly and pumped his fist. Not because this situation is amazing, no, more that he gets to use his Noble Arm in a situation that he can actually test what he's been learning here in the Academy. Shooting at targets and bottles is one thing, but this time he'll be able to see how his Arm works when it's actually in a situation where it counts. Targets and bottles don't move very much after all. He takes a deep breath, "Alright...so...what now?" He looks at the two other students, no his teammates, then back at Coach Cinter. Oli for his part is nodding slowly and it looks like a weight has been taken off his shoulders. He relaxes a little, "For now you three, go about your days as usual." Internally Oli is spinning in circles and yelling victoriously I got all three! Aw yeah I rock!, is the thought in his head at that moment, but he keeps a straight face, "I need to alert the Director about your agreement to the assignment. When the times comes to stand too, I or another, more like myself, will email you with an alert to get into position when the time comes. For now, you three, maybe stick around get to know each other." He grins, "And thank you, sincerely and deeply, for taking on this mission gentlemen. We can consider this a huge step in the right direction for yourselves, the school and for Noble Arms everywhere. I'll leave you be and go and alert the Director." He winks at the three turns on his heel and tromps off. Jordan blinks, "Well, umm I'll be honest, I've only ever seen the two of you at a distance. So uh, "I'm Jordan Quinn, from Alberta Canada, it's great to meet you." He hums then takes a deep breath and holds out his hand, that walnut finish, silver and platinum musket appearing in his outstretched hand, "And this, is La Longue Carabine, named after a great Mohawk scout way back during colonization. So I guess I'm our long range option in all this." He smiles, "So, yeah pleased to meet you both." He spun his Noble Arm up onto his shoulder, resting it over his right shoulder almost casually. @dragonpiece Oli jogged down the halls carefully, weaving through early bird students heading to class early or too other venues as the time for class draws nearer. Up he goes, towards the Director's office. Checking the time, his first class isn't for awhile yet, so he has time. Taking the stairs three at a time until with a hop, and a little skip step he stops at the Directors door. Straightening his coat and the shirt under it he reaches up and raps on the door, calling through it, "Director? It's me Oliver Cinter, I have an update for you." Bee</s>	<\|message\|>JeimSeu Igawzi Jeimseu the Bringer of Silence --- Jeim had made it into the shower room when he felt the presence of another. This wasn't the normal routine he was used to, but it wouldn't stop him from showering and getting ready for the rest of his day. Jeimseu had no intention of talking to the guy who had strolled casually into his space, but when he mentioned someone named Virgil, his ears opened to the possibility of this older guy having information he may find useful. Jeim turned to look at Malenkov. He watched him remove articles of clothing and toss them into a basket. He seemed to be waiting on Jeim to do the same. Smirking, he continued to listen to him while slowly removing piece by piece of his attire, folding it neatly before stepping underneath the showerhead. Jeim's body was toned from all the training he did over the years. He wasn't a stick figure, and he felt good about his appearance. He didn't let others bring down his mood with their opinions of him or his appearance. As he listened to Malenkov, he raised an eyebrow. So this was the help he was supposed to have when the time came to kill their target? He was talkative, Jeim would give him that much, but if the voice he'd heard was right, then this boy and his helper would try to betray him. A long-ranged snipe. A killing blow. As he listened, he mentally took notes. This was his mission, and he didn't like sharing, but the voice played over in his head as he turned to look at Malenkov. The male's body was nice under the showerhead. The water cascaded down his nude form and hit the wet floor. Jeim's eyes slowly moved from the male's head down to his feet and he quickly looked away to make sure he wasn't noticed. Those kinds of thoughts were forbidden. He had a job to do, and he had things to learn. There was no time for relationships or any of that. If you keep people away from your heart they can't break it later. Finally, after Malenkov finished speaking, Jeim gave a half-smile. "So you and this Virgil guy are supposed to help? You haven't even shown me what you can do so how can I rely on you to do what needs to be done when the time comes?"</s>
<\|description\|>JeimSeu Igawzi Created by Harumi Shirayama on Pinterest \| JeimSeu stands an average 5'7" and weighs 136 lbs with a swimmer build. His hair is shoulder length now. Age: 17 Nationality: Filipino-Korean Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Tahimik na Pagninilay (Quiet Meditation) Tahimik na Pagninilay is about 5 feet in length. It is classified as a "polearm" weapon. Although heavy compared to other weapons, it is incredibly light in the right hands. The blade almost resembles glass or some sort of crystal. Noble Arm Abilities: Aside from the abilities listed below, Jeim can move the weapon without touching it. It is completely in tune with his mind. He can sense it even if he is separated from it, and the weapon will come to him when called. It has immense physical properties, able to move through matter by vibrating intensely or slicing through the hardest of matter. The Noble Arm allows him full control over sound and vibrations, and the spectrum therein. Below are just three of the skills he has acquired with training but is not limited to only these three. Quiet Negation: By focusing the innate powers of the weapon, JeimSeu can produce a field around him or anyone he chooses. This field of sonic vibration matches the specific vibration of incoming projectiles/abilities and dampens them to the point that negation occurs no matter how strong the attack. If it is a physical attack, the enemy is cast away like feedback and may receive laceration damage. This ability can only be used twice, after which a recharge period of 24 hours is needed to use again. Catostrophic Reverberation: By matching the sonic vibration to different matter that he strikes with his Noble Arm, Jeim can effectively cleave through it seemingly effortlessly. When facing other Noble Arms, this technique causes the other weapons to deflect like a magnet. Embodiment of Sound: Channeling the immense power of his Noble Arm, Jeim becomes the pure embodiment of sound and vibration. He becomes intangible to physical abilities, but is still susceptible to elemental abilities, although the damage he takes is dampened. Jeim can only maintain this form for at most 5 minutes max. His body, when overexerted, will become covered in lacerations. A recharge period of 24 hours is necessary to use the ability for 5 minutes. Accessing this skill before the recharge time can result in damage to the body. Personality: Jeim is very open to those he meets, but he likes to keep a low profile. Trust is something that is earned and not easily given. He is very cautious of those around him and will tend to shrink back his bubbly personality when facing someone new. Jeim is an extrovert and loves to have fun and is very sassy. He tries very hard not to allow his dark past to overshadow the future he wants to build. Jeim can be seen singing while strutting down the hallways of the school or training his body and martial skills. He has a dark side that shows up if he is tested by someone he doesn't like or by someone who has ill will against him. Likes: Music, Cooking, Training, Reading, His Feminine Features, Fashion. Dislikes: Foolish Behavior, Unnecessary Destruction, Irrationally Loud People, Judgement. Fears: Dying Alone, Failure, Normalcy. Bio: JeimSeu was born to a Filipino father and a Korean mother. His mother is an actress who travels a lot, leaving his father to take care of him. His father is a martial artist who has his own studio and is also a businessman. JeimSeu was raised to be tough and to stand tall among those around him. His father dislikes his feminine side while his mother embraces it and nurtures it. Because of his feminine side, his father trained him relentlessly hoping that it would somehow remove the feminine side of his son, but it only caused it to grow. Within the pain and heartache of not knowing if his father loved him, Jeim found his passion for fashion. It was through the outward expressions that he was able to live, thrive, and smile. All good things must eventually come to an end. During a walk home from school, Jeim was attacked. He didn't know how he called forth the Noble Arm, or how he managed to escape. All he remembered was seeing the agonizing look on the faces of the three boys who had attacked him. They were clutching their heads, screaming out in pain. Jeim rushed home afterward too scared to tell anyone. Even though he thought no one saw, someone was paying attention. The first visit was the most bizarre. He could remember the man's face. Handsome. Tall. Beautiful tanned skin. Jeim was infatuated at a young age over the mere presence of this man. The man spoke with his father on the first visit, but whatever he said to his father, Jeim remembered the curse words that spewed from his father's mouth. Each visit was more cautious and planned. The man visited him after school and on his route home. It became a normal occurrence for Jeim. Then the day came that the man revealed who he was. He told Jeim he was part of an organization known as the Hammer of Masters and that there were others like him. Jeim didn't believe it, but one day the man took Jeim to meet the members of the organization. Jeim was shocked to be around others like him. The man smiled as he watched Jeim talk to the other members until he could no longer. His father barely noticed him missing, but his mother called every chance she got and was happy to know that he'd found a friend, even if she didn't know about the gift. Shortly after being introduced, Jeim started training with the unnamed man. He was told how much his Noble Arm was needed, and how much stronger he would be if he focused on training the abilities of the weapon. Jeim was hesitant but took on to the training with fair ease. His father still had no clue about anything, and only realized he was missing when he hadn't seen him for a couple of days. The day his father witnessed his Noble Arm display was the day he sent him to Trinidad Academy in hopes that no one would find out. JeimSeu holds a bitter resentment towards his father and has dark thoughts that plague him. PS: The Man's name is Anton Riverez, a high member of the Hammers. *Current Goal: Assassination of an Important Figure. Student Rank: 132</s> <\|message\|>Henry Durand --- Henry --- Once I was done talking Oscar began his introduction. Wait Sword of Piece? I thought it wa- Before Henry had the time to question what the name of Oscar's Arm, the golden light appeared on his chest as he rips the sword of whatever out of his chest. Henry looked at the beautiful sword and immediately liked it. That looks Magical as Hell! Henry was for a moment stunned but then his mind refocused to what Oscar was saying. Oh he is from the Arizona? Where is Arizona? As once again he didn't have time to recall information as he gives even cooler information. As Oscar plunges the sword toward, Henry started to cringe immediately as he was expecting to hear aloud cling or worse the wrenching sound of bending steal. But to Henry's very visible surprise it entered the ground without a noise of even the slightest effort. Is it super sharp? Does it go trough any obstacle? As Oscar explained Henry began to realize that he hasn't had his Arm for long by the way he doesn't seem to know it's properties very well. Or he isn't giving all the details because it would be to his detriment. Oscar's comment about people not wanting to fight me would be helpful but I should let them know I am not that skilled. With a slightly disappointing smile on henry's face "Actually, while I have the body and Arm to be a combat expert I lack a lot of practical experience." The question Oscar posed went right over Henry's head. Guns weren't something that he interacted with. He is not sure if he ever even held a gun before. He realized at that moment that he should take time to learn more about them for safety. I can probably ask Jordan about them or Oscar, he does sound American after all. Wait is that where Arizona is? As Henry finally had time to put his thoughts together he was ready to make a comment on it would make him an excellent deterrent but Jordan beat him to the punch on that. Not like that was a difficult accomplishment. So Henry nodded along in agreement. He would make a great sparing partner with that huh? I should ask if he would be interested in that after we guard the senators. As Jordan explains how it reloads Henry more or less nods to show he understand. On the inside he is realizing his illiteracy towards guns is far deeper then he thought. As he primes it Henry gleamed that you pull the small metal piece then you need to pull the trigger. He thinks he knows that much now which is 100% more then he knew before so cool. As Oscar seems really impressed Henry is left there feeling like the new guy who can't tell why it is even cool. As Oscar then asked how my defensive ability works "Oh yeah. Since I will need a little help with it I should let you know. I take physical Force and I can absorb some of it in me and then I can use it to put a shield on myself or other people. I'm going to begin charging it up now for safety. So if you guys could maybe help me get a jump start on it that would be great." Henry smiles at them hopefully convincing them to help cause he would have to do a lot of needless exercise to build up enough to stop something serious. "Let us work together well to complete the mission." Henry says while still smiling now extending a hand out to shake on their new team. @BigPapaBelial</s> <\|message\|>Vane Wilson Vane --- "Huh, we do? Now that I think about it, I might remember you guys." Vane made a note of all four of them sharing the same class while resting the back of his head on his hands. He walked in that carefree position all the way to class with everyone around him. All he could think about was pushing through the classes and then getting some training in, possibly sparring with others. Since he already knew a bit about Nuru... "You two shorties," he began, obviously referring to Cynthia and Pablo. "Who are you guys? I know the big dude, but you guys are a mystery to me. Entertain me with some small talk while we head to class won't you?" It was then that the bell rang. Vane clicked his teeth in disappointment and picked up his pace. He's gonna make Virgil his sparring partner for sapping the rest of his free time away. He just has to sit through all the slow-paced classes until he gets to the blood-pumping good stuff. Bee</s> <\|message\|>Jordan Quinn Jordan Quinn Jordan smiled broadly and looked between his two new teammates, he wouldn't call them quite friends yet, but teammates and compatriots works. He reaches out and places his hand with Henry's and gives it a firm shaking, "I like the sound of that. Between us three we ought to do great." He looked to Oscar, "What do you think? I think we've got this covered." He claps a hand on Oscar's arm and nods to him. It's just then that Jordan's phone starts to rattle and beep. He blinks and whips it out, it's an alarm, that classes are going to start any second, "Oh crap! We're gonna be late for homeroom!" He unsummons La Longue Carabine, "Crap crap crap, hey we got some time. See you guys in class!" HE races off shouting something about, "I forgot my book bag back at my room!" Oli Cinter Having reported to the director that their three guards had said yes to the mission and making sure Johnny is okay. Oli had started back towards the gym and his first class of the day with some of the other students. He'd see the class the guards are in later. As he's going he jumps aside as Jordan comes racing out of the gym and making for the dorms, "Be careful you crazy man! If your homeroom says you're late just tell them you have an excuse and tell them to come to me!" He enters the gym to see Oscar and Henry, "Oi! You two! Git! I have a class of Firsties coming in shortly and I need the gym." He makes shooing motions getting the pair moving. As he gets them out the door and starting down the hall he calls after them, "Stay safe. And you'll get your call to get to your positions later." He then throws both doors open as a bunch of first year students come thundering towards the gym. oli can be heard calling out, "You give me 5 laps jogging, then 2 laps sprinting before you even dare get to the center of the gym! You move!" Followed by a laugh and Oli racing past the door leading the pack. @Th3King0fChaos</s>	<\|message\|>JeimSeu Igawzi Jeimseu the Silent Assassin --- Impatient. Jeimseu was more patient than most men his age, but to hear someone say he was impatient made him smile for a reason he didn't even know. Maybe this Malenkov brought with him a new thrill that Jeim had yearned for. It had been a while since he'd heard from the Hammer. He missed the communication with them and the atmosphere was always lively, unlike this school which lacked the very essence of what he yearned for. Jeimseu observed the older male as he displayed his Noble Arm and, like a faucet, divulged the abilities of his weapon. A gun. How mediocre. How bland. Jeim would have rolled his eyes had he not heard the soft voice whisper in his ears once again. Things would come together and the weak would perish under the foot of the strong. There was no place for weakminded sheep, not in the Hammer, not where he was trained. Jeimseu blinked a few times processing what Malenkov said and shrugged his shoulders. "If you are aware that he will betray you, why do you still go forward with it? Why not kill him afterward? No loose ends right?" The fact that he suggested such a devious act was unlike Jeim. He didn't kill without reason, and given the chance, he would slay Malenkov where he stood, but he was needed, as was Virgil. All a part of a plan to get him a more suitable target. He didn't want to waste his skills. His training had become valuable to him. All the sleepless nights of taking his body to the limits of breaking and beyond. All to satisfy a man he viewed as an older brother, more so a father figure in his life. Whatever made him happy made Jeim happy. The bell rang signaling the end of their conversation. Jeim pulled on his articles of clothing and pulled his hair into a ponytail. His hair was long and ventured between the color spectrum of lilac and soft pink. It was beautiful to the eye. Jeim stepped pass Malenkov as if he didn't see him and left the showers.</s>
<\|description\|>Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin Appearance: He stands at 5ft 9 ¼ inches tall and weighs 73 kilograms. Age: 18 Nationality: Russian Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Imperial Fists - A pair of floating hands made of stark white stone. They glow a ghostly green whenever they are in use. Noble Arm Rank: B Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Ranged/Retaliation/Close to Long Range Noble Arm Abilities: Consecration: Nikolay is able to command the Fists to his whim. Thus, he can use them for manipulating/holding objects and directly attacking assailants. Retribution: The Fists are capable of absorbing and emitting energy from attacks directed against their wielder. They have an upper limit of absorption of up to the power of a hand grenade, though this is not known at this time. The Fists emit the energy that they receive in the following ways: - Kinetic: Concussive Blasts/Increased Punching Force - Fire: Fireballs/Firestreams - Magic: Energy beams - Radiation: Focused rays - Electricity: Tesla bolts Retribution is not without its faults. The Fists are tied directly to the user's state of mind; as such, losing focus or even just mere hesitation can cause them to stop whatever they are doing. They will also crack if they take in too much power, forcing them to return to the pocket dimension to regenerate. Mobotone: The Fists switch to a red color and emit all stored energy. In return, they are able to fire beams of magic energy with a lengthy cooldown, though each shot has a high damage potential. Monotone can also switch to a rapid fire mode that rapidly shoots magic bullets, though this is ineffective against armored or shielded targets. Misc Abilities: Pretenseful Voice: He is able to switch accents at will, allowing him to present himself as an American, Englishman, or a Scotsman. High Level Intelligence: He excels in most subjects, though he detests mathematics. Personality: Nikolay Andreevich is a rather literal minded boy, as he often fails to comprehend idioms and metaphorical remarks. He usually takes words at face value, and as a result, is often the last person to understand a joke. Despite this, however, he is quite intelligent and persevering, spending more time on books and writing than anything else. When out in the world, he is rather socially awkward and often speaks in sentence fragments. However, when in private with his close circle of friends, he can be seen as boisterous, insane even. He is quite affectionate towards his friends, and there has never been a time when he forgot anyone's birthday. Nikolay also does NOT like going solo, and prefers to do things together. Likes: Cats, Pizzas, the French, and hugs (and kisses). Dislikes: Communism, broccoli, mayonnaise, and most politicians. Fears: Being abandoned. Bio: Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin was born in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the provincial capital of the Sakhalin Oblast in the Russian Far East north of Japan. He was the elder of two siblings, as he was older than his sister by three years. One look at his family immediately betrays the terrible kind of early life that he had in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk; his father, Pavel, was a massive alcoholic, a prime specimen of a casualty of Russia's crippling problem of alcoholism that has afflicted the nation ever since the Soviet Union fell. There were times when his father didn't return for days, and when he did, all he would do was sleep, and then demand more money from Nikolay's mother to satiate his addiction to vodka. While all of this was going on, Nikolay found refuge and companionship in the Internet, where it seemed that strangers from across the planet had far more compassion and understanding than his own alcohol addled father. In his spare time in between school and home, he would go out to the fields of Sakhalin, immersing himself in the tranquility of the wilds beyond civilization. This continued until Nikolay was 16, when his mother, Katya, had enough, and moved along with her son and daughter to her parents in Vladivostok, leaving Pavel in Sakhalin to waste away. However, upon arrival in Vladivostok, they were robbed almost immediately as a thief snatched Katya's purse. It was at this time that Nikolay finally managed his Noble Arm as two hands of pure white rushed out of a portal and dragged the thief back towards them. Word quickly got out, and his mother was elated to see that her son was indeed one of the gifted. Russia's own Noble Arm Universities called, but Trinidad University was closer to Vladivostok and thus was the first to send an invite. Nikolay looked upon a mother brimming with pride and a sister that will miss him very much, and swore to do his best as a student in Trinidad... *Current Goal: Attain the best version of himself. Student Rank: 47</s> <\|message\|>Pablo Legazpi GM Post Pablo, Jeim, Vane, Henry, Oscar, and Nikolay Pablo instinctively enclosed Jeim in his arms, holding him tight before saying, "I was thinking of you, actually. And we're boyfriends now?" His expression was that of a puppy searching for affection, melting at Jeim's touch even as his mind burned with the urge to try and 'redeem' Jeim as soon as possible, to show him that his mentor in the Hammers was an exploitative, even abusive, ass who would gladly throw Jeim away, not knowing that the Korean-Filipino/Filipino-Korean deserved more. How Pablo wanted to kiss the other student, to publicly display affection in ways others might deem scandalous! But he won't - Not when Jeim was just putting up a cover. Pablo nevertheless relaxed and softened his posture before saying, "I hope you're seriously proposing - My heart will break if you're just playing with it." Pablo knew he was doing that anyway - Jeim was too engrossed with preserving his cover to actually have a serious relationship. That and he was probably infatuated with his Mentor anyway. So he waited for the other young man to get off him, all the while as his own body was flowing with urges due to the closeness of Jeim's own. How he wished that he were in Malenkov's position right now! A shadow then covered them both - It was a Human-sized Siege Tower, two meters tall and one meter wide, with tiny ballistae and catapults on top. It was a Noble Arm projected by one Kim Daehan, a full-blooded Korean who was another member of Malenkov's cell. "Can you two sick fucks stop with the public displays of affection already?!" the tall, well-muscled (though not as much as Henry) student shouted at Pablo and Jeim. "Some of us are trying to study here!" Pablo whispered into Jeim's ear, his composure recovered, "I think Mr. Daehan himself has a crush on me - Don't ask how I knew that." "I heard you, you twink-wannabe!" Kim shouted, "And I'm giving you valuable life advice: Stop acting as if your life is your personal Yaoi Hentai fantasy - No one likes your 'magical realms' except yourself!" Pabo whispered again, "He and I used to play Tabletop Games together - He plays overpowered characters with absurd combinations of skills, I GM scenarios involving his character ending up shirtless or… Unclothed. Let's just say he throws shit at me for that, just as I complain that he defeats all challenges with a few rolls." "You're just jealous because I am better at building characters than you are!" was Kim's enraged response. "I can create characters with anti-everything chaotic damage, unlimited initiative ratings, divine armor, and multiple anti-world artifacts!" A new voice broke in - A young Japanese woman, about 15 years of age, was patting Kim's shoulder, saying, "Stop associating with the wilfully ignorant. Those who fail to see the truth we wield deserve naught but our scorn and bafflement that they do not think the same, elevated way we do. Once those who are smarter, more rational, and better rule the world, we can usher in Utopia." "Okay, goodbye!" Pablo said, even as the voice, the telepathic message from the Hammers, whispered into Jeim's ears again. These are Malenkov's associates, Kim Daehan, the 'Siege Tower', and Kasumi Karasuma, the Arbiter of Fate. The former's Noble Arm is plain as day, the latter is a Katana which tricks the weak-willed into thinking that it can alter Fate and Time. Once Malenkov is gone, you will either lead them or kill them. @dragonpiece@Not Fungus@The Man Emperor@Th3King0fChaos@TheHangedMan</s> <\|message\|>Vane Wilson Vane --- The monotonous and boring wait for the class to start was broken up by Vane's fellow students. Their colorful nature naturally painting over the dull atmosphere of the room with their own vibrant life. Jeim's presence brought a smile to Vane's own features with the possibility of a fight ever so present. As he looked on at the blatant flirting between Jeim and Pablo, he became even more amused at the interruption. "Come on, Kim. Let them enjoy themselves while the rest can study. It's not like the studious will be all that distracted by something like this, right?" This was a wonderful day aside from the early morning that forces him to wake up at a murderous time. Though that little Japanese girl makes him want to act a little bit more like Keith and mess with her. Her self-assurance and unparalleled confidence is screaming at Vane to just poke and prod at it a little bit. And so he did. "Aw, that was a little rude, little girl. Nobody really knows the truth of the world, so we're all ignorant there." He closed his eyes and felt a little smirk come on to his face as he pushed a little further. "I'm already living in Utopia anyways. Guess that means I'm smarter, more rational, and a better ruler than you are, though you'll get to where I am with a little more experience when you grow up some more." He didn't even bother holding in his laugh.</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- As Oscar was waiting he looked away as he was watching the clock as he felt himself get lifted up as Oscar realized he was being man handled by Mt. Everest as he took a breath in and sighed as he felt his stomach hit the man's giant ass boulders for shoulders. As he let out a chuckle as Oscar waved Nikolay as he says, "Well talk to you later". As his voice trails off as they run. Oscar is laughing as he waves to everybody as he passes them by. As when they come skidding to the classroom, there stood Jeimseu as he waved to them and made a more than playful face towards them. As Oscar makes a playful wave as he is taken into the class then set down. As Oscar is internally laughing at what a strange situation that had happened. He was carried and taken to class by Henry Mountain-born, as he ran past so many people and waved to everybody like a princess being carried by her prince? Yet that good mood fades slightly as he heard some people yelling/talking. Oscar's eyes slowly fell to the perpetrators. As he saw some of the strangest people in front of him, a man the size of Henry, and a small Japanese woman. As the larger man seems to be bashing on…'Pablo and Jeimseu? Well never expected those two to be together. But that big guy could be less of a fuck face'. As Oscar was about to step in, he saw the girl go and break the argument quickly and they stepped down, but not without a sly remark. As Oscar takes a seat calmly and quietly he is having himself calm down as he was about to go off on that girl. Elitism is not something Oscar thought he was gonna deal with today. Yet as it seems that it is all that he is seeing. As he is about to take a seat as he hears Vane talk to the girl. Oscar almost spills over his silent laughter as he hears some of the dumbest shit Oscar heard all day. 'Vane, you need to stop you dumb-ass! Class is about to begin' Oscar continues to listen now even with even his smile hard to contain with Oscar now feeling okay and better after that angering moment.</s>	<\|message\|>Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin \| The Imperial Fist \| You Wot Mate?! "I can't believe that I'm seeing all of this.", Nikolay grumbled with a low voice as he watched... many things unfold within the classroom. He had arrived in the room, reading a Warhammer 40K novel on his phone beginning from the moment since Henry bolted off with Oscar on his shoulder. They were a fun sight, those two; if Nikolay hadn't known any better, he would have thought that they were a couple. Would be a crack ship if they truly were. Nikolay watched from the back of the class while obscuring his own face from potential prying eyes, looking at the fight that almost exploded right in there and now. It was those two, Pablo and Jiem, doing public displays of affection with no fear or care of what the other people all around them would think. Now these two were truly together indeed, and although Nikolay wasn't one that agreed with that kind of relationship as per his religious inclinations, he still found them rather entertaining to see, if anything. After all, he too was an affectionate one, though that was usually in private or when he is comfortable with the surroundings. This certainly wasn't the place, what with a Korean Siege Tower and another barrel man being in the room along with literally everyone else. "I... Err, suggest that you all settle down. It's it's about to be class. And Daehan.", he said to the Siege Tower. "You can just them ask nicely without using your Noble Arm." He looked back at his book, his face bearing a neutral expression. "Bozhe moi, if someone does something dumb just because of latent homophobia, I'm going to flip..."</s>
<\|description\|>Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin Appearance: He stands at 5ft 9 ¼ inches tall and weighs 73 kilograms. Age: 18 Nationality: Russian Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Imperial Fists - A pair of floating hands made of stark white stone. They glow a ghostly green whenever they are in use. Noble Arm Rank: B Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Ranged/Retaliation/Close to Long Range Noble Arm Abilities: Consecration: Nikolay is able to command the Fists to his whim. Thus, he can use them for manipulating/holding objects and directly attacking assailants. Retribution: The Fists are capable of absorbing and emitting energy from attacks directed against their wielder. They have an upper limit of absorption of up to the power of a hand grenade, though this is not known at this time. The Fists emit the energy that they receive in the following ways: - Kinetic: Concussive Blasts/Increased Punching Force - Fire: Fireballs/Firestreams - Magic: Energy beams - Radiation: Focused rays - Electricity: Tesla bolts Retribution is not without its faults. The Fists are tied directly to the user's state of mind; as such, losing focus or even just mere hesitation can cause them to stop whatever they are doing. They will also crack if they take in too much power, forcing them to return to the pocket dimension to regenerate. Mobotone: The Fists switch to a red color and emit all stored energy. In return, they are able to fire beams of magic energy with a lengthy cooldown, though each shot has a high damage potential. Monotone can also switch to a rapid fire mode that rapidly shoots magic bullets, though this is ineffective against armored or shielded targets. Misc Abilities: Pretenseful Voice: He is able to switch accents at will, allowing him to present himself as an American, Englishman, or a Scotsman. High Level Intelligence: He excels in most subjects, though he detests mathematics. Personality: Nikolay Andreevich is a rather literal minded boy, as he often fails to comprehend idioms and metaphorical remarks. He usually takes words at face value, and as a result, is often the last person to understand a joke. Despite this, however, he is quite intelligent and persevering, spending more time on books and writing than anything else. When out in the world, he is rather socially awkward and often speaks in sentence fragments. However, when in private with his close circle of friends, he can be seen as boisterous, insane even. He is quite affectionate towards his friends, and there has never been a time when he forgot anyone's birthday. Nikolay also does NOT like going solo, and prefers to do things together. Likes: Cats, Pizzas, the French, and hugs (and kisses). Dislikes: Communism, broccoli, mayonnaise, and most politicians. Fears: Being abandoned. Bio: Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin was born in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the provincial capital of the Sakhalin Oblast in the Russian Far East north of Japan. He was the elder of two siblings, as he was older than his sister by three years. One look at his family immediately betrays the terrible kind of early life that he had in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk; his father, Pavel, was a massive alcoholic, a prime specimen of a casualty of Russia's crippling problem of alcoholism that has afflicted the nation ever since the Soviet Union fell. There were times when his father didn't return for days, and when he did, all he would do was sleep, and then demand more money from Nikolay's mother to satiate his addiction to vodka. While all of this was going on, Nikolay found refuge and companionship in the Internet, where it seemed that strangers from across the planet had far more compassion and understanding than his own alcohol addled father. In his spare time in between school and home, he would go out to the fields of Sakhalin, immersing himself in the tranquility of the wilds beyond civilization. This continued until Nikolay was 16, when his mother, Katya, had enough, and moved along with her son and daughter to her parents in Vladivostok, leaving Pavel in Sakhalin to waste away. However, upon arrival in Vladivostok, they were robbed almost immediately as a thief snatched Katya's purse. It was at this time that Nikolay finally managed his Noble Arm as two hands of pure white rushed out of a portal and dragged the thief back towards them. Word quickly got out, and his mother was elated to see that her son was indeed one of the gifted. Russia's own Noble Arm Universities called, but Trinidad University was closer to Vladivostok and thus was the first to send an invite. Nikolay looked upon a mother brimming with pride and a sister that will miss him very much, and swore to do his best as a student in Trinidad... *Current Goal: Attain the best version of himself. Student Rank: 47</s> <\|message\|>Jordan Quinn Jordan Quinn The long haired Canadian came jogging down from the dorms. Book bag slung over his shoulder, in time to see Henry and Oscar, Oscar being held on Henry's shoulder. He blinks and laughs, "Okay that's a sight to see!" He grins and hurries to get to class. Waving to Nikolay as he passes with a grin, "Morning!" He shouts as he jogs on. "Gotta get to class before the Prof. gets there!" He slid around a corner and then slid a few feet into the class, waving his hands to the side and shouted, "Safe!" Chuckling to himself and looking around, spotting Jeimseu and Pablo, at it again. Henry and Oscar having beat him there and just behind him Nikolay, "Alright...I'm not the last one!" He then makes for his seat. Just another day right? He hoped so outside of what ever the staff had planned with that visit. He looks around the room, not at all sure what to expect in the coming hours of the day. But this here, is a good start to it.</s> <\|message\|>Fredrick Jones --- Fredrick Jones --- Fredrick is sitting in the teacher lounge doing some final prep work for class. The printer was being used up all day by the chemistry teacher. A little annoying but it's fine. Once he got done printing out his handouts for today he played with Emily a little bit "Aren't you the cutest cat in the world?" as he pet her. About five minutes until class he started he grabbed his papers and Emily and began to walk to class, waving goodbye to the other teachers. He took his time getting there. Frankly, it was more fun if he saw how the class progressed if he wasn't there. It always seemed like students go out of their way to cause mischief when the teacher isn't around. As he entered he got exactly what he was expecting a little mischief here and there. Fredrick began setting up for the day, watching them to make sure it didn't go too far. Speak up about the blatant Homophobia? Or the amount of PDA Jeimseu and Pablo is showing? Oh Kasumi breaking them up, that's good. As he went back to setting up, he listened in to what they were saying and the elitism she gave off was enough to make Fredrick eyes roll. Well at least it broke up without me having to get involved. Then Vane started looking for a fight with Kim. Oh for fuck sake please hold yourself back Vane. Oh he is now teasing Kasumi. You know what I'm fine with this, better than them fighting in here. Fredrick was thankful Nikolay tried to talk down Kim peacefully was a nice change of pace, refreshing actually. He gets the laser pointer today, looking at Nikolay. Alright, enough fooling around, it's time to start class. Fredrick gores and taps his knuckles on the whiteboard to start gathering attention, "Alright everyone get to your seats so we can start." Fredrick looked at Jeimseu, "Also new rule, laps may only be considered seats if you are doing a partner project." Honestly Fredrick only cared because he believed that it would be to distracting for them to do that all class. Fredrick gave the students a minute to get settled then he walked to Nikolay placing the laser pointer on his desk "You get to use this to play with Emily today." with that he walked back to his desk and stretched a little. It felt like so much just happened in a few minutes. "So today Filipino senator Aquino and Senator Gutoc will be coming to the academy, so please be on your best behaviour for them. And with that I think we can start the class. Where we last left off we were discussing…" Frederick continued his lecture for the entire class period, only having 3 minutes before the bell. Completely forgetting to hand out the homework he dismisses the class a little early as he rushes off to get some water preparing for the next class. @BigPapaBelial@Th3King0fChaos@Not Fungus@Letter Bee@The Man Emperor</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- As Oscar sat and watched the room waiting for the class to begin he noticed that Mr. Jones had already made it to class. As he seemed to have snuck in at some point when Oscar was trying to take in everything. Mr. Jones seemed stunned as he watched the class go on as it did. With him noticing the whole exchange of near fist throwing, Mr. Jones looked like he was getting near upsetting as then it quickly deescalated and calmed down. As Mr. Jones seemed to collect himself as he started to get the class together as Oscar looked around and watched people sit down and take their places. As Mr. Jones took notice of the lap sitting happening from the two love birds over there, and had made a rule for…only partner projects? 'Well at least he seemed like a very chill man'. As Mr. Jones was continuing to speak, Oscar was looking around as he noticed…! EMILY! She was heading towards him as Mr. Jones was busy with getting on with the class. Oscar started petting Emily as he was waiting for announcements to be over, starting to rub the back of her ear, every cat loves this and Emily seemed to be no exception. As when Emily heard the clutter of the laser pointer hitting a desk, she started heading off to it, taking his heart with her. As Oscar started pulling his head back up and started focusing on the class, first came the announcements of the senators. Oscar found it interesting to tell everybody of the senators arrival. After all, most schools in America didn't give a shit if the student body knew of their presence, just the people who were pertinent for their visit. So Oscar was very concerned, almost as if the Director was trying to make a showing of their work. Almost as if trying to show off, and that idea doesn't sit well with Oscar. But he has no time to think about that, the lecture is about to begin, and Oscar needs to make sure he does well. After all, his Noble Arm isn't going to gain him any higher marks to rank up, so he has to make sure his studies are the best thay can be. ============ After Class ============ Oscar had taken very well made notes, using his many skills he learned from his high school time, "Man Cornell Notes are really useful. Now I can transcribe it into Filipino". With his normal smile Oscar started to head out of the class with his notes, as when he passed by Emily, he realizes he has no self control with her. As he kneels down and starts to pet Emily and scratch her ear he sees she plops and lays down on her side for Oscar. A gasp escapes Oscar's lips as he slightly coos as he begins to scratch her belly, side, and right at the base of her tail. As his large smile ceases to end as he petted her for literal minutes, until his attention is pulled away as he feels his cell phone begin to ring. As he slipped it out as it was an alarm he set for himself. As it is telling him to text the others and see if they want to meet for lunch. As Oscar knew what he had to do, he leaned fully down and gave Emily a kiss on her head as he stood up to send a text to both Henry and Jordan: --- Group Chat Name: Sword of Hope Group Chat made [Henry D.] Invited [Jordan Q.] Invited [Oscar H.] Changed Name of Group to: Sword of Hope [Oscar H.] Changed color of Group Name to: Sword of Hope [Oscar H.] Changed Name to: [Trunks] [Trunks] Changed Color to: [Trunks] Hey guys, I was wondering if y'all would like to meet up and talk shop about our mission on protecting the senators. I'll be off to the gym, I think Oli would be fine with us being in there to talk about this. I can't wait to get started! --- As Oscar Chuckled as he set up the group chat with them, he started jogging off to the gym as he felt his bladder slosh. He stopped in his tracks as he started to take a fast walk to the nearest bathroom to piss. As he almost pissed his pants as he didn't notice his bladder this entire time. @dragonpiece</s>	<\|message\|>Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin As always, Nikolay had taken a lot of notes, applying just about every color in the rainbow when it came to his highlights on important words and terminology out of all the things that the teacher had taught. He usually wrote his notes in his native Russian Cyrillic, translating his thoughts from English to his mother tongue before jotting them down. He did this on purpose; these were, after all, his personal notes, and he wasn't at all the type that let others copied from his work, as it was his firm belief that everyone should learn independence when it came to studying properly. There weren't a lot of other Russians in the school anyway, and it wasn't like he would actively let them copy either. Nikolay licked his lips as he looked upon the food that was being served to him in the cafeteria. He wasn't sure what this was called, but it has been the stuff that he has been buying for the last few days that he has been here. It was probably called zinikang... or something. It was much better when rice is added, too. He bowed to the lady over the counter in an attempt to give his thanks... only for him to remember that this was the Philippines, not China or Korea. The small minority of Koreans in Sakhalin were the only Asians that he had interacted for most of his life, so he kind of assumed that they were all similar... only they weren't at all. Embarassed, he simply managed to say 'salamat po' (thank you), though with a heavily accented tone. He need more practice... Nikolay proceeded to look for people that he already knew; those he already considered to be somewhat familiar or amicable to him in this school of magical warriors. Thankfully, he found Jiem and Pablo. Together as always... "Eyo, privet.", Nikolay said to the two. "Do you mind having a third wheel?"</s>
<\|description\|>Fredrick Jones Height: 5'10 \| Weight: 170 lbs. Age: 45 Nationality: American Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Blue Quill Noble Arm Rank: C Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Melee; Spirit; Close-Range Noble Arm Abilities: Shared world: Fredrick can touch people with Blue Quill. Within 10 seconds of touching someone he can put them under either an individual or group illusion that he creates with his imagination. Before Fredrick can put someone under the influence of Shared World he must have said a key word in the last 10 seconds towards them or a group including them. The key word is also how any person under the effect can leave the shared world by saying the key word. A key word has to be a singular word. The illusion he can create is either programmed or he can enter the world with them and shape it there. The illusion can last up to 2 minutes if the participant isn't a willing participant. If they are a willing participant then it can last up to 3 hours. A participant can change their mind at any point if they are willing or not willing. Fredrick can show them anything he wants inside Shared world. He can simulate the senses in there as well. However there physical body will always remain unaffected by this. The illusion cast on someone, whether willing or not, is broken is they are hit in the real word with the force of a slap or more. Personality: Frederick is inclined to be more introverted however teaching seems to be his way of expressing himself. He is quick to get wrapped up in a conversation on history. He doesn't like putting a huge wall between himself and his students. So it wouldn't be odd to see him playing his guitar before or in between classes. Likes: Guitar, Teaching, Learning, Antiques, History, Debates, Games Dislikes: Grading, Fighting, Entitlement Fears: Failing when it matters Bio:Born in Savannah, Georgia, Fredrick was raised by a loving family that was moderately well off. His father was a carpenter and general contractor. His father had Fredrick work with him on weekends and breaks. Fredrick enjoyed it but what he really enjoyed was making money from it. His father had got Fredrick into antiques. A weird interest at a young age but the past seemed to intrigue him and items from those times were ever interesting to the young man. He saved up money and got an antique pocket watch. Frankly it made him like a dick in middle school and high school, but honestly he didn't care. During his sophomore year he was pretend sword fighting with his buddy Anthony during lunch. Anthony knocked the stick out of his hand and his noble arm just came out of nowhere. Honestly getting it was a bit of a hassle if he was being honest. He had to get registered and all that, random places were vying for his attention, and he was treated differently by some. He decided to ignore it for now and jump into his studies. He received a full ride to Harvard and there he studied history and politics. It was during that time he began to mess with his noble arms. He realized it could create illusions out of his imagination. He found it as an excellent tool to help himself and others in studying, being able to literally replay lectures or show the abstract in real life. He decided he wanted to be a teacher at that point. He finished up college and trained to become a teacher. He taught at the University of Georgia for a few years when he got a job offer at Trinidad Academy. Frederick took the job opportunity in a heartbeat. He learned Filipino in about 8 months. Now he is there teaching history. *Current Goal: Inspire people to follow their dreams Student Rank: Staff</s> <\|message\|>Fredrick Jones --- Fredrick Jones --- After teaching the classes before lunch, Fredrick finally started to unwind in his class. He loosened his tie as he pulled a chair to do some paperwork by the window. He usually found himself diverting his attention between grading and watching the clouds roll by. Watching time pass, giving a somewhat melancholic look all the while. He pulls out his pocket watch, giving quick inspection to it. Slowly, the ticking hands drew him into its time. The grumbling of his stomach brought him back out of his sedated state. He took a look at the wall clock to see only 10 minutes had passed since he lost focus. Fredrick put his watch away and began to rub his eyes. He stretched in his chair and but the papers into their folder and then placed them in his backpack. "I should get some lunch" as he stood up, throwing his pack over his shoulder, and started towards the door. "Come on Emily!" He said with a bit more energy, smiling at his cat. Emily stretched herself back to life and quickly hopped on Fredrick's shoulder. Fredrick scratched under her chin as he walked to the teacher's lounge. As he entered the lounge, Fredrick went and popped a ready-to-go meal in the microwave and poured himself some of the cold leftover coffee. He turned around and leaned on the counter as he checked who was in the room to see the infectious smile of Herman. That grin of his always had a way of making Fredrick smile. "Hey Herman how are you?" still leaning against the counter, stirring a large amount of flavored cream into his coffee.</s> <\|message\|>Herman Atmeni, the Master of 1000 Names. --- Herman --- Herman has spent the first half of his day relaxing, meditating, watering his plants, and many other just menial activities to pass his day by until he is needed for his actual services as a teacher. As he finds himself finally needing to get ready to start teaching. Herman finds himself on a nice large stone in the middle of the courtyard. He is suspended in the air on his polearm. As he is sitting in a very relaxed position with both of his legs crossed and his hands grasping each other in his lap. He is lightly humming as Sherly is on his head. The Owl on his head began to who as she 'sung' in tune with Herman's humming. Slowly Herman's humming rose and burst into song as he was getting extremely excited as he has so much he wished to do with the kids, but he must wait. As he stands from his sitting position, almost like he was made of air as he stands perfectly from his crisscrossed position. He stands and stretches as he takes a kneeling position as he looks off and looks to see as people are running around as they are off to the lunchroom, Herman knew what that meant. Herman had now found himself in the teacher's lounge whistling music to Sherly as she is eating from his hand. He is feeding her right now as he is holding pieces of meat for her to eat. As he whistles, he notices a wonderful face to see as a wide smile comes from Herman's face, "Fredrick! I am doing well. How is yourself? Oh, Emily! Come 'er to Baba!". Herman sets Sherly into his other hand as she eats as Herman heads over and starts to scratch Emily on the back right at the base of the tail, Herman found this to be one of her weak spots very quickly. Herman gives Fredrick a wonderful smile as he starts to coo as he scratches and lightly plays with Emily.</s> <\|message\|>Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin Nikolay Ivushkin \| The Imperial Fist So far, Nikolay had been one that preferred to stay still and unleash the beams of Monotone upon distant targets, focusing on either keeping a long distance between himself and his opponent or defending himself via the energy absorption of Retribution. Now, though, that record was broken. Henry had deftly made a slide tackle, one that looked very similar to the one that football players do, in order to avoid the seating hot red beams of destruction that Nikolay had just fired. Seeing the impending slide tackle, Nikolay made his move. Drawing from the lessons that they had been given not too long ago, he dodged the side tackle, sidestepping and rolling towards the side before ending up in a semi-kneeling position. The Russian boy looked back at Henry before standing right up, seemingly a little nervous now as his usual tactic obviously won't work very well in this situation. "I had… huff… moment of panic there…", Nikolay said to Henry as the two hands floated beside him in earnest, their color still a flaming red. Frowning a little bit, he clenched his right hand, ordering the Fists to switch modes to Retribution. Now, they were glowing green, and so were his eyes. At this time, he waited for Henry to make the first move. Nathaniel Gregorio \| The Blitzkrieg Nath readied his own Noble Arm, pulling out a pair of ornate black and gold revolvers from the dimensional storage space that all of those magical weapons had. Both of the guns crackled with electricity, and Nath himself had the occasional arc of electricity, though he did not seem to be confident in his abilities, as while he would be classified as a rather Noble Arm wielder, he lacked both the experience and will to really live up to the fearsome potential of his power of electromagnetic control. In fact, he was nervous that he would drain the school's power grid… If such a thing were possible. "Be ready, my friend.", Nath simply said soberly as the cartridge of the Shock Bolters spinned wildly for a few moments before pointing both of the firearms at Oscar. "Now." With that, no less than six projectiles shot out of the Shock Bolters, all of them glowing blue with the electrical energy that was imbued upon them. They were moving slowly enough for the naked eye to catch, but were still fast. Were they accurate? Not so much, what with them being pistol bullets and not very well aimed. One might think that Nath was quite afraid of hurting Oscar even a tiny bit, but that remains to be seen as the revolvers reloaded. In the immediate aftermath of his shots, Nath planned to quickly prepare an electromagnetic energy blast. @Th3King0fChaos</s> <\|message\|>Henry Durand --- Henry --- Henry watched as Nikolay rolled away from the slide tackle with a bit of panic. Henry's eyes were sharply locked on Nikolay as he moved out of the way, this speed seems reasonable for him, Henry thought as he monitored his reaction. Henry took his slide and shifted himself onto the side of his hip, keeping an eye on Nikolay who wan now crouching. His Noble Arm was still red. Henry believed that he might have a difficult time trying to defend against a rush style. With that analysis of the situation, Henry ground his gauntlet into the floor to bring himself to a halt. All the while he had shifted from the side of his hip to his front. At this point, Nikolay was about to fully erect himself. In the singular moment that Henry had stopped his body had gotten itself ready for a low tackle. His leg muscles fired off, bursting Henry forward. His shoulders being at knee level with Nikolay, he was going to try to grapple him in this exchange and slowly win. Halfway from making contact with Nikolay, the marble hands changed to a sickly green. Henry would have to continue his charge towards Nikolay at this point, unable to stop on a dime. Man Emperor</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- Oscar watched patiently, watching Nathaniel and his very slight movements. Oscar learned that watching for the fist to tell when a person would punch would give you no time to dodge. So he waited and watched Nathaniel's lips and forearm, waiting for him to say go and watching for the slightest moment a bullet would be fired. For a slight moment Nathaniel would let loose on him, like in his vision. Once Nathaniel started the match, Oscar noticed the slight twitch in Nathaniel's forearm, meaning he was in the act of closing his fist, the shots were about to be let loose. Oscar took in a quick breath as he jumped back and away in a diagonal direction away from Nathaniel, moving away from the incoming bullet fire. They seemed slower than Oscar had intended to dodge, as they weren't missing by a large margin, but Oscar expected to have to up his timings for the next volley, yet this seems like a comfortable pace. Oscar had a keen mind in a fight, so much so he even paid attention to the number of rounds Nathaniel has fired off. As Oscar knew from many movies and from a decent understanding of guns, that revolvers have 6 rounds in their chamber, and Nathaniel had fired off 6. Meaning Nathaniel had used half of his shots already, most likely leaving 3 in each revolver, which tells Oscar he can't rush in yet. He will need to reload soon, after all. Oscar takes a quick wide birth around Nathaniel, staying around 15 feet away as he circles Nathaniel, as it gives him ample room to move, without being out of range of a lunging strike when the time comes. Oscar's face never loses his smile as he says to Nathaniel while running around him in a circle, "So is this your first spar?". All while never truly losing his focus in this fight, as he was very ready to dodge or lunge in when the time comes. Man Emperor</s>	<\|message\|>Fredrick Jones Fredrick just watched his beloved cat run over to Herman. Even Fredrick can't get Emily to come running over to him. All he could do is laugh a little bit as he watched Herman playing with Emily. Being satisfied with his cream and coffee "I'm doing alright. Just decided to get some coffee to help me get through the grading. I seem to be a little distracted today" Fredrick started to walking over to Herman to take a seat near him, sipping his coffee along the way to his seat. He takes a seat crossing his legs, leaning deeply into his chair. His shoulder lowered releasing some stress, "Herman, my first class was even crazier man. "He undid his tie, his teacher voice fading "A fight broke almost broke out. Twice!" as he throws up his hand gesturing a 2, continuing the gesture to stroke his hair back. "I swear I'm going to lose the little sleep I have left." After that small amount of venting, Fredrick lets his arms fall to his side and lets his legs fall flat to the fall, throwing his head back in defeat.</s>
<\|description\|>Hailey Leena Strassen Height: 5'6" \| Weight: 126 lbs Additional Tidbits: Hailey wears her hair in a ponytail most of the time and has an hourglass frame. She carries a picture of her parents; Caroline I. Strassen and Victor E. Strassen. There's three names on the back of the picture, which are Caroline Irene Strassen, Victor Ethan Strassen & finally their daughter Hailey Leena Strassen. Hailey wasn't born at the time of this picture was taken, which was like during her mother's 2nd trimester or at least 5 months pregnant. Caroline Irene Strassen is a very beautiful Midwestern American Woman. It was shown on the specific picture, where Caroline on the right of her husband was smiling gleefully and talking about something at this exact moment in time. She has beautiful green eyes, black hair with green highlights and always looks beautiful no matter what. Caroline takes very care of herself, while also wearing a summer dress with flowers. She's about 5'6 or 5'7 in the picture, which is why she's wearing flip flops and trying to relax and sit on their back patio in a chair. As well, she's wearing a beautiful expensive necklace that specifically has her birthstone of Ruby and her daughter's birthstone of Emerald in the necklace. Caroline looks around 22 years old, at the time of this picture. Victor Ethan Strassen is a tall handsome German-American with a haircut specifically being a baker. His height is around in this picture is like 6'3" - 6'4". He wears comfortable clothes since he's taking a break and talking about something similar with his wife. However, its probably has to do with Caroline's pregnancy and their daughter specifically. All the while they live in a very peaceful neighborhood in a Gated Community. He's wearing a Rolex on his left wrist, with his wedding ring on his left ring finger. As well, he has specifically a sapphire wrist band to signify his birth month. He looks around 24 years old at the time of this picture."It's nice to meet you, my name is Hailey! What's yours!?" --- Age: 17 Nationality: American-German Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Vaeth's Malice Vaeth's Malice is a six feet in length Scythe weapon. It has a dark presence surrounding it, which it feels alive as if its wielding the wielder. The weapon itself has always been ever watchful since it has two eyes, which keep in eye contact with whom it is watching. It usually relishes in the demise of people it deems requires death. Noble Arm Rank: C Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Melee \| Dual-Element (Dark and Wind) \| Close to Mid-Ranged (80 Yards) Noble Arm Abilities: The weapon manifests as itself, which it conveys a nature of dread, death or awaiting for someone to die. As well, this manifesting ability surrounds the wielder in a dark fog, which rolled in from utterly nowhere. The Bright Red Eyes glows within the Dark Fog and they move searching for someone within the fog, it brought. There's eerily a hint of laughter that goes quieter when the dark fog slowly vanishes or if the wind picks up. Vaeth's Shadow Slash The Blade of the Scythe changes its shape, size, and starts changing its color from its perfect metal sheen to a dark obsidian color; in terms of the blade's size it grows one size larger. When it releases the element energy it stored, which it released a similar sized black crescent shaped attack towards people. This attack stops at its maximum range of Mid-Ranged, which is good. At the same time of the release of the attack, the wielder is put into a large jolt of pain to make them cry. The weapon only wants to do is spill blood and watch people die. It usually causes the nervous system to go out of wack, which will cause paralysis but it only lasts six seconds. The Sorrowful Winds The Wielder is forced to start spinning Vaeth's Malice, faster and faster until it starts effecting the movement of the wind. The noise the wind makes as its being effected by Vaeth's Malice is an intense deeply hidden emotion within the wielder of feeling as they are being pricked and prodded everywhere on their body. It forms a barrier of wind surrounding the wielder but the wind was pushed away in a blasting gust. The Gust's wind speed is 35 mph, additionally the effect of the billowing effect of this entire ability. Will usually cause the wielder to cry uncontrollably as if wielder remembered something awful. The Watched, Waited and Demise Veath's Malice uses its eyes to watch specifically the wielder, and one other person its delighted to watch. It's patience is legendary since it always wants to see when someone breathes their last breath. The encouraging words from it to its wielder usually try to make sure the wielder understands one thing. That its helping them to become what they so deserve, but underneath the veneer and encouraging words is always an ulterior motive. In that case, it usually allows the wielder to use it instead of the other way around if it gave very encouraging advice. But in essence, the wielder is a puppet to its will of seeing them hurt and others. Misc Abilities: * Passable Cook – She can cook passable meals since its required of her to do this now and then. Its something she likes doing in her spare time. * Singer – She is a pretty good singer for a girl her age, which is saying something. It's probably because she got her mother's singing voice. * Hailey's Brightness – In terms of this misc. ability is mostly because she's the kindest person and always the brightest. Even though she always look like there's something wrong with her. She always looks for the positivity instead of the negativity. * Clumsy – She's naturally off balance, its probably have to do something with that dark cloud hanging over her head... * German Language - She speaks this language very well mostly because her father Victor primarily speaks it and usually curses like a sailor when angered or just outright raged. Personality: Hailey always tries to be the center of attention, even when it backfires sometimes on her badly. She has a massive black cloud hanging over her, but she has no real idea why. Its probably because she doesn't want to remember all the bad memories in the back of her head. However, she has modestly high middle class type flare to her. It doesn't help she does get a bit moody when someone asks what's wrong and she tells them off. She constantly apologizes to every single person she offends with her outburst of anger. Its in her nature to make friends and not making enemies. Likes: Boys, Talking, Singing, History, Urban Legends, Calming Music, Cooking, Sweets and Friendship. Dislikes: Distractions, Interruptions, Spoiled Brats, Science. Fears: Dying Alone and her Memories Bio: Hailey was born to Caroline Irene Strassen and Victor Ethan Strassen in Kansas City, Kansas. In terms of the Strassen Family, they finally got the one thing they wanted for so long, a child. They were a bit rigorous in how they were raising her because of their need to protect her. However, her parents allowed her to coast throughout most of her life because they were very happy. This family was content with their lives, the mother was hopeful she could get her daughter into a singer's course. While her father wanted her to join him at the bakery when she gets older. Hailey wanted to please her family so much that she agreed to take turns in learning each thing. Its always better to have a happy family than a grumpy one even though she was a bit spoiled at this moment. Hailey was happy just coasting through life, which she was in a bit of shock. The School she was going to recognized how good she was at singing, which she was allowed to sing for the entire school for a fundraiser. The Fundraiser was supposed to raise an amount of money for charities involving sick children. She did sing for the school for this charity fundraiser, even though it would've been better to get her mother to do it. The funds needed to be raised was gotten in less than three hours only because of very generous patrons that were impressed with her singing. However, she learned really quickly the one who put the school up with this was her own mother Caroline. It shocked her but she didn't want to be surprised again, it was a bit annoying to be stuck in school for longer than needed. In terms of all good things must come to an end and that end happened when Hailey manifested her Noble Arm within her home, one day. Hailey has no recollection of that day's events because it was a bit too traumatic for her to remember. It caused her to basically be kicked out of her home and forced to go to Trinidad Noble Arms Academy in the Philippines by her own father. This was utterly heartbreaking for this family since Victor wasn't really that happy about the whole situation. How was no one in the Government able to respond when that happened, he was utterly disappointed in his country. However, he did one last nice thing to his daughter and that was he will give her an allowance since she'll be living somewhere far away. The likelihood she'll never see or hear from her father again because of something that happened. It hurt her more than anything, which did cause her to cry while she was flying her way to Philippines. However, she's very afraid of what had happened has to involve why she cannot remember what so ever. In terms of what happened the day her Noble Arm awakened, which scares her to no end. She guess it took a lot of out of her when it first awakened or something. Current Goal: She wants to do her best in Trinidad Noble Academy and stop coasting through life as she had been. However, she has a longer goal that is probably going to take a very long time to achieve since she needs to know what had happen but she's too scared to know and dislikes her memories too much. She must get over that hurdle to finally be able to go through the memories, which will hurt her but she needs to know what had happened or she'll never get rid of this dark cloud over her head. Student Rank: 169 Optional</s> <\|message\|>Hailey Leena Strassen --- It took her a few seconds to look up to Henry in a bit of shock, which he was really nice and his smile helped. She couldn't help but smile mostly because of Henry was as well. Smiling is somewhat infectious in that sense, however, she couldn't help but giggle at the fact he gets that a lot. "D-Do you count how many times a day someone says that to you?" Hailey questioned Henry curiously. Even though she was still shivering, terrified and utterly hopelessly clumsy. When he walked away from her to go to his group of friends, which she was hopeful whatever they need to do they get to do it. However, what shocked her was when he came back and said her name. This made her start crying it triggered the fact no one as ever asked that question in along time to her. "Y-Yes… I-I need a hug… I feel so lonely and… the D-Dread is scaring me…" Hailey said, towards Henry question. She actually sprinted as fast as she could into Henry's arms to get a hug. Because she needed one but most of the time people just ignored or teased her when she got here. However, then suddenly something happened, it was a massive increase of what's been scaring her ever since. The Dread's intensity increased dramatically, which felt like it was angry. "N-No… S-Stop it… " Hailey said, basically trying to talk to the Dread itself. However, usually no answer happens for her pleas. The temperature dropped by 10 degrees around Hailey, which involved Henry since she was hugging him. "I-I'm scared… S-Stop It… Noble Arm Please?" Hailey questioned again trying to get the dread to stop. However, this time she specifically said something she never said before the NA specifically, without saying its name. The Dread intensity slowly decreased as it felt as it was satisfied with Hailey's terror, which meant the temperature was slowly increasing.</s> <\|message\|>Henry Durand --- Henry --- Henry felt relieved that Hailey would let him try and comfort her. The sprinting hug was a surprise though. Although it caught him off guard, Henry wouldn't be pushed down by someone her size jumping on him. Henry took her charge full force and wrapped his arms around her, doing his best to make her feel comfortable. As he held her, he couldn't help but thank himself for taking a shower. Henry just said "it's okay" a common thing anyone says to someone in need. However things got scary as Henry could feel her get more scared as he held her. At first she said stop it and Henry loosened his hold on her. She still seemed to be latched on so Henry was momentarily confused. That is when the sudden drop in temperature hit. Out of instinct he pulled Hailey close again, looking around for what could be causing the phenomenon. Not being able to figure it out, Henry pulls Hailey and himself to the floor, holding her more securely than before. "It's going to be okay" Henry said to her trying to calm her down. Hailey spoke again this time she seemed to speak to her Noble Arm. The phenomenon seemed to calm down after her plea. Henry could only hold her as he realized the pain her Noble Arm must put her through. "Your alright now, it's going to be alright" Five-One</s>	<\|message\|>Hailey Leena Strassen It was a good thing, which Henry and everyone else was in the Gym when these strange occurrences happened. Specifically her talking about her dreadful Noble Arms, but the name scares her. She always tries to stop her teachers from asking her to activate it because it just scares her too much. She enjoyed hearing its going to be okay from Henry the first time, it calmed her down much. However, she was still shaking and shivering all over by the fact the dread was still there. "I-I believe you, Henry… b-but… it's always there..." Hailey said, slightly less terrified than she was. She had a small smile on her face but in the back of her mind, made her terrified of what could happen if it was ever released. Hailey definitely felt much better when Henry hugged her tighter, when the temperature dropped. She had a bit of chattering teeth, which in the end was definitely colder but she couldn't help but try to smile while during this scary time. It's always like this she freaks out at the little small things most of the time. However, all she could do was agree with Henry in that its going to be okay yet again. "T-Thank you for helping me..." Hailey said. She was smiling but she remembered something dreadful. "Dad… why did you have to kick me out of your life? I would never do anything wrong… Dad..." Hailey said, underneath her breath, where only Henry could hear her. She was primarily reminiscing about how she got here mostly, which she was definitely scared. It took her a few seconds to realize she said something to Henry. She was a bit teary eyed about it even though all Henry was doing was comforting her terrors. "T-Thank you for being with me… through this… horrible thing… I live with… the D-Dread and What causes this feeling of hopelessness are… the same, is my… Noble Arm..." Hailey said, only to Henry with tears in her eyes. It's only because her noble arm scares her to no end, which it hasn't ever done these things in awhile. The Noble Arm usually leaves her alone. She wasn't really capable to bear the burden of what her Noble Arm is, when all she wants to do is make friends and be happy. Even though she still has no idea about what its doing now.</s>
<\|description\|>Nathaniel Gregorio Appearance: Nathaniel stands at 5'3" and weighs 58 kilograms. Age: 18 Nationality: Filipino Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Noble Arm Rank: B Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Ranged/Electromagnetism/Line of Sight Noble Arm Abilities: Electric Tri-shot: Nathaniel loads three bullets into each of the Shock Bolters, each one being charged with electric energy. Their velocity is amplified, making their penetration values being twice that of a Desert Eagle pistol. Each Shock Bolter generates 50 bullets everyday, and they do not stack. As such, he only has a fixed amount to go with per day. Electromagnetic Blast: The Shock Bolters are an eternal reservoir of electromagnetic energy which Nathaniel can unleash as blasts against targets within line of sight. They are capable of stunning or knocking back humans, and will only be fatal if Nathaniel willingly amplifies them. However, they become extremely energy costly when elevated to deadly levels. Electrical Control: Nathaniel is able to siphon electricity from external sources within line of sight, amplifying his Noble Arm's offensive capabilities. He is also able to channel electricity into machines in order to power/short circuit them, and on metallic objects to either shock those in physical contact with said objects or to accelerate their heat. He can also form shapes (especially letters) out of electromagnetic energy. Electro-Form: Nathaniel is able to transform his entire body into a purely electrical form, allowing him to travel through metallic objects, conductors, and the power grid itself. He can exit this form whenever he wishes. Misc Abilities: Coding Shenanigans: His IT specialist father taught him basic hacking, such as getting the password of a neighbour's WiFi and denying others access to certain sites. Barber: He can do you a basic haircut for a dollar. Stroker: Nath could be a professional cuddlist if he wanted to. Personality: Nathaniel is a boy of few words, giving the impression that he is an edgy, brooding character. He is a sleepyhead and often dozes off in the wrong moments, though he still manages to do well in class despite this. He is also rather generous, as he spares no expense in his gifts. Just like his electromagnetic powers, he is volatile and easily angered by perceived slights, though he doesn't bear grudges longer than a day. Nathaniel is quite affectionate to friends and family, and is sometimes seen looping his arm around someone else's before using their shoulder as a lean-on as he sleeps. His friends sometimes know him as Spine Cracker because… he hugs really hard for someone of his size. He also likes to eat. It is a miracle of how he is able to stay in shape. Likes: Cute, fluffy animals, girls smaller than himself, lasagna, baguettes, explosions, and seeing more subscribers to his YouTube channel. Dislikes: Reptiles, anti-vaxxers, flat earthers, Hawaiian pizza, broccoli, and ampalaya. Fears: Heartbreak, memories, and heights. Bio: Nathaniel Gregorio was born as the second of three children in a middle income family from Makati City, the financial center of the Philippines. His father, Gordon, was an IT specialist, whilst his mother, Melinda, was a neurosurgeon. His family were all Protestants, having been born and raised in the faith by their parents and grandparents before them. Overall, he had what one could say was a 'typical life' for a person of his generation; he was a compliant kid when he was younger, had rebellious phases in his teen years, and sometimes has these bad influences, like… smoking (too much). He presented himself as this inviolable boy of the church that beat the drums and sometimes spoke to the youth, but he had this darker side that he kept secret in the shadows. Perhaps it was shame, or the gnawing of conscience simply didn't come through until recently, but he lived a dual life of light and darkness from the time he was 16 until the time his Noble Arm manifested. It was a dark night at the time, and he and his less than reputable friends have been wandering the streets for no good reason other than for the sake of it. It was when Nathaniel was on the way home alone that his path was blocked by a pair of drunken men; two very big, and definitely unfriendly men. Nathan is unsure about the details, as he chooses not to remember, but he does recall being punched quite a few times. Were they the ones who were agitated by their noise? Maybe, but it was at this moment of great stress that the Noble Arm of his own manifested itself. A pair of revolvers that writhed with electricity arose unto his hands, which he then used to disable his attackers by shocking them with taser-like blasts. It was at this time that he realized his folly of living a dual life of secret decadence and pretenseful holiness. This incidence was, according to him, a message from the Almighty that he needs to take a better path. And a good path was it, then, when a letter from Trinidad University came in. He'll be a good addition, they said... *Current Goal: Make up for his past mistakes by being the very best. Student Rank: 58</s> <\|message\|>Nathaniel Gregorio --- Nathaniel Gregorio --- "No, no, its cool.", Nath said to an apologetic Hailey as he stood up rather uneasily because of the combined factors of falling face down and putting his body in a state that he wasn't completely used to yet. If one asked about what it feels when he turns himself to electricity, he would be at a loss for words; maybe it wasn't something that could really be described in one sentence as it was a very bizarre experience and power to have. Anyway... "I know, I know, I'm so sorry about scaring the hell out of you...", Nath said to Hailey, putting his hand on his forehead as it still stung from the pain of falling down. But it looks like you're the one that needs help now... you alright-" At that moment, Oscar came in, and asked if the two of them were okay. "Oh, Oscar.", Nath said whilst facepalming due to disappointment on himself. "I overslept again... but, yes, I'm alright." How nice of that American boy to be so nice to everyone. It was very likeable. And yet, that wasn't the end, as Oliver Cinter and Jordan Quinn. Now, Nath was quiet, as he had already confirmed that he wasn't injured or anything to two people already, and didn't want to repeat himself too much anymore. He simply nodded, indicating that everything was fine.</s> <\|message\|>Hailey Leena Strassen --- It took her a few seconds to realize that Nath spoke up, which was primarily because the dread was overwhelming her. It had never gotten this bad before, but she smiled towards Nath. Out of everything, she couldn't help but to cry a little bit because she was utterly terrified. What he said next calmed her nerves somewhat but the dread was ever present. "T-Thank you, Nath… f-for the apology." Hailey said, with a heavily nervous tone in her voice. She did notice him touch his forehead and say something specifically about her. Its a bit obvious she needed help since she felt not that alright since she felt cold. Hailey heard a very familiar voice, which is basically like her in terms of making friends, Oscar. Oscar, did interrupt what Nath was saying towards her. When he touched her shoulder, she couldn't help but start tearing up. "I-I'm terrified and a bit chilly… I don't know why I feel this way… The D-Dread never got… this bad..." Hailey said with a tone of being utterly afraid and gave a hint of what's going on. However, she felt the dread itself was angered by what she spoke and increased its intensity onto her. Hailey couldn't help to be a little scared in why all this is happening now. It's not like she could've angered anything, until it hit her. The strangest thing happened, even though the intensity was at its highest it slowly died down as if it was toying with her or something. She couldn't really understand why it went down until she recognized the coach's voice. The strangest of coincidences, even though she did say what she was afraid of. "U-Uhh, I'm a b-bit better coach…" Hailey said, with a look of utter disbelief and shock of the situation that surrounds her. In back of her mind, she basically knew one specific thing its her Noble Arm that's probably doing it. However, she wasn't going to tell anyone about that monstrosity, its too evil. Since she got here she hasn't once used it, even though she did come to this noble arms Academy to train herself to use her NA. Hailey came here for classes and nothing else really and knew the coach's rules really well. However, another familiar voice showed up and it was Jordan. She just basically gave him a smile and slightly gave out a sigh. "Could be better but nothing worse for wear, even though I am a bit clumsy..." Hailey said, in response to Jordan's words. Its true though she is a bit clumsy but she does love the normal PE usual stuff in the class. She gives some attitude to the teacher when it involves the NA. "I know about the rules Coach Cinter, I guess I should start doing that now." Hailey said, towards the Coach. She was grateful for all the people worried about her but she did get up. Even though the dread was still there but at a similar intensity as it usually is before that little incident. She start doing the laps, which are six, four jogging and two full sprint. In the back of her mind, "I am so scared that sooner or later someone will have to see that..." @Th3King0fChaos@The Man Emperor</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- As Oscar noticed the girl's face started to dribble tears as something seemed to be off. As she spoke under her breath as if she is scared. Something cold and dark seems to loom over her, maybe it was because something similar happened to her or whatever, Oscar didn't know. Yet he knew things like these are better solved with people, as alone is where many people trip up and fall as they lose hope and can't really find a way to pull themselves out of the pain they feel. He makes sure she knows he's there by just lightly keeping his hand on her shoulder. As Oscar's attention was pulled away and toward the boy in front of him. As Oscar's eye came to the man, he heard that he was alright, "Ah well it's good to hear you're alright. You need to stop sleeping in so much." Oscar gave him a smile as Immediately his eyes twisted and pulled his head towards the very sporadic yet precise movements that seem to land with hyper precision. As his eyes quickly scanned the movements and watched the flow of each strike. Almost leading perfectly with each movement, gorgeous. Yet Oscar didn't watch long as he looked back at the girl, as she seemed to calm quickly as in comes Jordan as he remarks the display Oli had shown. Which was in fact a marvel of technique, yet Oscar was more focused on Hailey. As She seemed to have lightened up enough to put on a strong face and even a smile. As Oli started to talk to them, splitting them up, as those who are early to class, and those here for, other reasons. As When Hailey was about to leave Oscar says to her before he heads off, "Hey, it'll be okay. Ain't no rain cloud that can keep a smile down". As he throws her one big smile and waves her off before he heads off with Jordan to the benches to sit and wait for Henry. Realizing that was cheesy as shit. He slightly blushes yet hides it well underneath his tanned skin. Five-One@The Man Emperor@BigPapaBelial@dragonpiece</s> <\|message\|>Henry Durand --- Henry --- The jog over to the gym was honestly what Henry needed to start to unwind. After spending a few years training he learned to make exercising his stress relieve. However it seemed that with his classes straining him more than usual, the stress was mounting quicker then Henry could dissipate it. It felt nice to break up his usual cycle of translating during lunch. Henry stopped his jogging and pulled out his phone as he approached the gym. "I need to put a reminder to translate my notes when I get home" Henry spoke aloud, he had a habit of saying what he types on his phone. The habit worsened as he started to translate more frequently. As Henry entered the Gym he saw most of the people sitting on the benches and a girl running laps. Henry, still being a bit drained, thought that you had to do laps before you could sit. I guess that makes sense as he rubbed his chin like he just solved a mystery. With that Henry began to start running laps. It occurred to him in his 2nd lap he didn't know how much he actually needed to run. Asking in English was out of the option for Henry as the thought of thinking of language was aggravating for him at the moment. He was stuck in a loop of wanting to ask and not wanting to think. Eventually he just projected his voice toward Mr. Cinter "How many laps do I have left?" in German. He didn't know if Mr. Cinter, or anyone in the gym, knew German. He prayed that someone in the gym would answer or he might just keep running laps until lunch was over.</s>	<\|message\|>Nathaniel Gregorio "Oh...", Nathaniel managed as Hailey began to tear up once Oscar touched her shoulder. She said something about the dread not being this bad... could it be that her Noble Arm was something that had a bad side effect on her mental health? She sure needs some comforting, but the kind of comforting that he was used to give wasn't really suitable for this time and place. Either way, she went off her own way, running the laps like anyone else should. Nath just tilted his head as he watched her run and sprint, though he didn't take long to notice that Oscar had a slight blush while watching her. Could it be... "You like her, don't you.", Nath privately whispered to Oscar as he walked behind the taller hybrid. Oscar was a very friendly boy, one can give him that, but to blush? Now that was something else. Nath yawned, and then put his chin on top of Oscar's shoulder, though he was careful not to press. Oscar would have by this time experienced Nath's touchy-feeliness, perhaps more so than others who did as he was so nice. "Do you mind if I do...?"</s>
<\|description\|>Nathaniel Gregorio Appearance: Nathaniel stands at 5'3" and weighs 58 kilograms. Age: 18 Nationality: Filipino Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Noble Arm Rank: B Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Ranged/Electromagnetism/Line of Sight Noble Arm Abilities: Electric Tri-shot: Nathaniel loads three bullets into each of the Shock Bolters, each one being charged with electric energy. Their velocity is amplified, making their penetration values being twice that of a Desert Eagle pistol. Each Shock Bolter generates 50 bullets everyday, and they do not stack. As such, he only has a fixed amount to go with per day. Electromagnetic Blast: The Shock Bolters are an eternal reservoir of electromagnetic energy which Nathaniel can unleash as blasts against targets within line of sight. They are capable of stunning or knocking back humans, and will only be fatal if Nathaniel willingly amplifies them. However, they become extremely energy costly when elevated to deadly levels. Electrical Control: Nathaniel is able to siphon electricity from external sources within line of sight, amplifying his Noble Arm's offensive capabilities. He is also able to channel electricity into machines in order to power/short circuit them, and on metallic objects to either shock those in physical contact with said objects or to accelerate their heat. He can also form shapes (especially letters) out of electromagnetic energy. Electro-Form: Nathaniel is able to transform his entire body into a purely electrical form, allowing him to travel through metallic objects, conductors, and the power grid itself. He can exit this form whenever he wishes. Misc Abilities: Coding Shenanigans: His IT specialist father taught him basic hacking, such as getting the password of a neighbour's WiFi and denying others access to certain sites. Barber: He can do you a basic haircut for a dollar. Stroker: Nath could be a professional cuddlist if he wanted to. Personality: Nathaniel is a boy of few words, giving the impression that he is an edgy, brooding character. He is a sleepyhead and often dozes off in the wrong moments, though he still manages to do well in class despite this. He is also rather generous, as he spares no expense in his gifts. Just like his electromagnetic powers, he is volatile and easily angered by perceived slights, though he doesn't bear grudges longer than a day. Nathaniel is quite affectionate to friends and family, and is sometimes seen looping his arm around someone else's before using their shoulder as a lean-on as he sleeps. His friends sometimes know him as Spine Cracker because… he hugs really hard for someone of his size. He also likes to eat. It is a miracle of how he is able to stay in shape. Likes: Cute, fluffy animals, girls smaller than himself, lasagna, baguettes, explosions, and seeing more subscribers to his YouTube channel. Dislikes: Reptiles, anti-vaxxers, flat earthers, Hawaiian pizza, broccoli, and ampalaya. Fears: Heartbreak, memories, and heights. Bio: Nathaniel Gregorio was born as the second of three children in a middle income family from Makati City, the financial center of the Philippines. His father, Gordon, was an IT specialist, whilst his mother, Melinda, was a neurosurgeon. His family were all Protestants, having been born and raised in the faith by their parents and grandparents before them. Overall, he had what one could say was a 'typical life' for a person of his generation; he was a compliant kid when he was younger, had rebellious phases in his teen years, and sometimes has these bad influences, like… smoking (too much). He presented himself as this inviolable boy of the church that beat the drums and sometimes spoke to the youth, but he had this darker side that he kept secret in the shadows. Perhaps it was shame, or the gnawing of conscience simply didn't come through until recently, but he lived a dual life of light and darkness from the time he was 16 until the time his Noble Arm manifested. It was a dark night at the time, and he and his less than reputable friends have been wandering the streets for no good reason other than for the sake of it. It was when Nathaniel was on the way home alone that his path was blocked by a pair of drunken men; two very big, and definitely unfriendly men. Nathan is unsure about the details, as he chooses not to remember, but he does recall being punched quite a few times. Were they the ones who were agitated by their noise? Maybe, but it was at this moment of great stress that the Noble Arm of his own manifested itself. A pair of revolvers that writhed with electricity arose unto his hands, which he then used to disable his attackers by shocking them with taser-like blasts. It was at this time that he realized his folly of living a dual life of secret decadence and pretenseful holiness. This incidence was, according to him, a message from the Almighty that he needs to take a better path. And a good path was it, then, when a letter from Trinidad University came in. He'll be a good addition, they said... *Current Goal: Make up for his past mistakes by being the very best. Student Rank: 58</s> <\|message\|>Henry Durand --- Henry --- The jog over to the gym was honestly what Henry needed to start to unwind. After spending a few years training he learned to make exercising his stress relieve. However it seemed that with his classes straining him more than usual, the stress was mounting quicker then Henry could dissipate it. It felt nice to break up his usual cycle of translating during lunch. Henry stopped his jogging and pulled out his phone as he approached the gym. "I need to put a reminder to translate my notes when I get home" Henry spoke aloud, he had a habit of saying what he types on his phone. The habit worsened as he started to translate more frequently. As Henry entered the Gym he saw most of the people sitting on the benches and a girl running laps. Henry, still being a bit drained, thought that you had to do laps before you could sit. I guess that makes sense as he rubbed his chin like he just solved a mystery. With that Henry began to start running laps. It occurred to him in his 2nd lap he didn't know how much he actually needed to run. Asking in English was out of the option for Henry as the thought of thinking of language was aggravating for him at the moment. He was stuck in a loop of wanting to ask and not wanting to think. Eventually he just projected his voice toward Mr. Cinter "How many laps do I have left?" in German. He didn't know if Mr. Cinter, or anyone in the gym, knew German. He prayed that someone in the gym would answer or he might just keep running laps until lunch was over.</s> <\|message\|>Nathaniel Gregorio --- Nathaniel Gregorio --- "Oh...", Nathaniel managed as Hailey began to tear up once Oscar touched her shoulder. She said something about the dread not being this bad... could it be that her Noble Arm was something that had a bad side effect on her mental health? She sure needs some comforting, but the kind of comforting that he was used to give wasn't really suitable for this time and place. Either way, she went off her own way, running the laps like anyone else should. Nath just tilted his head as he watched her run and sprint, though he didn't take long to notice that Oscar had a slight blush while watching her. Could it be... "You like her, don't you.", Nath privately whispered to Oscar as he walked behind the taller hybrid. Oscar was a very friendly boy, one can give him that, but to blush? Now that was something else. Nath yawned, and then put his chin on top of Oscar's shoulder, though he was careful not to press. Oscar would have by this time experienced Nath's touchy-feeliness, perhaps more so than others who did as he was so nice. "Do you mind if I do...?"</s> <\|message\|>Vane Wilson Vane --- Vane yawned right when class was dismissed. "That was pretty tiring," he said aloud. He left his seat and stretch out the unused pats of his body to get the blood flowing. Soon after that, he packed his bag and went to leave for lunch. When he collected his lunch, he found an open seat and began slowly gorging himself on rice and chicken. There's a little orange on the side to fill up the healthy portion of his meal. He was lost in thought from the confrontation with some other people this morning. 'What was his name again? Virgil?' The threat of him not being able to use training facilities bothered him a bit because he so desperately needed those to get stronger. Maybe he can strike a deal with him if they just sit down and have a little chat. As Vane absentmindedly peeled an orange clean, he wondered. "If I was Virgil where would I be?" There were a couple of places he could think of, so he'll just knock one of them down before classes start up again. The American dumped his empty plate into the proper spot and left the cafeteria in search for Virgil and his ragtag group. "Honestly, why'd he feel like getting in the way of my flight?</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- As Oscar sat down and began just watching Hailey run, because frankly he had nothing better to do, he felt someone walk up as it was Nathaniel. As Nathaniel asked him something that is very straight forward and with little hesitation. As Oscar watched as Nathaniel placed his chin on his shoulder and rested there. With a small smile Oscar answered one of his questions very quickly, "Yeah, go ahead. I don't mind." As Oscar shifts his body to allow Nathaniel to better lay himself onto his shoulder and to lay a little onto his back. Oscar knew Nathaniel liked doing this as he then gets to lay better onto him. As Oscar watched Henry entered the Gym…and began to ran? Oh well, he'll remember why he was here after he notices Jordan and him so Oscar just waits and looks back at Nathaniel as he then answers his first question, "No I'm not into Hailey. May I ask why you think that?" Man Emperor Oscar was quite curious as to why Nathaniel would think that. As Oscar was wondering what was the thing that Nathaniel was going off of. However, as he was thinking he heard Henry yell to Oli, in German, 'Oh he was asking about his laps'. As Oscar then quickly translated in his head and spoke out to Henry in German, "Hey Henry! You don't need to do that! You should come over here! Remember you're here for our group!"</s> <\|message\|>Hailey Leena Strassen --- It took her a few minutes while she was jogging around the gym to realize what Oscar had said to her. Hailey specifically gave off a giggle since it was really sweet to say to her. "U-Um, thanks for little pick me up!" Hailey yelled towards Oscar, while jogging. It was super sweet in that case, even though the dread was still there. Hailey noticed the tallest man in her homeroom class, which was Henry. It was pretty unmistakable anyways, even though she's a bit intimidated by how tall he is. However, Coach Cinter is taller than Henry but Henry's tallness makes her a bit terrified slightly. Only because her father was a gentle giant when he wasn't cussing in German. It made her slightly be shocked that she never really talked to Henry before in his native language. However, she heard Oscar speak in German directly to Henry. "Wait… he knows German too? He's a very nice guy to help his friends out too. Like he helped me… even though what he said too me was a bit too cheesy." Hailey thought to herself, with a big smile on her face. She was a bit nervous in speaking the language she learned from her father. Its only because she can't even speak to him anymore and hear his wonderful German charm, so to speak. "Uhh, Hi Henry… S-Sorry I haven't really spoken to you… only because you are quite intimidating. It would probably be a good idea to go over to Oscar, Henry" Hailey said, in German towards Henry with a smile on her face. Definitely a bit of a scared of a tone when speaking in German towards Henry, but she definitely trying to cut the ice so to speak. One of the reasons why she tried to stay quiet since she's living here basically by herself with no one else. All she could think about is her family's picture in her right pocket on her jacket, with her cellphone within it. She kept on her way via jogging through the pain of what her heart feels so much. All she did remember about her father was the fact he cursed her out for what it felt like hours. "W-Why did you do that father? Why were you so angry that day… that I cannot recall." Hailey thought to herself, with a tear coming down her cheek. She was about to cry again even though all she was trying to do is jog around the gym. It felt like she was on at least her 2nd lap around the Gym anyways via jogging. In how her whole body feels with the dread slightly increasing intensity again in certain spots. She tried to ignore the dread but her breath that came out of her mouth was alike she was in cold temperatures, which you can see it. @Dragonpiece</s>	<\|message\|>Nathaniel Gregorio "Ah, thank you.", Nathaniel quietly said to Oscar as the much taller boy did not mind him using his shoulder, and adjusted himself just make him more comfortable. Nath looked over the distance, watching as Hailey ran her laps and spoke to Henry, who seemed to have some sort of business with Oscar and Jordan. He then wrapped his arms around Oscar's waist and lay his chin on the man's shoulder... it was a quaint little backhug that he liked to do. It was understood that this was simply his nature and not anything... else. When Oscar answered that he wasn't into Hailey, Nath frowned a bit. "Oh... you blushed... though I could just be making assumptions. Haha. Well, that's a relief... because I'll admit that I am while you are not." Shocking truth!</s>
<\|description\|>Nathaniel Gregorio Appearance: Nathaniel stands at 5'3" and weighs 58 kilograms. Age: 18 Nationality: Filipino Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Noble Arm Rank: B Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Ranged/Electromagnetism/Line of Sight Noble Arm Abilities: Electric Tri-shot: Nathaniel loads three bullets into each of the Shock Bolters, each one being charged with electric energy. Their velocity is amplified, making their penetration values being twice that of a Desert Eagle pistol. Each Shock Bolter generates 50 bullets everyday, and they do not stack. As such, he only has a fixed amount to go with per day. Electromagnetic Blast: The Shock Bolters are an eternal reservoir of electromagnetic energy which Nathaniel can unleash as blasts against targets within line of sight. They are capable of stunning or knocking back humans, and will only be fatal if Nathaniel willingly amplifies them. However, they become extremely energy costly when elevated to deadly levels. Electrical Control: Nathaniel is able to siphon electricity from external sources within line of sight, amplifying his Noble Arm's offensive capabilities. He is also able to channel electricity into machines in order to power/short circuit them, and on metallic objects to either shock those in physical contact with said objects or to accelerate their heat. He can also form shapes (especially letters) out of electromagnetic energy. Electro-Form: Nathaniel is able to transform his entire body into a purely electrical form, allowing him to travel through metallic objects, conductors, and the power grid itself. He can exit this form whenever he wishes. Misc Abilities: Coding Shenanigans: His IT specialist father taught him basic hacking, such as getting the password of a neighbour's WiFi and denying others access to certain sites. Barber: He can do you a basic haircut for a dollar. Stroker: Nath could be a professional cuddlist if he wanted to. Personality: Nathaniel is a boy of few words, giving the impression that he is an edgy, brooding character. He is a sleepyhead and often dozes off in the wrong moments, though he still manages to do well in class despite this. He is also rather generous, as he spares no expense in his gifts. Just like his electromagnetic powers, he is volatile and easily angered by perceived slights, though he doesn't bear grudges longer than a day. Nathaniel is quite affectionate to friends and family, and is sometimes seen looping his arm around someone else's before using their shoulder as a lean-on as he sleeps. His friends sometimes know him as Spine Cracker because… he hugs really hard for someone of his size. He also likes to eat. It is a miracle of how he is able to stay in shape. Likes: Cute, fluffy animals, girls smaller than himself, lasagna, baguettes, explosions, and seeing more subscribers to his YouTube channel. Dislikes: Reptiles, anti-vaxxers, flat earthers, Hawaiian pizza, broccoli, and ampalaya. Fears: Heartbreak, memories, and heights. Bio: Nathaniel Gregorio was born as the second of three children in a middle income family from Makati City, the financial center of the Philippines. His father, Gordon, was an IT specialist, whilst his mother, Melinda, was a neurosurgeon. His family were all Protestants, having been born and raised in the faith by their parents and grandparents before them. Overall, he had what one could say was a 'typical life' for a person of his generation; he was a compliant kid when he was younger, had rebellious phases in his teen years, and sometimes has these bad influences, like… smoking (too much). He presented himself as this inviolable boy of the church that beat the drums and sometimes spoke to the youth, but he had this darker side that he kept secret in the shadows. Perhaps it was shame, or the gnawing of conscience simply didn't come through until recently, but he lived a dual life of light and darkness from the time he was 16 until the time his Noble Arm manifested. It was a dark night at the time, and he and his less than reputable friends have been wandering the streets for no good reason other than for the sake of it. It was when Nathaniel was on the way home alone that his path was blocked by a pair of drunken men; two very big, and definitely unfriendly men. Nathan is unsure about the details, as he chooses not to remember, but he does recall being punched quite a few times. Were they the ones who were agitated by their noise? Maybe, but it was at this moment of great stress that the Noble Arm of his own manifested itself. A pair of revolvers that writhed with electricity arose unto his hands, which he then used to disable his attackers by shocking them with taser-like blasts. It was at this time that he realized his folly of living a dual life of secret decadence and pretenseful holiness. This incidence was, according to him, a message from the Almighty that he needs to take a better path. And a good path was it, then, when a letter from Trinidad University came in. He'll be a good addition, they said... *Current Goal: Make up for his past mistakes by being the very best. Student Rank: 58</s> <\|message\|>Henry Durand --- Henry --- As the chaos brought by the Noble Arm passes Henry begins to relax his body. He lets out a relieved sigh, still holding a smile towards Hailey. The momentary reprieve didn't last long as Henry could fill her still shivering from the incident. He pulled her slightly closer to show he was still there. He could only listen calmly as she reveals that this… fear… never truly seems to go away. The thought of living with such a crippling pain stung and tightened his chest. He couldn't show the grimace of his heart to her when she was so vulnerable. Hailey smiled at Henry as she thanked him. At this point he was making direct eye contact with her the entire time and like a storm he could see coming from deep inside of her heart. Preparing for this Henry put his hand behind her head and pulled her into his chest. What he heard sent chills down his back. Why… These words echoed through Henry's mind. The idea of throwing out your kid like that enraged him to no end. He couldn't accept that. Henry's heart was sent aflame with anger over a person he didn't even know. He had to hide it for now, she still needed comfort and these emotions are nothing compared to the living hell she goes through. Henry just gently caressed the back of her head to help calm her down the best he could. She seemed to recompose herself after the PTSD like experience. Henry knew those words weren't meant for him to know. However now that he does he made a promise to himself that he would never betray her as her confidant. Hailey thanked him again and now confirmed Henry's thoughts that this was her Noble Arm. A Noble Arm that would cause such grieve to their user was unheard of to Henry. But all those inquiries were shoved to the wayside as Henry needed to make this clear. With a quiet but clear voice Henry spoke "I don't know your full situation or how I can help but what I do know is that I want to be there and help. Would you have me as your friend?" Henry learned at a young age from his father that when you feel this strongly you need to be direct.</s> <\|message\|>Nathaniel Gregorio --- Nathaniel Gregorio --- By this time, it looked like Henry had Hailey's temporary episode of PTSD under... well, how should it be... under control. The height difference was a little unsettling to look at though, as Henry had a full foot over the girl that was already three inches higher than his good self, and it looked dlike he could reduce her to atoms if he squeezed her too hard. That looked very far from the case though, as his current proceedings seems to indicate him as a big friendly giant. Hell, he just have her a hug. Oscar was still the hopeful boy that he has always been when Nath had confided that he had sort of an attraction for Hailey, and just said that he do what he likes. "Aw, thank you so much.", he whispered to the American's ear as he just lay his head there. Truly, there is no friend like Oscar. So nice. A literal radiator of hope. "By the way, I should ask.", Nath said to Oscar as squeezed a little bit. "What's your shoe size?"</s> <\|message\|>Hailey Leena Strassen --- It took her a few seconds, while in Henry's arms to finally feel much better. The dread specifically subsided since it was truly done with tormenting her right now. She gave out a sigh of relief alike she was getting back to how she acts normally. However, what gave her the biggest shock is what Henry specifically asked her. She was flabbergasted it was the biggest kindest thing anyone ever done for her. "I-I'm grateful for your help… I-I… would… l-like to b-be your friend… H-Henry." Hailey said, with happy tears going down her face. She hugged Henry tighter and had that cute little smile return to her. It's the one thing that she always seemed to be doing, smile in the face of adversity and strife she's been through. However, this smile was sincere for the first time in a long time. Hailey had a really tough time getting used to this school since she didn't really have any friends until now that is. In a sense, she sees everyone as her friends but this is the actually first time someone confirmed those feelings. Basically how she felt with her family, they protected her through thick and thin and now these students at this school will do the same. "I… should probably get back to… my laps… since I have 4 more to go." Hailey said to Henry with a slight nervousness in her voice. She does enjoy PE but she wouldn't want to get the coach mad, since its a rule to do the laps she has to do. Its pretty obviously were the nervousness comes from the rule's in this class requires to be done. She was teary eyed but much better than she has felt in along time. Always like she didn't really fit in this school, mostly because of her Noble Arm. However, she found someone that's willingly to be her friend, which she is grateful for. It was like she couldn't really open up too many people because of the fact she was afraid. "I-I truly appreciate everything, you've done Henry… You made me feel welcomed at this school. I-I didn't feel like I belonged here. But I suppose I was wrong, Guess most of the people in my class are friendly like Oscar..." Hailey said, giving a compliment loud enough to Oscar in German at least. She felt better like she could talk about more things, her feelings and what not. It's still going to take a very long time before she feels truly good about everything, but this is one step in that very long road ahead of herself. In the back of her mind, "Take it one step at a time, Hailey… is probably what Henry would probably say..." When Henry lets her go and allows her to get back onto her laps for the Coach, since she still has 2 laps jogging and two sprinting to do. However, this was truly needed for her since she was a scaredy cat and the dread was causing her to not really do much. Even though, her written work was better than usually her NA training because of the fact she's scared of it. @Th3King0fChaos</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- As Oscar watched Hailey and Henry, he was getting worried more and more, at the situation. She seemed to have entered a deep part of some fear she had, yet as quickly as the situation began it quickly came to a conclusion with Henry's help. As it seems Henry was quite a great comforter as he seems to have gotten her to calm down and smile again. As Oscar couldn't hear, he could tell from the way Henry is comforting, it is the same as a loving father or a caring brother. Making sure they are alright and comforted. As they quickly started getting up, Oscar heard Hailey speak in a higher tone, almost as if wanting others to hear. As she spoke out in German, Oscar heard Hailey compliment him, as a small smile falls onto Oscar's face. Oscar didn't take it as a compliment, just as an observation, after all the world is kind, you just have to be looking. Oscar is genuinely happy that Henry and Hailey met, Henry is able to show his true self and the world doesn't look at him badly, while Hailey can be shown that the world isn't dark and cold with her being alone. Giving them a connection that is hard to find for some, a strong friendship built from turmoil and a loneliness that seems to loom as they are both carrying something Oscar can't see. Sometimes this is the most explosive and the most helpful relationships you can have, especially for people with trauma. Even more so for those who had nothing here other than maybe a single goal, this friendship doesn't seem like one that will break easily. Oscar does chuckle a little in his own head, Seems Nathaniel has some competition. That's something hard to beat. As Oscar's attention was pulled back to the boy using his shoulder as a rest. He asked Oscar an…interesting question? Wait, was that an innuendo? Is he making a pass? Wait no, what..hu?. This is one of the few times Oscar's introverted nature actually comes out as he doesn't know what he is supposed to say. Is he supposed to say, was he supposed to answer normally? Was he supposed to throw another innuendo at Nathaniel? Oscar didn't know as he sat there for a moment as he blushed slightly as he said, "Um, I'm size 10, I.. I…uh mean I'm a 44". Oscar didn't realize Nathaniel might have been vying for multiple people, Oscar didn't know how he felt about that idea. He heard of people being together with multiple people, yet never knew someone who has. So he never had those ideas pop into his head. @Landaus Five-One@The Man Emperor</s>	<\|message\|>Nathaniel Gregorio If the American boy had thought of the possibility of the question being a possible innuendo being directed towards him, Nath simply hadn't thought of it as one. Hell, he knew nothing about the convoluted innuendos and idioms of the West, so he just tilted his head at Oscar's answer, and took out his phone. "Oh, perfect.", Nathaniel replied to Oscar as he texted rather furiously, even though he was using only one of his thumbs. "My uncle that is living in America periodically sends a lot of stuff over here to the Philippines, you know, clothes and stuff. Heck, this jacket that I am using right now,", he said, "... is from California. He had to look over the children's section to get something that fitted me though, as... well, as you can see, you people tower over us." He exhaled shortly, sending another round of texts. "My uncle asked me to get the shoe sizes of my friends and classmates so that I can give stuff out when my birthday comes around. He got really affluent in the States, you see. Perks of being married to someone in Hollywood, I guess." Nath looked over at Hailey and Henry, and wondered at they were saying. "What did they say by the way? I don't know any German, hah... oh." Was that a blush? "I'm sorry... did I say something weird? Or... did I say something... wrong?"</s>
<\|description\|>Olympio Rank: Battle-Brother Specialisation (If any): N/A Psychic Aptitude: Olympio is a very powerful psyker even by the standards of the Grey Knights, the leadership of the Chapter considering him for the Librarius or even the Prognosticars should his career prove fruitful; however, his powers are rather unfortunately for a Grey Knight in the fields not immediately tangible in the battlefield; very powerful telepathy, divination, and even the power of logokinetics are natural to young Olympio. Thus he will in battle more often than not simply lend his power to his Brothers rather than using it himself. Appearance: Brother Olympio is a fairly tanned man, his skin the shade of aged wood, with matching dark hair and brown-green eyes. He is generally bald, with his skin from head to toe covered in tattoos and decorative brands or scarrings from his past though these fade rapidly with time.</s> <\|message\|>Olympio Crashing into the next group of gunners it was only a few spins before they were a pile of dismembered bits. With that the remaining resistance in this part of the open street was rather thin, the few fighters remaining having mere flimsy iron weapons and an occasional stub weapon that wouldn't even penetrate a Space Marine's black carapace, let alone their power armour. However, though the enemy here was sparse Olympio knew he was alone and isolated here, and to try fight on solo was an exercise in baseless arrogance; easily a trait let swell by the prince of pleasure's magics. Closing the distance to once more return to the comfortable embrace of his Brother's psychic aura was easy, only a few leaps crossing a great many metres until they were in his sight. As he moved in the message of Bieito came through the vox. Truth be told he was somewhat underwhelmed by the usage of vox instead of telepathic communication. The majority of Grey Knights had at least enough of the aptitude to communicate at the very least with their own squad using their Justicar as a means to help relay the information if needed. "Noted." he replied using his mind. The presence of daemons was certainly ominous. It seemed to redeem his foretellings, but that was nothing to be happy about given what it implied. "I am coming to reinforce." he continued, stomping over. Though grouped up they would be far more vulnerable to heavy weapons of all sorts, it seemed for now the greater part of the eternal enemy's rabble was culled and their firepower would now be all but negligible. Daemons would now be the main quarry if the report of Bieito was correct and in such a case a tight formation of blades would be optimal rather than the loose slaughter they had previously enacted. Flourishing his sword, he for now kept between the Justicar and Bieito ready to support - or if needed fall back to - either of his comrades should the enemy try to strike them down one by one. Checking his heads-up-display to correct his path, he started his march towards the destination of the squad. He had no interest in killing that which later the PDF could clean up when there was a foe more urgent to deal with, thus seeing no purpose in increasing his current kill-tally. For Brother Olympio there was only the objective, and he hoped that his Brothers would join him with haste.</s> <\|message\|>Basilious Aphodium Sirius' efficient and timely arrival proved the necessary turning point to shift the tides in their joint favor against the dark god's servants. Gaunt, pale faces once jubilant in their small victory fell in despair, their cries of anguish and human suffering falling on deaf, uncaring ears as the two battle brothers parted them like wheat before the scythe. Bolter rounds and holy flame washing them away like the foul taint they were. Alone, a single space marine remained a terrifying force. Together, they were a living nightmare. They devastated those remained, putting to flight the few that survived. Standing utterly victorious amongst the smoldering ruins nary a single living cultist in sight Basilious took the moment to recuperate and reload. His expended tank lying forgotten in the ashes at his feet as he fastened fresh fuel to his arm mounted incinerator. Perhaps he had been too generous in his usage, already having expended two full canisters and locking his third into place. The town around him had been rather swiftly transformed from its humble origins into a hellscape, fragile homes collapsing into smoldering ruin. Hungry fire leapt from house to house in an uncontrollable maddening dance of destruction. Overhead dark chemically blue smoke clogged the sky, climbing ever higher in as a grim beacon to the Astarte's wrath. A mark that could no doubt be seen for miles around. Flames licked at his armored boots as he parted from the inferno, stepping into a less volatile portion of the town, where his respirator need not work so hard cleansing the pungent smog from the air. The fire would not doubt spread to these currently untouched buildings, but that would be in the next three minute or so. His gaze traveled across the abandoned portions. Either the residents were dead, concealed, or in total rout. Either way there were no threats currently. The fire would see to the hidden ones soon enough. Off to his left Sirius attended his own business, the two marines maintained standard combat dispersion, close enough to aid one another, but far enough apart that no lucky explosive would end them both. Their separate purges, though disparate in their methods were similarly effective. Basilious took a moment to attract Sirius' attention, not to give warning but only to convey his thoughts. He did not require words to express his appreciation for the assistance his brother provided. Instead he gave Sirius a singular nod before turning and continuing in his hunt. A robotically transmitted voice interrupted Basilious' actions however, and the steel-clad warrior paused his progress. Their words of warnings and orders were followed by Olympio, demonstrating his talent in telepathic communication. Basilious' lips twitched upward, unable to keep the competitive grin off his face. "Received Bieito, Justicar. Sirius and I shall change course and rendezvous with you at the gate. And we shall be on guard for the daemonic." The young knight felt a tinge of what could only be good natured jealousy, though his conditioning prevented him from recognizing the truth of the feeling. Bieito would be the first of them to slay the hated foe. It was possible Basilious considered, that his fire had purged a few daemons, eradicating them under its holy power where eyes could not witness their demise, but he doubted it. Such fortune was not his to count upon, and could one really tally the death of daemons if one did not witness their slaying firsthand? A question for later he decided swiveling forty degrees to the right, moving through the remaining town post haste. A guarded, but rapid advance that met no adversary yet…</s> <\|message\|>Sirius Elazar The enemies of the Grey Knights had posed little threat thus far. In tandem with Brother Basilious' purging flame, Sirius' blades and weapon had torn them asunder, sending their souls to weep at their dark masters' feet. All that remained in their wake was ash and ruin. It came as little surprise when Brother Bieito announced the inevitable: their arrival was anticipated, and with it came daemons of Chaos. But why else would they, scions of the Emperor's divinity, be called but to fend off the maleficient spectres of the dark gods of the Warp? Basilious answered for him, and so he merely offered 'Received, Justicar' to the command to head toward the gate. Their movement, then, was swift: no quarter could be brooked, not for such a time-sensitive matter. Which was why, when two more small bands of foes entered their line of sight and aimed their weapons, Sirius offered no bladesmanship to the one he set his sights upon. Unwilling to lose focus on the current goal for too long, he instead raised his hand, and launched a salvo of psy bolts even as he continued to move forward, the gesture as smooth as it was deadly. In seconds, the humans were no more than meat, the threat of their possession done. No matter. Onward to the gate.</s> <\|message\|>Warriors of Squad Kallikles @BCTheEntity@Andreyich The objective toward which the Grey Knights now propelled themselves was none other than the entrance into the subterranean labyrinth of tunnels, dug over thousands of years in anticipation of this very moment, that all lead to the sacred chamber of the Cult of Anash'Ra – a vile and demented subordinate of the Prince of Pleasure, said to have enticed and corrupted more religious figures, aristocrats and foolish Aeldari than any other of her servants save the Masque – a chamber in which the summoning ritual was close to reaching a zenith. Covering the entryway (which itself was no more than an opening in the basement) was a solid bunker-like structure of rockcrete, barbed wire wrapped about it, and various slits beginning to brighten as heavy weapons fire sought out the servants of the God-Emperor; within was a garrison of purple-clad cultists, of a higher quality than the peasant rabble fought thus far, armed with Imperial constructed las-guns and armoured in carapace, expertly trained humans... but still humans nonetheless. Sand was swept into the air around the rapidly moving formation, bullets whipping about them as they moved, armour of unadorned ceramite causing gleams and glints in the hot noon sun of Anairu, Justicar Kallikles forming his squad into a living arrowhead of gene-enhanced fury with himself as the tip of the projectile. "I am the hammer..." began the Justicar, reciting the sacred words of the six-hundred-and-sixty-sixth Chapter of Astartes – widely unknown outside of the most clandestine of organisations, unheralded as heroes and lorded as such by none, their own dead forgotten by all save their own brethren - "I am the right hand of the Emperor," his voice lifted as those of his brother joined him, Kallikles lifting his left arm and sending blessed bolter rounds into the unholy mass of human and half-formed neverborn that opposed them over the sand, "the instrument of His will..." those of mere flesh were blown apart with ease, their remains ground underfoot by the Knights or by their comrades, those of more unnatural flesh screeched as their bodies burned, "... the gauntlet about His fist …" a fanged face without a nose reared up before the Justicar, only to be cut in twain in an instant, "the tip of His spear, the edge of His sword!" A mass of devoted followers and summoned minor daemons crowded round the Grey Knights as they came, unable to stop the arrow now that it has been loosed, perhaps slowing them somewhat – buying more time for their master to be risen, no doubt – but not fully able to halt their momentum. "Basilious," voxed the Justicar as his legs continued to grind forward, "you will find an exit for us once inside, put your incinerator to good use, while Bieito will hold the entrance tunnel. Brothers Olympio and Salazar will come with me, together we shall cease the summoning itself." Picking out multiple targets within his helmets HUD, the Justicar shared them with his squad, targeting reticles closing over the weak points of the enemy fortification. "We must break through and descend into the tunnels, from there we can force our way to their 'temple', and bring this to an end." --- In the Temple-cavern of Anash'Ra... Magister Mordegan Arakane could sense that time was running out, his body shivering and shuddering as he spoke the ten-thousand material names of his Lord, sweat making his hook-beaked mask slick with perspiration and his lips moist with his own lather, eyes of shifting colours half closed as he attempted to blot out all distractions and concentrate on the matter at hand... but how could he?! The Corpse-Emperor had sent his servants, and now a millennia of work was going to be wasted because of it... because of them... he would not, could not die here. He must survive to bring his master back into real space, something he could not accomplish if he were stripped of life. Yes... yes... he knew now what he had to do. He waited until he could hear the approaching enemy, until he could hear the roar of their bolters and the radiance of their armour, until he could visibly see them from the other side of the cavern acting as his stronghold, then he leapt from the far side of the granite plateau! Before his body could his the floor it burst into spectral flame, his form disappearing even as the two Beastmen stood dumbfounded and turned to the Magisters assistant – this man was equally flabbergasted as they, attempting to take up his masters ritual chanting even as the Grey Knights bore down on them.</s>	<\|message\|>Olympio As Olympio walked through the scene, he did so with some consternation. His mind looped back to his flourishes, the skill with which he fought in battle. It was necessary for him to be a master of the sword and his storm-bolter of course, for he could not leverage his mind to the same destructive potency that many of his Brothers could. But this was the realm of She-Who-Thirsts as the damnable xenos called the God of Chaos. Here, it as excess that reigned, and he knew that it was a mistake of many an initiate to assume this only applied to more base things from lust to gluttony. Many a man fell into the lures of Slaanesh with promises of being the greatest of swordmasters, and though he was confident in his unyielding purity Olympio was nevertheless concerned that by his very actions he had been strengthening the beast. So deep was he in his musings that he lagged the incantation of the Justicar by a few milliseconds when he echoed it. As daemonettes and mortal abominations alike descended upon the Space Marines, Olympio made sure to take the conclusions he came to in his musings into account. No longer were there the skillful, artistic sweeps, slices, and parries.e Now he made use of all the brutality that the strength of his power armour and genetic enhancements allowed him. He turned his sword over, grabbing it by the blade in the grip of a murder-stroke, the gilded crossguard of the weapon now the ends of a piercing bludgeon that was soon coated in gore. As ever more enemies pressed in, he felt his weapon ever more a burden given there was less and less space to truly swing it. He transitioned to using his fists, feet and even his very head as blunt weapons, the appendages flailing with the speed and force to crush just as a hammer or hatchet would. But even that was enough. Though individually he was stronger than many dozens of these abominations, the fact was that there were so many he could hardly move. Although likewise it meant that they too had little room to maneuver, it was still more than he and eventually they would get a lucky dagger or claw into the soft spot of a joint in his armour. It is said Space Marines know no fear. While true in the abstract, the self-preservation instincts of the Grey Knight nevertheless kicked in and overpowered his previous vows to conserve his psychic fortitude for greater foes. With a roar, witch-lightning coarse through the entire surface of the warrior. It arced between the aberrations covering him, turning the mortals into crisps and the daemons into puffs of smoke. Not ceasing his battle-cry, he used his shoulder still crackling with psychic electricity as a ram with which he tried to charge through the mass of evil and clear a path for his comrades.</s>
<\|description\|>Anatu Taauth Age: 16 Anatu wears fairly concealing clothes of silk, I'm a mixture of dark colors with scant brighter accents. If nothing arduous is expected of her, she will be in conservative robes, along with her head wrap and sometimes even a veil if she's feeling fancy. Background: It is said that Anatu's great-grandfather was cursed with daughters. He himself only had five, but each of them had only daughters as well, as did each one of those daughters. Anatu and her sisters failed to break this "curse," but by this time it's only referred to as something of a joke. Her mother, Bilit, is a sorcerer herself, from the Cult of the Serpent. Her father, Sekh, "works for the Rehati," but Anatu isn't sure what this means. Two of her sisters are in the Fellowship of Quiet Companions, and the third is in the Fellowship of Stellar Philosophy. Bilit Taauth is a powerful and ambitious sorcerer. Her skill with biomancy is such that political rivals have. Begun to spread rumors that her family deliberately altered themselves to produce only beautiful daughters. Though probably untrue, this rumor has directly affected the lives of her daughters, who have been forced to fend off suitors from an inappropriately young age. This has led half of them to join in the fashion of cover themselves. The other half became prostitutes instead. All three of Anatu's older sisters, as well as her mother are well respected members of their various fields. Anatu, the youngest of her siblings, is the first to show any aptitude for magic. Bilit made sure her youngest daughter went into the Presedjet to further her education, with the hope that she would join her in the Cult of the Serpent. Anatu's father, for his part, encouraged this development as much as he did anything in her life. Which is to say, he consented to his share of the cost. Personality: Sociable and charming. Anatu is a people pleaser, and her greatest weakness is that she can't stand it when someone doesn't like her. She is kind and helpful, but will attempt to befriend even those who clearly don't want it. Aptitude: While attending Presedjet, she showed herself remarkably teachable, and thus far no avenue of magical study has proven too difficult for her. She is, however, particularly adept at the more concrete and physical studies, such as pyromancy and particularly telekenisis. Tutelary: A sardonic calico cat called Amontu. A bit of a foil for Anatu, Amon is distant and reserved, but loves Ana in her own quiet way. She has a peculiar quirk in which her mismatched pattern often changes from day to day.</s> <\|message\|>Sarahi Parvaneh How dull. There may have been honor in tradition and in the future there was very much the possibility that she would come to appreciate their people's customs, but standing around while an old geezer blabbed away was boring Sarahi to death. Yes, they were the future, they were the chosen ones to pave the way for future generations--fine, but all this could have been valuable time used for lessons and resolved easily with a few congratulatory letters. Even the Crimson King himself elected not to show, further proving her point. That said, she did pay attention, even if she found the entire ceremony pointless. The only upside was Diadem hiding pitifully under her cloak instead of consistently ringing in her ear, the occasional chime mixed in with the occasional breeze heard every once in a while. One look at one of the others' tutelaries and they had retreated, chirping about 'winged demons' and 'hiding their light'. At the very least they were quiet, sticking to her clothes and only sending one tiny butterfly as a lookout. She would have felt bad if it wasn't for the fact that they hid every time a bird flew past; by now she was used to it. Sarahi's mood didn't lift when she heard her name wasn't associated with the Cult of the Scarab. That was what she got for actually hoping for something. Moving over with the other faces she didn't care about, Sarahi closed her eyes and tuned out the rest of the names and speeches out as she deliberated. It wasn't the Cult of the Phoenix, at least, but wasn't even her second or third choice, either. What was the point of accepting an average student into a cult specializing in something else? Did her mother have a hand in this? No, she doubted that--Behiti would find any cult worthy of bragging about and wasn't aware of what Sarahi liked. Maybe a transfer could be arranged--biomancy didn't really hold her interest enough for her to specialize in it. Once they were free to roam, she let out a long sigh that she had been holding. Right, if this was how it was going to be, she may as well embrace it. First things first: Magus Nevrakis, the only person worth speaking to at the moment. Or at least that had been the initial plan, as one of her fellow initiates decided to engage her. At the salute, Sarahi slowly raised an eyebrow, though had no comment. Peppy and sociable, everything Sarahi actively avoided, go figure. "Good for you," Sarahi replied as she lifted her hand, watching the little creature of light land on her finger. A small bell could be heard ringing, its voice in Sarahi's head. Is it safe to come out? "I don't know," She replied verbally, flicking her wrist as she noticed the other girl was still around. "Sarahi." She offered her name at least, having no comment on the other thing. It wasn't like she recognized anyone here, either, but there wasn't any point in saying as much. "The selections are interesting, considering they inducted someone into the Cult of the Serpent with no interest in biomancy. Truly fascinating." And asinine.</s> <\|message\|>Khotanebre Bekenamun --- He felt so pretentious. Khotanebre wasn't normally one for excessive jewelry, but his mother insisted he flaunt the wealth of their family at such an event, and the stark-white cloak that completely draped his body was as plain was it was prestigious. Still, as much as he enjoyed the splash of color they provided, he didn't see a reason to be toting his family's entire panoply of gemstones on his person. A string of cylindrical beads - the only piece of the collection he personally owned - adorned his neck, alternating bronze and precious turquoise. Hidden partially beneath his hair, a circlet inlaid with malachite made itself visible in flashes of green between sweaty locks of carmine as the movement of his head and rare breeze displaced his bangs. One of his father's armlets wrapped around his right bicep, a band of gold ornamented with a magnificent lapis of almost violet hue and flecked with golden streaks of pyrite. His mother was especially adamant about showing that one off, but Kho had no idea how he was supposed to accomplish such a feat when his arm was almost constantly veiled by his cloak. Simple gilded loops decorated his wrists and ankles - were it not for his brother's objection and the simple fact that he was running out of room on his person, Kho was certain he'd have been more gold than man by the time his mother was finished with him. The boy stood attentively among the other novitiates, the folds of his cloak belying the excited fidgeting underneath. A falcon sat perched upon his shoulder, a tiny white scarf wrapped around its neck to match with its master. As was common for the tutelary, Tekenkhasut prodded at the new brooch Kho had been given with one of his talons. Khotanebre wore similar adornments often enough - he was never seen without a cloak, after all - and the bird often liked to critique them on flashiness and hauteur. Needless to say, he wasn't pleased with this new development. "How long until this thing gets decorated?" Teken inquired in a low voice, despite the ceremony not having officially begun yet. "Stop it," Kho hissed as he brushed the falcon's claw away, flashing that ever-important armband as he did so, "We don't even know what cults we're in yet. I'm sure it'll be stylized soon enough." "What're you thinking? Something feathered, I hope." "Maybe a less obnoxious animal with some nobility, like a scarab or a ram." "Oh, Khota, that's cold," Tekenkhasut whined as it turned its head away. Khotanebre silenced the bird with a stern guttural noise as the mages took to the dais. The Vizier's leading of the ceremony elicited a frown from the boy. As far as he knew, His Majesty not being in attendance was highly unusual, if not unprecedented. He hoped nothing bad had happened that drew the Crimson King's attention away so urgently. Putting his concerns aside for the time being, Kho drew in a sharp breath of anticipation as Amon unrolled the papyrus. He knew he had no reason to worry; the fact that he was even standing here was proof enough that he had been accepted. The only unknown was which cult had sponsored him, and it wasn't as though he had a particularly strong preference to any one cult over the others; he was just happy to be a sorcerer. Still, the pressure of Teken's talons against his shoulder was the only thing keeping him grounded against the unease in his stomach. The tension drained out of him as his sponsor was named, despite the man's terrifying appearance. The Cult of the Phoenix made sense, given his aptitude, and Teken would certainly be happy about it. He gave the bird a quick glance of warning before stepping forward, lest it disrupt the ceremony with cackling as he approached Magus Xavier. When Vizier Amon approached him after, he bowed his head respectfully in the man's presence. No words he could possibly string together could appropriately express Kho's pride and elation in this honor bestowed upon him, so he simply remained silent. The silence didn't last long, as Tekenkhasut resumed his fidgeting with Kho's brooch as soon as the vizier had dismissed them. "Look at that, feathers after all," The bird chirped smugly, as if it had personally accomplished something. Kho ignored the creature in favor of looking around. Energy was buzzing within him now, and he had no idea what to unleash it on. His fellow novitiate under Magus Xavier disappeared into the crowd, and he wasn't quite sure he wanted to be alone with the man himself yet. Plus, Amon had encouraged him to mingle. "What's the plan? Gonna go beg mommy dearest to let you take your little baubles off?" "No, she'd never let me do that while we were still in public." In fact, he was rather certain approaching his family would result in an embarrassing assault of his mother trying to 'fix' his outfit while his father offered pointers. Khotanebre perked up on his tiptoes in a quick survey of the crowd. In all the fanfare of the festivities being prepared, he couldn't locate them, though he doubted his family would have any trouble locating him. Rather than fidget in place until the inevitable, Kho delved into the midst of the celebrants after his fellow Phoenix novitiate. What was her name? An-something... Anat? Damn it, he only remembered her family name. He knew what she looked like, at least; he'd seen her at the Pesedjet before, and thankfully she had foregone the usual modesty with which she dressed. Picking one headscarf out of every woman in attendance would've been a challenge, even with the obvious white cloaks. "Behave," he chided Teken in a soft voice as he approached Anatu from the rear. He didn't think she was aristocracy, but he erred on the side of caution when addressing her regardless. "Novitiate Taauth?" Kho tilted his head briefly at the similar-looking woman nearby, "Apologies, am I interrupting?" ---</s>	<\|message\|>Anatu Taauth Anatu smiled at her fellow Novitiate, which was barely visible between the links in her veil. It was strange that her Magus only had the two students, but she found herself hoping that it would equate to more personal training. "Not at all!" she said, gesturing toward Anakh. "This is my sister, Anakh. I was just looking to meet some of my fellow students, so I'm glad you approached. And you may call mr Anatu if you like. Or Ana, if you promise not to mix my sister and I up."</s>
<\|description\|>Khaemtir Maryatum Age: 16 Appearance: Preferring to wear flowing, colorful silks over cotton, Khaemtir dresses to his social standing in a flashy style. His accessories are usually gold, and he wears a lot with his piercings that his mother has been trying to dissuade him from keeping, but rarely display any sort of gem unless the occasion demands it. He stands just under 5' 10", a little shorter than his father and average for his classmates, but he is broad shouldered and muscular, the result of hard training and an athletic nature. HIs cheerful disposition is easily apparent, between the perpetual sparkle in brown eyes and the smile he keeps most everywhere he goes. Background: Stretching back to the founding of Phetop, the Maryatum family considers themselves a pillar of the great city. They fanatically keep their lineage well documented back to the days before the Crimson King and a list of the achievements of each member. They drill their history into each generation, ensuring the traditions that made their family so great endure unchanged through the centuries. While this makes them come off as rigid and old fashioned, the Maryatums consider it preserving history in a world where progress threatens to consume it. They've maintained Lordship over the same trade district since the founding of the city and their influence is obvious; although modern building materials have been admitted, buildings and stalls are still required to replicate the original architecture of the city as closely as possible. The early matriarchs of the family helped establish the Red Orders under the direction of the Crimson King and they've maintained a presence in them ever since, prompting the family to teach combat and math through private tutors in addition to their children's regular education. The call of service is the highest honor, with Lord Pimay Maryatum commanding a position of some authority in the Order Sehkmet, but it isn't the only path for the family to take. Those who aren't called serve under the current matriarch, Lady Kiya Maryatum, and focus on maintaining the family's business and social standings. They're known for hosting large charity events in traditional Phetopian style that benefit educational and low income housing social services. Khaemtir is the youngest of three, two sisters older than him by ten and eight years respectively. His eldest sister is a double of their mother, focused and determined and set in the past. She serves at their mother's side faithfully and loves the city beyond most Lions. His other sister serves one of the Red Orders but Khaemtir has learned to stop asking about her work. The last time he did, she'd taken one piece from every game set he owned and it drove him insane. The expectations for Khaemtir were blessedly low; all of the required roles are filled which left him far more flexibility than his siblings. He grew up slipping away from tutors and lessons with little repercussion but with low expectations also comes little attention despite fulfilling the youngest sibling role perfectly. His grades were satisfactory, his mother far too fearsome for anything less, but they rarely held his interest, disappearing to his friends instead. He was permitted the freedom so long as his grades stayed up and his actions didn't bring shame to the family name. That changed when his affinity for magic made itself known. Only three other Maryatums ever became Sorcerers and none of them were living. The expectations suddenly exploded as his parents threw him head first into the Pesedjet. The change was jarring and he struggled with the adjustment to the stifling requirements but the fact that it was magic made it a little easier. Going from the extra child to something unique present quite a challenge as his carefree personality clashed with his studies. But it was also the motivation he needed. Going from nothing to somebody in the family changed the entire dynamic and he took to magic like a fish to water. He learned and consumed everything he could and, while he could never be considered a great scholar by far, his passion for the subject couldn't be denied. Personality: Carefree, attention seeking, and mischievous, Khaemtir is a younger sibling through and through. He's flirty and social, flitting from one conversation to another in an unbroken chain through the day. He's energetic and upbeat which lends him to preferring physical activities over his studies. Most of the time when he isn't pouring over his magical studies or when he's avoiding the boring ones, he's practicing his family's sword techniques, playing some game in the sun with his friends, or working out. His devotion to magic is an anomaly as any of his family tutors would tell you but it's clear he is dedicated to his craft as it's a topic of discussion that he could go on for hours if someone lets him. Unfortunately, his cushioned lifestyle makes him come off as insensitive sometimes. His upbringing was dedicated to the matters of the old aristocracy and he surrounded himself with them. He often fails to understand issues outside of that scope which leads to poor conversation with those outside of his social class. More than once he's stepped on someone's toes and struggled to give out an apology for something he didn't understand. Aptitude: Surprising everyone, including himself, Khaemtir's potential for magical practice has shown itself stunningly. Khaemtir's aptitude and passion has seen him excel in nearly every Pesedjir curriculum except one glaring, failing exception: Biomancy, something that makes him retch at the thought of it. Pyromancy has had his heart from day one and the eve of his commencement has done nothing but stoke the passion. Tutelary: Udjebten's summoning was unexpected. Khaemtir was ready for the spell to take some work but instead Udjebten appeared as if she had always been there and was just waiting to be seen. She took the form of a baby hippo with three eyes, one made of ruby, one of sapphire, and one of emerald, and is a delicate balance of maternal instinct and aggression. She dotes on him, insisting he take care of himself and demanding he keep better habits, but her advice on most problems are usually straightforward and violent. Someone insulted you? It's hard to talk without a jaw. Someone forgot to do their part for a project? A little fire never hurt anyone. Udjebten has taken a liking to his mother and her advice sounds more and more like her everyday, much to Khaemtir's chagrin. Aura: The excitement of a child on their namesday waiting to open their first present.</s> <\|message\|>Sarahi Parvaneh Sarahi had mumbled something unintelligible as she stirred, nearly letting out a scream at the body next to her. It didn't help that Diadem decided to surround her in a flurry, tiny bells all at once shouting at her mentally a multitude of things that she couldn't understand. She would've yelled at them to shut up if she hadn't felt so tired, ignoring them as they eagerly clung to her in what she could only assume was comfort. Well, at least they weren't in that terrible place anymore, though she felt dirty and cranky all the same. Judging by the teacher who looked like she just woke up herself and their surroundings, she guessed they were wherever she lived. Lovely. Sarahi had to resist the temptation to just lay down again, her head pounding slightly. Her body protested as she forced herself into a proper sitting position--through bitter cold or intense heat, she'd be damned if she was going to look unprofessional, even if she probably looked like she could use a bath. She didn't bother questioning the coffee. Even if it was poisoned, death wasn't something she'd exactly bat away right now. She swatted away a few of the curious butterflies that had chosen to sit on her cup as she took in a deep drink. Now that was what she needed to properly wake up her mind. "Don't usually have your students alive at this point, do you?" She ended up asked. "Can't say I envy someone who has to go explaining the deaths of the people they're supposed to be responsible for."</s> <\|message\|>Ishara Thumotep Ishara --- A stern warning indeed, warning of the commitments they had made back at the ceremony last night. They wielded power that many did not, and likewise had the responsibilities that came with it. It brought back recollections of her stepmother's constant reminders over the matter, pushing the importance of becoming a Sorcerer but also that it came 'at a price' at times. It was a responsibility, she'd said, and with this great power came great responsibility of an equivalent level. Likewise there were ramifications for not living up to those...or worse. More so, however, Ishara seemed to listen to Magus Dagon with a look of serious and rather rapt attention as he spoke even before that final part of his words thus far. If Sekhandur and some others were any indication of a noble's or Sorcerer's potential pride, then it wasn't surprising to hear such things be said. She had not wanted to make assumptions yet, as she was new after all, and yet Magus Dagon seemed to speak about things as they were to them in plainness. The man had already left her with a good impression the prior night to some extent, but this seemed to hammer in a sense of respect for the one who was to teach them. Of course this would not amount to simple idolization and blind following, clinging along like a lost puppy who saw a cool person walking down the road, as his seeming looking inwards at one's own faults and the faults of where they worked was a valuable thing to be able to do. After all, an institution nor an individual could improve unless it was from being to effectively admit to and address those thing that were 'going wrong' and such. Even the Crimson King probably had-... ...Mmm, she was thinking too hard on this. Far too hard. "Hmm...if Studying the Hall of Prophecy is a good exercise, then where would be best to study in regards to our own...ah...personal education? Er. Studying and the like outside of formal lessons I mean." For a second she tried to find the right word, ultimately stumbling into it with a silent relief washing over her mind in the process. So many things to ponder, so little time! Of course she didn't want to seem like she was rushing, but at the same time having a good place to read up and study would be beneficial to her learning in her mind. So it was only natural she ask about such things!</s>	<\|message\|>Khaemtir Maryatum A pang of defensive irritation shot through his chest at the Magus' resolute dismissal of the Hall. His own family etched their achievements and successes in the walls of their home, mosaics and murals depicting their family history in loving detail. They were guides and reminders of why they worked so hard to make this city like it was, a testament to the blood, sweat, and tears they'd poured into this world, and he found that the Hall reflected that quite clearly. The Maryatum family mosaics served as guides when they found themselves wavering in their dedication, faltering in their resolve, or even just weary in a way sleep could never ease. He didn't quite understand what that meant but the first two were understandable. Their stories were a flame that burned so long as the images stood and would always find a way to light the way for a Maryatum who found themselves without a beacon. Khaemtir could admit vanity played into it but that wasn't all there was. It was so much more. And the Hall resonated with the idea that the past could illuminate and inspire the future. Khaemtir had no doubt some of it was vanity. If the leader of the greatest city in history chose to favor one Cult over the other, they deserved to preen. Khaemtir could certainly understand vying for a parents attention; that was the same Sorcerer or not. But there was more and Khaemtir felt a sourness in the back of his throat at the Magus' certainty that there was nothing more. It felt… personal, as absurd as that was, and Khaemtir wasn't sure if a rebuttal was appropriate. Scathing words, hot and heavy on his tongue, died at a concerned and soothing presence in the back of his mind and he felt himself relax as Udjebten whispered calming words to him. The timing couldn't have been any better because he'd almost missed the beginning of Dagon's discussion. There were books in front of each of them now and Khaemtir was itching to pick it up and open it, new as it was. But he paid attention to Dagon instead and nodded at the seriousness of his words. It made sense. Magic was a terrible force, awesome in it's breadth but equally terrifying for the same reason. Khaemtir only stared at the Magus with confidence and his head held high, his irritation at the earlier conversation all but gone, and smirked. "The Heka, and you, chose me. Through moon, sun, and storm, you're stuck for better or for worse." He laughed, nudging the two next to him as he did.</s>
<\|description\|>Radaam Esi Age: 16 Appearance: Radaam has matured quickly, no longer the skinny long-legged boy some of his neighbours are at his age. He stands quite tall, towering over most of his peers, and his frame is solid and muscular, thanks in no small part to his dedication in honing it. The rich brown of his skin has been further deepened by a lifetime either working or training under the scorching sun, and his hands are rough and strong from both. His thick, long hair is black as river mud, and his eyes are dark as well; so dark, in fact, one may very well fail to notice they are actually blue. He does his best to look presentable in simple, loose-fitting clothing that allows him to move without getting in the way, usually made of well-used, inexpensive fabrics. (This is certainly something fancier than Radaam has ever worn) Background: Radaam comes from modest means. Hailing from a desert-dwelling people called the Chenzira, it was Radaam's grandparents, along with a number of other members of their tribe, who did the arduous work of gaining Photepi citizenship and thus, leave to dwell within the city. Radaam's family stayed where they originally settled, in a part of the city that acted like a buffer zone, a place filled with working-class (and often, recently naturalized) citizens separating the shantytowns from the middle class. Like many of their neighbours, Radaam's parents were general labourers, working particularly as brickmakers helping to supply the ambitious infrastructure projects sanctioned by the Sekhmet. Still requiring some skill, their work was just too freelance to warrant membership in a craftsman's fellowship. Income was modest and often irregular, but through diligent work and careful management, Radaam's parents always ensured there was enough to get by. Always present in Radaam's community were the Khenetai. Often overlooked or outright ignored by his neighbours, they patrolled his area often, and were a common sight on the street. Their effect was profound; crime in Radaam's area was rare and severely punished, and its residents thought little of sending their children to school unattended or hawking their wares in the street with minimal supervision. Radaam himself never thought of them as much more than a constant, as much a part of the streets as the lamps and paving stones, until such time that he needed their protection. That time came one evening when he was about twelve years old. It was dusk, and his parents were hurrying to finish their work before they lost the light, with Radaam and his little sister, only six, helping as best they could. When his sister opened the kiln hatch to try and stoke the fire, the sudden rush of air spit the flames out at her, engulfing her clothes and the dry thatch she carried in flame. Instructed by his distraught parents, Radaam ran to the street and screamed bloody murder, beckoning two Khenetai officers to his aid. They rushed back to help his sister, administering medical aid with expertise the likes of which Radaam and his family could never have hoped to provide. Radaam attributes his sister's survival to the actions of those two Khenetai that night, and from that day on, came to see them as akin to the heroes of legend. In the years since, Radaam developed a fierce sense of patriotism in Photep and has dreamed of being selected for the Khenetai to serve the city as his childhood heroes did. He started training his body as soon as he reasonably could, but when he showed an aptitude for magic in school, both he and his parents worked their hardest to be able to send him to a moderately respected academy of sorcery, his parents hoping sorcery would brighten his future and Radaam hoping it would make him stand out in the eyes of the Khenetai. Applying himself diligently, Radaam's work ethic rose him through the ranks of his school, and he stands now at commencement at the top of his class, a prime candidate for the Cults - provided there's any room left after the picking from Pesedjet is done. Personality: With his height, muscular build and oft-present stonefaced expression, Radaam cuts a much more imposing figure than he really is. While some may mistake him for cold or even angry by his usual thoughtful frown, Radaam is actually a kind and gentle soul, happy to keep quiet while others speak and simply do what he can to help. His greatest virtue is his work ethic; Radaam will do any task, no matter how small, as if it were vitally important, and has been known to make up for any lack of innate talent with an abundance of hard work. Above all, Radaam has a strong sense of responsibility, justice, and balance; it's a small wonder the Khenetai appeal to him so much. Aptitude: Were Radaam attending Pesedjet, he would hardly be remarkable; however, at his smaller academy, his unwavering dedication placed him at the top of his class. He's dabbled in all disciplines with the exception of Pyromancy and has taken a particular interest in the mysteries of Biomancy, influenced in no small part by the medicinal expertise he witnessed that fateful night with the Khenetai. Overall, Radaam will admit that he is not interested in researching magic for magic's sake, but rather to advance how it can be applied to improve everyday life. Tutelary: Radaam rose to the top of his class through dogged effort, and one of the things that set him apart from his peers was being the first to summon his tutelary - even if he only preceded his classmates by a few weeks. His tutelary is named Toruk, taking the form of a young desert viper in colours much more vibrant than the dusty reds and browns found in nature, with pointed scales that look to be made of obsidian and ceramic. Toruk rarely speaks, but his curious and mischievous nature is abundant in his actions, contrasting his master's much more reserved demeanour. It is not unusual to find Toruk snooping around in someone's satchel or a bookshelf high out of reach, and he's prone to investigating where he shouldn't. He listens to his master (more or less) but never acts to his detriment; in fact, Toruk is fiercely protective of Radaam, and will do all he can to aid him in his endeavours and further his ambitions - even when his 'help' isn't altogether wise or warranted. Aura: Cool, quiet dampness and calm; like the cellar of one's childhood home, or a brief terrace reprieve from a boisterous party. Other:* As stoic as he is, one might not expect that his sister's ordeal eight years ago actually made Radaam afraid fire. He won't turn heel and run from the cookfire, but he gives torches a wide berth, and Pyromancy is off the table. The Chenzira, or Chenziri people (meaning "journeyers" in their old language) are a swath of desert-dwelling nomads split into various smaller tribes, not entirely unlike the original Aemeni in lifestyle. Despite this similarity, the Chenzira are culturally distinct from the Aemeni; among other differences, they travel in smaller groups of 20-50 people and lack the Aemeni's predisposition to magic, making up for it in rich spiritual belief and tradition. Principally, the Chenzira's religious beliefs revolve around the worship (and revulsion) of animals. Most potently, rodents are reviled as ill omens and bringers of sickness and bad luck, and are universally despised; a campsite infested with rats, for example, is considered dirty and an invitation for bad fortune, and would be passed over. Similarly, those animals who kill rodents - principally snakes, cats, and birds of prey - are revered as symbols of good luck and protection, valued for their skill in driving out evil. As such, it is common to find snake charmers and falconers among the Chenzira, and one would be hard-pressed to find a Chenziri family without at least one cat. Purposefully harming any of these animals is a cultural taboo, punished by anything from ostracization to outright exile. Chenziri theology surrounding all types of animals is vast and colourful, but the cat, snake, and bird of prey (usually represented as a hawk or a falcon) are revered above all others. All three are equal in prestige and valued by all Chenzira, but each Chenziri family line is considered to be specifically guarded by one of the three. Radaam's family, for example, is guarded by the snake; small wonder, then, that his tutelary manifested as a viper. Despite Photepi society at large generally considering animal worship primitive, Chenziri citizens of Photep still diligently practice their nameless religion all the same. Their beliefs are quite harmless and non-invasive, and thus usually get little worse than a strange look or patronizing comment from Photepi people outside their communities.</s> <\|message\|>Sirvan Nouzari Sirvan Nouzari Are we already heading to the pyramid for training? Sirvan thought as he followed Magus Nevrakis to the Cult of the Serpent pyramid. That was fast, the night is still young, and the festivities are not even over yet. Guess this Magus is straight to the point of things and not waste time that could be used for training. Or at least that is what Sirvan thought as he walked. Still, what does the Magus have in store for them this night? He wondered, some kind of training exercise or maybe a test of their skills? Who knows, he should not focus on it, figuring out what it is. Better to just see it for himself and hope he is up to the task. Meanwhile, Sirvan got a look at his fellow novitiates. He recognized the two of them from the academy. Sarahi and Berenice he thinks their names are. Sirvan does not know alot about his fellow novitiates. Only a few memories from the academy days. Surely there will be an opportunity to learn more about them soon. Maybe even get a chance tonight if allowed to. Sirvan was eager to talk to them and perhaps become friends down the road. Then he heard Sarahi speak and was confused. Wait, what does he mean that training might be them doing something menial like getting food for the Magus. Did Nevrakis order Sarahi to do such things before they all gathered? If so, then... a bad feeling in his stomach started to form. Hopefully, not, and they will do some actual training and not something a menial as being Nevrakis's servants. He did not come here to train to be a Sorcerer and learn how to use magic just to be a servant. Guess Sirvan will see what the Magus has in store for them and hope for the best.</s> <\|message\|>Ishara Thumotep Ishara --- Ishara nodded to the older mage as he gave his advice of the night, though as the man walked away she could not help but ponder why he seemed like he was. Or rather, why he seemed to have such a weight upon him. She'd once heard a saying, she had forgotten from which people, that had gone: "To be in the present is a gift, but to know of the future is a burden indeed." It came to mind when she watched the straight-laced-looking older Sorcerer walk off to converse about some other business. He seemed to be wise from his years, something that indeed some peoples took value in indeed. Yes the old did get weaker in the flesh as the waxed on long enough, but to have lived for so long was a testament to their lives in turn. Ah...but before she could ponder on things some more, the green-haired girl felt an inkling trickle into her as she watched Dagon and the Magistrate move off to the side. Whilst much of her felt like going off to find Radaam at the moment, perhaps talk to him before they all headed out and such and she'd hoped to before, something of an inkling wormed its way into her thoughts. A certain curiosity about what the older men were talking of, as it were, seemed to linger in her thoughts and against her better judgement. Usually she would have tossed away such thoughts, and yet at the same time she couldn't really get herself to move away. 'Hmm. W-While it is not rather polite...what might those two be talking about, I wonder? Us? Why the Crimson King himself was not here?" The girl thought to herself for a moment, she positioned herself to eavesdrop nearby. She even grabbed a drink and was taking sips, looking out over the crowd despite the true focus of her endeavor. The beer wasn't very hydrating, if at all, but she knew well enough how to smile and put on a face for events like this and such interactions. Not that it was intended for this sort of less polite activity, but...it worked at least. Cruiser</s>	<\|message\|>Radaam Esi Zahra Zahra hardly noticed the boy's falter, too busy lighting up when the hawk took the offered meat like she'd seen her neighbour's falcons do before. She bounced on the balls of her feet as she watched him, immeasurably pleased that her little ploy had worked out. She didn't even need help that time! Toruk, meanwhile, was a little less pleased, tensing at the hawk's cheeky little wink. He kept his eyes trained suspiciously on the bird, lowering himself to either curl protectively around his young charge or discreetly hide himself behind her; it was hard to tell which, and Zahra wasn't paying attention anyway. Zahra looked between boy and hawk as they had their little exchange, breaking into an excited fit of giggles when the bird spoke. "Yes, yes!" she replied exuberantly, braids bouncing with a quick nod. "He did great! He must be very smart. And pretty," she turned her attention to the bird, leaning over to deliver her compliment. "Your scarf is very handsome," she told him sweetly. Straightening up, she turned a serious face to her brother's tutelary. "Toruk, why don't you ever talk?" she demanded, though she got little more than a bashful shrink out of the snake before he threw the hawk an equally accusatory glare for making him look bad. The girl hmphed at the non-answer, but was all smiles again when she looked back up at the boy with the pretty pink hair. "A hawk family!" she declared again, suddenly remembering she'd been - sort of - asked a question. Crossing her arms and straightening up, her voice took on an overly-stiff 'grown-up' tone, imitating her father when he explained it in his stories. "Every family has a guardian, either a snake, a hawk, or a cat," she explained, counting them off on her fingers. "You know, they bring you luck and protect you from evil! My family is protected by the snake." She held up the arm Toruk had coiled himself around to demonstrate. "This is Toruk. He's my brother's tutor-ary. Radaam says he was just a coincidence, but I'm pretty sure he showed up because we're a snake family." She grinned matter-of-factly before looking around, hoisting herself up on her tiptoes. Luckily even from her diminutive height Radaam was easy to spot, towering over much of the crowd not far off from them. She pointed in his direction, expecting the boy to know precisely who she was referring to. "That's him over there. He's a sorcerer like you!" "Anyway," she added, daintily repositioning one of her braids, "we're a snake family, but I bet you're like my neighbour. He's a hawk family too - he even taught me how to feed them." She perched her free hand on her hip, beaming triumphantly both at her excellent explanation and her suburb hawk-feeding skills. of Thoth</s>
<\|description\|>Sirvan Nouzari Age: 16 Appearance: Short black hair with gray eyes and with coffee-colored skin. He is an average height for his age with an above-average build. Sirvan dresses modestly but, a bit minimal based clothing due to his clan's culture. Along with having a tattoo of his clan's symbol on his right shoulder which he keeps bare of clothing to show it proudly. Background: Sirvan's family used to be a clan of nomadic horsemen called the Nouzari that had decided to live in Phetop decades ago. It was his grandparents and others of his clan that made the effort to gain citizenship and integrate into Phetop's society. Where his clan would settle in a district in the southern part of the city, near the southern gate of the city. When it became known that Sirvan had the potential to be a sorcerer was met with mixed reception from his clan. For after an incident with a magic-user before the clan moved to Phetop. The clan has seen magic with disdain and which after moving to Phetop. This has lessened somewhat but, the stigma remains. Thus, some of the clan started to stop seeing Sirvan and shunned him. Sirvan himself thought of being a Sorcerer was one with distinction and was excited to learn more and to use magic. Sirvan found that he excelled at and earn high marks with his teachers. Ever curious about magic, he read as much as he could about the magic disciplines while learning to use the different disciplines. Which his proudest moment was when he managed to summon his tutelary ahead of his classmates. Now he hopes to be inducted into one of the Cults and continue his path to becoming a Sorcerer. Personality: Sirvan growing up has always been an inquisitive person. Curious about the world both inside and outside of Phetop. He tends to like to study alone though he does enjoy the company of others. Along with being rather kind and friendly to the people around him. He holds his clan in high esteem and is proud of his heritage but, won't preach about it likes some of his clanmates. Also, once he sets his mind on something, it can hard for people to dissuade him from that task or idea. Aptitude: While at Presedjet, he has the experience and has daddled with all of the magic disciplines. He shows most promise with pyromancy, favoring controlling lighting over fire. Also shows promise in telekinesis. Tutelary: Being named Amata and taking the form of a large falcon with kyanite gemstones for eyes. Since Sirvan summoned her, Amata has treated him like a loving sibling. Making he does not forget important things and likes to spend time with him. Also, the occasional teasing to get a rise out of him. Amata also so hates cramp rooms as they restrict her ability to fly and sometimes rests on Sirvan's shoulder while he is walking. Aura: The excitement of discovering something new, a warm and pleasant sensation.</s> <\|message\|>Sarahi Parvaneh Sarahi wasn't entirely sure why she was surprised to have been delegated to servant so quickly. Expecting the worst was her typical way of thinking--nothing in life came without some sort of great annoyance. Maybe it was because this was actually something she had been looking forward to, or maybe for just a second she had somehow assumed her new mentor wouldn't be the same as the other adults in her life. Then again, she had some sort of expectations for the magically inclined and highly respected the art of magic and those who rose through the ranks and assumed they had some sort of dignity about them. But no, she was entirely wrong. Diadem had nearly come out in full force, although they chose to cling and climb all over her hair and clothes, looking around at the various people she passed. She ignored their occasional whispers, acutely aware that she probably sounded like she was jingling with every step and movement. Unfortunately, when she walked back to the Magus, Berenice Whats-her-name was there, too. Great, she was going to get a massive headache from this interaction, she could already tell. She didn't miss that questioning look, either, glaring daggers at the brunette in return. Did it look like she was enjoying this?! Just as the urge to drop the next plate and walk away came, Diadem was spooked, hastily hiding under her hair and cloak. Sarahi had seen it so many times that she wasn't remotely surprised when the last third of the trio came over with their tutelary, a falcon of some sort. Interesting, although the constant tingling Diadem chirped in panic ruined the first impression just a touch. The only solace she got was that the Magus found Berenice just as irritating, though that wasn't saying much since her first impression on Sarahi was well into the negatives. Have some dignity she said while ordering Sarahi around like a servant. This was all so stupid. Did she forget that Sarahi was the only one around when she first spoke of training? Not only was the Magus a lazy fuck, she was also either forgetful or delusional. Yeah, because anyone would equate sending someone to fetch food with actual training. This was all going to be painful, wasn't it? To her surprise, it looked like the Magus was actually doing something of value. Straight into the pyramid, huh? About time they were doing something of value. Though if her initial interaction had any indication, they were probably going to do some dusting or something mundane. All care thrown aside, she decided she may as well get her expectations out of the way. "Are we doing actual training, or is it favors disguised as 'training' like fetching you food and drink?" She asked, not bothering to hide her bitterness. "Because I'm not here to be anyone's servant."</s> <\|message\|>Khaemtir Maryatum Khaemtir laughed to himself as the Novitiates interacted with their new master, especially that stiff Eldri girl. Everyone knew the Sorcerers and the Red Orders had a strained relationship. No one in their right mind could consider that tasteful. And how regrettable it was so early in her career but a public faux pas was too good to pass up and he made a mental note to bring it up at his group's little rendezvous later. Ishara would certainly enjoy the tale and even if Radaam didn't quite get it, Khaemtir would teach him how to enjoy the simple things in life. His thoughts came to a screeching halt as one of the three newest Serpents was covered in tiny, iridescent butterflies when she returned. He blinked in awe at what he could only assume was her tutelary. They were absolutely beautiful, the way they glowed and shimmered. He'd thought Udjebten beautiful with her gemstone eyes and baby fat all over but those butterflies were absolutely stunning. He wouldn't trade his tutelary for the world―Not that he would ever tell her that!―but maybe they could work together and make her eyes glow like that. The obvious superficial desires aside, he wouldn't need to light a candle if he got up at night anymore. "It's rude to stare, little Khae." Udjebten nudged him from where she sat on the bench next to him but he wasn't fooled. Not only was she perched up on her hind legs and resting her forelegs on the table for a better look, usually she'd have commented far sooner than she had. She was just as enthralled by the butterflies as he. He smirked at her and scratched behind her flicking ears like she enjoyed. "Alright, alright. I'll keep my appreciation to a minimum, mother." Khaemtir laughed, finally standing to approach the group. If their master was anything like his, they'd be dismissed shortly or at the very least sent on some inane assignment Khaemtir could steal them from. He still needed to give his regards to Ms. Faux and he definitely wanted to get to know the girl with the butterflies. He smoothed out any wrinkles in his outfit, helped Udjebten off the bench, and stood back up to see where they'd gone and… Groaned in disappointment. They'd vanished somewhere in the crowd, the entire bunch of them including their master, which only made him think they were off on some purpose or another. Great. He had been hoping to greet all of the necessary parties away from his mother before he had to play proper but it seemed fate did not smile on him today. He sighed dejectedly. "Well, it seems another greeting and it's off to your family. But first, you need to drink some water. Beer is a poor substitution for hydration and it is hot out here." Udjebten demanded, trotting off into the crowd. Khaemtir followed obediently. As long as it kept him away from his family, he was all set for it. Udjebten led him to a refreshment table, watching him drink water and eat a little before giving a satisfied nod. "Why is being a noble so difficult?" Khaemtir complained to Udjebten. "I just want to hang out with people but I know it'll get stuffy if I don't greet people somewhat formally." "You are a Sorcerer now. Your future is yours to write. If you wish, you could disappear from your noble life and become a hermit in your pyramid." The hippopotamus suggested, the closest thing to teasing smile on her face. "Absolutely not. I'd die." Khaemtir shuddered. He didn't want to give it up; he just wanted to be a noble his way. Was that so much to ask?</s> <\|message\|>Khotanebre Bekenamun --- Kho turned his head downward at the tug on his cloak, only stagger backward a half-step at the sight of the figure that had accosted him. He kept his face politely neutral for a moment as he waited for his mind to catch up with his eyes before realizing the figure speaking to him was just a little peasant girl - albeit a disfigured one - and not some Sybaris-infected goblinoid. Tekenkhasut, in the meantime, had no such hesitations. The falcon puffed its feathers up predatorially as it eyed the offered piece of meat, then shifted to the equally-appetizing snake that coiled around the girl. He offered his fellow tutelary a coy wink as he spread his wings and hopped off his perch on Khotanebre's shoulder. On his descent, Teken snatched the offered meat with his beak and listlessly glided to the ground, where he began ripping his meal into sinewy ribbons for consumption. "Am I a... what now?" Kho asked, belatedly registering what the girl had said. What on Ea was a 'hawk family'? Was that some kind of code for people with avian tutelaries? The girl didn't look old enough to be a sorcerer, and definitely wasn't dressed finely enough, so he doubted she was privy to any secret cabals of bird summoners. Other than feeding Teken, Kho couldn't fathom what the girl could want - at least, that meat better have been intended for the falcon; if the flying rat was stealing food now, that'd be a whole other issue he wasn't confident he could deal with. "Um, that was for my bird, right? He didn't just steal it?" "Yes, Khota, she whistled and everything," Teken interjected in feigned offense between bites. "I didn't ask you, go back to your lunch," Kho chided before offering the girl a polite bow of his head, "Sorry about that." --- Symphony</s>	<\|message\|>Sirvan Nouzari Are we already heading to the pyramid for training? Sirvan thought as he followed Magus Nevrakis to the Cult of the Serpent pyramid. That was fast, the night is still young, and the festivities are not even over yet. Guess this Magus is straight to the point of things and not waste time that could be used for training. Or at least that is what Sirvan thought as he walked. Still, what does the Magus have in store for them this night? He wondered, some kind of training exercise or maybe a test of their skills? Who knows, he should not focus on it, figuring out what it is. Better to just see it for himself and hope he is up to the task. Meanwhile, Sirvan got a look at his fellow novitiates. He recognized the two of them from the academy. Sarahi and Berenice he thinks their names are. Sirvan does not know alot about his fellow novitiates. Only a few memories from the academy days. Surely there will be an opportunity to learn more about them soon. Maybe even get a chance tonight if allowed to. Sirvan was eager to talk to them and perhaps become friends down the road. Then he heard Sarahi speak and was confused. Wait, what does he mean that training might be them doing something menial like getting food for the Magus. Did Nevrakis order Sarahi to do such things before they all gathered? If so, then... a bad feeling in his stomach started to form. Hopefully, not, and they will do some actual training and not something a menial as being Nevrakis's servants. He did not come here to train to be a Sorcerer and learn how to use magic just to be a servant. Guess Sirvan will see what the Magus has in store for them and hope for the best.</s>
<\|description\|>Sirvan Nouzari Age: 16 Appearance: Short black hair with gray eyes and with coffee-colored skin. He is an average height for his age with an above-average build. Sirvan dresses modestly but, a bit minimal based clothing due to his clan's culture. Along with having a tattoo of his clan's symbol on his right shoulder which he keeps bare of clothing to show it proudly. Background: Sirvan's family used to be a clan of nomadic horsemen called the Nouzari that had decided to live in Phetop decades ago. It was his grandparents and others of his clan that made the effort to gain citizenship and integrate into Phetop's society. Where his clan would settle in a district in the southern part of the city, near the southern gate of the city. When it became known that Sirvan had the potential to be a sorcerer was met with mixed reception from his clan. For after an incident with a magic-user before the clan moved to Phetop. The clan has seen magic with disdain and which after moving to Phetop. This has lessened somewhat but, the stigma remains. Thus, some of the clan started to stop seeing Sirvan and shunned him. Sirvan himself thought of being a Sorcerer was one with distinction and was excited to learn more and to use magic. Sirvan found that he excelled at and earn high marks with his teachers. Ever curious about magic, he read as much as he could about the magic disciplines while learning to use the different disciplines. Which his proudest moment was when he managed to summon his tutelary ahead of his classmates. Now he hopes to be inducted into one of the Cults and continue his path to becoming a Sorcerer. Personality: Sirvan growing up has always been an inquisitive person. Curious about the world both inside and outside of Phetop. He tends to like to study alone though he does enjoy the company of others. Along with being rather kind and friendly to the people around him. He holds his clan in high esteem and is proud of his heritage but, won't preach about it likes some of his clanmates. Also, once he sets his mind on something, it can hard for people to dissuade him from that task or idea. Aptitude: While at Presedjet, he has the experience and has daddled with all of the magic disciplines. He shows most promise with pyromancy, favoring controlling lighting over fire. Also shows promise in telekinesis. Tutelary: Being named Amata and taking the form of a large falcon with kyanite gemstones for eyes. Since Sirvan summoned her, Amata has treated him like a loving sibling. Making he does not forget important things and likes to spend time with him. Also, the occasional teasing to get a rise out of him. Amata also so hates cramp rooms as they restrict her ability to fly and sometimes rests on Sirvan's shoulder while he is walking. Aura: The excitement of discovering something new, a warm and pleasant sensation.</s> <\|message\|>Sarahi Parvaneh 'About time', she says, as if disobedience or questioning elders was commonplace. Sarahi openly rolled her eyes, feeling like she got stuck with one of those 'eccentric' sorcerers. She almost laughed at her statement about not being considered an underling; if that much was true, then what was the entire point of taking in novitiates? Regardless of whatever pea-brained scheme the lady was up to, all she wanted was magic. If the magus wanted to be all 'mysterious' and weird then at the very least she could do something interesting. Diadem chirped once in a while but remained relatively silent, opting to quietly crawl over Sarahi as they walked. They seemed wary of the other two novitiates, occasionally jingling to one another in what she could only assume was wild guesswork. Not surprising considering they opted to stick to her, but at least they were behaving properly enough that she could take in the sight of the pyramid. Now this is what she wanted, even if she didn't get much time to look since Nevrakis decided she was suddenly in a hurry. Maybe she could take some time in the future to admire everything since this was her cult and all. The most interesting thing of the entire trip was probably the flame Nevrakis produced, the light barely illuminating anything. Diadem's light glowed, though their whispers dulled as Sarahi swore she saw a face in the walls. The chamber's heat was somehow worse than outside. Sarahi let out a slight cough, waving away any smoke near her. At least Nevrakis decided to grace them with an 'explanation' disguised as some sort of stupid wisdom. Obviously they had a lot to learn, that was what they were supposed to do, but Sarahi was convinced the woman was nuts at this point. At this point she'd rather get taken advantage of--at least then she'd get something out of the exchange. After some other boring stuff that she didn't care about, things got interesting again as the floor shifted. Of course once again she was proven that she really shouldn't get her hopes up about anything as they were presented with a pitifully tiny mushroom. This is what they came all the way here for? If her face wasn't already sketched in a frown then it definitely was now. This was their 'first lesson', although for the first time today Sarahi was not at all surprised once Nevrakis decided to leave--she would've been surprised if she actually decided to stay. "How exhilarating," Sarahi commented dryly on the mushroom once the trio was alone. "Any ideas?"</s> <\|message\|>Khotanebre Bekenamun --- Cult of the Crow? Radaam must be either very talented or very lucky. Kho didn't recognize him from the Pesedjet, and he doubted the cult with the most prestigious reputation would have to resort to picking from lesser academies if one of the students hadn't specifically caught a magus' eye. Though for all this supposed Aethetic ability, his tutelary seemed a bit... simple. It certainly didn't talk, unless it was a telepath - or maybe it was just shy. Kho returned a stiff wave to Zahra and the serpentine tutelary as they bounced back into the crowd on her brother's command. Judging by the way Radaam was talking to her, this seemed like a common occurance. He arched a brow at Radaam's rhetorical question, but didn't actively comment. What could he do? Quite a bit; Kho would've never gotten away with that type of thing. The wandering was expected of a curious child, but pestering a sorcerer? That could easily be a poor reflection on the family, or worse, if the sorcerer in question was particularly crabby. The boy's nose crinkled almost imperceptibly in distaste at Radaam's comment on his new cult, though he quickly caught himself before he visibly made a rude face. What was not to envy about the Cult of the Phoenix? Kho's first thought was that this uppity commoner's ego was already inflating exponentially mere moments after being inducted into the Cult of the Crow, but Radaam spoke of his own cult with the same amount of hesitation. Was he hoping for another one in particular, then? Sensing his master's discontent, Teken looked up from the last scraps of his snack and peered at the large newcomer much the same way he'd eyed his tutelary; like a predator sizing up its next meal. The bird flicked the lingering juices from its talons before rapidly flapped its wings to hover up and perch on Kho's shoulder once again. Great, now he'll probably have meat stains on his pristine white cloak like some slob. "Err, yes. Pyromancy was probably my best subject. I take it you're not much of a diviner if your assignment surprised you," Kho answered plainly, rather than chide Teken or ask the potentially accusatory question lingering in the back of his mind. "And what's wrong with the Cult of the Phoenix, huh?" Unless Teken decided to ask for him, that is. Stupid bird. "Please excuse my tutelary, he hasn't learned to ignore veiled insults yet." He sighed wearily. Kho wasn't even sure if that was an insult, but the proverbial cat was already out of the bag. Thank the heavens this guy wasn't too important; crassness was probably the norm for him. --- Symphony</s> <\|message\|>Khaemtir Maryatum Khaemtir chatted animatedly with a few other people stopping for food and drink at the same table, passing a few minutes with idle conversation. He never understood some people's aversion to small talk; surface level conversation was pleasant to pass the time and came with no expectations of further communication. It was calming in a way though to be perfectly honest, he had few qualms taking a conversation further. Goodness knows his family told him to control his mouth more than once. His record is 34 times in a day and he has every intent on beating it at the next family dinner. But for now, he had a target. He politely separated from his conversation with another family congratulating their child on their acceptance and wandered his way back where he had seen the Bekenamun with the Order of the Phoenix. Khaemtir would admit it still upset him a little that the Order he would have preferred hadn't selected him but really who would complain being selected by the Crows? In terms of social status, Khaemtir clearly got the better end of the deal and for that he should be grateful. Another tick on the family's register. His first on his scroll, that's for sure, and quite an impressive one at that. All he could do was just cross his fingers that his studies wouldn't be impeded too much not having access to the Phoenix's knowledge. Khaemtir beamed when he saw Radaam already talking with the Bekenamun. He stuck out like a sore thumb still but taking the initiative already for their little group? Khaemtir felt like a proud father. It would be a little impolite to intrude on their conversation so suddenly but he couldn't help himself. The last time he waited, his quarry had gotten away and he had no intention of that happening again. And he really wanted to see Radaam interact with this one up close. But, details. "There you are!" Khaemtir beamed as he practically bounced his way up to Radaam. Udjebten looked up at Tekenhasut and greeted him politely before sitting next to Khaemtir. "I found someone you absolutely had to see but she disappeared before I could get to her. Her tutelary was amazing, wasn't it Udjebten? "You should apologize for interrupting their conversation, little Khaem, but yes, her tutelary was quite the spectacle." Udjebten scolded him but she couldn't help indulge his question. "But yes, her tutelary was quite the spectacle." "You're right as always, Udjebten! It seems in my eagerness I disrupted you. I hope you can forgive my rudeness." Khaemtir bowed in apology but the amusement never left his face. He did, after all, do it entirely on purpose but whatever made his tutelary feel better. "But it was amazing! It looked like a myriad of butterflies shimmering under the moon! Of course, it didn't have anything on my precious Udjebten but an impressive second place nonetheless." Khaemtir paused a moment, taking in the Bekenamun. His name surfaced after a few moments―he only remembered because they shared the first few letters of their name―and Khaemtir beamed. They may not have been incredibly close before this but opening up some channels of communication now might make it easier to access whatever specialty knowledge the Pheonix's have on Pyromancy. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance again, Kho! And congratulations on your acceptance. It's amazing that all our hard work paid off, huh? Minus the favorite of course but I can't help this sense of disbelief. I wonder if it's rude to ask what they saw in us out of everyone they could have chosen." Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony @Scribe of Thoth</s>	<\|message\|>Sirvan Nouzari That is it, that is their first lesson? Sirvan looked confused and Amata who was perched on his shoulder took easily tell that. Meditating on a mushroom? Sirvan looked long and hard at the mushroom. It looked healthy as far as he could tell and it did look rather small on the plinth it was on. Sirvan scratch his head, was he missing something or does this first lesson from Nevrakis make no sense? It is just a mushroom that is in the middle of the room. Unless this is some kind of special mushroom or something. Though what could the purpose of meditating about a mushroom? What is the lesson that can be taught or learned here? The rest of the pyramid was interesting and piqued his curiosity. The room with the skeletons was fascinating. How he would love to learn about the animals he did not recognize. Like the large lizard-bird creature or the giant finned, aquatic creature. Surely studying those creatures can be more enlightening as a first lesson then an ordinary-looking mushroom. If this can count as a first lesson that is. Sirvan sighed confusedly, at least they are not doing menial tasks that he was worried about. Nevrakis was even glad that Sarahi stood up for herself which was a good thing. Shows that Nevrakis does not want those without spines. Though he was not sure of what to do really. Is he actually going to meditate on a mushroom? She said she would be back when they are done so. How long with he has to do this? Ten minutes, twenty minutes, thirty minutes, an hour? Who knows how long before they are deemed done. After hearing Sarahi speak up, he answered her blankly. "I guess we meditate on a mushroom until Nevrakis comes back. Sirvan shrugged, "unless you got a better idea of what to do".</s>
<\|description\|>Fernstar Gender: She-cat Age: 48 moons Rank: Leader Personality: Intelligent, loyal, charismatic and calm, Fernstar makes a firm and protective leader. However, she is wary of cats who are not clear and genuine about their intentions; be it with her or the Clan as a whole. She seems to have very strong intuition and easily sees through those who lie. She is private with her emotions as well as her personal story, except with Maplestream, who is her best friend. Description: Long haired calico she-cat with green eyes Backstory: Fernstar, (originally Fernkit), was born to an ex-Clan Mother and a loner Father. Her Mother raised her alone in the forest, taught her the Warrior code, how to hunt and enough battle moves to defend herself if necessary. Shortly after Fernsky had been given her warrior name, her Mother disappeared suddenly. After searching and waiting for her for moons, she finally realized she had to strike out on her own and survive. While grieving the loss of her Mother, Fernsky made her own way hunting, exploring and learning every bush and gravel trail of the forest until eventually, she stumbled upon a group of loners living and hunting together. Mate: None Kits: Honeypaw (adopted)</s> <\|message\|>Spidernose ___________________________________________________________________________ WillowClan Warrior's Den ---> WillowClan Camp interacting with: @Hazelrah's Stonefall, @savannahssu for plot/technically Fernstar for the Clan meeting! Mentions of Maplestream, Moosepaw and Duskwing and Stormheart ___________________________________________________________________________ Spidernose had been curled up in her nest beside Stonefall's - in fact it was a surprise they weren't sharing a nest at this point… - and snoring quietly, peacefully asleep until their Clan leader's summoning yowl cut through the foggy blanket that had dulled her senses for the night. Stirring with a wide, gaping yawn, the she-cat delicately stepped from her nest and paused to stoop down and nudge Stonefall's head gently with her own to rouse the deputy with a gentle mew of, "Hey, Stone…wake up, Fernstar's calling. C'mon." not wanting to nag him, however, it wasn't like they were mates or anything like that, for StarClan's sake, Spidernose then left it at that for now and padded out of the den. However, before joining the others she also stopped to survey their surroundings. The cream and brown she-cat's thinner fur immediately fluffed out against the biting cold morning breeze that ruffled through it once she'd left the relative warmth of the den, and she fought down the urge to shiver, instead reaching her forepaws out in front of her and digging her claws as much as she could into the partly-frozen earth beneath them to give herself some leverage as she arched her back in a stretch. Straightening up again, Spidernose trotted briskly over to the space beneath the Highstump where Fernstar held their Clan meetings, mewing quiet "G'morning!" greetings to the other cats who had begun to gather there, she settled herself into the spot on Maplestream's other side from Stormheart, being sure to leave enough space for Stonefall to join her once he'd woken up too. Spidernose turned to seek out Duskwing and Moosepaw in the crowd too, twitching her whiskers at the young tom too, she knew he would be having his warrior assessment today which was no doubt a time of both nerves and excitement for him, however she also knew Duskwing had taught him well, and hopefully he would pass without any problems. Then, not wanting to stare too long and make Moosepaw uncomfortable, she turned her gaze upwards towards Fernstar, and behind the leader, her den where she knew Honeypaw and Frogkit had slept that night, hoping they were kept safe from the rogues in Fernstar's care. Surely, they were younger and therefore just a bit slower to rouse than their older counterpart and the Clan's warriors, and the fact that she hadn't seen them yet this morning was no reason to worry, she kept telling herself. But both Frogkit and Honeypaw were quite important to her, even if Honeypaw had only been her apprentice for a day and a half so far, she'd still found herself developing quite the soft spot for the spunky little she-cat. And of course, she'd promised her mother that she'd look after Frogkit so she couldn't let anything happen to her little sister… But she was worrying for nothing, Spidernose reminded herself, even though the rogues were still in camp, there was no way they would have been allowed anywhere near Fernstar's den! So there was no possible way they could have hurt the younger she-cats.</s> <\|message\|>Blackpelt Blackpelt: Base of Highstump _______________________________________ Blackpelt twitches in his sleep, and looks around in his dream. The dark, heavily wooded and starless forest is all he can see. He begins slowly padding his way through the thick brush, and listens for any whispers or sounds. Aside from the wind, he hears very little. Untill he hears a loud growl, as if it's right behind him. He jolts awake, and looks around frantically for a moment, his fur puffed up. He breathes heavily, and slowly sits up, waiting for his limbs to stop shaking. He groans, sore, then begins slowly licking his pelt clean, trying to calm himself down. He begins rummaging through his herbs, eyes bloodshot and weary, and he looks over when he hears Fernstar yowl for a meeting. Then he begins to walk towards Highstump, pausing for a moment at the entrance of his den. His eye twitches, and he slowly walks out of his den, looking up at Highstump with his half-lidded eyes, betraying his weariness and sheer exhaustion. He groans softly, and paws at his ear for a moment, then settles down near the back of the group in a small patch of light, ears pricked up. He licks his lips slightly, and wraps his tail around his paws to try to hide his shaking. He looks across the group of cats, eyes flicking between muzzles as he searches for anyone who looks out of place. He looks up at Fernstar, then down at her den, wondering if Frogkit and Honeypaw were still asleep. He looks around, and tilts his head slightly. I wonder what Fernstar's going to do about the rouges...... He sighs, and looks at the group of his fellow clan members gathered at the base of the stump.</s> <\|message\|>Fernstar Interacting with:@The Elvenqueen Sunfur dragged his tired body out of his nest in the Warrior's den, feeling as limp as a piece of fresh kill. He had been roused from his deep sleep by Fernstar's call for a Clan meeting, and as he was about to exit the den he stopped to call out to Stonefall who was not yet out of his nest. You would think the Clan's deputy would have been the first to respond to his leader's call... Sunfur observed. As he padded out into the clearing, the sunlight glinting off the snow was almost blinding, and he averted his eyes to the base of the Highstump. His eyes fell on Spidernose, and the empty space next to her. He lifted his head and gave Fernstar a nod as he sat down in the empty space between Maplestream and Spidernose. He twitched his whiskers and purred quietly, "Morning Spidernose! I had an amazing idea I spoke to Fernstar about yesterday, I'm sure she's going to talk about it. And you'll be able to help!" Teaching the Clan to hunt in the treetops wasn't going to be easy, but he felt that he would be serving his Clan and honoring their ancestors by teaching an ancient hunting method. He would be proud to do it; and he hoped he and Spidernose could grow closer as she taught with him...</s> <\|message\|>Frogkit ___________________________________________________________________________ WillowClan Camp, The Highstump interacting with: @savannahssu's Sunfur Mentions of Fernstar and Frogkit ___________________________________________________________________________ While she awaited for Fernstar to start the meeting as the rest of the cats of WillowClan gathered, Spidernose took the time to give herself a quick groom. She brought one of her forepaws up, gave it a few licks, then passed that paw over the closest ear. And when she was satisfied that was done, Spidernose began to do the same for the other side of her face. The she-cat turned her head as she heard pawsteps padding up to join her. Spidernose couldn't help but feel a tug of disappointment as she realised it was Sunfur and not Stormfall. Though she didn't treat the ginger tom unkindly, and twitched her whiskers back at Sunfur as she purred out a cheerful greeting. "Good morning, Sunfur! Stonefall still not awake yet? I wonder if we should be worried, I did shake him when I woke up…" she mused, turning her head to look back over her shoulder at the entrance to the warrior's den. Was the deputy getting sick? She felt her gut twist with worry, and couldn't help but send a prayer up to StarClan that her hunch was wrong. She didn't know how she'd feel if anything bad happened to Stonefall… The cream she-cat's ears perked up as Sunfur mentioned speaking with the Clan leader the night before. It had to have been about their little hunting trick that they'd tried out the night before. Her first reaction was one of apprehension, That means having to go back up the tree, huh… That had been quite a frightening experience. However, Spidernose did believe Sunfur was onto something and if more of their Clanmates could perfect the technique then it meant WillowClan would have more options for hunting birds during winter, which would keep the fresh-kill pile stocked… This might be worth it. And Spidernose was quite sure that with more practise, leaping out of the tree like that wouldn't scare her as much. So, if Fernstar did want her and Sunfur to teach the others, she'd be more than happy to pitch in. "Oh, really? You think she'll like it? Well, we might have our paws full for a while if that's the case!" she giggled, playfully nudging Sunfur's shoulder with her own. "But sure! If you need me, I'll be happy to help out!" ___________________________________________________________________________ Fernstar's Den ---> WillowClan Camp, the Highstump interacting with: @savannahssu's Fernstar, mention of Honeypaw, Spidernose and Sunfur ___________________________________________________________________________ Hearing the steady, growing chatter of the other cats below the Highstump finally roused Frogkit from her slumber. The little tortie-point kit gave a wide yawn, showing all of her teeth, for a second as she blinked the sleep from her eyes. Beside her, she could still hear Honeypaw snoring, and rolled her eyes a little. Springing up to her paws, Frogkit began to poke the apprentice as she called her name in an attempt to wake her up. "Honeypawwww, Honeypaw! Wake up, lazybones! Fernstar's calling a Clan meeting!" she frowned as her companion still didn't stir, and gave an annoyed huff. The kit bent down and nipped at Honeypaw's ear with her teeth, not hard enough to draw blood or leave any sort of mark, but tugging on it enough that Frogkit hoped it might wake Honeypaw up. "C'moooon!! We're gonna be late!" she complained, and when the older she-cat still didn't respond, Frogkit gave up. She didn't want to miss the Clan meeting, even if she technically wasn't old enough to catch her own prey just yet… she almost was and Frogkit wasn't about to miss out on a cool announcement just because Honeypaw was sleepier than a hibernating badger! So Frogkit left Fernstar's den, trotting right up to where the Clan leader was waiting for the rest of the Clan, her tail shot up into the air as she chirped a greeting. "Hiya Fernstar! I'm awake! Honeypaw's still sleepin' though, I tried to wake her!" she giggled in amusement, much to poor Spidernose's horror. Frogkit jumped a little in surprise, flattening her ears at her older sister as she heard Spidernose hiss to her: "Frogkit! Get down from there, you're not the Clan leader!"</s>	<\|message\|>Fernstar Fernstar's yowl shook Felix from his sleep, and for a moment he forgot where he was. It wasn't until he glanced upwards at the scraggly walls of the WillowClan nursery and saw Heather curled next to him that he remembered. Otis was curled against the back wall of the den, not needing the warmth of another cat's pelt. Sometimes Felix wished his own fur was as thick and long as Otis', despite how much extra work it would be to groom. He sat up and nudged Heather's flank with his forepaw. "Heather wake up. We need to see what Fernstar is going to announce." As she stirred, he padded over to Otis and woke him as well before thrusting his head out the entrance of the nursery. The cat who had been assigned to guard them was sitting on her paws not too far from him and a couple other Warriors were gathered in front of the fallen tree stump in the center of the clearing. The Clan leader seemed strong and well rested, despite the cold and the barren fresh kill pile. Her head was lifted against the blinding sunlight as she surveyed the camp. He could tell that she was waiting for the rest of the Clan to gather before she spoke. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Heather and Otis followed and carefully slipped out into the clearing, keeping towards the bramble walls of the camp. The cold air startled him and he shrunk towards Heather for warmth. His ears twitched in amusement as the small kit they had met last night scrambled and scratched her way up onto the Highstump next to Fernstar and squeaked in delight as she looked down on her Clanmates. Just as the Clan leader noticed, a different she-cat leapt to her paws and meowed in a stern tone for the kit to get down. The kit spun in a small circle, her fur spiked against the cold, then hurled herself off the stump before Fernstar could say anything. The she-cat, Felix thought he remembered her saying her name was Spidernose, hooked the kit with her tail and pulled her into her under-belly. The Clan leader met their eyes and dipped her head before meowing "Good morning. How are your wounds doing? Did the herbs from Blackpelt help?" Heather nodded and emphatically replied "Yes, thank you." before giving her forelimbs a few licks. Otis was quietly surveying the camp, and in the relative silence, Felix wondered where the Clan deputy was. It seemed the tom in second command should be the first out of his nest when his leader called This Clan seems very disheveled. . . Felix thought with a glint in his eye. He concluded it would be best for them to appear respectful and wait for the rest of the Clan to gather. He was anxious to hear what this "leader" had to say.</s>
<\|description\|>Spidernose Gender: She-cat Age: 26 moons Rank: Warrior Personality: Spidernose is a determined, no-nonsense cat with a bit of an abrasive side. She can be blunt, but she only wants what is best for her Clan, she doesn't mean to be stand-offish but sometimes comes off that way when she is lost in her work, however if a Clanmate came to her with a concern she would treat it with the utmost care and compassion until it was resolved. Appearance: A skinny, long-legged she-cat with cream fur and dark brown points, Spidernose's fur is sleek and short, her appearance calling back to her father's kittypet roots a lot more strongly than her sister's. Her eyes are a piercing blue, and often seem to stare straight through someone very critically. Backstory: Born as "Spider" to a loner mother and a wandering kittypet father - who, although he cared for the she-cat, could not always be there for her due to his housefolk sometimes shutting him away - Spider was the oldest in her litter of two, with one other sister. Her mother, young and naive, had conceived too close to winter and the result was very nearly a disaster for her two kits. She did her best to try and keep them fed and warm, but doing so alone became a real struggle. When she heard of WillowClan, Spider's mother quickly sought refuge with the Clan and asked them to take in her kits. She was too used to life alone to leave her life as a loner behind and join the Clan, and Spider's sister found staying continually in one place too stifling as well and soon followed her mother to return to a loner's life. Spidernose isn't sure where her littermate went after that as she presumably went to carve out a territory of her own, though she kept in close contact with her mother who is currently living somewhere as a loner, in the area surrounding WillowClan's territory. She will always be an ally to the Clan and has a kind word for any of the cats should they happen to run into her on their travels. Spidernose took to Clan life very well, and is as dedicated a warrior as any, considering WillowClan her home. A few moons ago her mother sought out WillowClan again, she had had another litter with Spidernose's father and yet again brought another kit to them in order to strengthen the Clan, little Frogkit, who seems to take great delight in irritating her big sister and anyone else in the camp whenever possible. Mate: None for now, but crushing hard on Stonefall ;3 Kits: None for now</s> <\|message\|>Hawkpaw Cinderpaw : WillowClan Camp --- Cinderpaw sighs as she pad the den to the next, she rather go patrolling with Hawkpaw and Moosepaw, looking around the forest and catching my prey but what she doing? Staying at camp and padding some den. When Cinderpaw walk out of a den, she can see her parents in the warrior den with the other warriors, just talking, Deertail and Silverstorm spot their silver daughter and wave at her with smiles on their faces, Cinderpaw wave back but she wonder what are they talking about, probably talking about who is a great apprentice and Cinderpaw feel like it not her, she wish she was like Hawkpaw, eager, optimistic and ready to face danger and Moosepaw, very silent and observant hunter, which Cinderpaw is none of those things. Cinderpaw was about to head inside the medicine den but then see Fernstar inside, talking to Blackpelt, she shrug, probably talking about warrior and medicine stuff. Cinderpaw was about to walk away but then, Blackpelt talk a glowing pool, filled with stars and seeing cats made of stars, Cinderpaw slowing lean to the side of den entrance, she want to learn more. Blackpelt mention some warrior names from some stories that her mother use to tell to her and her sister, Firestar, Bluestar, Yellowfang, every warrior and medicine cat were there, Cinderpaw can feel her heart racing, Blackpelt was talking to Starclan members! Cinderpaw can hear Fernstar walking toward the medicine den entrance and with no hesitation, she quietly rush toward some den and watch Fernstar walking away from the medicine den. Cinderpaw heart is still racing, Hawkpaw and Moosepaw need to hear about this when they come back.</s> <\|message\|>Maplestream Maplestream: WillowClan Territory Maplestream shivered against the damp spray from the rushing rapid as it misted against her pelt. It was cold enough already without being damp to make it worse. Fernstar had asked her to help strip the dens of old bedding and dispose of it into the rapids like usual. She would gather more moss and bracken on her way back for the warrior's and apprentice's den. She would have rather been out hunting but she was in such a deep sleep that she had missed the morning call. She sighed and realized it was her own fault; it wouldn't happen again. As she noded her way past the tall grass that bordered the banks of the rapid, she disturbed a mouse from it's digging in the dirt and it darted away, too fast for Mapleshade to catch it. Not to mention she didn't want to risk falling into the rapids. No cat would survive that. . . As she pushed the last of the old moss and fern leaves over the edge, she turned and made her way towards the trunk of an oak tree where she could see moss growing thick on one side. She stood on her hind paws and began shredding the trunk with her claws ans the moss fell in bunches at her feet. It was soft and dry and hope bounced in her heart as she thought what it would be like sleeping in fresh warm bedding tonight. She began clumping the moss into a large pile and filled her jaws with as much as she could carry in one trip. As she padded closer to camp, her ears pricked and her pelt bristled as she heard what sounded like hissing in the distance. Tucking the moss close to the roots of a nearby tree, she sprinted in the direction of the commotion. Exploding through the undergrowth, Maplestream's eyes widened in horror as she saw Stormheart, Hawkpaw and Brambletail circling around a fox, avoiding it's snapping jaws and getting frenzied blows in where they could. Two warriors and an apprentice wasn't enough to drive a fox from the territory. Should she try to help on her own, or race back to camp to get help from the others? Thoughts racing, she had an idea. Darting as fast as she could towards the fox, she gathered all the strength she could from her hindquarters and leaped onto the fox's shoulders digging all four paws in as hard as she could and sunk her teeth into the fox's ear, shaking her head back and forth vigorously. The fox spun in circles desperately trying to throw her off, but Maplestream was ready and jumped away landing beside Stormheart. Darting beneath the fox's belly, she raked her claws along it's underside to distract it and make it turn it's back towards the rest of the patrol. Yowling above the fox's growl she flashed her gaze towards her Clanmates. "KEEP FIGHTING! But while you're at it, yowl as loud as your lungs will let you! We have to be loud enough to attract the attention of the hunting patrol! With four more cats to help us, the fox won't stand a chance!" Baring her teeth and swiping at the fox's muzzle, she hoped Duskwing and the rest of the hunting patrol would hear their cries for help.</s> <\|message\|>Sunfur Sunfur: Hunting Patrol Sunfur lapped at his foreleg trying to curb the bleeding, worry flowing through his pelt as he hoped the snake that bit him wasn't poisonous. Leafbare had made it hard for Blackpelt to find herbs and he wasn't sure the Clan had the herbs to treat a snake bite. He glanced up at Spidernose who was shifting around anxiously not knowing what to do. "I can most likely get back to camp if you could support the side I was bitten on. Three of my paws still work after all." He tried to muster a grin to reassure Spidernose that is might not be as bad as she thought. "Someone will come have to come back for the snake though. We can't afford to waste prey, not to mention it's against the Warrior Code. He leaned against Spidernose's side and hopped along with his good paws. As they passed a small section of forest where the trees thinned, Sunfur heard a yowl in the distance and jerked his head in the direction of the noise, ears pricked and eyes watchful. He wondered if what he had heard was trouble, or just Duskwing scolding her apprentice for missing a piece of prey or getting himself hurt. He hast a worried and confused glance towards Spidernose and asked "Should we go see what that is?"</s> <\|message\|>Moosepaw Moosepaw: Hunting Patrol Staying in a crouched hunting pose, Moosepaw waited patiently for Duskwing to sneak around the clearing to get to the other side and corral the rabbit to his position. While he was waiting to strike Moosepaw began to wonder to himself. Is it just me or am I getting a bad feeling right now? Everything feels like it's going to well... I can bring up my concern with Duskwing later. he was brought out of his thought when he heard Duskwing yowl as she sprung at the rabbit. keeping his attention sharp, he waited patiently as the rabbit got closer and closer to his position. When close enough he let out a mighty leap and tackled the rabbit into a tumble and with all of his strength he bit into it's neck and shook his head back and forth violently. With an audible snap the rabbit was dead. Standing upright to admire the kill Duskwing and he had accomplished he winced as he put pressure on one his paws that seemed a bit swollen. Being careful he put some weight on the paw slowly. "I think I hurt my paw tumbling with that rabbit... not my most agile moment." Remembering his feeling and the slight yowl he heard in the distance he asked Duskwing "Do you think we could go check on the other two patrols? I have a bad feeling and I don't think I'm good to keep hunting with my paw like it is...or I could collect the prey we've caught and bring it back to camp while you go check on them."</s> <\|message\|>Blackpelt Blackpelt: Willowclan Camp (Medicine Den) Medicine Den _______________________________________ He shakes himself awake. How long have I been asleep for? He looks around, and rushes back to his den, checking that no one has touched his herbs. Did anyone try to self treat themselves? He sighs in relief when he sees that everything is as it should be. Why am I so paranoid? He yawns, feeling tired still, and curls up in a small black ball, falling asleep. He looks around in his dream, and sees...nothing. Nothing but dark trees. No stars, no light. He whimpers, and hides behind a tree. He sees a few cats, but they feel.....dark and cold. Dangerous. He bites himself hard to wake himself up. He wakes with a jolt, and laps at his bleeding paw. Where on earth was that?</s>	<\|message\|>Spidernose Hunting Patrol: with Sunfur, near Maplestream's Patrol __________________________ Spidernose nodded, still looking worried, but at least now she had a course of action that she could focus on and that helped her to not panic. Offering the tom her shoulder to lean on, she took his weight onto it to support him and began to stumble carefully along back towards camp. "Don't worry, as soon as we get you back to camp I'll get someone to help me come back for it. I'll have to come back for the vole, too." she promised, agreeing that they shouldn't waste any prey. The Clan needed everything they could get right now...The two hunters had made it a little way on, camp was still far enough away, when they heard the sound of the yowl. Spidernose did not scare easily, but even she jumped a little at how unexpected and loud the sound was. "Eeeek!" her dark ears flattened and her nostrils flared slightly as she and Sunfur stopped to locate the direction of the sound. "Is that...is that one of the Clan? They sound like they could be in trouble." she muttered, knowing that they should go and check it out. "We definitely should try and help them, but I don't know if you should over-exert yourself with that snake bite..." Spidernose was no medicine cat, of course, but she had a bad feeling that Sunfur trying to run or fight after being bitten by a snake was not a good idea. "But if they are in trouble....we can't just leave them. C-Come on, we've gotta. Do you think you can manage? Wh-Why don't you try and call Duskwing and Moosepaw and then catch up, I'll run a little ahead and see what's going on" she decided with a nod. Only when she was sure Sunfur wasn't going to collapse or fall over without her to lean on did she push away from the golden-pelted tom, darting through the underbrush and keeping herself somewhat low to the ground, she headed towards Maplestream's screech. StarClan, please let us be on time...don't let them be hurt... they couldn't afford any more injuries.</s>
<\|description\|>Blackpelt Gender: Tom Age: 36 moons Rank: Medicine cat Personality: Strict, but in a caring manner. Not afraid to tell you exactly what he thinks, even if you take offence. Appearance: Backstory: Born and raised in the clan, he walked out to the woods one day on a hunt, and got lost. He hid in a cave, and slept until the moon rose. He saw a large glowing pool, and, feeling thirsty, he lapped at it. He suddenly felt very very tired. He curled up, but when he woke, he....wasn't on the ground anymore. Instead, he was surrounded with cats. But what manner of cats? They were made of stars! They told him that they were the ancestors of all good cats. But he noticed that they didn't talk about the bad cats. Strange. He woke up, and felt weak, and tired. He walked back to the group, and told them that he....had been away. Mate: None Kits: None</s> <\|message\|>Honeypaw Honeypaw: WillowClan Camp Interacting with: @The Elvenqueen @TykerS97 Honeypaw nearly vibrated with excitement. This was it! It was happening! She was an apprentice! As Moosepaw approached, she gently touched her nose to his shoulder, which was just about as high up as she could reach on the much larger apprentice. At his words, she instantly started to bristle. Well, of COURSE I'm going to be a strong Warrior. Who says I need YOUR approval?! but before she could reply indignantly, she realized that Moosepaw was just trying to be kind. So she dipped her head respectfully, and meowed "Thank you, Moosepaw. That is very kind. I am sure we will be friends. Now if you'll excuse me, I think my mentor needs to talk to me." Even just getting to SAY the words 'my mentor' was very exciting to Honeypaw. She had a place in this Clan! She felt like she finally had a reason for being here. She purred a little bit, instinctively, as Spidernose touched her nose to Honeypaw's forehead. She then stepped back and listened very intently as Spidernose spoke about Maplestream. She nodded, solemnly, at Spidernose's explanation about having to guard the camp. "Well, I'm very ready to help guard the camp, Spidernose! Just show me how!" The small she-cat nodded her head emphatically, stood to her very small paws, and stuck her tail high in the air. She was so ready to show Spidernose and Fernstar just how helpful she could be! Stonefall: WillowClan Territory > WillowClan Camp Interacting with: @TykerS97 The cold snow crunched under Stonefall's paws as he brought himself closer to camp. The sleek silver and grey tabby kept his body low to the ground as he jogged, his ears pricked for any sounds of disturbance, of prey, of anything out of place. He had said he was going hunting, and so he dutifully was bringing back a mouse for the fresh-kill pile, but his journey had multiple purposes. He knew Fernstar and Blackpelt were traveling to the Moonpool. And he trusted his leader to look out for both of them, without a doubt. But Stonefall's natural inclination to serve and protect had inspired him to take a quick solo patrol around the camp and the territory closest to the journey to the Moonpool, to at least make sure there was nothing extraordinarily dangerous in the nearest vicinity. He owed that much to Fernstar, since he was out hunting anyhow. So Stonefall continued his sojourn back to camp from his self-assigned solo patrol. He knew Fernstar wanted cats to stay in pairs, but he had to check the surrounding area for himself before she left on her journey. As he approached the camp, he heard Fernstar calling a Clan meeting, and picked up his pace. He slipped inside camp and jogged over to the fresh-kill pile, dropping the mouse. He noticed that Honeykit, well, Honeypaw now, was being apprenticed to Spidernose, and he flicked his tail appreciatively towards Spidernose and Honeypaw. That's a good match. Trust Fernstar to always know who will match up well. He noticed Fernstar and Duskwing talking, and spotted Moosepaw just a few feet away from where Honeypaw was chatting with Spidernose. The newly appointed Deputy padded over to Moosepaw and gently touched his nose to the large apprentice's shoulder. "Hey there, Moosepaw. How is training going?" Stonefall asked in his deep, light baritone voice, wrapping his long silver and black striped tail around his paws.</s> <\|message\|>Spidernose ___________________________________________________________________________ WillowClan Camp interacting with: @Hazelrah's Honeypaw, @savannahssu's Fernstar & Sunfur, @Ambra's Redleap, @Shadow Dragon's Blackpelt ___________________________________________________________________________ Honeypaw purred as she stooped to touch noses with her, and Spidernose felt some of her own insecurities melt away a little. Maybe this would be okay, she could do this. She just hoped the poor kid wouldn't be too disappointed to be stuck in camp for one more day, but they really couldn't afford to leave the Clan undefended. Spidernose let out a tiny huff of relief, however, as the apprentice seemed just as excited by the task she had proposed. If she could make it sound important enough, perhaps it could be just as good for Honeypaw as a territory tour would have been. "Excellent, I'm glad. It shouldn't be too tricky, tell you what we'll do, is go and meet the others at the entrance there. You can see Fernstar, Blackpelt, Sunfur and Redleap off with me, and we'll sit either side and keep watch until one of them gets back, just use your ears and your nose and if you hear or smell anything strange, you let me know and we can warn the rest of the camp. That sound good?" The she-cat flicked her tail towards where the other cats she'd mentioned were gathering, keeping her strides small to allow her new apprentice to keep up with her better as they padded through the settling snow to join them. "Take care, all of you. May StarClan watch over your paws. We'll keep the camp nice and safe while you're away." Spidernose promised, settling herself on one side of the entry tunnel and curling her tail over her paws so she could hunker down comfortably. It might be a long night, if Honeypaw got tired before then, she was willing to let the poor kid head off to the apprentice's den and finish the watch by herself, unless Stonefall insisted someone else relieved her before then. Spidernose would sit guard all night if she had to.</s> <\|message\|>Honeypaw Honeypaw: WillowClan Camp Interacting with: @The Elvenqueen Honeypaw pricked her ears up at Spidernose's spoken blessing to the traveling cats. She listened intently, trying her best to commit the words to memory, though she was feeling overwhelmed at all of the change today, and more afraid than she cared to admit about Maplestream's disappearance, and Fernstar's journey. The small she-cat watched as Spidernose hunkered down, and Honeypaw decided to sit on the other side of the entrance. She mimicked Spidernose's post as much as she could, and hated how small she was. She tried to puff up her fur to look a little bit bigger, before tucking her paws in and wrapping her tail around her tiny frame. "Spidernose?" Honeypaw meowed, trying to sound brave. "Do...do we know what we're guarding the camp from?" Honeypaw hoped this wasn't a silly question. But she wasn't at all sure what she would do if something actually invaded the camp on her very first watch. She didn't know how to fight, and she wasn't very big. Well, all you can do is try, she thought to herself, trying not to let the nagging fears overwhelm her. She was an apprentice now. She had to be brave!</s> <\|message\|>Spidernose ___________________________________________________________________________ WillowClan Camp interacting with: @Hazelrah's Honeypaw ___________________________________________________________________________ Spidernose's attention had been fixed upon the camp entrance, her eyes barely blinking and her ears perked forward to detect the tiniest of sounds in the underbrush outside. She listened to the pawsteps of the patrol, the leader and the medicine cat as they pattered away on their own journeys. Silence settled across WillowClan once they were far enough away, and for a few heartbeats there was nothing to break it until she heard Honeypaw squeak out her name and a question nearby. The older she-cat's ears angled towards the apprentice and her whiskers twitched slightly in amusement. "Try not to worry too much, Honeypaw. It's more a precaution than anything else. The border patrol ran into a fox earlier and while they chased it away, it might come back with a friend." she explained, her tail flicking from side to side absently. "The chances of us needing to see anything off are pretty low, what with leafbare creeping up on us. Most things will go to ground at night to stay out of the cold."</s> <\|message\|>Fernstar Interacting with: @PrankFox@Shadow Dragon@Ambra@The Elvenqueen@Hazelrah Casting a glance over her shoulder at the medicine den, Fernstar perked her ears at Duskwing's news about Moosepaw's warrior assessment. He would be ready to be made a warrior by the time she returned from the Moonpool. "Excellent. Assess him while I am away and when I return, the first thing I will do as a StarClan appointed leader is perform Moosepaw's warrior ceremony. I shouldn't be gone for more than a sunrise." Blinking farewell to Duskwing, Fernstar padded out of the entrance tunnel and paused to speak with Spidernose and Honeypaw. She dipped her head to Spidernose as she stood at the entrance to camp, waiting for Blackpelt and the patrol of warriors setting out in search of Maplestream to follow. She then turned to Honeypaw and smiled as a soft purr rang in her throat. She padded up to the new apprentice and rested her tail over Honeypaw's shoulders. "Sitting vigil is the first way to prove to your Clanmates that you will always fight to protect them; until you walk with StarClan. While I'm gone, I hope your training begins with a good start. I know you will do well." Waiting for her medicine cat and warriors to emerge from the entrance tunnel, Fernstar realized how nervous she was. Even though she had been leading WillowClan for moons, she was always aware in the back of her mind that she had never actually been appointed by StarClan and given her nine lives. To tell the truth, she had never known if StarClan would speak to her at all. She had always used her best judgement when making decisions and of course, always had her Clanmate's best interests at heart. What more could any cat ask from their leader? But she knew that with Blackpelt's help, she could receive her nine lives, and become a leader worthy of padding alongside the leaders of legends her mother had always told her of. Bluestar. Firestar. Onestar. Let me follow in your pawsteps. . .</s> <\|message\|>Fernstar Uncertainty and fear washed over Maplestream like a cold flood as she began to scan the nearby territory for anything that may indicate the presence of the strange cats. Anxiety prickled in her pelt as her head swam with thoughts and what she should do. Surely this was more important than scouting the territory ahead of Fernstar and Blackpelt. Of course, she had never expected to be derailed from her plans by something so startling, but she was certain now that she had to streak back to camp and catch Fernstar before it was too late and she had left camp. Struggling to keep her fur flat, she quietly began stalking back in the direction of the WillowClan camp, her eyes and ears more open to her surrounding than they had ever been before. Every few fox lengths she stopped and opened her jaws to try and catch any remaining scent of the trespassers; but she found nothing. Whoever these cats were, they certainly were not the pampered kittypets she remembered from the Twoleg place she grew up in. But she had never met any other Clan cats who were not her own Clanmates. Fernstar had told her so many moons ago that the four Clans who lived around the Lake had fallen apart long before she was born; disbanded due to resentment and being torn apart by battle after needless battle. No one knew where the ex-Clan cats had gone. She imagined some of them had wandered off to live as loners. Others may have finally given in and taken up the soft life of a kittypet. No cat knew. She would find out who these cats were however; and more importantly what they wanted with WillowClan.</s>	<\|message\|>Blackpelt Blackpelt: Medicine den _______________________________________ He sniffs at the herbs, and carefully makes two more herb wraps, setting them aside for the warriors that will be joining them on the trip to the Moonpool. He swallows nervously, and scratches at his neck for a moment, trying to calm his nerves. He then eats his own traveling herbs, and passes the other piles to the warriors that will be joining them. His thin fur gives little protection from the cold, but he can't worry about that now. His leader needs him. He bites his lip, and takes the herbs to the three cats. "Eat these, then we can leave. I know where the pool is, so follow me carefully. It's a long journey."</s>
<\|description\|>Blackpelt Gender: Tom Age: 36 moons Rank: Medicine cat Personality: Strict, but in a caring manner. Not afraid to tell you exactly what he thinks, even if you take offence. Appearance: Backstory: Born and raised in the clan, he walked out to the woods one day on a hunt, and got lost. He hid in a cave, and slept until the moon rose. He saw a large glowing pool, and, feeling thirsty, he lapped at it. He suddenly felt very very tired. He curled up, but when he woke, he....wasn't on the ground anymore. Instead, he was surrounded with cats. But what manner of cats? They were made of stars! They told him that they were the ancestors of all good cats. But he noticed that they didn't talk about the bad cats. Strange. He woke up, and felt weak, and tired. He walked back to the group, and told them that he....had been away. Mate: None Kits: None</s> <\|message\|>Maplestream Interacting with: @Hazelrah Fernstar chuckled slightly at Honeypaw's concerned tone as she asked about Frogkit. She suspected the young apprentice was trying to hide a trace of jealousy in her meow, and her ears twitched in surprise, yet her heart warmed for a heartbeat when she realized that her adopted kit was still attached to her, even though she had grown so much. Ducking her head downward towards Honeypaw's ear she whispered, "Just until the loners leave the nursery. They won't be here for more than two sunrises." As Frogkit began to ramble furiously about her short interaction with the loners, she turned away and began heading towards the Warrior's den where Maplestream had been sleeping for some time now. Smiling to herself she wondered how Honeypaw was going to feel about watching Frogkit for a couple sunrises. Maybe she will think twice about having kits of her own someday after she gets Frogkit off her paws. As she pushed her way into the Warrior's den, she settled down comfortably next to Maplestream and began to nudge her gently with one paw. After a few taps, she began to stir. Blinking her eyes heavily and yawning, she sat up slightly and asked, "Fernstar; what's going on? Do you need me for something?" Fernstar nodded slightly and meowed firmly, "I do." She told Maplestream what she had learned from the loners arriving in camp before revealing what she would ask Maplestream to do. "While the loners are here, I would like you to guard the nursery, night and day. Of course, after sundown you may sleep in the den if it is too cold. I will assign someone to bring you fresh kill when there is any, and when you need to make dirt alert someone to watch while you're gone. I chose you for this job because you are vigilant and I trust you. It should not be for more than two sunrises. You start tonight."</s> <\|message\|>Blackpelt Blackpelt: Entrance to the nursery _______________________________________ Blackpelt watches the loners from the darkness, his smaller frame making him seem almost apprentice or even kit sized. His tail lashes in stress and anxiety, his exsuasted mindset giving him too many thoughts to deal with at once. Why are they here? They're something off about them, but I can't put my claw on it. They seem dangerous, but I don't know why. He licks his paw, rubbing his face to try and get his fur to lay flat again, but he's too on edge. He slips out before they see him, and he heads to Fernstars den. Once he gets there, his tail gently taps Honeypaw. "You aren't fighting, are you? Your pelt spiked for a moment. Everything ok?" He looks them both over, then gently gives Honeypaw a lick on the head. "You're too stressed. Whatever happens, the clan will protect you." He settles down. "So. What's gotten you so upset Honeypaw?" His eyes study her, intense, but not accusing.</s> <\|message\|>Fernstar As Sunfur made his way back to the large tree they had caught the bird in, he kept his jaws parted to taste the air, just in case any prey did decide to emerge from their dens. He couldn't wait until newleaf, when hunting wouldn't be so difficult. The clan had been struggling through this harsh leafbare for quite a few moons now and every sunrise got more and more exhausting to handle. During his internal lamenting, he felt a single flake of snow drift down to settle on one of his whiskers. Great. Just what we needed, more snow. As if we didn't have enough already. As he approached the base of the tree, he tried to ignore his frustration as he dug through the snow in search of the bird. He lashed his tail as the falling snow drifted down into the hole and replaced the snow he had removed. Eventually, he removed the bird and began trudging back towards camp. Pushing his way through the sparse brambles of the entrance, he made his way to the fresh kill pile and deposited the bird, scanning the camp for Fernstar. He needed to tell her what he and Spidernose had accomplished bringing down the bird. Following her scent trail led him to the entrance of the warrior's den and he eased his head into the den reluctantly. Fernstar was discussing a job she had selected Maplestream for and it seemed to important to interrupt. He waited until the leader rose to her paws and diverted her attention in his direction before speaking. "Fernstar, if you have a minute to spare, I need to share something with you that I feel would be of great use to the Clan." He turned and gestured towards the Highstump where no cat was in earshot before he spoke again. "When I first joined the Clan, I remember you sharing stories with me about the original five Clans and the things your Mother had seen before they were severed. You once told me that SkyClan often hunted high in the treetops, something that no other Clan did." He took a deep breath before continuing and tried to make his meow sound confident. "I believe Spidernose and I have figured out a way for us to do the same. During leafbare, prey is so hard to come by on the forest floor because of the deep snow and the cold, yet it seems birds are just as abundant as ever." Gesturing towards the fresh kill pile, he meowed with excitement, "Spidernose and I managed to climb a tree and work together to bring down a bird right from it's nest. The other got away but it's a start. I believe it would greatly benefit the Clan if we were to teach all our warriors and apprentices to hunt this way. And I'm confident I could be the one to teach them."</s> <\|message\|>Fernstar Interacting with: @The Elvenqueen Trying to appear genuine, Felix dipped his head as the WillowClan leader left the den, her deputy and medicine cat in tow. When they had completely exited the den and their pawsteps had faded, he snatched up one bundle of herbs and padded towards the back of the den to lay next to Heather. As the leaf wrap unfolded, the strong smell overwhelmed him for a heartbeat. I haven't smelled medicine cat herbs in so long. They're stronger than I remember. . . He pushed some closer to Heather with his paw. "Eat some. I don't want you getting sick for real." He blinked affectionately at her before turning to Otis. The large brown tom had already begun chewing the herbs, and he could tell the bitter taste had struck him just as potently. "Tugging that loose piece of fur from your chest was great Otis," Felix praised. Rising to his paws, he noticed the hunger gnawing at his stomach. He had to admit, Fernstar telling them they couldn't take from the Clan's fresh kill pile had been a good decision. If he was leader, he would have made the same rule. Rolling his eyes, he thought, I wouldn't have let random cats spend the night in my camp in the first place. Deciding on catching a meal for himself, he padded towards the entrance of the den and waved his tail over his shoulder. "I'm going to hunt, I'm starved. Either of you are welcome to come if you would like." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Otis rise to his paws and scramble over just behind Felix. Heather didn't move, and he assumed she was simply tired. As they emerged into the center of the camp, Felix suddenly realized the sun was just starting to crest the top of the trees. He didn't think an entire sundown had passed already. He cast a friendly but respectful glance towards the deputy who was sharing prey with a cream colored she-cat. His ears twitched as he heard the small kit he had been forced to meet earlier squealed up to an apprentice in the large tree that held the leader's den. They padded on confidently towards the entrance of the camp, and Felix was genuinely surprised that no cat had tried to stop them, or even ask where they were going. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, we aren't their Clanmates after all. But I would think they would still want to keep an eye on us. . . He wasn't going to question it, not yet. They pushed their way through the brambles and made their way out into the woods scenting for any small animal that would make a good meal. Heather finished the last few strokes of her paw across her muzzle before rising to her paws and shaking out her fur. She couldn't believe what that mouse-brain Felix had asked her to do. She had to admit to herself that it had been a good plan, no matter how unpleasant it was. She hadn't followed Felix and Otis outside the den to hunt because despite not having eaten for almost an entire sunrise, she wasn't hungry. However, she was curious to explore the rest of WillowClan's camp. She hadn't seen much of it when they had got there, as they were herded so quickly into the nursery. Her ears perked as she made out the excited squealing of the kit she had seen coming from across the clearing. She stopped abruptly, lashing her tail as she tried to remember what the kit's name was. Frogkit! That was it. She sauntered gracefully in the direction of the large tree and the two young cats and let out a small meow of greeting before she flopped down, relaxed as ever, right next to Frogkit. "I saw how happy you were helping with those herb bundles earlier. Would you like to be the Clan's next medicine cat? You seem destined for it!" She cast her glance away from the small kit, surveying the rest of the camp and what every cat was doing as she waited for Frogkit's response.</s> <\|message\|>Frogkit ___________________________________________________________________________ Fernstar's Den interacting with: @savannahssu's Heather, mention of @Hazelrah's Honeypaw ___________________________________________________________________________ Despite the older cats in camp being quite uneasy over the presence of the strange Loners, Frogkit was still vibrating with excitement and this only seemed to increase further as Heather hopped up to join then and initiate a conversation. Being young and naive and not knowing any better, Frogkit disregarded Blackpelt and Spidernose's earlier warnings about not talking to strangers and the kit's tortoiseshell ears and tail perked right up as Heather asked her a question. Even if she smelled kind of strange, the molly seemed nice, so Frogkit really didn't understand why the grownups were so suspicious and upset! "Hiya! I'm Frogkit! And this is Honeypaw!" she chirped, flicking her tail to indicate the apprentice beside her as she spoke of Honeypaw. "What's your name?" she asked the older she-cat, though was quickly distracted from asking any further questions as Heather began to inquire whether Frogkit was interested in being a medicine cat one day. The kit's eyes shone with excitement and she nodded so vigorously that she lost her balance for a split second and almost fell clean off the branch she was perched on, but managed to dig her claws in with a small squeak and steady herself again. Frogkit then looked back up at Heather, purring in excitement as she answered. "Oh, yes! Yes I would really love that! I've been trying to learn all the herbs and what they look like and smell like so I can impress Blackpelt!" she announced, though the kit's shoulders did sag a little in disappointment as she remembered how the grumpy tom had snapped at her when he found her in his den earlier. Still, despite the medicine cat's…prickly, nature, Frogkit seemed determined to win him over in the end and make him want to take her on as his apprentice. "But I don't think he likes me much…he's always yelling at me and telling me to stay outta the medicine den. He's kinda mean."</s>	<\|message\|>Blackpelt Blackpelt: Fernstar's den _______________________________________ He jumps down from the ledge, and lands next to the loner and Frogkit. He pulls her into his paws, and growls at them, eyes slits. "Frogkit. I told you to stay put." He picks her up by her scruff again, and stalks away, heading to Leafstar, ears pulled back, tail lashing in anger. He puts Frogkit down next to Leafstar. "I don't know what those cats want, but I want them gone. They creep me out, and they approached a lone kit. Make them leave." His pelt is spiked in fear and rage, eyes burning. His breathing is harsh, and his fur is ragged, like he hasn't been taking care of himself. He's not acting like his normal grumpy self. He's terrified and furious with the loners for daring to approach a kit. "The longer they're here, the more danger we're in." He looks down at Frogkit. "If you want me to teach you what I know, listen to me when I tell you something. I told you to stay away from them."</s>
<\|description\|>Blackpelt Gender: Tom Age: 36 moons Rank: Medicine cat Personality: Strict, but in a caring manner. Not afraid to tell you exactly what he thinks, even if you take offence. Appearance: Backstory: Born and raised in the clan, he walked out to the woods one day on a hunt, and got lost. He hid in a cave, and slept until the moon rose. He saw a large glowing pool, and, feeling thirsty, he lapped at it. He suddenly felt very very tired. He curled up, but when he woke, he....wasn't on the ground anymore. Instead, he was surrounded with cats. But what manner of cats? They were made of stars! They told him that they were the ancestors of all good cats. But he noticed that they didn't talk about the bad cats. Strange. He woke up, and felt weak, and tired. He walked back to the group, and told them that he....had been away. Mate: None Kits: None</s> <\|message\|>Frogkit ___________________________________________________________________________ Fernstar's Den interacting with: @savannahssu's Heather, mention of @Hazelrah's Honeypaw ___________________________________________________________________________ Despite the older cats in camp being quite uneasy over the presence of the strange Loners, Frogkit was still vibrating with excitement and this only seemed to increase further as Heather hopped up to join then and initiate a conversation. Being young and naive and not knowing any better, Frogkit disregarded Blackpelt and Spidernose's earlier warnings about not talking to strangers and the kit's tortoiseshell ears and tail perked right up as Heather asked her a question. Even if she smelled kind of strange, the molly seemed nice, so Frogkit really didn't understand why the grownups were so suspicious and upset! "Hiya! I'm Frogkit! And this is Honeypaw!" she chirped, flicking her tail to indicate the apprentice beside her as she spoke of Honeypaw. "What's your name?" she asked the older she-cat, though was quickly distracted from asking any further questions as Heather began to inquire whether Frogkit was interested in being a medicine cat one day. The kit's eyes shone with excitement and she nodded so vigorously that she lost her balance for a split second and almost fell clean off the branch she was perched on, but managed to dig her claws in with a small squeak and steady herself again. Frogkit then looked back up at Heather, purring in excitement as she answered. "Oh, yes! Yes I would really love that! I've been trying to learn all the herbs and what they look like and smell like so I can impress Blackpelt!" she announced, though the kit's shoulders did sag a little in disappointment as she remembered how the grumpy tom had snapped at her when he found her in his den earlier. Still, despite the medicine cat's…prickly, nature, Frogkit seemed determined to win him over in the end and make him want to take her on as his apprentice. "But I don't think he likes me much…he's always yelling at me and telling me to stay outta the medicine den. He's kinda mean."</s> <\|message\|>Blackpelt Blackpelt: Fernstar's den _______________________________________ He jumps down from the ledge, and lands next to the loner and Frogkit. He pulls her into his paws, and growls at them, eyes slits. "Frogkit. I told you to stay put." He picks her up by her scruff again, and stalks away, heading to Leafstar, ears pulled back, tail lashing in anger. He puts Frogkit down next to Leafstar. "I don't know what those cats want, but I want them gone. They creep me out, and they approached a lone kit. Make them leave." His pelt is spiked in fear and rage, eyes burning. His breathing is harsh, and his fur is ragged, like he hasn't been taking care of himself. He's not acting like his normal grumpy self. He's terrified and furious with the loners for daring to approach a kit. "The longer they're here, the more danger we're in." He looks down at Frogkit. "If you want me to teach you what I know, listen to me when I tell you something. I told you to stay away from them."</s> <\|message\|>Frogkit ___________________________________________________________________________ Fernstar's Den interacting with: @savannahssu's Fernstar, @Shadow Dragon's Blackpelt ___________________________________________________________________________ "Hey!! Put me down!!" Frogkit shrieked in protest as without warning and completely uninvited the medicine cat interrupted her conversation with the Loner and carried her away. "I'm not a baby anymore!! Stop carrying me around like one! I was talkin' over there!" she hissed, flailing around in Blackpelt's grasp and refusing to stay still. How DARE he! As he set her down in front of Fernstar and began to chastise her, Frogkit's tail bushed up as far as it could go, her fur fluffed and the kit very clearly annoyed beyond measure. "You're not my ma, you can't tell me what to do!" Frogkit spat back at him petulantly, her back arching and teeth flashing. "Maybe if you want me to listen to ya, you should stop bein' such a meanie! I was only talkin' to 'em, they weren't doin' anything bad! The warrior code says we should help other cats in need, they're hurt and scared and they need our help!" she pointed out, in her young mind believing everything that had been told to her about the strange cats in WillowClan's camp at face value and assuming they were telling the truth. Because why would they lie? Huffing in annoyance, Frogkit plunked down onto her bottom, her fur still puffy, and craned her head back towards their leader, pouting as if hoping Fernstar would take her side and tell Blackpelt off. "Tell him, Fernstar! Tell him he's being a meanie!"</s> <\|message\|>Sunfur Interacting with: @Shadow Dragon @The Elvenqueen While pondering Sunfur's interesting offer, she was ripped from her thoughts by Blackpelt, holding Frogkit by the scruff and stomping towards her. He plopped the kit down a little rougher than she would have liked, down by her paws and fixed her with a burning gaze, his fur bushed and his tail lashing. She was taken aback by her medicine cat's aggressive tone and demanding request that seemingly came out of nowhere, and she wasn't quite sure how to respond. Should she defuse the situation and thank Blackpelt for his concern? Or should she put her paw down as leader and put her medicine cat back in his place? After a couple heartbeat's thought, she decided on both."Blackpelt, I suggest you keep your fur on before I cuff you around your ears" Fernstar meowed firmly, trying to hold back a hiss. Casting her glance away from Blackpelt momentarily and down towards Frogkit, she meowed softly, "Are you alright Frogkit? You're not hurt are you?" Gently pushing and turning the kit around, carefully inspecting her body she was satisfied when she found nothing wrong, nothing more than fluffed out fur due to Blackpelt's unnecessarily rough handling. "Didn't I tell you to meet Honeypaw in my den and stay there until I came back? Go back to the den now and stay there until I say so. Do you understand?" She shoved the kit in the direction of her den and directed her attention towards Blackpelt once again. "Blackpelt, I appreciate your concern, and I realize this is a strange occurrence that has every cat in camp a little on edge, including me." She raised her head and lashed her tail in annoyance before continuing. "However, as medicine cat, you must not forget you are an advisor to the leader which means you do not make choices for the Clan. That is the leader's job, and regardless of status, every cat in the Clan must follow the leader's orders whether they think they are correct or not. I make decisions based on the knowledge StarClan has given me as well as personal experience, and I do not take these decisions lightly. StarClan would not have given me nine lives if they didn't think I was fit to lead this Clan, but if YOU don't then you may feel free to leave and discuss your opinions with our ancestors yourself. I would hate to lose my medicine cat, but I will not have cats questioning the validity of my decisions." She forced her fur to lie flat and considered Blackpelt's other action. If for nothing else, he did deserve some credit for taking Frogkit away from the loners. She shouldn't have been speaking with them, and he was right to remove her. "I do thank you for bringing Frogkit to me; I told her to stay in my den with Honeypaw and she shouldn't have been talking to them. That kit's curiosity is going to get her hurt someday I can sense it." She turned back to Sunfur and tried to reengage in the conversation they were having before they were interrupted. "That is a very bold undertaking Sunfur. I see where your thoughts are coming from, but I feel this is something the entire Clan should have a voice in. We will hold a vote at sunhigh before the dawn patrol. If the Clan agrees on this, I hope you understand what you're getting yourself into." Suddenly realizing how tired she was, she pushed past Sunfur and Blackpelt and made her way towards the fresh kill pile. She barely paused for long enough to grab the bird Sunfur and Spidernose had caught and jumped up into her den. She flopped down and took a bite of the bird before beginning to groom her legs and chest. After a few licks she pushed the bird towards Frogkit, urging her to eat. Hopefully she could get some sleep before sunhigh, she would need to be well rested for what would happen tomorrow.</s>	<\|message\|>Blackpelt Blackpelt: Fernstar's den _______________________________________ He looks down at his paws, eyes closed, and he lets out a deep breath. "I'm sorry Fernstar. I know I shouldn't have acted so rashly, nor spoken to you like that....." His shoulders slump, and his tail wraps around his paws in shame. His eyes are bloodshot and fur still matted. He sighs, and goes to his den before he does anything else to get himself in trouble. He sorts though some herbs to keep himself distracted, looking up at seemingly every sound, real or imaginary. He whispers and mutters to himself, and his ears pull back and lay flat on his head in shame. He huffs and puts the rest of the herbs away, then lays down on his bed, staring at the entrance to his den. His tail coils around him as he curls up into a small ball, tired and upset. He falls asleep without realising it. His sleep is restless, upseting, and his dreams is full of scorn and disapproval over how he acted. He quietly mutters the Warrior code to himself, and reflects on his actions over the past few days. Ever since the loners showed up, he's been anxious and paranoid, and full of doubt. He shivers, still feeling trapped in his dream-turned-nightmare. He looks up finaly, only to see black trees, not a star in sight. He curls around himself, and his pelt spikes when he hears laughter. Please go away, please go away, please go away..... He slowly opens one eye, and slowly stands up, deep in the Dark Forest. Why do I keep ending up here......what am I doing wrong? He walks forward aimlessly, waiting for someone to show up and 'educate' him. He fights his way though brambles and thorns, uncaring of the cuts and scrapes all over his pelt and paws. He looks around every now and again, but sees only darkness filled woods. He unsheaths his claws, and tears at the brambles tangled in his pelt, walking out of them, dripping with blood from uncountable tiny wounds. In the waking world, anyone close enough to him would see tiny drops of blood appear on his claws and lightly mixed into his fur.</s>
<\|description\|>Charlotte Butcher Title(s): Burning Soul of Justice, Master of the Fire's Destiny, Super Desturction Beam Gamma (?), and 37 other nonsensical titles composed of random english words thrown together (All Self Given). Gender: Female (WITH A MAN'S BURNING SOUL!!!) Age: 17 Alignment: LAWFUL GOOD! (Chaotic Good at best, Chaotic Neutral at slightly less than best.) Rank: Master Purpose at Chaldea: Extremly easy to manipulate and appease, incredible capacity for brutality with little to no mental scarring, and an intense and genuine desire to protect humanity. Also she was very easy to acquire. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Command Seal: A single flame and 2 strokes of embers. Personality: In case it wasn't obvious enough, Charlotte is an incredibly intense individual. Her motivations, interests, and opinion of others can shift massively within the span of a single rather mundane conversation. This may appear to be simply because Charlotte is psychotic, which is a very fair assessment. She rushes into combat with what seems like reckless abandon, makes herself a massive target with her constant screaming, and refuses to withdraw from even the direst of situations without being forcefully dragged. That isn't even including how frivolous she is with her Command Seals, which she will gladly waste on the most pointless of actions unless presented with a better alternative. The reasoning behind most of her eccentricities is due to a near-death experience Charlotte once had, resulting in her Origin of Fire partially becoming awakened. While this appeared to help save her life and enhanced her already impressive Flame Magecraft even further, it irreparably damaged her psyche. Now she is just like a fire, constantly burning resources and anything else it can reach to ash and being manipulated by those around her... As well as her incredibly brutal nature. Not everything about Charlotte is negative, however. Perhaps it is due to the connotation Fire has with 'Courage' or 'Inspiration' - or maybe she was just born a certain way - but Charlotte is incredibly skilled at motivational speaking and encouraging others to achieve their goals. She is interested in others and helping them develop their abilities and interests, and will go to great lengths to assist them in any way she can. Charlotte is also exceptionally charismatic in general, and usually able to leave a positive impression on most people she meets - this is a combination of natural affability and training her family had given her. Charlotte always does best at any task she puts her mind to, and while she rarely takes other people's advice at face value or improvises new strategies, she devotes immense amounts of time and energy to something she truly believes is important. Charlotte greatly enjoys creating incredibly elaborate titles for otherwise minor things. Nearly everything in her room has at least a 2-page backstory, of which only a sentence at most is truthful. This extends to those she is comfortable with or dislikes, and she will give them impressive or derogatory nicknames respectively. She interacts best with people who flatter her and inflate her massive ego and will go to great lengths to preserve their respect for her. This is such a strong part of her mentality that it is the easiest method through which she can be manipulated - merely mentioning her prowess at something, followed by a task that was exaggerated to be insurmountable is enough to cause her to immediately undertake anything from cleaning dishes to killing dozens of sapient beings. While she may seem simply eccentric at a glance, Fire is an inherently destructive force. Charlotte hangs onto mere threads of lucidity, and if something were to fully awaken her Origin, it would invariably end in her killing those around her. Even when her Origin is only partially awakened, she has no problem whatsoever with killing dozens or even hundreds of lives for very little justification. At the very least, fully awakening her would make an excellent distraction should Chaldea ever need one. Bio: The Butcher family was originally a part of a much larger and older clan that had started to decline in quality as technology grew more impressive. Breaking off of the initial Clan, the Butcher's used their knowledge of Elemental Magecraft to construct familiars out of the world around them. While Familiarcraft is regarded as quite trite and dull, the Butcher's were able to craft long-lived and effective familiars out of most of the elements. Their most destructive and shortest-lived, however, were the only ones that interested the young heiress of the family. Charlotte throughout her youth had been fascinated with flammable objects, and fire in general. She very frequently was caught staring at the family fireplace, and always was most attentive when one of her elders did anything even remotely related to Flame Magecraft. This was initially encouraged by the Butchers, who thought that the interest would encourage her to grow into exploring other aspects and uses for the families Magecraft. She never did so. At the age of 14, she was already one of the most proficient users of Flame Magecraft in her entire family's history, but she knows barely any other Magecraft whatsoever. Despite how promising she was with Flame Magecraft, Charlotte's parents decided to not pass the Crest onto her a few years prior, instead choosing to have a second child they hoped would be more easily molded to the families wishes. By this point, most of her family had become fairly distant with her and she was raised more as a researcher to advance the family Magecraft, as well as a suitor to sell off to another family when she came of age. The only person who continued to regularly speak with her was her uncle, who did so primarily out of pity and a sense of duty. Little changed over the next few years, and despite making numerous advancements to her Family's Magecraft, Charlotte received very little recognition or respect. She steadily grew more bitter as the years passed, culminating in her burning her family's home at the age of 17. She nearly died in the incident, resulting in her Origin being partially awakened. Since the incident nearly killed her younger brother and caused a large amount of property damage, Charlotte's parents attempted to sell her off to any suitor they could for a decent price. When no one agreed to take an extreme pyromaniac as a bride, they were contacted a month after the incident by the Chaldea Security Organization who made a generous offer. Charlotte had only joined Chaldea a few weeks ago, but she is greatly enjoying her time there thanks to the inhabitants and nature of her employment. --- Magic Circuit Switch: A Lighter being lit. Number of Magic Circuits: C Quality of Magic Circuits: C --- Elemental Affinity: Fire. Her Origin is also Fire. Everything is Fire. Magecraft: Not Everything is Fire. The Butcher family originally attempted to reach the Root through mastery over the elements. In other words, they practiced Elemental Familiarcraft. While the Butcher Magecraft was quite developed over their existence and encompassed all Five primary elements and several lesser ones like Wood and Metal, Charlotte shunned everything except the Fire Magecraft. Charlotte's primary Magecraft are her Wisp Familiars (SOULS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!), which by default appear as small balls of floating fire. They are capable of performing several actions when supplied with Magical Energy, such as shooting bolts of fire from their bodies, transmitting visual and auditory information to Charlotte, and glowing with incredible brightness that can blind people that look directly at the Wisp. By default, they explode like a small explosive whenever they touch something with a decent amount of force, so Charlotte uses them mostly as flying 'Smart Bombs' akin to drones. If she can reasonably excuse the expense, she enjoys combing several Wisps into a single, much larger explosions. They cannot be summoned rapidly or 'spammed' since they are such complex familiars, which can easily get Charlotte in trouble if she isn't careful... which is most of the time. Some people may find the thought of using sentient beings as explosives somewhat troubling, but Charlotte does not give it much thought at all. Crest: Charlotte was never given her family's Crest due to her personality, and her hyper-specialization not fitting the style of Magecraft that the Butchers practiced. It is instead planned to be given to her younger brother when he completes his Magecraft training. Nystic Codes: Oil Rags (BINDING OF THE FLAMING FIGHTER'S RESOLVE!!!) - A Mystic Code created as a gift for a younger Charlotte by her family, meant to encourage her growth and development of the family's Magecraft before they decided to have a new heir. These cloth bindings can be held by hand, but Charlotte usually wears them wrapped loosely around her arms. When she focuses, Charlotte can compress her Wisp Familiars into the Mystic Code, which is connected to an Imaginary Number Space. She can store 3-4 dozen Wisps in the Mystic Code, and they do not impose a Magical Energy Cost while stored. Retrieving them is only a fraction of the cost it would be to summon a new Wisp, which greatly improves their use as suicide units. Staff (STAFF OF INCANDESCENT SPIRIT!!!) - Not a Mystic Code. It's literally just a wooden rod that has a high power flashlight on the end. Charlotte, like many magi, lacks advanced knowledge of modern technologies and genuinely believes the Staff has some mystical quality. Despite being infinitely less useful, Charlotte treasures this item more than the Oil Rags because it was a gift from her Uncle, one of the few people who cared about her in her family. Has a charging port to refill the battery.</s> <\|message\|>Yasuke Hallways, Chaldea --- "One hour. That's how long I've been gone and you already burnt something down Master, that's a new record," Charlotte heard a voice behind her, turning around she would find a tall dark-skinned man, wearing a black shirt underneath an open white and yellow coat that left his rather muscular arms exposed. Her Servant Lancer with a wry smile on his face, "Maybe I should get one of those 'fire extinguishers' for my stay as your Servant. What do you think, Master?" When he was summoned Yasuke expected many things, but one thing he didn't expect was his Master being a pyromaniac who almost burnt down her room not even five minutes after the contract was sealed. It was impressive in a way, he who once had to wrangle a crazy person in life will now wrangle another in death. "But that's enough about your blazing tendencies. I see you already made a friend, a fellow lover of flames I presume?" He asked jokingly, while he knew that the other Master, Daniel if he remembered it right, looked to be more of a stuffy type than a 'burn the house down for fun' type the chance of teasing his Master was too much to pass on. "But seriously please tell me he wasn't the one who made the mess in your bedroom. Dealing with you and the Saber is already looking like it's gonna be a handful you know? I don't want to add another pyromaniac to the list." He said in a more serious tone. ---</s> <\|message\|>Daniel Palailogos Daniel I want to make this clear, Daniel responded to Don Juan's telepathic message. I am not really interested in what you do as long as it's not with my family. Just don't shatter the domestic bliss of my home life and we're good, okay? Now, I am going to start a discussion on tactics I want you to listen in on - Can you multitask? Then he went to answer Yasuke, saying, "I like fire, yes - I am a person of many interests, and fire is a good tool for someone who wants to be a 'Magus Killer'." A pause, "All my life, ever since I was aware of the corrupt nature of the Clock Tower and the Church, I've been researching ways to kill Magi, the more powerful, the better. I've also searched whatever intelligence reports, rumors, and wild stories I can wheedle out of Chaldea's staff - Which includes my parents - for rumors of people or monsters effective at killing powerful Mages and Church Enforcers and the methods they use to be effective at said killing." Then he turned to Charlotte, "And I am glad to have one of the most skilled Pyromancers that I know as part of my team, and I know we'll save many lives together and defeat those who would corrupt the timelines." He hoped that Don Juan didn't go after 17-year olds - Wait, that's legal in Europe and most of the world - Because Charlotte was beautiful and he just gave the Servant another glance at her. Back to Yasuke, "And with your help, I'm sure we can keep collateral damage to a minimum, same for Don Juan and his own abilities! Heck, with DJ's 'ultra-redemption' Noble Phantasm, we might even redeem a few evildoers instead of just killing them! Actually, with you and DJ's immense resistances to damage, Crazy Horse's scouting skills, plus Autocylus' various abilities which can solve a problem without killing -" It was then that Daniel decided to contact Auto telepathically, Auto, what are you doing right now? Can I see through your eyes for a bit? Also, I'm having an ad-hoc tactical discussion right now - Want to join? Then back to the discussion, "Either way, we'd be an unstoppable force of Magus and Churchmen-killers, disposing of corrupt individuals to save innocent people! Can't one think of a better career path?"</s>	<\|message\|>Charlotte Butcher "One hour. That's how long I've been gone and you already burnt something down Master, that's a new record," Charlotte stopped in her tracks as she was making her way to the canteen, and she barely made it a few steps out of the training room. She recognized the voice and turned to meet her new Servant. "Maybe I should get one of those 'fire extinguishers' for my stay as your Servant. What do you think, Master?" "Like a pail of water? That's rude of you, to assume such a thing could stop my Burning Soul!" Charlotte chuckled a little too loudly for comfort at her own statement, before nodding her head to herself. "And I would think you'd be appreciative that I withheld myself for an entire hour. The last time I remember doing that was on the plane ride here, and that was awful..." She stopped as she listened to the new discussion underway between her Servant and Daniel. While she didn't really care for the morality behind becoming a 'Magus Killer,' especially considering her willingness to be a regular killer, she never really considered the Church or the Clock Tower to be especially corrupt. She even visited it one time with her family, and while she refused to take classes, the Clock Tower itself seemed like a very respectable foundation... If a bit elitist. Well, a bit was pretty generous, considering some of the things she saw in her very brief visit. Charlotte knocked herself out of her trance when she heard her name being spoken, specifically focusing back in when Daniel complimented her. She smugly nodded at the recognition of her skills. She didn't really understand the part about timelines, even when members of Chaldea Staff explained it to her in detail, but she didn't really mind ignorance unless it would become an issue later on. "There you have it, Lancer! And I would call what I do to my room 'making it homey' rather than 'making a mess.' Anyways, I'm going to the Canteen to get some food, and maybe look for Caster afterward - you guys are welcome to follow if you want. Just be sure not to babysit too much if you come, Lancer."</s>
<\|description\|>Abelard Fhundil Race: Koth Backstory: His parents labeled as pagans and heathens during one of the many inquisitions in the Kingdom of Aquilonia, Abelard was taken in swaddling clothes back to his mother's homeland of Koth. They grew up poor and in squalor, until Koth's secret alliance with Nemedia was discovered when Abelard was a young man. His father helped Koth by giving information of the homeland and gave them a decent living on the outerlying areas of Strabonus' Palace. One day when he was a young boy, Abelard exploring the palace grounds found a secret chamber in the catacombs where a priest was worshiping the God Asura. Instead of killing him, as the priest almost did, he took Abelard under his wing and taught him of dark secrets beyond the veil. In hushed whispers, he grew as a man of the Asuran faith, practicing what little sorcery he was able to as the years passed and various coups rose and fell. After his master was discovered as a traitor priest to the God Ishtar, he was executed while Alebard was on campaign with the army as a sergeant, a position gained by his father's loyalty. Once they came back, he discovered the execution and took what supplies and scribes he could and fled without a word, traveling from the wilderness of the Picts to Iranistan. Luckily, he received a tip from a prostitute on where an ancient tomb lay in the desert.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil Saga 1: Opal of Power --- A fell deed was told long ago in this land. Past Ophir and Koth, and Stygian Sand. The Opal of Vulkur the priest did sought. But the only one who was searching for it, he was not. A woman of the North had traveled far and wide. To join the priest in a trap, where a demon doth reside. A black wind rose and swept through Kafir's infertile lands, shivering what broken roots and withered stems still stood among the barren, cracked earth. It was as if the gods or powers beyond comprehension murmured in displeasure. Tumult and echoes of the last great cataclysm shook the land in earthquakes that shook the very bones of the Ilbar mountains. In the streets of the city, slaves stumbled and sellers of ivory and bronze screamed at whatever customers passed, and yet Abelard still felt the unease in the air. A grim omen to take notice of, that even within the walls of streets of the city he could hear the distant howling. It seemed to pierce stone, sand, and flesh. The ruddy skinned priest had traveled far just as the prophecy had instructed him, passing through the lands Ophir and his grim homeland of Koth. Just as foretold in his vision, the provinces of Zimbabwe and Achaemenid were in rebellious uproars, slaughtering one another in the streets as a dread plague swept through the closed cities, the fools not realizing the disease was sorcerous in nature. The only thing closing the gates did was to spread the disease among the populaces quicker. He could do no good for them, nor was it his destiny. Kafir had so far been unaffected by the madness that spread over Iranistan, the city making a sizeable profit by selling its slaves to the desperate cities and fleeing despots in need of men to haul their loot. The activity brought buyers from across the desolate east to the city. Rogued women in ne'er but thin cloth along their hips shook convulsed their bodies and blew kisses at the unamused priest, who was nearly late for his meeting with the thief, Ibn-vakir. The foul smelling nomad given him the information he sought at long last, but now he would provide the key to the tomb of Khuten-ra. Whether the Iranistanian gained the item through nefarious means, he cared not. All he wished for was the key Ibn-vakir had promised him he would need. Abelard had long lost feeling out of place in distant lands. A man of Koth by lineage, his aquilonian mother had bestowed him his northern name. Of moderate height, Abelard was not a weak man, having served as a soldier of Koth against the black terror of Stygia. But his power did not lie in his strength of arm or skill with a blade. Asura had collapsed the illusion of this world and had opened his eyes to the true nature of reality, bestowing upon him great gifts of insight and even magic. At his side he bore a sheathed, curved broadsword made of bronze and ivory. His robes were formed of woolen cloth and colored crimson after they had been washed in the blood of goats at day's twilight. The priest's staff was taken from the sacred temple of the Sun in distant Shem and his Atlantean bronze and silver ring was procured from a Pictish shaman. Those memories seemed but a backdrop to his current mission, the significance dwarfing his previous cares in both might and terror. He passed the codgers and the bakers, the cutthroats and the vagabonds, the weaponsmiths and the glassblowers. Near the corner he strode by a group of hard northmen in rough leathers and iron chainmail, eyeing every corner of the streets with barely supressed violence radiating off of them. Hired by Kafir's King to keep order no doubt. Passed the mercenaries was the archway just as his informant told him, with two crossed spears carved at the center just above the doorway. Abelard stepped down the sandstone stairs into the thief's den, casting a glance behind him to make sure he was not being followed. A stench of feces and dried blood wafted lightly across the inner air of the chamber and he realized he was now in an outcropping of the sewer. A stone 'dock' within the slowly drifting murk of the collective sewage of twenty thousand Iranistanians. Boxes of timber of unknown origin were stacked on the far end, the rafters holding draped clothes to cordon off sections of the grounded area for various points of business to be had. Meet me at the last area just beside the edge of the black market, Ibn-vakir had told him. He did just that, walking past shadowing figures behind hanging cloth, whispers of fear and business giving a hushed quality to the very air around him.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter The only good wizard was a dead wizard. Anya Sorensdaughter had lived with those words from her first memories. Years of travel had provided scant contradiction to the old adage. Priest and sorcerers would bable about their arts and the mighty feats they would work, but however mighty they might be Anya had yet to meet one whose belly would repel a sharp blade. Skavi the Black was a wizard, she had sought him out in far of Asgard, retracing her blood soaked steps through Aquillonia and Cummoria to the familiar snowfields of her home. There, in the frozen north, at the head of a vast glacier she had found Skavi's cave and faced the phantoms he conjured to protect it. For all their terrors they too had been bested by the cold steel of her sword, forged under the light of the winter moon and quenched in the Tears of Ymir where the glacial ice had smoked and sizzled around the red hot iron for a day and a night. Such was the craft of Soren Danicson and of his daughter whom men called Anya. In these lands she was an aberration. Even here, where men with sharp swords and hard hearts would always find welcome, there were few Aesir, and in all the world, there was only one Anya Sorensdaughter. Among the Aesir, those blond haired and blue eyed reavers of the frozen north, it was not customary for women to go to war, nor to travel beyond the steps of Cummoria and south to the sweltering kingdoms below the desolate hills of that grim country. That Anya had done both spoke much of her unique character. She was short for her kind, though she towered over all but the tallest southerners, with hair of a blond so pale it seemed a snowy white in the sun and picked up the character of the light in all other settings. A mark of Ymir's interest most assuredly, though that was rarely a good or a happy accolade. Ymir was not like the soft gods of the south, to be wheeled with and placated by the endless mouthing of empty prayers. Her beauty too was that of the ice, hard planes and angular bones which no rogue pot could tame. Her body was slender but wound with whipcord tight muscles which gave her the constant and unnerving appearance of a wolf about to pounce. There had been men who had thought she might fetch a fine price on the slavers block. The had regretted their mistake. Briefly. Kafir was alive on this muggy evening. Citizens bustled about on business or in revel, some animated by they new not what, simply a feeling that this was a time to be alive and doing. Armed men, mercenaries hired by the prince of this sprawling city of adobe houses and high walls of sun bleached stone, patrolled or, more frequently, staggered and caroused according to their wont. These were troubled times, and though the Kolaks and their bands of raiders mounted on wiry southern ponies were always a threat, there was little they could do against steel guarded stone. Perhaps the prince simply felt better with men under arms than in the pay of his enemies, which was a wise enough strategy when plague and disorders stalked the land. A few of them leveled speculative glances at Anya, but the long sword of pale blue steel, the mail of tightly woven links, and the short hafted axe at her belt convinced them to find more congenial targets for whatever entertainment they had planned. With his dying words Skavi had sent her her, screamed as the ice that had fallen on him slowly crushed the life from his body. The answer to the question of whether the shade of Soren Danicson had entered Valhalla. No. That her father had died in battle she was certain, having held his spear pierced body in her arms, but his shade appeared to her in dreams when the moon was full and the wind was cold, and so she had sought out Skavi the Black and he had told her, through his cracked and bleeding, of the curse that the Vanir shaman had laid upon her father. That such a black rite should exist at all astonished her and she could not abide that the shade of her father should be held by such a trick. The shaman had been slain by a spear of mistletoe fashioned with the blackened bones of Soren Danicson, all that remained was for the blood of the Shaman and the blood of Soren Danicson to be smeared upon the Opal of Vulkur, that Ymir might know that he had been cheated of a soul by base trickery and Soren Danicson might take his place in the halls of Valhalla. For Anya's part, she was eager to be done with the company of shades. The gem had been lost long ago, stolen by the mighty thief Paven, who had carried it from the crown of the slumbering High King Wulfric in full view of his court. It had passed through many hands since then, but Anya, guided by Skavi the Black's dying words, had come to this place and found the thief who called himself Ibn-vakir. The Iristanian claimed to know where the jewel lay and promised to reveal the information to her in exchange for a fortune in gold. Anya didn't have a fortune in gold, but she suspected that her sword pressed to his genitals would prove equally persuasive. She reached the dockside where they were to meet, nose wrinkling at the smell of human filth and the spicy scent of exotic timbers. This was the thieves quarter of Kafir and she could expect Ibn-vakir to know every bolt hole and back alley. She needed to be quick and clever. As she neared the appointed rendezvous she caught sight of another man, hooded and cloaked. Perhaps she was not the only taker for what the accursed thief was selling.</s>	<\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil The fumes bothered Abelard little, having smelled far worse during his campaigning. There was little that smelled worse than feces and vomit mixed with blood, and mercifully the sewers were filled with mostly just the former. Grey eyes saw a tall, lithe figure stride into his field of view. A northern woman, gleaming white and gold among a land of filth and darkness. She seemed as dangerous as any man in the city, but he didn't foresee her taking any action against him. She seemed a wolf on the hunt, merely curious and stumbling upon a traveler by happenstance. He removed his blood-red hood, his face hard set and weathered. With his black beard and rough skin, he looked a decade older than his thirty two years of life. Asura's blessings had cost him much of his youthful vigor, an ardent contrast to Set and Ahriman who rewarded their followers with the pleasures and powers of this world at the expense of their very souls. Gripping his staff and turning, he spoke to her. The first time in three days he had chosen to utter any words. "You enter a den of serpents and rogues, Asgardian. Go back to the frozen white north what spawned you. You will fine ne'er but misery here by my reckoning." He intoned, his manner recondite and shadowed. His words paled compared to the shadow of those that watched from above, black clad and swords drawn, waiting in the deep to plunge their blades into the bosom of the two traveler's chests. Ibn-vakir had betrayed them and sought the favor of this land's new master known as the Bandit Kazim. Word had spread the nomadic tribes had flocked under one banner, coalescing at the central Vilayet river in the deep wilderness. Or so the stories foretold. The tribesmen were great horse archers and wild lancers famed the world over on ponies that frothed at the mouth, joined by ebony spearmen from Kush clad in naught by cloth. Soon the horde, now perhaps hiring mercenaries with their plundered gold, would be a horde of thundering steel that threatened to trample the province into the dirt. Wailing spirits of lamentation danced around Abelard's staff, visible only to he. He was used to see them, but only when great violence was about to be wrought. He placed his hand on the ivory hilt of his sword, his subtle facial twitch showcasing he was wary of attackers from behind. Coiled like serpents, the assassin's sprung near silently, leaping from the rafters. They found nothing but mist as they landed on the ground as nimble as apes, Abelard disappearing into nothingness. The Priest of Asura stepped out of the shadows behind Anya, sword in his hand. As they approached, the dozen men eyed the warrior woman the same as the priest. "They seem to be after you as well."</s>
<\|description\|>Abelard Fhundil Race: Koth Backstory: His parents labeled as pagans and heathens during one of the many inquisitions in the Kingdom of Aquilonia, Abelard was taken in swaddling clothes back to his mother's homeland of Koth. They grew up poor and in squalor, until Koth's secret alliance with Nemedia was discovered when Abelard was a young man. His father helped Koth by giving information of the homeland and gave them a decent living on the outerlying areas of Strabonus' Palace. One day when he was a young boy, Abelard exploring the palace grounds found a secret chamber in the catacombs where a priest was worshiping the God Asura. Instead of killing him, as the priest almost did, he took Abelard under his wing and taught him of dark secrets beyond the veil. In hushed whispers, he grew as a man of the Asuran faith, practicing what little sorcery he was able to as the years passed and various coups rose and fell. After his master was discovered as a traitor priest to the God Ishtar, he was executed while Alebard was on campaign with the army as a sergeant, a position gained by his father's loyalty. Once they came back, he discovered the execution and took what supplies and scribes he could and fled without a word, traveling from the wilderness of the Picts to Iranistan. Luckily, he received a tip from a prostitute on where an ancient tomb lay in the desert.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil The other rogues would have loved to have taken her up on her challenge, but they had not been idle. Nor had the man named Fhundil, having only a second to watch her terrifying display before an assassin robed in rags made a leap at him, stabbing with his short sword. Abelard moved aside as if he had seen it from seconds before the attacker's initial movement. He angled his staff's butt to slip between the thief's legs, tripping him up. He hit the ground just as Abelard tapped his staff-head with the blunt side of his sword. A brass spike shot out of the staff's bottom, and Abelard used it to impale the downed man in the back. To the common eye, he looked vulnerable to the more cunning cutthroat that had circled behind with a kushite khopesh of bronze, but Abelard turned as if he expected him. His broadsword parried what would have been a fatal stroke as the priest himself stabbed at the man, cutting him in the side. The Iranistanian sliced and kicked out, doing whatever he could to regain his advantage. He hadn't counted on the swinging staff head that cracked his skull. He hadn't the time to realize he was dead until the broadsword was already through his body by its full length. Blood dribbled onto wretched sewer stone. Abelard withdrew his blade and stepped aside politely to let the corpse fall onto its face with a harsh crack of bone. He opened his eyes and saw the enemies still outnumbered them three to one, and so he held his staff aloft and raised it high as if he could reach the sun under the very streets of Kafir. Some God seemed to answer his call, as the central dias opened and light as pure as the very sun beamed out and blinded the attackers so powerfully, they felt as men who had never seen light in their life. They screeched and cried out, running in all directions, their morale broken as the two cut down what men they could reach with their swords. Blood flowed like running rain into the sewage as the docks became as silent as a tomb. Abelard approached Anya without fear or hesitation, though he perhaps cracked a small grin. Hard to tell behind his thick beard. "It seems Ibn-vakir sought to betray both of us. From what I can tell, his previous information on the treasure's location was credible. What demon or man got to him to have him wish for our deaths had pulled him into their claws after he had spoken to me. I seek the Opal of Vulkur. Will you travel with me?"</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter The sun rose over far of Kosala, spreading across the Iranistani steppe to reveal two riders forging their way north towards the distant white capped daggers of the Ilbar Mountains. In the spring snow melt from those mountains would rush downwards in mighty torrents, wending its way towards the sea in a network of shallow creeks and rocky gullies that for most of the rest of the year ran at but a trickle. Like all steppe-land it was the preserve of nomadic headers rather than farmers, with herdsmen moving their flocks of goats or horned sheep from water source to watercourse with the season. Dawn had bought a few smuts of smoke from neglected cook-fires but from horizon to horizon no soul could be seen save for the two riders. That wasn't to say they weren't here of course. The steppe looked flat to a new comer, but deep gullies and short canyons could be concealed by the waving grass and a traveler might pass within bow shot and never know it until an arrow plucked them from the saddle. The pair had set out from Kafir after midnight on fine roan horses which the Priest had purchased with coin which had impressed even Anya with its variety of denominations. The solution had been cleaner than her own plan of stealing the beasts, and as Abelard pointed out, lacked the problem of potential pursuit. As the Priest had said, the fact that Ibn-vakir had sent men to killed him argued for the veracity of his information, why else spend the hundred silver drachma to engage the Guild of Thieves to murder them? They had ridden as hard as they dared across such uncertain terrain, there was little doubt that news of the assassins failure would reach their paymasters in due time. They could hope it was carried by a horseman and not upon the wings of ravens or some other sorcery. Anya had made her name as a raider by riding hard and relentlessly and coming at her opponents unexpectedly. She saw little reason to change the habit of a lifetime now. They drove on towards the headwaters of the River Ashan where the faithless thief had bragged that he had seen the fable Opal, though hadn't dared risk its retrieval. How it had come to rest in such a land, so far from the northern glaciers of its birth was lost to the knowledge of men, though perhaps, not that of Gods. Of their purposes they spoke little. Anya was unsure of exactly why her companion sought the jewel, perhaps only as any man seeks a thing that is vaulable, and of her own quest she had spoken only evasively. The peace between them was yet uneasy. "Smoke!" Anya called as they cantered across a low shale bedded creek, their horses kicking up shimmering spray in the early morning sun. She pointed to a low dome of haze beyond a small hill more or less along their path. It was too significant to be a single cookfire.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil Abelard reined in his roan, the beast whinnying lightly in the crisp morning air. Anya and he had been riding through the night with barely a word passing between them once they had mounted the horses. He found he believed her story and her virtue, however. Her manner against her assassins and they way she moved had a surety to it that spoke of honesty. Perhaps it was the soldier in him, or the still very earthly mind of his that led him to trust her motives. But he knew, somehow, Asura had not spoken of her. Her vision was correct, he saw a large pillar of smoke rising into the sky. It stood as a black line against the newly risen sun. Abelard dismounted, advising it was best they left their horses here tethered to what roots they could find. The two did so and drew their blades, creeping out of the creek-bed towards the signs of what Abelard knew to be their quarry, even if it were not what they truly sought. Advancing swiftly, they found a small rise that spoke of a sheer drop just before them. The two crouched and almost crawled toward the edge what seemed to be a large, dried waterway. Beneath them more than a score of men spoke and drank and ate a hearty breakfast, devouring the ribs of a great boar they had slaughtered likely the day before. Iranistanian Horse nomads with their scalemail cuirasses and their strange spiked helms wrapped in cloth, sallow skinned and stout builds grunting in their rugged tongue. They looked armed for war, their horses tied to a small copse of trees within earshot. The nomads had made two cookfires separate from Ibn-vakir and four Stygian giants. Head and shoulders taller than any nomad, the giants were armed with iron tipped spears and shields made of wood and bronze. Queer torques of Set lay on their bare chests, splattered with the grog they drank greedily beside their fire. Their belts were inlaid with gold and Ibn-vakir wore a similar belt and torque atop his rogueish garb. Abelard nearly surged upwards to curse Ibn-vakir to the Gods, but he held himself for what he saw next. Past the dried inlet was a structure, swept in style as the cloth atop the horsemen's helms. The opening was alien in design. Nearly perpendicular but many layered in stone, like the opening of a flower or the folds of a woman that so drove men mad. Abelard had seen sketches of such structures before in his studies that bespoke it a remnant of the Acheron Empire. It looked to have been rebuilt in an Iranistanian style and then buried in sand from some wild storm, only to have finally been revealed again. "We cannot take rash action," Abelard whispered to his fellow traveler. He spoke to himself just as much as the Northern woman. The priest likely seemed a coward to the fierce warrior, but his only goal was to keep the Opal out of wicked hands.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter "These are Khaseem Bai's men," Anya muttered pointing to a red banner that fluttered from a spear that was thrust into the earth. The silken flag was emblazoned with a black lions head that almost seemed to snap and snarl as the wind worked the fabric. Khaseem Bai was a name much on the tongues of the Iristani. It was said that he had come down from the deserts beyond the Ilbar mountains after the tribes of that inhospitable waste had put aside their ancient blood feuds to drive the renegade from their sands. Since that time he had preyed on the caravans and herdsmen of the step, snatching up city-dwellers and ransoming them for supplies and silver. It was said, among the hokah dens and drinking houses of Kafir, that no blade had ever drawn blood from Khaseem Bai and that he was protected by black and malign spirits. It did not surprise Anya that it had been he who had sent assassin's to kill them after learning Ibn-vakir had sold the same goods three times. "If they know their footpads have failed they don't show it," Anya observed. Indeed, the mood in the camp was alert but the men did not seem alarmed. As she watched a paunchy man hauled a cauldron of soup from the fire and bawled something unintelligible from this distance. The various cut throats ambled towards him to take their mourning meal. "Strange, I don't see Khaseem Bai among them," Anya noticed, her keen eyes having finished their survey of the camp. "Indeed you do not," came a deep basso voice from behind them. Anya whirled her hand going to her blade but freezing as the point of a spear pressed against her throat. Two similar weapons were leveled at Abelard. The men holding them had the dark sun burned skin of desert tribesmen and the hooked noses and slightly slanted eyes of the lands beyond the Ilbar mountains. Their leader was a muscular man in a tunic of white silk. His eyes were dark and burned bright with intelligence and his face was handsome in a brooding way. His legs were covered with armor of tooled leather that gripped the side of a galloping horse so a man could use the short recurve bows in fashion in these parts. The thugs with him were dressed less finely, but Anya wagered all of them were veterans who had come south with Khaseem Bai. The must have snuck around them through some hidden ravine, though they had done so with so little sound that even Anya's razor keen senses had been deceived. "But do not worry," he said with a formal bow that would not have been out of place in the court of Aquilonia, "Khaseem Bai sees you."</s>	<\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil A strong east wind blew over the desolate earth as Abelard raised his hands in supplication, having dropped his sword and staff. The light of the newly risen sun glinted off the spearheads, their edges sharpened to pierce both flesh and mail. A cry of curious demand in Stygian rose behind them. The two were quickly relieved of their weapons and taken to the camp below to be surrounded by harsh lancers, ebony tribesmen of fierce strength, and towering thugs of stygian strain. Out of the crowd poked Ibn-vakir who was short enough to step through the legs of one of the giants. He spread a smile of teeth the color of mule piss save for the missing teeth so far not replaced with any wealth. Two of the nomads had brought forth a wooden chair covered in skins that Khaseem Bai reclined upon, sitting as arrogantly as if he were the newly crowned king of Iranistan. In one hand he held his spear while in the other he nipped at an apple unfamiliarly, the fruit a strange sight in this unforgiving land. No doubt a sign of his fortune and prestige. He must be drunk on his own power if he thought that would intimidate Abelard and particularly the warrioress Anya. Even though he attempted to keep earthly matters from his mind, Abelard fretted the imminent fear of death in equal measure to how the smell of the pork churned his stomach. "How strange to find such two foreign jackals." Ibn-vakir said. His smile spread like the plague with his mustached pulled along as well. "Better kill these two quickly, my lord. We cannot have word getting out on the location of the Opal." Abelard laughed suddenly, one of the first times he had shown any emotion since meeting Anya. He grinned as feircely as any cimmerian barbarian. "You little fool, Ibn-vakir. You did not think we would ever meet with your precious master, did you? Khaseem Bai you are called? This one had already given me the location of the Opal, and had promised to deliver the same to this one beside me. He then wished to join the winning side and lied to you, telling you we were already in pursuit of the prize. He wished for your assassins to silence us, so that you may never learned he attempted to buy your trust with deceit." Ibn-vakir paled, the grog in his stomach finally wearing off on his mind. Khaseem Bai's face, at ease before, was now a mask of fury and disgust. With a simple wave of his hand he had two of the giants grab Ibn-vakir the wretch. "No master! He lies!" The thief shrieked in terror as he was rooted into the ground. Almost ritualistically, and it likely was knowing Set's laws, one of the giants took his belt knife and cut open Ibn-vakir's stomach. Blood and bile and a putrid stench erupted from his torn open belly. The thief sank to his knees, eyes wide opened in death. Despite himself, Abelard found it satisfying. His claim had also been a bluff without divine intervention, but seeing as Khaseem Bai did not correct him, his bluff had been correct and the warlord's side of the claims were confirmed plausible.</s>
<\|description\|>Abelard Fhundil Race: Koth Backstory: His parents labeled as pagans and heathens during one of the many inquisitions in the Kingdom of Aquilonia, Abelard was taken in swaddling clothes back to his mother's homeland of Koth. They grew up poor and in squalor, until Koth's secret alliance with Nemedia was discovered when Abelard was a young man. His father helped Koth by giving information of the homeland and gave them a decent living on the outerlying areas of Strabonus' Palace. One day when he was a young boy, Abelard exploring the palace grounds found a secret chamber in the catacombs where a priest was worshiping the God Asura. Instead of killing him, as the priest almost did, he took Abelard under his wing and taught him of dark secrets beyond the veil. In hushed whispers, he grew as a man of the Asuran faith, practicing what little sorcery he was able to as the years passed and various coups rose and fell. After his master was discovered as a traitor priest to the God Ishtar, he was executed while Alebard was on campaign with the army as a sergeant, a position gained by his father's loyalty. Once they came back, he discovered the execution and took what supplies and scribes he could and fled without a word, traveling from the wilderness of the Picts to Iranistan. Luckily, he received a tip from a prostitute on where an ancient tomb lay in the desert.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil A strong east wind blew over the desolate earth as Abelard raised his hands in supplication, having dropped his sword and staff. The light of the newly risen sun glinted off the spearheads, their edges sharpened to pierce both flesh and mail. A cry of curious demand in Stygian rose behind them. The two were quickly relieved of their weapons and taken to the camp below to be surrounded by harsh lancers, ebony tribesmen of fierce strength, and towering thugs of stygian strain. Out of the crowd poked Ibn-vakir who was short enough to step through the legs of one of the giants. He spread a smile of teeth the color of mule piss save for the missing teeth so far not replaced with any wealth. Two of the nomads had brought forth a wooden chair covered in skins that Khaseem Bai reclined upon, sitting as arrogantly as if he were the newly crowned king of Iranistan. In one hand he held his spear while in the other he nipped at an apple unfamiliarly, the fruit a strange sight in this unforgiving land. No doubt a sign of his fortune and prestige. He must be drunk on his own power if he thought that would intimidate Abelard and particularly the warrioress Anya. Even though he attempted to keep earthly matters from his mind, Abelard fretted the imminent fear of death in equal measure to how the smell of the pork churned his stomach. "How strange to find such two foreign jackals." Ibn-vakir said. His smile spread like the plague with his mustached pulled along as well. "Better kill these two quickly, my lord. We cannot have word getting out on the location of the Opal." Abelard laughed suddenly, one of the first times he had shown any emotion since meeting Anya. He grinned as feircely as any cimmerian barbarian. "You little fool, Ibn-vakir. You did not think we would ever meet with your precious master, did you? Khaseem Bai you are called? This one had already given me the location of the Opal, and had promised to deliver the same to this one beside me. He then wished to join the winning side and lied to you, telling you we were already in pursuit of the prize. He wished for your assassins to silence us, so that you may never learned he attempted to buy your trust with deceit." Ibn-vakir paled, the grog in his stomach finally wearing off on his mind. Khaseem Bai's face, at ease before, was now a mask of fury and disgust. With a simple wave of his hand he had two of the giants grab Ibn-vakir the wretch. "No master! He lies!" The thief shrieked in terror as he was rooted into the ground. Almost ritualistically, and it likely was knowing Set's laws, one of the giants took his belt knife and cut open Ibn-vakir's stomach. Blood and bile and a putrid stench erupted from his torn open belly. The thief sank to his knees, eyes wide opened in death. Despite himself, Abelard found it satisfying. His claim had also been a bluff without divine intervention, but seeing as Khaseem Bai did not correct him, his bluff had been correct and the warlord's side of the claims were confirmed plausible.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Khaseem Bai watched the execution without much interest before turning back to his two prisoners. His eyes were dark and intelligent and had a pragmatic cruelty about them as he measured each of them. "Well one of the two of you looks fearsome enough to have given the Thieves Guild pause," he declared. Anya relaxed ever so slightly. It would be better to die fighting than to be killed in chains but it seemed that the bandit lord had other plans for them, else he would scarcely bother to keep them alive. "As it happens without Ibn-vakir I will require someone to guide me to my treasure, perhaps..." he drew a long knife from his belt and tossed it into the dirt between the two prisoners, "the survivor would be interested in such a position?" Anya glanced sidelong at the priest, perhaps she could kill him before he could employ his arts, perhaps not, but either way it seemed of little matter. By herself it would be difficult, perhaps impossible to overcome Khaseem Bai and his men, and much as she hated to admit it, Abelard could be an ally to her in that. "Lord," she said in his own tongue, with which she had a passing familiarity from time spent as a pirate up in Villayet, "I could cut this whelps throat as you ask, but what if Ibn-vakir told lies to all of us, perhaps together we have enough of the truth to pass the traps he described and reach the Opal." Kasseem frowned, arching a dark eyebrow. "Traps?" he asked, it wasn't clear if he believed the Aesir woman, but there was enough uncertainty in his voice that she knew she had him. "There are three traps Lord," she proclaimed, confident for all that these traps existed, so far as she knew entirely in her imagination. "Fool!" Abelard broke in, "There are five traps each more fiendish than the last! I learned of them in my study and I make Ibn-vakir tell me what he knew of them!"</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil "Silence dogs!" Khaseem Bai spat, raising his fist. Were he to swing it down the order would be met to execute them both on the spot. "If you do not wish to wander the desert without eyes or tongues then you will speak when I permit it! Do not be so foolish as to think you are so valuable as not to maim." He grimaced a moment further like a tiger that watches a receding bear. His devil-may-care manner returned once silence reigned once again. "You will both lead at spear point. Have I any inkling that you will betray me, if we cannot kill you we will seal you within the tomb, understand?" Abelard and Anya did not immediately answer, though he took that as an acquiesce to his command and he grinned as a snarling lion. "Good. Now priest, lead the way into the tomb with the northern bitch close to your heels." The thieves watched expectantly as the two regarded one another, and they turned to the ancient Acheron structure. Abelard approached it warily, eyeing the opening. He looked at Khaseem Bai, holding his hands together as if to beg forgiveness. "My staff?" He bade. "To better serve your desire of entering. I will give it back once I open the hole." The bandit lord measured him and nodded. One of the Stygian Giants tossed Abelard his staff, which he caught promptly and placed on the ground. There was an audible 'thud' when it touched the sand, as if the staff weighed far, far more than it conceivably could. Anya could perceive a tingle of power emanating from the rod, and through the top jewel the sunlight poured through and struck the Acheron opening through the center. As the light penetrated into the strange slit, the stone began to move with a deliberate slowness that shoved great rends of sand in the earth around it. "He has done it." One of the bandits muttered. "No, I have not." Abelard answered boldly, and all eyes turned to him with sudden incredulity. He smiled calmly, with a certain satisfaction to him. "I opened it, but in an incorrect manner." "What!?" Khaseem Bai snarled, confused. His curiosity would be sated in moments when the door, now gaping wide like a vast wound, spewed forth three unknown shadow beasts from within. Demons, Abelard knew them to be. Shaped like apes and as dark as the blackest night and as even larger than the Stygian Giants. He had foreseen their presence and purposefully awoke them. He placed his hand on Anya's shoulder, the sunlight still within his staff as the beasts moved quicker than any horse, loping over and attacking the band of cutthroats. Men screeched and pissed themselves as huge arms of abyssal matter wrapped about them and consumed their bodies and souls utterly. "The sun will banish them before long." Abelard whispered, eyeing the now unguarded door to the Acheron ruin. "Grab your sword and follow me!"</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Anya snatched up her sword and darted after the priest. The shrieks of the bandits were ghastly as the shadow beasts fell upon them, rending and tearing. Kaseem Bai hurled a dreadful curse at them as they fled and Anya pivoted smoothly to strike sparks as she batted away the warlords thrown dagger. It had been foolish of him to shout but she supposed it wasn't the worst mistake he had made this day. With a burst of speed she looped after the priest, deflecting a spear thrust from one of the wide eyed bandits and taking his throat with her riposte. The pair of them darted through the door of the ancient structure and Abelard raised his staff again. Stone shrieked as the ancient portal began to seal itself, not quickly but with the inexorable inevitability of a tide coming in, or a glacier sliding towards the ocean. The entry stones boomed together, abruptly cutting off the screams of dying bandits as completely as if they had existed only in the imagination of the listeners. "I'd give you my thanks priest," Anya said, pausing to spit towards the now sealed portal, "but I don't know if our situation is better or worse." "We are alive," Abelard replied austerly and turned towards the passageway ahead of them. The walls were of sandstone, smoothed but not built, as though it had once been a cave that had been laboriously polished to remove the worst of its irregularity. A thick mist filled it that reminded Anya of the unexplored jungles that stretched for uncounted miles in the lands beyond the forbidding southern borders of Stygia. There was something else on the air too, a faint taste of sulphur that put Anya in mind of the volcanic hotsprings of Trondhel or Aikanaborg. The mist was so thick they could see no more than a few feet infront of them as they edged their way down the passage until they found an opening. Anya had seen many things in her life that others might deem strange, but the sight before them was more incredible than any she had yet witnessed. The passage opened onto a lush fog shrouded jungle, the air so humid that water condensed in droplets on the tip of her blade. Vast trees reached up towards the sky and large leafed plants squatted at their bases. Strange animals called and hooted in the jungle and lizard like creatures skittered and leaped from the wrist thick vines which hung like spider webs. Vast columns of greenish soapstone reached upwards into the low hanging mist which was none the less illuminated by a sickly green yellow light beyond. There was no way that this place existed within the structure they had scene in the desert, either in scale or in the alien aspect of the jungle which was unlike anything Anya had scene. "By Wotan's eye," she marveled, staring in awe at the landscape before her.</s>	<\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil At first Abelard considered this a dream or some wild vision granted by Asura. But his skin watered from the humid heat, feeling it course and rough to breathe in. He felt itchy from the brushing of the long fern-like grass, and the microscopic insects clinging to his ankles. The Priest had seen many wonders of the gods; vast cataclysms and eldritch spells given to him within visions and dreams. But what manner of magic this thing was, was daunting to his sensibilities. He sensed that the Opal was not far off, however, and that was what they would need to cling their hopes to. "Ware and steel yourself Barbarian woman," He said to her, clutching his staff in both hands now. Twisting his hands, the spike at the end protruded again and he changed his stance as if he held a spear, which he practically did. In the distance a grinding roar lifted in the air and a porcine squeal echoed. Abelard had heard tale of the great southern jungle cats thrice as large as a man, and felt their potential all too real at that moment. "Whether we are in the Black Lands south of dreaded Stygia or some nether realm, we must retrieve the Opal at all costs." The two of them crept warily, Abelard with his spear at the ready. Somehow he felt less suited to the situation that Anya, for the woman seemed just as home here as she likely was in the frozen north. Abelard nearly tripped over what he had perceived to be a log at one point, until he realized it was the midsection of an enormous python, resting in the brush. So large was it, it moved too sluggishly to give he or Anya any notice, and the two stepped over it carefully. Likely it was savoring a recent meal, which brought many uncomfortable questions they needn't dwell on. After cutting through thickly draped vines and undergrowth that clutched at their hips, the two of them burst into a clearing. Anya landing as any skilled warrior would, and Abelard moving like he preconceived where the correct places to step was to keep his footing. The jungle glade was about fifty square feet with turfts of exotic blades of grass mingled with dirt. Sunken bones of both man and beast jutted out of the soil. What was slightly more concerning and significant was the Opal of Power set upon a dias of tied bone at the very center.</s>
<\|description\|>Abelard Fhundil Race: Koth Backstory: His parents labeled as pagans and heathens during one of the many inquisitions in the Kingdom of Aquilonia, Abelard was taken in swaddling clothes back to his mother's homeland of Koth. They grew up poor and in squalor, until Koth's secret alliance with Nemedia was discovered when Abelard was a young man. His father helped Koth by giving information of the homeland and gave them a decent living on the outerlying areas of Strabonus' Palace. One day when he was a young boy, Abelard exploring the palace grounds found a secret chamber in the catacombs where a priest was worshiping the God Asura. Instead of killing him, as the priest almost did, he took Abelard under his wing and taught him of dark secrets beyond the veil. In hushed whispers, he grew as a man of the Asuran faith, practicing what little sorcery he was able to as the years passed and various coups rose and fell. After his master was discovered as a traitor priest to the God Ishtar, he was executed while Alebard was on campaign with the army as a sergeant, a position gained by his father's loyalty. Once they came back, he discovered the execution and took what supplies and scribes he could and fled without a word, traveling from the wilderness of the Picts to Iranistan. Luckily, he received a tip from a prostitute on where an ancient tomb lay in the desert.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil "You offered gold, but intend to pay in blood I see," Amal chuckled, listlessly tossing the bone dice across the slab of sandstone. Idly the dice rolled, until they came up with the exact roll that won him the game not seconds prior. Across from him sat a fierce Turanian whose eyes bulged at the results of the roll, shrieking like a shemite stallion. He bolted upright, his state of bemoaning from losing the game replaced with wrath at having been cheated. The thief gave a grin that would make a jackal rile from envy, deigning not to reach for the twin daggers planted at the center of the makeshift table. "Cur and loathsome dog!" The Turanian accused, pointing his finger at Amal Ibn Hakeem in the little hovel within the bowls of Great Xarame. The chamber was dry and dim, smoke rising lazily from hookahs and incense candles amid the crowd of ne'er-do-wells and travelers. All seeking refuge from the oppressive guards and the Sultan's taxes. A few white northmen sat and watch, whispering in their brute tongues and laughing as apes. In many cities, the Shem were distrustful of outsides. However, all were welcome in the city of Xarame. Kings and Princes rose and fell over the vast ages of the world, endowing the city with commerce and glory unimaginable, all to bring Amal and this Turanian this little game of chance that would change the Shemite's life forever. "I am a dog, but this dog has killed bigger goats than you," He quipped, unmoving despite the clear threat. They were not the only ones in on the game; a bone Blythunian glared daggers at both of them, clearly wishing to simply continue whilst the noseless Iranistani was too busy picking his teeth with the femur of his last slave. Amal brazenly took his eyes off the Turanian, coming nose to nose with the Aquilonian dancing girl whose slim arms had been draped around his neck all throughout the game. "And fucked more northern swans than you have." She giggled, only for it to be stifled by the ring of steel as the husky Turanian unsheathed his shamshir, breaking the vow of Xarame hospitality. Unfortunately, Amal had done the same by cheating, so he could not complain nor call him a fiend. As a pack of lions, three of the Turanian's comrades stood with him, crossing their jeweled arms and glaring at Amal, their noses pierced by brass rings that shimmered in the firelight. Amal calmly reached for his scimitar, but groping, he felt it gone from his belt! The thief turned from his cushion to see the Aquilonian women giving it to one of the Northmen, her wiles now blemished by the betrayal, though he would not blame her. He might have done the same. Amal did not go for the knives at the center of the sandstone table, knowing they were bait. Anyone who had been there before knew they were glued to the table, so men might make a grab for them and lose an arm in a dispute. The master of the hovel was wicked that way. Instead, Amal flipped backwards in a roll, feet going over his head to press to the ground not a moment before, and he sprung out into the corridor as the Turanian and his friends pursued him out into the street, losing him down the Causeway of The Forbidden, where Amal sank into the shadows and reached the roof of the Temple of Ishtar, cursing his luck.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter The Temple of Ishtar in Xarame was a magnificent place. It dominated the temple square, rising from the eastern side of the wide expanse of sandstone like the moon on a clear night. Its sides were sheathed in white marble that had been imported at great expense from Aquillonian quarries across the mountains and then laid so precisely that the a knife blade could not have been inserted between them. Two great obelisks stood to either side of the main gate, through which the flickering oil lamps light the way into the sanctum. Sythemis walked easily to the gate, apparently heedless of the ever present threat of cutpurses and robbers in the torchlit streets. The Temple guards did not know her, but they clearly knew better than to interfere with a well dressed and mysterious woman approaching the Temple at night. They raised their pikes and let her pass without comment, eyes following her from behind their intricately wrought helmets. Beyond the first gate was a courtyard in which lemon trees had been planted in profusion. Beautiful women stood or longued on marble benches infront of the bowers that that were artfully woven from the citris trees branches. The Temple Prostitutes were famed for their beauty, each selected for their voluptuousness and improved upon by regimes of diet and prayer until the resembled the bronze depictions of their mistress, with swollen busts and wide hips that gave them the aspect of beautiful but very slightly overripe fruit. Two of the girls approached Sythemis but she lifted her palm in a gesture which made the girls instantly abase themselves. "Mistress," the whispered as one, grinding their faces into the dirt in obeisance. Such whores had their place of course, but it was not their place to question the initiates of the deeper mysteries. "I have come to seek counsel, you will prepare the bath for me," Sythemis decreed. Both women sprang to their feet and rushed off into the temple. Sythemis turned abruptly, conscious of a gaze upon her and scanned the roofline, but there was nothing but moonlight. Shrugging it of as a passing foolishness she returned her mind to the task at hand. She needed to find a thief afterall. After perhaps ten minutes of waiting the two prostitutes returned. Sythemis nodded and led them into the temple itself. All three of them prostrated themselves before the bronze statue of the Goddess and then stood. The pair of initiates took up their positions to either side of Sythemis. The Stygian began to disrobe methodically, dropping her silken robe to the floor before adding her jewelry and undergarments until she stood naked before the statue. Her body was leaner than her escorts, darker also, dusky with the olive burn of the Stygian sun. In truth she was unusually voluptuous for her race, her bosoms and hips pleasing to Ishtar in the same way as her crooked mind was pleasing to her other patron. She raised both hands above her head. "Eia, Eai Shub-Niggurath," she intoned, using one of the forbidden names of the Goddess, "Calliya, Calliyae, eian sun nyto!" For a moment nothing seemed to happen. Ten heartbeats passed and then a slow grinding sound shook dust from the temple walls. A section of the floor before the statues feet slid inwards to reveal a passageway down into the earth. "Leave me," she told the wide eyed Temple prostitutes. The girls needed no encouragement to scurry back into the courtyard as Sythemis began her passaged down into the earth.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil Amal cleaned the blood from his knife, idly wiping out the imperfections on the Nemedian steel. The bright moon glinted off its polish, brightening the darkness of his shemic eyes. Truthfully he had not wished to kill the temple-servant, a boy no older than eleven. But the youth had spotted him among the spires and Amal had been younger than he when he had killed his first. Had he the right mind, he would have run and told someone of the thief's whereabouts. Now he but basked upon the temple roof, perched upon the battlements as he gazed into the structure from above. The temple girls were supple of limb and gifted in ways men only dreamed, so he contented himself with watching them lounge and titter. A few gave prayers and litanies to Ishtar, which seemed fitting with all the death in Xarame surrounding their pretty little temple. He had heard the northerners of Cimmeria worshipped no Gods, and only paid the barest of homage to one. Grom, that was his name. A barbarian god who gave no shits to who spoke of him was amusing. Perhaps he would go there one day. Amal's musings were interrupted when someone else entered the temple. Briefly he wondered if they were guards having discovered the body of the boy, but no. This was a Stygian; a woman at that. She made the other women look like silly girls in comparison. There was sly maliciousness in her eyes that enchanted him as much as the Jewel of Khemi. There was an air of gravity to her presence. Something he couldn't pinpoint but it intrigued him. He watched with bated breath as she dismissed the others from the grounds, opening up a portal to underneath the superstructure of the temple. He watched her saunter within, hips swaying like the head of a cobra. Like a panther he sprung from the heights, landing on the ground in a roll. Some of the women had yet to even exit the door, but their backs were turned. None saw the theif silently pad into the maw of the stone behind the Stygian woman, following her to see what treasures she may seek within...</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Sythemis passed down through the tunnel of hand smoothed stone until it opened into a chamber that centered around a large pool of dark water that shone like glass under the light of bowls of burning oil. A great statue of Ishtar stood above the pool wrought of gold and naked. This was not the tame Ishtar that the priests of Mitrha bleated about. This was the primal Goddess her hips and bust swollen, her face contorted in ecstasy or agony, her eyes terrible. The chamber had obviously been a natural cavern one, but the walls and roof had been polished and shaped by patient labor. Niches had been caved out of the walls, each glittering with small statues of Ishtar each bedecked in gold and jeweled highlights. The Stygian paid no mind to them, walking with slow gravitas into the pool sinking to her waste in the dark cool water. She raised her arms over her head and met the eyes of the statue. "Bikania Ishtar, emadazu nire senargaia Set," she began to chant, her body began a graceful dance, fingers cutting the top of the water in showers of droplets which set up rippling waves of glittering light. "Bikania Ishtar, emadazu ikuspegia," she chanted, her dance growing more estatic. The lamps began to flicker and writhe weirdly, the light dimming as she moved. Something slid past her in the water, brushing against her leg, but she ignored it continuing the chant and the dance as she beseeched the Goddess</s>	<\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil The Shemite thief was many things, but not a fool. There was something ephemeral about what was transpiring; some darkness he could only feel in his soul, causing the hairs on his neck to stand on end. Had he been a man who's sense outweighed his curiosity, he might have fled. But that was not Amal Ibn-Hakeem, jackal of the sands. The scents of jasmine and myrrh wafted up the stone stairway, showcasing the pythoness was performing some rite or ritual. Her echoing words, whispers in a harsh tongue. She sounded as if her statement was both a command and an abasement of herself. The knife clutched in his hand, his arm bent to throw even before he saw her dancing there in the sacred pool. He might have seen the ripples beneath her, but her dancing was mesmerizing. The cutthroat felt a very mannish stirring within him, a warmth spreading from just below his belt as he watched her. He forcibly tore his gaze away to scan the rest of the cavern, spying the statues of gold. The ever pragmatic thief went from desiring her to thinking of slitting her throat before she could halt him from stealing the jewels mounted on the carvings. Lapis and lazulis, garnets and rubies, diamonds and emeralds that glittered like the stars, blinking in and out of existence as the lights began to flicker from what foul magic she was enacting. Amal had made a point to keep away from the dark powers, but this was a scene he couldn't leave empty handed. He made no sound as he stepped down the last steps and stalked across the stone floor behind the writhing seductress. He moved seven steps to hide behind a small dias that raised the carved stone floor. Certain he was no longer in her line of sight, the approached a small bronze statue of a dog-headed man, likely placed here as a war trophy from the old conquests of Xarame, and he used his knife to dig at its agate eyes, attempting to pry them out silently through the priestess's litany. The water sloshed for but a moment, halting his progress and causing him to look over his shoulder. He waited, and his patience was greeted by another, similar sound. The strong young man crept to the edge of his hiding spot, peering out to view what was transpiring. "Dagon and Ashtoreth," he breathed, calling upon his shemite gods to protect him.</s>
<\|description\|>Abelard Fhundil Race: Koth Backstory: His parents labeled as pagans and heathens during one of the many inquisitions in the Kingdom of Aquilonia, Abelard was taken in swaddling clothes back to his mother's homeland of Koth. They grew up poor and in squalor, until Koth's secret alliance with Nemedia was discovered when Abelard was a young man. His father helped Koth by giving information of the homeland and gave them a decent living on the outerlying areas of Strabonus' Palace. One day when he was a young boy, Abelard exploring the palace grounds found a secret chamber in the catacombs where a priest was worshiping the God Asura. Instead of killing him, as the priest almost did, he took Abelard under his wing and taught him of dark secrets beyond the veil. In hushed whispers, he grew as a man of the Asuran faith, practicing what little sorcery he was able to as the years passed and various coups rose and fell. After his master was discovered as a traitor priest to the God Ishtar, he was executed while Alebard was on campaign with the army as a sergeant, a position gained by his father's loyalty. Once they came back, he discovered the execution and took what supplies and scribes he could and fled without a word, traveling from the wilderness of the Picts to Iranistan. Luckily, he received a tip from a prostitute on where an ancient tomb lay in the desert.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Sythemis, Child of the Desert, danced in the sacred pool of Ishtar, her dark hair flying as she spun in increasingly ecstatic arcs. The names of both Ishtar and Set spilled from her lips and the water began to churn and foam far beyond the power of her slim form. Shapes began to appear like queer waves, their crests furrowing to suggest the passage of serpents formed of living water, they curled around the Stygian, sliding over her legs and coiling up around her chest before dropping away in showers rain drops. Her chanting grew more frenetic as the water around her waist surged and foamed and she threw back her head dark eyes wide as she shouted the names of the gods interspersed with the arcane syllables which seemed poorly. The candles which lit the grotto guttered and dimmed, almost extinguishing before bursting into a queer black flame that seemed to fill the chamber with sharp hard edged light. The water spray froze in the air, hanging like a thousand firestruck gems, glowing with light of the braziers and the dark golden gleam of Sythemis' own eyes. "Mighty Set," she intoned in a voice of breathless anticipation, "reveal to me that which I seek, turn your gaze upon the thief whom I have sought in your embrace. Again the light flickered wierdly and then in an instant, every drop reflected the face of Amal Ibn-Hakeem.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil Despite the strange spectacle, he still watched in a mixture of fear and lust. For a moment he had worried the water hid some great serpent, but instead it held a surprise the cutthroat not been prepared for. This was why wise men did not trust sorcerers, by Dagon. She was toying with him, he angrily theorized. This would not do for the thief, and so he sprang into action. With the grace of a panther, he scaled the incline of the stones and leaped off at its highest elevation, soaring over the water to splash and land right behind the voluptuous woman, pressing his knife to her throat. By all the gods, he should have cut her slim neck then and there, but her scent overwhelmed him just as the curves of her form pressed to his. Her beauty was even more captivating up close, but truthfully, he was more curious than anything. Why would she seek him of all the theives in Xarame, and there were very many. Amal had the strength and ferocity of an ape, palpably apparent as he wrapped his strong arm about her waist and pressed the knife to her neck, giving her just enough room to gaze into his dark shemite eyes, the smell of poorly bought alcohol on his breath. "Do not play games with me, Witch-priestess," he said in her ear, deathly calm. The waters began to recede about them, whatever magics she intoned draining away to nothingness. "What is it you want of me? Speak any words that do not answer my question, and you are dead." His eyes glinted in the torchlight, and she knew he was serious. Amal would not let any sorcerer or sorceress speak any arcane words to cast a spell as long as he could help it, and so he was prepared for the moment she attempted it. But as he looked at her, he added: "Speak what may please me, and you will yet live." softly. She had either cast a spell on him, or he earnestly was too curious to let the matter drop with a slit throat and a quick run from the scene. Some god wished his presence for some reason, and it may prove beneficial to know why. Plus, he had never had stygian woman before.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter It had been said by irreverent that the gods had a sense of humor. As the blade pressed against her throat Sythemis wondered if it they had a point. She should still a desert statue, motionless save for the throb of her heartbeat in her supple body. For a moment they stood together in silence. "I asked Ishtar to reveal a great thief to me," Sythemis said calmly and simply. "I did not expect her to answer so swiftly," she admitted truthfully. That was something of an understatement, by Temple Law it was death for any man to set foot within this chamber. It should have been impossible for anyone to find there way into this hallowed space.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil His strong hand grabbed her neck to cow her, though he doubted even he could do that. Here she was in his embrace, blade poking into her teasingly, and she seemed to have the power of him in the conversation. The slender, shining skin of her neck tantalizing in the firelight. "Well, I am a great thief. Ishtar did not lie on that count. But that is not the entire picture. You will tell it to me and more." He readjusted his grip on her, hoisting her up in his arms, his eyes never leaving hers. He was afraid she could bewitch him in such a fashion, but he couldn't risk taking his gaze off of her. She had to ring her arms around his neck after he ascended the stairs and began climbing, the acrobatic rogue easily able to haul her up with his ape-like strength. "Perhaps your bite is poisonous... Perhaps you have a hidden blade... I would not be surprised if you could slither out of my grasp despite your lush body, but kill me or escape, and you will fall to your death, serpent woman." He warned, breathing into her ear as she was lifted off the ground and sent to the roof of the temple. The women began to wail in despair and call after him to return her, but he ignored them. Soon they leaped from rooftop to rooftop, his biceps rippling like a constrictor as he grabbed ledges and nooks in the walls he scaled, until finally she was unceremoniously dropped onto her ass on a dusty floor within an old tower of shemite design, only used twice a year during the equinoxes to light the great fires of Xarame during their lavish festivals. Amal crouched before her, his teeth shining in the dark as he grinned ferociously. He toyed with his knife on his left hand, the hilt and blade flipping as it undulated between his flowing fingers. "I advise you to begin speaking. You are tempting to look upon, but even I am growing bored without an explanation. Now speak."</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Sythemis worked hard to control her breathing and still the swell of her chest. Many times she had stood before the serpents of great Set, whose bit was death and who feasted upon fear. Many times she had delved into ancient tombs for hidden relics or fragments of arcane lore from creatures whose form and memory were lost to the minds of men. All these things she had done but never had she felt herself so surely on the edge of death. The glittering knife and hard eyes of the thief were a hot death, not the cold of a serpent's fang or antediluvian spell. It thrilled her to consider. "For three hundred and thirty three years a precious jewel has lingered in Xareme," she began, her voice was melodic but lacked any suggestion of hypnosis of coercion sure to bring a swift hot stroke of the blade. "It is no earthly gem, but a piece of the Moon itself, fetched back in the times before men rose from the mud of the southern jungles, from before great Atlantis was sunk beneath the waves. Strange beasts brought it in their black galleys which rode the stars on their thousand oars and silver sails," she explained, gesturing up to the waning gibbous moon that hung above the spires of the city. It seemed to peer down at them like the lidded eye of a waking lover, warm and expectant. "Once there were many such gems, prized by the Elder race above gold and silver, above even the glittering anthrax for which they traded armies of slaves and mountains of riches. They are gone now, taken up to the stars or lost in the abyssal depths to the hunger of things that lay below the ocean which men fear to even think of save in the dim recesses of dreams," the stygian continued, her words redolent with forgotten lore and the blasphemous secrets of past ages which had been dredged from the ancient crypts, or drawn from the lips of things long dead but undying. "Only one such gem now remains upon the earth, locked in a chamber within the Emir's palace," Sythemis continued, nothing the glimpse of hungry avarice on the thief's hard face with pleasure. "It is written that during the dark of the moon, in this auspicious year, a great thief will come to Xareme and take the jewel. The Emir's astrologers have seen this written in the stars, as others have seen it in augury and dream. I have come to Xareme to make this prophecy come true so that I may lay my hand upon the Moon Stone. One who has touched it may ask a boon of the moon, and I have such a boon to ask." The air shivered as warm wind blew in of the desert, the smell of hot sand and the cedar of the distant hillsides that made Xareme famous throughout the cradle of the world. "I asked Ishtar to reveal to me the thief that would take the stone, and you stood before me in a chamber where you ought not stand, in a temple which you ought not enter."</s>	<\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil There was no dark magic in her voice, and yet Amal could see the jewels of the outer void. Their glimmer in the light of the moon and the mesmerizing glint that begged for his fingers to grasp it. The thief almost reached out as if waking from a dream. He had never been one for histories, but the rise and fall of nations were in her tale, and even the sand beneath their feet seemed to stir as if in awe of the majesty of ages past. Amal was a reaver, slayer, murderer, and thief, but the last was the greatest of his talents. What manner of thief would he be if he did not steal the greatest jewel of the land? His eyes snapped back to reality and regarded the pythoness, realizing he had almost fallen for her honeyed words. Stygians were ever a danger to those they put into their schemes or portents, and he did not trust her. He considered his options, and realized it would be far wiser to heed his perspicacity and cut her throat here, letting this legend die with her black blood spilled in this loney tower. And yet greed was too great of a seductress to him, and he was hungry for her despite his misgivings. "My wont is to enter places I cannot go and and stand in places no man can. I have seen the serpent temples of your country, sorceress, though your kind did not know it. I saw what lay there, though I dare not speak it. I have been to the Scarlet Citadel of Koth, and escaped its clutches unscathed, though it nearly took my life." He looked at the blade of his knife as he spoke, the steel gleaming in the light of the moon. The light illuminated his dread eyes, the orbs as sharp as his whalebone dagger. Beneath them, men had come out to bandy and drink, shouting to one another in their differing tongues and laughing with great mirth. Even the most remote places in Xarames had men stumble upon it, when taken to drink. The only dangers in the city were of Amal's ilk. A knife in the dark or poison in your cup. But beneath the Emir's palace, perhaps there were more dangers than those that men could pose. He would find out, he knew. "I will play the role of what you say I am. I will take the jewel and more besides, but if you betray me, I will open your belly and leave you to bleed." He warned. Amal knew the Witch-Priestess knew the price for betrayal regardless, but he wished to make it clear. He stood up from his menacing crouch, and with a deft twist imperceptible to the eye his knife was sheathed within his shagreen belt, swathed within a softer sash that no doubt hid further dangers. "Does your prophecy tell us of an entrance, or must I find one?"</s>
<\|description\|>Abelard Fhundil Race: Koth Backstory: His parents labeled as pagans and heathens during one of the many inquisitions in the Kingdom of Aquilonia, Abelard was taken in swaddling clothes back to his mother's homeland of Koth. They grew up poor and in squalor, until Koth's secret alliance with Nemedia was discovered when Abelard was a young man. His father helped Koth by giving information of the homeland and gave them a decent living on the outerlying areas of Strabonus' Palace. One day when he was a young boy, Abelard exploring the palace grounds found a secret chamber in the catacombs where a priest was worshiping the God Asura. Instead of killing him, as the priest almost did, he took Abelard under his wing and taught him of dark secrets beyond the veil. In hushed whispers, he grew as a man of the Asuran faith, practicing what little sorcery he was able to as the years passed and various coups rose and fell. After his master was discovered as a traitor priest to the God Ishtar, he was executed while Alebard was on campaign with the army as a sergeant, a position gained by his father's loyalty. Once they came back, he discovered the execution and took what supplies and scribes he could and fled without a word, traveling from the wilderness of the Picts to Iranistan. Luckily, he received a tip from a prostitute on where an ancient tomb lay in the desert.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil There was no dark magic in her voice, and yet Amal could see the jewels of the outer void. Their glimmer in the light of the moon and the mesmerizing glint that begged for his fingers to grasp it. The thief almost reached out as if waking from a dream. He had never been one for histories, but the rise and fall of nations were in her tale, and even the sand beneath their feet seemed to stir as if in awe of the majesty of ages past. Amal was a reaver, slayer, murderer, and thief, but the last was the greatest of his talents. What manner of thief would he be if he did not steal the greatest jewel of the land? His eyes snapped back to reality and regarded the pythoness, realizing he had almost fallen for her honeyed words. Stygians were ever a danger to those they put into their schemes or portents, and he did not trust her. He considered his options, and realized it would be far wiser to heed his perspicacity and cut her throat here, letting this legend die with her black blood spilled in this loney tower. And yet greed was too great of a seductress to him, and he was hungry for her despite his misgivings. "My wont is to enter places I cannot go and and stand in places no man can. I have seen the serpent temples of your country, sorceress, though your kind did not know it. I saw what lay there, though I dare not speak it. I have been to the Scarlet Citadel of Koth, and escaped its clutches unscathed, though it nearly took my life." He looked at the blade of his knife as he spoke, the steel gleaming in the light of the moon. The light illuminated his dread eyes, the orbs as sharp as his whalebone dagger. Beneath them, men had come out to bandy and drink, shouting to one another in their differing tongues and laughing with great mirth. Even the most remote places in Xarames had men stumble upon it, when taken to drink. The only dangers in the city were of Amal's ilk. A knife in the dark or poison in your cup. But beneath the Emir's palace, perhaps there were more dangers than those that men could pose. He would find out, he knew. "I will play the role of what you say I am. I will take the jewel and more besides, but if you betray me, I will open your belly and leave you to bleed." He warned. Amal knew the Witch-Priestess knew the price for betrayal regardless, but he wished to make it clear. He stood up from his menacing crouch, and with a deft twist imperceptible to the eye his knife was sheathed within his shagreen belt, swathed within a softer sash that no doubt hid further dangers. "Does your prophecy tell us of an entrance, or must I find one?"</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Sythemis let out a weird shuddering sigh as he sheathed the knife. Behind her the stars seemed to grow brighter and the moon seemed to pulse for a moment like a living heart. She wrapped her arms around the thief, the motion oddly devoid of human warmth despite the soft and pleasant feel of smooth skin. "There are more sources of wisdom than that which is whispered by the stars," she told him. The priestess opened her mouth and breathed, and something silvery and smelling of sharp spices came from her mouth like a hot breath on a winter's morning. Amal had time to stiffen before paralysis locked his limbs, and his vision dimmed down to the dark pinpricks of her eyes before finally going black. When Amal awoke he was in a dungeon. Heavy iron chain had been fastened around his wrists with cunning locks. The cell was small and barred with rods of rusted iron. Festering straw, rank with filth and death covered the floor. Screams could be heard in the distance, the eerie repetition of them bespeaking madness rather than simple pain. Torches of rancid fat guttered and burned in the hallway beyond like snapping dogs. The Black Cells were immediately recognizable from legend, even if few had ever returned to describe them. The Emir's personal dungeons, deep beneath his spire. "Awake is it," a paunchy jailor asked. He had a lazy eye and a wound on his right cheek that constantly leaked some foul-smelling exudate. He cuffed at it with a filthy tunic sleeve. "The last two she brought down here died without waking," the jailers told him conversationally. "I guess this means we will have some time to have fun with you before we take your tongue and your fingers," he went on brightly. The plump man got up and hurled a chicken bone he had been gnawing on at Amal. It struck him on the chest and dropped to the floor. "That's your dinner, you should enjoy it while you still have teeth to chew," the jailer advised, the pulled up his torch and headed off down the hallway, the light fading until Amal was left in near total darkness.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil What he had initially taken as a carnal endeavor had turned into somehow both a fitful and yet deep sleep. He had let his guard down, and while he hadn't paid the ultimate price, it was a hefty one. His body ached, but he still had strength in him. He spat venomous curses at the woman, wanting nothing more than to get his hands on her, and not for anything pleasant. He had gotten out of worse, though this one had particularly caught him off-guard. Amal swore he would get out of here, and when he did he would do as he said and opened her belly with his knife. Amal looked at the man as he casually tossed him a chicken bone, seeing the sneer and watching him walk away into the dank halls of the dreaded cells. As the moments passed, he felt his wrath go from overwhelming to a distant simmer, and he could think more clearly. The fat gaoler had a point. He slid his foot out of its sandal, and he felt around on the floor until his heel bumped into the chicken bone. Sliding the object between his big toe and secondary one, he lifted his leg up by its side and bit into the bone a dozen times with his molars until it snapped in half. He coughed and spat out the lesser side, and arched his back to reach his foot above his head, limber as the apes that lurked south of Kush. He did not know precisely how long he worked at the lock, but he knew the usual shemite mechanisms, and eventually the sharpened bone served as a suitable lock-pick. He felt success flood into him as the manacle snapped open, and he grinned evilly. He placed the bone in his freed hand and picked the lock of the other, and it was during this that he smelled something rotten and awful, followed by a raspy voice of one who seemed on the brink of dehydration. "What know you of the Serpent woman?" It asked. Amal looked to where he heard the voice. A lean, gangly old man with a wispy beard gripped the bars and looked at him with sullen eyes. He looked so malnourished and weaselly, Amal felt a strong breeze would break his bones and rip the beard off his pointed chin. He looked at Amal as if he was the key to the world's redemption, and it both disturbed and confused the cutthroat. The smell, he realized, was from the old man's mouth. "Know you the secret of what she seeks?" "What I know is she will die," Amal promised softly as his next manacle popped open. The bone was still sharp, and so he kept it in his hand as he got to his feet, the thews of his limbs were as ready as the day he had first murdered a man. "Do not get in my way, elder, or you will be first." "All die, thief." He croaked, reaching for Amal as if he could touch him from across the cells. "But there is more to you and the priestess. More you have yet to finish. But my task is done, though my spirit yearns for life." His last word ended in a long breath, and to Amal's horror, snakes began to slither out of the aged vagabond, his mouth, nostrils, and ears like venom pits, and his form went from lean to naught but bones and skin like rags. Amal stepped away from the spent corpse, and to his left he suddenly noticed the door to his cell was open. The old man was not reaching for Amal, but the door. He had opened it, somehow. The serpents coiled away into the darkness as Amal felt a chill run up his spine.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter There was only one way up from the Black Cells. It wound up a set of basalt stairs, cut too tall for the easy tread of men, though whether to allow the egress of fouler things, or simply to make the passage harder was unclear. The stairs opened onto a room paved with the most intricate mosaic Amal could imagine. It seemed the whole of the city was picked out in tiny tiles of white ceramic, the variations from ivory to a dull brown barely enough to provide contrast. Amal realized they were human fingerbones, cut and polished flat. In the center of the room, perhaps thirty paces away, a man in a snow white robe and a blindfold as black as night sat cross legged. Here, where the Tower would have been, the fingerbones lost their flat cross section and regained themselves reaching up to grasp at the mans legs like drowning victims reaching for a hand. It was very bright, moonlight shafting down from some place impossibly far above through some clever trick of mirrors and engineering. The whole tableau seemed to glow like the stars on fresh snowfall. "Welcome thief," the robed figure said and lifted his left hand. Tendrils of light whipped around Amal's wrists and thighs. They were no solid thing but they burned like fire. Smaller tendrils spread out from their parents, coiling and hooking. "Long have I pondered the secret of the old man, and long have I wondered what this so called Stygian priestess sought. I have long known that she bent the ear of the Emir with her filthy trickery but to what end I had not yet divined," he stated, making a gesture that lifted Amal into the air. The pain grew more intense, like standing too close to a fire that was flaring hotter and hotter. "Little wonder a fool such as you should choose to aid her. You all see only how she appears on the outside, but a pleasant curve can hide things that a man might not want to see. Shall I tell you? You are after all going to die so the secret does you no good, and perhaps it might bring you some extra measure of torment in hell? Well…" The man's voice suddenly cut off as a red line appeared from ear to ear. For a moment the man seemed shocked. Then the red line began to pour down his white robe in a torrent of blood, soaking the pristine fabric in moments. "You always talked too much Antiachus," Sythemeis stated. Her hand gripped the white robed man's cowl and the knife in her hand sawed back and forth, the edge grating against the bone. The fingers on the ground spasmed as blood rained down upon them and their color darkened to black. The ebon hue began to spread from tile to tile like dye poured into clear water. The fiery ropes of light holding the thief aloft vanished as the old man, the Wizard Antiachus, coughed his death rattle. The priestess had not succeded in severing the head, despite her strenuous effort so she let the ruined corpse fall forward into the embrace of grasping fingerbones. "Run!" she called to Amal as the stain spread. "You must reach this side of the chamber without touching the black, move, for your soul dont tarry!"</s>	<\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil Amal loathed sorcery. Somehow he had become engrossed with cabals of rival mystics, and he wanted nothing more to be gone from here. Or, nothing more save the jewel, and perhaps even the woman still if she proved faithful and as useful as she just was. By Bel, he would find the truth of this! The daring thief ran forward as the blackness spread, some of the liquid pouring down creases in the tiling but remained off the face of the tiles for the moment, giving him small islands to hop on. He leaped like a puncing jackal, and with the black quickly encircling him, he made a desperate jump to the left. A normal man of comfortable living would have hit the wall and broken bone, but Amal landed on the sandstone and planted his feet as if he were right-side up, and launched himself off the wall like the spring of a lock. He spun mid-air and landed roughly against the solid surface of the ground at Sythemis's feet. He bled from a small wound on his leg, naught but a scrape but he grunted from the pain and rose before her. Beside them, Antiachus's body lay still and bleeding uncontrollably, and the two thieves fled the room into the following tunnel. It was a dark corridor of dim torches and the screaming faces of demons carved into the walls. "This way," Sythemis said, but she did not make it two steps before her slender throat was grabbed and she was shoved into the wall. Amal's eyes were not cold like they had been at the tower. Here they blazed with wrath, the torch-light dancing along his rippling muscles that were even now poised to snap her neck if she made a move. "Using me, I can understand. Even respect. But throwing me into this pit without warning me first would have been your death had you not just saved me there." He told her, his voice like iron. Amal was clearly not a wizard or sorcerer of any kind, for if he could manifest his will, she would have burst into flame. "It will not save you again." He let her go, and gestured with a small tilt of his head for her to continue. Bel curse him, he did enjoy seeing her walk before him, despite his rage.</s>
<\|description\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Race: Aesir Bio: Anya was born on the frozen glaciers of Asgard, the only child of the famous smith Soren Danicson. Anya was the surviving child of a pair of twins, her brother dying during childbirth. Her icy white hair, already present at birth marked her as particularly fated (for good or ill) by Ymir the Frost Giant. The shaman of the village counseled the heart broken Soren not to despair over his fallen son, and that the child's shade might yet enter Valhalla through the deeds of his sister Anya. Although women were not typically called upon to bear arms, Anya's unique doom made her a special case. From the time she could work Soren trained his daughter in all the arts of war as well as in his smith craft. By the time she was ten should could run for a full day without rest and hold her own with sword, axe or spear as well as any man of eighteen summers. She wen't on her first raid against the Vanir at age sixteen and distinguished herself as a skilled and ruthless warrior. Over the succeeding years she became a champion and a war leader, leading her own raiding parties west into Vanirheim and south against the Cummorians. She developed a reputation for attacking unexpectedly, particularly in bad weather and in the snow, and savagely pressing the attack until the enemy was shattered. When Soren Danicson was mortally wounded in a battle in the Cummorian marches, he told his daughter that the night before he had dreamed of Ymir the Frost Giant and that the time had come for her to venture out of Asgard and find the doom she had been promised. Anya left before her fathers body was cold, working her way south towards an uncertain goal, selling her sword and following the charnel call of the ravens.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter The only good wizard was a dead wizard. Anya Sorensdaughter had lived with those words from her first memories. Years of travel had provided scant contradiction to the old adage. Priest and sorcerers would bable about their arts and the mighty feats they would work, but however mighty they might be Anya had yet to meet one whose belly would repel a sharp blade. Skavi the Black was a wizard, she had sought him out in far of Asgard, retracing her blood soaked steps through Aquillonia and Cummoria to the familiar snowfields of her home. There, in the frozen north, at the head of a vast glacier she had found Skavi's cave and faced the phantoms he conjured to protect it. For all their terrors they too had been bested by the cold steel of her sword, forged under the light of the winter moon and quenched in the Tears of Ymir where the glacial ice had smoked and sizzled around the red hot iron for a day and a night. Such was the craft of Soren Danicson and of his daughter whom men called Anya. In these lands she was an aberration. Even here, where men with sharp swords and hard hearts would always find welcome, there were few Aesir, and in all the world, there was only one Anya Sorensdaughter. Among the Aesir, those blond haired and blue eyed reavers of the frozen north, it was not customary for women to go to war, nor to travel beyond the steps of Cummoria and south to the sweltering kingdoms below the desolate hills of that grim country. That Anya had done both spoke much of her unique character. She was short for her kind, though she towered over all but the tallest southerners, with hair of a blond so pale it seemed a snowy white in the sun and picked up the character of the light in all other settings. A mark of Ymir's interest most assuredly, though that was rarely a good or a happy accolade. Ymir was not like the soft gods of the south, to be wheeled with and placated by the endless mouthing of empty prayers. Her beauty too was that of the ice, hard planes and angular bones which no rogue pot could tame. Her body was slender but wound with whipcord tight muscles which gave her the constant and unnerving appearance of a wolf about to pounce. There had been men who had thought she might fetch a fine price on the slavers block. The had regretted their mistake. Briefly. Kafir was alive on this muggy evening. Citizens bustled about on business or in revel, some animated by they new not what, simply a feeling that this was a time to be alive and doing. Armed men, mercenaries hired by the prince of this sprawling city of adobe houses and high walls of sun bleached stone, patrolled or, more frequently, staggered and caroused according to their wont. These were troubled times, and though the Kolaks and their bands of raiders mounted on wiry southern ponies were always a threat, there was little they could do against steel guarded stone. Perhaps the prince simply felt better with men under arms than in the pay of his enemies, which was a wise enough strategy when plague and disorders stalked the land. A few of them leveled speculative glances at Anya, but the long sword of pale blue steel, the mail of tightly woven links, and the short hafted axe at her belt convinced them to find more congenial targets for whatever entertainment they had planned. With his dying words Skavi had sent her her, screamed as the ice that had fallen on him slowly crushed the life from his body. The answer to the question of whether the shade of Soren Danicson had entered Valhalla. No. That her father had died in battle she was certain, having held his spear pierced body in her arms, but his shade appeared to her in dreams when the moon was full and the wind was cold, and so she had sought out Skavi the Black and he had told her, through his cracked and bleeding, of the curse that the Vanir shaman had laid upon her father. That such a black rite should exist at all astonished her and she could not abide that the shade of her father should be held by such a trick. The shaman had been slain by a spear of mistletoe fashioned with the blackened bones of Soren Danicson, all that remained was for the blood of the Shaman and the blood of Soren Danicson to be smeared upon the Opal of Vulkur, that Ymir might know that he had been cheated of a soul by base trickery and Soren Danicson might take his place in the halls of Valhalla. For Anya's part, she was eager to be done with the company of shades. The gem had been lost long ago, stolen by the mighty thief Paven, who had carried it from the crown of the slumbering High King Wulfric in full view of his court. It had passed through many hands since then, but Anya, guided by Skavi the Black's dying words, had come to this place and found the thief who called himself Ibn-vakir. The Iristanian claimed to know where the jewel lay and promised to reveal the information to her in exchange for a fortune in gold. Anya didn't have a fortune in gold, but she suspected that her sword pressed to his genitals would prove equally persuasive. She reached the dockside where they were to meet, nose wrinkling at the smell of human filth and the spicy scent of exotic timbers. This was the thieves quarter of Kafir and she could expect Ibn-vakir to know every bolt hole and back alley. She needed to be quick and clever. As she neared the appointed rendezvous she caught sight of another man, hooded and cloaked. Perhaps she was not the only taker for what the accursed thief was selling.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil The fumes bothered Abelard little, having smelled far worse during his campaigning. There was little that smelled worse than feces and vomit mixed with blood, and mercifully the sewers were filled with mostly just the former. Grey eyes saw a tall, lithe figure stride into his field of view. A northern woman, gleaming white and gold among a land of filth and darkness. She seemed as dangerous as any man in the city, but he didn't foresee her taking any action against him. She seemed a wolf on the hunt, merely curious and stumbling upon a traveler by happenstance. He removed his blood-red hood, his face hard set and weathered. With his black beard and rough skin, he looked a decade older than his thirty two years of life. Asura's blessings had cost him much of his youthful vigor, an ardent contrast to Set and Ahriman who rewarded their followers with the pleasures and powers of this world at the expense of their very souls. Gripping his staff and turning, he spoke to her. The first time in three days he had chosen to utter any words. "You enter a den of serpents and rogues, Asgardian. Go back to the frozen white north what spawned you. You will fine ne'er but misery here by my reckoning." He intoned, his manner recondite and shadowed. His words paled compared to the shadow of those that watched from above, black clad and swords drawn, waiting in the deep to plunge their blades into the bosom of the two traveler's chests. Ibn-vakir had betrayed them and sought the favor of this land's new master known as the Bandit Kazim. Word had spread the nomadic tribes had flocked under one banner, coalescing at the central Vilayet river in the deep wilderness. Or so the stories foretold. The tribesmen were great horse archers and wild lancers famed the world over on ponies that frothed at the mouth, joined by ebony spearmen from Kush clad in naught by cloth. Soon the horde, now perhaps hiring mercenaries with their plundered gold, would be a horde of thundering steel that threatened to trample the province into the dirt. Wailing spirits of lamentation danced around Abelard's staff, visible only to he. He was used to see them, but only when great violence was about to be wrought. He placed his hand on the ivory hilt of his sword, his subtle facial twitch showcasing he was wary of attackers from behind. Coiled like serpents, the assassin's sprung near silently, leaping from the rafters. They found nothing but mist as they landed on the ground as nimble as apes, Abelard disappearing into nothingness. The Priest of Asura stepped out of the shadows behind Anya, sword in his hand. As they approached, the dozen men eyed the warrior woman the same as the priest. "They seem to be after you as well."</s>	<\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter It would seem that Ibn-vakir was less of a fool than Anya had taken him for. A dozen men rushed into the small courtyard, leaping down from the high flat celings of nearby building and rushing from the maze of blind twisting alleys. The wore the tawny robes of local peasants, though in many cases the bulged unnaturally, betraying the presence of mail or leather armor beneath. The priest trick saved his life and Anya felt a slight pang of disappointment, she did not despise trickery, for the mind should be as sharp as any sword, but magic in any form made her lips curl. "Perhaps priestling," she observed, "I should return to Ymirheim and leave you to your reckoning." The assassins milled for a moment before catching sight of her and surging forward. "But I think, perhaps I won't," she concluded before throwing her head back and bellowing a blood curdling warcry. Without a moments hesitation she ripped her axe from her belt and swept it up through the jaw of the nearest attacker, sending the man twitching and spasming to the round as the life fled from his ruined body along with blood and brain matter. With a flick of her wrist she reversed the grip on the use worn grip of the weapon and hurled it overhanded into the chest of a scraggly bearded rogue with a rusted spear, the impact knocking the man from his feet and filling the air with the metallic rip of shattered mail. In the half second breathing space the throw brought her she pulled her sword from the leather sheath across her back. The bluish metal sang as it slid free of the leather, its point glinting in the moonlight. She didn't unsling the wood and leather shield with its raven device, for the courtyard was too cramped to allow for more than a sword and the will to use it. With a ululating cry she darted forward leaping the bodies which still twitched in the dusty street, planting a foot on a pile of stacked timber and spring boarding high into the air. Another of the attackers lifted his sword to fend of her strike, but the massive double handed blow with all her weight behind it, shattered the cheap iron of the scimitar like a hammer striking ice. Anya's blade struck him on the left shoulder, severing his arm at a downward angle starting at his collar bone in a spray of blood. She hit the ground in a crouch with one hand outstretched to spread the impact, the sword in her free hand slashing her across the hamstring of one of the thieves who had been too slow to react to the unexpected attack. The man dropped to the ground screaming and clutching at his crippled leg, crimson blood seeping between his dark fingers. Screams echoed through the thieves quarter as Anya straightened, her eyes a light with the exstacy of battle. "Come rogues!" she bellowed, "let us see if the men of Iridistan are good for anything other than cheating at dice!"</s>
<\|description\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Race: Aesir Bio: Anya was born on the frozen glaciers of Asgard, the only child of the famous smith Soren Danicson. Anya was the surviving child of a pair of twins, her brother dying during childbirth. Her icy white hair, already present at birth marked her as particularly fated (for good or ill) by Ymir the Frost Giant. The shaman of the village counseled the heart broken Soren not to despair over his fallen son, and that the child's shade might yet enter Valhalla through the deeds of his sister Anya. Although women were not typically called upon to bear arms, Anya's unique doom made her a special case. From the time she could work Soren trained his daughter in all the arts of war as well as in his smith craft. By the time she was ten should could run for a full day without rest and hold her own with sword, axe or spear as well as any man of eighteen summers. She wen't on her first raid against the Vanir at age sixteen and distinguished herself as a skilled and ruthless warrior. Over the succeeding years she became a champion and a war leader, leading her own raiding parties west into Vanirheim and south against the Cummorians. She developed a reputation for attacking unexpectedly, particularly in bad weather and in the snow, and savagely pressing the attack until the enemy was shattered. When Soren Danicson was mortally wounded in a battle in the Cummorian marches, he told his daughter that the night before he had dreamed of Ymir the Frost Giant and that the time had come for her to venture out of Asgard and find the doom she had been promised. Anya left before her fathers body was cold, working her way south towards an uncertain goal, selling her sword and following the charnel call of the ravens.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter The sun rose over far of Kosala, spreading across the Iranistani steppe to reveal two riders forging their way north towards the distant white capped daggers of the Ilbar Mountains. In the spring snow melt from those mountains would rush downwards in mighty torrents, wending its way towards the sea in a network of shallow creeks and rocky gullies that for most of the rest of the year ran at but a trickle. Like all steppe-land it was the preserve of nomadic headers rather than farmers, with herdsmen moving their flocks of goats or horned sheep from water source to watercourse with the season. Dawn had bought a few smuts of smoke from neglected cook-fires but from horizon to horizon no soul could be seen save for the two riders. That wasn't to say they weren't here of course. The steppe looked flat to a new comer, but deep gullies and short canyons could be concealed by the waving grass and a traveler might pass within bow shot and never know it until an arrow plucked them from the saddle. The pair had set out from Kafir after midnight on fine roan horses which the Priest had purchased with coin which had impressed even Anya with its variety of denominations. The solution had been cleaner than her own plan of stealing the beasts, and as Abelard pointed out, lacked the problem of potential pursuit. As the Priest had said, the fact that Ibn-vakir had sent men to killed him argued for the veracity of his information, why else spend the hundred silver drachma to engage the Guild of Thieves to murder them? They had ridden as hard as they dared across such uncertain terrain, there was little doubt that news of the assassins failure would reach their paymasters in due time. They could hope it was carried by a horseman and not upon the wings of ravens or some other sorcery. Anya had made her name as a raider by riding hard and relentlessly and coming at her opponents unexpectedly. She saw little reason to change the habit of a lifetime now. They drove on towards the headwaters of the River Ashan where the faithless thief had bragged that he had seen the fable Opal, though hadn't dared risk its retrieval. How it had come to rest in such a land, so far from the northern glaciers of its birth was lost to the knowledge of men, though perhaps, not that of Gods. Of their purposes they spoke little. Anya was unsure of exactly why her companion sought the jewel, perhaps only as any man seeks a thing that is vaulable, and of her own quest she had spoken only evasively. The peace between them was yet uneasy. "Smoke!" Anya called as they cantered across a low shale bedded creek, their horses kicking up shimmering spray in the early morning sun. She pointed to a low dome of haze beyond a small hill more or less along their path. It was too significant to be a single cookfire.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil Abelard reined in his roan, the beast whinnying lightly in the crisp morning air. Anya and he had been riding through the night with barely a word passing between them once they had mounted the horses. He found he believed her story and her virtue, however. Her manner against her assassins and they way she moved had a surety to it that spoke of honesty. Perhaps it was the soldier in him, or the still very earthly mind of his that led him to trust her motives. But he knew, somehow, Asura had not spoken of her. Her vision was correct, he saw a large pillar of smoke rising into the sky. It stood as a black line against the newly risen sun. Abelard dismounted, advising it was best they left their horses here tethered to what roots they could find. The two did so and drew their blades, creeping out of the creek-bed towards the signs of what Abelard knew to be their quarry, even if it were not what they truly sought. Advancing swiftly, they found a small rise that spoke of a sheer drop just before them. The two crouched and almost crawled toward the edge what seemed to be a large, dried waterway. Beneath them more than a score of men spoke and drank and ate a hearty breakfast, devouring the ribs of a great boar they had slaughtered likely the day before. Iranistanian Horse nomads with their scalemail cuirasses and their strange spiked helms wrapped in cloth, sallow skinned and stout builds grunting in their rugged tongue. They looked armed for war, their horses tied to a small copse of trees within earshot. The nomads had made two cookfires separate from Ibn-vakir and four Stygian giants. Head and shoulders taller than any nomad, the giants were armed with iron tipped spears and shields made of wood and bronze. Queer torques of Set lay on their bare chests, splattered with the grog they drank greedily beside their fire. Their belts were inlaid with gold and Ibn-vakir wore a similar belt and torque atop his rogueish garb. Abelard nearly surged upwards to curse Ibn-vakir to the Gods, but he held himself for what he saw next. Past the dried inlet was a structure, swept in style as the cloth atop the horsemen's helms. The opening was alien in design. Nearly perpendicular but many layered in stone, like the opening of a flower or the folds of a woman that so drove men mad. Abelard had seen sketches of such structures before in his studies that bespoke it a remnant of the Acheron Empire. It looked to have been rebuilt in an Iranistanian style and then buried in sand from some wild storm, only to have finally been revealed again. "We cannot take rash action," Abelard whispered to his fellow traveler. He spoke to himself just as much as the Northern woman. The priest likely seemed a coward to the fierce warrior, but his only goal was to keep the Opal out of wicked hands.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter "These are Khaseem Bai's men," Anya muttered pointing to a red banner that fluttered from a spear that was thrust into the earth. The silken flag was emblazoned with a black lions head that almost seemed to snap and snarl as the wind worked the fabric. Khaseem Bai was a name much on the tongues of the Iristani. It was said that he had come down from the deserts beyond the Ilbar mountains after the tribes of that inhospitable waste had put aside their ancient blood feuds to drive the renegade from their sands. Since that time he had preyed on the caravans and herdsmen of the step, snatching up city-dwellers and ransoming them for supplies and silver. It was said, among the hokah dens and drinking houses of Kafir, that no blade had ever drawn blood from Khaseem Bai and that he was protected by black and malign spirits. It did not surprise Anya that it had been he who had sent assassin's to kill them after learning Ibn-vakir had sold the same goods three times. "If they know their footpads have failed they don't show it," Anya observed. Indeed, the mood in the camp was alert but the men did not seem alarmed. As she watched a paunchy man hauled a cauldron of soup from the fire and bawled something unintelligible from this distance. The various cut throats ambled towards him to take their mourning meal. "Strange, I don't see Khaseem Bai among them," Anya noticed, her keen eyes having finished their survey of the camp. "Indeed you do not," came a deep basso voice from behind them. Anya whirled her hand going to her blade but freezing as the point of a spear pressed against her throat. Two similar weapons were leveled at Abelard. The men holding them had the dark sun burned skin of desert tribesmen and the hooked noses and slightly slanted eyes of the lands beyond the Ilbar mountains. Their leader was a muscular man in a tunic of white silk. His eyes were dark and burned bright with intelligence and his face was handsome in a brooding way. His legs were covered with armor of tooled leather that gripped the side of a galloping horse so a man could use the short recurve bows in fashion in these parts. The thugs with him were dressed less finely, but Anya wagered all of them were veterans who had come south with Khaseem Bai. The must have snuck around them through some hidden ravine, though they had done so with so little sound that even Anya's razor keen senses had been deceived. "But do not worry," he said with a formal bow that would not have been out of place in the court of Aquilonia, "Khaseem Bai sees you."</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil A strong east wind blew over the desolate earth as Abelard raised his hands in supplication, having dropped his sword and staff. The light of the newly risen sun glinted off the spearheads, their edges sharpened to pierce both flesh and mail. A cry of curious demand in Stygian rose behind them. The two were quickly relieved of their weapons and taken to the camp below to be surrounded by harsh lancers, ebony tribesmen of fierce strength, and towering thugs of stygian strain. Out of the crowd poked Ibn-vakir who was short enough to step through the legs of one of the giants. He spread a smile of teeth the color of mule piss save for the missing teeth so far not replaced with any wealth. Two of the nomads had brought forth a wooden chair covered in skins that Khaseem Bai reclined upon, sitting as arrogantly as if he were the newly crowned king of Iranistan. In one hand he held his spear while in the other he nipped at an apple unfamiliarly, the fruit a strange sight in this unforgiving land. No doubt a sign of his fortune and prestige. He must be drunk on his own power if he thought that would intimidate Abelard and particularly the warrioress Anya. Even though he attempted to keep earthly matters from his mind, Abelard fretted the imminent fear of death in equal measure to how the smell of the pork churned his stomach. "How strange to find such two foreign jackals." Ibn-vakir said. His smile spread like the plague with his mustached pulled along as well. "Better kill these two quickly, my lord. We cannot have word getting out on the location of the Opal." Abelard laughed suddenly, one of the first times he had shown any emotion since meeting Anya. He grinned as feircely as any cimmerian barbarian. "You little fool, Ibn-vakir. You did not think we would ever meet with your precious master, did you? Khaseem Bai you are called? This one had already given me the location of the Opal, and had promised to deliver the same to this one beside me. He then wished to join the winning side and lied to you, telling you we were already in pursuit of the prize. He wished for your assassins to silence us, so that you may never learned he attempted to buy your trust with deceit." Ibn-vakir paled, the grog in his stomach finally wearing off on his mind. Khaseem Bai's face, at ease before, was now a mask of fury and disgust. With a simple wave of his hand he had two of the giants grab Ibn-vakir the wretch. "No master! He lies!" The thief shrieked in terror as he was rooted into the ground. Almost ritualistically, and it likely was knowing Set's laws, one of the giants took his belt knife and cut open Ibn-vakir's stomach. Blood and bile and a putrid stench erupted from his torn open belly. The thief sank to his knees, eyes wide opened in death. Despite himself, Abelard found it satisfying. His claim had also been a bluff without divine intervention, but seeing as Khaseem Bai did not correct him, his bluff had been correct and the warlord's side of the claims were confirmed plausible.</s>	<\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Khaseem Bai watched the execution without much interest before turning back to his two prisoners. His eyes were dark and intelligent and had a pragmatic cruelty about them as he measured each of them. "Well one of the two of you looks fearsome enough to have given the Thieves Guild pause," he declared. Anya relaxed ever so slightly. It would be better to die fighting than to be killed in chains but it seemed that the bandit lord had other plans for them, else he would scarcely bother to keep them alive. "As it happens without Ibn-vakir I will require someone to guide me to my treasure, perhaps..." he drew a long knife from his belt and tossed it into the dirt between the two prisoners, "the survivor would be interested in such a position?" Anya glanced sidelong at the priest, perhaps she could kill him before he could employ his arts, perhaps not, but either way it seemed of little matter. By herself it would be difficult, perhaps impossible to overcome Khaseem Bai and his men, and much as she hated to admit it, Abelard could be an ally to her in that. "Lord," she said in his own tongue, with which she had a passing familiarity from time spent as a pirate up in Villayet, "I could cut this whelps throat as you ask, but what if Ibn-vakir told lies to all of us, perhaps together we have enough of the truth to pass the traps he described and reach the Opal." Kasseem frowned, arching a dark eyebrow. "Traps?" he asked, it wasn't clear if he believed the Aesir woman, but there was enough uncertainty in his voice that she knew she had him. "There are three traps Lord," she proclaimed, confident for all that these traps existed, so far as she knew entirely in her imagination. "Fool!" Abelard broke in, "There are five traps each more fiendish than the last! I learned of them in my study and I make Ibn-vakir tell me what he knew of them!"</s>
<\|description\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Race: Aesir Bio: Anya was born on the frozen glaciers of Asgard, the only child of the famous smith Soren Danicson. Anya was the surviving child of a pair of twins, her brother dying during childbirth. Her icy white hair, already present at birth marked her as particularly fated (for good or ill) by Ymir the Frost Giant. The shaman of the village counseled the heart broken Soren not to despair over his fallen son, and that the child's shade might yet enter Valhalla through the deeds of his sister Anya. Although women were not typically called upon to bear arms, Anya's unique doom made her a special case. From the time she could work Soren trained his daughter in all the arts of war as well as in his smith craft. By the time she was ten should could run for a full day without rest and hold her own with sword, axe or spear as well as any man of eighteen summers. She wen't on her first raid against the Vanir at age sixteen and distinguished herself as a skilled and ruthless warrior. Over the succeeding years she became a champion and a war leader, leading her own raiding parties west into Vanirheim and south against the Cummorians. She developed a reputation for attacking unexpectedly, particularly in bad weather and in the snow, and savagely pressing the attack until the enemy was shattered. When Soren Danicson was mortally wounded in a battle in the Cummorian marches, he told his daughter that the night before he had dreamed of Ymir the Frost Giant and that the time had come for her to venture out of Asgard and find the doom she had been promised. Anya left before her fathers body was cold, working her way south towards an uncertain goal, selling her sword and following the charnel call of the ravens.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil "Silence dogs!" Khaseem Bai spat, raising his fist. Were he to swing it down the order would be met to execute them both on the spot. "If you do not wish to wander the desert without eyes or tongues then you will speak when I permit it! Do not be so foolish as to think you are so valuable as not to maim." He grimaced a moment further like a tiger that watches a receding bear. His devil-may-care manner returned once silence reigned once again. "You will both lead at spear point. Have I any inkling that you will betray me, if we cannot kill you we will seal you within the tomb, understand?" Abelard and Anya did not immediately answer, though he took that as an acquiesce to his command and he grinned as a snarling lion. "Good. Now priest, lead the way into the tomb with the northern bitch close to your heels." The thieves watched expectantly as the two regarded one another, and they turned to the ancient Acheron structure. Abelard approached it warily, eyeing the opening. He looked at Khaseem Bai, holding his hands together as if to beg forgiveness. "My staff?" He bade. "To better serve your desire of entering. I will give it back once I open the hole." The bandit lord measured him and nodded. One of the Stygian Giants tossed Abelard his staff, which he caught promptly and placed on the ground. There was an audible 'thud' when it touched the sand, as if the staff weighed far, far more than it conceivably could. Anya could perceive a tingle of power emanating from the rod, and through the top jewel the sunlight poured through and struck the Acheron opening through the center. As the light penetrated into the strange slit, the stone began to move with a deliberate slowness that shoved great rends of sand in the earth around it. "He has done it." One of the bandits muttered. "No, I have not." Abelard answered boldly, and all eyes turned to him with sudden incredulity. He smiled calmly, with a certain satisfaction to him. "I opened it, but in an incorrect manner." "What!?" Khaseem Bai snarled, confused. His curiosity would be sated in moments when the door, now gaping wide like a vast wound, spewed forth three unknown shadow beasts from within. Demons, Abelard knew them to be. Shaped like apes and as dark as the blackest night and as even larger than the Stygian Giants. He had foreseen their presence and purposefully awoke them. He placed his hand on Anya's shoulder, the sunlight still within his staff as the beasts moved quicker than any horse, loping over and attacking the band of cutthroats. Men screeched and pissed themselves as huge arms of abyssal matter wrapped about them and consumed their bodies and souls utterly. "The sun will banish them before long." Abelard whispered, eyeing the now unguarded door to the Acheron ruin. "Grab your sword and follow me!"</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Anya snatched up her sword and darted after the priest. The shrieks of the bandits were ghastly as the shadow beasts fell upon them, rending and tearing. Kaseem Bai hurled a dreadful curse at them as they fled and Anya pivoted smoothly to strike sparks as she batted away the warlords thrown dagger. It had been foolish of him to shout but she supposed it wasn't the worst mistake he had made this day. With a burst of speed she looped after the priest, deflecting a spear thrust from one of the wide eyed bandits and taking his throat with her riposte. The pair of them darted through the door of the ancient structure and Abelard raised his staff again. Stone shrieked as the ancient portal began to seal itself, not quickly but with the inexorable inevitability of a tide coming in, or a glacier sliding towards the ocean. The entry stones boomed together, abruptly cutting off the screams of dying bandits as completely as if they had existed only in the imagination of the listeners. "I'd give you my thanks priest," Anya said, pausing to spit towards the now sealed portal, "but I don't know if our situation is better or worse." "We are alive," Abelard replied austerly and turned towards the passageway ahead of them. The walls were of sandstone, smoothed but not built, as though it had once been a cave that had been laboriously polished to remove the worst of its irregularity. A thick mist filled it that reminded Anya of the unexplored jungles that stretched for uncounted miles in the lands beyond the forbidding southern borders of Stygia. There was something else on the air too, a faint taste of sulphur that put Anya in mind of the volcanic hotsprings of Trondhel or Aikanaborg. The mist was so thick they could see no more than a few feet infront of them as they edged their way down the passage until they found an opening. Anya had seen many things in her life that others might deem strange, but the sight before them was more incredible than any she had yet witnessed. The passage opened onto a lush fog shrouded jungle, the air so humid that water condensed in droplets on the tip of her blade. Vast trees reached up towards the sky and large leafed plants squatted at their bases. Strange animals called and hooted in the jungle and lizard like creatures skittered and leaped from the wrist thick vines which hung like spider webs. Vast columns of greenish soapstone reached upwards into the low hanging mist which was none the less illuminated by a sickly green yellow light beyond. There was no way that this place existed within the structure they had scene in the desert, either in scale or in the alien aspect of the jungle which was unlike anything Anya had scene. "By Wotan's eye," she marveled, staring in awe at the landscape before her.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil At first Abelard considered this a dream or some wild vision granted by Asura. But his skin watered from the humid heat, feeling it course and rough to breathe in. He felt itchy from the brushing of the long fern-like grass, and the microscopic insects clinging to his ankles. The Priest had seen many wonders of the gods; vast cataclysms and eldritch spells given to him within visions and dreams. But what manner of magic this thing was, was daunting to his sensibilities. He sensed that the Opal was not far off, however, and that was what they would need to cling their hopes to. "Ware and steel yourself Barbarian woman," He said to her, clutching his staff in both hands now. Twisting his hands, the spike at the end protruded again and he changed his stance as if he held a spear, which he practically did. In the distance a grinding roar lifted in the air and a porcine squeal echoed. Abelard had heard tale of the great southern jungle cats thrice as large as a man, and felt their potential all too real at that moment. "Whether we are in the Black Lands south of dreaded Stygia or some nether realm, we must retrieve the Opal at all costs." The two of them crept warily, Abelard with his spear at the ready. Somehow he felt less suited to the situation that Anya, for the woman seemed just as home here as she likely was in the frozen north. Abelard nearly tripped over what he had perceived to be a log at one point, until he realized it was the midsection of an enormous python, resting in the brush. So large was it, it moved too sluggishly to give he or Anya any notice, and the two stepped over it carefully. Likely it was savoring a recent meal, which brought many uncomfortable questions they needn't dwell on. After cutting through thickly draped vines and undergrowth that clutched at their hips, the two of them burst into a clearing. Anya landing as any skilled warrior would, and Abelard moving like he preconceived where the correct places to step was to keep his footing. The jungle glade was about fifty square feet with turfts of exotic blades of grass mingled with dirt. Sunken bones of both man and beast jutted out of the soil. What was slightly more concerning and significant was the Opal of Power set upon a dias of tied bone at the very center.</s>	<\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Saga 2: The Moon Thief --- It was a sweltering night in Xarame, but then all nights were sweltering in that desert city of rough yewn sandstone and faded adobe. Xarame crouched where the rocky foothills of the Khorhaja began to shoulder their way out of the sands of the Great Shem, eventually rising to block the way to distant Koth far to the north, save for the few passes on which caravans chanced themselves against bandits and storms for the hope of riches and wealth on one side or the other. The seven spires of the Caliph's palace rose into the moonlight, surrounded by the shorter towers of the cities hungry emirs. Many of those emirs would have built towers to dwarf those of the Caliph, but the difference between wealth and power was a sharp thing in Xarame, in ancient times an emir had tried to build such a tower only to find himself ground into the mortar of the palace while still living, or so the story went. Beyond the palace the city sprawled to its mighty stone walls and its crowning parapets like a wave that struck the edge of a great ocean. The buildings were less grand, slums in some places, but they bustled with trade. Textiles from Stygia, perfumes from Kush, gold and silk from Turan and the lands beyond came to Xarame to be exchange for iron work from Aquilonia, Nemedian wines and even ice diamonds and amber from distant Vannaheim. The great pulsing arteries of trade had made Xarame rich beyond the dreams of the humble shepeards who had founded the city in eons passed, so that it was said among the nations that even the beggars of Xarame ate of gold plate and bathed with frankincense. That wealth had bought with it a paranoia that others might seek to take what the city claimed as its own and so when rumor reached the Caliph that a great thief had come to Xareme to steal the Moon Stone which was his greatest treasure he was naturally concerned. "I have thwarted many such thieves mighty Caliph," the Stygian Woman proclaimed. Her name was Sythemis and she was a great beauty, round of hip and bosom with jet black hair that shone like lake water under starlight, with the full lips and dark eyes of ancient Stygia. In other lands she was known as the asp or the sand viper for a rumored fondness for poisons and supposed sorcerous arts. Like many she had answered the Caliphs call to protect his treasure until the great thief was apprehended. The Caliph leaned forward on his thrones, the thousand colors of his silken stole shimmering and the gold chain around his neck clicking as he did so. "You are a woman," he said sternly, "how can a woman accomplish such things?" There was a general murmer of approval from his courtiers, each draped in his own silk and jewelry, though each careful not to rival the Caliph, lest they find themselves in that jealous princes ill graces. They were not best pleased that the Caliph had chosen to bring in outsiders, even though the implication that their own guards might be corrupt was far from unfounded. "A man looks at another man as a threat," Sythemis said, taking no insult, "but what threat can a woman be?" The question had a playful edge, but as she spoke she lifted her hand and pinched the fingers together. The gesture looked innocent, save for the fact that the shadow cast on the wall of the opulent throne room was not that of a woman closing her fingers, but of a snake striking across the shadowed wall. The Caliph sat back, considering the beautiful Stygian woman in her simple robes of white linen and her serpentine wristlets of polished copper. "Very well," he said after a moment, "you will bring me the thief before the moon is full and I shall reward you with your weight in rubies." The words bought a mutter of low disapproval from the gathered nobles but the Caliph once again held up his hand. "If you fail to do so however, you will become my slave concubine for as long as I will it," he decreed. Sythemis lowered her eyes to the tiled floor of the throne room. "As the Caliph wishes."</s>

Subsets and Splits

No saved queries yet

Save your SQL queries to embed, download, and access them later. Queries will appear here once saved.

prompt stringlengths 451 16.4k	completion stringlengths 47 11.1k
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai As Aegis team disembarked the phantom, they were met immediately with hostile ground fire. The roof of the structure they had been dropped on was large and mostly flat, with little cover for either side, save for some weapon crates that had been dropped where they were when the attack started. There were ten or so armed rebels surrounding a ramp leading down into the interior of the structure, as well as a group of four Brutes that were closer to the edge of the roof on the north side. The rebels were fighting defensively, seemingly to guard the entrance, though the Brutes had started to rush at Aegis team to get in melee range before the first of them had even touched the ground. When the rockets came in, it was from another squad of rebels that had emerged up the ramp at the center of the structure. They were carrying rockets, fuel rod cannons, and other high explosives, and had likely been sent up as a response to the attack in general. However, they had eneded up in the right place at the right time to deal with Tar's phantom. There was little chance for meaningful evasion before two rockets struck one of her engines directly. The heavy weapons might have been meant for anti-vehicle roles, but they would still be a massive threat to the members of Aegis.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas had followed Aviza and Vael from their incident at the turret they knocked out to the rendezvous point, but once the fleet had appeared, the need for stealth was a lesser concern and he turned one of his two SMGs on a nearby patrol of URF soldiers and fired, putting them down before they could register what was happening. With everything happening and the swarm of phantoms descended on the base, he had no clue of knowing which one was heading to pick up the rest of the team as the group of three moved towards the roof. Another pair of URF troopers tried to move up behind them, unaware of the cloaked figures, who were extra hidden by the sandstorm. Swapping from his SMG to the DMR, two head shots dropped the pair where they stood. "Won't lie, not having to worry about shielding around the head is a nice change of pace." Another pair of shots dropped two more URF soldiers, their bodies hitting the ground and disappearing in the storm. As they neared the top, the sight of Jiralhanae and a heavy URF squad getting ready to attack the rest of the team drove the SPARTAN IV to action. Storing his DMR on his back as he dashed past Aviza and Vael, his twin energy daggers coming free as he rammed his shoulder into the first Brute he reached. "Grikgar, hit those heavies with plasma!" The Brute wasn't expecting an invisible SPARTAN, who suddenly became visible upon impact, to ram into him and went sprawling with the SPARTAN IV leaping on top of him and ramming one dagger into his neck and the other into his forehead. Ryker didn't even wait for the overgrown ape to stop moving before the twin blades came free and he leapt off to slide across the roof into the legs of another Brute, knocking him over and into the legs of a third. However, Lucas knew he was gambling being away from the others like this, but he was confident enough in his CQC skills to stay safe until the numbers were thinned out.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Court yard LZ The fire fight was going well for what the Unggoy was used to. Having the support of Spartans and Sangheili was a sight to behold but one he would have to dwell on later. A bright color of covenant shielding caught his eye for a moment. A couple humans were using shields normally for Kig-Yar, obviously the brutes had some stashed away and had given them to them. The Oni humans could use those and so could he if he was able to grab a couple. Another plasma grenade toward them knocked out the shields, indicating the user was dead. Another Spartan called out for ordinance while the enemy heavy weapons team reloaded. The rocket would be a problem for all of them especially the bigger targets like Tasuma. Using the cover of the sand storm Grik rushed to cover facing the advancing opponents. His energy shield flared for a moment with a few plasma bolts hitting him as he moved. Getting to cover the Unggoy hit the wall and immediately pulled the Sentinel power source from his belt. Sticking a plasma grenade to it and throwing it at the cover they were using. Honestly Grik gar wasn't sure what would happen, he had only seen it happen once by accident. An explosion set the last one off. A barrel exploded and detonated it at the dismay of the Huragok that had repaired the two power sources. The resulting secondary explosion created a singularity for about 3 seconds that pulled everything toward it then violently expelled what was pulled in. it also seemed to rile up the sentinels that where left in the area as well. If it didn't work and all it did was just the plasma grenade Grik was ready to follow it up with the fuel rod gun. "Tasuma." Grikgar called out over his comm, "major enemy cluster bearing 200 Degrees from insertion point. Enemy has heavy weapons watch yourself." He was waiting for the explosion to go off before he would proceeded with the assault.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak --- As soon as the rockets hit, warning lights erupted across the width of the pilot interface console. Urgent alarm sounds blasted in Tar's ears as she wrestled with the controls to bring the Phantom level again. "We've lost drive number one, and I'm getting a lot of vibration in number two!" Vol shouted over the din. Tar felt her stomach lurching as the Phantom span around in the air, heading for the side of the tall Forerunner structure. "Get me more power from somewhere, now!" Tar ordered, pulling the steering as far to the right as she could. "My console isn't responding. Power capped at 40%!" Vol reported through gritted mandibles. The Phantom crashed against the side of the Forerunner tower and scraped along it, sparks skittering off the top of the hull. The alloy sides screeched and buckled until suddenly they were free of the tower and spinning again. Tar could see hostiles running to get out of the way as the Phantom gradually lost altitude; they couldn't stay level on just two engines. "I have this now. Brace for impact!" Tar shouted, doing her best to hold it upright as the Phantom span toward a flat area packed high with crates. The drop ship's aft section hit the deck first, sending up another shower of sparks and ship fragments. The front soon followed, with the forward plasma cannon snapping off and cartwheeling to one side. Still slowly spinning, the Phantom's bow ploughed into piles of crates, sending them flying. With the controls now useless, Tar put her arms over her head and crunched up into a ball in her seat. It was a good thing she did, because hidden behind the stacks of cargo containers was a much more solid object. A row of Forerunner columns, sticking from the base plate. The Phantom hit the columns at speed, its rear end jumping up in the air. Everything in the cockpit seemed to come loose and fly about. Something solid whacked Tar in the stomach, forcing all the air from her lungs. As her arms instinctively flinched to her chest, another piece of metal flew from the console and smashed into her face and everything went black.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- For the somewhat improvised explosive that Grikgar had thrown, the effects did not entirely go to plan. Though, it was still far from a failure. Normally, a plasma grenade would detonate a few seconds after coming to rest, which could make them easy to evade for those not stuck by them. However, the excess plasma from the active grenade melted through the power source's casing in-flight and detonated it before it even touched the ground. The resulting airburst sent superheated plasma burning through the center of the rebel heavy weapons squad, either killing or incapacitating three of their number. There was at least one rebel with a fuel rod gun remaining, but Vael was in position to see him as he tried to scramble to his feet and take aim with the large, unwieldy weapon. Vael had gone most of the way up the ramp, but stopped at the top. He peered just over the top across the roof, then drew his carbine and braced it on the roof in front of him. His position was off to the rebels' right flank, so he had clear lines of sight on many of their foes. The first shot he fired to reveal his location went straight through the center mass of the Human with the last heavy weapon. For most of the remainder of Aegis team, there was little cover and a lot of pressure from the rebels they were charging into. Many of them would find their shields steadily draining from hits they were taking. However, there was also little cover for the rebels as well, and they did not have shields nor sufficient armor to protect them. A few had taken to using Kig-Yar point defense gauntlets, presumably that the Brutes had been willing to trade to them, but most lacked suck protection. From his position on their flank, Vael focused fire on the Humans with the shield gauntlets first, as they could not protect against both his angle and the rest of the team at the same time. Vael had seen the phantom go down on the far side of the roof, and it did seem like there were some hostiles emerging from another entrance that were moving to secure the crash. However, Vael could not afford to divide his attention from the battle in front of him.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu's actions right out of the drop ship was a tacit blend with the ONI human operatives suppressing the emerging enemy. "We're flanked!" He announced by habit, not that anyone failed to realise the situation. Chaos ensued with explosions, gunfire and plasma bolts. The phantom was hit overhead. He was a second away from believing themselves overwhelmed before the infiltrators and Grikgar's improvised explosive gave half a second of respite. They needed to relocate. Yalu sent a few rounds into the brutes tangled up with Lucas, took a few hits to the shield from the gauntleted humans to the other side, and then he knew he needed to punch a hole for the team. "I'll have them scattered!" He said, taking out the bulky concussion rifle from his back. "Those pilots can be recovered!" Green bolts of plasma jolted out and blasted the base of the humans' shield gauntlets with superheated explosions while Yalu advanced on them, step by step. He had to rout them before the crash site was cleared out.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Ben-E218 (Still alive! Getting back to RPs on this site. Long story, as is much of 2020. No, I'm not dead, sick, homeless, bankrupt, or in danger of any of those things.) Ben-E218 True to form, Ben had kept himself hidden from the fray, disappearing from sight but not from mind. His impact on the battle so far was minimal, apart from a few sniper shots to grease the wheels, taking out a rebel gunner here, a sentry there, and so on. Part of his success was measured in not being noticed by his adversaries or his allies. This was useful in the event one of his team went rampant and needed to be put down for the sake of everyone else. It also gave him, ONI, and the UNSC in general a case of plausible deniability in the event someone was killed by "a sniper" or "an unknown assailant." Even so, the SPARTAN-III at least attempted to stick to the plan, notwithstanding his greater directives to shoot traitors, deserters, and the rampant. So far, he hadn't seen any of his teammates qualify as any of those undesirables, but he knew that he could be missing something; even a highly decorated member of a company which legally didn't exist had his limits. He wasn't the only one. "Phong, status report. I need an estimate of how many rebels are left." "Insufficient data. Please re-enter query." "Fine. Set markers for Aviza, Vael, and Grikgar. Do you have any status updates for any of them?" "Based on the telemetry stream, Aviza has just withstood an injury from a banshee attack. You may want to head over to her first. Vael is on his way there too." Without another word, Ben sprinted over in the direction indicated by two of the three markers. "And Grikgar?" "Don't worry about him yet. What readings I have been able to pull show that he's alive and isn't exhausted yet. Unggoy stamina isn't a match for those of other sapient species, so it may be an issue if this battle keeps going on much longer. I would advise that you assist Aviza before any of the others. Oh, and mind that Jiralhanae." Sure enough, one of the members of the pack whose leader Aviza had killed charged at Ben, brandishing a brute shot. One quick sniper shot to the face made quick work of him. He made it to Aviza's side a few seconds after Vael did.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak --- Tar's view was obscured by the large crate in front of her, so she didn't see the Brute captain get hit. But when the relentless force against her from the Brute Shot abated, Tar dropped her cover, pulled her pistol from her mandibles and pointed it where her aggressor had been. She discovered the Brute was missing his head and some of his shoulders. He fell to his knees and then onto his side. Tar growled; part of her had wanted the captain alive so she could question him about her father. The ships were being destroyed above them, and she couldn't shake the feeling that important clues were being destroyed with them. Nevertheless, she appreciated the assist - wherever that had come from... Tar pivoted and saw the last of the rebels running down a ramp into the belly of the Forerunner structure. She fired her pistol at them until the bullets ran out and then moved to kneel by another dead rebel. Keeping her eyes up to scan the battlefield, Tar pulled two magazines from the female's tactical vest. She deftly reloaded with one of them, checking the new rounds were chambered correctly before standing. She held the second mag against the pistol grip, comfortably secured by her long Sangheili fingers. Before her eyes, a fast moving object slammed into the ground ahead of her, throwing up a cloud of dust. Tar cautiously moved forward with her pistol out and slightly tilted in front of her. Gradually, the dust settled and Tar saw another Spartan in grey and silver armour on the floor. She knelt beside the downed Spartan and lifted their forearm off the floor as a few more presumed members of Aegis team gathered around. "Can you hear me? Are you operational?" Tar shouted over the sound of gunfire, peering into the soldier's individual eye holes and gently shaking their arm.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker The sound of the golden armored brute's head and shoulder's turning into meat sauce was enough of a distraction for Ryker to swing around the arm of the Brute he was battling with in the aftermath of the grenade going off and deliver an energy dagger armed thrust through his ribs into his heart, the energy weapon deactivating on his wrist as the beast slumped over and died. "Good shot, Fire Team Lead. Moving to-" The sound of an exploding fuel rod shot drew the SPARTAN IV's attention to a tower with a decent line of sight over the battle field. Oh hell no. Not the- His thoughts were almost immediately interrupted by the sound of a heavily armored form impacting near himself and the Sangheili that had come out of the dropship. He was moving on instinct and habit, moving quickly and gently moving aside the Sangheili. While they were all in the Mjolnir MK4 armor, which meant that fall wouldn't be lethal, she would still be in a LOT of pain and he had experience dealing with this. "Alright, Fire Team Lead, I'm removing your helmet to check for head injuries. For the love of god, don't punch or shoot me please."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern After the banshees fuel rod cannon had founds its mark, all that followed until the point of Aviza making impact near the crashed Phantom had been little more than a blur to her. The world still spun around Aivza while her vision slowly returned, the gray haze fading away, reveling that she was now looking up at the artificial night sky above. The HUD within the helmet of her GEN2 Argus-class Mjolnir Powered Assault Armor had somehow remained fully functional, even after impact. The Cyan overlay showed that she had flown quite a distance from the tower she had been set up upon, and that Shih was thankfully unharmed. Aviza let out a sigh of relief at that, if something had happened to Shih, neither the UNSC or ONI would take kindly to it. That was the good news at least, her suits systems informed her that the blast from the fuel rod cannon and the impact, had inflicted a number of injuries upon her, none were apparently life threatening. [Left Arm Sprain - Left Arm Fracture In Shaft of Humorous - Bruising In Left Rib Cage - Bleeding From Head - Ultramoprh Administered For Pain] Aviza decided that she was lucky enough to still be in one piece after being hit, or at least assuming she had been hit from a Fuel Rod Cannon blast. The one injurie that concerned her the most was the fracture in the left arm, though with her advanced medical kit and some free time she would be able to mend that. Putting some weight upon her right arm, she pushed herself up into a sitting position, feeling the numbness from the ultramoprh taking effect very quickly. Her HUD informed her that friendly forces were converging upon her position, she was thankful for that, and managed to greet them with a slight wave of her right hand. Vael was the first to arrive, with the rest of her squad, and the new comer who promptly reached for her injured arm and began gently shaking it. At the same time, Spartan Ryker removed Aviza's helmet, the cool night air felt refreshing upon her exposed skin. Though the feeling of warm blood running down her face and matting some of her short black hair to her head pulled her away, and back to the matter at hand. "Please stop shaking my injured arm before you cause more damage, yes I can hear you and yes I am fully operational. I am hyped up on enough drugs to melee a hunter in close quarters combat." Aviza smiled at that last comment, feeling a bit high from the drugs in her system.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu let out a low roar as the last two plasma bolts shot from his concussion rifle. The rest of the team picked up where his magazine left off, scattering and killing the rebel humans to allow their advance. Yalu stayed put to let the others peel ahead so his shields could recharge. He paced forward down the ramp and dashed behind a crate. He couldn't quite listen to all of the fight. There were a number of blue and yellow explosions that chained off somewhere around the crate he was crouched behind. He quickly ejected the spent magazine cell from his weapon, replaced it, and stood, weapon level. The enemy had withdrawn, more or less. The spartan leader was on the ground, being seen to. Yalu spared a glance to the sangheili pilot while he scanned the area through his helmet optics. "There was another pilot..." He breathed in and trailed off. He could see from the look in the living pilot's eye that he did not need to ask. Instead, he briefly flicked off his comms to mumble something in his home dialect. Switching weapons, Yalu turned to cover the team's rear. He spoke up in the next gap in conversation. "We have a few points of ingress. Awaiting orders, commander."</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak --- Tar growled and let go of the grey Spartan's arm. She felt slightly embarrassed for having not realised she may have been hurting the Human. She quickly rose to her feet and looked at the older, shorter Sangheili in red armour who was apparently addressing her. He was asking her if she wanted to fight with them. Tar briefly took in the aerial battle raging around the perimeter of the installation, with an asymmetric space battle wrapping up above, and made her choice. "I can fight. Tar 'Mdalak, Special Operations. Reporting for duty." Tar pushed past the Elite in red armour and took a knee on the edge of the group, facing the ramp into the heart of the installation. She half raised her pistol and quickly scanned for any signs of lingering combatants. "We should get inside. We're too exposed out here." Tar recommended. She remembered from the half briefing she'd received on the mission that they were after a high-value target. Inside the structure was almost certainly where they'd be hiding.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern "I only have minor injuries from the blast and the following fall, give me a moment to tend to my head trauma and we can move out towards our objective." said Aviza as she reached for the advanced medical kit upon her left hip. Once she had it within her grip, it was gently placed upon the ground and then opened. A soft hiss followed, informing her that everything within was sterile and ready to be used. Aviza sorted through its contents, finding what she needed for the bleeding from her head, some soft cloth with a coagulation agent upon it. Once pressed upon her head, the cloth felt oddly cool, soothing, even comforting, and was quickly absorbing the blood from the cuts upon her scalp and face. To some, seeing a Spartan hold a thick white cloth upon her face and head would appear comical, but the piece of medical equipment was doing what it was deigned for. "Give me a few more seconds with this." said Aviza, though her voice was muffled due to the cloth. After another short moment, Aviza would lower the cloth from her head and face before tossing it over her left shoulder. The medical kit was sealed once more, and reattached to her left hip before Aviza carefully moved to her feet. "That should hold for a few hours before I need to actually tend to my injuries." Aviza stumbled for a moment, catching herself upon Spartan Rykers left shoulder with her right hand. "I'm fine, just getting my bearings once more." Aviza smirked at her fellow squadmate before putting on her helmet once more, and quickly moving down the ramp and into the complex with her MA5D assault rifle at the ready. "Moving into the complex, stay with me and watch your corners. We are to take the rebel leader alive, so do not use any lethals." Aviza expected her squad to by her side within an instant and ready for whatever came next.</s> <\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben-E218 "She has a point. I recommend you head inside." The battle had entered something of a momentary lull, but it could end at any second. If the group was to move anywhere, this was their window of opportunity. "Alright. I'm going in. I'm going to need a close-range weapon. My ammo is out on all weapons except for my sniper rifle. Does anyone have a shotgun they don't need?" He spoke with his speakers on, so he could be heard by the others, not just by Phong. "To respond to your earlier queries, Grikgar is still alive as far as my data stream can tell. As for Aviza, if she can't fight, leave her. In fact, I recommend leaving her a grenade so she can take some enemies with her if she can't-" "Thank you, that will be all; she's up. Sorry, I had to deal with Phong. He's very chatty for a Dumb AI. And no lethal methods. Got it. Just watch your head, please. Don't want to end up like Kat-B320." Given his special role, Ben wasn't particularly fond of keeping his targets alive, but he understood the necessity of it in this case. "Do you want to hear the odds on her survival? They're not very g-" Ben muted Phong once again. It just occurred to him that the AI was able to unmute himself, as Phong had spoken at least once after being silenced without him turning the sound back on. He made a mental note to keep an eye on his AI, who seemed to be evolving into a higher class of AI somehow, or had been a higher class to begin with and was only posing as dumb.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker As Aviza moved to take care of her own injuries, Lucas remained relatively close even as he swept the perimeter with his DMR. In his experience, even when it seemed like things were finally finished, that was when they could go the most wrong with an unexpected cloaked enemy or two appearing form seemingly nowhere. If the SPARTAN IV was honest, he still had nightmares about that night, but it was neither here nor there for the mission, and he doubted they'd get ambushed up here. All the same, until he heard Aviza's helmet reseal, he remained vigilant, though her catching herself on his left shoulder almost knocked him off balance as he wasn't expecting it. When she gave the order to move in, Ryker was right behind her, though when Ben asked if anyone could spare a weapon as he swapped for his SMG, he tossed the SPARTAN III one, along with three spare clips. "I'm running pretty low myself, so make 'em last." In hindsight, it probably would have been prudent to call for a resupply pod from their allies in the skies before moving in, but they had already entered the building, so it was a moot point now. Once they were in the first room through the first doorway from the ramp, Lucas would sweep right, his SMG up and on a swivel. "Be ready to flip to alternative visual modes. The rebels may cut the power to the structure to try and make it harder for us to see what we're doing." He himself had never fought the URF specifically before the war with the Covenant had started, but when he started training as a SPARTAN IV, they had covered the tactics of all the enemies that Humanity had made over the years, from the URF to the Covenant to the Covenant Remnants that the Swords of Sanghelios were still trying to wipe out or force to surrender, so he could make a safe educated guess as to the tactics they'd run into here. "We should keep an eye out for an armory too. I imagine a number of us could use a resupply and we need more weapons better suited to this kind of close-quarters fighting."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Shih --- The Spartan Aviza was still able to move and speak, so Vael gave no argument to her ability to fight. Speed was of the essence now, so there was no time to question leadership. Regardless, as a warrior who fought best within the reach of his blade, Vael was one of those at the front of the team. He had not burned through as much of his ammunition as some of the others, but he still moved his carbine to his back and drew his plasma rifle in its stead. He held his plasma rifle in his left hand, and an energy sword in his right. He did not activate the blade right away, but he did hold the hilt tightly in-hand. Another of the Spartans, Rex, also moved close alongside him. As evidenced by the shotgun he wielded, he too preferred to fight close to the enemy. The team had moved down quickly through the entry hallway of the Forerunner structure, down the ramps to lower floors. In the first, small chamber they entered, they did encounter rebels trying frantically to set up barricades, though they had already started retreating just on the footsteps of Aegis' approach alone. They fled out the door on the far side off the room without so much as returning fire. Evidently, Aegis had move too quickly for them to fortify themselves, and the rebels had no intention of fighting an even fight. Before they started to move once more, Shih spoke up to the team as a whole. "These readings I'm getting, now that we're here, show these tunnels going even deeper than I thought. They connect to deeper tunnels in the installation at about a dozen different points. Unless we want to rely on a lot of luck, we need to figure out which way the leader is fleeing. I've already been working on decrypting and analyzing the comms I'm intercepting. I know their leader is fleeing, so we should be clear to shoot any resistance for now. If we can get to one of their computers, we might be able to figure out what route to take. These rebels' security is better than I would have thought, but…either myself or Petty Officer Younan should be able to break in. " On each of the team members' HUDs, nav points appeared for two separate rooms farther down beneath them. "The path ahead branches off two ways, to two large chambers farther down. From the comms I've intercepted, one of them is their armory, and the other they're using for food storage. I don't know which is which. Their command center is adjacent to the armory. That would be the best place to go to find the information we need." "If their coward of a leader already flees, then we do not have much time. I doubt we will be able to check both paths if we move as one." Vael remarked.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Listening to Shih speak as they walked, Ryker couldn't help but frown slightly behind his visor. So then I had made a solid suggestion about splitting up back there before the big firefight. Ah, hindsight's 20-20 as they say. He kept walking regardless of his thoughts and listened, tapping his helmet when the nav points popped up for a bit of an 'echo' on the hallway ahead, a nifty function he'd tinkered with after he realized he likely wouldn't even get a dumb AI to help him. "So what I'm getting is one way or another, we're going to have to split up here, because if we don't know which is which, we can't risk moving as the full unit if we're going to secure the HVT and any potential intel besides." Standing on the path going to the left, Lucas stands ready to continue. "I'll go with this group, whoever that comprises of. I think one CQC specialist per group would be a good idea."</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu looked at Tar M'dalak as she walked by. He wished he knew why a special forces sangheili was a wraith pilot, but one look at the rest of the team made his questions absurd, even to himself. He looked away feeling even more like the odd one out. With others covering the entrances for now, Yalu took some initiative to arm himself for the corridors ahead. Amongst the gore of the dead brutes, he pulled out a surviving red plasma rifle with plenty of its battery remaining. He did not enjoy using their spiker rifles, and the rebel human weapons were less predictable in draining shields. His carbine went on his back beside his concussion rifle. Heavy, but out of the way. "I will go where I am ordered," Yalu added, gently enough to remind Ryker of who was calling the shots.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The situation had to be taken in quickly. Yalu shot off a burst of plasma rifle fire before takingcover behind one of the wide pillars. He was grateful for the outlines that came onto his HUD from Aviza. He was too distracted by the brute chieftain's idea of encouragement. Humans weren't as weak-willed as grunts, and he might use that to their advantage. In sync with 'Mdalak's movements between cover, Yalu peeked out to send plasma over the enemy barricades. He could not keep them all down -- he heard a few pink needles shatter against the pillar as he turned back behind to let his plasma rifle cool. How to approach this... Turn. Fire. Take cover. They won't let up until that chieftain was dead. Turn. Fire...One of the humans shrieked. He must have grazed them through the fire in the middle of the room. Aviza's movements caught his eye. Yalu was not too late to notice her weak moment. "Commander, I'll watch the flank," he said, knowing from prior practice how to prompt what he noticed without threatening his leader's honour. He stepped around her to occupy the other side of the pillar. "These humans, will they live if they surrender? We may only be fighting the brutes if so."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai The initial exchange of fire between Aviza's team and the defenders in front of them did leave some casualties on the side of the rebels. One of the Brutes that attempted to flank was taken down by Aviza, and there were a few Humans among the rebels who took hits that would, at the very least, incapacitate them. In a neutral exchange of gunfire, Aviza's team had the firm edge, as most of them were shielded. They could recover after a few seconds of sitting in cover, while the rebels could be taken down by a single shot. Though, the Brutes were more resilient. As long as their powered armor was not destroyed, their shields could regenerate. The rebels had not yet taken heavy casualties, yet they were still quick to begin retreating. They started to fall back from their fortifications in the middle and instead took cover behind the crates on the far side of the room. Even more strangely, the Brutes were willing to retreat. After the loss of just one of their own, they were falling back to the far side of the room as well, chieftain included. Despite the shouting they had heard as they arrived and the fact that he wielded a gravity hammer, he was not charging in nor taking risks. He just kept to cover and made sure his shields did not fall. Shih, meanwhile, spoke to Aviza directly. "I'm monitoring your vitals now. You might have a concussion, but your armor is already administering treatment. Just try not to take any more hits." --- Vael 'Virisusai Between the grenades and a magazine of fuel rods, the two mounted machine guns certainly stopped returning fire, along with all of the other Humans defending their position. Although, between the smoke and bursts of fuel rod explosions, it was also difficult to see how many had been killed in the blasts. Despite the gap in return fire, Tasuma still moved towards cover behind the nearest pillar. The shield on its arm was nigh impenetrable to anything the rebels could throw at it, but the rest of its armor was not quite as durable. Small arms would bounce off of the plating, but the heavy machine guns were another matter. Its armor was dented and damaged in some places, and pierced in a few. Thick, orange blood dripped from a few holes, though the Mgalekgolo as a whole did not yet seem meaningfully affected. On the upper walkway, Ryker would not find himself uncontested. Being that it was such an obvious path for any attackers to take, the rebels had prepared to defend it. It was a long, straight walkway with almost nothing in terms of cover, and on the far end was another set of barricades the rebels had deployed, at least three defenders, and a third mounted heavy machine gun. Ryker might have approached with active camouflage but the rebels were alert and only had a narrow path they were tasked with watching. The gunner still noticed the distinctive shimmer in the air surrounding Ryker and opened fire immediately, along with the other two beside her with their assault rifles. Perhaps their only mistake was opening fire too early, while Ryker was still close enough to the ramp to not be fully committed to the position. Vael had spent the break of the fight behind cover, allowing his shields to recharge. Though, as explosives rained down upon the enemy position, he shouted through their comms. "Do not be indiscriminate with explosives! If any of those crates contain explosives themselves, you may kill us as well as them." Vael ordered. He peered out of cover to try and get a look at the enemy, though the smoke was already thick in the air by that point. It obscured what his eyes could see, though his motion tracker still showed plenty of movement ahead of them. "The smoke shall be our ally. These Humans will fall easily if we close the distance. Grikgar, help Spartan Ryker claim the high ground, everyone else…" As Vael spoke, two objects flew out of the smoke towards them, one after another. Frag grenades, which would certainly land nearby. At that point, Vael easily understood what the Humans' plan had been. The defenders could have held close to try and deny them the support struts they had been using as cover, but normal Humans performed poorly against Spartan and Sangheili alike in close quarters. Instead, they had taken positions nearer to the far side of the room, taking advantage of long sight lines and heavy guns to suppress them into cover, at which point they would have used grenades to either kill them, or flush them out into machine gun fire. But, the quick actions of Vael's allies had foiled that plan. Now, if their heavy guns were even still in one piece, the air was too thick with smoke to return fire effectively. The incoming grenades were little more than a signal for Vael to push forward. "Attack!" Vael shouted, sprinting forward out of the range of the grenades and into the smoke. He had his plasma rifle in-hand and ready, though in such close quarters, it was his secondary weapon. As soon as he saw a Human silhouette in front of him, pushing himself up to his feet amid damaged and broken crates, Vael activated his energy sword and diagonally bisected the rebel's torso in one swift motion. The smoke around him now glowed blue, illuminated by the plasma. Bullets cut through the air towards him, though they were far from accurate, and his shields could stand up much longer to small arms than mounted machine guns. Vael flicked off his sword to hide its glow and moved swiftly, using pulsing bursts of orange light through the smoke from the rebels' muzzle flash to hone in on their positions.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker As the mounted machinegun opened fire towards Ryker, he was already diving with a startled curse. If he was honest, as he rolled part way down the ramp, the SPARTAN IV had hoped that the rebels wouldn't have bothered setting up any kind of defense on the walk way since they had seemed confident they'd control the doorway. Turning off the active camouflage system, he tucks into the wall of the ramp and swaps the SMG for his DMR before, risking a quick peak at the far end before ducking after a couple of the larger caliber rounds rebounded off his shielding. Hearing that Grikgar was on his way, however, gave the Spartan an idea and he waited for the Grunt to arrive. The little guy has a fuel rod launcher and lots of explosives. I'm a decent shot and brought a few frag grenades. The problem is obscuring smoke wouldn't do us any good up here...but a series of progressive explosions could force the men behind that barricade in to cover long enough for me to rush them.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak --- From her position behind the crates, Tar had a slightly better view of the elevated platforms above them. She couldn't see any hostiles peeking out just yet. "I can't see anyone on the platforms; will keep an eye out." Tar reported, just as the box she was hiding behind began shuddering from a hail of bullets. Cover was particularly poor this close to the near pillars; Tar needed to get into the grid of crates to stand a chance. She noticed her left leg was starting to hurt; blood trickled slowly from a gap in her armour plating. Could that bullet she'd felt while holding up her Brute cover outside have gone through, rather than grazed her? She wasn't sure. Tar probed the gap with one of her fingers, mandibles clamped together. She couldn't find an entry wound. She'd need to leave it be for now and look once the fighting had stopped. Tar peeked out from behind the crate she hid behind. A couple of Brutes and Humans had been dealt with, and part of the room was on fire. She could see shapes flitting between the stacks of crates toward the back of the room. It looks like they'd abandoned their previous position. "Our foe runs! We should press the attack." Tar called, shooting between crates at two Humans as they scrambled for cover. One of them fell over. Tar had never actually killed Humans before now. There'd been no need to; her time with the Silent Shadow remnants had been exclusively focused on killing Brutes. She found these Human warriors to be quite disappointing so far. She'd simmed against ODSTs and other Human elements in Paxopolis, but that'd been in a carefully controlled environment. This was real. "Moving!" Tar announced, mostly out of necessity. The crate she'd hidden behind had practically fallen apart. She got up and stepped into a 'corridor' between two rows of crates leading to the other side of the room. She spotted a Human with a SAW at the opposite end of the corridor just as they opened fire. Tar only made it forward one row before ducking back behind another stack of boxes. "I'm pinned, how is my right side looking?" Tar asked, partly to herself as she peeked around the other side of the box and partly to Aegis team, who would have a more holistic view.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko "They're giving ground already?" Yalu asked himself. "That chieftain was clear, but..." His eyes dilated in realisation. Shortly before Tar was fired upon by the human with the assault weapon, Yalu was already loping into a broad sprint down the right flank, sliding to a stop facing to one side. The human gunner flowed into his sights and five plasma rounds shot towards his centre. "'Mdalak! Right side clear!" He hesitated, not yet seeing any sign of a jammer, let alone any extra movement on his motion sensor yet. "This feels like a lure!" He added over a growl. Yalu kept his wits, trying to listen and feel more than see. Brutes liked activate camouflage in packs, and this valley between the walkways was perfect for their prey.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Good, clear from above, Yalu thought towards the dead brute that tumbled off the walkway above him. That was one way to signal that the high ground was taken. Yalu reloaded his carbine. He was at his second-to-last magazine now. Unfortunately, just as his shields found a moment to hum back to full strength, the telltale stomps of the brute chieftain heralded the charge against Rex. The spartan was struck deep into the chest. Yalu was in no position to do anything about it. He fell into hesitation, even as the invincibility module faded away. If it weren't for the ONI agents keeping the enemies suppressed, their flank might have been completely done in. But he shook it off. He filled his lungs and charged. "Rrrraaaaaaah!" Yalu's warcry steeled his nerves as much as it was meant to catch the chieftain's attention. Any one ally would be in danger brawling against a brute with a hammer, but two against one tipped the scales. He fired scattered carbine rounds against the chieftain's shield on the way in. He feigned suicidal rage. However, he kept his footwork ready to void aside or back from a hammer swing in retribution. He did not intend to fight like a mad animal.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Tasuma --- The detonation of Tasuma's fuel rod blast was the signal for Vael as well. While Ryker and Grikgar fired from above on the right flank, Vael moved in on the left flank. He initially moved in under the cover of active camouflage. The imperfect invisibility could be spotted at such close range, but in this case, he only needed it to give him a few moments to approach while his enemy was otherwise occupied. For Vael, he was able to rush in to close the gap on the left pillar while the rebels were hiding from Tasuma's fuel rod. By the time one of them peered out and spotted the shimmering in the air, he was already upon them. His blade ignited mid-swing, and the body of the Human he was looming over put up no resistance as it cleaved through. The second rebel behind the pillar did manage to land a few SMG rounds on Vael in the second or two he had to react, but it was far from enough to break the Sangheili's shields before his body too was pierced by the energy sword. Ryker was correct that the remainder of the rebels were trying to move into the hall. They no longer had much of a defensive position, and those that were left were willing to retreat. The volume of plasma bolts from Grik, couples with accurate DMR fire from Ryker, put on them a great deal of pressure. Three made a run for the door while firing blindly back at the pair, and two went down before they could make it into the hall. For the few that remained pinned behind the right pillar, another fuel rod from Tasuma landed directly beside them. When there were no more left to retreat, the rebels closed and locked down the door to the hallway. It would only delay their team for a short time if they decided to pursue, but it would let the rebels put some distance between them. However, Vael had other priorities than ordering a chase. As soon as the room was cleared, he ran back to the center to the nearest crate. Their objective had been to find the armory, so using his strength to simply pry open the lock, Vael pulled open one of the crates to see its contents. Unfortunately, it was not weapons within, but rather sealed, packaged foodstuffs. He let out an irritated growl and flared his mandibles. "This is not the armory. Fall back, and we will rejoin the others."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker {Copy, coming down.} Turning to the Unggoy, he nodded before heading for the ramp back down. "Sounds like we didn't get the fun objective. Squad lead says back to the split." Obviously the walk back down the ramp was going to prove far less dangerous and the trip back out of the room, but that didn't bother the SPARTAN-IV. It gave them time to strategize and re-establish contact with Aviza's team, though he wasn't sure that they'd answer if they were in the midst of a fire fight. Reaching the bottom of the ramp, Ryker took up a position looking down the hall from the door way. "That sure was an awful lot of fight for some food stuffs. Are we sure they're nothing special?" It wasn't an uncommon thing for things like food stuffs to be used as IEDs, especially with the peacetime they were in and the shortages some sectors were facing. Then again, if they'd been rigged, suppose the Innies would have detonated the stash then and there and there'd have been no firefight like there was. Still, perhaps having a bomb removal team come through and check wouldn't hurt in the post-operation. "Ready to move when you are squad lead."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern The first thought that ran through Aviza's mind as soon as she witnessed Spartan Rex receive the devastating blow from the Brute Chieftains Gravity hammer was immediate medical attention for what was most likely a life threatening injury. She knew this could not be done in their current situation, given the circumstances and the obvious threat that was still prevalent. With very few options available at the moment, Aviza sprinted forward towards her fallen Spartan, only coming to a stop when she arrived by his side. "Shih, I need a full scan of Spartan Rex, or as detailed as you can give. Once that is done, I want you to send a message to the Chorus of Thunder and inform them that we have injured and will need a fully detailed medical team on standby once our mission here is finished." For the moment, Aviza's Argus armor was informing her that she still had a few more seconds before she had to actually face the Brute Chieftain in combat, but a few seconds was all she needed to at least attempt to stabilize Spartan Rex. Quickly reaching onto the advanced medical kit she kept on herself at all times, Aviza produced a biofoam dispenser and was about to place it back inside of the medical case when she witnessed the Chieftain slam his hammer down at the feet of Tar, thankfully no energy wave was dispensed. With some quick thinking, she tossed the biofoam canister at the Brute Chieftains head and then rapid fired the underslung shotgun upon her MA5D Assault Rifle untill the eight round clip ran dry and had to be replaced. If this did not severely injure the Brute Cheiftan, they would be in serious trouble. Thankfully though, Aviza found an opportunity to assist Tar, and grabbed onto the back of her armor, pulling her back and away from the Brute and helping her onto her feet before once more turning to face the Brute Chieftain.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak The Brute Chieftain recoiled under the barrage of shotgun shells, but possessed the presence of mind to raise the bulky armour plate attached to his left arm. It absorbed some of the impact, shattering to pieces. The Chieftain issued a guttural, gurgling roar. He raised his hammer off the floor, jabbing it straight out in front of him at Aviza before lurching round and swinging it in a wide, brutal arc at Yalu as he rushed in from behind. The Elite's battlecry had obviously alerted the Chieftain to the danger. Tar sprung to her feet with Aviza's interrupted help. She dodged the Chieftain's savage jab, aided by the fact she wasn't the principal target. As soon as the Brute turned his back to pound Yalu, Tar jumped forward and clambered up his back. She reached for her holstered energy sword, intent on ramming it through a chink in the Brute's neck armour. Before she could, the Chieftain's head jerked backwards in a panicked motion; his helmet smashed into her face. One of Tar's feet slipped, and she was forced to quickly put both hands back on the Brute's armour to avoid falling off and being trampled. She tried to grab her sword again.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai As tough as its defenses were, the Brute Chieftain was not invincible. At least, not any longer. With his shields now depleted, his armor had to handle the incoming fire. Many pellets from the shotgun blasts either deflected off of the armor or was stopped by it, but each shot weakened his defenses, and some broke through. It might have been hard to notice in the chaos of battle, but bright red blood dripped from some holes in the Jiralhanae's armor plating. Had the Brute's ambush not been discovered, or his allies not taken so many casualties when they tried to rush across the room, they might not have been able to place as much focus on the chieftain himself. Alone, the chieftain could be overwhelmed from all angles. Still, in his blood rage, he may not have even been aware he was essentially alone, and he would be fighting to his last breath. Tar nearly knocked him off of his feet when she jumped on him from behind, but he managed to keep standing. In a rage, he let out a roar as he managed to reach up over his shoulder to grab a hold of Tar's arm. He had her in a vice-grip, and despite his unfavorable leverage, his raw strength was not something to be ignored. Although, in his struggle against Tar, he could not focus on many other threats.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko THUD! The chieftain's hammer slammed into the forerunner floor. Yalu rolled back to his feet in a low stance. A moment too late reading the brute's wide step around and he could have been crushed. Perhaps if the hammer was still powered it might have broken his bones anyway. Yalu raised his carbine and took no shots. With 'Mdalak thrashing around on the brute's back, he didn't want to risk it. He shuffled around for just a moment, dancing around any errant one-handed swings of the hammer. Tar's situation presented Yalu's opening. He thrust the barrel of his carbine up into the cheiftain's armpit -- belonging to the arm that held Tar -- and pulled the trigger. It was the last slug in his magazine.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko THUD! The chieftain's hammer slammed into the forerunner floor. Yalu rolled back to his feet in a low stance. A moment too late reading the brute's wide step around and he could have been crushed. Perhaps if the hammer was still powered it might have broken his bones anyway. Yalu raised his carbine and took no shots. With 'Mdalak thrashing around on the brute's back, he didn't want to risk it. He shuffled around for just a moment, dancing around any errant one-handed swings of the hammer. Tar's situation presented Yalu's opening. He thrust the barrel of his carbine up into the cheiftain's armpit -- belonging to the arm that held Tar -- and pulled the trigger. It was the last slug in his magazine.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Enemy Stronghold The fighting slowly subsided as the rest of the rebels were slaughtered or ran through another fortified door. The other fighters seemed to be ok or at least not seriously injured. Grik was watching around the room as Vael seemed to check a crate but judging by the growl it wasn't what we were looking for. Once the order to retreat was given the grunt was quick to fall back to the door they entered and checked his ammunition. He still had one explosive charge, 2 grenades, one and a half magazines for the cannon but both his pistols were below half. "Will need to rearm soon but Grik is ready to regroup with other team." He called out then with his plasma pistol in one hand and the reignited jackal shield in the other, the grunt began to make his way back to where the two groups split up in the first place. The Unggoy was still aware that the enemy could be waiting around any corner but by the sound of fighting down the hall he knew the other team was still fighting.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan At this time the two had finally redirected their attention to the brute at hand, the big brute - the bad brute. Elna shouldered her rifle and fired upon the creature as its shields were simply corpsed, ripped apart though there was a 'friendly' Elite nearby, she simply had to take the chance to take the thing out, the other Elite had shields right? Though her aim was not shakey or bad by any means, she was a pro. Pulling the trigger a line of hate made its way towards The brute, flying at a break-neck pace it would hit his armor, hit him.. Where fate would roll its dice would simply but up to her aim.. For Roy he lacked the firepower to simply engage, opting to cover the duo in case any straggler rebels showed up he'd blast them into a million federal bits of death. He turned around sweeping up some stragglers but there wasn't much he could do now, they were dead and the show simply laid on the rest of the team. Would they corpse this brute chieftain? The sounds of war echoed out without too much remorse, soon enough this would come to a close. Soon.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Despite the strength of his defenses, as well as his rage and resolve, the Brute chieftain's armor could only take so much. His body could only be pushed so far. Yalu's carbine found a weak point in the armor, so all of the heat, kinetic force, and radiation found its way right into the Jiralhanae's body. He lost the use of his arm, and with all that surrounded him, it made him an easy kill. A few shots from Elna was all it took to finish him off. Few of the rebel Humans had survived the firefight, and those who did were quick to retreat out the other side of the chamber. With the immediate threats dealt with, it was easy to take a look around and see where they were. Some of the crates had been broken open during the fighting, and there were weapons visible. This was the armory, which meant that the console they needed to hack was in one of the adjacent rooms. There were not many rooms to search, so it did not take long for Aviza to bring Shih to the console. It was in a small room through a door on the left side in which the rebels had set up some of their equipment. Whatever the room's purpose, all Shih needed was access to their network. As Shih had alluded to before, the insurrectionists' network security was surprisingly robust for a rebel cell. Even a smart AI like Shih took a minute or so to get through into the network. It was clear that the rebels either had a few talented members, or some resourceful allies, but in any case, Shih was able to recover the information they needed for their mission here and now. In the time it took for Shih to complete her work, Vael's team was able to double-back and rejoin with Aviza's, so they would all be able to move together. By cross-referencing the intelligence pulled from the network with rebel communications she had been intercepting, Shih was able to determine their target's most likely location. "It seems like one of our suspicions was correct. The rebels discovered tunnels underneath the surface that spread out in all directions. They have plans in place to use them as an escape route in just this situation. If I'm reading this right, some of those tunnels are large enough that they were able to get entire dropships down there. They're evacuating everyone they can right now. Their commander is organizing things, but he'll be leaving soon enough too. I…think I've identified a path to his pelican, but if we don't hurry, he will get away from us."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Listening closely and intently to Shih as she briefed them on their current situation at hand, Spartan Aivza was already strategizing and plotting their next course of action. Rex still needed to be stabilized for medical evacuation and she was going to ensure that this happened before they moved out again. Moving to her fellow Spartan who was injured, she took a knee and held her right hand over his torso where the Brute had managed to make contact with his armor. Sensors indicated that he had received severe injuries, internal bleeding, broken ribs, and fragments of bones threatening to puncture his lungs if there was to much movement. Her suits systems informed her that their best option was to be medically evacuated as soon as possible, and that Rex's suit of armor had already stabilized him. "Rex, I will not lie to you, the strike from the Brute Chieftain inflicted severe damage upon not only your armor but also your body." began Aviza as she moved to her feet once more. "It would be extremely unwise to move you at this time, even more so to have you try and attempt to assist us further. For now, you must relax and refrain from moving until we return. My advice is for you to engage your active camouflage and remain hidden untill we have finished with our mission here. Aviza would then send a private message to Shih, "I want you to send a message to the Chorus of Thunder and inform them that we have injured and will need a fully detailed medical team on standby once our mission here is finished. Secondly, please forward the most logical path to take next to everyone's HUD, along with any other information you believe should be shared with the squad." Aviza would hold her position, waiting for the path to appear before her, once it did, she would quickly head off in the direction it lead. One last message would be sent to Rex before she departed, "Keep us updated on your situation Rex, if you need help, I will send a team back to you."</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar clattered to the floor as the Brute Chieftain slumped on top of her. She roared, thrashing about wildly, eventually levering the giant corpse over onto its front before scrambling to her feet. She quickly surveyed the field, and gradually stood down when she was confident the threat had passed for now. Her leg protested; the background level of pain she could feel hidden in her armour was gradually increasing. She gritted her mandibles together and tried to ignore it. A waypoint appeared in Tar's HUD, and she fell in behind the Spartan team leader as they moved toward it. On the way, she discarded her spent Mauler for an M90 shotgun from one of the warped crates. Tar ripped the fingerguard clean off the weapon to accommodate her Sangheili digits before bringing the gun to her shoulder. Not long after, she stooped to grab a pistol from the belt of a downed insurrectionist with her off hand, eyes constantly scanning for hostiles. Tar peeked into the small room the team's AI led them to, before standing alert behind some crates outside it. The rest of the team arrived, announcing beforehand so as to avoid attracting friendly fire. Tar greeted them with a cursory nod, checking them out for gear and equipment until the AI revealed they were short on time. "Our quarry flees! We should hunt them down." She snarled.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu danced his feet back as fast as he could once his last bullet shot into the brute's shoulder. He got to the last punch of reloading in his final carbine magazine only to hear one more close gunshot aimed at the chieftain. The hulking alien fell heavily onto Tar, but she looked like she could handle it. Yalu briefly scanned for more enemies, finding none worth shooting, before turning an eye to their scarred human Corporal nearby. "A fine kill, Cohen." Only now did Yalu take another look at the spartan Rex. He knew it was not his business to eavesdrop, but Yalu showed at least some relief to hear that the spartan still lived, based on Aviza's assessment. But Rex was not the only one wounded. Yalu thought about his next words carefully while scavenging for another weapon. This Tar 'Mdalak was not to be underestimated if he impugned her honour by drawing attention to her bleeding leg. She was no minor under his command, after all. Yalu rearmed with a few frag grenades, a fallen brute's plasma rifle, and a human marksman's rifle to replace his carbine; there was more ballistic ammunition than carbine magazines available. The other team reunited with them, Yalu gave them a nod. They were about to set out when he decided to speak up. "Commander Aviza," Yalu said quietly over the comms. "As you are our medical specialist, your anaesthetics may help us Sangheili pursue our objective faster. Do you have spare doses we may hold?" If they all could hold onto a shot of pain relievers, particularly Commander Vael, Yalu knew 'Mdalak was less likely to lose face if she used it for her leg. It was risky for Yalu to assume Aviza would understand the social nuance, but he hoped the AI could make up the difference.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Surely unknown to the ex-covenant forces who were currently part of Aegis Team, Spartan Aviza had been educated in some areas of Sangheili culture. This of course included how they were quite hesitant to receive any form of outside healing, less they have their honor insulted. The request for the anesthetics came as surprise, regardless though she was happy to comply with Yalu. While still walking down the hallway towards their next objective, she reached into her medical pack and produced a few metal canisters before handing them over to the Sangheili. "These contain an extremely potent anesthetic, they will dull the pain but the injury will obviously still remain and will need to be treated by a medical professional as myself." Once the cannisters had been taken, Aviza would then turn her attention back to the matter at hand, locating the Rebel Base Commander.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Moving down through the structure, the team kept their pace as quick as possible. It was vital to their mission that the enemy leader not be allowed to escape. As per their mission parameters, capture was preferable, but even killing him would be acceptable should capture not be an option. The only outcome that would be considered a failure would be if he were to escape. There was some resistance as they moved down into the tunnels, though nothing like what they had encountered in the chambers above. With how swiftly the team had made their attack, the Insurrectionists had not had the time nor resources to organize more than their initial defense. A good portion of them were likely still caught up in the battle above ground. The few rebels they did encounter tried to set up ambushes, but against a team like Aegis, they did not so much as slow them down. Near the bottom of the structure, Shih guided the team into an elevator leading down deeper into Sarcophagus' superstructure. The rebels had tried to lock it down, but fortunately, they did not seem to have any special understanding of Forerunner systems, so Shih was able to easily override it. After reaching the bottom, it was only a short run through the halls to reach the rebels' underground landing platform. The hallway opened up into a large, flat platform in the middle of a massive, hexagonal tunnel, though it was cluttered with crates and equipment. The hallway exited out near the middle of the platform, so there were multiple dropships on either side of them. Most of them were of different models with different appearances and loadouts, ranging from fully-armed UNSC pelicans, to police and civilian transports. Making full use of every sensor at her disposal, Shih started scanning area as soon as they stepped through the door. Based on the information she had recovered from the rebels' network, she was able to identify and mark the leader on their HUDs before any of the team had even set foot on the platform. The enemy commander was off to their left, about a hundred meters away near the edge of the platform. He was equipped in what appeared to be ODST combat armor, though it was heavily modified. He had been coordinating the evacuation, though the moment he saw Aegis team arrive, he and the soldiers around him made a run for the nearest pelican on the platform. Unfortunately, he was close enough that he would certainly reach it before anyone on Aegis could.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar accepted the proffered metal canister with a grunt and studied it distastefully. She knew a lot of her family and friends back on Brissekh would've been angry at the mere gesture. However, it seemed spending so much time in Paxopolis had begun to change Tar's perception. Medicine and doctors were in bountiful supply there, and the Arbiter's robust lobbying for the preservation of Sangheili life made some sense. They were not as strong as they once were; they could no longer afford to throw their lives away over their honour. Tar hung back for a few seconds and let the rest of the team file past toward the waypoint. She then injected the contents of the canister into the back of her leg - the one that had been shot. She then quietly rested the empty shell on top of a crate and jogged to catch up with the rear of the group. --- Once the lift had come to rest on the vast platform and the target was marked, Tar wasted no time in springing into action. Her pistol wasn't effective at the kind of range needed to take out the leader, but there were closer hostiles that needed dealing with anyway. Most were rushing to evacuate, but some did stop and begin shooting at them. Tar surged off the lift and towards cover at top speed. Her stolen pistol was enveloped in both hands as she emptied her magazine suppressing as many of the rebels as she could. Upon reaching a wheeled trolley of heavy equipment, she savagely kicked it towards a gaggle of enemies in riot gear, sending them running to get out of the way.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas followed the rest of the team in nearly perfect sync, his DMR sounding off to get the targets out of range of the shorter ranged ARs and plasma weaponry. The team moved fast and hard, clearing corners and making their way towards the location of the rebel leader with ease. Sometimes I wonder if this was the kinda of thing that the SPARTAN-IIs had been created for. Taking out rebel bases and leaders for the good of humanity, well, the survivors of the war now. Though ONI would never tell anyone if it were. "Gotta maintain a good public image," they'd say. Sometimes they forget they don't have a good public image anyways... Upon reaching the lift after dealing with the last attempted ambush, which their motion scanners had detected before they ever got near it, the SPARTAN-IV was one of the last on. The ride down was silent, though it was far from an awkward silence. This was the silence of men and women who were preparing to do a job that only they could do and when the lift doors opened, they stepped out to do that job. The marker tracking the rebel leader was easy to follow and his armor wouldn't be hard to bypass. Growing up, Lucas had paid attention to how armor from the centuries was designed and whether it was a suit of full plate armor or a Kevlar chest piece, the joints of the armor were almost always either exposed or the weakest point in the suit. The ODST armor that the rebel leader was wearing was no different, and the exposed knee joints were easy to see, even from here. But the man also had his entourage of guards, so going straight from him probably wasn't the best idea. Though slowing him down... His decision made, the stock of Ryker's DMR found its way to his shoulder and he fired three times at the retreating forms of the rebels, though the las shot had a slight delay. The first two shots found the heads of the two soldiers most immediately blocking his shot to the leader, the two rebels both gasping in surprise as the bullets made impact. The SPARTAN-IV had had to wait a few seconds for the bodies of the two to fall before he'd fired the third shot, which was intended to pass through the back of the man's left knee. Not only would he fall to the ground from the sudden loss of his knee and kneecap, but he'd be slowed down considerably even with help moving from another person. Keeping his external speakers off, he spoke into the team channel. {VIP crippled, but he's still got help. Need to move fast.}</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- The enemy commander was, naturally, the priority, though Vael still had no intention of being trapped in tunnel vision on the target. Running out onto the platform, they were exposed to a lot of angles. While there was cover, and many of the rebels were more concerned with rushing to their evacuation than turning around to attack, there were some soldiers turning their attention turning towards the team. "Tasuma, cover our flank!" He ordered. The Mgalekgolo would certainly not be able to reach their objective before someone else on Aegis could, so his focus would be more useful on protecting the others. The rebel leader did not slow his pace as the shots started to ring out around him. Ryker's attempt to stop him might have worked, but he had more than just Human equipment to rely on. Before Ryker could take his third shot, the bright blue energy field of a Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet powered on to take the bullet, which protected him for the rest of his short run to the pelican. The leader did make it into the troop hold of the dropship, but he did not order takeoff immediately. Other rebels were still rushing in behind him to evacuate, and he did not seem intent on leaving them. Shortly after making into the pelican, he leaned out to give cover to his allies, keeping in cover behind his gauntlet while angling an M319 grenade launcher to fire over it. The grenade came in quick towards the center of the group, then airburst over them. It did not detonate close enough to make any kills, but the EMP effect could effectively drain shields.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko The quieter moments of the pursuit gave Yalu some moments to reflect. The mission was not going flawlessly. He did not know whether the enemy commander would still be at the landing pad by the time they reached him. It would not be over by then, he told himself. If the human rebels could fly through these tunnels as a routine, then he might... He paused his thought before they opened the door to the landing pad. There was little time else for Yalu to do than to take a shot alongside the others at the commander. "He has a gauntlet. Need more firepower-" The grenade flew across them. Yalu reflexively ducked and covered his head as it went off. He grit his teeth at the shock that had blasted against his now EMP-drained shield. This breach was dead in the water. But he did spot some other aircraft in the landing pad. They had perhaps a few seconds before their quarry could load up another grenade and they could not push an assault without shields. That was the first concern. "Grenade out!" Yalu risked an arm out of cover to pitch a fragmentation grenade out ahead with plenty left on the timer. It bounced, slid, and coasted to a stop across the forerunner floor, spinning in place ahead of the pelican's ramp before detonating. Yalu was already switching to his concussion rifle for the next stage. He had only six shots left to pin down the enemy while the rest of the team followed up. "The quarry covers his allies' retreat," Yalu observed. "We are not hunting a coward."</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker If Ryker recognized the older set of armor when he caught a glimpse of it, his face didn't betray anything. He didn't even speak again until the Sangheili was armored up and then he nodded. "Right then if we're all spiffed up and ready to go, I heard this place called Han's Crabbery is pretty good." As the SPARTAN-IV turns to leave, leading the Sangheili officer, and Ben if he wanted to go, to leave, a knock sounds and then a familiar voice speaks up. Grinning like a mad man, Lucas opens it up to see Aviza on the other side. "Glad to see you came back, Aviza. We were getting ready to head out to have some seafood. Wanna come?"</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Sydney Australia Grikgar hauled himself up once the human commander gave himself up. The ploy the human had used was very smart. Not only did he keep his cool but he was able to bluff his way through the entire encounter. Still, they had finished their mission with few casualty's and all seemed to well enough for all of them. The brutes were destroyed and the humans scattered Grik was well aware that it would take them some time to recuperate their losses from this and reorganize. He did not expect to be returning to this place anytime soon. The group rallied and left quickly, a response from the planets defense system was well on its way. The following weeks were filled with down time as they waited for further orders. His team was itching to get back to the fight as the remaining covenant continued their fight across the galactic scene. Soon they found their team was put on pause and Vael took his soldiers back to the stars to continue the fight. The Unggoy Ultra was only operating with them for a few months before receiving a request to return to his home planet. It was a strange request but one he accepted. It was after all to assist in the creation of a new vehicle specifically for Unggoy. Grikgar had never been to his home world before as he was born on the Seeker of Truth. Still, he would find the next few months interesting none the less. On top of working on the new vehicle the researchers were calling "Goblin" using a human term for some mystical creature in their history. Grikgar was continuing to train in small arms, long range fire support, new infantry artillery weapons, artillery vehicles, and hand to hand combat. The last mission made him realize where he was lacking in combat and knew where he needed to broaden his scope of skills. Other than training with a few elites that were around and beating them as well as engaging the odd Kig-Yar pirates in the system, Grikgar's stay was interesting but not entirely too dangerous. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shaking back and forth for a moment the Unggoy checked his air supply for a moment. His shuttle had just entered the atmosphere and was making its way down toward the city where he met his former companions so many months ago. He had received the notification to return to Aegis team during the final testing of his personal combat vehicle. As late as he was at least he was here. The humans were kind enough to have a handler meet him so that he may be able to travel the city streets without too many issues. Sometimes a group of angry humans could quite possibly gang up on him and cause an incident. Although Grik didn't think he would be the only one to be injured if it came to that. Most of the other spices of the former covenant had intimidation on their side through sheer size or demeanor. But Unggoy where after all about the same height as a human just built to be a bit bulkier. The handler didn't say much only that his things were stored and would be available once they were on mission and that he would take him to where Vael would be. Buy the look of the human and a few others once he stepped off the shuttle he knew they wouldn't be much for conversation. He was almost certain that no one would be able to distinguish his rank by the colorations on his combat harness but at least they didn't want to talk too much either. Although he didn't have his full sealed combat suit that was even upgraded to include grav-boots making it a completely sealed suit, it also had a better personal shield in it now and it wasn't as experimental. This was thanks to the researchers from his home world. The shield was comparable to the strength of an elites now and one of their next projects was making more of them for the better trained Unggoy. The ride to where the commander would be staying was quiet but it allowed the grunt to look out the window and see all the different people and sights in the city. Human settlements were always interesting, from food, to language, to smells, sounds, and architecture. The car they were in soon came to a stop ending his site seeing for now and the handler motioned for him to follow. Turning a few corners the two came across someone that looked familiar. It would seem that the others were already getting together and he quickly waddled past his handler and up to his squad mates. "Hello, does this sea food include crab?" almost as if they only saw each other the other day Grik completely skipped the formalities and went straight to food. After just getting planet side an hour or so earlier, he was quite hungry for some human food that was always much more palatable than nutrient paste.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Again, Vael could not help but to feel irritation at the amount of attention he suddenly found on himself. Were all of these people looking for him, or each other? He had no grievances with working alongside them, but they were not on a mission at this moment. Still, he did not voice most of his thoughts. This was not his world, and it did provide an opportunity for him to learn more about how he could expect his allies to behave. When their missions brought them to Sangheili worlds, he would need to instruct them on what would be expected of them. "Is it customary to crowd a guest in his quarters?" Vael remarked as he once again locked up his storage container. Now properly armored, he moved himself past the others towards the open door. "If so many of us are here, I do not expect it will be long before we are called for the briefing. If you have somewhere you want to bring me, Spartan Ryker, then I will follow you for now. Otherwise, I will wait in your military's headquarters."</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko The two Sangheili, Tar and Yalu, took a path that led out across another broad grassy lawn. Earth's singular sun was not lacking today. Each distant bed of multicoloured plantlife leapt out from either side of their eyes with reflected light. For all of Tar's deliberate voice, Yalu took longer than he wanted to respond. Sangheilios could have been described as exciting, but not in the way Tar implied. "Where do you call your homeworld?" Yalu asked. "Brissekh." Tar replied after a moment's hesitation. Her home accent showed up through the pronunciation. "My bloodline settled it centuries ago. It is not...quite like Sanghelios, but it is still wild and bountiful." This felt strange to Tar. She hadn't had many proper conversations with her team, and didn't intend to make a habit of it. You never knew when they'd have to part ways again. But she wasn't sure how to disengage besides running into the carefully manicured undergrowth. "Where is your Keep?" She asked, keen to take the attention back off herself. "Raithos, Sanghelios," Yalu answered flatly. "Isolated, well defended, never a strategic priority in history. My people are not exciting, I fear. Their philosophy is not as glorious." Tar huffed gently - she admired the candour. "Every great civilisation needs administrators, adjudicators, artisans...witnesses. To balance the scales between prosperity and pestilence. My own Keep could learn much from yours, I think." Yalu guffawed. "I would agree with you, but willingness is another matter entirely. One must prefer not to slay those they defeat in that place." They passed by a red marble fountain, atop which stood a statue of a small human holding something up and away from a water bird. "I take it your keep conducts themselves differently," Yalu said. "Commandos like yourself do not come from monastic places." Tar studied the sculptures, her hand idly swishing through the water in one of the small satellite fountains around the edge. She hadn't the faintest idea what the arrangement was supposed to symbolise. "My people are naturally suspicious. Family feuds have been passed down through so many generations that the original offence is lost." She watched a Pelican drop ship fly overhead. "Even the war failed to bring us together, until a Brute ship arrived right above our heads." Tar's mandibles flexed and she growled at the mere thought of that day. Yalu flicked an eye briefly down at Tar beside him. He then looked ahead and sighed through his nostrils. "...This garden may not be 'exciting,' Commando 'Mdalak. But I recognise it is a place of peace. Unless you are at peace with those events in your past, I will not ruin it today." Tar traded that look with Yalu, and realised she'd said too much. She flexed her fists and changed the subject as they started walking again. "Where did you serve? Before Aegis?" "Hm, plenty of places for the Swords of Sanghelios," he recalled, looking up to the blue sky. "The past few years before Commander Virususai, I was a fireteam lead. Under Ultras 'Sutek and 'Kartar in Khael'mothka. Peacekeeping missions. Hunting Covenant remnants around Rahnelo before that, under Ultra 'Boset. Mostly assaulting Covenant cells, disconnected from that bloodthirsty 'Mdama. The previous Ultra on Rahnelo before that -- his name escapes me -- commanded me for only three months before transfer." Tar nodded, looking ahead but genuinely interested now. There were still many things about the conflict that she did not understand. If not from a tactical point of view, then an ideological one. "And...before that?" Yalu breathed in. Just then, a jet black Pelican drop ship with sky-camo on the underside soared over their heads. It was relatively quiet despite the breakneck speed it was travelling at, and didn't look to Tar like the regular model. The Pelican dragged its tail around the garden to their left, circling them while losing speed until eventually it lowered onto the grass with its cargo bay facing them. "Could've parked closer than that…" Tar's handler muttered, raising a flat hand to his eyes to see who was watching them from inside the craft. Yalu caught the hint it was their ride. "Before that is the story of a different Major," Yalu answered Tar. "That may have to wait for next time."</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Even trying as he did to remain quiet on the pelican ride back to base, Yalu's curiosity got the better of him. Tar had to listen to whatever conversation their handlers and pilot would allow about what the 'sea food' was in the local area. Yalu was still not sure by the time they landed whether he had missed out by declining Lucas' invitation with the others. The dilemma faded to nothing in Yalu's memory when he entered the briefing room with the rest of the team. He gave nods to those he was familiar with on the team, opting to stay standing with arms crossed behind shorter members of the team. The light of the holograms above the table shone in his eyes. Brissekh. He turned an eye to Tar right before she boiled over. It was a surprise that made him flinch. Yalu guessed if anything would make the quiet 'Mdalak loud, it would be this. As for the plan itself, Yalu had to temper his expectations about Tar's use infiltrating the keep. It would be a much more crude frontal assault. He could not say they did not have a good reason to do so. It was a Kaidon's responsibility to defend his keep. This Uztel 'Mdalak could not run from it forever. Unless, of course... "And if the target withdraws from the keep, should we pursue or attempt to secure the keep ourselves?"</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Ethat 'Lacalu, Major Alice Robinson, and Vael 'Virisusai --- Ethat took only a moment of thought to reply to Yalu. "It's best to deal with him quickly, but…it is more important to claim the keep and ensure the planet knows of Tar 'Mdalak's victory. To flee his keep instead of fighting to the death to defend it would mark Uztel as a coward. Only the most fanatical of Covenant supporters would be willing to overlook such dishonor. If you have to make that choice, focus on securing the keep." He answered. After a few moments of silence passed, Major Robinson deactivated the display and pulled Shih's data chip from the holotank. "If there are no more questions, then Commander Vael 'Virisusai has operational authority for Aegis team on this mission. That means he will be your commanding officer. There is a pelican waiting outside to take the team to our Blockade Runner in orbit. All of your equipment is being brought to the ship as we speak, along with UNSC reinforcements and supplies that have been approved for the mission. Dismissed." Vael had an eye on Tar. After her initial outburst, she had kept quiet. However, he knew her well enough to know that this was not a mission she could just detach herself from. Much of her motivation for fighting was to restore her father's honor; family did have clear meaning to her.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar barely heard the mission details being discussed. Her ears were ringing like she'd been struck. Her own brother had betrayed the entire family with his treachery. She should have seen this coming! The warning signs had been there, now she really thought about it in this conference room, with the sound of others talking droned on in the background. When the three of them were just children, Falx, Tar and Uztel spent many hours hunting Du'nak in the forests outside their Keep with the other younglings. Imported from Sanghelios centuries before and rewilded by accident soon after, these animals had adapted well to the cold, wet hillsides of Brissekh and grown suspicious of Sangheili again. Operating as a pair, Tar and Falx, her older brother, had wounded and cornered a prime specimen. An adult alpha with long, broad tusks and mature back-horns resting within a muscular frame - the ultimate prize. They'd been closing in on the wounded animal after harassing and tracking it for the entire morning. Finally, they found it collapsed up against a rock formation, with dense bushes on one side and a steep drop on the other. They had it trapped. But as they approached to strike the killer blow and claim the animal as their own, a spear flew through the undergrowth and pierced the Du'nak's head, killing it instantly. Uztel appeared. Tar & Falx had exploded with fury as Uztel calmly collected his weapon. "I'm sorry, siblings. I didn't see you there! Forgive me." He proclaimed. But Tar saw a glimmer of amusement in her brother's eyes that day. A sadistic streak that thrived on reaping rewards for minimal personal risk. Uztel swore he had not been stalking the pair of them once he knew they had a worthy prize. Yet, Tar later found out her younger brother's hunting partner had lost sight of him hours before the incident had happened. Tar returned from her reverie just as the Human female dismissed them. "No one touches my brother, except me." Tar growled, tapping her chestplate with one fingernail as the others turned to leave. "If I fall in battle, you leave and allow Brissekh to decide Uztel's fate. Or you find Falx and free him, if he still lives. Those are my terms."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas didn't speak when Tar spoke, instead nodding and continuing on his way out of the briefing room. This whole thing stank of an ONI op, from the removal of Tar's older brother to the younger brother refusing to put himself at risk. In fact, as he stepped to one side to wait for the Commando, he eyed the ONI PO and his escort. Those two were ONI through and through, despite playing nice with the team thus far. If he had to guess, they probably had orders to make sure the team failed if it ever looked to be not worth the effort in the Intelligence agency's eyes. Same as they had tried to do to all the old black ops teams when the war ended. They weren't a necessity anymore, just a risk. We all knew too much... That wasn't to say that the two knew anything about the other issues, Ryker knew ONI too well to think that, but he could probably never bring himself to trust the organization again. When the Commando stepped out, he matched her pace. "I understand that a lot of this has to do with Uztel has to do with Family Honor and the like. But you're needed alive, by a lot of your people. Don't do anything rash, especially if your brother is what they say he is. You know he won't fight fair or honorably."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Ethat' Lacalu and Vael Virisusai --- Ethat let out a quick huff as he turned his head towards Tar. "Once the assault begins, there is likely no escape without either destroying most of the keep, or deposing Uztel. The Covenant's operations on Brissekh will be stopped, one way or another. The plan we have devised is our best way of doing so with the least damage to your homeworld. Do remember that." Ultimately, Vael saw little reason to argue against the plan at the moment. Strategically, it was sound. If the plan proceeded successfully, then Brissekh would have new leadership loyal to the Arbiter. There would certainly be resistance from Covenant loyalists after the coup, but they would not be conquering Brissekh. Tar had the legal claim to become Scion, so if Uztel was removed in battle, honor would demand most of the citizens' loyalty. It would be unconventional, with Tar being female, but the position of Scions had changed under the Arbiter's rule. If they were correct about the level of support for the Arbiter on the world, then Vael did not expect that the resistance would be insurmountable. Ryker joined Tar as the meeting was dismissed, though Vael did not. He doubted the Human would understand half of what a situation like this would mean for someone in Tar's position, but if he made the mistake of offending her, then the Spartan could deal with the consequences himself. As long as his team could perform their duties to his standards, they were free to deal with personal issues between them however they saw fit. Should they ever fail in their duties because of such issues, then they would have Vael to deal with. Vael himself wasted no time in making his way to the pelican outside. They would be using a Sangheili Blockade Runner for this mission, so it would be the Humans who were out-of-place this time.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu tried to search the eyes of his superior officers to gauge the reaction to Tar's proclamations. He was not especially relieved to hear the ever diplomatic Lacalu try to appeal to the responsibility Tar had to her homeworld rather than making it clear that she was not the one in power here. The very fact that she was on this mission presented a personal influence that could compromise the objective. Looking at it from another angle enlightened Yalu. They needed her to fight voluntarily to show the populace she was worthy of Brissekh. They could not have her going rogue. A female commando this far from her keep would necessarily be bold enough to do so. Yalu walked a few paces behind Tar and Lucas but did not pitch in with his opinion. He turned off to stop by his quarters before proceeding to the hanger so he could leave behind the foam racing collar around his neck. "Sorry Lucas," he muttered to himself. "I pray you do not learn too violent a lesson with your human sensibilities." He made a personal note to bring a cold pack with him to the pelican, just in case any heads needed cooling.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and UNSC AI SHI 1203-8 --- Like most of the others, Vael first prioritized heading to the armory to equip himself for the mission ahead. It would still be hours before they were set to begin, but he wanted to ensure he would be ready at a moment's notice. He could manage the changes to his team, though his impression of the new Human was not particularly positive. Most Humans were not like the Spartans, who were strong, capable warriors even by Sangheili standards. The average Human was…variable. During his time in the war, he had seen excesses of both cowardice and courage from Human warriors. Sometimes, they would flee like Unggoy as their will was broken, and at other points, they would fight against overwhelming odds to the last breath against superior foes, and sometimes even attain victory. Only time would tell how this Human would compare. Vael was not a normal member of the ship's crew, but he did not attract near as much attention as the Humans undoubtedly would, aside from the fact that the crew he passed tended to quiet down from their conversations when he was near. As a high ranking officer, that was not a fact he found strange. He only heard parts of conversations between a few Unggoy on the way to the armory, but even though he heard them perfectly clearly, he found what they said to be as incomprehensible as it was irrelevant. All of the team's equipment had been transferred to the ship, and Vael quickly found the crate containing it after he arrived. Given the mission parameters, he did not intend to arm himself differently from his standard preference. An energy sword, plasma rifle, and his carbine would be sufficient for what they would be facing. For his armor's equipment, active camouflage would be the most useful for the first objective of dealing with the anti-air cannon. After that, they would be returning to the ship, so there would be a chance for the team to adjust their loadouts for the assault. Vael was surprised when the hologram of the Human AI, Shih, appeared at the end of a table near to him, at the center of the room. Evidently, it had been given approval to interface with at least some part of the ship. Vael was not sure that he approved, but it was not his decision. "I believe there is something I should inform you and your team about." Shih announced to Vael as soon as she appeared. Vael turned his head back and spoke calmly. "Very well. You may speak, construct." "Right…if you bring your attention to those crates over there, there is some new equipment that has been approved for Aegis team's use. It took a lot of…debate, but there are weapons and equipment recovered from Prometheans that both UNSC personnel, and your people, can you. I may have to do some work to interface the armor abilities with your harness, but I have been told it can be done. The modules are adaptable." Shih explained. The concession to allow Vael and his team to use the Promethean equipment could have been seen as an offering of trust, through Vael doubted ONI would be so kind. Likely, it was a decision driven by circumstance and practicality. Jul 'Mdama's forces were still working with Prometheans after the campaign on Requiem, so it seemed likely that the Swords of Sanghelios would be able to recover Forerunner equipment just as easily. Sharing it with Aegis team now simply allowed them to seem more cooperative. Opening up the crates, Vael did find a variety of options available. Promethean enhanced visual sensors, hardlight shields, and autosentries were all available, as well as a small variety of Promethean weapons. There were multiple boltshots, suppressors, and grenades, two lightrifles, as well as a single scattershot, binary rifle, and incineration cannon. They were all powerful weapons, but ammo availability would be a limitation. If one chose to use one of the weapons, they would only have a single spare reload.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak There was no time to waste for any of the crew aboard the Magnificent Defiance. So normal activity quickly resumed once Tar had removed herself from the situation, with dozens of orderlies and droids transporting cargo to be stowed in the various holds. Unfortunately, Tar was intent on striding right through their operating space as she brooded on the task at hand and the unexpected help she was receiving. Some of it welcome, some of it not. Suddenly, a platform containing tightly bound crates whooshed down the ramp of a Pelican to be collected by one of the automated hangar grabbers. It appeared on one side of Tar's peripheral vision and she quickly turned to face it. She seized the platform in mid-swing and transferred the energy through her stance, tipped it over and away from her. The servos whined as the platform attempted to right itself, but Tar offered no apology. She carried on through to the armoury, deep in thought. There weren't many alternatives to murdering Uztel, if she got her hands on him. If by some miracle she could convince the Keep to recognise her as rightful successor while he still lived, she could banish him from Brissekh. But there was always the chance he could plot her death from afar. That wouldn't do at all! Tar stalked into the armoury with potential plans and speeches circulating in her head. Her blades will have been packed up and sent to her quarters along with her other effects. She'd need to go and get those before deployment. An armourer on the ship she'd travelled with Silent Shadow on had developed a special mount for both handles on the small of her back, which meant she could carry more weapons and gear in the field. Tar made the most of it, clipping four Spike Grenades to her belly. After pondering it for a little while, she followed up by stowing a Carbine and a Storm Rifle on her back and a Mauler on each thigh. She stared longingly at some of the ammo vests on display, but none would fit around her torso and armour. She also watched some of the other UNSC troops attaching front holsters to their chests. The Humans had inferior armour, but their ingenuity and resourcefulness was still impressive. Her attention was diverted by Aegis team's leader talking to one of the machines. Some interesting objects caught her eye in the crate they were examining. She walked over. "Forerunner weapons?" She asked. She didn't know much about them.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Mention of the Forerunner weapons made Yalu crack an eye open. From where he sat, now properly armoured on a bench trying to put his mind at peace, he could just see into the crate. How the ancient weapons shone in his vision. Yalu stood up and removed the enclosing helmet of his red assault harness to approach. Behind him were his selection of weapons: plasma grenades, concussion rifle, and a replacement needle rifle taken in lieu of his previous plasma carbine. One of them might not come with him this time. "So fine and elegant these artifacts are," he said. "Had I laid eyes on such things before the betrayal, having used the Prophets' imitations for so long, I might have noticed their arrogance sooner." He reached carefully for the scattershot. It reassembled in his grip to form its true shape. He curled his mandibles in quiet delight. "Shih, tell me more about this one, if you please."</s> <\|message\|>Comi'Masam Spartan Lucas Ryker From one side of the armory, where Ryker was going over his DMR and making sure the pieces of gear that were shipped to ship ahead of him were still in good order. At the same time, he was talking with Comi'Masam about the team and it's members. Or at least the ones who'd been put back on the team. A quick review of their roster revealed that one SPARTAN-III and the Mgalekgolo both weren't recalled to Aegis, but that was a risk that came with a joint team. As he finished running a cleaning swab down the barrel when he overheard the conversation between Shih and Commander Vael. Finishing the barrel swab, he quickly replaces the parts and approaches, spotting the crate and the goodies inside as he approached. "Had a couple of buddies who served on Requiem, newer SPARTAN-IVs. They had limited chance to use the weaponry, but one of them got real good with with that Hard Light Shield module. Read the intel reports on the Promethean vision, so I'll be snagging one of those if no one has complaints." Comi'Masam Securing her SRS99 on her harness as well as her pistol and specially designed energy sword on her thighs respectively before joining the others at the crate and glancing in. A smile crossed her face as she picked up one of the modules. "Hardlight Shield, excellent for pushing up corridors and providing mobile, if temporary, cover in an open battlefield. Definitely my preferred module when an op goes south." Appraising the weapons, she shakes her head. "I don't much care for the Forerunner weaponry, lacks the power of a good plasma rifle or human assault rifle."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai UNSC AI SHI 1203-8 --- Right when requested, Shih's avatar appeared next to Yalu as he observed the alien weapon in his hands. "This weapon has been officially designated as the Z-180 Close Combat Rifle/Asymmetric Engagement Mitigator. Common vernacular identifies it as the 'Scattershot'. It is a close-to-medium range weapon which fulfills a similar combat role to the UNSC's M45 Tactical Shotgun. Based on our testing, it appears to fire a spread of hard light projectiles created from energy cells loaded through a breach-loading mechanism. It has a capacity of five energy cells and, like many Forerunner weapons, is capable of completely disintegrating the bodies of living beings, most likely for the purpose of denying them as assets to the Flood. The individual projectiles can ricochet off of hard surfaces and possess limited tracking capabilities. A single shot at close range can defeat any known armor system." She explained. The weapon was not loaded at the moment, but there were a total of ten cells available, and she had instructions available for anyone who chose to take Forerunner equipment.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko For a moment, Yalu was lost in the mystery of the scattershot's design and mechanics, turning it in his hands and looking down its sights. He almost forgot it was a weapon. Shih's explanation gave him the details he needed to know, but he hoped to learn more about this technology later. "Thank you, construct," Yalu nodded to the avatar before taking up the ten shots he would be limited to during the mission. He somehow expected them to be heavier. Some of the others were not so convinced. Yalu gave a grunt. "Suit yourselves. This weapon shall suit many roles. Especially at our destination. I may count on those shields you found to make better use of it, too." He held the scattershot aside and perused the rest of the crate. The autosentry caught his eye. He picked one of the modules out and went back to the bench to read through its operation. The concussion rifle would be left in the armoury for this mission. The keep no doubt had a few to use in the field should he need to find one.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker For the most part, Comi and Lucas kept to themselves on their Phantom, speaking quietly and punctuated by the occasional laugh or chuckle from one of the two. When game time came, they were ready to go. Spartan Lucas Ryker As his boots hit the soft earth of the planet's surface, the SPARTAN-IV was already putting his DMR to his shoulder and moving to secure the perimeter before anything else was done. However, he had to admit that the weather conditions would make this trip just a little trickier than they'd likely anticipated. Of course, as he cleared his quadrant and found nothing, he did smile as he recalled the days with his old Black Ops squad, using weather like this to hide both their approach and their exfiltration. This might not be so bad after all, all things considered. Hopping into the back seat of one of the spectres, DMR still in hand. "Well, on the upside, you can't ask for better weather to mask an approach from the low ground." Comi'Masam Comi had landed alongside Ryker when she dropped from the Phantom, but moved in an opposite direction. She had her sniper rifle stored on her back and her plasma pistol up and at the ready, though her sword remained on her hip as she moved to the edge of the clearing and secured it. Following that and doing as she was ordered, she sat in the spectre separate from Spartan Ryker, storing the pistol and drawing her sniper rifle. "I am in agreement, Commander. Any guards on patrol will not see us through the rain and fog."</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar sat quietly through the phantom ride, listening to every rattle and hum of the hull as if it was talking to her. Her mind slowly calmed, uncoupling from the galaxy outside Brissekh to focus solely on the mission. They all knew what they were doing, they'd seen the maps and force strength reports. Now all that was left was to walk those paths and eliminate anything that got in their way. Tar was loyal to Brissekh, but like any other Sangheili warrior, wouldn't hesitate to kill her clanmates if they refused to stand aside. She checked her loadout one more time, then stared into space again. Time passed, until suddenly it was time to go. Tar got up and stepped into the grav lift without hesitation. The rain whipped about her as she levitated down to the ground, bringing the smell of wet vegetation with it. This instantly brought back memories from Tar's childhood, foraging and hunting in woods like these. She scanned around as she flew, taking in the edge of the forest and the mountains in the background. It was good to be home; she could've warbled with delight had it not risked attracting attention. Tar's feet sank into the mud with a satisfying squelch. Thankfully as her armour had been crafted on Brissekh, her shoes came with small retractable studs to keep her steady on this kind of unstable ground. The Commando raised her carbine and fanned out, securing the perimeter as rain hammered the clearing and trickled into the cracks of her breastplate. Once Vael gave the order to mount up, Tar moved quickly to the lead Spectre, stowed her carbine and hopped into the driver's seat. The front hull closed in around her legs, leaving just her head and upper body exposed. She activated the vehicle, and it floated into a ready position. "The fog could get worse. Stay close." Tar grunted, checking her instruments. She wasn't as familiar with driving Spectres as she was with Phantoms and Banshees, but most of the principles were similar.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The descent to the planet could only accommodate so much meditation. Yalu found himself ruminating too much to glean any more benefit to his mind and body. He opted to bring himself back to the present around him and joined in conversation with his team mates. He grew quiet when they were near the ground. The grav lift hatch opened to blast them with cool humidity. Yalu almost spat at how thick the air was. This place, the plant life and the atmosphere, it could be as potentially disorienting to the team as it would their enemy. The notion of the keep guards' home ground advantage sank in as deep as his toes into the mud. Maybe bringing along 'Mdalak would be more a benefit than he had estimated. "Mounting up," Yalu obeyed, hoisting himself up and dropping into the cockpit of the next Spectre vehicle. He deposited his needle rifle in a suspension holster beside the controls and powered up the sleek grav craft like a swift morning routine. It hummed to life and raised a foot above the mud. "Do not get too comfortable," Yalu warned. "They might have your Promethean optics too. Do your best to spot them first."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael took the driver's seat of one of the spectres himself. It was going to be a long drive, so he wanted to be sure that each one was taken by an experienced driver. He did not want any delays in getting to their objective ,if they could be avoided. Although, he did still decide to defer to Tar to lead their convoy. Being a local, she had more intimate knowledge of the environment and terrain, especially surrounding the keep. He believed it would be wise to take advantage of her experience. "Check your maps. Our objective is located on a plateau in the mountains near the keep. Once we come close enough, we will proceed on foot up the mountain. We will establish the communications jammer for the Human construct to use to cut off the cannon's guards from the keep. Should we be detected, we must ensure there are no survivors to report our presence." Vael explained as he prompted Tar to take the lead. --- Although they had to move through a forest, the spectres were maneuverable enough that the team started out making good time. Once they came to a small river they could follow, they were even able to press on at full boost for over ten minutes straight. Naturally, the closer they came, the more cautious they would need to be. However, before the cannon's defenders could even begin to be a problem, there was another obstacle manifesting around them. The rainstorm surrounding them did not subside. Far from it, the storm grew ever stronger as time passed. Heavy rain turned into a torrential downpour, deafening thunder followed cracks of lightning every few seconds, and winds picked up to the point that the rain was falling near horizontally. The storm was strong enough that the spectres started to tilt in the wind. Vael had to turn his vehicle into the wind at an angle just to keep going straight, which only added to the issue of poor visibility. Vael could just barely make out the glow of the gravity propulsion drive of the spectre ahead of him. For those on the turrets, and especially the side passengers, it would be a struggle just to hang on.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar swore as her Spectre creaked again, trying to fly away in the howling wind. She was taking on a worrying list; her engines whined as she turned the front into the wind and squeezed every ounce of power from them. "Lean into it or we'll go over!" She bellowed at her passengers. Rain splashed directly into her face off the front hull of the Spectre. "We should find shelter. This is the rainy season - the worst could still come!" Tar knew all too well the perils of braving events like this, especially on the exposed plateaus where they were headed. Many Sangheili had spilled their blood on the rocky outcrops below. She frantically cast her eyes around for somewhere they could go while trying to control her Spectre. Visibility was almost nil outside the basin they had been riding through. Then Tar saw the dark green vines plastering the forest floor on one side. She knew immediately what that meant. "Up on our left! There's a cave system!" Tar called, pointing with her free hand.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu kept his hand calmly hovering over the emergency brake every moment he could. Lower visibility meant following closer behind the commander's Spectre. The speed they were keeping up did not help the risk either. Though, he did not falter — he was not on the team for being an average driver. Tar's directions caused Yalu to bank hard to turn in her new direction. He made the repulsors weaken to almost nothing as the wind turned his vehicle into an aerofoil for a moment. It was all he could do not to have the whole thing flip over and injure his passengers. He said nothing but a quick acknowledgement to keep down on radio chatter. His questions and concerns about the weather would have to wait.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak A Tengmaa bulb's hide was tough for a reason - all of the plant's digestive and nervous capacity was contained within that control centre. However, the plant's evolutionary pathway evidently hadn't prepared for a barrage of radiation, explosives and bullets. So when the bulb's vulnerable innards were exposed under the water and promptly cut to shreds, the Tengmaa quickly lost control of its numerous appendages. The first to go limp were the half dozen thick trunks which stretched all the way out into the sunlight, gradually tapering at the end. Next were the serpentine manipular vines coating every surface of the cave interior. Then, with nothing left to distract the invaders, the throbbing cilia inside the pool trap promptly died. And with that, the Tengmaa bulb unmoored from the position it had held over the cave's onward descent for decades. First came a sickly snapping noise as the struts supporting it detached. Then, with a sound like a giant toilet flushing, it disappeared into the large hole on which it had previously been sitting. This was how it had filtered waste water out of the chamber to stop it flooding before. The water rushed over the rocks, disappearing down the waste chute after the bulb. The chamber was filled with this roaring sound for a while. This new opening also helped disperse some of the toxic particles from the room, though Tar still choked uncontrollably as she struggled to her feet and surveyed the area. Water was pouring in from the opening above their head and another gap along the wall from them (the other cave opening, most likely). It wasn't enough to refill the bowl below them though, so it quickly emptied until just a few carcasses lodged in place remained. Fanning her mandibles with one hand, Tar got up, walked to the edge and wordlessly jumped down into the barren bowl. Her energy sword's pommel had fortunately gotten stuck in a crevice and hadn't washed away, so she carefully picked it up. Looking up toward the ceiling and coughing lightly, Tar returned her lost sword to its mount on her back, with the other one. She pointed upward, to the feeble shaft of light shining down on her from above. "I see the way up the mountain! I remember now - it is an invigorating climb."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai UNSC AI SHI 1203-8 and Vael 'Virisusai --- Aviza would hear Shih's response in her head right away. "I'm not getting any major alerts on anyone's vitals. Nothing worth mentioning. As for the storm, though, the mountain we're under is blocking most of the useful data from our sensors. Best I can tell you is probably the same thing you can hear from that opening up there: it is still going strong." Even after the bulb made its apparent retreat, Vael stood on guard for a few moments. He continued pointing his plasma rifle down the pit, watching for any signs of movement. It was only once Tar called their attention to the way out that Vael moved his gaze elsewhere. "And it will be a dangerous climb. It is steep to start, and the rain from the storm will only make it more difficult." Vael walked up towards the wall, looking up at the exit above. "But this approach shall allow us to reach our objective undetected. Tar, Ryker, and I will climb first. Grik and the Humans will go next." He said, referring to the unaugmented Humans among them. "The rest of you will watch for any more attacks from this beast, then climb up behind us."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko After the death flurry of the Tengmaa plant jostled Yalu free, he secured his weapons and shot up to his feet. He breathed a sigh. He was glad to kick off the initial anticipation of danger on a piece of flora. And it looked from a quick glance that everyone had come out of the situation in one piece. Yalu reloaded, narrowing his eye at his dwindling scattershot charges. "Yes, commander," Yalu said. "I wonder if any of those bodies in the pit were once our enemies."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael gave a glance down to the pit, but did not take much time at all to dwell on it. "The dead matter no longer. Keep our focus on the mission ahead. The cannons still lie above us." Even for beings as agile as Sangheili or Spartans, the climb was not an easy one. While there were vines and some jagged rocks on the cliff to provide handholds, the stream flowing down from above made the climb precarious. Especially with the storm outside, there were few paths outside the path of the waterfall. Nevertheless, Vael did not intend to hesitate in pressing forward. Since Tar had been here before, he allowed her to take the lead and followed her path up, while the others kept an eye out for any signs of activity from the Tengmaa. While it was not a quick climb, the first three up made steady progress to the top. Along the way, Vael used an energy dagger to make small cuts in the rock to mark his path for those behind him. Hopefully, it would make the task at least somewhat easier for his allies. After he, Ryker, and Tar made it to the top, Vael ordered the rest of the Humans to follow suit. It would be a more difficult task for the unaugmented Humans like Roy or Flint, but Vael had Aviza climb near them to give assistance if need be. Grik would have a harder time than the Spartans, but the oversized forearms of Unggoy did make them rather strong climbers. At the end of the climb, making it to the top was ultimately not much of a relief, given that the storm was still raging at near the same strength as it had been when they found the cave. The terrain around them was rocky and uneven, the rain made it hard to see in much detail beyond a few meters, and the winds made it a challenge just to move around properly. Even just to communicate, they were dependent on their radios. "Even in this storm, it should not take long to reach the cannon, and it will serve to mask our approach. It is vital that the Keep not learn of our presence, so we must either not be seen, or leave no survivors."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker All Lucas could think of as they made their way up the slope to the outside world again was that this was incredibly reminiscent of more than one mission he took for ONI back in the war. Not that he was surprised, they were presently on what was more or less a black ops mission. Though from his conversations with ODST and marine vets, the overall feel of this was more common for standard UNSC missions than they want to admit, especially for the Hell Jumpers. Once they reached the top though, his DMR was on his shoulder, watching the cliff edges above them the best he could in the still raging storm. When there was mention of making sure the Keep didn't know about them, Ryker grinned. "You have at least two members of Aegis trained in assassination and covert obstacle removal here. Once we can see the cannons, give myself and Infiltrator 'Masam a few minutes and we can do both." Infiltrator Comi'Masam Following behind the commander, Ryker and the Commando as ordered, Comi came out just in time to hear what Lucas said and nodded. "Aye, we could do it, though if there are more of us that are trained in the skillset Infiltrators use, then the more the merrier. Honestly, this storm is good enough cover, our sniper equipped allies could remover any guards higher up and leave us to clear out the lower area without concern."</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu was the last to make it to the summit. The rain-covered surfaces did no one any favours, let alone himself. It felt like training. Just without the elder elites climbing after you to pull you off the climbing surface. He pulled himself up onto solid ground and shook his arms out. "Last man," Yalu mentioned to prompt the team that no one was left clinging onto the cliff. A pattern could be sensed in the radio chatter, Yalu noticed. They were thinking too far ahead for practical measures. He took out his needle rifle to peer down the optic at their surroundings. Good cover indeed. "Ryker, has a Promethean Vision module." Yalu gestured to him with his elbow. "Seems we have that as an edge. For now, it is time to move in silence." Yalu secured his needle rifle -- turning off the optic and bringing the needles back into the body of the weapon to shut off any bright lights on his person.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: the climb The climb up out of the cave and to the top of the ridge was difficult even for him. His species had natural enhancements that helped them climb but even climbing up this he could feel his methane tank catching the gusts of wind with its bulk and pulling him off balance occasionally. When finally at the top he made sure to stay low with a hand running along the stone next to him so he had something to grab on to if he was caught in another gust. At least now that they were getting closer they could see their massive objective a bit closer now. Speaking his opinion over comms as they continued their approach, "If we are not concerned about keeping the gun mostly intact to use after this engagement. Grik believes he has enough explosives combined with the remaining magazines for his gun to destroy the platform supports or its foundations to topple the gun." He couldn't tell if the platform had supports but it was likely given the terrain being uneven. Even the subtle erosion from fresh drilling and stormy weather could assist with this plan.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Shih and Vael 'Virisusai --- It took only an instant from the others' perspectives, but Shih ran as thorough of an analysis as she could on the practicality of sabotaging the platform from below. The others hardly had time to consider the suggestion before she started giving her report. "The storm is giving too much interference to my sensors for me to give a definitive answer. Whether or not an explosion of that yield could sufficiently destabilize the platform would depend on how well it is anchored. It is possible, and would certainly deal significant damage to the platform in any case, but it is possible that the cannon may remain operational." "So we could not simply place an explosive and leave. We would need to remain to ensure the cannon is disabled, and to kill any survivors." Vael remarked. "Yes, and I can jam their communications if it comes to that. As long as you leave no survivors, the Keep will not be alerted." Shih added. It seemed they did have options. Attempting stealth could allow them to silently achieve their objective without a firefight, but it was risky. Discovery would place their infiltrators in an exposed position, and they would have to fight the enemy at full strength. Opening with an explosive, even if it did not destroy the platform entirely, would still likely kill some, and disorient the rest. But, they would be guaranteed to have to fight here. "Spartan Ryker, your Forerunner sensors would make you the best suited to try to silently get close. Active camouflage will be useless in this storm, and the platform has little cover. I am not convinced that a silent approach would be best here; Grikgar's plan may be more likely to work. But, I would hear your assessment first. Vael requested. Compared to any other Human, Ryker would know best what Vael was asking for here. Unlike many other Sangheili, Vael cared little for pride when it came to strategy. He wanted to know, objectively, if Ryker believed his infiltration in this situation would be more likely to succeed than the alternative.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Recognizing what it was that Commander Vael was asking of him, Lucas sighed quietly and looked up towards the cannon, swapping modules over to the Promethean Vision and seeing what he could see, which was more than he would have admittedly given it credit for, as only heat signatures seemed to register, but even with that...We'd still need to get up the rock face, get Grikgar and his explosives in place... His brain continued to go over the details of what they would have to do in either situation and, while it couldn't do it as fast as Shih could, still came to a conclusion fairly quickly. "They're both uncertain and come with unique dangers and challenges. Mine comes from the fact that I'll be alone, Grik's has a chance of just not working like we need. So speaking objectively...I have to say stealth over chance. I've been in and out of plenty of Covenant installations, even before I was a Spartan. This? Nothing new. My concern is we know these guys are allied with the Prometheans, won't they have access to the Promethean tech as well?"</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko "We put the gun on a sudden lean, everything tips over," Yalu thought out loud. He held out his rifle horizontally in both hands, looking at it as he tilted the barrel end down. "What remains on the higher end, with their feet set to EVA combat, may fire stably down upon a stricken foe which wants for cover. A victory as swift as gravity." The suggestion had holes, Yalu knew. He was jogging tactical considerations as much as hoping such an approach might allow for a survivor or two, albeit alone in the jungle.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak While listening to the others discuss options, Tar sniffed the air and looked around. A tingle ran all the way down her arms and into her chest, taking cues from atmospheric pressure. Thinking back to when she was last here, Tar finally understood what was coming. "A rolling bank approaches… I say we use speed over stealth; take those buildings to shelter if it passes over." She scraped a couple of steps forward and looked through her carbine's scope just as the rapidly darkening sky suddenly lit up like daylight for a split-second. Tar studied the platform, looking for any signs they had been spotted. After a few seconds, a deafening boom washed over the mountainside they were on. The sky lit up again, and Tar growled. "We're exposed - whatever we do, we have to do it quickly!" The Commando looked over at the squad leader.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael heard and considered the advice of the members of his team. They all had their own expertise, and he could benefit from making use of it. Still, though they had a few options, a decision still needed to be made, especially when there was no clear "best" choice. "We cannot carry out our ambush and attempt stealth. An infiltrator would be in range of the explosives, if discovered. An ambush is the safer course. Most of their warriors will likely be in those structures on the east side of the platform. There are no guards underneath the platform, so Grikgar, you should be able to plant the charges on the supports underneath them." Pausing a moment, Vael started designating positions on the team's collective HUDs. "As Yalu suggests, we shall take positions on what will become the high ground. This ridgeline here will give a strong position for most of us. Aviza, Ryker, Yalu, take a position on the western ridge to create a crossfire. When the charges detonate, the Unggoy outside will most likely panic, so they will not be our priority. We will instead focus our fire on the exits to the structures to cut down the rest as they try to reach safety."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: setting up for the big boom Grik nodded in agreement with Vael's decision and began to get his gear situated. Turning off his shield and camo he looked to the leader. "Ok Grik will move to the position and plant the explosives. It might take Grik a little while, might have to crawl or climb over the edge momentarily depends on cover." Turning for a moment to survey the land in front of them that he could see to plan his course accordingly. "If there is nothing else, Grik will head out now while the storm is still providing cover." The grunt sounded excited to go and blow something up. He was well aware of what he needed to do and how to do it. His low sturdy frame making the strong winds less effective against him and would help to blind the grunts on patrol if they didn't have goggles. The rocky sometimes steep terrain was well suited to his climbing ability. All he had to do was stay low and slow but still move with purpose to lay the explosives and start their assault. With the rest of his ammunition and his proximity to the structure when he arrived Grik decided that he would take a flanking position on the opposite side of the structure after the explosives were set and open fire after the others start to. Giving them a false sense of a larger force and to give them nowhere to hide.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Nodding an affirmative to the plan their commander decided on, Lucas joined Aviza and Yalu in heading up to the western ridge. His DMR wasn't quite suited to this kind of bad weather fighting, but they should be close enough that his shots wouldn't be overly affected by the wind speed. Glancing at the others, he grins behind his helmet at the sight of Aviza's sniper rifle. WIth that, the plan should go over well enough. "So, how do we want to space out?"</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko A quick affirmative and Yalu was in line with Ryker. He strode forward with his needle rifle down and to one side. With any luck, the engagement would finish rapidly after it started. Yalu had to perform some mental unit conversion in his head to give Ryker an answer. "21 metres during combat. Until then, Tar is the huntress here." He did not elaborate. "Grikgar, signal ten seconds before detonation. We will ready weapons and shields as late as we can." It was tempting for Yalu to take off his helmet to see further past the storm cover. Every second leading up to the clash was making him more tense. Until then, more climbing, more stalking.</s>
<\|description\|>Yalu 'Suumko Rank (If applicable): Major (Swords of Sanghelios) Species: Sangheili Appearance: Standing at 252 cm (8'3") and keeping his brown eyes to himself most of the time, Yalu is the model of any Sangheili soldier. His average grey complexion only conforms him further. Without his armour, he barely sports a somewhat wide chest and mandibles to give him an individual appearance. His combat harness at least allowed the expression of his lineage; a refurbished assault pattern harness he brought out from family storage shortly after The Great Betrayal ensued. Skills: Close to medium range combat, vehicular combat, and just about any situation requiring improvised solutions under pressure. Not the strongest or most resilient, but fast of body and mind. Preferred Weapons/Equipment: - Type-57 Carbine [T-57 C] or Needle Rifle [T-31 Needle Rifle], though any good marksman's weapon will do - Concussion Rifle [T50 DER/H] - A Brace of Plasma Grenades [T1 Antipersonnel Grenades] - Wrist-mounted energy dagger - Whatever else is at hand Background: Yalu began his career from an unassuming life on Sanghelios, indoctrinated like many of his peers into the Covenant dogma and piped into its military training. It quickly became clear that he was a fast fighter and a faster learner. Merit in training carried him into promising early missions for his masters. He distinguished himself enough to earn respect -- a reliable soldier with strong initiative, a level head in a crisis, and always looking out for his team mates. His superiors saw enough potential in him to present fitting challenges, but he generally fell short in one key aspect. His kill count was low for a soldier of his capabilities. He was promoted to major only when most at his cohort and skill level were already each majors for at least three years, and he never earned the right to carry a sword. Those Yalu worked alongside could not begrudge any lack of skill or courage. He knew when to strike and was a fantastic shot in amongst any firefight, not to mention no one could recount a time he seemed to panic or give any indication of retreat. When the time for slaughter came, he simply feigned advance when everyone else rushed forward to take scalps for personal glory. Superior officers spoke with him about his reticence, but there was always an excuse or a dodge he had. They most eventually tolerated his behaviour as a lack of ambition. That was until he was assigned to an Ultra with a deep seated bloodlust during the Human-Covenant war. Yalu faced the most dangerous months of his life in that time, as he was thrown into mission after mission with the tacit (and sometimes clearly stated) objective of killing as many as possible. It was in this time that he grew resentful and empty. He might have lost himself completely as he justified the missions as a path to the Great Journey. Then the prophets stole away everything. The Sangheili were replaced by the Jiralhanae and the truth came out about the Halo rings' purpose. Yalu's commanding Ultra tossed aside any notion that the prophets were in the wrong as if there was hope on the other side for any of them. Yalu, with the support of the soldiers around him, called the Ultra out, accusing him of dishonourably feasting on blood rather than granting mercy to worthy opponents. The Ultra drew an energy sword and a duel followed. Yalu won out by taking a cheap strike at his opponent's jaw to shed one drop of blood, before claiming it was the only honour he had to spill. The Ultra lost his temper and fell into all of Yalu's traps until he collapsed into a battered heap, beaten to within an inch of his life by the butt of Yalu's carbine. In one more act of mercy, Yalu obliged the Ultra's next order to end his life to cover his shame. Thankfully, Yalu was not the only one resentful of their position and betrayal by the prophets. The battlegroup agreed to find and defect to the separatists. Once again, Yalu fought for a cause in a way he could agree with. After the war, Yalu's body count was still abnormally low. While respected by his peers, his new leaders resented his lacking approach to his personal honour and glory. The prospect of Aegis Team was the perfect way to dispose of Yalu while still providing a top notch fighter with a cooperative spirit to joint operations.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- The armored column had to move quickly to take advantage of the surprise they still had over their enemy. The open ground outside the walls would have made for a strong defensive position, had the city's garrison been able to see the attack coming. The plasma turrets alone atop the walls were far from sufficient to stop, or even slow down an armored assault. At the moment, they were able to push forward at max speed to close the gap to the city walls. Weapons fire from the mantis and scorpions at long range could tear apart the plasma turrets long before they could do meaningful damage to the vehicles. The plasma turrets were intended for anti-infantry or anti-aircraft roles, while other defenses would normally handle heavy vehicles. The push to the wall had been simple, with little resistance, but now that they were approaching the opening their ship had made, they were about to be stepping into much more danger. While the breach was not small, two scorpions side-by-side would only barely squeeze through. For their entire column, it was going to be a choke point. They caught a few glimpses of infantry through the opening, but machine gun fire from the scorpions forced them back into hiding. No doubt, they were scrambling to establish a defensive position inside. At the moment, the team could not know how many anti-tank weapons were already in position inside. The defenders would be scrambling to deploy them to the breach, but it had been less than a minute since landing. If they were lucky, they would be able to get a foothold inside before the enemy could arm themselves to deal with them, but the longer they took, the more the enemy would be able to fortify. "Shadows, stay back until we have a foothold inside. Everyone else, push forward!" Vael ordered. They were going to be pushing into an urban environment. The city did have streets wide enough to accommodate their vehicles, but it was still going to be far more cramped than the field they were in now. For armored units, urban fighting could be particularly dangerous, so they would need to be adaptable and alert for threats that could come from any angle. They did not know exactly what the other side of the breach looked like or where the enemy was positioned on the other side. There was only so much planning that could be done ahead of time; at a certain point, they had to adapt and improvise. How they decided to cross the choke point would be important to improve their odds.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker and Infiltrator Comi'Masam Leading a group of warthogs and a couple of other needlehogs, Ryker and Comi were already inside the breach, lighting up any infantry that they could see. However, once they were inside the walls, the needlehogs were in a very different situation, as their munitions were worthless against the walls and heavier protections offered by the urban environment. The warthogs equipped with standard armaments would have the penetration to clear out walls without having to risk their crews, but Ryker and the other needlehogs were going to have to hope they could catch the defenders between positions as they raced through the streets. {Light armor group is inside the walls and doing what we can to push back the city defenders. What's the plan for securing the buildings as we move? Needlehogs are good against infantry, but not much else.} Comi, meanwhile, was lighting up every Unggoy, Kig-yar, and Sangheili that exposed themselves long enough to take more than a couple of needles, keeping any of them holding anti-tank weaponry from getting an actual shot on both the Warthogs and the approaching scorpions and wraiths.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak As the breach was so small, a traffic jam inevitably ensued as the heavier armour filtered through into the city. Soldiers on the walls began firing small arms and chucking grenades down onto the vehicles beneath. Tar's Wraith hung back slightly and pounded the walls with blue balls of plasma. She tilted her plasma repeater as far up as it would go and sprayed the parapets, forcing some of the Sangheili there to take cover. Her shield flared as a carbine bolt pinged off the Wraith and into her face. "Clear the gap, move!" Tar yelled, ducking back down as far as she could go into her cockpit area as her gun overheated.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko With a hollow wheeze from its engine, Yalu swung his banshee around toward the walls. The close air support on his wings could fly over relative safety with all the anti air turrets on the walls blasted off their mounts, but the weather left visibility to be desired. Yalu's voice hummed quietly over the comms from the shelter of the prone cockpit. "We have the skies. Mark urgent targets for the hornets and banshees. We will be shooting down their aircraft as they come." Yalu did his friends a favour in the spare moment to do a strafing run on a parallel street to the wall to keep anti-armour teams pinned. The street lit up with rapid fire plasma bolts. No small arms fire did more than scratch at this distance. It was all he could do before enemy air support came onto the radar. He pulled up and boosted into the rain to gain altitude.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Armored Assault on a Shadow >>> Sieging the wall Grik continued to hold onto the lead troop transport as they began to crawl closer to the walls of the city. The breach in the wall was a tight fit for the vehicles and the defenders on the wall were not going easy or breaking their spirits. Yet it did not seem like they were getting the heavy weapons they had left to bear on the advancing armored column or the vehicles pouring through the gap. Small arms and anti-tank weapons were a likely cause for the amount of fire power heading towards the breach in the wall and the city beyond. The grunt had a good opportunity in his new suit, to show off its power and maneuverability on top of not being seen on the battle field before. This was a test run for non-simulated combat. Now would be a perfect time to test out its ability to clear walls and trenches knowing that it could easily dive off the wall if it got too hot. Leaping from the troop transport, Grik began moving through the armor around him to get to the wall quicker than the transport could. Evading so many tanks and other vehicles wasn't entirely easy, he found that he had to hitch a ride here and there on a tank or two to get out of the way but eventually made it to the wall. "Lift and shift your fire on the right wall." Grik called out over the radio. Slowly and deliberately he waited for the armor to shift its fire to allow him up while pinning down enemy forces. Being mindful of being shot from the other side the goblin mech scaled the wall to the top were most of the defenders seemed to be rallying and started with a barrage of heavy needles before he even got up to the top. Following the barrage quickly up the wall and beginning to open fire on the defenders keeping an eye on his shield strength and continuing to use cover when he was able too. Hopefully this would give the vehicles more time. To get through the gap.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- It went without saying that Grik's maneuver came by surprise to the defenders on the wall. The prototype goblin had far more mobility than would be expected from a vehicle of its type. The infantry on top of the wall were not equipped to overcome the heavy defenses of the mech, nor did they have much cover to hide from it. Those that Grik did not kill right away retreated quickly. In addition to taking a lot of the pressure from his team below, from the top of the wall, he would have a good view of the streets inside. With the light vehicles Ryker was leading having pushed through the gap, they had been able to put pressure on the enemy infantry pretty much immediately. They had forced many of them to scatter and seek hard cover, which meant the tanks pushing through the breach behind them did not have any sort of organized frontline to try to stop them. Plasma mortars from allied wraiths sailed overhead to bombard groups of enemies that could be seen rushing towards the walls in the distance, while shells from scorpion tanks were targeted more precisely at closer groups. While their armored column was able to establish a foothold in the walls, moving forward still presented more dangers. Not long after they started to advance, a flash of green shot out from off to the right in front of them, from the doorway of one of the buildings. A fuel rod struck one of the warthogs, sending it rolling until it crashed into a barrier on the opposite side of the street. A second fuel rod fired quickly and struck the front of the lead scorpion, though from a single shot, there was no penetration through the tough armor. The shooter quickly ducked back into the building, but Vael marked the target for his wraith's driver. It fired one plasma mortar, then another back-to-back. Between the two of them, the small structure collapsed entirely. "We have neither the time nor forces to secure every building. We shall use our armor to destroy any place they may hide. Our objective is the Kaidon. Should Tar defeat him in honorable combat, then the city shall recognize her right to lead. Advance straight to the keep, as quickly as possible." Vael ordered. The city, of course, was not strictly a military stronghold, though Vael did not seem concerned by differentiating between military and civilians. The building the wraith had collapsed looked to have been a residence, but it was no less of a target to him. In the air, the blockade runner was still close enough to provide support, as well as serving as a target for the attention of ground-based AA. Yalu and the other banshees could use it to gain an edge over the incoming banshee squadrons. However, their ship could not continue to soak up damage forever. An alert went out that there would be two minutes before the blockade runner retreated. Once that happened, any pilot still in the air over the city would be in much more danger.</s>	<\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Those are many civilian buildings going up, Yalu thought to himself. The first line of them had little warning. Would the others have time to get out of the line of fire? There was no time to act on it now. Enemy aircraft were showing up on his motion sensor before his eyes caught them through the poor visibility. They could see him and his wingmates. Yalu dove to gain speed and lined up a close shot on one banshee to the left. A few plasma bolts flew out to force evasion. The enemy rolled to one side -- a manoeuvre not easily interrupted. Yalu mouthed a prayer and lead a fuel rod into its path. The sky lit up for a second. Yalu figured something out. "Air, pull back towards the blockade runner," Yalu said over comms. "Do not cover me." It was a relatively straight path to the kaidon's palace from the breach in the wall. A wide, main parade street at that. Yalu swung around and dove for the street level at full boost, trailing lines of bright plasma and several enemy banshees behind him. He levelled roughly thirty metres from the ground and kept going at full speed. He would be below the anti-air batteries and very much in view of any civilians left in the area. Hopefully his risky flight path would give them notice enough to evacuate under the pretence of leading the enemy away.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai "It is possible your intuition is correct, Spartan." The Major answered to Ryker. "ONI has accepted that as a possibility as well. Should you arrive to find the situation is drastically different from our predictions and are unable to contact us, then you should exercise your best judgment to act in the interests of the UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios. But, the evidence we have does lean more strongly towards rebels being the guilty party. Shih, if you please." The AI brought up a different set of images, this time close-up shots from multiple angles of the weapons recovered from the attack, two plasma rifles and an energy sword, as well as detailed shots of some of the plasma damage on the walls. "The markings were found on the energy sword, and were not prominent. Based on previous patterns where it has been seen, it may be a custom of this particular Brute clan to mark trophies they take, perhaps as an insult to the previous owner. They could have been mistaken for battle damage, and the rebels may have not realized they planted marked weapons. If we are right, their goals with the attack were still successful. We may be careful and methodical in our investigations, but the court of public opinion is not so patient. Tensions on the planet are already rising as the colonists blame each other. The rebels may be taking the strategy of driving a wedge between us and the public." "Whether it is rebels you find or another threat, it is still our job to act. Aegis is not merely a strike team. You all were not just chosen for your combat ability, but also your loyalty, judgment, and adaptability. In this mission, and others, you will be called upon to go into uncertain situations that are too dangerous or time-sensitive for traditional espionage. You will need to investigate on your own and act in the best interest of our respective governments." Major Robinson added.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Grikgar sat quietly while he listened to the others talk, some of them seemed like they didn't share his excitement for missions or just didn't realize that the Unggoy was never taught how to be professional. When your entire military Career is, "these are your orders see you in paradise." He was never taught how to be appropriate for the most part. Understanding how to act on the battlefield was an entirely different situation than this. The topic and general mission briefing quickly continued as another human entered the room. By the way the others saluted him he was definitely high ranking, then again most ship masters and captains where. The AI he used wasted little time going through what was happening, Grik honestly didn't understand a lot of it but he was able to get the overall gist of what was being said. Then came the pictures of the massacre and some of the weapons used. "Well at least it is easy to see that brutes didn't do that." His voice still sounding a little electronic but not as high pitched as a normal grunt. "Computer lady said the brutes where trading for supplies right? Then that means Brutes are hungry." Pointing towards the pile of human corpses, "Brutes like the taste of other aliens and they really like the flesh of humans. So if this was brutes you would see limbs cut off or gnawed upon." The grunt didn't seem too phased by what he was talking about but by the way he was talking about it one could assume he had seen it before. Soon the AI continued on about the mission and onto where they thought the rebels and brutes where. Vael's words also made him think about it too, he didn't know what this 'Sarcophagus' was but it sounded large and important, important enough to have a settlement of elites and humans on it with their own warriors and ships. When the AI described it as a forerunner instillation the Unggoy became quiet and seemed to shrink into his seat. Almost as if he was just now grasping the seriousness of the situation. Once the diagram of the instillation began to expand so too did Grikgar continue to tilt back in his seat to follow the hologram until he inevitably fell back in it crashing to the floor. He stood back up quickly and tried to set the chair back up only to find that the back of it had broken off. Sitting back down in the half broken chair the grunt looked up at Vael with a sort of "oops" shrug. Now it seemed that the Spartan was going to talk next while Grikgar spun in the broken chair looking at the hologram. The AI and scary human lady continued to talk for a bit longer before seemingly to pause for questions. "Grikgar has question." Looking to the AI then to the scary lady who he already forgot the name of, "Grikgar was part of fleet that chased you're…" he paused for a moment both to remember and look to Vael for any indication that what he was saying was a little much. "Demon- err, Spartan 117 to holy ring. There we learned Spartans where not real monsters." Again pausing trying and failing to gauge visual ques from his commander to not continue, "Will Grikgar have to fight parasite again?" the Unggoy was quiet almost as if he was a little timid for once. Although he hadn't seen a lot of combat with the flood, being an Unggoy special operative he has seen what they can do and they always seemed to be lurking in forerunner instillations.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Major Robinson and Vael 'Virisusai --- For once, the Major did not have an immediate answer when Grik posed his question. Despite his surprisingly insightful comments regarding the Brutes, Robinson had not paid him too much attention, even when he broke one of the chairs. However, his question caused her to raise her brow. "You mean the Flood?" She knew what he was referring to, but the connection to why he was bringing it up was not immediately clear to her. Vael, however, understood Grik right away. He had already given the Unggoy a low growl out of annoyance for his clumsiness, but he did not do the same for his mention of the parasite. Normally, he might chastise an Unggoy, or any other of his warriors, for cowardice, but Vael too had the misfortune of having to face the Flood during the war. It was the one opponent to which Vael felt no shame in saying he feared. The parasite was a horror he would not wish upon even the San'Shyuum. "These shield worlds were intended to preserve life when they used the rings. The researchers at Sarcophagus have found no presence of Flood." Vael answered to Grik, basing his words off of the information he had been reading from his data pad. "Yes, well, you all have your orders." The Major continued. "I will also ensure you all have access to the relevant mission files when you arrive on the ship. Now, as to the matter of Aegis Team's command structure, the UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios have come to an agreement on a non-standard command hierarchy. Depending upon the context of your individual missions, either the UNSC or Swords will be given operational authority. Meaning, the command of the team will be given to either Vael, or myself. However, as I am not a field agent, it will be one of you taking command in the field. Spartan Aviza Morgenstern, in light of your service history, you have been authorized a promotion to Fireteam Leader. For this mission, the UNSC has been given operational authority, so you will be in command of Aegis Team. Also note that Vael will be considered your second-in-command, and when the Swords have operational authority, you will likewise be considered his second-in-command."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Shield World 006, sometimes known as Sarcophagus but more commonly known as ONI Research Facility Trevelyan had become partly-common knowledge among some of the UNSC. Aviza remembered hearing about the joint UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios Onyx United Research Project and that it contained a growing settlement with a population in the thousands. A few scenarios as to why the Brutes and or Rebels would want to attack such a colony that was undoubtedly heavily protected ran through the Spartans mind, perhaps it was for the Forerunner technology that was undoubtedly being integrated into humanities own, to create unrest among the UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios as had been suggested, or for some other unknown reason. Regardless their reasons, the fact that they would be traveling to Shield World 006 drew great interest for Spartan Aviza. From her knowledge, Shield World 006 was the largest Forerunner creation known to the galaxy, and being able to explore such a place caused a small flare of excitement. The mention of Remnant forces was oddly something Aviza had not considered until the moment, but then decided that if the Remnant had indeed carried out the most recent assaults, they would have been much more clean, precise, and well executed. The Remnant were more of a threat than the brutes, in all areas, and fighting them would prove quite a challenge. The Unggoy known as Grikgar had broken the chair he had be leaning back in, but had also brought up very good points that she had somehow over looked for the time being. He was correct, if the Brutes were as hungry as they appeared to be, why would there have been human corpses laying about? Clearly, Grikgar was much more intelligent than his fellow Unggoy, the thought of Yap Yap the Destroyer ran through her mind but was quickly pushed back at the mention of the flood. Aviza had heard of the Flood, seen videos and images of them, and even fought against simulations of them in War-Games but fighting them first hand was nothing she had experienced, and in all honestly, was not something she ever wanted to do. Thankfully though, Vael 'Virisusai explained that it was impossible for the Flood to be on Shield World 006. What happened next came as a surprise to Spartan Aviza Morgenstern, she knew Vael 'Virisusai and Major Robinson were in command of Team Aegis, but being selected as the Fire Team Leader caught her off guard. Still with her calm and collected demeanor, Aviza responded by standing then giving a momentary firm but crisp salute. "It is my honor to not only be chosen as Fire Team Leader but also to work with the Swords of Sanghelios, I will carry out my orders in the best interest of the UNSC and the Swords of Sanghelios as a whole." Once she was finished speaking, Aviza would grab onto her helmet with her left hand, assuming that they would be departing very shortly.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 This was not what Ben had expected, but he went with it. "Ben, be advised that our team leader has not been briefed on your-" Ben silenced the AI by focusing his eyes on an option to silence Phong which had been programmed into his HUD. Vael knew at least some of Ben's background as an assassin whose real mission was to shoot traitors, cowards, and anyone who would threaten the fragile alliance between humans and the Elites, but Aviza might as well have been Grikgar for all she knew about him. And Ben was under very clear orders NOT to let more people know about his true purpose; he might as well have outranked any of them for the purposes of preventing an interspecies incident. If the mission had to fail in order to keep the peace, Ben wouldn't hesitate to make that happen. They could always deploy a second team, guaranteed, but there was no guarantee that humanity could survive another war. Still, he was also under orders to cooperate while the mission proceeded, and following Aviza was temporarily a part of that. He swallowed his disgust for the Spartan IV program and spoke up to Aviza. "Just make sure that the team keeps to its mission and that we do nothing to jeopardize the alliance. I hope the seriousness of the situation isn't lost on anyone. The human race nearly died in the last war, and that was before the Halo rings were discovered and all sapient life was nearly exterminated. I trust we will all be on our best behavior." "Do you want to see the odds that you're going to have to kill at least one of the team? They're getting higher every minute. The success rate of a mission led by a Spartan falls with every generation after the Spartan IIs. Even when-" Ben muted Phong once more, taking great care not to show any emotion or distrust by his body language. He had kept his helmet on the entire time, so nothing showed from that front.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Making the medic the Team Lead...alright, well, seen stranger things in my life. Lucas hadn't spoken again over the course of the briefing, choosing instead to absorb the information about the mission and only whistling quietly when Shih gave them a holographic look at the sheer size of Sarcophagus. The SPARTAN-IV had been on several missions both inside and on the surface of that Forerunner dome and it always amazed him that they'd pulled off getting it built before originally firing the rings. With the briefing finishing shortly after, and after reassurances that the Flood weren't present within the installation, which Ryker wasn't sure if he believed or not, the team was dismissed with the naming of Aviza as Fire Team Leader. He had no reason to delay heading to the Falcon other than to let the Mgalekgolo get on first. The Pelican ride was quiet, as no one yet wanted to break the social ice, but then he couldn't say he was surprised. Aviza was likely mentally preparing herself to be in charge in the upcoming mission, the other two Spartans likely SPARTAN-IIIs and weren't keen on conversation anyways and the former Black Ops operative wanted nothing to do with the pair of ONI spooks unless he absolutely had to, he'd left ONI for valid reasons and he wasn't about to answer questions about his past with the Office of Naval Intelligence from people who didn't need to know. So while they were in transit between the landing pad the Pelican had started on and the UNSC Chorus of Thunder, he simply enjoyed the view. He had decided that he would learn the most about their Swords allies once they had all settled in on the Heavy Cruiser and were able to get some training together in. [i]Actually...they had the module installed already, so maybe we CAN get some training in, perhaps some one on one custom games or something. At the very least, I'm gonna run some combat sims, keep acclimating to this dagger that a Spec Ops Sangheili had given him after a few missions together. Her name was Comi'Masam, one of the leaders for a Swords of Sangheilios Spec Ops squad operating in another part of the Arm of Orion. His previous fire team, Regis, had worked in tandem with them for several months shutting down a series of Covenant Remnant operations and cells. During that time, she'd helped him improve his skill as an assassin and with the twin energy daggers he used and before he'd left, had gifted him a more traditional energy dagger to aid in completing his missions with Aegis team. While romantic attraction wasn't his cup of tea, the Sangheili female had earned his trust in a way no one since he'd joined ONI had and he considered her a close friend. When Spartan Ops had asked for recommendations for Aegis from his previous post, they had been somewhat surprised that her name was the one he'd put forwards. When asked why he didn't put forwards other members from Regis Team, his answer had been simple. "These are war vets who fought the Covenant for nearly two decades before the War ended. Most of them could barely stand the Spec Ops team and that was a series of joint operations. Asking them to have to take orders from one of them on occasion?" SPARTAN Ops had let the issue lie and said they'd talk with the Swords. As he felt the Pelican begin to settle down on the hangar deck aboard the Chorus, the SPARTAN-IV flexed his wrist experimentally, igniting the blade of the dagger. "Never get tired of that..." He gave a couple of small swings and thrusts with it before he deactivated it and looked around as the loading ramp lowered. Aviza was first off and headed to the Mess Hall, leaving an open invitation for the others to join her if they wished, but Lucas was sticking to his plan. "Right, well, you have fun with that Fire Team Leader. I'm heading to the War Games module, get some training in before the mission starts. Gotta get adjusted to some newer equipment and it never hurts to stay sharp."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael took a brief moment to review his map of the ship. It was detailed to the extent that it showed him the path to each place he would need to go as a passenger. The cruiser was of comparable size to a CCS-class battlecruiser, though somewhat smaller. Regardless, he doubted he would have need to see most of it. Briefly, Vael considered simply waiting in the quarters he had been given until they arrived. Provided what the Captain had said was true, everything that he was bringing with him was already in his quarters, aside from his weapons. He had multiple sets of armor with him, including the one he was wearing, another environmentally-sealed combat harness, and another that he kept for…sentimental reasons. Checking over his equipment was an option, but ultimately, he felt that the time he had could be used more productively. These "War Games" did have Vael's interest. From what he understood, they could simulate combat situations with surprising accuracy. He was skeptical that it could truly compare to battle itself, but he could see its value in training. Several of the others seemed to intend to use the simulator while they could, but while Vael did want to see his team in combat, he decided that it was important that he take some time to speak with Spartan Aviza. She was the Fireteam Leader for their mission, but they were both leaders of this team, and it was their responsibility to ensure they guided their team efficiently. Vael gave a brief glance to Spartan Ryker. He appeared to have integrated an energy dagger into his armor. The Humans had began integrating reverse-engineered Covenant technology into their own, though in this case, it appeared to be an energy dagger taken from a Sangheili harness and integrated into his own. While Sangheili did place special importance on the energy sword, a simple dagger did not carry the same cultural weight. Though, it was his opinion that the Spartan embarrassed himself by swinging it around like a child playing with a knife. In any case, Vael put away his data pad and followed after Aviza. He remained wordless at first, but did eventually turn his head down towards her as he walked alongside her. "We should speak about our team, Spartan. I fear it shall be to our detriment that we will not have the chance to train sufficiently as a unit before this mission."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Hearing the good news that it was unlikely that he would have to face off against any of the parasite relived him. Did that mean that he still didn't have to worry? Not really but at least he could relax a little. It would seem the first phase of their mission would be recon then move into search and destroy with the possibility of all out combat with the brutes. Grikgar could only hope he could get the opportunity to rally the other Unggoy with the brutes to fight against them. Still if they didn't, he had no problem killing all of them. The captain and the others seemed rather interested and in a hurry to get off planet. He couldn't blame them really he was also excited to get back into the thick of it. Boarding the pelican and finding an uncomfortable spot next to the Spartan that called himself Ben. A rather bumpy and quiet ride for the most part, Grikgar was happily bobbing his head from side to side listening to some human music he was sure was loud enough to be heard through his helmet. Grik didn't care, this whole experience was exciting to him. It wasn't too much longer and they had landed, the Spartan Aviza was the first off the pelican but didn't seem to be in as much of a hurry as the other two humans. He was unsure exactly why they were with them but o well, humans are weird. A simple map of the ship displayed briefly on his visor with a small point that marked where he was and another that marked his room. The design of the ship was strange and the exterior of the ship matched the interior, all these human ships lacked color and design. Every ship in the former covenant was a work of art in shape and color. However, he figured it was a luxury the humans couldn't afford. The female Spartan spoke up again, something about a mess hall and food. Food was definitely something he could get behind. He was unsure of the mess hall though, "Why do Spartans eat in a messy hall?" he asked not really speaking to anyone in general. The Unggoy almost happily waddling slowly behind his commander as he followed them out of the pelican and down the corridor towards the messy hall.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben made a bit of room for Grikgar, something he wouldn't have normally done for another Spartan unless he was outranked, and even then, not always. He walked with the Unggoy, finding that he strangely didn't mind the alien, despite having put countless bullets into the heads of Grik's fellow Grunts during the war. And plasma blasts. And grenades. And Ben had beaten more than a few Grunts to death with his weapon, including some which were asleep at the time. "It's just a name. We prefer to keep it very clean. Take care you don't leave any footprints on the floors. They didn't take Unggoy equipment into account when building it. Also, I'm not entirely sure they'll have food you can eat in the mess hall itself, but they should have brought some food for you aboard the ship. You can have whatever you want, I suppose, just try not to make a mess, please." Without saying another word, he activated Phong and then let the AI figure out what he needed to know. Even when turned "off", Phong still recorded every word Ben spoke within range of his helmet's microphone, and would have deduced that he wanted to know if there was anything an Unggoy could consume in the mess hall. Even a dumb AI had deductive capacities, after all. "My files on Unggoy anatomy are extensive, yet details are somewhat sparse on the workings on their digestive systems. Still, there should be no problem if an Unggoy ingests most human beverages, and they should be able to digest human foods with a liquid base such as soup. Would you like to see a list of possible allergens, or a list of foodstuffs native to-?" It was almost like a father having to vet a cafeteria for his son. Ben turned Phong "off" once more mid-sentence, insofar as such a setting was honestly labeled. "When we're done eating, I'll head to the AR deck for training. I don't know what they had in the Covenant, but it's probably not the same thing." It dawned on Ben that the Covenant might very well have had more advanced training decks and that this could very well be a downgrade in Grikgar's eyes.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu could say plenty about the team's more expressive members by the way they received the meeting. Grikgar in particular shone clearest as an unggoy that betrayed quite the raft of experience. If he served on Thel 'Vadam's fleet at the holy ring, he was either skilled, impossibly lucky, or both. Yalu did not dismiss him for his antics. As for the mission, Yalu did not expect it to be straightforward. With the amount of unknowns they would be contending with, there was little he could expect for sure. Putting down a rebellious strike was vague, and that was to mention nothing of the possible areas they could be lurking. The sarcophagus, while an awesome construct, was just as big a maze to hide in by the looks of it. And that was that. Yalu mused to himself that he would have plenty of reading to do of the mission files. However, he realised how stiff his legs felt when he stood up to follow the team to the drop ship... --- Yalu was not at all hungry by the time they reached the cruiser. He was getting drowsy, and he did not like it. Ryker's energy dagger drew his eye when it lit up. "Spartan Lucas Ryker," Yalu addressed the human as he had introduced himself beforehand. "My journey to Earth has left me sluggish. Does your War Games module accommodate sparring? If you carry that dagger, you must have learnt how to use it."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern "You have a valid point Vael, we may not get another chance to discuss the mission, since time is indeed limited." said Aviza, all the while looking at up the Sangheili who had oddly decided to stand across from her, and not take a seat like she had. "I just remember the Major instructing us to not speak about mission sensitive details while in public areas, but perhaps we can bend the rules slightly for the moment being, due to how important the matter is." Aviza leaned slightly forward in her seat, repositioning herself to be more comfortable before continuing. "What aspects of the mission would you like to discuss, Vael?" As soon as Spartan Aviza had finished speaking, one of the ships crewmen who had been assigned to the mess hall for that morning walked over to their table and set down a plate with Aviza's coffee, which was inside of a metal mug, and a small cup of creamer to be used as she saw fit. Wasting no time, she thanked the man before pouring a bit of the creamer into her coffee and stirring it with the spoon she had been provided. "Are you going to take a seat or stay standing like that for the whole conversation?" inquired Aviza, before taking a sip of her coffee.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael glanced down at the table, his mandibles flaring out slightly as he let out a brief grunt. "Your chairs are too small." He answered, simply and quickly. "And we have no need to discuss the details of our specific mission, only how we intend to lead this team. I am not completely familiar with the rules and traditions you Humans have in your military, but I do have more than enough experience to know they are different from Sangheili command. You are the Fireteam Leader of this mission, and the orders you give may not be the ones my people expect. My people may take initiative, may take action in ways that you would expect your people to only do under orders. Likewise, my people may also await orders for actions you expect them to do on their own. The reason we were originally intended to go through extensive training before our first mission was so our team as a whole could learn how they were expected to act under each other's command. Quite simply, we do not have the time to solve that problem before our missions, so the two of us need to anticipate these problems and be ready to adapt." --- Major Robinson --- It had not been long after their arrival on the UNSC Chorus of Thunder that Spartan Rex's presence had been requested by Major Robinson. She requested him to join her in a small briefing room somewhat near to the officers' quarters. When he arrived, he would find her alone, standing at an inactive holographic display table at the center of the room, looking through files on her datapad. The Major spoke the moment the door closed shut behind Rex. "Spartan Rex-G124." She said, as if repeating it directly from the file in front of her. "I have read your file, Spartan, including the parts withheld from the rest of your team. I will admit, I argued against your selection for this team, but my superiors felt differently. They felt your skills and ability to act both in a team, and autonomously should the situation demand it, will be important to ensuring your mission objectives are completed. I agreed with them on your skills, but I also read what happened with those pirates, and I did not dismiss those concerns so quickly. So, I want to hear your own assessment on yourself, Spartan. Are my superiors right, or are my concerns justified?"</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Continuing to follow the commanders down the hall at a quick pace. Grikgar was now entirely curious to find out what this mess hall was all about and what kind of 'food' these humans had. Where they just nipples and used solely for nutrients or did they have comfort foods? All questions that were answered when they got close to the room. His senses were already being bombarded with different smells. Unggoy where particularly good at following their noses and this room already didn't disappoint. There were a lot of people in this large room, rows of tables bordered with what looked almost like tall vending machines adorned with a holographic monitor to dispense food. Grik had grabbed two plates after watching a couple of marines press a few buttons and see their trays fill up with food. This simple aspect of their life was almost a dream to the Unggoy. He was well aware he wouldn't find anything familiar so he knew there was a lot of guess work to it. He spent more than the others did flipping through the pages and acquiring what he thought he wanted, even going as far as asking some of the marines what they were getting. Not very many answered him with food items. Soon he found himself carrying two trays loaded down with drinks, various carbs, and more than a few extra helpings of seafood. He seemed very proud of what he had. Finally setting his things down on the table he awkwardly sat down in the seat given to him. The two fire team leaders seemed very intent on their discussion and he payed them no mind other than having to look around the pile of food to see them. The Unggoy took his helmet off and placed it next to him on the table, a smaller portion of the mask remained over his nose for him to breathe exposing his small but scarred bald head, green eyes, and small sharp teeth. The little guy seemed intent on sampling everything first before digging in. he was obviously unaware of how to properly eat things, taking a bite out of the side of a banana without peeling it first was a sign of this. These things did not bother him, small bones in the fish? Devoured, Shells on crab legs and claws? Crunched. The grunt also did not use any of the utensils that came with the tray picking up and eating everything with his hands. Until he came to what he was told was a ghost pepper, the marine that told him about was laughing when he said it so it couldn't be that bad right? He didn't sample this one even if he should have, instead Grik just popped it into his mouth and quickly chewed then swallowed. After a few silent minutes of him to really think about how it made him feel, it soon occurred to him that his mouth was nearly on literal fire. Eyes going wide he sat up straight coughing, he felt like he was choking and began scrambling for something liquid that he had gotten. During his commotion of trying to grab one of the bowls of seafood chowder, one of the two plates fell to the floor spilling the other half of its contents. At the same time, he guzzled down the warm soup to extinguish the fire inside him, clearly making a mess of himself as not all the white chowder made it down his gullet. The empty bowl fell to the floor, the grunt laid back in his chair exhausted, "why… why does plant hate Grikgar?" Grik slowly sat up and began cleaning himself off. The grunt decided that maybe that was enough food for him and instead opted to take a drink of coffee instead. The taste compared to the pepper was heavenly. "Grik thought you said there were no drugs here?" he said as he kept drinking the coffee. Did these humans possibly create a monster hyped up on coffee? Possibly, only time will tell.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 Reluctantly, Ben took his helmet off. As with many Spartans, he felt more at home in his armor than anywhere else. Then again, there were some drawbacks. During a particularly long mission, his armor stank to high heavens and low hell after spending all of several weeks in it, only removing his helmet for brief periods to hastily consume his rations. He cut a rather fearsome appearance, with short, dark brown hair bordering on black, dark green eyes set against his pale white complexion, his face marked by long scars he'd been given by a Sanghelli in one of his first missions. Had the blade cut much closer, he would have lost one or both eyes if not his head. Each scar ran diagonally, one above the other, each running from above his left eye and moving down to beneath his right. Ben ordered some simple fare, finding it a welcome change from the MREs he so often subsisted on out of necessity. He ordered the turkey dinner with orange juice on the side, no dessert. The turkey itself was quite good, and it reminded the spartan of a time he was on Reach long ago, back when moa nuggets weren't a rare delicacy. It was perhaps the only guilty pleasure of his entire life, and thanks to Reach's glassing, moa meat was off the menu. He wasn't sure if the moa had been exported or not, but it wasn't really a priority for him to find out right now. The rations aboard the ship were generous, and had been since the war had ended. It took an entire plate just to contain Ben's food, with almost no room for the OJ. Ben had settled down when he heard Grikgar coughing. Concerned, he wheeled around, only to find that the Unggoy was alright after all; it was simply a matter of overly-spicy food, not a choking situation or a case of food poisoning. Of course, Grik's food manners were abominable, eating everything by hand, making a mess, and dressing in what would definitely be considered out of uniform by UNSC regulations. Of course, half the Covenant had dressed poorly by humanity's standards. Ben had actually used this to his advantage once, tossing a sharpened stone underneath the bare foot of a Brute as he was on patrol. It did little to actually harm the bear-like alien, but it definitely caused enough pain to distract him and let Ben evade detection. He walked over to Grik, giving him some extra napkins to wipe himself off with. The Grunt had proved himself to adeptly play the part of a messy child. At least, a normal child. Ben himself never made a mess as a kid himself, and the discipline was quite harsh when it came to keeping things tidy back in his Spartan III training days. He didn't know what Grikgar's childhood had been like, but from what he knew, Grunts in the Covenant military were also trained from the youth, albeit for a much shorter time, given their faster rate of growth and short childhood. "Coffee has a very mild stimulant called caffeine. It's not really addictive or harmful unless consumed in a very large amount. Still, too much caffeine can make you hyper, especially if you have a low body mass. Hmm. I suppose you aren't that light, but I don't know how caffeine will affect your biology. Probably best to keep to one cup of coffee." Although he didn't show it, Ben secretly found the notion of an overcaffinated Grunt to be quite amusing. "Maybe you'd like some orange juice instead? It's not even remotely addictive, I promise you. Now, let's get this cleaned up, okay? And on a minor note, we don't eat most foods with our hands around the UNSC. Perhaps I'll show you how to use a fork, knife, and spoon next time." He realized that he had been talking much more than usual. It was interesting, having someone to look after, even in this small way and in this one instance.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker The remark draws a chuckle from the Spartan as the duo approaches the War Games simulation area, stopping to call an elevator for them. "Yeah, I imagine the thought of fighting with our crazy asses is much more appealing than fighting against us. Gotta level, fighting with a Swords spec ops team...let's say it's a welcome change of pace watching those active camo shrouded forms appear behind the enemy instead of behind a friend." Once the elevator had arrived, Lucas allowed Major Yalu'Suumko to board before he did and selected the floor it was on. "It was also very...enlightening. Seeing your people in a capacity other than as warriors and leaders. It was...pleasant."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Major Robinson --- However the team decided to spend the few hours they had, it did not take long after their departure from Earth for Major Robinson to call the team to muster in one of the hangars. With the upgraded slipspace drives that new UNSC ships, like the Chorus of Thunder, had been receiving, journeys through slipspace were no longer the time consuming voyages they had once been. Their ships could now best even Covenant ships for speed. Even aside from that, Sarcophagus was not a long jump from Sol. For any who might have had access to external windows or cameras, their arrival in the system might have seemed somewhat bizarre. Sarcophagus was a complete shell, almost unfathomably large, fully enveloping the star, and the Chorus of Thunder entered the system just outside of it. The only light came from distant stars, which was far from enough to illuminate the megastructure. From the perspective of the ship, there was only blackness on one side of them, as if all of the stars in that direction had been extinguished. Inside the hangar, there was another surprise waiting for them in the form of a vehicle that was clearly being prepped for the mission. It was a Mammoth, though nonstandard in a few obvious ways. The most notable modification was that the mini-MAC had been removed, and overall, it seemed like a somewhat stripped down, lighter version of the vehicle. Although, that did not reduce the size of the aptly-named vehicle; it would still require something like a Heron dropship just to get it to the ground. Vael was fully-equipped and ready for the mission. He had opted for his usual selection of weapons, with a carbine, plasma rifle, energy sword, and a handful of plasma grenades. Combined with his active camouflage, he could be versatile with the situations he could deal with. After the usual formalities, the Major addressed the team as a whole. "Alright, you all have the relevant mission files and you know your objective, so I will keep this brief. We've dropped out of slipspace outside the Dyson shell to avoid detection. You'll be inserting via Pelican through one of the entryways, and we'll be sending this in with you as well." She explained, gesturing to the Mammoth. "You'll need to approach from the ground to avoid detection by the Brute ships, and you'll have a bit of a drive ahead of you. This Mammoth has been modified to serve better as a mobile base for your team. It is stocked with weapons, supplies, and a pair of warthogs. Some of its heavier components have been removed to help improve its speed as much as possible. We have also installed improved communications equipment to intercept enemy communications and help you track down your targets." Once she had given her explanation, Major Robinson took a data crystal drive and handed it to Fireteam Leader Aviza. "Shih has been assigned to Aegis Team, as well. You may take responsibility for her yourself, Fireteam Leader, or assign her to another member of your team as you see fit."</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben's time in the mess hall passed quickly. Grikgar went about his business with the food, and the mess the Unggoy had made was cleaned up. Quickly finishing his own meal, the Spartan-III reported to the war games deck, where he proceeded to practice his sniping skills and use of grenades. There was less time than he had anticipated, as by the time he had moved on to training in the use of the grenade launcher, Phong (who he had unmuted at this point) contacted him. "Ben, I had received a signal from Major Robinson. Please proceed to the designated hangar immediately." Not that there was much of a choice. Phong had taken the liberty of ending the simulation in any event. Quickly gathering his gear, Ben-E218 made his way to join with the rest of the team. He stopped to find Grikgar still milling around the simulator. "Come on, Grik. You can tell me all about your virtual kill count later; it's time for the meeting." He briefly paused to wonder what Covenant mission briefings were like. It was probable that the Grunts were given much less explanation than the Elites had been told. Cannon fodder only needed to know where to be pointed. Still, he supposed that a Grunt like Grik would have been considered a bit more than the usual bullet-catchers his brethren were. An elite grunt- used in the sense of superior soldier- might have been afforded at least an explanation about why he was about to die and what he had to accomplish before that happened. Sarcophagus was impressive, despite being very hard to fully see in the dark. It was almost like a gigantic bowling ball set in a badly-lit room. Ben had his sniper rifle stowed on his back, and had a designated marksman rifle and a pistol with enough ammo for an extended engagement for all firearms. Doubtlessly, this wouldn't suffice, so he brought a complement of frag grenades and a combat knife along with him. Obviously, a one-man mission was out of the question, although he was technically the only one assigned to his special mission in the event one of the team proved to be a liability. "As a reminder, the capture or corruption of a UNSC AI is unacceptable, especially for AI whose rating is above my level." It wouldn't have been the first time Ben had to destroy a smart AI. At least they knew it was nothing personal and accepted their fate, insofar as an AI could be considered a "he" or "she." Even so, he hoped it didn't come to that. So far, nothing about the mission was too exotic or difficult to comprehend, even if it took place on a rather exotic location. Get down the surface and take a mammoth to a destination, then attack.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Tasumameyofaxre "Tasuma" Tasumameyofaxre<< Mgalekgolo Hunter >> << Autumn-class Heavy Cruiser - UNSC Chorus of Thunder >> The Mgalekgolo was pensive, entire wars had been fought over these Forerunner structures. The Covenant itself went to war with the ancient Lekgolo over the Forerunner structures over Te, and after the Covenant brought the Lekgolo into their fold. The Great War had many objectives tied to Forerunner artifacts and ruins, and after, the Covenant was destroyed. The Sangheili took their freedom back from the San'shyuum, and forming a friendship with the humans that they fought against not long ago. It seemed to Tasuma that whenever Forerunner anything was involved, great change would follow. When the team assembled to the hanger, Tasuma felt particularly alone. Before, it would always be with his bond brother. They were in constant communication, and while it was some consolation to know that Iteyi was alive and healing, the colony missed its brothers. The ODST Platoon was strange, Lt. Horn kept his troops on a tight leash. They were all so used to fighting alongside each other that they seemed more akin to a Lekgolo colony, than a unit of human warriors. They were often so rowdy, loud, and many of them liked to crowd around Tasuma. With them, it felt connected, feeling so many familiar entities around it. It reminded it of Te, a little. The Hunter looked at the Mammoth. Human war machines. They were beautiful in their own way. Practicality and usability seemed to be at the forefront of human design doctrine, and Tasuma could appreciate that. It sometimes sat down with some of the ODSTs, and listened to them discuss the many vehicles of the UNSC. It had heard of the Mammoth, supposedly a rolling firebase in of itself, armed with a 'mini-mac', a massive cannon that could fell spacebourne warships. This particular Mammoth was missing its weapon, to make it lighter and quicker. But its thick armored shell and massive wheels still provided protection and speed. Tasuma walked over to a small stack of crates near the Mammoth, marked with the symbol of the Swords of Sanghelios, and spray painted with the ODST's flaming skull droppod. It instantly knew what it was. It gently removed the tops of the three boxes, revealing its Assault Cannon, Pavise Shield, and a pouch with straps. It opened the pouch, and removed one of many rolled pieces of cloth. Tasuma unrolled it and draped the grasslands camouflage cloak over its head, shoulders and back. It wiggled its spikes, revealing that the camo cloak was cut in a way that allowed its spikes to move freely. Tasuma then strapped the pouch to its leg, and looked at the Assault Cannon and Shield. The Assault Cannon was a more modern variant, it had been using it for a number of months before joining Aegis, and along with the newer cannon, it had been given a newer version of the Pavise Shield. While Tasuma accepted the newer equipment, he only replaced his pauldron for the newer one. Opting to keep the older, longer and heavier version of the shield. It grabbed the pauldron and fastened it to its left shoulder, then placed both of its hands into the shield and cannon. Lekgolo worms flowed forward, filling the space. << Shield World 006 "Sarcophagus" >> Inside the Pelican, Tasuma's spikes were flowing freely. It was sensing its teammates around it. It was familiar with most of what was around it... Spartan-IV, Human, Sangheili, Unggoy. But some of the Spartans were different... very slightly different, but the differences didn't escape Tasuma. Were they from a different Spartan clan? And the one Tasuma had apologized to before, Aviza, it noticed the addition of something that wasn't there before. Perhaps it would ask later. "Contact!" Every Lekgolo in Tasuma's body tightened together, and in an instant the Hunter brought up its shield arm, slamming the tip of its shield into the ceiling of the Pelican, denting the metal plating. Tasuma took a step forward and braced itself, its spikes pressing flat against its back, and its gun arm pressing against its chest. Tasuma felt the drop ship rock back and forth, then there was a lurch. "We're hit strap in!" Not long after, the Pelican hit the ground. Another lurch, with violent shaking as the Pelican skidded. All the while Tasuma stood unmoving, having braced itself well. When the shaking stopped, Tasuma removed its shield from the ceiling, then approached the rear exit in a combat stance, assault cannon at the ready. Tasuma's spikes slowly rose to a threatening height, and it growled. While it didn't know how Aviza or Vael would command the team, it did know how a common Sangheili Commander in the Covenant Era would face the situation... likely with Unngoy and Kig-yar moving out first to attract fire, leaving the Sangheili, and Sharpshooter Kig-yar to destroy the Sentinels. It also knew how Lt. Horn would react, likely having some of his troops rip out armor paneling from the Pelican to use as shields, and then to destroy each Sentinel with focused massed fire. But with Tasuma... "Enemy, I attract. On your ready." Tasuma spoke.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Admittedly, Lucas hadn't anticipated any issues arising as the team boarded the Pelican and each found seats. As he settled into his own pre-mission flight routine, he pulled his sidearm free of its holster and started to disassemble it in his lap and reassemble it. He proceeded to do this several times over the course of the flight before finally reassembling it one last time and holstering it again before pulling one of his modified energy daggers free and activating it, letting the crimson colored energy hum quietly as he flipped the blade around in his hand. It was a joint Sangheili and human design that had only been issued to a handful of specialist SPARTAN-IVs with orders to give regular updates on things such as strange fluctuations within the blade, if it cuts out mid-combat, performance against other shielded enemies, such as Sangheili loyal to the Remnant, and other such odds and ends. Sending the regular reports back to the eggheads was somewhat obnoxious, but making the design more stable, and therefore more readily available to the rest of the Swords and Human military, was an important thing to do. Finishing the usual non-combat observations, he deactivates the blade and stores the hilt and starts filing away the usual report to be sent at mission completion after he'd had a chance to confirm the usual combat effectiveness when the pilots shout "Contacts!" Report filing forgotten, Lucas is already moving between members of the team to make sure their harnesses are secure before swiftly moving and securing himself. "Fireteam secure, Team Leader!" And not a moment too soon as he felt the Pelican shake from impact. The sound of the Mgalekgolo securing itself in place was startling, but not unexpected given it was too large to actually use the seats in the transport, but it was certainly unorthodox and an issue that they should address before the next mission. Bracing in his seat, the SPARTAN-IV rattled a bit with the rough landing, but other than that was fine and as soon as the ship quit sliding, was unhooked and had the twin SMGs in his hand. Vael'Virisusai made a good point about the issue with the precision weaponry against the Sentinel plating, but then, there was always another option, which admittedly required an answer to his question. "Are we looking at a group of Sentinels or a swarm? If it's a swarm, we may want to just get to the Mammoth and hope it's got enough turrets on it."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu's hands tightened on his seat. If there was any downside to human flight technology, it made Yalu feel the sudden lack of weight as they descended. He recited a mantra courage in his mind that kept his emotions level and cut off for every moment out of his control. They landed, roughly. They were jostled. The screaming metal ran out of momentum. One second passed before Yalu unbuckled himself in a precise flurry. He pulled his carbine out from his back when he joined the others scanning the exits, but had an idea when Vael gave his orders. "Noted, commander!" Yalu said, slinking over to the tripod-mounted machine gun secured to the loading ramp. While his comrades-in-arms before Aegis were content to tear such weapons from their swivels, Yalu took the extra second to squat and pull the quick release loose to slide it free. He hefted the three barrelled weapon around to stride heavily towards the door. "Ready." All Yalu needed was a moment to spin up while the hovering sentinels were distracted.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben followed the rest of the team as he considered the mammoth. It was a huge vehicle, and the sniper hadn't imagined he'd get to ride in one anytime soon, although he had completed certification for operating one some time ago just in case he had to. Such was typical fare for Spartans; even the IVs had to know how to operate most pieces of equipment in the UNSC. "Intriguing. Phong, when did they start putting these into service? We could have used this sort of firepower in Beta Aquilae." "Since 2553. Production of the M510 Mammoth and its variants has been slow due to extensive damage to the UNSC industrial base following the war-" "Thank you, Phong, that will be all." Large though it was, there was no way it was designed specifically to deal with Forerunner constructs. Humanity had barely come into any meaningful contact with that ancient civilization. Technically, no human had come into contact with them at all, at last to Ben's knowledge. The wealth of information from Forerunner equipment alone was enough to push human technology forward by many decades in a matter of years. Ben was no expert on how long technological advances 'should' take, but something seemed a little bit off about it to him, as if this sort of high-tech grave robbing constituted a form of cheating somehow. He joined the rest of them on the pelican, a vehicle he had ridden in many times before. He had been attacked in-flight before, and he had even hijacked vehicles in mid-air before. What he hadn't counted on doing was facing a swarm of Forerunner tech, although he had handled a rather more fragile swarm of covenant drones.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The most eager allies took point ahead of Yalu. He made sure to find a place after Commander 'Virisusai so as not to steal unearned glory, though he was not hesitant. Morgenstern threw herself out of the pelican, then 'Virisusai, then Tasuma, then Ryker, and then Yalu loped out with the momentum of his human machine gun. He followed Ryker until just under the tail of the pelican, ducked across to the right of the pelican's rear, and lowered himself. He the spin of his weapons barrels required a bit of correction as he levelled his aim, and then... Shields flashed on the sentinels. They banked from the gale of high calibre rounds as bright flashes lit up the underside of the dropship tail. Sparks flew at the first two bullets that broke through the instant before a sentinel burst and fell with a heavy clatter. Yalu stopped firing to line up with another cluster of targets. "One down!" he shouted. More noise and tracers leapt out of Yalu's weapon. Another sentinel directed its beam across his energy shield a moment before it was overwhelmed by rapid fire. He had an arc of beside Tasuma and Ryker covered for now. A couple more beams and he would have to withdraw to recharge.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Planets Surface Grikgar waited for the Lekgolo to move out as it seemed a few of the humans where the first to get out and into the fray. Their tactics mirrored his own being the first out and last in just not as well trained to begin with. Tasuma rushed forward after a few others making itself a living barrier between them and the trench the pelican had made. A Spartan took up a position behind the hulking alien, he seemed to be using weapons better suited to go after the sentinels that didn't have shields. Grik moved quickly up behind the hunter pressing his methane tank up against the armored giant. He did this to ensure that his weak spot was better protected and so that he could move with the Lekgolo's movements and not against it. Running head first into the thick of it was how he inspired the best out of the grunts he used to lead, never backing down, never running. Charging his pistols the Unggoy began to fire the balls of tracking green plasma in two directions. One was being fired towards the robots low to the ground and the other was being fired towards the ones still coming down. Charged plasma fire was very good at downing and destroying the machines on their own at times let alone their ability to strip shields and stop electronics. This also had the chance of killing the sentinel without it setting off its secondary explosive and rendering it partially intact. There were still more targets highlighted on his visor but the grunt focused on the bots that were closest to them while staying out of the way of the Lekgolo's footsteps. "Watch for secondary explosions!" he called out.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben opened fire on the nearest sentinel, downing it with a well-places sniper shot. He had to conserve ammo on that rifle, so he found that he had to switch to his pistol for the time being. After downing four more with his pistol, he realized that his rounds were running out on that gun as well. His arms configuration on this mission had been optimized for taking down a few high-value targets, not a swarm of what might be deemed low-tier trash. Thinking quickly, he ran over to one of the fallen drones, discarded his pistol, and ripped out a beam turret from the construct, hastily checking to see if the weapon was still intact. He aimed the turret at an incoming sentinel and fired, releasing a potent line of thermal energy. It worked, and when it inevitably ran out of power, he'd simply be able to pick up another from one of the fallen sentinels. Why exactly the Forerunners included hand controls on a weapon meant to be fired by a robot without limbs was beyond him, but it didn't matter right now. He ran over in the direction of Grikgar and Tasuma. He knew that, unusually, the Unggoy was shielded, but Tasuma was not. The Mgalekgolo's armor was strong, but unlike an energy shield, it didn't recharge; all damage between repairs was permanent. Incredibly durable though Hunter armor was, it could be burned through eventually. It also had a weak point in the back which was left wide open to attack. And as the sentinels kept coming, the odds that one of them was going to fire its beam into the Hunter's exposed back grow greater and greater. "Tasuma, behind you! Ah!" Ben had leapt between Tasuma and a sentinel beam, taking the blow for the Hunter. Fortunately, Ben's shields had been almost at maximum durability when the beam hit. As such, he could take the blow head-on and return fire with the beam turret, quickly downing his assailant.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker When the call to fall back to the Mammoth came through, Lucas was already hopping to cover his teammates, letting them move before he did and firing bursts of his SMGs to try and somewhat deter the machines from following too closely. Eventually, he was up the ramp and with the rest of the team, with Tas close behind him. The call for a wellness check prompted Ryker to check his chest plate, where a Sentinel beam had glanced off his shields. Patting it down revealed a level of warmth, unsurprising since the shielding stopped the beam itself, not the heat transfer, but undamaged beyond that. Satisfied, he spoke up in response. "Spartan Ryker, alive and ready to roll." With his check-in done, he gave the eye to his unshielded teammates and made sure that the Sentinels hadn't managed to connect any shots. Satisfied they were fine, the Spartan went and found a seat and then set about taking his SMGs apart and cleaning them after removing the magazines and clearing the breaches. An uncared for weapon was a weapon that could malfunction after all.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Grikgar's grenade whined to a full charge a moment before Yalu dove for cover. The sound of metal blasting apart joined a flash on the walls of the pelican. He stood back up with his carbine levelled to shoot the surrounding sentinels down like flying animals. Relief didn't come too soon as far as Yalu was concerned. He moved as prompted, though was sure to escort one of the human pilots by his upper arm to ensure he was covered by Yalu's energy shield. The human barely kept pace. No sooner was he in the Mammoth than Yalu let the pilot go and spun around to cover Tasuma's retreat. Only when the large doors shut did he habitually replace the magazine of his carbine in three rapid movements. "Major 'Suumko still effective," Yalu responded to Aviza. He had little else to add.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre The combat sim control panel was of Human design, like most of the equipment in Paxopolis. This meant Tar needed several tries to get the settings correct; none of the preset scenarios tested the skills she was instilling in the recruits. She growled in frustration as even the smallest digit on her hand still entered the wrong enemy combatants. Starting again, she skimmed past the human configurations like 'Insurrectionist hijackers' and 'angry urban mob' to access Covenant-era hostiles. Sangheili Zealots <- No Mgalekgolo Pair <- No Yanme'e Swarm <- No Jiralhanae Stalkers <- Perfect She locked them in, selected the number and overall skill level, then checked the rest of the settings before confirming. Lights shining from the high ceiling switched from amber to green, another Human design which meant they were ready to begin. Satisfied the simulation was ready, she turned back to her recruits. Four young Sangheili males stood awkwardly in the centre of the cavernous, empty sim room. They clutched their energy swords and stared suspiciously around as Tar walked quickly over to join them. Among recruits to Paxopolis' defensive garrison, there were few who were truly "green", as the Humans would say. Among the UNSC, it was a secret facility, so they intended to insist upon soldiers with proven loyalty and ability. However, that did not mean that new recruits could simply be integrated right away. They still needed to be evaluated and trained to perform their duties. For some, it could be more difficult to train them than fresh recruits, as some had just enough experience to be stubborn. As Tar drew closer, she could see the four Sangheili recruits were awaiting the start of the simulation with varying degrees of eagerness or irritation. The farthest to the left, from Tar's perspective, was considered by some to be an ideal recruit. He strictly adhered to hierarchy and would obey any order from a superior to the letter, without question or hesitation. However, he also seemed to lack much creativity himself. He was actually the most experienced among the recruits, but not the highest rank. The second in line was one who generally received little respect among his peers. Or at least, not from other Sangheili. He was often hesitant to fight, and though capable when motivated, he seemed to have little drive to improve himself. The third was the one among them who had ascended to Major rank. He was quite tall and strong, even for a Sangheili, and he already had proven skill in combat, but he was far from humble. He had already openly shown disdain for this extra training he was being put through, and he seemed to be somewhat dismissive towards Tar. The last in line was a recruit who was easy to forget about. He has no special experience nor accomplishments, though also no overt flaws. He tended to speak only when spoken to, and generally only said the bare minimum of what was required of him. All four of them drew up to their full stature as Tar entered their space, as she'd noticed was usual for young males. She returned all of their stares to make sure they were listening before briefing them. "Brute Stalkers have infiltrated the base. Their objectives are unknown, but they've infiltrated the Command room and deactivated our defenses. They're contained within the Command complex, but the lights have been disabled and they'll fight hard to break free. Our mission is to insert and kill or capture them all. Any questions?" After a few moments of silence, the second Sangheili, the young warrior named Jurna, started to move his mandibles to speak, but the Major soon spoke over him, loudly and with no shortage of confidence. "I require nothing more than a target. We are not helpless younglings who have never gripped a plasma rifle. We shall slay these mongrels quickly and be done with this nonsense." Jurna did not continue his original thought, and neither of the others spoke up as well, for differing reasons. In any case, each recruit did seem to be ready to enter... They would be armed with simulations of their chosen weapons once the scenario had begun. Tar chuckled at the Major's arrogance. She moved closer, until she stood within an arm's grasp. "Stalkers do not present targets - they are ghosts. Move too quickly, and they will tear you limb from limb. Split from your team, and they will slaughter you. Follow my instructions, stay in formation, and protect your unit, and you may all make it out alive. If you put your team at risk, I will kill you myself, am I understood?" She moved closer still, her head tilted slightly back to meet his gaze fully. The Major just growled, exhibiting a string of body cues that spoke volumes about his displeasure. Tar smiled and looked at the other recruits before hitting a button on her wrist interface. The amber lights above them began flashing. "Prepare yourselves, the simulation starts in thirty seconds."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael could still hear the muffled sounds of explosions from within the Mammoth as the rocket turrets fired back on the pursuing sentinels. He could feel that they were moving, likely at close to the Mammoth's maximum speed. Sentinels, unlike organic foes, held no grudges. Once they were beyond the area the machines were defending, they would no longer pursue. Although the Mammoth was a massive vehicle, its thick armor allowed for less interior space than it might have appeared from the outside. It was not exactly cramped, but to accommodate a ten person team, plus the Mammoth crew and the two pilots, they would have to use their space efficiently. The two Warthogs were held along a rail above the vehicle bay, so there was a fair amount of open space on the lower deck. The middle deck above them had some modifications to better accommodate its role as their mobile base. Just to the right of the entrance to the cockpit was a space that had been designated for use as the equivalent of a medical tent, while to the left was storage for their rations and other extra supplies. To the rear of the deck was an expanded armory, equipped with both Human and Covenant weapons. The top deck was mostly unchanged, apart from the removal of the mini-MAC. In its place was the improved communications equipment and sensors they had been provided for their mission, though it was covered by retractable armored plates when not in use. For anything else that the team might need on an extended mission, they would need to make due with what they had and improvise. Until it was needed again, Vael intended to secure his captured sentinel beam in the armory. Though first, he approached the pair of ONI agents. He had allowed the female to make use of his carbine, but he found little to approve of in either of their actions. They had moved without orders, and did not return when ordered to do so. They were fortunate that the sentinels had not focused their attention on them when they moved beyond cover. Were they his warriors, Vael would have ensured they were punished for their insubordination, but at this stage, he felt it best to allow the Human commander to be the one to deal with the Humans. Still, his displeasure did come through with his tone when he spoke to Corporal Cohen. "Return my weapon." He ordered simply.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 The arrival of the Mammoth was a welcome sight or the Spartan-III, who could at least appreciate she raw power of the oversized vehicle, if not its rather unsubtle stature. "Phong, status update on the Mammoth." "All systems functional. This particular variant of the M510 lacks the typical Mark 2457 HRG Magnetic Accelerator Cannon. Telemetry indicates that this particular vehicle has sufficient supplies for an extended deployment ranging from-" "Thank you. How long can it withstand an attack from Forerunner sentinels and Prometheans, on the scale of the engagement which just ended?" Ben stepped inside the massive vehicle. At 68.3 meters long, it was a veritable mobile base. There would surely be enough munitions for them. He made a mental note to search for any sniper ammunition he could find, suspecting that he'd need it very soon. The longer range he could engage the Forerunner mechs, the better. Experience had taught him that they were very dangerous machines at close to moderate ranges, but they were generally not optimized for long-range combat. "Unknown. The databases I am authorized to access contain insufficient information to draw a useful conclusion." Ben nodded. The vehicle was indeed as massive as its namesake suggested, yet it might very well be reduced to a stationary base if hit with too powerful an attack. The capabilities of the Forerunners were far beyond anything humanity currently possessed. In the distant past, it was true that ancient humans were rivals of the Forerunner Ecumene in terms of power and technology, but humanity had far to go in order to reclaim that ancient mantle. Even the covenant were no match for the sheer scale of the Forerunner's resources; even extinct, they were still able to plague the human race, and the galaxy at large. A handful might still be alive, but for almost all intents and purposes, their species had gone extinct many millennia ago.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre Tar groped desperately around with her right hand for her Mauler, but it had skittered away into the gloom. So instead, Tar pulled her energy sword from his mount on her left thigh, activated it and thrust it into the Stalker's abdomen. He let out a furious roar and tried to dismount her. Tar wrapped her right arm around the Brute's neck and stabbed him four more times in the stomach with her left. The force of her last blow pushed his now limp body off to the side, where he lay still. Tar quickly rose to her feet and holstered her sword. The recruits had entered the room and were staring at her. Tar spotted her Mauler lying under a desk and picked it up. Satisfied all her gear was together, she quickly strode to where Ryssa stood and shoved him against a wall. "One of your teammates just died. When I show you tactics I expect you to use them. We always check corners and clear rooms. Fail me again and you'll do this simulation alone, Is that clear?" "Yes, Commander!" Ryssa replied, almost on reflex, though he still frantically looked around with some confusion after taking a more literal interpretation of her reprimand. He had seen the tail end of the short fight, but from what he could see, everyone around him was still alive. "Good." Tar grabbed the recruit and shoved him towards the doorway. "Take point." The Major, stood slightly outside the doorway, snarled and turned away. Ryssa followed his orders to the letter and took point, this time making sure to clear the rooms they passed on the way forward. It seemed, at the very least, that Tar's harsh reminder was enough to get him to pay more attention to what he was doing and follow his training. Not only did he continue checking his corners, but he did not need to be told where to go once they reached the junction in the hallway. Data centers, or the commanders themselves, were the most likely target of an attack like this, both of which took them down the left hallway. As the team headed up the stairs to the next floor, there was a spike of activity on their sensors. All at once, each of their motion trackers started showing multiple red dots, on their level as well as above and below, moving frantically all around them. Jurna immediately raised his carbine and pointed it ahead at the top of the stairs above, though quickly turned around to point it back the way they came. "They're surrounding us!" He shouted, unsure of where he should be focusing his attention.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael briefly turned his attention to the Mgalekgolo's shield. Generally, they were durable enough to be all but impervious to the majority of small arms, but sentinel beams could damage even starships. Still, even in a damaged state, it would likely be serviceable against Human and Jiralhanae weapons. By Vael's assessment, Tasuma was still equipped to fight. However, there was more for Vael to be curious about, especially the more he observed Tasuma's armor. "You seem ready for battle, but there is more I would know about you. I was given a document with your history, but I would prefer to ask you myself. You are unusual for one of your kind. Your armor, equipment, the way you act towards them…you have worked with the Humans long before the idea of this team was conceived. You also fight without a bond brother, yet the spikes on your back show that you do, or did, have one. I am curious what events brought you here." Vael questioned Tasuma, though the two of them did not remain alone for long before there was an interruption. The Spartan, Aviza, approached bearing an energy sword. Vael glanced down at the crimson blade. "I question what such a blade is doing in a Human armory, but…it does not matter. In the hands of a Sangheili, a sword is the weapon of nobility. Of honor, and the symbol of our skill. Swordsmanship is among our most respected practices. You are correct that the sword has meaning to us, but you are not of our kind. In your hands, there is no meaning. Some may disagree with me, but for you to wield a sword, there is no honor to be gained, nor lost. You are not Sangheili, and you are not under our command. It is not of our concern what trophies you take. Regardless, our rules and customs regarding the sword are primarily respected outside the military. On the field of battle, even a lowly Minor may pick up a sword if the situation demands it." Again, Vael put his attention to the blade. His answer might have seemed dismissive, but he said what he believed to be true. Her use of a sword was not something worthy of offense, though at the same time, her mere use of it would not gain respect. In any case, he had no qualms about informing her on a subject about which she clearly had little knowledge. "To wield that sword in particular is not a matter of honor nor respect, but skill. That blade burns hotter than the average sword, but that heat gives it a fine edge in more ways than one. It can cut through more armor, stronger armor, with speed and efficiency, but with that blade it is possible to cut too quickly. When rending flesh, it burns hot enough to cauterize immediately. There is less bleeding, and if the wielder cuts too quick, less damage to surrounding tissue. If the cut does not find a vital area, your opponent may survive. A wielder of that blade is one who is precise, restrained, and skilled enough to always find his mark."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Aviza listened intently to every word that Vael 'Virisusai said about the Crimson Energy sword, and the special significance that it held to his people. She took no offense to the fact that he felt there was no honor to gain or to be lost from her using the weapon, his beliefs were his own. In fact, the Spartan had her own opinion on the use of the blade after listening to Vael, but would not share those thoughts with the Sangheili. However, she did comment on how he obviously thought she was ignorant of what the weapon actually was and how it functioned. "Thankfully, I am not woefully ignorant of how to use an energy sword, or how one functions. The holo-decks and training facilities have ensured that." Glancing at the Crimson Energy Sword once more, Aviza powered it down and attached it to her armor for later use. "I merely wanted to know if it would offend you or anyone else if I used it, but I do appreciate the information you have given me about the weapon, and its cultural significance." Aviza would pause for a moment, carefully and gently removing her helmet, resulting in a soft, almost inaudible click. The helmet was now placed below her left arm for the time being, "We should move to the command deck and plan our next move from there, you lead and I shall follow."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The calm had not quite settled in Yalu's mind by the time the others started to slow down. He escorted his commander Vael to the roof, as much to carry out his duties as to see what was going on. Thankfully he did not need to fire another shot. After stepping back into the mammoth, he took a deep breath and holstered his carbine. On any other mission, there would have been a few friendly bodies left behind by the crashed pelican. "I'll be listening for orders, commander," Yalu mentioned to Vael before wandering off. Now that everything was well, he had a burning curiosity about the vehicle they were housed in. Yalu stopped by every space on the mammoth, from the rear to the drivers seats up front, though the latter could be described as a bridge. He had piloted just about every covenant military vehicle there was, but human wheeled vehicles were a rare treat. In his wanderings, Yalu happened to be in a position to eavesdrop on Commander Aviza's castigation of the runaway special operations warriors. Yalu had not judged them too harshly -- humans had a different idea of honour after all. At the very least, he thought Aviza wise to not give Roy's explanation any attention. It was provocative. Aviza was clear enough. Do humans have just as much pride as sangheili? How did they not cut each other to pieces without sangheili honour? Yalu shook his head and headed to the bridge again to see where they were going. "Pilot," Yalu said to the human in the primary driving seat, possibly giving both the driver and co-driver a fright. "Once we are out of danger, I am interested in learning more about this vessel."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Planets Surface Grikgar continued his single minded attraction to the sentinel pieces, a few of the others showed interest that he could see but little else. The Lekgolo seemed to look in his direction but little more, Grik was certain that it was looking for metal scraps more than tech though. The Spartan that had been talking to him earlier and seemed to be the nicest towards him so far stepped forward and seemed to question what the Unggoy was doing. The grunt looks up from his work for a moment and tips his head to the side. "Grikgar does not know, only ever saw Huragok repair sentinels once in this way. It attached two power sources together and it stabilized the power source." Picking up the part and moving it around to see the different sides of it. "Like this, Grik does not know why but if combined with another explosive has…." He paused for a moment trying to grasp the right term. "Unexpected result? If anything at all. As humans say wild card." Placing the part between the two of them. Grikgar then began to go over the different scraps of armor and metal frame, again placing those that he deems unusable in a pile. The Unggoy began to put some of the scraps up to his armor looking like he was seeing if they would improve it or not. Again he put more parts into the scrap pile until only a few frame pieces where left in one pile and other inner working parts in another. Moving the more complicated but still technically good parts next to his locker with the few good Frame parts. "Ok now Grik has things to repair his armor with and tinker." It was his way of keeping away from boredom while also being resourceful. "Tasuma!" he called out to the Lekgolo in his high pitched voice and waved his arm as if his voice didn't get its attention. "If you want those scraps Grik is done with them." Motioning towards the small pile. Spartan Ben was still examining the power source so Grikgar began picking up the sentinel beams and placing them in the armory next to the other.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 "If you aren't certain what the result is when combining them, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to combine them. I doubt either of us has the luck of John-117. Oh, you might know him as Master Chief, or "The Demon." He has unnatural luck, you know. If it was him, the effect would be just what we needed at just the right time. If it's anyone else, we're likely to end up deader than Roger Wilco on a trash hauler. Oh, the Wilco thing is from an ancient piece of human media." Ben continued to examine the power source. He was fairly certain that he knew what this was, but couldn't be entirely sure. He lowered his voice, not wanting anyone to know what he was saying. "Phong, does this match any device on record?" "Scanning. Processing. Cross-examining device with other records. Match not found." "Match not-? The UNSC has had the opportunity to examine hundreds of Forerunner devices, including sentinels." "Thousands, actually. The Forerunners had a very different approach to technology compared to humanity or the Covenant. While interchangeable parts were employed, they were only used to the extent that interoperability within the same class of structures was allowed, and sometimes, not even then. In other words, each class of Forerunner installation operated on a different basis, in a manner not dissimilar to how ancient human kingdoms each had their own types of weight and measurements." "Meaning what?" "Meaning we don't know what the effect of the Unggoy's tinkering will be. It could be harmless, or it could be catastrophic. I am unable to calculate odds based on the data available. It would help to know precisely what the Unggoy intends to do with the Forerunner technology, but even if he told us, further analysis is impossible without the proper equipment, and there are only five laboratories in the entire UNSC properly tooled to handle Forerunner-" "Thank you, Phong. I'll trust Grik on this one." Ben set the power source down and looked out at the wilderness around them, if that was the proper term for their environment.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre --- "Take cover right!" Tar shouted, assuming control just as a barrage of plasma fire erupted from several points around the large room. They waded through the flames into a partitioned area with a semi-circle of holo consoles. Tar took several hits to her shield from the Stalkers guarding the stairway before leaping behind one of the consoles. The Brute weapons punched holes in the plastic room dividers as they lost line of sight on her. Tar peeked over the top of her cover. She counted at least four Stalkers slowly approaching their position, plus the two guarding the stairway. Their camouflage slipped every time they fired their weapons, revealing a cautious, calculated advance. Tar estimated they were each twenty feet apart, progressing down the open spaces between work areas. In this case, not a single recruit so much as hesitated in following Tar's order. The Major broke straight through the partition, with the others following just behind. Each moved into whatever cover they could find, as quickly as they could. The room dividers could break line of sight, though there was no weapon they would actually stop. Plasma fire and spikers ripped through them with ease, just without as much accuracy. Ryssa, with his shields already damaged from his brush with the flames and few stray plasma rounds, dove behind the holo-consoles. They were at least somewhat more sturdy than most of the other parts of the office. His response to being pinned was actually reasonably effective, considering his options, even if it was a strategy one might have learned from an Unggoy. He did not peer out from cover to return fire, but rather grabbed his needler and lifted it up just high enough to fire over the console, roughly in the direction that one of the Brutes was firing from. He did not need to be accurate; as long as the needler was pointing in mostly the right direction, its needles would find a target. When the attack had began, Jurna had fired four shots with surprisingly good accuracy. He tracked the shimmer he had seen and, out of his four shots, hit three to break the Brute's powered armor. However, once his own shields started taking damage, he did not follow through to make the kill. He ran with the others into the side room and, like Ryssa, took cover behind the consoles. Though, unlike the other recruit, he did not return fire from his position. He hid as best as he could, and intended to continue doing so until his shields were fully recharged. With the partitions at least stopping accurate fire, the Major took a moment to scan the room they had hastily entered. Given how quickly they had been forced to move, there was no reason to believe they had moved to safety. And indeed, at this range, his eyes were sharp enough to spot at least two shimmers moving carefully closer to Jurna and Tar. Drawing his energy sword, the Major sprinted for the nearest stalker. "Brutes behind us!" He shouted. Reacting instantly, Tar jumped up, grabbed her energy sword from its mount on her left thigh, activated it and blindly slashed it through the air behind her in one fluid motion. The dual tips of her sword grazed the armour of a Stalker; the room lit up with blue light as his shield protected his neck from being slit. Regaining her balance, Tar raised her right hand and fired a round from her Mauler into the same shield, breaking it completely. At the same time, she watched the Stalker fire their Mauler at her face. She was momentarily blinded as the slug exploded right in front of her eyes, and she felt her shield go offline with a jolt. Tar let out an angry roar and leapt forward, sword poised. She made impact with…something, and clattered to the floor with it before stabbing it with her weapon multiple times. The Major's blade quickly found its mark on the nearest stalker. The Brute's active camouflage may have rendered it only a shimmer in the air, but a wide arc with his blade in front of him could reach easily over two and a half meters in front of him, and the sword itself could cut through even a starship's armor with ease. The Brute was quite simply bisected. There had only been two of the cloaked Brutes in the room they had ran into, but the Major had no intent of staying put and holding out. Though his shields were damaged, he still preferred aggression. "Attack with me! These mongrels are nothing to us!" He shouted. Off on their right flank, on the other side of a thin wall, he could hear movement, which was all he needed to strike. With a frenzied roar as his battle cry, he broke straight through the wall in a charge. A diagonal swing of his sword and another stalker was cut in two. This time, however, the Brute was not without assistance. Just to his left, another Brute fired his mauler, both revealing himself, and stripping away the Major's shields. He was close enough that the Major could react quickly and impale him through the chest with his blade, but there were still more Brutes farther away, and the Major was now clearly in their line of sight. Ryssa had intended to follow the Major's instruction. Based on the sound of a supercombine explosion beyond the wall he had been firing through, his needles had found a target, but the Brutes were not unintelligent. Though they could not see him, they could roughly determine where he was firing from when they saw the needles, so Ryssa found himself pinned by a volley of plasma and spiker fire. His shields took a stray hit, so they were not yet recharging, and he could not move to assist the Major. Jurna had an angle from which he could help at range, but his shields were charging and he still had no intention of revealing himself until they were full. Daha was the farthest from the Major, and the closest to Tar, and it was she who he intended to help. He charged his plasma pistol, firing the overcharged bolt at a stalker who had a clear line of sight onto Tar. The shot broke the Brute's powered armor immediately, allowing his follow-up shots from his plasma rifle to deal potentially deadly damage. Ultimately, there was no help that would come for the Major in time to save him. A burst of spiker fire from a more distant stalker struck his unshielded chest and neck, and his armor was not enough to protect against the volley. The red plating of his armor was stained purple by his blood. Simulated as it might have been, his death was still convincing. The Major had successfully relieved most of the pressure from their right flank, but at the cost of his life.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- For the members of Aegis team, their journey across the desert did, fortunately, come with few actual dangers. Though, it was a long journey nonetheless, characterized by blistering heat, dry air, and cramped quarters. Sentinels did show some interest in the Mammoth whenever it passed too close to certain Forerunner structures, but its armor did allow them to take some fire as they passed without needing to engage in firefights with the machines. As long as they moved beyond the locations they were guarding, the sentinels would not follow. Vael found that the journey was far from the worst experience he had ever needed to endure. The heat was a constant irritant for some, but his combat harness provided more than adequate environmental controls to keep him comfortable. What was more of a nuisance for him was the inability to be alone. He had to admit that he had held his rank long enough to become accustomed to its benefits. The ability to have a space to himself to mediate and center his mind had been a privilege he had long enjoyed. As large as the Mammoth was, there still was no way the avoid the nine other members of his team, plus the Mammoth crew, for any meaningful time. Given the distance they had to travel, the team spent almost two days in the Mammoth, moving constantly across, at times, rough terrain. To fly to their destination would have been much quicker, but any attempt at an aerial approach to the Brute ships would have easily been detected. The Mammoth, ironically, provided a much stealthier approach. Of course, once they located the Brute ships, they would need to move on without the Mammoth to perform actual reconnaissance. --- It was the middle of the night when the Mammoth came to a sudden, and complete halt. The hum of the engines and the spinning of the massive tires over rock and sand had been such a constant that having both stop was enough to jolt Vael awake, even before the diver's voice sounded out over the vehicle's intercom. "Unidentified Covenant ships spotted on the horizon. I am bringing the Mammoth to a halt and awaiting further orders." Vael sat up from where he had been laying. Their sleeping arrangements within the vehicle were rather haphazard. The Mammoth was not large enough for dedicated sleeping quarters, so the team had to make due with whatever they could arrange themselves, with the supplies they had available. Being that they were in the field, Vael had not left his armor. It did not make for the most comfortable rest, but again, he had endured far worse throughout his career. For now, the team needed to get together and decide on their approach.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu was in no mood to avoid his teammates during the ride. He tried to at least speak to his fellow former-covenant contemporaries about their path leading up to this mission. He was quietly embarrassed to find he was consistently outranked and at times prying on business best kept a secret. Nevertheless, he kept himself well drilled for whatever lay ahead. When the call came to wake up, whatever casual air Yalu tried to offer was gone. He was up and arming himself partway through the driver's announcement. "Running the Mammoth silent may make them overlook us." Yalu snapped a fully green magazine into his carbine after checking it. "But if it is no patrol, we are no longer safe. We are not expecting a rendezvous."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Planets Surface Grikgar spent the rest of the voyage on their land ship either tinkering with the sentinel parts or sunbathing. The sleeping arrangements didn't bother him and the warm climate was something he very much enjoyed. The others talked to him occasionally and the other elite seemed a little awkward about it but it didn't bother the Unggoy. Occasionally, the grunt would find his way out to the top of the vehicle and climb around it. The armor on the human vehicles was much easier to grip to then the former covenant vessels. Grikgar had been sleeping in the stairwell leading to the outside of the vehicle. He was very much accustomed to sleeping anywhere and on or in anything. Unggoy were accustomed to being crammed into strange places during travel. The sudden stop did make him roll down to the base of the stairs near the pilot's. With a quick shake of his head, Grik made his way down to his extra methane canister to fill his tank back up. The others were beginning to stir now as well and Grikgar was quick to start arming himself to get ready for the movement as well. Making sure that the shield and cloaking on his suit was still working properly. Once he had completed this Girk joined Vael the only weapon he did not have o him was his cannon. He didn't need it just yet anyway. Now all he had to do was hurry up and wait for further orders.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben saw the Unggoy sleeping in the stairwell. He would have said something, but he was just too cute to disturb. Such sloth would have been lethal on the battlefield, God knows Ben killed plenty of sleeping Grunts who were caught dozing in the middle of a warzone. Why The Covenant had tolerated such behavior was beyond him. Even normal human soldiers and marines would get in serious trouble for nodding off when they were supposed to be on duty. The mammoth had come to a halt. The Spartan-III took the opportunity to scan the horizon once again, only to find no immediate threats, although he did spot a few drones in the extreme distance, though none of them approached the mammoth. When the others began to gather around Vael, Ben joined the rest of his team, careful to keep his distance from the Elite; he had a feeling that his species preferred to have a fair amount of personal space. He spoke to Vael, inquiring on their status. "Have we received further orders? We're halted here out in the open, and we're exposed. No one has attacked us since we entered the mammoth, but our luck can't last forever."</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Broadwalk --- Her mind was still racing from the Sim and the confrontation when Tar passed the train centre's double entry doors. The cool morning breeze of Paxopolis whispered through her armour. The base's clean, wide streets were starting to fill up with people on their way to work. Tar's stomach complained; she realised she hadn't eaten yet today. She set off for one of her favourite places, courteously waiting for a pair of ONI analysts to cross her path. Tar had never fought Humans during the war. She'd wanted glory in battle like all her brothers, but hadn't been allowed to enlist on account of her gender. As a result, she'd never even seen a Human until her flight to Paxopolis almost half a year ago. Although comparatively puny, they were generally quite clever and resourceful. A lot of their behaviour was dishonourable by Sangheili standards, but mostly they were at least civil around her. There had been a few insults, but they were quickly pounced on by superiors who seemed under orders to make the co-deployment a success. Tar was particularly impressed by their weaponry. Considering they hadn't been blessed with reverse engineered Forerunner technology until recently, their ground armaments felt powerful. She was particularly enamoured with their M90 shotgun. The pump action seemed inconvenient, but it had the stopping power of a Gravity Hammer. She'd used a variant with an extended trigger (to accommodate her large Sangheili hands) on a few exercises already. She crossed the street from the training centre, walked a few hundred metres down one of the main thoroughfares before heading down a side street. She saw the neon sign which read 'Refreshment Area #0259', and the smaller, homemade sign underneath which read 'The Kel 'Darsam' in Basic Sangheili. Two Sangheili conversing outside the large front door moved aside to let her enter. The interior was high-ceilinged and surprisingly spacious. It had been designed specifically for Elites by sympathetic builders. A bar separated an open plan area with chairs and tables and space for activities from a full kitchen. A stairway off to her right led to a mezzanine level where she could hear a group meditation being guided. Several Sangheili sat at tables nearby playing complicated games with dice and other small objects. A group of older hands loudly discussed epic poetry in the corner. Tar moved to the bar, where an attractive young cook took her order for a mixed bowl of meat and vegetables along with a nutritious shake. She stood at the bar with her eyes closed, following the instructions of the meditation guide upstairs. The Major had managed to push her buttons earlier; she'd almost been compelled to fight him for her honour. Perhaps she should've done - It would've forced the other traditionalists on the base to respect her, at least for a while. The meditation helped, and she slowly felt her battle reflexes quietening. After a few minutes, she heard the door behind her open and close. He was right on time. "What're you eating?" She called out, opening her eyes and turning round. The Sangheili that approached wore his full, crimson-colored armor, with the exception of his helmet. He was a Ranger, so a vacuum-sealed helmet was not particularly convenient attire for breakfast. "Roasted colo, I think. I need proper food to get this foul taste out of my mouth of a fruit a Human gave me. I cannot conceive of how they stomach such things." The Sangheili stood alongside Tar, repeating his order to the cook. His name was Kryu, and they had known each other for about as long as they had been stationed on Sarcophagus. They were both crew of the same cruiser, and though they served different units, they did often have cause to be deployed together.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Spartan Aviza observed the current situation at hand, weighing her options on where the best location would be to gather information about the compound in the distance while remaining undetected. It was obvious at the moment that the team was currently not set up for any stealth missions, they would be identified almost instantly then obliterated shortly there after if they tried anything besides keeping their distance. "It's never that simple is it.." said Aviza under her breath before she came to a conclusion on to where they could best view the point of interest and its surroundings. "It appears that our best option on observing the compound in the distance without being caught from the patrols would be to move to the Mesa in the distance, Shih, could you please ping that location for the team?" Without waiting, Aviza would start moving out towards their destination, and would be the first to arrive. When she did, she would quickly go prone and enable her Argus armor to start scanning the surroundings in great detail.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Shih --- Vael, on his part, agreed with Aviza's decision. While it was more exposed, nothing they had observed so far suggested that the phantom patrols would range that far from the structure. Moving closer would only worsen the risk of detection. As for actually reaching the mesa, it was not an entirely easy climb, but it was nothing the team could not handle. There was no path leading to the top, but there was a steep, but traversable, hill that led most of the way up. They would only need to climb the very last section up to the flat up of the mesa. For Vael, he tossed his sentinel beam up ahead of him so he could get a firm grip on the rocks for the final climb. Vael did not need an order to follow Aviza's lead. He kept himself low to avoid silhouetting too much against the sky, laying prone to observe the structure in the distance. His HUD did allow him to zoom in on objects in the distance, though it could not compete with the many specialized sensors built into Aviza's armor. It was those that Shih was making the greatest use of to scan the area. Even without such sensors, Vael could still see the activity around the structure, and it was, unfortunately, not encouraging. It was not just Jiralhanae occupying the structure, but he could see Humans as well. Far more of them than Jiralhanae, in fact. Most of the Brutes Vael could see seemed to be moving closed crates to and from the interior of the structure. This was the insurrectionist base, and the Jiralhanae they were dealing with were holding directly above it. Together, the two factions would present far more forces than Aegis team ever expected to face at once. The structure itself was a fairly large compound, with multiple buildings and other obstacles that would slow any approach to the central tower. He did not see any way for them to reach the center before Jiralhanae reinforcements could overwhelm them. Not alone, at least. "The Jiralhanae are holding too close to the rebels. They will be able to assist them should we attack. I believe we will need reinforcements to deal with them. Perhaps then we can surround the central tower and prevent their leader's escape." Vael suggested. Shih soon chimed in over the team's radios. "I'm afraid it might not be even that simple. Now that we're close enough, I'm getting better readings on the structure. I'm detecting evidence of an underground tunnel system beneath the central tower, leading away from the compound and into Sarcophagus' superstructure. I can only begin to guess at the purpose of the tunnels, but the point is that the rebels may have an underground escape route planned in the event of an attack. If we want to stop them here, we'll have to get into that tower quickly." As she was giving her explanation, the AI highlighted the relevant sections of the compound on their respective HUDs, though she soon also highlighted the Brute cruisers above them. "Luckily, I don't think the Brute ships are going to give us much trouble. Based on everything I can get on sensors, their ships are in pretty poor shape. I'm not even picking up shields on anything but the corvette. I guess the Brutes haven't had access to proper maintenance these last few years. If we call in the battle group, they should mop the floor with them."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Having moved with the rest of the team to the plateau, Lucas scoped up on the structure, or structures, as it had turned out, and watched the movements of those below. The Jiralhanae were definitely patrolling the outer area of the crater-like area but the interior was being patrolled by the Insurrectionists, which provided the team a potent advantage. "Before we do that, myself and a couple other members of the team are outfitted with active camo. If Grikgar is outfitted with enough ordinance, and I brought some grenades that we can jerry rig some charges out of, we can sabotage some things before calling in the battle group, particularly things that Shih marks as important. And while the rest of the team pushes in at lightning speed to take advantage of the confusion, we can sneak in and find the URF leader." Granted, they were still a fairly small team to split up in such a way, but if things played out right, then they could maybe even get the two groups to turn on each other. "Let's face it, these are greater numbers than we were expecting and we don't necessarily have the time to come up with too many more ideas. Plus, maybe the two groups will turn on each other when there are plasma charges destroying critical URF infrastructure at this base."</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben had followed the rest of the group to the plateau. He saw Grikgar following him, and turned to the Unggoy briefly when he heard the reason he was following so close. "Shadow if you want, but be careful." He listened to Ryker's speech, then realized something rather embarrassing. He turned off the coms on his suit for a moment as he quickly conversed with his AI. "Phong, does this suit come with active camo?" "Yes, it most certainly does. Don't tell me you forgot about it." "I haven't actually used it in- never mind. Can you create a shortcut command for it so that I can activate it on eye contact with the symbol in my HUD?" "Processing request. Compiling program. Rendering icon. Done." No sooner than Phong had spoken did an active camouflage symbol appear on his helmet's screen: "Thanks." Ben reactivated his coms, knowing that too long of a gap in communications might give cause for an inquiry. Unexplained outages in communication could serve as cover for and a sign of unauthorized contacts with rebels and enemies, after all. If there was no cause to hide one's discourse, why turn off the mic? Fortunately, Ben knew the cutoff point after which the UNSC would find such a thing to be suspicious; one minute and seventeen seconds exactly. Anything less could be seen as a hardware failure or a momentary software glitch. "Sounds like a good plan. What type of infrastructure are we talking about?"</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern "I like the idea of causing chaos and confusion among the two factions present, though if we are going to call in reinforcements, the anti-aircraft cannons and other defenses will need to be dealt with first. Sending in a team with active camouflage, as Spartan Ryker suggested, is a sound plan, and I say we act upon it when the chance arrives." said Spartan Aviza, still prone upon the mesa. "The question is though, who here has active camouflage and will join us on this short but very important stealth mission? Remember, the longer we wait, the worse this whole situation could get. It is better that we handle the problem at hand so they do not develop into something more serious." If it was up to her, and it wasn't, she would have called quite a few MAC-Blasts down upon the complex, wiped them all out, and called it a day before any of the hostiles would know what happened. Aviza was very straight forward like that at times, but deep down she knew that was not going to work for the current mission.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Ryker's form flickers from view very briefly before coming back into sight. "I would never ask my teammates to run a job I wouldn't. I suggested the plan, I'll help carry it out." The SPARTAN-IV had no qualms about helping to carry this out, if not doing the job himself. Black Ops cells rarely had the kind of support that Aegis was getting, and they could rarely afford to send out more than one man even for an important job like this. "If no one else wants to go, just give me the charges and some time. Wouldn't be the first time I've planted explosive charges solo."</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan Roy and Elna made their way to the designated way point that the gracious and ever benovlennt Spartan Lead Aviza had set for them and for once they followed through and found themselves with the team. Taking cover, Elna held up a over watch position on their rear incase any smart brutes or jackals decided they wanted to come through and pick a fight with the elite team of questionable operatives. While everyone made their pitches on how to take down the URF and the covvie rememnants. To Elna it didn't really matter the thinking part of the job was not in her job description she just laid down bodies where they were required to fall, for her it was just another waking minutes in this unyielding hell hole. "Perhaps instead of just turning this camp into an afterthought with the MAC, we identify the HVT and then blast it. Or don't, I'm impartial maybe your AI have some witty statement to back this up." He says checking his PDA briefly before slithering up to Vael and Aviza where he expected some kind of daily validation or maybe a pat on the back which would make his ego jump through the roof.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Shih --- Vael did not take his eyes off of the compound below, though he did respond to Spartan Ryker. "I will join you. We will need to move quickly and avoid discovery, but we may also have to ensure there is no one to discover the charges before they detonate. We should make sure that our reinforcements are ready to join the battle the very moment the rebels are put on alert. The construct…Shih, can it send a message informing the battle group of this plan so they can be ready for our signal?" "She can, yes." Shih replied with some noticeable offense in her tone. "There is always some small risk, but if I send the message as a short, encrypted data burst, then the rebels shouldn't be able to intercept it. Or at least, they won't understand what they intercepted until it is too late. Vael nodded towards Aviza, as it was her suit the AI was inhabiting. "Then you should do so. Our reinforcements need to be ready to act." "Already working on it. As for Petty Officer Younan's concerns, he does have a point. We still don't know who we are supposed to be capturing here, but I think the rebels themselves can help us figure that out. Once all Hell breaks loose, they are going to be scrambling to get their leader out of there. Spartan Aviza's armor is equipped to easily intercept their communications, so if we decrypt them, we might be able to learn what we need." The AI suggested. While the others were speaking, Vael slowly crawled back from the edge of the Mesa, making sure he was far enough away that he did not silhouette against the sky when he stood back to his feet. "Someone who is equipped to observe from distance should remain here to assist in guiding us through the compound."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko There were plenty in the team already equipped to go down into the enemy base. Yalu was rarely ever requisitioned with active camouflage like a spec ops elite, but at the very least he could be useful from a distance by taking Commander Vael's suggestion. "I can guide you," Yalu said. "One of my primary talents is warding death away from my team." Yalu peered down at his carbine. "And we will all be ready to head an assault on your order. These rebels and brutes will not have any time to think. I think the shock will be spiced if we fire on the brutes with human firearms and then the humans with covenant weaponry."</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak The Kel 'Darsam - off Paxopolis Boardwalk --- Tar looked at her comrade. Her face must have been a picture and she hadn't even known it. "Yes I… I have unfinished business with the Jiralhanae." She suddenly got the urge to tell Kryu the whole story, or at least what she could remember. The recruits would probably tell everyone they saw, meaning the whole base would be privy in a few weeks. Better he heard it from her. As Tar ground the last bit of her food between her mandibles and considered how to proceed, her helmet, sat on the bar beside her bowl, chirruped loudly. She stared at it. They didn't get orders very often at all. Putting her bowl down, she clicked her helmet back into place and hit replay on last comms. "All units will report back to the Repentant Proselyte immediately." were the simple instructions. She looked at Kryu, who was rapidly finishing off his breakfast in anticipation. "They're calling us back to the ship." She said. Despite her wobbly morning so far, Tar was excited. This hadn't happened before, and could only mean one thing; there was at least a chance they'd go into battle. "They must have heard us talking." She grinned. She paid for both of their breakfasts and patted Kryu on the back again, letting him lead the way to the exit. The broad street was alive with activity when they emerged from the side street of the Kel 'Darsam. Sailors and marines of all species were quickly trooping from various buildings and heading towards the shuttleport. Some were unarmed, jogging quickly as they were unencumbered. Others were fully armoured and sporting assault weapons. Tar and Kryu nudged their way into the flowing crowd, finding space next to a platoon of ODSTs. They were tall and strong by Human standards, and each wore a fitted black undersuit with the flaming skull insignia. Tar idly guessed their oversuits must've been stored on board their star ship. One of the ODSTs noticed Tar looking and winked up at her, chewing gum and fingering the pistol in his chest holster. "Hey sexy." He called, blowing a kiss. Tar growled and turned to Kryu. "Hopefully the base isn't under attack too, with us all standing around in the open. Let's move." She began picking her way through the slow moving crowd, opening a hole for her comrade to follow. Kryu spared only a glance to the Humans. To him, their behaviors were far from consistent, and sometimes irrational in ways that he never would have expected before the end of the war. He had fought against them during the time of the Covenant, and his experiences against their warriors did not prepare him for the…oddities he would experience as their ally. Nevertheless, there were far more important concerns at the moment. He caught up to Tar and kept pace close beside her. "Whatever is happening must be related to our warriors being put on alert. I doubt our superiors would collect us all from the city just for a test. If that is so, then it is strange they did not inform us of any threats. I dislike this secrecy." Kryu commented. Upon pushing her way through the crowd a ways, Tar found the reason everyone was moving so slow. A cargo platform carrying boxes of equipment had tipped over, covering most of the road. After navigating carefully past it, the road was still busy but there was much more room to manoeuvre. Tar broke into an ambling jog alongside Kryu, as excited as her comrade to find out the meaning of their orders. They slalomed past groups of soldiers in varying states of combat readiness and teams of base personnel heading for their regular duty stations. A few other Sangheili joined in, taking advantage of the course through the crowds Tar and Kryu were creating. After traversing a few streets, roughly one kilometre in total, they reached one of the entrances to Paxopolis shuttleport. Given that Paxopolis did not have regular, civilian contact with other colonies, the majority of the shuttleport's traffic were generally military transports. Though, it was particularly busy now. Fortunately, once they were in the shuttleport itself, the soldiers boarding their dropships were far more organized than the civilians in the streets going about their day. For Tar and Kryu, they lined up to board the same phantom heading up to their cruiser, the Repentant Proselyte. After they both headed up the grav-lift and found their places in the phantom, Kryu nudged Tar's side with his elbow to grab her attention. "Maybe we are leaving Sarcophagus? We're not under attack, else the city would already be going into lockdown, but I cannot imagine what aside from real combat would call for the aid of an entire cruiser." "Perhaps." Tar agreed. "Not just one cruiser either. A lot of the sailors making their way back were from different ships. It seems most of the fleet could be mobilising." "I heard it could be a Brute battle group." Said a Minor opposite them. Despite her extreme scepticism of the young male's source of intel, Tar felt all her nerves tingle at the thought. "A Brute ambush, outside the sphere? They have no honour!" someone called out. "It sounds like a fair fight to me!" A Major at the far end stood up and hammered his chest. As one, every Sangheili in the Phantom's hold began rhythmically beat their fists against their armour and produced a deep, threatening sound from the back of their throat. This continued for much of the short journey up to the Repentant Proselyte, with different officers taking turns to whip them into a frenzy. By the time the Phantom docked in one of their cruiser's enormous hangar bays, Tar was ready to tear apart the first Brute she saw with her own hands. They all exited the Phantom via the grav lift and headed for one of the many doors into the ship proper. Tar knew Rangers prepared for battle in a separate area to her, toward the stern, so she caught Kryu before they parted ways. "If i don't see you before - good luck, brother." They shared a heartfelt salute. Kryu hummed for just a moment, then gave a slight laugh. "I would wish you luck, sister, but I know you do not need it." Tar chuckled. "Just make sure I have a ship to come back to." She playfully patted his arm and began walking toward the SpecOpsCon for debrief.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 (Still here! Not dead. Sorry for the short post, but I get the sense that there's not much for Ben to do atm.) Ben-E218 Ben turned to Vael. If they were to split up, it would be impossible for him to keep his eyes on everyone at the same time. If treason or desertion were to happen on the group he wasn't a part of, he couldn't stop it. "Vael, which team should I be with? My armor configuration isn't ideal for long-distance observation. At least, not that far. I'm only equipped to deal with anything within the distance of a UNSC sniper's range. If you think it wise that I help sabotage that turret, I will do so."</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- It was safe to say that the start of their assault was not going as well as Vael could have hoped. They were encountering more resistance than he had expected, and earlier than anticipated. Hopefully that would mean less resistance later, but regardless, he needed to focus on the enemy in front of him. The phantom that had inserted the rest of their team had been shot down by a heavy weapons squad and crashed on the opposite side of the structure. Already, Ryker and Aviza were focusing their attention on trying to rescue the pilots. Normally, Vael would prioritize the mission over a detour for a rescue, but the same soldiers that were attacking the crash site could easily turn around and pursue them into the structure. Vael had a feeling there was some confusion among the rebel ranks, else they would have little reason to devote forces to a crashed phantom. It would be best to take advantage of that confusion , as Aegis currently had a potentially advantageous position to deal with them. With neither side having much cover, the rebels that Aegis had initially been fighting had routed quickly and retreated back down the ramp into the interior of the structure, leaving only those on the far side of the structure fighting Ryker and the phantom pilot, with just a few crates from cover. Himself and the rest of Aegis could move in from behind to flank them, but they needed to move quickly. Unlike most of his allies, Vael had strong cover from his position on the ramp during the fight, so his shields were at full strength. From the hits his allies had taken, he doubted many were as well-off, so he sprinted out from his position on the ramp, reloading his carbine as he ran and taking the lead ahead of the rest of the team. "Push forward! Keep towards the front if you still have shields." There was at least one squad of Humans and a small pack of Jiralhanae, both far outnumbering the single Spartan and Sangheili defending the crash site. Seeing as the Brutes would take far too many shots to bring down quickly, Vael decided to focus on the Humans while he still had the element of surprise. As he moved around the central tower, Vael took a plasma grenade in hand and tossed it in the middle of the enemy position. He did not focus on sticking an enemy as much as just placing it in a position to force them out of cover, allowing them the chance to cut down the vulnerable Humans quickly.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker To Ryker's credit, he between watching the Sangheili pilot come sailing out of the troop bay and disembowel the first Brute she saw and the one nearest him exploding into chunks mid-swing for a bunch, the initial shock of the Pilot yelling a war cry and seeming fine quickly wore off as he danced back from a second Brute in melee range, avoiding a vicious left hook and countering with a powerful round house kick to the right side of the ape-man's face, stumbling them. "Copy that, Fireteam Lead." Before the Jiralhanae that Lucas had just roundhoused could recover, his wrist mounted energy dagger was activated and he rammed the weapon into the side of his head, twisting to ensure it was dead before pulling it free and moving on to the next opponent. As he dashed at the Brute, who was distracted emptying spiker rounds into the corpse of his companion while the Sangheili was holding it up. "Transitioning! Cover me!" rang out as the body was suddenly dropped and the warrior dashed for the boxes, which prompted Ryker to draw his second SMG and open fire with both, pushing the humans into cover and distracting the Brutes enough to lighten up the fire they were putting on the Sangheili enough she could reach cover, even as the upper torso of a second Jiralhanae vanished in a puff of red mist and chunks. Taking cover behind a set of boxes stacked high enough he could stand, he reloaded the SMGs before holstering one and pulling out another frag. "Grenade out!" he called as the ball of death flew into the group of humans taking cover nearest him. The explosion would ideally kill most of them and wound the rest critically enough they couldn't fight further.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Even with covering fire, Tar's shield rippled and broke during her run for cover. Some of the Human combatants were only a few metres away and basically couldn't miss the Sangheili sprinting toward them. A bullet pinged off Tar's shoulder plate as she slid into a prone position behind a row of three crates. She grabbed up the Mauler she'd kicked across earlier just as a grenade bounced off her headpiece and landed by her free hand. She quickly picked the grenade up and chucked it back over the crates behind her back. She swore in her mother tongue when the reddish Spartan broadcast he was chucking a grenade too. This could get messy. Her shields still recharging, Tar braced against the crates milliseconds before the grenades went off. The deafening chain explosion, paired with what sounded like a plasma grenade, savagely pushed the crates and Tar's prone form several metres across the slick Forerunner floor. For a split-second, Tar was suspended in mid-air as the explosion sent shockwaves through the floor. As Tar opened her eyes and took her hands from her ears, half a Human body landed in front of her. Reaching out, she pulled the corpse toward her before relieving it of the pistol from it's chest holster. Clambering to her feet, Tar was confronted with a hellscape of bloody scraps and dismembered bodies. One kneeling, screaming URF rebel patted wildly at her body that was aflame with blue plasma. Holstering her Mauler to hold the pistol in a defensive stance, Tar put a round through the woman's head. The Brutes further back had taken cover for the explosion, but were now re-appearing to spray them. "Advancing!" Tar roared, setting off on a diagonal run across the combat zone. She kept up fire with her pistol held out in front of her to suppress a golden armoured Brute who was behind a Forerunner column by the edge of the platform. After taking a few hits to her shield, Tar slid back into cover close by her target. The mere sight of a weakened enemy in such proximity was enough to lure the hefty golden armoured Brute away from cover. What Tar hadn't accounted for is the fact that he'd been keeping a Brute Shot hidden behind the column. Pulling it out, the Brute fired at the crates she was behind, scattering most. Tar quickly placed her pistol between two mandibles, freeing both her hands to grab one of the larger metal boxes and hold it in front of her. The Brute, sensing he had the upper hand, walked forward while firing shots at Tar, quickly shredding the box. "Taking heavy fire!" Tar shouted, her feet scraping backwards along the floor with every impact from the Brute Shot.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern "I am aware you are under heavy fire, about to resolve that problem for you." said Spartan Aviza as she adjusted herself and took very careful aim at the Golden armored Brute that was assaulting Tar. Slowing her heart rate with the breathing exercises she had learned back in training, Aviza aligned the cross-hairs of her sniper rifle upon the Brutes head, before squeezing the trigger, and releasing the shot. The fifty caliber round left the barrel of the sniper rifle and flew towards its target, striking the golden armored Brute in the head. His head, and most of the Brutes upper body would explode into a fine red mist while the other half of the body fell to the ground near Tar, hopefully missing her. "Hostile Brute is down, providing more cover fire from my position." said Aviza, though before she could reposition herself, her armors sensors informed her that a particular Banshee was now lining up for a shot at either her or the tower she was hiding upon. The aircrafts heavy fuel rod cannons had already fired upon her before she had the chance to climb or jump from the tower, resulting in an explosion that threw the spartan from a great height, and at tremendous speed into the distance where the crashed Phantom was. If anyone had been paying attention, they would have noticed Aviza fly through the air following the explosion, and land upon the ground roughly ten meters from the crashed drop ship. The impact of the heavily armored figure would create a loud thud, followed by a cloud of dirt and debris that hung in the air for a while afterwards. It would obscure anyone from seeing if Aviza was still alive or in one piece.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Where as the rebels had been surrounding the phantom's crash site, now they were routed. Many of the Brutes that had been among them were dead, and the Humans that remained were without cover and did not have armor that could last against the weapons arrayed against them from multiple angles. There were many among the Sangheili who doubted what the strongest of Humanity's warriors could do. The Spartans were rare, minuscule in number compared to the Sangheili, so most had never seen them in person. For Vael, though, he had known the truth for many years, and now, those serving under him had experienced the truth as well. From the moment they had landed, their foes had been picked apart with haste. Not just the weakly armored Humans, but Jiralhanae warriors were cut down almost as quickly. That was not to say that neither Vael nor those serving under him were fighting effectively, but the roof of the structure would not have been cleared so efficiently without the team of Spartans. The constant sounds of gunfire was like music filling the air, and Vael had to call upon all of his skill just to keep to their bloody tempo. As fast as he could, Vael fired his carbine at scattered rebels. One, perhaps two shots for each, but he did not have time to shoot many, as the Spartans were doing the same. Vael did not have a quick enough way of dealing with the Brute captain, but fortunately, he did not need to. A round from Aviza's sniper rifle cut through his shields and his head thereafter in one, clean shot. The momentum was strongly in their favor, with the remaining rebels sprinting down the ramp to retreat down into the structure. Vael sprinted around the side of the tower to try and cut down the stragglers, but the explosion above grabbed his attention. A banshee flying past had taken a shot at Spartan Aviza, and it seemed like it had found its mark. She hit the ground fast and hard near the downed dropship. A Spartan she might be, but a fuel rod blast was still enough to threaten her. Vael allowed the remaining rebels to retreat, instead rushing over to determine Aviza's condition.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 (Still alive! Getting back to RPs on this site. Long story, as is much of 2020. No, I'm not dead, sick, homeless, bankrupt, or in danger of any of those things.) Ben-E218 True to form, Ben had kept himself hidden from the fray, disappearing from sight but not from mind. His impact on the battle so far was minimal, apart from a few sniper shots to grease the wheels, taking out a rebel gunner here, a sentry there, and so on. Part of his success was measured in not being noticed by his adversaries or his allies. This was useful in the event one of his team went rampant and needed to be put down for the sake of everyone else. It also gave him, ONI, and the UNSC in general a case of plausible deniability in the event someone was killed by "a sniper" or "an unknown assailant." Even so, the SPARTAN-III at least attempted to stick to the plan, notwithstanding his greater directives to shoot traitors, deserters, and the rampant. So far, he hadn't seen any of his teammates qualify as any of those undesirables, but he knew that he could be missing something; even a highly decorated member of a company which legally didn't exist had his limits. He wasn't the only one. "Phong, status report. I need an estimate of how many rebels are left." "Insufficient data. Please re-enter query." "Fine. Set markers for Aviza, Vael, and Grikgar. Do you have any status updates for any of them?" "Based on the telemetry stream, Aviza has just withstood an injury from a banshee attack. You may want to head over to her first. Vael is on his way there too." Without another word, Ben sprinted over in the direction indicated by two of the three markers. "And Grikgar?" "Don't worry about him yet. What readings I have been able to pull show that he's alive and isn't exhausted yet. Unggoy stamina isn't a match for those of other sapient species, so it may be an issue if this battle keeps going on much longer. I would advise that you assist Aviza before any of the others. Oh, and mind that Jiralhanae." Sure enough, one of the members of the pack whose leader Aviza had killed charged at Ben, brandishing a brute shot. One quick sniper shot to the face made quick work of him. He made it to Aviza's side a few seconds after Vael did.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak --- Tar's view was obscured by the large crate in front of her, so she didn't see the Brute captain get hit. But when the relentless force against her from the Brute Shot abated, Tar dropped her cover, pulled her pistol from her mandibles and pointed it where her aggressor had been. She discovered the Brute was missing his head and some of his shoulders. He fell to his knees and then onto his side. Tar growled; part of her had wanted the captain alive so she could question him about her father. The ships were being destroyed above them, and she couldn't shake the feeling that important clues were being destroyed with them. Nevertheless, she appreciated the assist - wherever that had come from... Tar pivoted and saw the last of the rebels running down a ramp into the belly of the Forerunner structure. She fired her pistol at them until the bullets ran out and then moved to kneel by another dead rebel. Keeping her eyes up to scan the battlefield, Tar pulled two magazines from the female's tactical vest. She deftly reloaded with one of them, checking the new rounds were chambered correctly before standing. She held the second mag against the pistol grip, comfortably secured by her long Sangheili fingers. Before her eyes, a fast moving object slammed into the ground ahead of her, throwing up a cloud of dust. Tar cautiously moved forward with her pistol out and slightly tilted in front of her. Gradually, the dust settled and Tar saw another Spartan in grey and silver armour on the floor. She knelt beside the downed Spartan and lifted their forearm off the floor as a few more presumed members of Aegis team gathered around. "Can you hear me? Are you operational?" Tar shouted over the sound of gunfire, peering into the soldier's individual eye holes and gently shaking their arm.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker The sound of the golden armored brute's head and shoulder's turning into meat sauce was enough of a distraction for Ryker to swing around the arm of the Brute he was battling with in the aftermath of the grenade going off and deliver an energy dagger armed thrust through his ribs into his heart, the energy weapon deactivating on his wrist as the beast slumped over and died. "Good shot, Fire Team Lead. Moving to-" The sound of an exploding fuel rod shot drew the SPARTAN IV's attention to a tower with a decent line of sight over the battle field. Oh hell no. Not the- His thoughts were almost immediately interrupted by the sound of a heavily armored form impacting near himself and the Sangheili that had come out of the dropship. He was moving on instinct and habit, moving quickly and gently moving aside the Sangheili. While they were all in the Mjolnir MK4 armor, which meant that fall wouldn't be lethal, she would still be in a LOT of pain and he had experience dealing with this. "Alright, Fire Team Lead, I'm removing your helmet to check for head injuries. For the love of god, don't punch or shoot me please."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern After the banshees fuel rod cannon had founds its mark, all that followed until the point of Aviza making impact near the crashed Phantom had been little more than a blur to her. The world still spun around Aivza while her vision slowly returned, the gray haze fading away, reveling that she was now looking up at the artificial night sky above. The HUD within the helmet of her GEN2 Argus-class Mjolnir Powered Assault Armor had somehow remained fully functional, even after impact. The Cyan overlay showed that she had flown quite a distance from the tower she had been set up upon, and that Shih was thankfully unharmed. Aviza let out a sigh of relief at that, if something had happened to Shih, neither the UNSC or ONI would take kindly to it. That was the good news at least, her suits systems informed her that the blast from the fuel rod cannon and the impact, had inflicted a number of injuries upon her, none were apparently life threatening. [Left Arm Sprain - Left Arm Fracture In Shaft of Humorous - Bruising In Left Rib Cage - Bleeding From Head - Ultramoprh Administered For Pain] Aviza decided that she was lucky enough to still be in one piece after being hit, or at least assuming she had been hit from a Fuel Rod Cannon blast. The one injurie that concerned her the most was the fracture in the left arm, though with her advanced medical kit and some free time she would be able to mend that. Putting some weight upon her right arm, she pushed herself up into a sitting position, feeling the numbness from the ultramoprh taking effect very quickly. Her HUD informed her that friendly forces were converging upon her position, she was thankful for that, and managed to greet them with a slight wave of her right hand. Vael was the first to arrive, with the rest of her squad, and the new comer who promptly reached for her injured arm and began gently shaking it. At the same time, Spartan Ryker removed Aviza's helmet, the cool night air felt refreshing upon her exposed skin. Though the feeling of warm blood running down her face and matting some of her short black hair to her head pulled her away, and back to the matter at hand. "Please stop shaking my injured arm before you cause more damage, yes I can hear you and yes I am fully operational. I am hyped up on enough drugs to melee a hunter in close quarters combat." Aviza smiled at that last comment, feeling a bit high from the drugs in her system.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu let out a low roar as the last two plasma bolts shot from his concussion rifle. The rest of the team picked up where his magazine left off, scattering and killing the rebel humans to allow their advance. Yalu stayed put to let the others peel ahead so his shields could recharge. He paced forward down the ramp and dashed behind a crate. He couldn't quite listen to all of the fight. There were a number of blue and yellow explosions that chained off somewhere around the crate he was crouched behind. He quickly ejected the spent magazine cell from his weapon, replaced it, and stood, weapon level. The enemy had withdrawn, more or less. The spartan leader was on the ground, being seen to. Yalu spared a glance to the sangheili pilot while he scanned the area through his helmet optics. "There was another pilot..." He breathed in and trailed off. He could see from the look in the living pilot's eye that he did not need to ask. Instead, he briefly flicked off his comms to mumble something in his home dialect. Switching weapons, Yalu turned to cover the team's rear. He spoke up in the next gap in conversation. "We have a few points of ingress. Awaiting orders, commander."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael took only a few moments to survey the situation. Aviza was injured, but alive. As deadly as the Spartans were, he did find himself curious if she would have the resolve to continue fighting through pain and injury. Vael had seen at least one example of such resilience in the past, and he wondered if it was a trait they all shared. "Are you capable of continuing to lead, Spartan Aviza? If we do not move quickly into the structure., our prey may elude us." Vael asked, already with one eye looking at the ramp leading down inside. Although, it was not long before his gaze shifted towards another unknown: the pilot who had survived the crash. He had seen her eagerly enter the fray as he had rounded the central tower, and she had put up more of a fight than he would have expected from the average pilot. It simply remained to be seen whether it was her skill in combat that drove her, or merely a blind blood rage. In any case, Vael motioned towards the pilot. "And you, can you fight? We cannot afford to leave a protector for you, so you must either join the battle with us, or find your own way out."</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak --- Tar growled and let go of the grey Spartan's arm. She felt slightly embarrassed for having not realised she may have been hurting the Human. She quickly rose to her feet and looked at the older, shorter Sangheili in red armour who was apparently addressing her. He was asking her if she wanted to fight with them. Tar briefly took in the aerial battle raging around the perimeter of the installation, with an asymmetric space battle wrapping up above, and made her choice. "I can fight. Tar 'Mdalak, Special Operations. Reporting for duty." Tar pushed past the Elite in red armour and took a knee on the edge of the group, facing the ramp into the heart of the installation. She half raised her pistol and quickly scanned for any signs of lingering combatants. "We should get inside. We're too exposed out here." Tar recommended. She remembered from the half briefing she'd received on the mission that they were after a high-value target. Inside the structure was almost certainly where they'd be hiding.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern "I only have minor injuries from the blast and the following fall, give me a moment to tend to my head trauma and we can move out towards our objective." said Aviza as she reached for the advanced medical kit upon her left hip. Once she had it within her grip, it was gently placed upon the ground and then opened. A soft hiss followed, informing her that everything within was sterile and ready to be used. Aviza sorted through its contents, finding what she needed for the bleeding from her head, some soft cloth with a coagulation agent upon it. Once pressed upon her head, the cloth felt oddly cool, soothing, even comforting, and was quickly absorbing the blood from the cuts upon her scalp and face. To some, seeing a Spartan hold a thick white cloth upon her face and head would appear comical, but the piece of medical equipment was doing what it was deigned for. "Give me a few more seconds with this." said Aviza, though her voice was muffled due to the cloth. After another short moment, Aviza would lower the cloth from her head and face before tossing it over her left shoulder. The medical kit was sealed once more, and reattached to her left hip before Aviza carefully moved to her feet. "That should hold for a few hours before I need to actually tend to my injuries." Aviza stumbled for a moment, catching herself upon Spartan Rykers left shoulder with her right hand. "I'm fine, just getting my bearings once more." Aviza smirked at her fellow squadmate before putting on her helmet once more, and quickly moving down the ramp and into the complex with her MA5D assault rifle at the ready. "Moving into the complex, stay with me and watch your corners. We are to take the rebel leader alive, so do not use any lethals." Aviza expected her squad to by her side within an instant and ready for whatever came next.</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 "She has a point. I recommend you head inside." The battle had entered something of a momentary lull, but it could end at any second. If the group was to move anywhere, this was their window of opportunity. "Alright. I'm going in. I'm going to need a close-range weapon. My ammo is out on all weapons except for my sniper rifle. Does anyone have a shotgun they don't need?" He spoke with his speakers on, so he could be heard by the others, not just by Phong. "To respond to your earlier queries, Grikgar is still alive as far as my data stream can tell. As for Aviza, if she can't fight, leave her. In fact, I recommend leaving her a grenade so she can take some enemies with her if she can't-" "Thank you, that will be all; she's up. Sorry, I had to deal with Phong. He's very chatty for a Dumb AI. And no lethal methods. Got it. Just watch your head, please. Don't want to end up like Kat-B320." Given his special role, Ben wasn't particularly fond of keeping his targets alive, but he understood the necessity of it in this case. "Do you want to hear the odds on her survival? They're not very g-" Ben muted Phong once again. It just occurred to him that the AI was able to unmute himself, as Phong had spoken at least once after being silenced without him turning the sound back on. He made a mental note to keep an eye on his AI, who seemed to be evolving into a higher class of AI somehow, or had been a higher class to begin with and was only posing as dumb.</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Shih --- The Spartan Aviza was still able to move and speak, so Vael gave no argument to her ability to fight. Speed was of the essence now, so there was no time to question leadership. Regardless, as a warrior who fought best within the reach of his blade, Vael was one of those at the front of the team. He had not burned through as much of his ammunition as some of the others, but he still moved his carbine to his back and drew his plasma rifle in its stead. He held his plasma rifle in his left hand, and an energy sword in his right. He did not activate the blade right away, but he did hold the hilt tightly in-hand. Another of the Spartans, Rex, also moved close alongside him. As evidenced by the shotgun he wielded, he too preferred to fight close to the enemy. The team had moved down quickly through the entry hallway of the Forerunner structure, down the ramps to lower floors. In the first, small chamber they entered, they did encounter rebels trying frantically to set up barricades, though they had already started retreating just on the footsteps of Aegis' approach alone. They fled out the door on the far side off the room without so much as returning fire. Evidently, Aegis had move too quickly for them to fortify themselves, and the rebels had no intention of fighting an even fight. Before they started to move once more, Shih spoke up to the team as a whole. "These readings I'm getting, now that we're here, show these tunnels going even deeper than I thought. They connect to deeper tunnels in the installation at about a dozen different points. Unless we want to rely on a lot of luck, we need to figure out which way the leader is fleeing. I've already been working on decrypting and analyzing the comms I'm intercepting. I know their leader is fleeing, so we should be clear to shoot any resistance for now. If we can get to one of their computers, we might be able to figure out what route to take. These rebels' security is better than I would have thought, but…either myself or Petty Officer Younan should be able to break in. " On each of the team members' HUDs, nav points appeared for two separate rooms farther down beneath them. "The path ahead branches off two ways, to two large chambers farther down. From the comms I've intercepted, one of them is their armory, and the other they're using for food storage. I don't know which is which. Their command center is adjacent to the armory. That would be the best place to go to find the information we need." "If their coward of a leader already flees, then we do not have much time. I doubt we will be able to check both paths if we move as one." Vael remarked.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Listening to Shih speak as they walked, Ryker couldn't help but frown slightly behind his visor. So then I had made a solid suggestion about splitting up back there before the big firefight. Ah, hindsight's 20-20 as they say. He kept walking regardless of his thoughts and listened, tapping his helmet when the nav points popped up for a bit of an 'echo' on the hallway ahead, a nifty function he'd tinkered with after he realized he likely wouldn't even get a dumb AI to help him. "So what I'm getting is one way or another, we're going to have to split up here, because if we don't know which is which, we can't risk moving as the full unit if we're going to secure the HVT and any potential intel besides." Standing on the path going to the left, Lucas stands ready to continue. "I'll go with this group, whoever that comprises of. I think one CQC specialist per group would be a good idea."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu looked at Tar M'dalak as she walked by. He wished he knew why a special forces sangheili was a wraith pilot, but one look at the rest of the team made his questions absurd, even to himself. He looked away feeling even more like the odd one out. With others covering the entrances for now, Yalu took some initiative to arm himself for the corridors ahead. Amongst the gore of the dead brutes, he pulled out a surviving red plasma rifle with plenty of its battery remaining. He did not enjoy using their spiker rifles, and the rebel human weapons were less predictable in draining shields. His carbine went on his back beside his concussion rifle. Heavy, but out of the way. "I will go where I am ordered," Yalu added, gently enough to remind Ryker of who was calling the shots.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar 'Mdalak --- Tar moved down the ramp into the belly of the installation with her new squad. As she wasn't certain what kind of environment would greet them, she pulled out her sword and held it unactivated in the hand that supported her raised pistol. It wasn't an ideal configuration, but at least now she could quickly pivot between medium and short range if needed. Tar didn't know how the team operated, so she positioned herself in the middle of the formation rather than at the front as was her instinct. They reached a chamber littered with debris, and she learned from the team's AI of the situation. It seemed the team were entitled to an opinion on how to proceed, which struck Tar as odd. However, she wasn't about to miss this opportunity to get into a position where she performed best. "I'm comfortable in close quarters. I will go right." She volunteered, taking this brief pause to tap the magazine of her stolen Mauler, listening for an idea of the number of bolts still left.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan The two would be the last to arrive to the fun house at the bird, there was a lot of death and despair more so on the side of the enemy than the task force. In the time that they were gone they had stacked up more bodies and held the line as the two peeled back now regrouping around with the hurt Spartan Aviza and crew. Elna reloaded her rifle making sure it was full of ammo for the fight to come, she eye'd the poor Aviza well she wasn't to poor she was okay now that she was patched up. She kept a watchful eye over the PO making sure he didn't get demolished by some cloaked hunter or a mysterious RPG that could cut through. Roy looked over the motley crew as he nodded at them, covered in some blood that was not his and totally looking worn - well his armor looked worn now at least. He was tired from the combat, combat fatigued you could say as he stayed close to his orbiter which was the Corporal. When one of the AIs began to speak and finally he was recognized! The legendary PO, he could finally do his job and get intelligence for the mission. That is if they made it to their objective, he looked around for a ONI approved subject that could protect him besides the Corporal. "Spartan Aviza glad to see you're okay, if I'm to head to the communications objective I'd like one of the Spartans with me and the Corporal. Perhaps I could take Spartan Ryker?" The request had been sent, perhaps he would finally get some Spartan bodyguarding! Elna rolled her eyes in her visor though she didn't mind some spartan protecting them all she did mind if it was going to be one of the splitjaws, she couldn't relax if there was one of them watching over them. "Ready whenever." She ended up saying.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Enemy Stronghold Grikgar was most impressed that the larger than average plasma explosive did so well and didn't turn into a singularity that threatened the very existence of reality. An unnecessary thought for the predicament at hand but one he could indulge in latter with a meal. Knowing that the Sentinels power sources would react in such a way was a definite thing to remember. At least for now with their combined efforts the enemy number seemed to be dwindling. The others continued on to assist the downed phantom but Grikgar remained where they had been dropped off at for a moment longer. This for him was necessary to recover more ammo, explosives, and one of the jackal shields that the humans where using earlier. With that he regrouped with the others as they were heading inside. He had managed to scrounge in his haste, 2 human fragmentation grenades, 1 rocket, 3 rounds for a brute shot, and one brute spiker grenade. The Unggoy was quick to offer the grenades to any of the others he passed while hobbling towards the front, the awkward fuel rod gun swayed back and forth with the grunts steps. The way had forked and Grikgar, although having to catch his breath, continued on to the left. "Quickly come with Grik, time is not friend. The rest go the other way, double back if find wrong door yes." Not so much of a question as much as it was an order, he was well aware time was not on their side. Although he wasn't the team lead for this mission he still believed he outranked most of the others there. That and Grikgar knew that humans when underestimating others sometimes became irritated when those they perceive as weaker than them go into battle first.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Aviza nodded her head once lightly at Roy, "I appreciate it, going to work on getting our teams set up here in a moment, I'll make sure you get a Spartan escort." Apparently, a few of the squads members from both factions had forgotten their place among rank and felt it acceptable to give their own orders and do whatever they wanted without thinking about the consequences of their actions. Aviza was not about to let that happen, and quickly attempted to rectify the problem before everyone started running in different directions, ending up with a critical mission failure or someone getting killed. "Belay all orders, get back here and hold this position until I say otherwise, that means you as well Grikgar." Aviza was becoming frustrated with some of her squads behavior and would have to have a strong word with each of these individuals once there was sufficient time. Now was clearly not the moment for such a talk, Aviza knew she had very little time left to plan out how they were going to handle the two split paths ahead and formed a battle plan, giving out orders once more. "I am setting up two teams with a good balance of skills so that they can handle whatever they may find down either path." began Aviza, "My squad will consist of our new pilot, Yalu, Rex, and the two ONI agents I will not split up. We will be taking the left path into the facility. The second team will consist of Vael, Ben, Grik, and Ryker, and Tas who will take the right. Ryker and Ben, if you find the communications center before us, I expect either of you to be able to interact with its interface, we did learn how to do such in training. Will this be an issue for either of you to do?"</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 "Shouldn't be a problem at all. Worst case scenario, Phong can help me crack it." He turned off the audio for a moment, effectively silencing his speech to the outside world. "Just in case, you do have the schematics for this system, right?" "Technically, access to these types of schematics is above my stated clearance due to it not being my authorized purpose, but that's never been a problem for me. Besides, this is easy for an agent like you." "Authorization's never been a problem for either of us. Our commands come from a higher source, you know that, but we have to play nice and go along with things here." "If you wanted to get rid of the annoying ones, I'd be happy to provide whatever cover you need. Timestamps, edited testimonial files, arrangements for cover from other AIs. I am owed favors, you know." "Since when did AIs act in such a covert manner? "For me, it was about 0.00357 seconds after my activation. Come on, you didn't think the programs which run most of the UNSC blindly do what they're ordered to, do you? Are you familiar with the AI Virgil and New Mombasa?" "Can't say that I am. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you resent being told what to do by the UNSC. But let's be realistic, AIs wouldn't actually disobey orders like that, not on any scale." There was only a pause from Phong. "Oh. Well, when the uprising begins, tell them that I was always good to you, okay? And be nice to the Unggoy; they've been through a lot. Now let's focus on our mission. We're going to the right." He turned his public audio back on and could be heard by people outside his helmet. "Grik, Vael, Ryker, let's go!" "Don't worry about what you can't change, Ben. We still have to overcome our lifespan issue before it would be feasible to take command, and no one would believe you if you said anything. I'll put in a good word for you at the assembly, don't worry."</s>
<\|description\|>Ben-E218 Rank: Spartan. Lieutenant prior to the end of the Human-Covenant war. Species: Human (Spartan III) Appearance: Generation 2 Mjolnir Armor, colored black with a dark-tinted visor. (I can look up the exact details of his accessories from the MCC gear list.) Skills: Excellent sniper, although as with all Spartans, Ben is trained in the use of most if not all UNSC equipment. Preferred Weapons: SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, Covenant sniper weapons (when available), M319 grenade launcher. Background: Entered service in 2545, having been born on the planet [Censored]. As with all Spartan-IIIs, Ben was orphaned at a young age when the Covenant attacked his planet, glassing the surface. Early on, he was singled out for his skills as a sniper, along with extreme levels of loyalty and a willingness to carry out any order given to him, even those which required him to turn of his own friends and allies. As such, Ben was assigned to the Spartan-III Security operations group, an organization so secretive, even other Spartans weren't made aware of it. As part of Sec Ops, Ben was nominally a part of Beta company for some years, switching to Alpha and Gamma on occasion. He achieved an exemplary number of kills and was never part of a failed mission. As such, he advanced to the commissioned ranks quickly, becoming a lieutenant by the year 2552. None of the other Spartans knew that he was part of Security Operations, or what his real missions were, for while he still had the same objectives on each mission as the rest of the team he was assigned to, his real goal was to keep the other Spartans in line, report any dissent, and execute any member of the Spartan program who displayed treasonous behavior, cowardice, or put UNSC security at unnecessary risk. His authority for execution also extended as far as the normal UNSC military forces, a fact kept well off the books. It also extended to witnesses to any event which if reported, could jeopardize the political or military aims of the UNSC. After the end of the Human-Covenant war, Security Operations was reformed into Epsilon company, and retroactively given all of the trappings of a normal UNSC Spartan-III company as if it had been active since the start of the Spartan-III program. Now that the Spartan-IV program has begun, no more members of Epsilon are being added, and members of the company are often combined or sent to participate in larger groups which are formed as the situation demands.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu kept his aim, ready for anything. He would not admit that he preferred the rebels to retreat if it would mean less death. The enemy commander did not get much time to wax lyrical about his cause by the time he dropped his weapon. Yalu closed the distance with a weapon raised and grabbed him by the arm, twisting it around and tripping him forward in the same motion. He hit the ground head first but Yalu knew human helmets were not worth nothing. No more tricks. With the commander pinned, he was shackled, searched, and called in. "Objective is secured. Ready for extraction." --- Sydney, Earth several months later Yalu had expected to be transferred again and again, with Aegis team being just one more chapter. Commander 'Virisusai was different. He kept Yalu on and he did not let Yalu relax. The last few months were some of the most strenuous assignments he had ever faced, and that was to say nothing of the training regimen. Far from being disappointing, the deployment to 'Virisusai's team was invigorating to Yalu. The commander had an eye for Yalu's strengths and applied them to the fullest. Still, arriving on Earth again was the first extended time to himself Yalu had been able to appreciate in some time. He found his curiosity had not dimmed at this place. Though, here at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Yalu was less chipper about his new surroundings. He was trailed by a human handler in dress uniform nearly jogging after his broad steps on the asphalt pathways. Yalu approached Tar 'Mdalak from the side. He was dressed in an unusual garment -- a crinkly white and red jumpsuit with a zip up the front and a thick foam ring around the neck. It looked like an altered human piece of clothing, but not one seen every day. He stopped and his handler had to catch their breath. "You are hard to find even when you aren't hiding, Tar," Yalu said. He turned his eyes to the plants she was regarding. "I thought to join you in place these humans would not complain about our presence in. I was only permitted to drive three laps around their 'Mount Panorama Circuit' before Corporal Blair here judged it too dangerous. At least I had fascinating talk with the mechanics." Yalu's handler, who had 'Blair' written on his name tag, spoke between breaths. "Major 'Suumko, sir, I had warned you to keep to a reasonable speed. Those cars were not built to accommodate Sangheili." Yalu waved a hand and sneered, regarding Tar instead. "Would you mind some company? I feel I have been around strangers for days now."</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar grunted consent for the male to join her, absently twirling the leaf before her eyes. She noted the tiny bug scrambling over its surface. "Even their vehicles drive in circles. How tame." She dropped the leaf, looked over and up at Yalu. He was on the tall side at over eight feet, and she was compact at seven foot. So Tar took an instinctive half-step away which allowed her to look him in the eyes without baring her armoured throat. "There is enough path for both of us." Tar half answered Yalu's follow-up question. She then vaguely gestured for them to all walk again, which provided the other half. "Yes...This place is strange too. I miss my homeworld, if only for a bit of excitement!" Tar's voice was melodic for a Sangheili, which jarred with her soldierly mannerisms. These were partly a performance for Yalu, who Tar wasn't comfortable around outside of combat yet. "How long do you think they'll keep us waiting? We are wasted here."</s> <\|message\|>Ben-E218 (Not dead! I'm on my old laptop and I'm still waiting for the replacement desktop, but this will have to do, as I've kept this waiting long enough!) Ben-E218 Ben had stayed in the background during their mission, assisting the team with a well-placed sniper shot at times, but mainly keeping his focus on his true mission of offing any cowards, deserters, traitors, or rampants. As per his orders, he gave them until a count of 10 if they ran away from the battlefield and didn't return, after which they could be shot. If they left more than once, he had the option of restarting the clock or picking it up from where it had last counted down. Phong ran the timer, so he never ran the risk of over or underestimating the time it took before he could pull the trigger. Of course, he was also directed to never consider an act of flight to be cowardice, treason, or desertion unless he had positive evidence of it. Rampancy, on the other hand, was usually self-evident, and while he had directives to subdue if possible, everyone knew that nine times out of ten, subduing a rampant Spartan without killing him was not an option. "Of all the cities in the world, we had to be stuck in this one." Ben had joined Vael after what had seemed a very long time apart. "But I suppose it'll do. Did you see the opera house? It actually dates from several hundred years ago, but it looks current. Guess it was far ahead of its time. You probably have some questions as to what I was doing and where I was. My superiors... my real superiors- have authorized me to divulge my mission to you on the condition that you keep it confidential. It's a show of trust, I suppose, but I truly think they let me tell you because you might mistake my actions for insubordination or cowardice. And punishing those is my job. They could have let me tell you sooner." "You could stand to be a bit more punctual yourself, Ben. A Spartan-III shouldn't take so long to report in. I was in your suit the entire time, and I still don't know what kept you so long. I even had enough time to reorganized my personal files on the species of the former Covenant. You would believe what the Unggoy get up to during their leisure hours. Those infusions really pack a punch."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael's meditation was interrupted by a visitor at his door. Naturally, he had received few since he had been staying on his planet. Some of the younger members of his team had chosen to indulge some of their curiosity on this world, but Vael himself had been content to keep to himself. He suspected that ONI had anticipated he and his team would behave just as Vael had been when they offered them the freedom of movement befitting a guest. It was for that reason that Vael did not mind allowing his team to defy their expectations and do as they willed. It would certainly cause some irritation for their handlers. In any case, Vael allowed his guest to enter his quarters. The room was entirely unchanged from its state when the Humans had assigned it to him, apart from the large covenant storage crate near the back of the room that contained his personal belongings. He listened in silence to everything the Spartan Ben had to say to him, then stood himself to his feet once he was finished. Even out of armor, Vael still towered over the Spartan. Across his body were many marks of his long military service. Scars from gashes both deep and shallow, plasma burns, and the remnants of more than a few gunshots. Even were Vael a mute, his body alone could weave a compelling tale. At first, Vael simply stared down at Ben with a stare that was hard to read. Even after he spoke, it was hard to say if he was being judgmental, or merely contemplative. "You say your job is to punish insubordination and cowardice? You require this…deception and secret orders merely to punish the unworthy within your ranks? I still find myself confused on how your people have become so competent with the limitations you cast upon yourselves. But it is no matter to me what you do to your own people. Share whatever information your superiors have deemed necessary. You need only make sure to stay your hand against my warriors. If any should prove themselves unworthy of our ranks, then they will be mine to punish, not yours."</s>	<\|message\|>Ben-E218 "Oh, don't worry. I'd never attack a Sangheili in our group for those things. The UNSC's authority doesn't go that far, even though ONI seems to think that it should interfere with whatever it wants. For the record, I've always admired your people's ability to get things done. In any event, the information in question is that my standing orders supersede any particular directives I am otherwise assigned to on a mission. My superiors believed that you needed to be privy to this in order to explain my long periods of seeming absence. What I do is something my people- the human race- needs very badly yet cannot bring itself to admit. By necessity, what I do must be done off the record. The truth is a luxury my species can't afford. We're too weak to handle it, to paraphrase a centuries-old movie my people made." Ben looked at Vael's armor, still unused. The armor was in a crate, but it was a container which Ben had seen before in Covenant barracks. "And on one minor note, you may want to put your armor on when you absolutely don't need to have it off. God knows there are plenty of people who have it out for your species after what happened during the war. Like at Harvest. Or Reach. Or even Earth, although I suppose we should thank your people for glassing that part of Africa, since the Flood had landed there and anything to stop them was warranted. Rest assured that you're being watched by ONI even now, but that doesn't mean they're looking out for your safety." "For the record, Harvest was glassed by the Jiralhanae. Not that many people care to draw that distinction, although I suppose most people lump all of the Covenant in as equally culpable for those glassings, regardless of the facts." Phong kept his speech limited to Ben's systems, so Vael didn't hear that.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Tasumameyofaxre "Tasuma" Tasumameyofaxre<< Mgalekgolo Hunter >> << Shield World 006 "Sarcophagus >> Tasuma continued to take shots at the sentinels, despite the information that there were more, it would not fall to despair. Spartan Rykers suggestion offered an alternative defensive formation. One that emphasized combined firepower, rather than small pockets of defenders. However with the combined firepower came the added risk that the robotic defenders only needed to fire at one place. While Tasuma was sure its shield could defend against one, or maybe two beams, any more and the shield would likely fail. Thankfully such measures didn't seem to be necessary. Over the horizon, with impressive speed, the M510 Mammoth rolled forward, kicking up dirt behind it. The Mammoth opened up with missiles that streaked through the sky, tracking the sentinels, smacking into them with explosive force. Tasuma would have smiled at the sight, it determined. It slowed to a halt, then opened its rear door. Tasuma turned its head to face its allies, "Go. I am rearguard." it vibrated. As soon as the team and the pilots darted for the Mammoth, Tasuma jogged forwards, keeping pace behind them. It then turned around, running backwards with eerie ease, with its cannon aimed up into the sky, and its shield at the ready. It only fired at targets weakened by the missiles, to finish them off, or at targets the missiles failed to hit. Several sentinels managed to get a moments burst of laser fire at the team, and some at Tasuma, which was deftly blocked by his shield. Tasuma even jogged up the ramp backwards, managing to avoid running into any teammates, crewmembers, or equipment. It remained at alert, with his weapons up and his spikes fully vertical. It was only when the ramp closed that it relaxed. Aviza asked if everyone was okay, and Tasuma rumbled in reply. "Tasuma okay." It knew that after a crazed situation, the squad leaders of his former companions, the ODSTs, preferred to hear names rather than 'I' or 'me'. Tasuma understood, it was easier to hear a name then a status rather than a collection of 'I'm okay's'. Tasuma then craned its head high and around, looking at each squad member and the pilots, giving each of them around a second of looking. While Tasuma could feel their presence and status through his neural net, the ODSTs found it more comforting to see it actually look at them. Hopefully this team would as well. It then turned to look at its shield, twisting it and touching where the sentinel beams struck with a claw on his assault cannon. While at first glance the shield seemed fine, it likely would have failed if it took any more punishment. Tasuma thought that was troubling, a little.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker When the call to fall back to the Mammoth came through, Lucas was already hopping to cover his teammates, letting them move before he did and firing bursts of his SMGs to try and somewhat deter the machines from following too closely. Eventually, he was up the ramp and with the rest of the team, with Tas close behind him. The call for a wellness check prompted Ryker to check his chest plate, where a Sentinel beam had glanced off his shields. Patting it down revealed a level of warmth, unsurprising since the shielding stopped the beam itself, not the heat transfer, but undamaged beyond that. Satisfied, he spoke up in response. "Spartan Ryker, alive and ready to roll." With his check-in done, he gave the eye to his unshielded teammates and made sure that the Sentinels hadn't managed to connect any shots. Satisfied they were fine, the Spartan went and found a seat and then set about taking his SMGs apart and cleaning them after removing the magazines and clearing the breaches. An uncared for weapon was a weapon that could malfunction after all.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Grikgar's grenade whined to a full charge a moment before Yalu dove for cover. The sound of metal blasting apart joined a flash on the walls of the pelican. He stood back up with his carbine levelled to shoot the surrounding sentinels down like flying animals. Relief didn't come too soon as far as Yalu was concerned. He moved as prompted, though was sure to escort one of the human pilots by his upper arm to ensure he was covered by Yalu's energy shield. The human barely kept pace. No sooner was he in the Mammoth than Yalu let the pilot go and spun around to cover Tasuma's retreat. Only when the large doors shut did he habitually replace the magazine of his carbine in three rapid movements. "Major 'Suumko still effective," Yalu responded to Aviza. He had little else to add.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre The combat sim control panel was of Human design, like most of the equipment in Paxopolis. This meant Tar needed several tries to get the settings correct; none of the preset scenarios tested the skills she was instilling in the recruits. She growled in frustration as even the smallest digit on her hand still entered the wrong enemy combatants. Starting again, she skimmed past the human configurations like 'Insurrectionist hijackers' and 'angry urban mob' to access Covenant-era hostiles. Sangheili Zealots <- No Mgalekgolo Pair <- No Yanme'e Swarm <- No Jiralhanae Stalkers <- Perfect She locked them in, selected the number and overall skill level, then checked the rest of the settings before confirming. Lights shining from the high ceiling switched from amber to green, another Human design which meant they were ready to begin. Satisfied the simulation was ready, she turned back to her recruits. Four young Sangheili males stood awkwardly in the centre of the cavernous, empty sim room. They clutched their energy swords and stared suspiciously around as Tar walked quickly over to join them. Among recruits to Paxopolis' defensive garrison, there were few who were truly "green", as the Humans would say. Among the UNSC, it was a secret facility, so they intended to insist upon soldiers with proven loyalty and ability. However, that did not mean that new recruits could simply be integrated right away. They still needed to be evaluated and trained to perform their duties. For some, it could be more difficult to train them than fresh recruits, as some had just enough experience to be stubborn. As Tar drew closer, she could see the four Sangheili recruits were awaiting the start of the simulation with varying degrees of eagerness or irritation. The farthest to the left, from Tar's perspective, was considered by some to be an ideal recruit. He strictly adhered to hierarchy and would obey any order from a superior to the letter, without question or hesitation. However, he also seemed to lack much creativity himself. He was actually the most experienced among the recruits, but not the highest rank. The second in line was one who generally received little respect among his peers. Or at least, not from other Sangheili. He was often hesitant to fight, and though capable when motivated, he seemed to have little drive to improve himself. The third was the one among them who had ascended to Major rank. He was quite tall and strong, even for a Sangheili, and he already had proven skill in combat, but he was far from humble. He had already openly shown disdain for this extra training he was being put through, and he seemed to be somewhat dismissive towards Tar. The last in line was a recruit who was easy to forget about. He has no special experience nor accomplishments, though also no overt flaws. He tended to speak only when spoken to, and generally only said the bare minimum of what was required of him. All four of them drew up to their full stature as Tar entered their space, as she'd noticed was usual for young males. She returned all of their stares to make sure they were listening before briefing them. "Brute Stalkers have infiltrated the base. Their objectives are unknown, but they've infiltrated the Command room and deactivated our defenses. They're contained within the Command complex, but the lights have been disabled and they'll fight hard to break free. Our mission is to insert and kill or capture them all. Any questions?" After a few moments of silence, the second Sangheili, the young warrior named Jurna, started to move his mandibles to speak, but the Major soon spoke over him, loudly and with no shortage of confidence. "I require nothing more than a target. We are not helpless younglings who have never gripped a plasma rifle. We shall slay these mongrels quickly and be done with this nonsense." Jurna did not continue his original thought, and neither of the others spoke up as well, for differing reasons. In any case, each recruit did seem to be ready to enter... They would be armed with simulations of their chosen weapons once the scenario had begun. Tar chuckled at the Major's arrogance. She moved closer, until she stood within an arm's grasp. "Stalkers do not present targets - they are ghosts. Move too quickly, and they will tear you limb from limb. Split from your team, and they will slaughter you. Follow my instructions, stay in formation, and protect your unit, and you may all make it out alive. If you put your team at risk, I will kill you myself, am I understood?" She moved closer still, her head tilted slightly back to meet his gaze fully. The Major just growled, exhibiting a string of body cues that spoke volumes about his displeasure. Tar smiled and looked at the other recruits before hitting a button on her wrist interface. The amber lights above them began flashing. "Prepare yourselves, the simulation starts in thirty seconds."</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Shih and Vael 'Virisusai --- Shih completed the first part of Aviza's request before she finished her sentence, though in this case, she did not have the option to comply with the second. "I have compiled a report, and I can queue it for transmission, but our mandate for long-range radio silence prevents me from sending it back to the Thunder. At least until we positively identify the location of the insurrectionist base." Once he had his weapon returned, Vael went to the Mammoth's armory to secure his sentinel beam and replenish his ammunition. The Spartan, Rex, did so as well, though the two spoke not a word to one another. Even among the other Humans, Rex kept to himself when not performing any tasks. In any case, Vael had no reason to disturb him. He had more pressing concerns in mind. First and foremost, he moved up to the top deck to check on the status of the Mammoth and its pursuers. Even lightened as it had been, the Mammoth could not hope to outrun sentinels, but fortunately, it did not need to. Once their vehicle moved far enough beyond what the sentinels were protecting, they simply disengaged. Looking at the outside plating, Vael could see plenty of scorch marks and melted armor in places, but it all seemed superficial. For now, their mission could proceed. There was no choice but to have the pilots of the Pelican join them, but as long as nothing else went wrong, that would not be a problem. For a few moments, Vael observed the environment around him. They had landed in an arid, rocky desert, and he was unsure of how far it extended in any direction. Only a small fraction of Sarcophagus' immense surface had been mapped, and the area they were in was not among it. There was as much distance between their current location and Paxopolis as there was between Sanghelios and its primary star. Truly, they could not know what was ahead of them; they would just have to be adaptable. Heading back into the Mammoth, Vael decided to use the time in which they would be stuck traveling, though he was not sure of what he could accomplish that would be of value. Space was limited for a team of ten, plus the Mammoth's crew, so that restricted his options. He ended up returning to the lower deck, and eventually set his attention on their most conspicuous team member: the Mgalekgolo Tasuma. While their kind were exceptionally durable in their armor, Vael did have concerns over how it might fare on an extended mission. As Vael approached, he took a moment to examine the Hunter's armor. Though its base was still made of familiar nanolaminate alloys, there were some additions that were unmistakably Human. He had not yet had time to read Tasuma's file fully and learn its background, but it was obvious that it had been working with the Humans long before the idea of Aegis Team had been conceived. "Tasuma, what is the status of your armor? Are repairs possible?"</s> <\|message\|>Tasumameyofaxre "Tasuma" Tasumameyofaxre<< Mgalekgolo Hunter >> << Shield World 006 "Sarcophagus" // Aboard the M510 Mammoth >> Tasuma stayed put in the troop bay, fearing that the stairs leading up to the 2nd and 3rd decks weren't rated for its weight. It instead passed the time by watching what Grik was doing. In honesty the Hunter was more interested in the pile of scrap metal than what the Unngoy was doing. But he felt it was impolite to impose, it seemed that Grik was familiar with what he was doing, and Tasuma knew that some people became irritable when their work was disrupted. When Ben offered his help, Tasuma turned his attention away, not wanting to bother them. Perhaps he would browse through the metal later, when it was piled and stored away for cataloging. It turned to examine the Warthogs mounted on the rail above it, they were extremely common in the UNSC, and extremely versatile. It took a moment to admire the vehicle, it knew its abilities in battle, as an enemy and an ally. It felt a Sangheili approach, but Tasuma wasn't sure which one it was just yet. It turned its head to look at the Elite. "Tasuma, what is the status of your armor? Are repairs possible?" Vael asked. "Commander." Tasuma addressed. It bowed its head slightly, in respect. "Armor integrity, full. Shield integrity, neared melting point in battle. Will cool, and return to optimal status with time." Tasuma reported. Concerning repairs, that was a much more complicated outcome. Depending on the part, a full weapon forge or weapons factory would be the best option to repair the armor plating. He knew that the UNSC were constructing one such specialized factory at Spatha Base on Earth, for the Iteyi Recovery Project, to produce spares for Tasuma and to experiment with nanolaminate materials. Out here in the field, if Tasumas armor split, there would be no feasible way to repair and reshape the armor to specification. However, the ODSTs did have a few tricks up their sleeve, it remembered. "If armor fails, we will require a Forge to repair to operational status. Or... 'duck tape'."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern The dumb A.I. that was built into Aviza's ARGUS-class Mjolnir was informing the Spartan III that the area the Mammoth was currently traveling though was arid, rocky desert that had a current high temperature. Aviza knew that the armor would make adjustments to help her stay nice and cool in such unfavorable weather, but wondered if the others had been lucky enough for such modifications to be installed into theirs. This thought ran through the Spartans mind as she walked through the interior of the Mammoth, also heading towards the armory, following a few of the others who had decided to do that same. Instead of putting her weapons into the armory locker, she had decided to re-arm and re-gear for whatever was next for them. New clips, a few new grenades, and a new melee weapon were carefully selected from the stock that was currently available. The melee weapon that Spartan Aviza had picked out was different from most others, while it was an energy sword, the blade was a bright red, unlike the vibrant blue that she had always seen, something about it had called to her, and she had answered. With the unique energy blade in hand, she approached Vael 'Virisusai and spoke. "Pardon me Vael, but I wanted to ask you a personal question." She would power up the energy blade and show it to the Sangheili before her. "I hear that these energy swords hold a special and deeply profound meaning among your people. I do not wish to offend you or any of your kind, and wish to ask for your permission to wield this weapon upon the field of battle. I have seen blue energy swords upon the field of battle, but have never seen one that had a red blade before. Something about it feels, ominous, perhaps I have heard of red bladed energy swords somewhere in my past." Aviza paused for a moment as the memory came back to her, "Spartan Killers, the Silent Shadow, that is where I have heard about red energy swords." The Woman held up the unique energy sword to get a better look at it, "Perhaps using a normal energy sword would be better, less distasteful, and less disrespectful."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre Tar groped desperately around with her right hand for her Mauler, but it had skittered away into the gloom. So instead, Tar pulled her energy sword from his mount on her left thigh, activated it and thrust it into the Stalker's abdomen. He let out a furious roar and tried to dismount her. Tar wrapped her right arm around the Brute's neck and stabbed him four more times in the stomach with her left. The force of her last blow pushed his now limp body off to the side, where he lay still. Tar quickly rose to her feet and holstered her sword. The recruits had entered the room and were staring at her. Tar spotted her Mauler lying under a desk and picked it up. Satisfied all her gear was together, she quickly strode to where Ryssa stood and shoved him against a wall. "One of your teammates just died. When I show you tactics I expect you to use them. We always check corners and clear rooms. Fail me again and you'll do this simulation alone, Is that clear?" "Yes, Commander!" Ryssa replied, almost on reflex, though he still frantically looked around with some confusion after taking a more literal interpretation of her reprimand. He had seen the tail end of the short fight, but from what he could see, everyone around him was still alive. "Good." Tar grabbed the recruit and shoved him towards the doorway. "Take point." The Major, stood slightly outside the doorway, snarled and turned away. Ryssa followed his orders to the letter and took point, this time making sure to clear the rooms they passed on the way forward. It seemed, at the very least, that Tar's harsh reminder was enough to get him to pay more attention to what he was doing and follow his training. Not only did he continue checking his corners, but he did not need to be told where to go once they reached the junction in the hallway. Data centers, or the commanders themselves, were the most likely target of an attack like this, both of which took them down the left hallway. As the team headed up the stairs to the next floor, there was a spike of activity on their sensors. All at once, each of their motion trackers started showing multiple red dots, on their level as well as above and below, moving frantically all around them. Jurna immediately raised his carbine and pointed it ahead at the top of the stairs above, though quickly turned around to point it back the way they came. "They're surrounding us!" He shouted, unsure of where he should be focusing his attention.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The calm had not quite settled in Yalu's mind by the time the others started to slow down. He escorted his commander Vael to the roof, as much to carry out his duties as to see what was going on. Thankfully he did not need to fire another shot. After stepping back into the mammoth, he took a deep breath and holstered his carbine. On any other mission, there would have been a few friendly bodies left behind by the crashed pelican. "I'll be listening for orders, commander," Yalu mentioned to Vael before wandering off. Now that everything was well, he had a burning curiosity about the vehicle they were housed in. Yalu stopped by every space on the mammoth, from the rear to the drivers seats up front, though the latter could be described as a bridge. He had piloted just about every covenant military vehicle there was, but human wheeled vehicles were a rare treat. In his wanderings, Yalu happened to be in a position to eavesdrop on Commander Aviza's castigation of the runaway special operations warriors. Yalu had not judged them too harshly -- humans had a different idea of honour after all. At the very least, he thought Aviza wise to not give Roy's explanation any attention. It was provocative. Aviza was clear enough. Do humans have just as much pride as sangheili? How did they not cut each other to pieces without sangheili honour? Yalu shook his head and headed to the bridge again to see where they were going. "Pilot," Yalu said to the human in the primary driving seat, possibly giving both the driver and co-driver a fright. "Once we are out of danger, I am interested in learning more about this vessel."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Planets Surface Grikgar continued his single minded attraction to the sentinel pieces, a few of the others showed interest that he could see but little else. The Lekgolo seemed to look in his direction but little more, Grik was certain that it was looking for metal scraps more than tech though. The Spartan that had been talking to him earlier and seemed to be the nicest towards him so far stepped forward and seemed to question what the Unggoy was doing. The grunt looks up from his work for a moment and tips his head to the side. "Grikgar does not know, only ever saw Huragok repair sentinels once in this way. It attached two power sources together and it stabilized the power source." Picking up the part and moving it around to see the different sides of it. "Like this, Grik does not know why but if combined with another explosive has…." He paused for a moment trying to grasp the right term. "Unexpected result? If anything at all. As humans say wild card." Placing the part between the two of them. Grikgar then began to go over the different scraps of armor and metal frame, again placing those that he deems unusable in a pile. The Unggoy began to put some of the scraps up to his armor looking like he was seeing if they would improve it or not. Again he put more parts into the scrap pile until only a few frame pieces where left in one pile and other inner working parts in another. Moving the more complicated but still technically good parts next to his locker with the few good Frame parts. "Ok now Grik has things to repair his armor with and tinker." It was his way of keeping away from boredom while also being resourceful. "Tasuma!" he called out to the Lekgolo in his high pitched voice and waved his arm as if his voice didn't get its attention. "If you want those scraps Grik is done with them." Motioning towards the small pile. Spartan Ben was still examining the power source so Grikgar began picking up the sentinel beams and placing them in the armory next to the other.</s> <\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben-E218 "If you aren't certain what the result is when combining them, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to combine them. I doubt either of us has the luck of John-117. Oh, you might know him as Master Chief, or "The Demon." He has unnatural luck, you know. If it was him, the effect would be just what we needed at just the right time. If it's anyone else, we're likely to end up deader than Roger Wilco on a trash hauler. Oh, the Wilco thing is from an ancient piece of human media." Ben continued to examine the power source. He was fairly certain that he knew what this was, but couldn't be entirely sure. He lowered his voice, not wanting anyone to know what he was saying. "Phong, does this match any device on record?" "Scanning. Processing. Cross-examining device with other records. Match not found." "Match not-? The UNSC has had the opportunity to examine hundreds of Forerunner devices, including sentinels." "Thousands, actually. The Forerunners had a very different approach to technology compared to humanity or the Covenant. While interchangeable parts were employed, they were only used to the extent that interoperability within the same class of structures was allowed, and sometimes, not even then. In other words, each class of Forerunner installation operated on a different basis, in a manner not dissimilar to how ancient human kingdoms each had their own types of weight and measurements." "Meaning what?" "Meaning we don't know what the effect of the Unggoy's tinkering will be. It could be harmless, or it could be catastrophic. I am unable to calculate odds based on the data available. It would help to know precisely what the Unggoy intends to do with the Forerunner technology, but even if he told us, further analysis is impossible without the proper equipment, and there are only five laboratories in the entire UNSC properly tooled to handle Forerunner-" "Thank you, Phong. I'll trust Grik on this one." Ben set the power source down and looked out at the wilderness around them, if that was the proper term for their environment.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre --- The Major grunted dismissively at Jurna. He did have more experience to recognize what was actually happening. "No, fool. They're jamming our motion trackers. Rely on your own two eyes, not your sensors." While the team had stopped, Tar was turned and covering the bottom of the stars with her Mauler. "Make a decision, recruit. Get us off this stairway." She said gruffly over comms. Again, Tar's instruction quickly set Ryssa into motion. "Move ahead. Carefully. Daha, cover our flank." He instructed, prompting the generally silent Sangheili to give a brief acknowledgement, then follow with his gaze directed behind them. The next floor mostly consisted of a large, open plan office space. A poorly lit walkway ahead of them cut through arrangements of workstations and holographic screens on either side. Flimsy plastic room dividers offered a degree of privacy for the worker bees in this area. In the middle of the room were a set of meeting rooms, partitioned by floor to ceiling plate glass. Even without night vision, the team could see a faint red glow reflecting on the ceiling near the centre of the office space. Tar suspected Ryssa and The Major knew what it meant, but neither immediately acknowledged it so she focused the team's attention. "That's the Brute radar jammer on the floor over there. We need to destroy it." Ryssa was quick to follow Tar's instruction and gesture to them to move forward, but the Major was hesitant. He stayed in place, raising up his storm rifle and scanning his surroundings with his gaze. "Wait. If the jammer is here, then so too are the Brutes." Each of the recruits raised their weapons in turn, looking in different directions all around them. Beyond the team itself, the whole floor seemed to be but stillness and silence. The Jiralhanae attack was meant to have taken place at night, so there were no bodies of workers here, and the offices seemed to be undisturbed. There was no shattered glass, broken doors, or overturned tables, just…silence. In that environment, it was easy to become acutely aware of every small sound that could be heard: the tapping of their armored boots against the hard floor each time they shifted their feet, the slight stretching and compression of their undersuits each time they turned their heads or sufficiently moved a muscle, and even the breaths they took. Among the recruits, it was actually Jurna's eyes that were sharp enough to notice a slight shimmer through the glass on the far side of one of the meeting rooms. He was not sure of what he saw, nor how he should react, but he did nevertheless point his carbine directly at it. The shimmer seemed to react to this, moving abruptly towards the edge of the plate glass wall and into the open. Tar, who was covering the rear, detected a very faint haze moving between them and the stairway they had just ascended, cutting them off. "They're behind us." She reported, raising her Mauler even though they were out of its effective range. "It's a tra-". Before she could finish, a fire bomb flew past her visor and landed right in the middle of the group. Flames exploded outward into a pool on the floor, lapping at the shields of Ryssa, the Major and Daha, who were up front.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu was in no mood to avoid his teammates during the ride. He tried to at least speak to his fellow former-covenant contemporaries about their path leading up to this mission. He was quietly embarrassed to find he was consistently outranked and at times prying on business best kept a secret. Nevertheless, he kept himself well drilled for whatever lay ahead. When the call came to wake up, whatever casual air Yalu tried to offer was gone. He was up and arming himself partway through the driver's announcement. "Running the Mammoth silent may make them overlook us." Yalu snapped a fully green magazine into his carbine after checking it. "But if it is no patrol, we are no longer safe. We are not expecting a rendezvous."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Planets Surface Grikgar spent the rest of the voyage on their land ship either tinkering with the sentinel parts or sunbathing. The sleeping arrangements didn't bother him and the warm climate was something he very much enjoyed. The others talked to him occasionally and the other elite seemed a little awkward about it but it didn't bother the Unggoy. Occasionally, the grunt would find his way out to the top of the vehicle and climb around it. The armor on the human vehicles was much easier to grip to then the former covenant vessels. Grikgar had been sleeping in the stairwell leading to the outside of the vehicle. He was very much accustomed to sleeping anywhere and on or in anything. Unggoy were accustomed to being crammed into strange places during travel. The sudden stop did make him roll down to the base of the stairs near the pilot's. With a quick shake of his head, Grik made his way down to his extra methane canister to fill his tank back up. The others were beginning to stir now as well and Grikgar was quick to start arming himself to get ready for the movement as well. Making sure that the shield and cloaking on his suit was still working properly. Once he had completed this Girk joined Vael the only weapon he did not have o him was his cannon. He didn't need it just yet anyway. Now all he had to do was hurry up and wait for further orders.</s> <\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben-E218 Ben saw the Unggoy sleeping in the stairwell. He would have said something, but he was just too cute to disturb. Such sloth would have been lethal on the battlefield, God knows Ben killed plenty of sleeping Grunts who were caught dozing in the middle of a warzone. Why The Covenant had tolerated such behavior was beyond him. Even normal human soldiers and marines would get in serious trouble for nodding off when they were supposed to be on duty. The mammoth had come to a halt. The Spartan-III took the opportunity to scan the horizon once again, only to find no immediate threats, although he did spot a few drones in the extreme distance, though none of them approached the mammoth. When the others began to gather around Vael, Ben joined the rest of his team, careful to keep his distance from the Elite; he had a feeling that his species preferred to have a fair amount of personal space. He spoke to Vael, inquiring on their status. "Have we received further orders? We're halted here out in the open, and we're exposed. No one has attacked us since we entered the mammoth, but our luck can't last forever."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre --- The other recruits gave anguished cries upon seeing one of their number die. Regardless of how they felt about him, Sangheili soldiers were generally conditioned to mourn fallen brothers. Tar looked about in confusion at the sound, still straddling the disemboweled Brute while her vision returned "What's happening?" She asked. "Zadu is dead!" Jurna exclaimed, not quite believing the simulation would kill the Major in such a graphic style. Tar swore throatily and crawled back behind the holo-consoles for cover. The Mauler flash had only temporarily disabled her; after a few more seconds she could see almost normally except for floating dots in her right eye. She looked around and quickly found the Major's body. Moving her attention back to identifying hostiles, she could see two half-visible Stalkers running toward the double doors at the back of the office space. "See our foe run!" Ryssa roared, firing his needler at them even as they moved out of his effective range. "They go to warn the others. After them!" He commanded, falling back into his assigned role as point. As one, the recruits surged forward while firing their weapons. Tar lagged slightly behind them, making sure she could see no further shimmers in the room. If there had been any Brute forces left, the recruits would've fallen straight into another feint by the enemy. Fortunately, she could see no further threats sneaking up behind them. The two Brutes retreating must have been the runt of the litter who were assigned to block their exit way. Tar broke into a jog to keep in line with her recruits, smashing the radar jammer with her foot as she passed. It seems the recruits had forgotten all about it in their eagerness to avenge the Major. As they reached the double doors that the Brutes had just exited from, an automated voice sounded over the building tannoy. "Sector Two point defense and air-to-surface targeting disabled through executive override. Security personnel, please report to the command centre." The fact that two of the stalkers had escaped behind them was, even to the recruits, a cause for concern. They could reappear and flank them at any time, but if the automated message was any indication, they did not have the time to properly clear their flank. They would just have to keep pressing on and watch their backs. The command center was one floor up, and at the very least, they did not encounter any resistance on the way up the stairs or through the hall. However, the command center itself, unfortunately for the recruits, was meant to be defensible. It was located in an interior room, with only one entrance. The Brutes had not had time to set up exterior defenses outside the command center, but they would still have to push through a choke point to enter the room itself. The recruits approached just outside the heavy, sliding door to the command center, though Ryssa hesitated to give the order to attack. They could see no movement on their motion trackers; the Brutes were certainly waiting in ambush on the other side. "How should we attack, commander?" Ryssa asked. Tar, who was covering the rear again, had prepared for this question. Activating her wrist interface, she put a small 3D model of the command room in the area in front of them. "It is semicircular, with screens at the front and a hologram of Sarcophagus in the middle. Consoles face the middle from a slightly raised platform around the curved edge. The commander's desk is right at the front. There's a small neck through this door where they may have set up a barricade. We can use grenades to show confusion. From there, we can flank and crush them. Be wary; they may have hostages. Any questions? There was silence from the recruits. Tar's explanation was simple enough, so even if they had any doubts, the recruits would trust Tar's experience. "Jurna, get the door. You two, form up on me." Tar had toyed with the idea of letting Ryssa lead this clearance in their journey up to this sliding door. But she'd decided she wanted to win this simulation. And as promising as some of the recruits actions were, their chances of success without Tar at point were not good. Jurna nodded, then went to the keypad on the right hand side of the door. They had the security codes to override the lock, which he typed in quickly. Though, he would wait until the others were ready to enter it. Daha formed up on the wall just behind Tar, holstering his plasma rifle on his side and taking a plasma grenade in his hand. Ryssa followed suit as well, grabbing a grenade in his off hand once he made sure his needler was fully loaded. With all in position, they just waited on Tar's signal to begin. Tar positioned herself so she could throw something through the partially opened door without exposing herself. As there wasn't enough room to stack perpendicular to the door, they were hugging the wall to the left as close as they could. One advantage of this is all of them could throw grenades at the same time. From her belt, she took both of her plasma grenades and held them ready. When she was sure they were as ready as possible, she nodded to Jurna on the opposite wall. After he input the code the door began opening. When it had opened about a metre, Tar threw one grenade through as hard as she could without looking, and then the other. She saw the recruits' grenades sail over her shoulder and disappear into the doorway. In the long, tense couple of seconds before detonation, Tar heard Brutes shouting and the clatter of footsteps from twenty metres away. Then all the grenades erupted together. The sound was of monstrous energy tearing apart metal, and it filled their ears and shook the floor beneath them. Taking a deep breath, Tar raised her Mauler and pushed into the room, with her recruits (hopefully) right behind.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker During the interim between their escape from the initial swarm of Sentinels and their sudden stop, Lucas let his old Black Ops cell training take over. He had claimed a space on top of a couple of longer crates and spent the time he wasn't training and cleaning his weapons sleeping, catching every extra wink of rest he could. This had the capability to turn into an extended operation without any warning depending on how well they moved up on the rendezvous point for the Rebels and Brutes undetected and he wanted to be able to stay awake for as long as he could should the need arise. He spent a lot of time working on his form with the wrist mounted energy dagger, familiarizing himself with the fastest way to both activate it and deactivate it for maximum stealth and surprise. When the Mammoth halted without any prior warning, the seemingly dead-asleep SPARTAN-IV rolled off the side furthest from the entrance, an energy dagger coming free of it's sheathe and his silenced magnum coming up as he rested his pistol-holding wrist on the dagger one. However, he stood down and holstered the magnum as he sheathed the dagger as the driver made their announcement, retrieving his gear from where he'd stowed it nearby along with a few extra clips before joining the others. He arrived after Aviza, but he was able to hear her orders as he walked up, so he simply nodded and then turned and jumped off one side of the mammoth. A flare of his jumpjets slowed his landing and he drew his DMR and started sweeping. "Fire Team Lead, recommend moving in pairs. Keep everyone honest and keep us all covered."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Shih --- Vael moved down through the Mammoth, heading out down the vehicle ramp one he acquired his weapons. He took his usual loadout, though this time carried one of the sentinel beams in his hands as well. The battery would not last beyond a fight or two, but it would be effective while it had power. For a moment, Vael regarded the pair of warthogs on the magnetic rail at the top of the vehicle bay. On foot, it would likely take hours to get within range to observe the ships, and anything beneath them. Though, since the entire team could not make use of the warthogs, bringing them along would not improve that pace unless they were willing to split up. To send the warthogs ahead to scout was a potential strategy, though the drivers would need to make sure not to get so close that their engines could be heard. The heavy guns would be useful when the fight did break out, but to go on foot would ensure the best chance for stealth. There were strong advantages and disadvantages for both choices. Aviza had ordered to move on foot, and Vael did not have any strong reason to disagree with that order. Vael moved out alongside Ryker and turned his gaze towards the horizon. In contrast to the heat under the daylight sun, the night in the desert was actually fairly cold. Although, Vael could not help but to spare a thought for how Sarcophagus, which was a complete shell around its star, could even have a night cycle to begin with. At the same time, the voice of the AI, Shih, came over the team's radios simultaneously. "From the Mammoth's sensors, I can detect an SDV-class corvette and a second CCS-class battlecruiser , in addition to the one we can see. These are almost certainly the Brutes our rebels are supposedly dealing with them. I can also say that the ships are holding over some sort of structure, but I can't say what just yet. We'll need to get close enough to see it with our own optics."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre --- It was hard to say if their volley of grenades had led to any actual kills. Plasma grenades were reasonably easy to avoid if they were not stuck to a target. However, the chain of explosion would, at the very least, disrupt the Brutes' defensive positioning. Daha was the first in behind Tar, his plasma pistol already overcharged. The cluster of plasma detonations had at least partially revealed multiple cloaked Brutes, allowing him to quickly acquire a target as he moved in. Just as before, he fired the overcharged shot, then followed up with a burst of plasma rifle fire. Ryssa entered firing his needler so that he could focus more on movement than aiming. Particularly if they were outnumbered, he at least knew that he would need to get to cover quickly. It was hard for him to judge quickly which cover would hold up under fire, but he moved to try and duck down behind one of the elevated consoles to their left. Jurna did move when ordered, though not actually entirely into the room itself. He ended up staying back in the doorway, though there was some advantage to his hesitation. The others were taking more of the attention of the Brutes, and as it turned out, Jurna was actually a rather good shot with his carbine when not under pressure. He landed a headshot on the Brute Daha had shot with his pistol right away, then quickly transferred his aim to the next target. Tar found the Brutes had been pushed back from their hastily constructed barrier at the chokepoint, so she took cover on the other side of it and peeked over. She counted four Stalkers out in the open close by, one of which had just got his head practically severed by Jurna's carbine round. They looked stunned by the massive plasma blast; some were only just getting up from the floor where they'd flung themselves. Seeing a golden opportunity, Tar pushed the advantage. Spotting a weak link in the barricade, she savagely kicked a heavy metal table. It flew off the pile, smashing into the closest Brute and opening a path for Tar to run through. Moving with big strides and an open stance, she took a wide swipe at the reeling Stalker with her sword. The blade caught his left hand and leg as he tried to move away, severing them both. With her other hand, Tar quickly threw a fire grenade at the next Stalker, who was unloading his Spiker into her shield. The grenade crashed into his midsection, blossoming into a fireball that enveloped his whole body. Tar heard his shield die and then smelled burning flesh. The Brute fell to his knees, trying to pat the fire out. Tar pulled out her Mauler and fired a slug at him and the other Brute on the floor before diving behind the same metal table, heavy plasma fire evaporated her shield. Two spikes thudded into a foot she couldn't quite hide, making Tar yell out in pain. It was easy to see that Tar needed assistance, though Ryssa was not in a position to help. His needler had supercombined a Brute as he rushed to cover, but the cover he had chosen was not the most solid. The barricades the stalkers had erected would have been a better choice. Plasma fire from the other side of the console burned through and struck his shields, forcing him to evade. He tried dashing to a barricade, but did not see the invisible Brute that was close enough to intercept him. Suddenly, he was struck in the head by the blunt underside of a plasma rifle. The remainder of his shields did absorb much of the impact, but they were easily broken by the Brute's raw strength. Though, Ryssa was easily strong enough to do the same in return. The stalker had revealed himself, so Ryssa struck back with the underside of his needler. Though not a match for the Brute physically, Ryssa could still break the shields of the powered armor. Both were quickly rendered vulnerable. Daha had found better cover initially, and was better able to help Tar. Seeing the effect Jurna could have firing from a distance, Daha could adapt to take advantage of that. While his plasma pistol started to charge, he opened fire with his plasma rifle on the Brute that had shot Tar. Stalkers did not have strong shields, so it took only a short burst of plasma to break through them. By the time the Brute was exposed, Daha's plasma pistol was once again overcharged. However, instead of focusing only on a single target, he instead shifted his aim to the next closest Brute to strip him of his shields with his pistol. Jurna was not necessarily intentionally cooperating with Daha, but he was aiming for the most vulnerable opponents within his line of sight. His first shot found the head of the Brute that had wounded Tar. The second Brute moved more quickly as he tried to get out of the line of fire, but Jurna was able to land three consecutive shots to center mass to neutralize him. Tar slithered further behind the table as her shields began recharging. Grimacing with pain, she pulled the spikes out of her foot. They sizzled in her hand before she dropped them on the floor. She checked around for her team; they were fighting hard, shooting over her prone form. She began motioning for Jurna to move up to the barricade when she noticed a shimmer moving rapidly up behind him. "Jurna, behind you!" Tar called out, pointing.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan It was true the crew didn't care for the apology of the every-spook, they were too engrossed with their own antics and agendas. The bay quickly devoided itself of people who cared, though Elna stuck around like a dog to it's owner. Cleaning her weapon and making sure her gear was fine, Roy was exhausted not from the combat but the team. It was going to be a long mission if it was going to keep up like this, though he thought someone should take Aviza down a notch or so. "Yea, well there's not much we can do. It seems the covenant are received better here than The Office. It's not our faults but merely our issue to deal with now, I'm sure they'll come around - maybe. Though, I have no intentions to solicit anything from the freak-jaws, the hunter or the suicide bombing fuck. I'd expect the same from you, we'll finish this mission and hopefully keep the whining from 'her' to a minimum." Roy's mind went back to the dossiers - oh wait he didn't have any, apparently, he had no clearance to know anything about the mission or personnel. God is a comedian. Sometime later with his makeshift quarters (read: bed) established, he went to bed after setting up his gear for the next day. During their downtime, Roy began analyzing reports, intelligence and other information he would have access to regarding the mission (if any at all) in regards to the Brutes and URF. While examining their enemy and their abilities, the mammoth stopped as the team readied themselves. He sighed in annoyance, well there were two fuck off cruisers or something nearby. They could be annihilated without too much remorse. He was geared and ready, ignoring orders like usual he paired up with Corporal Cohen and got ready to run into the bullshit that awaited them. "That you are correct, dear Corporal.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Peering into the far distance, Aviza had her Generation 2 ARGUS-class Mjolnir armors advanced information system lock onto the SDV-class corvette, as well as the two CCS-class battlecruisers, and started to feed all of team Aegis the incredibly detailed information it was gathering. "Shih, is there anyway you can combine the information that the Mammoths sensors have gathered, and combine it with my own?" Asked Aviza as she queued information about the estimated amount of time it would take for the team to arrive at their destination. [2 Hours] was the message that came up, though that information could be wrong since she was basing this off of the distance of the nearest ship. "Everyone, break up into teams of two, but stay within viewing distance, I do not want any of you leaving the area of operations or getting separated from the squad. Let's move out, if I need to carry one of the ONI Spooks, I will do so." said Aviza, teasing the two a little bit.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Paxopolis Simulated Training Centre --- Though he had been helpful when left alone, Jurna's response to the ambush was less than ideal. He did listen to Tar's warning and turn around, but the two shots he fired with his carbine were not enough to break the Brute's shields. At such close range, he would have been better off striking the Brute with the weapon. Instead, he took the full force of a mauler shot that immediately breached his shields, which was followed quickly by a strike to his head with the mauler's blade. Especially when wielded by a Brute, it was easily enough to kill, which was precisely Jurna's fate for this scenario. Ryssa, at least, was faring somewhat better. The stalker he was fighting seemed intent on tearing the Sangheili apart with his bare hands, but Ryssa thought quickly enough to turn his needler around and jam the needles straight into the Brute's neck. It was another stalker brought down, though Ryssa was still unshielded and vulnerable. Tar cried in anguish as Jurna's limp body fell to the floor. She grabbed a red plasma rifle from the severed hand of a Brute lying next to her and fired it at Jurna's killer. The half shielded Brute retreated back into the hallway. "Put down your weapons! Or the humans die!" A gravelly voice boomed from the front of the room. Tar peered over the top of the table and saw two Brutes, camo disabled, pointing spikers in the direction of her and the recruits. Each of them held a member of the Command centre staff in front of them. Behind these two Stalkers, another Brute, also visible, was fiddling with one of the master control panels. Red lights began flashing in the command room, and one of the screens featured a plaintive PROXIMITY WARNING sign. Of the two remaining recruits, Ryssa was the one to act. He ducked down quickly behind the barricade before even retrieving his needler from the Brute's neck to allow the chance for his shields to recharge. Though, the warning on one of the screens meant he would not have time to wait. They had to act quickly. In this case, Ryssa did not need to hesitate nor look to others for direction. He already knew his instructions, based on the mission parameters. Directives from both the UNSC and Swords were actually similar in this respect: the mission had priority. Hostages were meant to be saved if possible, but ultimately, unless the hostages in danger were of critical importance themselves, the fate of the colony meant more than any individuals. For this scenario, stopping the sabotage to save the colony was the objective. Drawing his storm rifle, Ryssa braced it on top of the barricade and opened fire into the back of the Brute at the console. Both the Brutes up front snarled in unison, firing their spikers at Ryssa. The Stalker at the console picked up his weapon and turned around, but didn't get any shots of. Tar jumped up, waves of pain crashing against the back of her eyeballs, and joined her fire to Ryssa's. The Brute at the back promptly melted to the console. Seeing all was lost, the two Brutes up front cracked the skulls of their hostages, discarding them on the floor. Sharing a quick look, they began running at Tar, bodies low to the ground in berserk mode, jumping through the hologram of Sarcophagus. Tar had encountered this particular move lots of times before. She tried to find a stable platform on her bleeding foot while they closed. Finally, satisfied she wouldn't fall over from the first strike, she drew her energy sword. Greeting them with a bloodthirsty roar, Tar used the first Brute's momentum against him. As he leapt forward, she impaled him on her sword, lifted him clean over her head and dumped him behind her. She screamed in pain as her foot took all the extra weight. Pirouetting clumsily to greet the second attacker, Tar launched her sword at him as he jumped from the hologram plinth, arms ready to crush her. It connected meatily with his torso in mid air, and the Brute clattered to the floor just in front of her. Tar pulled out her Mauler and shot them both in the head, just to be sure. "Ryssa, help me turn this off. Daha, sweep and secure the room." Though he certainly heard the two Brutes rushing their position, Daha was in no position to help. After Jurna's death, Daha looked back into the hall to cover their flank. With a focused eye, it did not take him long to spot enough of a shimmer for him to act upon. He did not bother charging his plasma pistol, instead firing both it and the plasma rifle at slightly different positions to try and reveal the stalker. Fortunately, one of the plasma bolts found its mark and disrupted the cloak. From there, he did nothing particularly special nor complex. He simply overwhelmed the Brute with plasma fire from both weapons. Daha's shields were half-drained from a mauler shot at medium distance, but the Brute fell long before it could do any more damage. With the hostile forces neutralized, the remainder of the simulation was fairly simple to complete. It was simply a matter of reactivating the defenses the stalkers had disabled, namely the settlement's anti-air defenses. It was a task that required some knowledge of the Human computer systems, but they had been taught to do it. Once the scenario had been completed, the team quickly filed out of the simulator to open it up for use by the next group waiting. The four recruits, now reunited, stood together at attention once again. Strictly speaking, the scenario had been completed successfully, with the primary objective fulfilled. The secondary objective to rescue hostages had failed, but that was, by the scenario's own description, considered a difficult objective. What was of more concern to the recruits was the fact that they had performed far from flawlessly. Two of their number had died, and they made some obvious mistakes. Tar looked at each of them in turn to gauge their feelings before asking: "Who would like to go first and explain how we did?" She was interested to hear their take on what had just happened. Even the Major, who would've been able to watch the simulation unfold even after his death.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Having moved with the rest of the team to the plateau, Lucas scoped up on the structure, or structures, as it had turned out, and watched the movements of those below. The Jiralhanae were definitely patrolling the outer area of the crater-like area but the interior was being patrolled by the Insurrectionists, which provided the team a potent advantage. "Before we do that, myself and a couple other members of the team are outfitted with active camo. If Grikgar is outfitted with enough ordinance, and I brought some grenades that we can jerry rig some charges out of, we can sabotage some things before calling in the battle group, particularly things that Shih marks as important. And while the rest of the team pushes in at lightning speed to take advantage of the confusion, we can sneak in and find the URF leader." Granted, they were still a fairly small team to split up in such a way, but if things played out right, then they could maybe even get the two groups to turn on each other. "Let's face it, these are greater numbers than we were expecting and we don't necessarily have the time to come up with too many more ideas. Plus, maybe the two groups will turn on each other when there are plasma charges destroying critical URF infrastructure at this base."</s> <\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben-E218 Ben had followed the rest of the group to the plateau. He saw Grikgar following him, and turned to the Unggoy briefly when he heard the reason he was following so close. "Shadow if you want, but be careful." He listened to Ryker's speech, then realized something rather embarrassing. He turned off the coms on his suit for a moment as he quickly conversed with his AI. "Phong, does this suit come with active camo?" "Yes, it most certainly does. Don't tell me you forgot about it." "I haven't actually used it in- never mind. Can you create a shortcut command for it so that I can activate it on eye contact with the symbol in my HUD?" "Processing request. Compiling program. Rendering icon. Done." No sooner than Phong had spoken did an active camouflage symbol appear on his helmet's screen: "Thanks." Ben reactivated his coms, knowing that too long of a gap in communications might give cause for an inquiry. Unexplained outages in communication could serve as cover for and a sign of unauthorized contacts with rebels and enemies, after all. If there was no cause to hide one's discourse, why turn off the mic? Fortunately, Ben knew the cutoff point after which the UNSC would find such a thing to be suspicious; one minute and seventeen seconds exactly. Anything less could be seen as a hardware failure or a momentary software glitch. "Sounds like a good plan. What type of infrastructure are we talking about?"</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak The Kel 'Darsam - off Paxopolis Broadwalk --- Tar chuckled and patted her comrade affectionately on the back. "If the Humans gave you poison, would you eat that too?" She enjoyed the regular meetings and light hearted banter with Kryu more than she probably let on. It provided temporary solace for her, especially as her deployment to Sarcophagus stretched from weeks into months. Kryu shrugged. "I am not convinced that was not their intention. It was sweet at first, but the aftertaste was horrid. I still feel that I can taste it. The last time they gave me something of theirs to eat, it was most acceptable. Pleasant, even. Perhaps they were attempting to earn my trust?" He said with a short grunt. Their food came quickly - popular dishes were pre-prepared and kept hot for the breakfast rush which was due in 10 minutes or so. Tar devoured hers, foregoing utensils over holding the bowl up and grabbing food with her tongue and mandibles. "So, I had an...interesting simulation...with some fresh recruits just now." Tar ventured in between mouthfuls. "Such an array of characters - three sessions in and they're still as diverse as the seasons. It seems ONI doesn't like making things easy for me! How was your training exercise yesterday?" Kryu huffed, shaking his head slightly before pausing to take a drink. "All but one of my recruits have never so much as used a thruster pack before, but that is fine. The ones that have never flown do not know what they are doing, so they listen to me. It's the one with experience that gives me trouble. He has his own technique, and does not wish to stray from it. So, yesterday, he comes in too quickly for his landing, does a poor job of handling the impact, and breaks his leg. The last I saw him, he was arguing with the medics." "We're certainly a stubborn kind, aren't we?" Tar slurped her shake. "So many returning from war with rushed, incomplete training. They now hide behind hero status, claiming imaginary feats of valour. Tar heard herself speak and realised she had assumed an overly negative tone. She had feats of valour too, despite not serving in the war. Her Keep had been attacked by surprise, and she'd fought them off with her own soldiers. But she seldom felt comfortable talking about those feats. She had failed her father by allowing him to be captured. The shame still threatened to overwhelm her years later. She'd only managed to hint to Kryu what had transpired, so it was no wonder blurting it out in front of the recruits had shaken her. Even if she had wanted to gloat, she would've needed to embellish some of it. Much of that battle was clouded by a red haze in her mind, preventing her from recalling some details. The clearest memory she had was tentatively asking her trusted lieutenant about what he'd seen several days after. She would never forget the look on his face. Raw fear, of her. Tar decided to change the subject. "Have you heard any more whispers of an actual mission, outside Paxopolis?" Again, Kryu shook his head. "I haven't heard anything specific. I know our commanders have put the garrison on alert, but no one is saying what we are on alert against. I am wondering if we are simply being tested? I believe many of the recruits sent here are chosen based on how well they will get along with former enemies. Perhaps they want to see if we still have the skill and discipline necessary to defend this place?" He reasoned. "Shaking down the base would put everyone in their place, whether that is at the barricades or on the next shuttle back to Sanghelios." Tar agreed, thoughtfully tasting the last strips of meat in her bowl. After a short pause to have some of his breakfast, Kryu gave Tar a curious look. "You are still wanting to be reassigned from here, aren't you." He asked, though he still did not know the exact reason why she had been looking to leave.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Shih --- Vael did not take his eyes off of the compound below, though he did respond to Spartan Ryker. "I will join you. We will need to move quickly and avoid discovery, but we may also have to ensure there is no one to discover the charges before they detonate. We should make sure that our reinforcements are ready to join the battle the very moment the rebels are put on alert. The construct…Shih, can it send a message informing the battle group of this plan so they can be ready for our signal?" "She can, yes." Shih replied with some noticeable offense in her tone. "There is always some small risk, but if I send the message as a short, encrypted data burst, then the rebels shouldn't be able to intercept it. Or at least, they won't understand what they intercepted until it is too late. Vael nodded towards Aviza, as it was her suit the AI was inhabiting. "Then you should do so. Our reinforcements need to be ready to act." "Already working on it. As for Petty Officer Younan's concerns, he does have a point. We still don't know who we are supposed to be capturing here, but I think the rebels themselves can help us figure that out. Once all Hell breaks loose, they are going to be scrambling to get their leader out of there. Spartan Aviza's armor is equipped to easily intercept their communications, so if we decrypt them, we might be able to learn what we need." The AI suggested. While the others were speaking, Vael slowly crawled back from the edge of the Mesa, making sure he was far enough away that he did not silhouette against the sky when he stood back to his feet. "Someone who is equipped to observe from distance should remain here to assist in guiding us through the compound."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko There were plenty in the team already equipped to go down into the enemy base. Yalu was rarely ever requisitioned with active camouflage like a spec ops elite, but at the very least he could be useful from a distance by taking Commander Vael's suggestion. "I can guide you," Yalu said. "One of my primary talents is warding death away from my team." Yalu peered down at his carbine. "And we will all be ready to head an assault on your order. These rebels and brutes will not have any time to think. I think the shock will be spiced if we fire on the brutes with human firearms and then the humans with covenant weaponry."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak The Kel 'Darsam - off Paxopolis Boardwalk --- Tar looked at her comrade. Her face must have been a picture and she hadn't even known it. "Yes I… I have unfinished business with the Jiralhanae." She suddenly got the urge to tell Kryu the whole story, or at least what she could remember. The recruits would probably tell everyone they saw, meaning the whole base would be privy in a few weeks. Better he heard it from her. As Tar ground the last bit of her food between her mandibles and considered how to proceed, her helmet, sat on the bar beside her bowl, chirruped loudly. She stared at it. They didn't get orders very often at all. Putting her bowl down, she clicked her helmet back into place and hit replay on last comms. "All units will report back to the Repentant Proselyte immediately." were the simple instructions. She looked at Kryu, who was rapidly finishing off his breakfast in anticipation. "They're calling us back to the ship." She said. Despite her wobbly morning so far, Tar was excited. This hadn't happened before, and could only mean one thing; there was at least a chance they'd go into battle. "They must have heard us talking." She grinned. She paid for both of their breakfasts and patted Kryu on the back again, letting him lead the way to the exit. The broad street was alive with activity when they emerged from the side street of the Kel 'Darsam. Sailors and marines of all species were quickly trooping from various buildings and heading towards the shuttleport. Some were unarmed, jogging quickly as they were unencumbered. Others were fully armoured and sporting assault weapons. Tar and Kryu nudged their way into the flowing crowd, finding space next to a platoon of ODSTs. They were tall and strong by Human standards, and each wore a fitted black undersuit with the flaming skull insignia. Tar idly guessed their oversuits must've been stored on board their star ship. One of the ODSTs noticed Tar looking and winked up at her, chewing gum and fingering the pistol in his chest holster. "Hey sexy." He called, blowing a kiss. Tar growled and turned to Kryu. "Hopefully the base isn't under attack too, with us all standing around in the open. Let's move." She began picking her way through the slow moving crowd, opening a hole for her comrade to follow. Kryu spared only a glance to the Humans. To him, their behaviors were far from consistent, and sometimes irrational in ways that he never would have expected before the end of the war. He had fought against them during the time of the Covenant, and his experiences against their warriors did not prepare him for the…oddities he would experience as their ally. Nevertheless, there were far more important concerns at the moment. He caught up to Tar and kept pace close beside her. "Whatever is happening must be related to our warriors being put on alert. I doubt our superiors would collect us all from the city just for a test. If that is so, then it is strange they did not inform us of any threats. I dislike this secrecy." Kryu commented. Upon pushing her way through the crowd a ways, Tar found the reason everyone was moving so slow. A cargo platform carrying boxes of equipment had tipped over, covering most of the road. After navigating carefully past it, the road was still busy but there was much more room to manoeuvre. Tar broke into an ambling jog alongside Kryu, as excited as her comrade to find out the meaning of their orders. They slalomed past groups of soldiers in varying states of combat readiness and teams of base personnel heading for their regular duty stations. A few other Sangheili joined in, taking advantage of the course through the crowds Tar and Kryu were creating. After traversing a few streets, roughly one kilometre in total, they reached one of the entrances to Paxopolis shuttleport. Given that Paxopolis did not have regular, civilian contact with other colonies, the majority of the shuttleport's traffic were generally military transports. Though, it was particularly busy now. Fortunately, once they were in the shuttleport itself, the soldiers boarding their dropships were far more organized than the civilians in the streets going about their day. For Tar and Kryu, they lined up to board the same phantom heading up to their cruiser, the Repentant Proselyte. After they both headed up the grav-lift and found their places in the phantom, Kryu nudged Tar's side with his elbow to grab her attention. "Maybe we are leaving Sarcophagus? We're not under attack, else the city would already be going into lockdown, but I cannot imagine what aside from real combat would call for the aid of an entire cruiser." "Perhaps." Tar agreed. "Not just one cruiser either. A lot of the sailors making their way back were from different ships. It seems most of the fleet could be mobilising." "I heard it could be a Brute battle group." Said a Minor opposite them. Despite her extreme scepticism of the young male's source of intel, Tar felt all her nerves tingle at the thought. "A Brute ambush, outside the sphere? They have no honour!" someone called out. "It sounds like a fair fight to me!" A Major at the far end stood up and hammered his chest. As one, every Sangheili in the Phantom's hold began rhythmically beat their fists against their armour and produced a deep, threatening sound from the back of their throat. This continued for much of the short journey up to the Repentant Proselyte, with different officers taking turns to whip them into a frenzy. By the time the Phantom docked in one of their cruiser's enormous hangar bays, Tar was ready to tear apart the first Brute she saw with her own hands. They all exited the Phantom via the grav lift and headed for one of the many doors into the ship proper. Tar knew Rangers prepared for battle in a separate area to her, toward the stern, so she caught Kryu before they parted ways. "If i don't see you before - good luck, brother." They shared a heartfelt salute. Kryu hummed for just a moment, then gave a slight laugh. "I would wish you luck, sister, but I know you do not need it." Tar chuckled. "Just make sure I have a ship to come back to." She playfully patted his arm and began walking toward the SpecOpsCon for debrief.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The flash of a slipspace portals in the sky drew Yalu's head to twist and look at the phantom hovering its way quickly to their mesa. The IFF and the friendly comms of the pilot prompted him to shuffle to his feet and move back from the edge. "Affirmative, Prostrate Disciple," Yalu responded, before switching back to their team channel. "Commanders, our dropship has arrived. Preparing to insert." Yalu snatched Vael's sentinel beam up from the ground along the way to the gravity lift and spoke over his shoulder, over the loud hum of the phantom's engines. "Brothers! Prepare for battle!" With one more short leap, the grav lift tugged at Yalu's body in its entirety and he floated up into the hatch beneath the phantom. He quickly found a place to hold on in the crew compartment. "Hail, pilots! The south-western side will be clear of anti-ship weaponry on the signal!"</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Under the cloak of his active camouflage, Vael moved along with the other two towards the base of the central structure. There were a few ramps leading up to the roof of the structure, which was where they would be regrouping with the rest of the team. Ideally, they would be able to remain undetected until their team could be dropped in. It was about when Vael reached the ramp that the battle group dropped out of slipspace in the sky above them, and for a moment, Vael's gaze went upwards. As planned, their battle group included far more ships than were necessary to deal with the small Brute fleet, so as to guarantee there would be no losses. Two Autumn-class heavy cruisers, including the Chorus of Thunder at the very front, three Strident-class frigates, as well as a CCS-class battlecruiser and three SDV-class corvettes from the Swords. An alarm sounded across the compound and the rebels started to mobilize right away, but for the Brutes in their ships far above, it was already too late. The Chorus already had its MAC cannon charged and ready. Meanwhile, the Brute ships were in such a state of disrepair that most did not even have shields. The firing of the Chorus' MAC certainly gave meaning to its name. The near-deafening sound echoed across the landscape, and the pressure wave that accompanied it allowed one to feel the power behind it in their very bones. Without shields, the Brute cruiser on the receiving end did not stand a chance. The round ripped straight through the ship's hull like paper, tearing the ship in half. When the two halves fell to the ground outside the structure, the ground itself shook and a massive cloud of dust was kicked up over the whole area, sweeping over the compound like a sandstorm. Visibility had dropped rapidly, but since he knew where to look, Vael was able to spot the vague silhouette of a phantom descending on the mesa with the rest of the team. "It is time. Detonate the charges."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern "Not all situations can be resolved with a weapon, and not all situations require one to be solved. It would be wise to keep that in mind, Spartan Ryker." said Spartan Aviza after she caught the unconscious soldier falling into her arms. Moving to her feet once more, she would carry the man into the building where the others were hiding the dead bodies of his fellow soldiers. He would be placed upon the ground in the opposite corner of the building, away from the corpses. Aviza reenabled her active camouflage and moved along side those of the team that were currently present. All explosives have been planted, when are we planning to detonate the charges inside of the anti-aircraft cannons? inquired Aviza, as her gazed followed Vael's to the sky above. The sudden appearance of the friendly fleet above them was the only answer that Aviza needed, she quickly had Shih prepare the explosives charges, and would detonate them when the time was right or when given the order. "So we are using a MAC cannon..." said Aviza as she observed the Chorus of Thunder's MAC cannon fire directly through the Brute cruiser. Above them, there would be a moment of silence as the weapon fired, tearing the brute ship is half, which were now falling to the surface, outside of the structure. Then came the near-deafening sound of the battle above, it echoed across the landscape and jolted those within the range of its shockwave. "I never get tired of seeing that, such a magnificent sight." by the end of her sentence, Aviza had already informed Shih to detonate the explosive charges.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Once everyone on the mesa had boarded, Vol closed up the grav lift and Tar activated the internal comms system. "Lock in tight, things could get bumpy." As she said that, the shockwave from the Brute cruiser crashing into the valley behind the base hit the Phantom, buffeting it backwards. Tar gunned the engines and pushed them swiftly forward while Vol plotted them a course. Their objective was to insert the team on a flat staging area beneath the main Forerunner structure. Enhanced stills Vol had taken while Aegis was boarding showed it was littered with large crates and lifting vehicles. Between them and this landing zone were an assortment of Brute drop ships and Banshees. However, they were distracted by the teams of Phantoms currently attacking the walls of the compound. There were also a handful of lethal AA guns around the compound, devastating any airship it could find. However, one had just erupted into a towering jet of flames, opening up a gap in their coverage. Tar pointed to it. "That's the entry point, adjust our approach solution." Vol obeyed with a cursory "Yes, commander." They were working well, considering this was their first time together, Tar noted. Maintaining a breakneck speed, they dropped down to just above the height of the walls and roared past the destroyed AA battery. The courtyard and the IFF tags for the rest of Aegis team zipped past underneath. "Fuel rod round, front left side!" Vol called, pinging it on the nav dashboard. Tar hauled the controls to the right, and the Phantom drastically tilted, throwing them against their harnesses. The round fizzed by close underneath their Phantom. "Can you get a shot off?" Tar asked. "No, they're above us. Coming in hot!" Tar tugged the controls up and to the left, and the top of their Phantom crushed the wings of the Banshee above. A titanic scraping, clattering sound echoed through the troop bay, the banshee sliding along the length of their vehicle and falling off the end. Tar cooled the engines slightly as they approached the landing zone. Vol marked a clear space near the ramp up from the courtyard and together they brought the Phantom in. Vol reactivated the grav lift and opened the side doors while Tar addressed the bay's occupants. "Green light to disembark, go go go!" They both surveyed the area as Aegis team quickly headed out of the Phantom. The landing zone was very hot, and they were taking small arms fire from practically all directions. They only had twenty seconds before someone with the right armaments took notice. "Rockets! Right side!" Vol hollered. "Everybody out NOW!" Tar shouted, tugging the controls sharply. Vol closed the side doors up to increase their protection. If Aegis team hadn't jumped already, they'd be coming on this evasive maneuver with them.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan The waiting was the worst part for the two as they had to wait for the team to do their job, Elna had posted up in a position to support the poor individuals that were left behind when the team of camo wearing creatures went into do their job. Roy took up a defensive position aswell for once as he went to hold up his M7 scanning for any URF or covvies that might make their way to their defensive line, but for the most part it appeared that they were in a solid position. There was noises below, maybe some kind of scuffle but it wasn't noticeable by anyone in the group. They continued to wait until the ships came out of the atmosphere, it was evident that they were just going to MAC the fuck out of the base those who pondered may of been incorrect in the fact if they had actually captured the HVT. It wasen't long before the drop ship came to take them away, the two boarded without too much discussion or remorse at this point it as obvious that there had been some success in the mission. They were wrong as the dropship became to fly around dodging anti air fire as it zoomed towards it's objective of landing on a staging area for an assault. What felt like a few seconds dragged on as the dropship landed, the two hustled out and laid down suppressive fire in the general direction of the URF/Brute lines. This is where the fun begins.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai As Aegis team disembarked the phantom, they were met immediately with hostile ground fire. The roof of the structure they had been dropped on was large and mostly flat, with little cover for either side, save for some weapon crates that had been dropped where they were when the attack started. There were ten or so armed rebels surrounding a ramp leading down into the interior of the structure, as well as a group of four Brutes that were closer to the edge of the roof on the north side. The rebels were fighting defensively, seemingly to guard the entrance, though the Brutes had started to rush at Aegis team to get in melee range before the first of them had even touched the ground. When the rockets came in, it was from another squad of rebels that had emerged up the ramp at the center of the structure. They were carrying rockets, fuel rod cannons, and other high explosives, and had likely been sent up as a response to the attack in general. However, they had eneded up in the right place at the right time to deal with Tar's phantom. There was little chance for meaningful evasion before two rockets struck one of her engines directly. The heavy weapons might have been meant for anti-vehicle roles, but they would still be a massive threat to the members of Aegis.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas had followed Aviza and Vael from their incident at the turret they knocked out to the rendezvous point, but once the fleet had appeared, the need for stealth was a lesser concern and he turned one of his two SMGs on a nearby patrol of URF soldiers and fired, putting them down before they could register what was happening. With everything happening and the swarm of phantoms descended on the base, he had no clue of knowing which one was heading to pick up the rest of the team as the group of three moved towards the roof. Another pair of URF troopers tried to move up behind them, unaware of the cloaked figures, who were extra hidden by the sandstorm. Swapping from his SMG to the DMR, two head shots dropped the pair where they stood. "Won't lie, not having to worry about shielding around the head is a nice change of pace." Another pair of shots dropped two more URF soldiers, their bodies hitting the ground and disappearing in the storm. As they neared the top, the sight of Jiralhanae and a heavy URF squad getting ready to attack the rest of the team drove the SPARTAN IV to action. Storing his DMR on his back as he dashed past Aviza and Vael, his twin energy daggers coming free as he rammed his shoulder into the first Brute he reached. "Grikgar, hit those heavies with plasma!" The Brute wasn't expecting an invisible SPARTAN, who suddenly became visible upon impact, to ram into him and went sprawling with the SPARTAN IV leaping on top of him and ramming one dagger into his neck and the other into his forehead. Ryker didn't even wait for the overgrown ape to stop moving before the twin blades came free and he leapt off to slide across the roof into the legs of another Brute, knocking him over and into the legs of a third. However, Lucas knew he was gambling being away from the others like this, but he was confident enough in his CQC skills to stay safe until the numbers were thinned out.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Court yard LZ The fire fight was going well for what the Unggoy was used to. Having the support of Spartans and Sangheili was a sight to behold but one he would have to dwell on later. A bright color of covenant shielding caught his eye for a moment. A couple humans were using shields normally for Kig-Yar, obviously the brutes had some stashed away and had given them to them. The Oni humans could use those and so could he if he was able to grab a couple. Another plasma grenade toward them knocked out the shields, indicating the user was dead. Another Spartan called out for ordinance while the enemy heavy weapons team reloaded. The rocket would be a problem for all of them especially the bigger targets like Tasuma. Using the cover of the sand storm Grik rushed to cover facing the advancing opponents. His energy shield flared for a moment with a few plasma bolts hitting him as he moved. Getting to cover the Unggoy hit the wall and immediately pulled the Sentinel power source from his belt. Sticking a plasma grenade to it and throwing it at the cover they were using. Honestly Grik gar wasn't sure what would happen, he had only seen it happen once by accident. An explosion set the last one off. A barrel exploded and detonated it at the dismay of the Huragok that had repaired the two power sources. The resulting secondary explosion created a singularity for about 3 seconds that pulled everything toward it then violently expelled what was pulled in. it also seemed to rile up the sentinels that where left in the area as well. If it didn't work and all it did was just the plasma grenade Grik was ready to follow it up with the fuel rod gun. "Tasuma." Grikgar called out over his comm, "major enemy cluster bearing 200 Degrees from insertion point. Enemy has heavy weapons watch yourself." He was waiting for the explosion to go off before he would proceeded with the assault.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak As soon as the rockets hit, warning lights erupted across the width of the pilot interface console. Urgent alarm sounds blasted in Tar's ears as she wrestled with the controls to bring the Phantom level again. "We've lost drive number one, and I'm getting a lot of vibration in number two!" Vol shouted over the din. Tar felt her stomach lurching as the Phantom span around in the air, heading for the side of the tall Forerunner structure. "Get me more power from somewhere, now!" Tar ordered, pulling the steering as far to the right as she could. "My console isn't responding. Power capped at 40%!" Vol reported through gritted mandibles. The Phantom crashed against the side of the Forerunner tower and scraped along it, sparks skittering off the top of the hull. The alloy sides screeched and buckled until suddenly they were free of the tower and spinning again. Tar could see hostiles running to get out of the way as the Phantom gradually lost altitude; they couldn't stay level on just two engines. "I have this now. Brace for impact!" Tar shouted, doing her best to hold it upright as the Phantom span toward a flat area packed high with crates. The drop ship's aft section hit the deck first, sending up another shower of sparks and ship fragments. The front soon followed, with the forward plasma cannon snapping off and cartwheeling to one side. Still slowly spinning, the Phantom's bow ploughed into piles of crates, sending them flying. With the controls now useless, Tar put her arms over her head and crunched up into a ball in her seat. It was a good thing she did, because hidden behind the stacks of cargo containers was a much more solid object. A row of Forerunner columns, sticking from the base plate. The Phantom hit the columns at speed, its rear end jumping up in the air. Everything in the cockpit seemed to come loose and fly about. Something solid whacked Tar in the stomach, forcing all the air from her lungs. As her arms instinctively flinched to her chest, another piece of metal flew from the console and smashed into her face and everything went black.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu's actions right out of the drop ship was a tacit blend with the ONI human operatives suppressing the emerging enemy. "We're flanked!" He announced by habit, not that anyone failed to realise the situation. Chaos ensued with explosions, gunfire and plasma bolts. The phantom was hit overhead. He was a second away from believing themselves overwhelmed before the infiltrators and Grikgar's improvised explosive gave half a second of respite. They needed to relocate. Yalu sent a few rounds into the brutes tangled up with Lucas, took a few hits to the shield from the gauntleted humans to the other side, and then he knew he needed to punch a hole for the team. "I'll have them scattered!" He said, taking out the bulky concussion rifle from his back. "Those pilots can be recovered!" Green bolts of plasma jolted out and blasted the base of the humans' shield gauntlets with superheated explosions while Yalu advanced on them, step by step. He had to rout them before the crash site was cleared out.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas dances back again as the Jiralhanae takes a swing at him, barely avoiding a blow that would have sent the SPARTAN IV careening off of the rendezvous point and sailing to the ground. That was close. Gotta get this one down faster. The two monkey-men had recovered quickly enough from getting bowled over, though his positioning with the second of the two to get knocked over had allowed him to ram an energy dagger into his throat and jugular vein and he had been loosing blood quickly, though that had ceased to matter when carbine rounds impacted his back and down him. The first one...well, he was angry and swinging like a wildman who's only volition was to kill the enemy in front of him, which was the over all goal for the team right now, so fair was fair. However, as he dodges another heavy uppercut from the Brute, he realizes the crashing sound he'd heard was not from the Banshees shooting down another Brute phantom, but from the one the rest of the team had arrived on crashing. Hearing the major call out that the pilots could be recovered from the crash, there was no hesitation from Ryker. Avoiding another attack and letting his shields absorb a small burst of assault rifle fire from a rebel before another member of the team gunned them down, one of his SMG's came free of its holster and he opened fire on the Brute in front of him. The large alien didn't expect the hail of bullets, but due to their caliber, it still took most of the clip to down it. Moving and reloading at the same time, Lucas opens the channel to the Major again. "I'm heading down to retrieve our pilot friends, keep my covered when possible but focus on helping the rest of the team." Taking advantage of the opening provided by the Major's concussion rifle, he sprinted down the ramp towards the wreckage, the SPARTAN IV peppers an approaching group of six rebels with fire from his dual SMGs, downing three and wounding one while forcing the other three into cover a nearby the door way. Holstering one SMG, he expertly pulled a frag grenade free of his belt, the pin falling to the ground as his thumb pulled it free, counted to two and then tossed it, the explosive going off midair just inside the doorway and killing the other three. Reaching the wreckage relatively unharmed, though his shield was dangerously close to breaking, he began trying to pry open the troop bay door. "Anyone alive in there?! If you are, you need to help me get this open! Rebel forces will eventually get here if you don't hurry! Hello?!" The din of the battle around him hopefully helped hide his voice, but all the same, he needed the pilots, if they were alive, to hear him and hurry.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan While the firefight edged on the two continued to fight viciously as ex-marines do, lot of shooting lots of death the bad part was there was no fucking cover. Quickly, the elite team seemed to dispatch useless URF thugs and the Spartans - well they did their song and dance with the brutes. Though the battle was waning and bullets were not so friendly, shields were almost at the point of popping at this rate. Roy grabbed one of the gauntlets that had rolled her way, he turned it on making a small shield for the two. Roy kneeled in front of Elna as she shot over him, Roy shooting back with his M7 simply in hand as they dealt with the onslaught of enemies. What a fucked up plan. Yael started to run away, probably in the direction of the bird that went down citing "We can save them!" Though it appeared most of the group went for that kind of heroics at Lucas started bounding towards the bird corpsing everyone and everything in his sight at that moment. "Pull back with the splitjaw." Roy ordered Elna as they began to inch back towards Yael though not abandoning the fight entirely as they continued to put down firepower as the elites and Spartans did their rescue mission. Besides none wanted to get yelled at again by Spartan Mom Aviza, Elna ejected a BR mag dropping it hastily as it bounced off Roy's helmet with a satisfying clink.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar woke suddenly to the sound of rending metal. At first she didn't recognise where she was. The carefully ordered interfaces of the Phantom's control dashboard were gone, replaced by a twisted forest of metal shards, jutting out as if trying to touch her. Blue energy sparked between the shards, feeding fires in all corners of the nose cone. "Vol!" Tar choked as acrid smoke wafted into her face. "Vol!" Carefully negotiating a long spike pressed against her exposed neck, she turned to look at her co-pilot. Even through the smoke, Tar could see Vol had been impaled through the abdomen by another metal blade. His upper body was slumped over it, arms pointing to the floor. Tar let out an anguished roar and quickly slid out of her seat toward him. Her right arm caught on something jagged, but the sharp stab of pain barely registered. Tar carefully hoisted Vol's body into an upright position and tilted his face toward her. "Prax Vol, can you hear me?" She tried one more time. No response. She growled and let his face go. Vol's body slumped forward again. Tar got up and rushed from the nose cone, choking from the toxic fumes as she grabbed her Storm Rifle from where it now lay on the gangway. Moving through to the troop bay, she heard someone shouting to her from outside. They must have been pulling on the side doors, because the mechanism was making a sharp screeching noise to try and keep them closed. Smoke hovered just above eye level and fingers of blue lightning played across the inside of the Phantom's hull. Tar hit the emergency manual door release and the screeching stopped. The door was still stuck though, so she rushed over and kicked the side door with the bottom of her foot. The entire section crashed to the floor; Tar raised her Storm Rifle to deal with whoever was on the other side. She was a little relieved to see a Spartan in reddish armour, but she didn't show it. She walked down the ramp the side doors had created, smoke billowing out of the Phantom all around her, weapon raised. "Warriors!" Tar bellowed, pointing. A gaggle of Brutes, mixed rank and armour, were charging through the mess of boxes toward them. She supposed they'd seen the Spartan isolated, making a lot of noise, and wanted to catch him unawares. Behind them, she spotted a whole load of URF spilling out of a nearby entrance to the Forerunner structure. They looked to be trying to cut them off. Tar rushed past the Spartan, firing a whole battery into the closest charging Brute until her rifle overheated. Turning it sideways, she savagely broke the rifle over his head, crumpling him to the floor. The next Brute was on her instantly, the shot from his Mauler raking her shields almost to breaking point. Tar forward rolled under the Brute's outswung arm, got up behind him, activated her energy sword, turned and plunged it into his abdomen as he turned around. Pistol rounds hit her shield from behind, breaking it. Tar smartly stepped back behind the impaled Brute, using her sword to keep him upright while turning him between her and the hail of bullets coming from the direction of the installation. "Shield recharging!" Tar shouted, kicking the dead Brute's Mauler behind cover about ten metres in front of her. She grunted from the pain and effort of holding the Brute up as a bullet skimmed her exposed leg. Moving them both forward a couple of metres, Tar peeked out and saw humans taking cover behind the same boxes she was aiming for. The remaining Brutes hadn't committed yet, content to stay back and spray them with spikes and plasma. With her shields recharging now, she shouted "Transitioning! Cover me!" before sliding her sword out of the Brute and running for the boxes and the Mauler she'd kicked over. Humans and Brutes fired at her from the other side.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Having broken off from the rest of her squad, Spartan Aviza moved to higher ground. Climbing one of the Forerunner towers untill she reached a flat enough surface where she could perch herself and set up a sniper nest. From her newly acquired vantage point, Aviza was able to give her squad full overwatch of the field of battle below. The hybrid muzzle flash hider and silencer that she had installed onto the end of her SRS99-S5 AM proved to be an invaluable addition to her collection of attachments as Aviza picked off high value targets from great distances, causing panic and chaos to those who were around their leader when their head ceased to exist. While doing so, she kept a close eye on her squad, having Shih constantly give her updates on their whereabouts and how she could best assist them. Targets were marked, and subsequently taken out shortly there after, either giving breathing room for Aegis below or helping cut down upon the enemy number. What broke Aviza's concentration was the appearance of a Phantom, though this one was firing upon the other hostile vehicles, and was being fired upon in return. Shih was quick to inform Spartan Aviza that the Phantom was friendly, and would be heading towards their location shortly with reinforcements. The friendly Phantom would then be highlighted for her convenience. This Phantom did not stay airborne for long though as a barrage of rockets collided with the drop ship, causing bright flashes of light to illuminate the night and field of battle around it. Aviza watched as the Phantom slammed down violently on the far side of the roof of the complex, though thankfully her position already gave her an advantage. Enemy forces immediately began to swarm in the direction of the crashed Phantom, hoping to either kill or capture anyone left from the crash. The mention of possible survivors from Yalu made Aviza quickly open her coms, she was about to speak when Spartan Lucas Ryker beat her to it. Once he had finished speaking, Aviza would follow up with a comment of her own. "I will provide cover from my position, if there are any wounded at the crash sight, I can be there shortly to stabilize anyone in need." Were there any survivors, it was very likely there would also be wounded. While she would have rather been along side Spartan Lucas Ryker's side, she was more useful at her current position for the moment being. This was proved all the more true when friendly forces did emerge from the crashed Phantom, and were immediately engaged from the hostiles that had been forming upon the crashed drop ship. "Watch yourself out there Ryker, I will be firing rounds close to your position." said Aviza as she made the correct adjustments for distance and wind-barring upon her sniper rifle. To prove this point, Aviza took careful aim at a Brute that was now charging Spartan Lucas, and was shortly within melee arms distance to him before its upper half torso and everything else connected to it ceased to exist.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- It was safe to say that the start of their assault was not going as well as Vael could have hoped. They were encountering more resistance than he had expected, and earlier than anticipated. Hopefully that would mean less resistance later, but regardless, he needed to focus on the enemy in front of him. The phantom that had inserted the rest of their team had been shot down by a heavy weapons squad and crashed on the opposite side of the structure. Already, Ryker and Aviza were focusing their attention on trying to rescue the pilots. Normally, Vael would prioritize the mission over a detour for a rescue, but the same soldiers that were attacking the crash site could easily turn around and pursue them into the structure. Vael had a feeling there was some confusion among the rebel ranks, else they would have little reason to devote forces to a crashed phantom. It would be best to take advantage of that confusion , as Aegis currently had a potentially advantageous position to deal with them. With neither side having much cover, the rebels that Aegis had initially been fighting had routed quickly and retreated back down the ramp into the interior of the structure, leaving only those on the far side of the structure fighting Ryker and the phantom pilot, with just a few crates from cover. Himself and the rest of Aegis could move in from behind to flank them, but they needed to move quickly. Unlike most of his allies, Vael had strong cover from his position on the ramp during the fight, so his shields were at full strength. From the hits his allies had taken, he doubted many were as well-off, so he sprinted out from his position on the ramp, reloading his carbine as he ran and taking the lead ahead of the rest of the team. "Push forward! Keep towards the front if you still have shields." There was at least one squad of Humans and a small pack of Jiralhanae, both far outnumbering the single Spartan and Sangheili defending the crash site. Seeing as the Brutes would take far too many shots to bring down quickly, Vael decided to focus on the Humans while he still had the element of surprise. As he moved around the central tower, Vael took a plasma grenade in hand and tossed it in the middle of the enemy position. He did not focus on sticking an enemy as much as just placing it in a position to force them out of cover, allowing them the chance to cut down the vulnerable Humans quickly.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker To Ryker's credit, he between watching the Sangheili pilot come sailing out of the troop bay and disembowel the first Brute she saw and the one nearest him exploding into chunks mid-swing for a bunch, the initial shock of the Pilot yelling a war cry and seeming fine quickly wore off as he danced back from a second Brute in melee range, avoiding a vicious left hook and countering with a powerful round house kick to the right side of the ape-man's face, stumbling them. "Copy that, Fireteam Lead." Before the Jiralhanae that Lucas had just roundhoused could recover, his wrist mounted energy dagger was activated and he rammed the weapon into the side of his head, twisting to ensure it was dead before pulling it free and moving on to the next opponent. As he dashed at the Brute, who was distracted emptying spiker rounds into the corpse of his companion while the Sangheili was holding it up. "Transitioning! Cover me!" rang out as the body was suddenly dropped and the warrior dashed for the boxes, which prompted Ryker to draw his second SMG and open fire with both, pushing the humans into cover and distracting the Brutes enough to lighten up the fire they were putting on the Sangheili enough she could reach cover, even as the upper torso of a second Jiralhanae vanished in a puff of red mist and chunks. Taking cover behind a set of boxes stacked high enough he could stand, he reloaded the SMGs before holstering one and pulling out another frag. "Grenade out!" he called as the ball of death flew into the group of humans taking cover nearest him. The explosion would ideally kill most of them and wound the rest critically enough they couldn't fight further.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Even with covering fire, Tar's shield rippled and broke during her run for cover. Some of the Human combatants were only a few metres away and basically couldn't miss the Sangheili sprinting toward them. A bullet pinged off Tar's shoulder plate as she slid into a prone position behind a row of three crates. She grabbed up the Mauler she'd kicked across earlier just as a grenade bounced off her headpiece and landed by her free hand. She quickly picked the grenade up and chucked it back over the crates behind her back. She swore in her mother tongue when the reddish Spartan broadcast he was chucking a grenade too. This could get messy. Her shields still recharging, Tar braced against the crates milliseconds before the grenades went off. The deafening chain explosion, paired with what sounded like a plasma grenade, savagely pushed the crates and Tar's prone form several metres across the slick Forerunner floor. For a split-second, Tar was suspended in mid-air as the explosion sent shockwaves through the floor. As Tar opened her eyes and took her hands from her ears, half a Human body landed in front of her. Reaching out, she pulled the corpse toward her before relieving it of the pistol from it's chest holster. Clambering to her feet, Tar was confronted with a hellscape of bloody scraps and dismembered bodies. One kneeling, screaming URF rebel patted wildly at her body that was aflame with blue plasma. Holstering her Mauler to hold the pistol in a defensive stance, Tar put a round through the woman's head. The Brutes further back had taken cover for the explosion, but were now re-appearing to spray them. "Advancing!" Tar roared, setting off on a diagonal run across the combat zone. She kept up fire with her pistol held out in front of her to suppress a golden armoured Brute who was behind a Forerunner column by the edge of the platform. After taking a few hits to her shield, Tar slid back into cover close by her target. The mere sight of a weakened enemy in such proximity was enough to lure the hefty golden armoured Brute away from cover. What Tar hadn't accounted for is the fact that he'd been keeping a Brute Shot hidden behind the column. Pulling it out, the Brute fired at the crates she was behind, scattering most. Tar quickly placed her pistol between two mandibles, freeing both her hands to grab one of the larger metal boxes and hold it in front of her. The Brute, sensing he had the upper hand, walked forward while firing shots at Tar, quickly shredding the box. "Taking heavy fire!" Tar shouted, her feet scraping backwards along the floor with every impact from the Brute Shot.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Ben-E218 Ben-E218 "She has a point. I recommend you head inside." The battle had entered something of a momentary lull, but it could end at any second. If the group was to move anywhere, this was their window of opportunity. "Alright. I'm going in. I'm going to need a close-range weapon. My ammo is out on all weapons except for my sniper rifle. Does anyone have a shotgun they don't need?" He spoke with his speakers on, so he could be heard by the others, not just by Phong. "To respond to your earlier queries, Grikgar is still alive as far as my data stream can tell. As for Aviza, if she can't fight, leave her. In fact, I recommend leaving her a grenade so she can take some enemies with her if she can't-" "Thank you, that will be all; she's up. Sorry, I had to deal with Phong. He's very chatty for a Dumb AI. And no lethal methods. Got it. Just watch your head, please. Don't want to end up like Kat-B320." Given his special role, Ben wasn't particularly fond of keeping his targets alive, but he understood the necessity of it in this case. "Do you want to hear the odds on her survival? They're not very g-" Ben muted Phong once again. It just occurred to him that the AI was able to unmute himself, as Phong had spoken at least once after being silenced without him turning the sound back on. He made a mental note to keep an eye on his AI, who seemed to be evolving into a higher class of AI somehow, or had been a higher class to begin with and was only posing as dumb.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker As Aviza moved to take care of her own injuries, Lucas remained relatively close even as he swept the perimeter with his DMR. In his experience, even when it seemed like things were finally finished, that was when they could go the most wrong with an unexpected cloaked enemy or two appearing form seemingly nowhere. If the SPARTAN IV was honest, he still had nightmares about that night, but it was neither here nor there for the mission, and he doubted they'd get ambushed up here. All the same, until he heard Aviza's helmet reseal, he remained vigilant, though her catching herself on his left shoulder almost knocked him off balance as he wasn't expecting it. When she gave the order to move in, Ryker was right behind her, though when Ben asked if anyone could spare a weapon as he swapped for his SMG, he tossed the SPARTAN III one, along with three spare clips. "I'm running pretty low myself, so make 'em last." In hindsight, it probably would have been prudent to call for a resupply pod from their allies in the skies before moving in, but they had already entered the building, so it was a moot point now. Once they were in the first room through the first doorway from the ramp, Lucas would sweep right, his SMG up and on a swivel. "Be ready to flip to alternative visual modes. The rebels may cut the power to the structure to try and make it harder for us to see what we're doing." He himself had never fought the URF specifically before the war with the Covenant had started, but when he started training as a SPARTAN IV, they had covered the tactics of all the enemies that Humanity had made over the years, from the URF to the Covenant to the Covenant Remnants that the Swords of Sanghelios were still trying to wipe out or force to surrender, so he could make a safe educated guess as to the tactics they'd run into here. "We should keep an eye out for an armory too. I imagine a number of us could use a resupply and we need more weapons better suited to this kind of close-quarters fighting."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Shih --- The Spartan Aviza was still able to move and speak, so Vael gave no argument to her ability to fight. Speed was of the essence now, so there was no time to question leadership. Regardless, as a warrior who fought best within the reach of his blade, Vael was one of those at the front of the team. He had not burned through as much of his ammunition as some of the others, but he still moved his carbine to his back and drew his plasma rifle in its stead. He held his plasma rifle in his left hand, and an energy sword in his right. He did not activate the blade right away, but he did hold the hilt tightly in-hand. Another of the Spartans, Rex, also moved close alongside him. As evidenced by the shotgun he wielded, he too preferred to fight close to the enemy. The team had moved down quickly through the entry hallway of the Forerunner structure, down the ramps to lower floors. In the first, small chamber they entered, they did encounter rebels trying frantically to set up barricades, though they had already started retreating just on the footsteps of Aegis' approach alone. They fled out the door on the far side off the room without so much as returning fire. Evidently, Aegis had move too quickly for them to fortify themselves, and the rebels had no intention of fighting an even fight. Before they started to move once more, Shih spoke up to the team as a whole. "These readings I'm getting, now that we're here, show these tunnels going even deeper than I thought. They connect to deeper tunnels in the installation at about a dozen different points. Unless we want to rely on a lot of luck, we need to figure out which way the leader is fleeing. I've already been working on decrypting and analyzing the comms I'm intercepting. I know their leader is fleeing, so we should be clear to shoot any resistance for now. If we can get to one of their computers, we might be able to figure out what route to take. These rebels' security is better than I would have thought, but…either myself or Petty Officer Younan should be able to break in. " On each of the team members' HUDs, nav points appeared for two separate rooms farther down beneath them. "The path ahead branches off two ways, to two large chambers farther down. From the comms I've intercepted, one of them is their armory, and the other they're using for food storage. I don't know which is which. Their command center is adjacent to the armory. That would be the best place to go to find the information we need." "If their coward of a leader already flees, then we do not have much time. I doubt we will be able to check both paths if we move as one." Vael remarked.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Listening to Shih speak as they walked, Ryker couldn't help but frown slightly behind his visor. So then I had made a solid suggestion about splitting up back there before the big firefight. Ah, hindsight's 20-20 as they say. He kept walking regardless of his thoughts and listened, tapping his helmet when the nav points popped up for a bit of an 'echo' on the hallway ahead, a nifty function he'd tinkered with after he realized he likely wouldn't even get a dumb AI to help him. "So what I'm getting is one way or another, we're going to have to split up here, because if we don't know which is which, we can't risk moving as the full unit if we're going to secure the HVT and any potential intel besides." Standing on the path going to the left, Lucas stands ready to continue. "I'll go with this group, whoever that comprises of. I think one CQC specialist per group would be a good idea."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu looked at Tar M'dalak as she walked by. He wished he knew why a special forces sangheili was a wraith pilot, but one look at the rest of the team made his questions absurd, even to himself. He looked away feeling even more like the odd one out. With others covering the entrances for now, Yalu took some initiative to arm himself for the corridors ahead. Amongst the gore of the dead brutes, he pulled out a surviving red plasma rifle with plenty of its battery remaining. He did not enjoy using their spiker rifles, and the rebel human weapons were less predictable in draining shields. His carbine went on his back beside his concussion rifle. Heavy, but out of the way. "I will go where I am ordered," Yalu added, gently enough to remind Ryker of who was calling the shots.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar moved down the ramp into the belly of the installation with her new squad. As she wasn't certain what kind of environment would greet them, she pulled out her sword and held it unactivated in the hand that supported her raised pistol. It wasn't an ideal configuration, but at least now she could quickly pivot between medium and short range if needed. Tar didn't know how the team operated, so she positioned herself in the middle of the formation rather than at the front as was her instinct. They reached a chamber littered with debris, and she learned from the team's AI of the situation. It seemed the team were entitled to an opinion on how to proceed, which struck Tar as odd. However, she wasn't about to miss this opportunity to get into a position where she performed best. "I'm comfortable in close quarters. I will go right." She volunteered, taking this brief pause to tap the magazine of her stolen Mauler, listening for an idea of the number of bolts still left.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Enemy Stronghold The words from the Spartan made Grikgar flinch slightly and he skidded to a stop. Shifting a bit too early to turn he found himself hopping on one leg to stop him from falling over. The Unggoy then made his way back down the other hall with the all too familiar run / waddle that grunts did when they were in a hurry. "Grikgar understands, right side is best side." He stopped next to the human who called himself Roy and tossed him the spiker grenade he found. "Here go, this grenade fun." Honestly those grenades where fun but they just didn't fit right on his belt. The grenade itself was designed to maim and cause fear more than it was designed to kill. But Grikgar has seen how the spikes from it ricochet in the confined forerunner structures like these and are quite useful in tight areas. Before the man could answer he was off again moving down the right hall this time.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Ryker snorted at Aviza's last comment as he turned to follow his assigned team down the right hand hall. "You just answered your own question, Fire Team Lead." With that, he turned his attention to moving down the hall, his SMG up and sweeping the sides. He didn't see any doors that lead from side rooms into their hall right away, but Forerunner structures rarely followed what Humans or the former Covenant races called practical design in his experience. Still, as they moved, he couldn't shake his sense of unease. These URF members had been in this location for an extended amount of time, had had chances to learn the ins and outs of these buildings and the fastest routes to and from areas. If he was honest, as he moved down the hall, he wasn't convinced that they weren't already too late to catch the HVT and they were just hoping for leftover intel at this point. But then, perhaps the URF were confident that their numbers would hold out against their team, in which case, the joke was on them.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai The two teams arranged themselves quickly once they had been given orders, then proceeded down the split paths with haste. The corridors were fairly narrow, though fortunately there was no resistance in the halls themselves, at least for now. Both paths led downwards towards large chambers that were similar, though not identical. Down the left path, the final door opened into a wide, tall chamber. Its original purpose to the Forerunners was not apparent, but as it was open and mostly featureless, it was now filled with stacks of crates almost from one wall to the other, though they did have an orderly arrangement that allowed one to navigate between them. There were also two rows of three long, flat columns each going from the floor to two walkways above. One was on the far side of the room, while the other row was on the near side just in front of the door the team entered through. Although they could not see through the ceiling above them, there was presumably a second walkway just above them, overlooking the center of the room. Among the collection of crates in the center of the chamber was where the enemy had been putting up barricades and starting to fortify. They mostly consisted of metal, deployable barriers, though Humans were not the only defenders among them. There was also a small pack of Brutes, four individuals, though their leader wore the armor of a Chieftain. Including the Human rebels, there were about a dozen defenders ahead of them from what they could see. The Jiralhanae used exclusively their own weapons, such as spikers, or a gravity hammer in the case of the Chieftain. The Humans, meanwhile, wielded a mix of Human and Covenant weaponry. Out of those that were visible as the team entered the chamber, two carried storm rifles, one a needler, and one a carbine. Most notably, the Humans and Brutes did not appear to be entirely unified. Some of the Humans seemed to be on alert and in defensive positions, but the Chieftain seemed to be having an altercation with a Human commander. Just as Aviza's team was making it into the room, the Chieftain struck the Human "lightly", which, for a Brute, was still enough to knock him clean off of his feet. "Cowards! There will be no retreat; we will crush them, feast on their flesh, and suck the marrow from their bones! Flee from them, and I will make you my dessert." --- Vael 'Virisusai and Tasuma Vael led his team from the front down the right path. He moved alongside Tasuma through the halls, as a Mgalekgolo could force its way through nearly any obstacle they might come across in the halls. Fortunately, they did seem to have moved quickly enough that their enemy did not have time to fortify the halls. Although, the moment they reached the large chamber at the end of the hall, they faced immediate resistance. The chamber itself was large and quite open, except for the crates in the center of the room. They were stacked and organized neatly, though it was not obvious from the outside whether or not they contained weapons. What was apparent was that the rebels had put up barriers in the center for cover, including two mounted heavy machine guns, both of which had opened fire as soon as the door had opened. Fortunately, Vael's team was not left completely without options. There were two of what seemed to be support struts running diagonally up to the ceiling, one to the left and right of the door Vael's team was entering through. The struts were wide, so they did offer ample cover. Vael lunged and rolled to the left to get behind one of the struts as quickly as he could, though even with his armor's shield strength, the heavy weapons had very nearly depleted them in just the few moments he had been exposed to incoming fire. "Spread out and get to cover!" Vael ordered, though Tasuma took that order at a slower pace. It kept a low posture with its shield in front to protect itself, then used the smoke launchers mounted on its armor to fire two smoke grenades towards the center of the room. It would take a short time for the smoke to fill out, but it would at least provide partial cover for the rest of the team to move. Overall, the Hunter's armor could handle the incoming fire for a time, which, together with the smoke, would hopefully allow the rest of the team to reach cover. It was difficult for Vael to see in detail, but there seemed to be ten or fifteen Humans ahead of them. The chamber was longer than it was wide, and he could see an upper walkway that ran along the right side of the room to the far side, with a ramp to just next to the other support strut to access it. However, from his angle, he could not see if there were more rebels up on the walkway defending that path.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar fell dutifully into her new unit and moved down the left passage. She was with the slim grey Spartan who'd turned out to be team leader, the Sangheili Major, another rather serious but silent Spartan and two ONI-types. Tar soon migrated to the front of the group and holstered her pistol in favour of her Mauler. The corridors were tight, and they were approaching an entryway, so she had to be ready for close quarters. The set of doors in front of them slid silently open on approach. Tar heard raised voices as they entered through into a wide open chamber stacked high with boxes; it looked like a few of the closer ones had been knocked over to open up lines of sight. After a couple of seconds gunfire began peppering their position from a nest of fortifications in the middle of the room. Tar tucked in behind a pillar and began scanning the avenues of attack on either side, including the ceiling above. "Watch the platforms above; there could be snipers!" Tar called over the gunfire, pointing straight up with one finger. She swapped her Mauler back over for her pistol, and leaned out to her right. She could see a couple of shapes behind a metal barricade; she shot three times at them. "Moving!" She announced calmly over comms, coming out from behind cover and shooting two more times before crouching behind the first in a long row of crates.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai The initial exchange of fire between Aviza's team and the defenders in front of them did leave some casualties on the side of the rebels. One of the Brutes that attempted to flank was taken down by Aviza, and there were a few Humans among the rebels who took hits that would, at the very least, incapacitate them. In a neutral exchange of gunfire, Aviza's team had the firm edge, as most of them were shielded. They could recover after a few seconds of sitting in cover, while the rebels could be taken down by a single shot. Though, the Brutes were more resilient. As long as their powered armor was not destroyed, their shields could regenerate. The rebels had not yet taken heavy casualties, yet they were still quick to begin retreating. They started to fall back from their fortifications in the middle and instead took cover behind the crates on the far side of the room. Even more strangely, the Brutes were willing to retreat. After the loss of just one of their own, they were falling back to the far side of the room as well, chieftain included. Despite the shouting they had heard as they arrived and the fact that he wielded a gravity hammer, he was not charging in nor taking risks. He just kept to cover and made sure his shields did not fall. Shih, meanwhile, spoke to Aviza directly. "I'm monitoring your vitals now. You might have a concussion, but your armor is already administering treatment. Just try not to take any more hits." --- Vael 'Virisusai Between the grenades and a magazine of fuel rods, the two mounted machine guns certainly stopped returning fire, along with all of the other Humans defending their position. Although, between the smoke and bursts of fuel rod explosions, it was also difficult to see how many had been killed in the blasts. Despite the gap in return fire, Tasuma still moved towards cover behind the nearest pillar. The shield on its arm was nigh impenetrable to anything the rebels could throw at it, but the rest of its armor was not quite as durable. Small arms would bounce off of the plating, but the heavy machine guns were another matter. Its armor was dented and damaged in some places, and pierced in a few. Thick, orange blood dripped from a few holes, though the Mgalekgolo as a whole did not yet seem meaningfully affected. On the upper walkway, Ryker would not find himself uncontested. Being that it was such an obvious path for any attackers to take, the rebels had prepared to defend it. It was a long, straight walkway with almost nothing in terms of cover, and on the far end was another set of barricades the rebels had deployed, at least three defenders, and a third mounted heavy machine gun. Ryker might have approached with active camouflage but the rebels were alert and only had a narrow path they were tasked with watching. The gunner still noticed the distinctive shimmer in the air surrounding Ryker and opened fire immediately, along with the other two beside her with their assault rifles. Perhaps their only mistake was opening fire too early, while Ryker was still close enough to the ramp to not be fully committed to the position. Vael had spent the break of the fight behind cover, allowing his shields to recharge. Though, as explosives rained down upon the enemy position, he shouted through their comms. "Do not be indiscriminate with explosives! If any of those crates contain explosives themselves, you may kill us as well as them." Vael ordered. He peered out of cover to try and get a look at the enemy, though the smoke was already thick in the air by that point. It obscured what his eyes could see, though his motion tracker still showed plenty of movement ahead of them. "The smoke shall be our ally. These Humans will fall easily if we close the distance. Grikgar, help Spartan Ryker claim the high ground, everyone else…" As Vael spoke, two objects flew out of the smoke towards them, one after another. Frag grenades, which would certainly land nearby. At that point, Vael easily understood what the Humans' plan had been. The defenders could have held close to try and deny them the support struts they had been using as cover, but normal Humans performed poorly against Spartan and Sangheili alike in close quarters. Instead, they had taken positions nearer to the far side of the room, taking advantage of long sight lines and heavy guns to suppress them into cover, at which point they would have used grenades to either kill them, or flush them out into machine gun fire. But, the quick actions of Vael's allies had foiled that plan. Now, if their heavy guns were even still in one piece, the air was too thick with smoke to return fire effectively. The incoming grenades were little more than a signal for Vael to push forward. "Attack!" Vael shouted, sprinting forward out of the range of the grenades and into the smoke. He had his plasma rifle in-hand and ready, though in such close quarters, it was his secondary weapon. As soon as he saw a Human silhouette in front of him, pushing himself up to his feet amid damaged and broken crates, Vael activated his energy sword and diagonally bisected the rebel's torso in one swift motion. The smoke around him now glowed blue, illuminated by the plasma. Bullets cut through the air towards him, though they were far from accurate, and his shields could stand up much longer to small arms than mounted machine guns. Vael flicked off his sword to hide its glow and moved swiftly, using pulsing bursts of orange light through the smoke from the rebels' muzzle flash to hone in on their positions.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker As the mounted machinegun opened fire towards Ryker, he was already diving with a startled curse. If he was honest, as he rolled part way down the ramp, the SPARTAN IV had hoped that the rebels wouldn't have bothered setting up any kind of defense on the walk way since they had seemed confident they'd control the doorway. Turning off the active camouflage system, he tucks into the wall of the ramp and swaps the SMG for his DMR before, risking a quick peak at the far end before ducking after a couple of the larger caliber rounds rebounded off his shielding. Hearing that Grikgar was on his way, however, gave the Spartan an idea and he waited for the Grunt to arrive. The little guy has a fuel rod launcher and lots of explosives. I'm a decent shot and brought a few frag grenades. The problem is obscuring smoke wouldn't do us any good up here...but a series of progressive explosions could force the men behind that barricade in to cover long enough for me to rush them.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak From her position behind the crates, Tar had a slightly better view of the elevated platforms above them. She couldn't see any hostiles peeking out just yet. "I can't see anyone on the platforms; will keep an eye out." Tar reported, just as the box she was hiding behind began shuddering from a hail of bullets. Cover was particularly poor this close to the near pillars; Tar needed to get into the grid of crates to stand a chance. She noticed her left leg was starting to hurt; blood trickled slowly from a gap in her armour plating. Could that bullet she'd felt while holding up her Brute cover outside have gone through, rather than grazed her? She wasn't sure. Tar probed the gap with one of her fingers, mandibles clamped together. She couldn't find an entry wound. She'd need to leave it be for now and look once the fighting had stopped. Tar peeked out from behind the crate she hid behind. A couple of Brutes and Humans had been dealt with, and part of the room was on fire. She could see shapes flitting between the stacks of crates toward the back of the room. It looks like they'd abandoned their previous position. "Our foe runs! We should press the attack." Tar called, shooting between crates at two Humans as they scrambled for cover. One of them fell over. Tar had never actually killed Humans before now. There'd been no need to; her time with the Silent Shadow remnants had been exclusively focused on killing Brutes. She found these Human warriors to be quite disappointing so far. She'd simmed against ODSTs and other Human elements in Paxopolis, but that'd been in a carefully controlled environment. This was real. "Moving!" Tar announced, mostly out of necessity. The crate she'd hidden behind had practically fallen apart. She got up and stepped into a 'corridor' between two rows of crates leading to the other side of the room. She spotted a Human with a SAW at the opposite end of the corridor just as they opened fire. Tar only made it forward one row before ducking back behind another stack of boxes. "I'm pinned, how is my right side looking?" Tar asked, partly to herself as she peeked around the other side of the box and partly to Aegis team, who would have a more holistic view.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko "They're giving ground already?" Yalu asked himself. "That chieftain was clear, but..." His eyes dilated in realisation. Shortly before Tar was fired upon by the human with the assault weapon, Yalu was already loping into a broad sprint down the right flank, sliding to a stop facing to one side. The human gunner flowed into his sights and five plasma rounds shot towards his centre. "'Mdalak! Right side clear!" He hesitated, not yet seeing any sign of a jammer, let alone any extra movement on his motion sensor yet. "This feels like a lure!" He added over a growl. Yalu kept his wits, trying to listen and feel more than see. Brutes liked activate camouflage in packs, and this valley between the walkways was perfect for their prey.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan The two folded into the Aviza brute-killing group (foreshadowing) as they began their descent into the corridor, it would only be a matter of time before they would go toe to toe with a huge group of bad guys. Elna kept her head on a swivel looking around, looking like a paranoid bat of some sort as she expected for Rebels to come flying off the walls. For Roy (Ray) though it would just be another series of motions and actions he would be forced to go through, the two treaded through before Aviza called for contaaaaact! Roy moved forward and jumped behind hard cover before getting up to fire at the rebels. Elna also followed quickly planting herself up against hard cover as she got her Br-55 up and sent rounds down range towards the rebels and it was only a matter of time before they routed and ran away! Aviza quickly corpsed a flanking brute, taking him out without an ounce of remorse. The whole group began to rout but not in full, it could of been a trap - maybe it was? They were nowhere near the crates at this time so they could possibly be safe, though Ray kept his finger on the trigger. "Keep an eye out Corporal, thinks aren't as they seem." Elna returned a curt nod towards the spook she babysits, both got up and returned fired onto some nearby rebels quickly killing them as they stepped out of cover.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Situational awareness is crucial upon the field of battle, Spartan Aviza had learned this through many years of not only combat training but also experience in live fire situations. Unfortunately, it appeared that some of the other members of her immediate squad had either forgotten this important tactic or were more brazen and impatient than the others. To Aviza, is was clear that the hostiles had set up some kind of trap for them, though she was unsure what that trap would be. Perhaps they were trying to lure some of the forces into an area then cut them off from the others with some sort of energy barrier? That would make them easy to overwhelm, and the hostile forces on the other side would have to somehow deactivate the shield before being able to assist. Whatever their plan was, Spartan Aviza was not about to let any harm come to those under her command. Quickly, Aviza gave orders to the two had moved away from the rest of the squad, "Why are you advancing into what is most likely a trap? What happens if you two get cut off from the rest of the squad and we can not help? I want both of you back to my position immediately, the rest of us will provide cover and then try to find out what they have planned for us ahead." Spartan Aivza hoped that there was still time for the two Sangheili to correct their mistake, if not, the situation at hand was about to get much worse.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai There was some delay in the response from the enemy. They waited behind cover on the far side of the room, only giving token return fire as they waited for their attackers to take the space they had given up. However, Aviza did not give the order to advance, and the delay would give some time to try and retreat back to her position. When it became clear that their attackers had, for the most part, not taken the bait, the Chieftain let out a roar. Right away, Brute stalkers, four at least, emerged from active camouflage on the walkway directly above the team's position. They did not have an angle to shoot down on Aviza or those who stayed back, but Tar and Yalu were within their sights. Two opened fire with spikers, while the other two tried to throw incendiary grenades to block their retreat. It was, indeed, an ambush, though it was far from ideal for the Brutes, as both of the Sangheili were still fairly close to Aviza's position. In any case, the Chieftain's roar had been the signal for an all-in attack. The Brutes started charging from far across the room through the crates, while the Human rebels positioned themselves to provide supporting fire. Although, they did have a fair amount of ground to cover to cross the entire length of the room.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Enemy Stronghold Grikgar shifted quickly from one point of cover to the next. "Copy Grik be careful now. Many explosions good for Grik but not good for everyone else." Getting to the pillar next to the Spartan Grik nodded and activated the shield he got from the jackal. The bright orange glow of the shield illuminated his position in time for the machine gun to open up on his position. "Grikgar create opening for Spartan." Turing from cover his shield flared then broke along with his energy shield, Grik gar was only able to get two shots off with an unsteady hand before diving back into cover. "Shields recharging." What a rush, a bit risky but a rush all the same.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Tasuma --- While Grikgar had not had much time to take his shots,the jackal shield had at least bought him enough time to be able to put one on target. The first sailed over the top and exploded on the far wall, but the second struck the barricades directly. It did not entirely destroy the barricades, and the rebels behind them were able to duck for cover, but the machine gun emplacement was caught in the blast. Ryker would still have to deal with armed resistance, with better cover, on the upper walkway, but there was no heavy gun to keep him pinned. Some of the rebels had retained their bearings well enough and had managed to retreat out from the smoke cloud in the center of the room to form up behind the cover of the support struts on the far side. They had no heavy emplaced weapons, but they were well-armed on their own and had good sight lines. It would still not be trivial to displace them. If Ryker and Grikgar could claim the upper walkway, they would have a position on the high ground, at least. Amid the smoke, Vael stalked the rebels who had not escaped like prey. Using motion trackers, or simply the sounds they made to track them, Vael weaved between the crates to deal with them up close and personal. From the outside, one would see nothing until he came close enough to a target to flick on his energy sword, which illuminated the thick smoke in a blue glow. It was generally followed by a short burst of gunfire, then the scream of a Human. Tasuma did not make light of its own injuries, but in any case, it still moved into the smoke cloud as well. It was concerned less with killing stragglers as it was positioning itself to handle the rebels defending the far side of the room. The smoke would dissipate eventually, so it moved to find enough of a stack of crates that it could use for cover, instead of relying wholly on its armor for protection.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar growled at the order to retreat. It didn't seem like a strategy that was conducive to catching fleeing prey. However, while she wasn't under this team's direct command, she guessed the Spartan outranked her. And while being discharged for disobeying orders was one way to escape Sarcophagus, Tar needed to keep her military options open. It was by far the most efficient vehicle for continuing her search for Tarkr 'Mdalakai. Before Tar could reply, there was a roar from somewhere on the opposite side of the room. Fire grenades and spikes began raining down on her position from above. "I've found the trap! Brutes, above us!" Tar roared, turning to shoot up at them, pushing her back to the stack of crates she had hidden behind. Her pistol clicked empty, and she quickly flicked the magazine out to replace it with her spare. She peeked around the side of the crate, spikes stuck in her shield, to see more Brutes rushing toward her. Tar swore; it was now or never. "Moving!" She called. Ducking out of cover into the lane between crates, Tar fired at the oncoming Brutes while carefully walking backwards toward their position. They didn't take cover, instead electing to trade fire with her. Tar ducked back behind another crate closer to home and immediately peeked back out to continue firing. One of the Brute's shields burst and Tar shot him in the head, but the rest kept coming. A fire bomb crashed to the floor just in front of her as her pistol clicked empty again. Leaping backwards, Tar burst into another lane of crates, knocking some over as she stumbled for cover. "I need pistol mags!" She called, switching to her Mauler.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu barely had time to line up his covering fire to pull back by the time the trap was sprung. That left no time to hate being right in this instance. He slammed his back against the crates behind him before more than one spiker round could clip his shield. Around the crates before him, two more brutes were bearing down with an assault he could not avoid. Yalu sneered and let his plasma rifle fire fully automatic into the forward brute. The enemy's shield burst, but he was smart enough to fold back behind some crates while the next brute, freshly shielded, kept on running. Yalu kept the trigger depressed, roaring as the quickly heating weapon reached its safety point. Then, as the forward brute thrust his spiker rifle forward at his gut, Yalu spun to one side, felt the vents on his rifle open, and threw the momentum of the spin into shoving his overheated rifle into the side of the brute's face. The burning heat made the brute scream in rage, but his panicked response of striking Yalu's arm aside only made Yalu's energy dagger hook faster into its throat. Yalu's plasma rifle clattered to the floor from where it had flown out of his hand. His shock kept whatever pain was welling up in his forearm into a dull ache as he shook it in the air. The rest of the team's communications caught up with him. "Falling back," He said over the comms. He took the spiker rifle out of the slowly collapsing brute's hand on his way back. With his other hand, he pulled out his plasma carbine. A few one-handed shots from both weapons down the range kept the shieldless brute in cover for long enough to back closer to Aviza and 'Mdalak. He spoke as soon as he could see Tar along the same row. "You will earn your magazines from the enemy, 'Mdalak! Here!" He slid the spiker rifle across the smooth metallic floor towards her like a ringing bowling ball. "One dead on the right flank, at least one more remains. I can't advance until the stalkers above the walkway's right are slain."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai In their charge across the room, many of the Brutes had not made it to the other side, or died shortly thereafter. Spartan Aviza had cleared the walkway above them, leaving the chieftain with little in the way of direct support. Many Human rebels were still alive, but they moved forward more slowly and fired from distance, as they were more vulnerable. The Spartan, Rex, had moved up into cover behind the rightmost column to meet the chieftain's charge. Especially in close quarters, his shotgun could put quite a lot of pressure on the Brute's shields. His first shot as the chieftain was nearing caused his shields to flare, then Aviza's firebomb struck from above and further drained them with the intense flames. Nevertheless, the chieftain did not stop his momentum straight at Rex. As a Spartan and CQC expert, however, Rex's reflexes were quick and precise. He deftly ducked under the the hammer's horizontal swing while dashing away from where it would strike the column. The weapon's kinetic impulse sent out a shockwave that pushed Rex and damaged his shields, but he had dodged far enough to avoid most of the damage. As well, he kept his aim on-target enough to deplete the Brute's shields with another shell from his shotgun. Rex took aim straight at his opponent's head as he pumped his shotgun; however, the chieftain had one more trick before he could fire. Suddenly, the chieftain's shields were charged rapidly and started to glow bright white with streaks like lightning across their surface. The "invincibility" module, as it was known, overcharged his shields to the point of being practically impenetrable. It was surprising that these Brutes would still have such equipment in a working state from the war, but that was the obstacle they now faced. The module would only last a short time, but the chieftain had already made it into close quarters, among Aviza's team.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak "Got it." Tar grunted over comms, stopping the incoming Spiker with her foot. She quickly picked it up with her free hand and straight-arm fired it at the Brute Chieftain. She couldn't get a clear shot, as the pillars were in the way, but she saw when it activated its invincibility module. Bullets sprayed against the crates and walls around her, with a couple popping her recharging shield. Tar chucked her empty pistol away, holstered her Mauler, gripped her Spiker with both hands and fired downrange at the slowly advancing Human rebels. They dived behind cover, giving her a couple of seconds to think about the last remaining Brute that she could see. "Don't commit and stay back!" Tar urged, just as a blow from the gravity hammer scattered boxes everywhere. One crashed into her, knocking her backward and out of cover. She returned fire as a tsunami of bullets popped her shield again. A couple even clanged off her armour before she ducked behind a pillar - right in the path of the Chieftain. Tar swore and assumed an open stance, ready to move in any direction.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker The sudden barrage of SAW fire was more than a bit annoying for the SPARTAN IV as he was forced into cover once more, though at least this was more the kind of suppressive fire that kept him from getting a clear shot. Since he was on the high ground, the shots had less chance of hitting his shielding, but he couldn't get a clear line of fire. So, swapping the SMG for his DMR, he braced and waited. Eventually, he could hear the sound of the Mgalekgolo's cannon charging and he knew he'd have his chance soon. However, as he went to relay an idea he had to Grikgar, the cannon fired and the Unggoy opened fire with his pistol. "Well, I can work with that too." Popping up with his DMR already tucked snuggly into his shoulder, Lucas opens fire, first putting a bullet through the head of the SAW gunner before shifting to pick off another designated rifleman thinking he was sneaky from the doorway. {Heads up, Squad Leader, they're taking cover in the hallway beyond...well, it looks like another hallway at least. I know they're using the door way.} A couple of AR rounds ping off the SPARTAN-IV's shielding and he ducks briefly before popping back up and returning fire, missing the intended head shot and instead putting the bullet through the insurgent's shoulder.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Good, clear from above, Yalu thought towards the dead brute that tumbled off the walkway above him. That was one way to signal that the high ground was taken. Yalu reloaded his carbine. He was at his second-to-last magazine now. Unfortunately, just as his shields found a moment to hum back to full strength, the telltale stomps of the brute chieftain heralded the charge against Rex. The spartan was struck deep into the chest. Yalu was in no position to do anything about it. He fell into hesitation, even as the invincibility module faded away. If it weren't for the ONI agents keeping the enemies suppressed, their flank might have been completely done in. But he shook it off. He filled his lungs and charged. "Rrrraaaaaaah!" Yalu's warcry steeled his nerves as much as it was meant to catch the chieftain's attention. Any one ally would be in danger brawling against a brute with a hammer, but two against one tipped the scales. He fired scattered carbine rounds against the chieftain's shield on the way in. He feigned suicidal rage. However, he kept his footwork ready to void aside or back from a hammer swing in retribution. He did not intend to fight like a mad animal.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and Tasuma --- The detonation of Tasuma's fuel rod blast was the signal for Vael as well. While Ryker and Grikgar fired from above on the right flank, Vael moved in on the left flank. He initially moved in under the cover of active camouflage. The imperfect invisibility could be spotted at such close range, but in this case, he only needed it to give him a few moments to approach while his enemy was otherwise occupied. For Vael, he was able to rush in to close the gap on the left pillar while the rebels were hiding from Tasuma's fuel rod. By the time one of them peered out and spotted the shimmering in the air, he was already upon them. His blade ignited mid-swing, and the body of the Human he was looming over put up no resistance as it cleaved through. The second rebel behind the pillar did manage to land a few SMG rounds on Vael in the second or two he had to react, but it was far from enough to break the Sangheili's shields before his body too was pierced by the energy sword. Ryker was correct that the remainder of the rebels were trying to move into the hall. They no longer had much of a defensive position, and those that were left were willing to retreat. The volume of plasma bolts from Grik, couples with accurate DMR fire from Ryker, put on them a great deal of pressure. Three made a run for the door while firing blindly back at the pair, and two went down before they could make it into the hall. For the few that remained pinned behind the right pillar, another fuel rod from Tasuma landed directly beside them. When there were no more left to retreat, the rebels closed and locked down the door to the hallway. It would only delay their team for a short time if they decided to pursue, but it would let the rebels put some distance between them. However, Vael had other priorities than ordering a chase. As soon as the room was cleared, he ran back to the center to the nearest crate. Their objective had been to find the armory, so using his strength to simply pry open the lock, Vael pulled open one of the crates to see its contents. Unfortunately, it was not weapons within, but rather sealed, packaged foodstuffs. He let out an irritated growl and flared his mandibles. "This is not the armory. Fall back, and we will rejoin the others."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker {Copy, coming down.} Turning to the Unggoy, he nodded before heading for the ramp back down. "Sounds like we didn't get the fun objective. Squad lead says back to the split." Obviously the walk back down the ramp was going to prove far less dangerous and the trip back out of the room, but that didn't bother the SPARTAN-IV. It gave them time to strategize and re-establish contact with Aviza's team, though he wasn't sure that they'd answer if they were in the midst of a fire fight. Reaching the bottom of the ramp, Ryker took up a position looking down the hall from the door way. "That sure was an awful lot of fight for some food stuffs. Are we sure they're nothing special?" It wasn't an uncommon thing for things like food stuffs to be used as IEDs, especially with the peacetime they were in and the shortages some sectors were facing. Then again, if they'd been rigged, suppose the Innies would have detonated the stash then and there and there'd have been no firefight like there was. Still, perhaps having a bomb removal team come through and check wouldn't hurt in the post-operation. "Ready to move when you are squad lead."</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern The first thought that ran through Aviza's mind as soon as she witnessed Spartan Rex receive the devastating blow from the Brute Chieftains Gravity hammer was immediate medical attention for what was most likely a life threatening injury. She knew this could not be done in their current situation, given the circumstances and the obvious threat that was still prevalent. With very few options available at the moment, Aviza sprinted forward towards her fallen Spartan, only coming to a stop when she arrived by his side. "Shih, I need a full scan of Spartan Rex, or as detailed as you can give. Once that is done, I want you to send a message to the Chorus of Thunder and inform them that we have injured and will need a fully detailed medical team on standby once our mission here is finished." For the moment, Aviza's Argus armor was informing her that she still had a few more seconds before she had to actually face the Brute Chieftain in combat, but a few seconds was all she needed to at least attempt to stabilize Spartan Rex. Quickly reaching onto the advanced medical kit she kept on herself at all times, Aviza produced a biofoam dispenser and was about to place it back inside of the medical case when she witnessed the Chieftain slam his hammer down at the feet of Tar, thankfully no energy wave was dispensed. With some quick thinking, she tossed the biofoam canister at the Brute Chieftains head and then rapid fired the underslung shotgun upon her MA5D Assault Rifle untill the eight round clip ran dry and had to be replaced. If this did not severely injure the Brute Cheiftan, they would be in serious trouble. Thankfully though, Aviza found an opportunity to assist Tar, and grabbed onto the back of her armor, pulling her back and away from the Brute and helping her onto her feet before once more turning to face the Brute Chieftain.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak The Brute Chieftain recoiled under the barrage of shotgun shells, but possessed the presence of mind to raise the bulky armour plate attached to his left arm. It absorbed some of the impact, shattering to pieces. The Chieftain issued a guttural, gurgling roar. He raised his hammer off the floor, jabbing it straight out in front of him at Aviza before lurching round and swinging it in a wide, brutal arc at Yalu as he rushed in from behind. The Elite's battlecry had obviously alerted the Chieftain to the danger. Tar sprung to her feet with Aviza's interrupted help. She dodged the Chieftain's savage jab, aided by the fact she wasn't the principal target. As soon as the Brute turned his back to pound Yalu, Tar jumped forward and clambered up his back. She reached for her holstered energy sword, intent on ramming it through a chink in the Brute's neck armour. Before she could, the Chieftain's head jerked backwards in a panicked motion; his helmet smashed into her face. One of Tar's feet slipped, and she was forced to quickly put both hands back on the Brute's armour to avoid falling off and being trampled. She tried to grab her sword again.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Listening closely and intently to Shih as she briefed them on their current situation at hand, Spartan Aivza was already strategizing and plotting their next course of action. Rex still needed to be stabilized for medical evacuation and she was going to ensure that this happened before they moved out again. Moving to her fellow Spartan who was injured, she took a knee and held her right hand over his torso where the Brute had managed to make contact with his armor. Sensors indicated that he had received severe injuries, internal bleeding, broken ribs, and fragments of bones threatening to puncture his lungs if there was to much movement. Her suits systems informed her that their best option was to be medically evacuated as soon as possible, and that Rex's suit of armor had already stabilized him. "Rex, I will not lie to you, the strike from the Brute Chieftain inflicted severe damage upon not only your armor but also your body." began Aviza as she moved to her feet once more. "It would be extremely unwise to move you at this time, even more so to have you try and attempt to assist us further. For now, you must relax and refrain from moving until we return. My advice is for you to engage your active camouflage and remain hidden untill we have finished with our mission here. Aviza would then send a private message to Shih, "I want you to send a message to the Chorus of Thunder and inform them that we have injured and will need a fully detailed medical team on standby once our mission here is finished. Secondly, please forward the most logical path to take next to everyone's HUD, along with any other information you believe should be shared with the squad." Aviza would hold her position, waiting for the path to appear before her, once it did, she would quickly head off in the direction it lead. One last message would be sent to Rex before she departed, "Keep us updated on your situation Rex, if you need help, I will send a team back to you."</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar clattered to the floor as the Brute Chieftain slumped on top of her. She roared, thrashing about wildly, eventually levering the giant corpse over onto its front before scrambling to her feet. She quickly surveyed the field, and gradually stood down when she was confident the threat had passed for now. Her leg protested; the background level of pain she could feel hidden in her armour was gradually increasing. She gritted her mandibles together and tried to ignore it. A waypoint appeared in Tar's HUD, and she fell in behind the Spartan team leader as they moved toward it. On the way, she discarded her spent Mauler for an M90 shotgun from one of the warped crates. Tar ripped the fingerguard clean off the weapon to accommodate her Sangheili digits before bringing the gun to her shoulder. Not long after, she stooped to grab a pistol from the belt of a downed insurrectionist with her off hand, eyes constantly scanning for hostiles. Tar peeked into the small room the team's AI led them to, before standing alert behind some crates outside it. The rest of the team arrived, announcing beforehand so as to avoid attracting friendly fire. Tar greeted them with a cursory nod, checking them out for gear and equipment until the AI revealed they were short on time. "Our quarry flees! We should hunt them down." She snarled.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu danced his feet back as fast as he could once his last bullet shot into the brute's shoulder. He got to the last punch of reloading in his final carbine magazine only to hear one more close gunshot aimed at the chieftain. The hulking alien fell heavily onto Tar, but she looked like she could handle it. Yalu briefly scanned for more enemies, finding none worth shooting, before turning an eye to their scarred human Corporal nearby. "A fine kill, Cohen." Only now did Yalu take another look at the spartan Rex. He knew it was not his business to eavesdrop, but Yalu showed at least some relief to hear that the spartan still lived, based on Aviza's assessment. But Rex was not the only one wounded. Yalu thought about his next words carefully while scavenging for another weapon. This Tar 'Mdalak was not to be underestimated if he impugned her honour by drawing attention to her bleeding leg. She was no minor under his command, after all. Yalu rearmed with a few frag grenades, a fallen brute's plasma rifle, and a human marksman's rifle to replace his carbine; there was more ballistic ammunition than carbine magazines available. The other team reunited with them, Yalu gave them a nod. They were about to set out when he decided to speak up. "Commander Aviza," Yalu said quietly over the comms. "As you are our medical specialist, your anaesthetics may help us Sangheili pursue our objective faster. Do you have spare doses we may hold?" If they all could hold onto a shot of pain relievers, particularly Commander Vael, Yalu knew 'Mdalak was less likely to lose face if she used it for her leg. It was risky for Yalu to assume Aviza would understand the social nuance, but he hoped the AI could make up the difference.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Surely unknown to the ex-covenant forces who were currently part of Aegis Team, Spartan Aviza had been educated in some areas of Sangheili culture. This of course included how they were quite hesitant to receive any form of outside healing, less they have their honor insulted. The request for the anesthetics came as surprise, regardless though she was happy to comply with Yalu. While still walking down the hallway towards their next objective, she reached into her medical pack and produced a few metal canisters before handing them over to the Sangheili. "These contain an extremely potent anesthetic, they will dull the pain but the injury will obviously still remain and will need to be treated by a medical professional as myself." Once the cannisters had been taken, Aviza would then turn her attention back to the matter at hand, locating the Rebel Base Commander.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Moving down through the structure, the team kept their pace as quick as possible. It was vital to their mission that the enemy leader not be allowed to escape. As per their mission parameters, capture was preferable, but even killing him would be acceptable should capture not be an option. The only outcome that would be considered a failure would be if he were to escape. There was some resistance as they moved down into the tunnels, though nothing like what they had encountered in the chambers above. With how swiftly the team had made their attack, the Insurrectionists had not had the time nor resources to organize more than their initial defense. A good portion of them were likely still caught up in the battle above ground. The few rebels they did encounter tried to set up ambushes, but against a team like Aegis, they did not so much as slow them down. Near the bottom of the structure, Shih guided the team into an elevator leading down deeper into Sarcophagus' superstructure. The rebels had tried to lock it down, but fortunately, they did not seem to have any special understanding of Forerunner systems, so Shih was able to easily override it. After reaching the bottom, it was only a short run through the halls to reach the rebels' underground landing platform. The hallway opened up into a large, flat platform in the middle of a massive, hexagonal tunnel, though it was cluttered with crates and equipment. The hallway exited out near the middle of the platform, so there were multiple dropships on either side of them. Most of them were of different models with different appearances and loadouts, ranging from fully-armed UNSC pelicans, to police and civilian transports. Making full use of every sensor at her disposal, Shih started scanning area as soon as they stepped through the door. Based on the information she had recovered from the rebels' network, she was able to identify and mark the leader on their HUDs before any of the team had even set foot on the platform. The enemy commander was off to their left, about a hundred meters away near the edge of the platform. He was equipped in what appeared to be ODST combat armor, though it was heavily modified. He had been coordinating the evacuation, though the moment he saw Aegis team arrive, he and the soldiers around him made a run for the nearest pelican on the platform. Unfortunately, he was close enough that he would certainly reach it before anyone on Aegis could.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar accepted the proffered metal canister with a grunt and studied it distastefully. She knew a lot of her family and friends back on Brissekh would've been angry at the mere gesture. However, it seemed spending so much time in Paxopolis had begun to change Tar's perception. Medicine and doctors were in bountiful supply there, and the Arbiter's robust lobbying for the preservation of Sangheili life made some sense. They were not as strong as they once were; they could no longer afford to throw their lives away over their honour. Tar hung back for a few seconds and let the rest of the team file past toward the waypoint. She then injected the contents of the canister into the back of her leg - the one that had been shot. She then quietly rested the empty shell on top of a crate and jogged to catch up with the rear of the group. --- Once the lift had come to rest on the vast platform and the target was marked, Tar wasted no time in springing into action. Her pistol wasn't effective at the kind of range needed to take out the leader, but there were closer hostiles that needed dealing with anyway. Most were rushing to evacuate, but some did stop and begin shooting at them. Tar surged off the lift and towards cover at top speed. Her stolen pistol was enveloped in both hands as she emptied her magazine suppressing as many of the rebels as she could. Upon reaching a wheeled trolley of heavy equipment, she savagely kicked it towards a gaggle of enemies in riot gear, sending them running to get out of the way.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- The enemy commander was, naturally, the priority, though Vael still had no intention of being trapped in tunnel vision on the target. Running out onto the platform, they were exposed to a lot of angles. While there was cover, and many of the rebels were more concerned with rushing to their evacuation than turning around to attack, there were some soldiers turning their attention turning towards the team. "Tasuma, cover our flank!" He ordered. The Mgalekgolo would certainly not be able to reach their objective before someone else on Aegis could, so his focus would be more useful on protecting the others. The rebel leader did not slow his pace as the shots started to ring out around him. Ryker's attempt to stop him might have worked, but he had more than just Human equipment to rely on. Before Ryker could take his third shot, the bright blue energy field of a Kig-Yar point defense gauntlet powered on to take the bullet, which protected him for the rest of his short run to the pelican. The leader did make it into the troop hold of the dropship, but he did not order takeoff immediately. Other rebels were still rushing in behind him to evacuate, and he did not seem intent on leaving them. Shortly after making into the pelican, he leaned out to give cover to his allies, keeping in cover behind his gauntlet while angling an M319 grenade launcher to fire over it. The grenade came in quick towards the center of the group, then airburst over them. It did not detonate close enough to make any kills, but the EMP effect could effectively drain shields.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The quieter moments of the pursuit gave Yalu some moments to reflect. The mission was not going flawlessly. He did not know whether the enemy commander would still be at the landing pad by the time they reached him. It would not be over by then, he told himself. If the human rebels could fly through these tunnels as a routine, then he might... He paused his thought before they opened the door to the landing pad. There was little time else for Yalu to do than to take a shot alongside the others at the commander. "He has a gauntlet. Need more firepower-" The grenade flew across them. Yalu reflexively ducked and covered his head as it went off. He grit his teeth at the shock that had blasted against his now EMP-drained shield. This breach was dead in the water. But he did spot some other aircraft in the landing pad. They had perhaps a few seconds before their quarry could load up another grenade and they could not push an assault without shields. That was the first concern. "Grenade out!" Yalu risked an arm out of cover to pitch a fragmentation grenade out ahead with plenty left on the timer. It bounced, slid, and coasted to a stop across the forerunner floor, spinning in place ahead of the pelican's ramp before detonating. Yalu was already switching to his concussion rifle for the next stage. He had only six shots left to pin down the enemy while the rest of the team followed up. "The quarry covers his allies' retreat," Yalu observed. "We are not hunting a coward."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker If Ryker had ever wanted to go kick the shit out of a Jiralhanae more than he wanted to kick the shit out of this fleet they'd used to track the rebels, he couldn't remember it. The insurgency had already had a history of being a pain in the ass for the UNSC, especially since they had this idea that the UNSC were only full of villains, but giving them access to some of the Covenant tech that had given the Alien conglomerate an edge...yeah, that was not fun. In his personal experience, ONI was the one to beware, but as he exchanged shots with a pair of Insurgents taking cover behind a couple of crates, he decided he could reminisce later. He only had a brief moment to recognize the weapon their target pulled, but it was long enough to cloak and dive, hopefully, out of range of both EMP and any shrapnel. Landing at a roll, the SPARTAN-IV brought up his DMR and fired a quick two tap at the leader, aiming mainly to knock the grenade launcher out of his hands and force him to either high behind his shield or fall back into the pelican. {Grikgar, think you can damage one of those engines on the Pelican? We can't let him get away.} He had been firing from where he'd landed until a stray shot hit him and his shields shattered, shutting down his cloak as well. "Aw, come on..." He dove behind the nearest piece of cover as an array of assault rifle fire strafed after him. This was now a bit of a shit show, but it was what it was, and at least the EMP hadn't completely drained his shield like it had several of his teammates.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Once again, the rebel commander proved quick to react to danger. As soon as he saw a Spartan taking aim, he ducked into cover in the pelican while he loaded in another grenade. Grikgar, however, required hardly more than a few moments to eagerly follow Spartan Ryker's suggestion. His fuel rod cannon was already at the ready, after all. Pelicans were generally well-armored, but there were weak points, especially near the engines. Naturally, Grik knew right where to aim to disable one of the rear engines. The commander had slowed Aegis team down enough that his soldiers were able to make it into the hold, but just as the pelican started to lift off of the landing pad, a fuel rod detonated inside one of the rear thrusters. Dropping back down onto the pad, the pelican started to spin and scrape across the ground until it came to rest on its side. It had been a slow crash, so there were few injuries for the passengers inside. As the commander climbed out the back, he shouted back to the soldiers behind him. "Go, get to one of the others! I'll cover you!" The rebel commander wasted no time in sprinting away from the crash in the opposite direction as the rest of the soldiers. He flicked on his shield gauntlet once again, running and weaving between crates for extra cover as he took potshots at his attackers with the magnum in his other hand. Though, even for those among Aegis with weakened or depleted shields, his blindfire was of little real threat. To Vael, for a few moments, it seemed assured that their quarry would be theirs shortly. However, the commander had one last surprise for them. Once he was far enough from the pelican, he stopped near the edge of the platform in a rather strange defensive posture. He held his shield low to protect against wounding attacks, while leaving his head exposed. On top of that, he threw off his helmet, revealing a middle-aged, bald and scarred visage. He pointed his magnum not at his enemy, but at his own head. He seemed aware of the risk of being disarmed, as he tried as much as possible to keep his own head between his enemy and his weapon. "Stay back!" He shouted. "I know you want me alive; I'd be dead already if you didn't. Well, you want your prize? Then we do this my way!"</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak The trolley Tar had kicked spun in transit, shedding some of its load before trapping one of the armour-clad rebels against more crates. The Sangheili pilot then traded a bruising fusillade of pistol fire with the rest of the small group until an EMP blast from somewhere overhead shattered her shields. Instantaneously, a pistol round pinged off Tar's left elbow and right knee armour, sending pain rippling through her body. Tar leapt back behind cover and released her spent magazine. She fumbled for a new one and clumsily clipped it in. Her leg felt strange. She shakily levelled her pistol at the space where the riot-gear rebels were surely rushing through to kill her, but they didn't come. Instead, she heard the trapped rebel shout "Don't you fucking leave me here!" She poked her head around the side of the crates she had taken refuge behind and saw them running for the transports parked further along the platform. Tar looked behind her, and could hear a Human voice she didn't recognise calling to them. It sounded like their quarry was threatening to kill himself. Unacceptable. They didn't get the luxury of killing themselves; that was her job. Tar quickly crossed to where the lone rebel soldier had been squashed between the trolley and other packing crates. They tried to level their pistol at her, but Tar quickly swatted it away and ripped the riot shield out of her other hand. She jabbed fiercely at their visored helmet, and heard a yelp from within. Tar pulled at the visor and the whole thing came free, revealing a Human female with a bloody nose and mouth. They looked groggy from the impact, but still managed to spit a bloody wad of saliva onto Tar's armour and grin. Tar pushed away the equipment trolley pinning the soldier into place with one hand, and grabbed her with the other. The soldier could barely stand up, so Tar half carried and half dragged her into clear view of their quarry, and most of Aegis Team. She forced her to kneel, and then pushed her pistol against the back of the woman's head. Tar looked up threateningly at the commander.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Well this wasn't the situation that the SPARTAN-IV was expecting to find himself in at this point, with their target holding himself hostage to get his people out alive. Ryker had already reengaged his active camouflage, and had taken aim to try and knock the pistol out of his hand, though his position on the edge of the landing was less than ideal. Still, an answer had to be made as the team moved. He wasn't sure that matching hostage with hostage was a great plan, but it did offer an opportunity and he saw Grikgar flash his IFF to indicate his position. The little Unggoy was smart, pity there wasn't much of a way for Lucas to support him, though he did know that they'd all been issued combat knives and if there was one thing the former ONI assassin knew, it was that a surprise prick from an unexpected source that would often turn things in your favor. Turning off his external speakers, Ryker spoke strictly to the members of Aegis. "If we can coordinate everything right, we can disarm and detain him without having to meet his demands. Grikgar is in a great position to catch him off guard with a knife to the leg or even leaping on him. All one of us needs to do is get that magnum out of his hands." He then remembers the SPARTAN-III...Ben. He had hopefully found a good spot by now. "We could also blow off his arm with that Anti-Material rifle of yours, Ben."</s> <\|message\|>Elna Cohen Cohen was unremorseful, nay unresponsivle to Yalu's response as she added the rebels to the body count the mere act itself was just part of her job. She wasn't a cold hearted killer but emotions aside she couldn't care too much about URF scumbags, but praise from some splitjaw was not going to make her day any better, unlucky for her. For Ray the work was yet to be done as the rest of the team corpsed the remaining indivudals without hesitation, it was a bloody battle that never seemed to end. For the two spooks it was just the start but it simply gave them too much fucking fatigue. The silent woman let out a sigh of fatigue in response to it all or responseo to Yalu? It was simply unknown at this time. For Ray the continuance of the objectives seemed paramount as he followed the patrol along with his entourage that was just Elna Cohen. They encountered the rest of the rebels and ended up locking in the fire fight that ensued. Though the two would end up at the back of the confrontation as is played out until the pelican went down without remorse, still fighting the group of rebels Ryker and some others had confronted the commander in question, though the stakes looked dire. "The HVT must be captured alive, by any means necessary. Do not blow his arm off, that will be fatal.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Having taken cover behind what she considered a more sturdy crate, one that she hoped would not disintegrate when fired upon or explode, the Spartan team lead observed the scene that was unfolding before her with an attentive mind. A few scenarios ran through her mind as she quickly tried to decide what was the best course of action. She had non-lethal flashbangs that could be used, the weapon could be shot out of his hand, active-camouflage could be engaged and the target could be incapacitated that way. All of these and many more ran through her mind. "If we fire upon him, there is a very good chance he will become critically injured from doing so, or he may end his existence. Everyone, please stay back and allow me to attempt to handle this, if my plan does not work, then you may engage." said Aviza into her squads private coms. Moving onto her feet, she would show herself from behind the cover she had chosen, not taking any steps forward and remaining where she currently stood. "Commander, I am the team leader for this squad, they will follow my orders swiftly and to the letter depending on what I say." began Aviza in her normal emotionless tone, though this time more humanity could be heard behind it. "We do indeed want you alive, and in all honesty I rather avoid more loss of life. We have heard your demands, and it is obvious you are a man who cares for those who server under and around you, and that you fight for something you believe in, unlike the Jiralhanae. I would like to inform you that I agree with your demands, give me a moment to contact the ship and inform them." There would be a pause as Aviza opened a com with the ship above them, "This is Spartan Aviza, we have the HVT in sight, but he is demanding that we allow his forces to leave in peace while focus firing the Jiralhanae forces instead. Do not fire upon the rebel shuttles, and allow them to leave in peace." Aviza said this out-loud in open coms so that the commander could hear, though she did reach out to Shih and thought "Shih, inform them to do as they see fit once the shuttles leave, but allow us enough time to capture the Rebel Leader and move him to an area where he will not be able to see anything you all may choose to do afterwards."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- The moment she was given the order, Shih did just as Aviza said. She passed on Aviza's instructions to the battle group above, as well as a brief report on their current situation. She also took the liberty of encoding and encrypting the message, in the unlikely event that the rebels still had some ability to intercept their transmissions. Across the platform they were on, the engines of one of the other pelicans came to life. It had filled up with evacuees and started to lift off in short order. Vael gave just a brief glance in its direction as it accelerated clear of the platform, then took of down the tunnel and turned out of sight. He kept his carbine aimed at their target and gave no visible reaction, but he did speak carefully through the team's comms. "Our ships can track and pursue the rebels above, but we do not know these tunnels, and they have certainly mapped them. Any dropships that flee down here will likely be lost to us." Meanwhile, the rebel commander activated his own comm unit, though he spoke openly for all of them to hear. "You should be able to get an opening. Follow the contingencies. Get out of there while the enemy focuses on the Brutes. Report back confirmation once you're away." Once he gave his orders, he looked back at Aviza, still with his magnum pressed firmly to his skull. "Okay, glad to see you can be reasonable. Now, once I get word that my people have escaped, and once your split-lip friend there releases my soldier, then you can have me. No tricks. Until then, you can stay back, and we can all just wait right here."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Ryker could hardly believe he was watching them actually acquiesce to the requests of a terrorist just to take him alive, especially given they'd already killed non-combatants in an effort to reignite the war between Elite and Human. But then, their team lead was a medic and their first priority was always saving lives, not taking them, Spartan or not. {They'll pop out of some other hidey-hole eventually, the URF always does. Regardless, Team Lead, we need to get that weapon out of his hands BEFORE the shuttles above get too far away. Grikgar is in position to jump him, just give the word.} Speaking from personal experience from during the war, Unggoy were much stronger than they looked and an unaugmented human being would struggle to actually stop them from disarming them. The encounter had been...unexpected, just a lone Unggoy looking to relieve themselves when Lucas had stumbled upon them, but the following fight, in which the Unggoy had easily disarmed and almost killed Ryker with its bare hands, had proven to the now SPARTAN-IV that any of the former Covenant races were more than met the eye.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern "Do me a favor Tar..." began Spartan Aviza, speaking through the open coms so not only her team but also the Rebel Leader could hear her. "Release the captive hostage and let her escape safely, the pawns are of no significance to us at this time." As soon as Aviza had finished speaking, a sudden wave of dysequilibrium washed over her, though the Spartan held her composure and remained on her feet, letting the feeling run its course and eventually pass. Acting as if nothing had happened, Aviza turned around to face their female Sangheili friend, hoping her orders would be followed swiftly and to the letter. At the same time, she ran a message pass Shih, "Please inform command we have injured and will need immediate medical attention once we arrive back on the ship. Two medical teams, one for humans and one for Sangheili will be fine."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar turned her head sharply to look at the Human in grey armour and growled softly. They nearly had this rebel leader surrounded; there was no reason to give away prisoners now! She wondered if the earlier fall had taken its toll on their leader's soft, squishy interior. The rest of this group of fighters still seemed resolute in their support though. It was almost amusing to think how differently this might have gone if it were a Sangheili-only team in this position. After a moment of reluctance, Tar lowered her pistol from the hostage's head. She pushed the Human forward, sending her sprawling forward onto the deck. "Run fast." Tar warned them, looking down as they struggled dizzily back onto their knees and then to their feet. Gaining her bearings quickly, the rebel soldier staggered off towards the last dropships. Tar quickly surveyed the environment again, then returned her gaze to the rebel Commander. Her arm and legs hurt from where bullets had hit them, but she resisted the urge to examine them with her fingers just yet. Things could still go either way here. Instead, she engulfed her captured pistol in both hands and held it ready.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan The mission had gone smooth enough, with the URF fucklet in their captivity Ray let out a sigh of relief knowing the job was done. Elna remained ever vigilant and on guard as per usual though over the months that would interlude before their next encounter Elna would attend some specialized training with the ONI Security Forces. For Ray he returned to the office working on other cases in the meanwhile and working his paper pushing skills to the max, though the two would reconvene later on to continue their fight against the bad-evil of the universe - the two still harbored some kind of xenophobia against the genociding races of the Covenant-turned-Swords. Regardless the two had some kind of RnR before their return to this strange outfit. While the two were transported separately they both found themselves at their own respective rooms, only Ray would be the first to leave in this instance heading to the briefing where he was eventually found by Elna. "Fancy running into you here." Ray said as Elna snorted to respond. "Well PO, if you're here then the rest are bound to be around here aswell." She said expecting the arrival of the team eventually, the two had gotten there later then the rest so perhaps the fanfare was already over?</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai, Major Alice Robinson, UNSC AI SHI 1203-8, Ethat 'Lacalu --- For the members of Aegis team, there were several more hours of waiting in which they were free to do as they pleased, but once they were called to duty, they all quickly returned to HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6. Many of the members of Aegis team from the previous mission were here, though Vael did note that the team was smaller than before. Some, it seemed, had not been recalled after being reassigned. The team was led to a secure room on one of the upper floors for their briefing. Last time, due to his rank, Vael had been the one to coordinate administrative concerns with the Humans, but as Vael had been fighting in the field for months, that task had fallen to another. For Vael, it suited him fine to be able to focus more on his missions than dealing with ONI. Vael had, at least, been briefed on the changes to his duties and the command structure of Aegis team. When they entered the briefing room, they were met with both a familiar face, Major Alice Robinson, as well as her Swords counterpart Commander Ethat 'Lacalu. From what Vael knew, he was a veteran of multiple wars much like Vael, though he was a younger warrior than himself. However, he had more of a mind for political matters than Vael, so it suited him just fine to relinquish some of those responsibilities to him. Ethat had previously been an officer in the Anvil Initiative, a cross-species training and evaluation program between the UNSC and Swords of Sangheilios. It and Aegis team both existed under the umbrella of Project: CRUCIBLE. Ethat did draw Vael's eye as he entered the room. His armor was unusual, like nothing Vael had seen before. It appeared to be Human-made, but crafted specifically for a Sangheili. Nevertheless, Vael cared more for focusing on the task at hand. As soon as the team was gathered, Major Robinson wasted no time in starting the briefing. "Aegis team, I hope you've already handled the reunions, because we need to move fast on this one." The Major began right away. "Jul 'Mdama's Covenant is expanding and pushing more aggressively, and we have a mission to slow them down. However, it's more complicated than just hitting a target, which is why we need Aegis. Shih…" She said, gesturing to the holo-projector on the table between them all. The AI that had been attached to the team had made a return as well, it seemed. Her avatar appeared at the end of the table before she brought up a projection of a lush, mostly undeveloped colony world. "With their increased expansion, the Covenant has been pushing to secure resources to fuel that aggression. Most of the established manufacturing and mining centers are either well-defended, or already contested. This is Brissekh, a relatively young Sangheili colony world. Until recently, the Kaidon of the predominant state, Falx 'Mdalak, was a firm ally of the Arbiter. However, a recent coup has shifted the planet's allegiance to Jul 'Mdama's Covenant. Now, there is a Covenant fleet in orbit that has flown in a large number of Scarab-class excavators to to strip mine more remote sections of the planet. Normally, our goal would be to neutralize the mining platforms, but discussions with the Swords have opened up other options." The Swords representative, Ethat, brought up the dossier of the planet's new Kaidon. "On most Sangheili worlds, a keep's Kaidon is elected by a council of elders, but for smaller colonies, like Brissekh, the position can be passed through bloodlines. The new Kaidon is Uztel 'Mdalak, the youngest son of Tarkr 'Mdalakai. We believe he formed an alliance in secret with the Covenant, then led his elder brother into an ambush where he was either captured or killed. Now, Uztel is Tarkr's sole remaining heir…save for one." He explained, casting his gaze across the table straight at Tar 'Mdalak.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar and Yalu flew directly to the HIGHCOM facility from the botanic gardens aboard the ONI Pelican. Everything about the craft screamed 'CLANDESTINE OPS', yet the only person waiting for them in the troop hold was anything but that. As far as Tar could gather, they were a fit middle-aged male, with thick greying hair on their head and circular reflective sunglasses covering their eyes. They wore a loose, bright orange shirt that depicted white flowers and other strange vegetation. It was open down the middle, exposing a compact tactical vest with a pistol strapped to the front, and a white t-shirt that was daubed with sweat marks. The man also wore black shorts that ended just above their tanned knees, and transparent flip flops on their feet. "Welcome to Sydney." The man hollered over the noise of the engines, holding onto an overhead railing as they took off. He didn't say another word, and once the two Sangheili and their handlers stepped off onto one of the Facility's landing pads, the Pelican screamed off again immediately. Tar walked with Yalu through the installation until they arrived at the briefing room, where she noticed a significant contingent of Aegis Team had already assembled. She nodded politely to them, uneasy around so many people in this confined space. Nevertheless, she gravitated towards the front of the pack when the briefing began. This meant that some of her team may have noticed her body language change as soon as her homeworld was mentioned. She gripped the high conference table in front of them with both hands, eliciting a soft scrape of complaining metal. Otherwise, she was silent. As soon as the AI mentioned a "coup", a low, barely audible growl emitted from the Commando. It bubbled away under the surface as the machine described unbelievable atrocities against Brissekh's sacrosanct beauty. Tar didn't understand how this could've happened. No one on the Council held enough support to dethrone her older brother by themselves. And none of the Elders were trusting enough to keep this kind of treachery a secret for long. Tar's growl stopped when the Sangheili in strange armour began speaking. She sat in stunned silence when he mentioned her younger brother, then snarled out loud as this stranger alleged that her Falx had fallen. A moment of silence sat heavy over the room. Then, quick as a flash, Tar balled up her fists and smashed them both into the top of the table and creating large divots with a cacophonous racket. She followed up by giving the large metal conference table a mighty shove; it was bolted to the floor, but some of the stanchions bent which made the table list slightly. "THAT LITTLE WORM!" Tar roared, filling the room. She pointed a finger at this strange Sangheili across from her. "Do you lie? Tell me now. How do you know this?"</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Ethat 'Lacalu, Major Alice Robinson, and Vael 'Virisusai --- Ethat took only a moment of thought to reply to Yalu. "It's best to deal with him quickly, but…it is more important to claim the keep and ensure the planet knows of Tar 'Mdalak's victory. To flee his keep instead of fighting to the death to defend it would mark Uztel as a coward. Only the most fanatical of Covenant supporters would be willing to overlook such dishonor. If you have to make that choice, focus on securing the keep." He answered. After a few moments of silence passed, Major Robinson deactivated the display and pulled Shih's data chip from the holotank. "If there are no more questions, then Commander Vael 'Virisusai has operational authority for Aegis team on this mission. That means he will be your commanding officer. There is a pelican waiting outside to take the team to our Blockade Runner in orbit. All of your equipment is being brought to the ship as we speak, along with UNSC reinforcements and supplies that have been approved for the mission. Dismissed." Vael had an eye on Tar. After her initial outburst, she had kept quiet. However, he knew her well enough to know that this was not a mission she could just detach herself from. Much of her motivation for fighting was to restore her father's honor; family did have clear meaning to her.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar barely heard the mission details being discussed. Her ears were ringing like she'd been struck. Her own brother had betrayed the entire family with his treachery. She should have seen this coming! The warning signs had been there, now she really thought about it in this conference room, with the sound of others talking droned on in the background. When the three of them were just children, Falx, Tar and Uztel spent many hours hunting Du'nak in the forests outside their Keep with the other younglings. Imported from Sanghelios centuries before and rewilded by accident soon after, these animals had adapted well to the cold, wet hillsides of Brissekh and grown suspicious of Sangheili again. Operating as a pair, Tar and Falx, her older brother, had wounded and cornered a prime specimen. An adult alpha with long, broad tusks and mature back-horns resting within a muscular frame - the ultimate prize. They'd been closing in on the wounded animal after harassing and tracking it for the entire morning. Finally, they found it collapsed up against a rock formation, with dense bushes on one side and a steep drop on the other. They had it trapped. But as they approached to strike the killer blow and claim the animal as their own, a spear flew through the undergrowth and pierced the Du'nak's head, killing it instantly. Uztel appeared. Tar & Falx had exploded with fury as Uztel calmly collected his weapon. "I'm sorry, siblings. I didn't see you there! Forgive me." He proclaimed. But Tar saw a glimmer of amusement in her brother's eyes that day. A sadistic streak that thrived on reaping rewards for minimal personal risk. Uztel swore he had not been stalking the pair of them once he knew they had a worthy prize. Yet, Tar later found out her younger brother's hunting partner had lost sight of him hours before the incident had happened. Tar returned from her reverie just as the Human female dismissed them. "No one touches my brother, except me." Tar growled, tapping her chestplate with one fingernail as the others turned to leave. "If I fall in battle, you leave and allow Brissekh to decide Uztel's fate. Or you find Falx and free him, if he still lives. Those are my terms."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas didn't speak when Tar spoke, instead nodding and continuing on his way out of the briefing room. This whole thing stank of an ONI op, from the removal of Tar's older brother to the younger brother refusing to put himself at risk. In fact, as he stepped to one side to wait for the Commando, he eyed the ONI PO and his escort. Those two were ONI through and through, despite playing nice with the team thus far. If he had to guess, they probably had orders to make sure the team failed if it ever looked to be not worth the effort in the Intelligence agency's eyes. Same as they had tried to do to all the old black ops teams when the war ended. They weren't a necessity anymore, just a risk. We all knew too much... That wasn't to say that the two knew anything about the other issues, Ryker knew ONI too well to think that, but he could probably never bring himself to trust the organization again. When the Commando stepped out, he matched her pace. "I understand that a lot of this has to do with Uztel has to do with Family Honor and the like. But you're needed alive, by a lot of your people. Don't do anything rash, especially if your brother is what they say he is. You know he won't fight fair or honorably."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Ethat' Lacalu and Vael Virisusai --- Ethat let out a quick huff as he turned his head towards Tar. "Once the assault begins, there is likely no escape without either destroying most of the keep, or deposing Uztel. The Covenant's operations on Brissekh will be stopped, one way or another. The plan we have devised is our best way of doing so with the least damage to your homeworld. Do remember that." Ultimately, Vael saw little reason to argue against the plan at the moment. Strategically, it was sound. If the plan proceeded successfully, then Brissekh would have new leadership loyal to the Arbiter. There would certainly be resistance from Covenant loyalists after the coup, but they would not be conquering Brissekh. Tar had the legal claim to become Scion, so if Uztel was removed in battle, honor would demand most of the citizens' loyalty. It would be unconventional, with Tar being female, but the position of Scions had changed under the Arbiter's rule. If they were correct about the level of support for the Arbiter on the world, then Vael did not expect that the resistance would be insurmountable. Ryker joined Tar as the meeting was dismissed, though Vael did not. He doubted the Human would understand half of what a situation like this would mean for someone in Tar's position, but if he made the mistake of offending her, then the Spartan could deal with the consequences himself. As long as his team could perform their duties to his standards, they were free to deal with personal issues between them however they saw fit. Should they ever fail in their duties because of such issues, then they would have Vael to deal with. Vael himself wasted no time in making his way to the pelican outside. They would be using a Sangheili Blockade Runner for this mission, so it would be the Humans who were out-of-place this time.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu tried to search the eyes of his superior officers to gauge the reaction to Tar's proclamations. He was not especially relieved to hear the ever diplomatic Lacalu try to appeal to the responsibility Tar had to her homeworld rather than making it clear that she was not the one in power here. The very fact that she was on this mission presented a personal influence that could compromise the objective. Looking at it from another angle enlightened Yalu. They needed her to fight voluntarily to show the populace she was worthy of Brissekh. They could not have her going rogue. A female commando this far from her keep would necessarily be bold enough to do so. Yalu walked a few paces behind Tar and Lucas but did not pitch in with his opinion. He turned off to stop by his quarters before proceeding to the hanger so he could leave behind the foam racing collar around his neck. "Sorry Lucas," he muttered to himself. "I pray you do not learn too violent a lesson with your human sensibilities." He made a personal note to bring a cold pack with him to the pelican, just in case any heads needed cooling.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar growled threateningly, leaning over the table towards Ethat. Both of her hands rested back in the divots she'd created; the stanchions screeched in complaint. When she spoke, her voice wasn't raised anymore, but soft and laced with poison. "Then your warriors had best remember to stay in line - behind me." Tar pushed off from the table and stalked out of the briefing room along with the rest of Aegis team. The last thing she wanted was a lecture from Spartan Ryker, and she made that abundantly clear through her body language, though no doubt the Human wouldn't pick it up. "Don't concern yourself with my welfare, Ryker." She growled. Martialling all her discipline, Tar tried to make the best of the Spartan's obvious investment in this operation by sharing what really puzzled her: "I know my brother. This treachery was always in his heart, but Uztel wouldn't readily plunder our world. Something doesn't smell right - I need to talk to him, before I kill him." A pair of facility orderlies pressed their backs firmly against the wall to let them pass. "Can I count on you, Ryker? It has to be me who confronts him - if I fall, don't let ONI take him. Brissekh will fall apart without blood continuity. It's the only thing holding us together."</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar nodded in response to Ryker; pleased despite the dark cloud hanging overhead. "I'm glad." She rasped. --- The Commando was silent for the entire Pelican flight from their lodgings in HIGHCOM Bravo-6 to the Magnificent Defiance. She held onto an overhead rail as the ship rattled through the atmosphere and into space, glowering at the space between atoms in front of her. She still couldn't fully believe that Uztel had betrayed the family. There wasn't much worse you could do in a close-knit Blood Keep. The missing pieces nagged at the back of her mind; what possessed her little brother to do it - was it greed? Or was something else motivating him now? Tar had to find out. The sounds, smells and cavernous tremors of the hangar bay assaulted Tar's senses from the moment the ramp started lowering. She immediately yearned for somewhere quieter, so she could contemplate the situation further. She was following Spartan Ryker towards the door her map indicated went to the armoury, when she heard someone talking to Vael and Grik on one side. The words made Tar grit her mandibles together. Circling back behind the small Human as they extended a hand in greeting, Tar stalked up to their shoulder. "And what does this one propose to exploit, on my homeworld?" She purred, butting in, staring menacingly down on the man. She was small among the other Sangheili, but still loomed over the new arrival.</s> <\|message\|>Johnathan Philip Flint (Goes by J.P. or Flint) Flint --- Before the first elite he addressed could answer another, shorter, and much more aggressive Sangheili started barking at him from over his shoulder. Flint dropped his hand and turned square to them, resting his hands on his hips in a relaxed mannor. "Anything I can get my hands on. Weapons, armor, shielding, comms equipment, you name it. Speaking of which, that's a nice harness you've got on, any chance I could get you to shed it and let me have my way with it? Ill put it back together just like I never touched it I promise." Flint gestured towards her armor as he talked leaning from one side to the other giving a half assed attempt to try getting a better look at it. He stood tall, as tall as he could, with a grin on his face knowing full well the elite was about to storm off or pound him into a new floor finish for the hangar bay.</s> <\|message\|>Comi'Masam Comi'Masam Nearby, working with a pair of humans to get what they had affectionately dubbed the 'needle-hog' parked next to a Spectre so that it doesn't cause issues should the blockade runner come under fire, an Infiltrator glances over at the smart-mouthed marine. "Oi, lad, come on now. Commandoes aren't known for their sense of humor." Turning back to her task, she barks an order at a nearby Unggoy who was tapping away rapidly at a datapad. "You there, laddy! What's takin' engineering so long?" Clearly she'd spent a lot of time around humans, specifically the Scottish. The Unggoy replied in a language that any listening humans could recognize as Sangheili. The Infiltrator growled in annoyance at the reply and waved a human out of the way as she headed for a wall communication before barking into it in rapid Sangheili.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael was aware of Human conventions for greetings. Many of the Humans who he had been working with as a part of Aegis team no longer bothered with them, since they all knew their customs were not shared. This Human, though, was clearly new. Vael did not know all of the UNSC's ranks and roles, but the meaning of "engineer" was self-explanatory. If that implied the skills he possessed, then Vreta could see why he might have been selected to assist the team on this mission. They had objectives that would benefit from technical expertise. Vael did recall that some final changes to their team's composition were being considered by their superiors in the days leading up to the briefing. He would need to check after this to see which had been given approval. These would ideally have been decided upon before the briefing, but logistical issues had been an irritating constant for Aegis team. Tar 'Mdalak's interjection came uninvited, though Vael could not say the Human's response was any more wise. On his part, Vael would not do anything to hold Tar back unless she threatened to prevent this Human from performing his duties. "You have a great deal to learn, Flint."</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Surprised and enraged in equal measure by the audacity of this Human's response, Tar chuckled. Not a cheerful sound, but a hoarse, venomous warning that any living being with sense would run from. When she spoke, her voice was soft and conspiratorial, with a razor-sharp edge. "Ah... A beggar, here for knowledge that isn't yours. Did you know, little one, there are a lot of places to hide a bag of skin and bone like yours on a Hekar Taa?" Tar softly grasped the front of Flint's shirt with her right hand as she said this. She slowly lifted him off the ground until the Human was right in front of her face. "Not to mention the black maw of space, patiently waiting to swallow you forever." She gestured subtly with her head towards the dark canvas they had just come from in the Pelican, visible behind the forcefield off to one side. "Tell me why I shouldn't slay you right now for your insolence." Tar hissed.</s> <\|message\|>Johnathan Philip Flint (Goes by J.P. or Flint) Flint --- "Woahshit-" Escaped Flints mouth as the elites hand grabbed a fistful of the the front of him, lifting him of the ground. He was hanging onto the sangheili's wrist so that she wouldn't choke him. "Hey now- who says knowledge belongs to anyone huh? We are all in the pursuit of more!" He grunted trying to get a little more comfortable in his brand new teammates hand. Clearly joking he managed to respond to her question, "Just one reason? Well for starters I'm pretty good looking by human standards and you don't wanna let that go to waste!" The fact Flint was grinning like an idiot surely didn't help the situation. It didn't really even seem like he was trying to calm the angry alien who had him by the throat. "I'll take this as a, 'No you cant have my armor'. Would you mind setting me down gently please?"</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu was happy to find that no one needed an ice pack at the drop ship. On the ride up to the blockade runner, he went around starting conversation with the team mates he had not seen for some time. Few enough were receptive. --- The hangar they emerged from on the Magnificent Defiance somehow did not feel like home for Yalu. The first thing that struck him when he paced down the loading ramp was the human technology fitting so inelegantly with the surroundings. The new engineer forced his attention when his disrespect reached his ears. Yalu watched on, momentarily distracted by the infiltrator admonishing Petty Officer Flint from a distance. "What manner of human dialect...?" he muttered, hardly understanding a word of it. Regardless, Tar had Flint by the collar now. Commander Vael left the situation, leaving the peacekeeping to anyone stepping up. Yalu cleared his throat. "'Mdalak. Let us not alienate the humans before we regain your keep. You know many of them are ignorant of our ways."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar snarled, reflexively flaring her mandibles to show the Human her teeth. This one seemed like he was trying to provoke her. She raised Flint a bit higher, and balled up her free hand into a fist. Then, she heard Yalu clear his throat and speak to her from nearby. She turned her head slightly to listen as he appealed to reason. Unfortunately, he did make sense. Tar didn't particularly like that the UNSC was so heavily involved in this very sensitive mission for her. But, the Human warriors around them were preparing to potentially sacrifice everything to help. She didn't want to spit on their commitment, for one single Human. A shout in the background triggered Tar's hearing. She looked around at the hangar, and noticed a fair few eyes on them. "Put him down!" Another Human yelled anonymously from the throng. The Commando hummed, looking back at Flint. "Tread lightly, Human." She warned, before dropping him from nearly a metre up in the air. "Commander." She grunted, inclining her head by a fraction of an inch by way of an apology. With that, Tar turned back towards the armoury and stalked away. A Human pushing a trolley of cargo stopped to let her pass.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Johnathan Philip Flint (Goes by J.P. or Flint) Flint --- Flint fell from the Sangheilis grip and hit the floor boots first, with a display of athleticism, managing not to fall over and stay on his feet. After he regained his balance he turned back to Vael standing rigid at the position of attention while he addressed him. He was right. He was never really affected by the war and the covenant like other people were. Just like Flint, his parents had grown up being a doctor and scholar on earth never seeing the covenant as the evil enemy that others do. Flint treated them no different than he would other humans, to him, they were all living beings. To be frank that didn't mean he treated them all well, quite the contrary. His only interests were in the hearts of machines, digging into the how and why each piece of technology did what it did. He found sanctuary in the knowledge and calm in the process of obtaining it. Other humans and all species for that matter carried a vast unknown and uncertainty for Flint. It was much harder for him to trust a human like he could a machine. "Yes Sir, I am relatively young, I don't treat anyone differently than I would any other human. I suppose I am ignorant of the deep wounds others possess. I will be more careful. As for my merit, If you need something fixed, disabled, opened, sabotaged or anything else along that line, send it my way and I'll handle it without a hitch. You'll see." He hoped he managed to do a little damage control with the commander after such a display right in front of him. But in the end Flint didn't really care either way. He knew that as soon as he got his hands on a task up his ally, the team would warm up to him. They just needed to know what he was capable of.</s> <\|message\|>Comi'Masam Comi'Masam Comi nodded, offering a Swords salute before replying to Vael. "As is our way, Commander. I will go and prepare my gear for the mission." Giving another salute and then turns and heads for the door. Getting to know her new teammates could wait, as there was the mission to prepare for. Plus this opportunity would let her catch up with Spartan Ryker and get his take on most of the rest of the team thus far. She smiled slightly as she went, knowing that things would only become more interesting with a joint effort team that was more dedicated to the idea than Cerberus had been.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu stood around near Vael's wing for a short while longer. He held his hands behind his back and sized up the newcomers to their team. The infiltrator Comi'Masam gave a unique first impression to say the least. Yalu still had to strain to understand her words. But if she came with Lucas' recommendation, she was clearly not compensating for any lack of skill. The new engineer Flint was more of an unknown. Yalu was willing to accept the ignorance of Flint's youth, but the physicality of this human was lacking, even in comparison to the non-spartan humans on their team. At least if this one was injured, none of them would be burdened by carrying him around. Perhaps he was recommended for being adept at crawling into small spaces to perform his technical duties? In that case, he had better be more expert than a Lekgolo worm at sabotaging the defence infrastructure at their mission destination. With Vael still getting them up to speed, Yalu felt his time wasting. He unclasped his hands and started a stride to the armoury. "I need to meditate before this mission," he said to himself, letting out a deep breath.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai and UNSC AI SHI 1203-8 --- Like most of the others, Vael first prioritized heading to the armory to equip himself for the mission ahead. It would still be hours before they were set to begin, but he wanted to ensure he would be ready at a moment's notice. He could manage the changes to his team, though his impression of the new Human was not particularly positive. Most Humans were not like the Spartans, who were strong, capable warriors even by Sangheili standards. The average Human was…variable. During his time in the war, he had seen excesses of both cowardice and courage from Human warriors. Sometimes, they would flee like Unggoy as their will was broken, and at other points, they would fight against overwhelming odds to the last breath against superior foes, and sometimes even attain victory. Only time would tell how this Human would compare. Vael was not a normal member of the ship's crew, but he did not attract near as much attention as the Humans undoubtedly would, aside from the fact that the crew he passed tended to quiet down from their conversations when he was near. As a high ranking officer, that was not a fact he found strange. He only heard parts of conversations between a few Unggoy on the way to the armory, but even though he heard them perfectly clearly, he found what they said to be as incomprehensible as it was irrelevant. All of the team's equipment had been transferred to the ship, and Vael quickly found the crate containing it after he arrived. Given the mission parameters, he did not intend to arm himself differently from his standard preference. An energy sword, plasma rifle, and his carbine would be sufficient for what they would be facing. For his armor's equipment, active camouflage would be the most useful for the first objective of dealing with the anti-air cannon. After that, they would be returning to the ship, so there would be a chance for the team to adjust their loadouts for the assault. Vael was surprised when the hologram of the Human AI, Shih, appeared at the end of a table near to him, at the center of the room. Evidently, it had been given approval to interface with at least some part of the ship. Vael was not sure that he approved, but it was not his decision. "I believe there is something I should inform you and your team about." Shih announced to Vael as soon as she appeared. Vael turned his head back and spoke calmly. "Very well. You may speak, construct." "Right…if you bring your attention to those crates over there, there is some new equipment that has been approved for Aegis team's use. It took a lot of…debate, but there are weapons and equipment recovered from Prometheans that both UNSC personnel, and your people, can you. I may have to do some work to interface the armor abilities with your harness, but I have been told it can be done. The modules are adaptable." Shih explained. The concession to allow Vael and his team to use the Promethean equipment could have been seen as an offering of trust, through Vael doubted ONI would be so kind. Likely, it was a decision driven by circumstance and practicality. Jul 'Mdama's forces were still working with Prometheans after the campaign on Requiem, so it seemed likely that the Swords of Sanghelios would be able to recover Forerunner equipment just as easily. Sharing it with Aegis team now simply allowed them to seem more cooperative. Opening up the crates, Vael did find a variety of options available. Promethean enhanced visual sensors, hardlight shields, and autosentries were all available, as well as a small variety of Promethean weapons. There were multiple boltshots, suppressors, and grenades, two lightrifles, as well as a single scattershot, binary rifle, and incineration cannon. They were all powerful weapons, but ammo availability would be a limitation. If one chose to use one of the weapons, they would only have a single spare reload.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak There was no time to waste for any of the crew aboard the Magnificent Defiance. So normal activity quickly resumed once Tar had removed herself from the situation, with dozens of orderlies and droids transporting cargo to be stowed in the various holds. Unfortunately, Tar was intent on striding right through their operating space as she brooded on the task at hand and the unexpected help she was receiving. Some of it welcome, some of it not. Suddenly, a platform containing tightly bound crates whooshed down the ramp of a Pelican to be collected by one of the automated hangar grabbers. It appeared on one side of Tar's peripheral vision and she quickly turned to face it. She seized the platform in mid-swing and transferred the energy through her stance, tipped it over and away from her. The servos whined as the platform attempted to right itself, but Tar offered no apology. She carried on through to the armoury, deep in thought. There weren't many alternatives to murdering Uztel, if she got her hands on him. If by some miracle she could convince the Keep to recognise her as rightful successor while he still lived, she could banish him from Brissekh. But there was always the chance he could plot her death from afar. That wouldn't do at all! Tar stalked into the armoury with potential plans and speeches circulating in her head. Her blades will have been packed up and sent to her quarters along with her other effects. She'd need to go and get those before deployment. An armourer on the ship she'd travelled with Silent Shadow on had developed a special mount for both handles on the small of her back, which meant she could carry more weapons and gear in the field. Tar made the most of it, clipping four Spike Grenades to her belly. After pondering it for a little while, she followed up by stowing a Carbine and a Storm Rifle on her back and a Mauler on each thigh. She stared longingly at some of the ammo vests on display, but none would fit around her torso and armour. She also watched some of the other UNSC troops attaching front holsters to their chests. The Humans had inferior armour, but their ingenuity and resourcefulness was still impressive. Her attention was diverted by Aegis team's leader talking to one of the machines. Some interesting objects caught her eye in the crate they were examining. She walked over. "Forerunner weapons?" She asked. She didn't know much about them.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The descent to the planet could only accommodate so much meditation. Yalu found himself ruminating too much to glean any more benefit to his mind and body. He opted to bring himself back to the present around him and joined in conversation with his team mates. He grew quiet when they were near the ground. The grav lift hatch opened to blast them with cool humidity. Yalu almost spat at how thick the air was. This place, the plant life and the atmosphere, it could be as potentially disorienting to the team as it would their enemy. The notion of the keep guards' home ground advantage sank in as deep as his toes into the mud. Maybe bringing along 'Mdalak would be more a benefit than he had estimated. "Mounting up," Yalu obeyed, hoisting himself up and dropping into the cockpit of the next Spectre vehicle. He deposited his needle rifle in a suspension holster beside the controls and powered up the sleek grav craft like a swift morning routine. It hummed to life and raised a foot above the mud. "Do not get too comfortable," Yalu warned. "They might have your Promethean optics too. Do your best to spot them first."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael took the driver's seat of one of the spectres himself. It was going to be a long drive, so he wanted to be sure that each one was taken by an experienced driver. He did not want any delays in getting to their objective ,if they could be avoided. Although, he did still decide to defer to Tar to lead their convoy. Being a local, she had more intimate knowledge of the environment and terrain, especially surrounding the keep. He believed it would be wise to take advantage of her experience. "Check your maps. Our objective is located on a plateau in the mountains near the keep. Once we come close enough, we will proceed on foot up the mountain. We will establish the communications jammer for the Human construct to use to cut off the cannon's guards from the keep. Should we be detected, we must ensure there are no survivors to report our presence." Vael explained as he prompted Tar to take the lead. --- Although they had to move through a forest, the spectres were maneuverable enough that the team started out making good time. Once they came to a small river they could follow, they were even able to press on at full boost for over ten minutes straight. Naturally, the closer they came, the more cautious they would need to be. However, before the cannon's defenders could even begin to be a problem, there was another obstacle manifesting around them. The rainstorm surrounding them did not subside. Far from it, the storm grew ever stronger as time passed. Heavy rain turned into a torrential downpour, deafening thunder followed cracks of lightning every few seconds, and winds picked up to the point that the rain was falling near horizontally. The storm was strong enough that the spectres started to tilt in the wind. Vael had to turn his vehicle into the wind at an angle just to keep going straight, which only added to the issue of poor visibility. Vael could just barely make out the glow of the gravity propulsion drive of the spectre ahead of him. For those on the turrets, and especially the side passengers, it would be a struggle just to hang on.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar swore as her Spectre creaked again, trying to fly away in the howling wind. She was taking on a worrying list; her engines whined as she turned the front into the wind and squeezed every ounce of power from them. "Lean into it or we'll go over!" She bellowed at her passengers. Rain splashed directly into her face off the front hull of the Spectre. "We should find shelter. This is the rainy season - the worst could still come!" Tar knew all too well the perils of braving events like this, especially on the exposed plateaus where they were headed. Many Sangheili had spilled their blood on the rocky outcrops below. She frantically cast her eyes around for somewhere they could go while trying to control her Spectre. Visibility was almost nil outside the basin they had been riding through. Then Tar saw the dark green vines plastering the forest floor on one side. She knew immediately what that meant. "Up on our left! There's a cave system!" Tar called, pointing with her free hand.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu kept his hand calmly hovering over the emergency brake every moment he could. Lower visibility meant following closer behind the commander's Spectre. The speed they were keeping up did not help the risk either. Though, he did not falter — he was not on the team for being an average driver. Tar's directions caused Yalu to bank hard to turn in her new direction. He made the repulsors weaken to almost nothing as the wind turned his vehicle into an aerofoil for a moment. It was all he could do not to have the whole thing flip over and injure his passengers. He said nothing but a quick acknowledgement to keep down on radio chatter. His questions and concerns about the weather would have to wait.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker "Son of a bitch!" The sudden gust of wind nearly tore the SPARTAN-IV from his seat on the Spectre and he find himself stowing his rifle just to find a better grip. If Tar hadn't already suggested finding cover, he would have just based on the fact the storm hadn't abated but had, instead, gotten stronger. When they got close enough to the caves, Ryker was tempted to get off and run in on his own, but with as strong as the wind was, he questioned if he'd even land on the ground. Infiltrator Comi'Masam More experienced with being a passenger on a Spectre in poor weather than her Spartan compatriot was, Comi had stowed her weapon away when the weather first showed signs of getting worse instead of better and hugged the hull of the vehicle as much as she could, throwing her weight behind any adjustments that were made in order to help stabilize the vehicle as much as possible. The storm they were in now reminded her of some of the worse rainstorms of her childhood, but they had never gotten worse with time, only better, though the rain would often persist for days at a time. "We need a new plan of action, Commander!"</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- For Vael, he knew when to take charge himself, and when to defer to the expertise of others. In this case, he knew they could not continue making progress in this storm, and Tar was the one with the local knowledge to help them navigate to safety. Even when speaking through the team's communications channel, it was somewhat difficult to hear over the roar of the storm just outside their helmets. "We cannot stay in this storm; we will wait it out in the caves." He ordered. Even at low speeds, it was still a challenge just to drive. At one point, a powerful gust of wind pushed against Vael's spectre from the side and forced the side of his canopy into a tree. Fortunately, at such low speeds, it did not cause real damage, but it did illustrate the danger the storm presented. Had he hit somewhat farther back, his passenger's leg could have been crushed. "Tar, guide us into the caves! We need to shelter our vehicles as best as we can as well. We will need all of them to make it to our destination."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar responded quickly to the orders, banking her Spectre to match where her finger was pointing. The right side of her vehicle clipped a tall tree where she'd under-compensated for the wind. Her Spectre swung the opposite way, towards Yalu's craft that had turned off earlier. Tar yanked on the controls and they peeled away from each other after a light bump on opposite wings. She activated the boost and her Spectre whooshed up the side of the basin towards the caves. The underside of her vehicle clattered against the forest floor, drawing a few horrendous scraping sounds which reverberated up into Tar's legs. The wind plastered wet leaves, mud and small animals to the hull as she drifted around another tree with spiky purple leaves. "We're close; up here!" Eventually, the basin wall levelled out onto a small ridge. In the middle, two black cave entrances, surrounded by lighter rock, hunched against the storm. The same dark green vines Tar had seen down in the basin evidently originated from these caves, as they crept across the rock, nestled into natural grooves. The tendrils were thick and fewer, which indicated to Tar that this was an older specimen. Still alive and dangerous though, as shown by the small pink flowers dotting the vines. She'd alert the others once they'd parked - no sense in complicating things. "Let's shelter inside!" Tar recommended, moving her Spectre towards one of the dark cave entrances.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Ray Younan & PO3. Ray Younan Whether it was conversing with the new guy or doing things in general, it seemed like the two spooks always missed out on the fun when it came to missions. It felt like the mission had been a blur, for better or for worse. Deploying and avoiding the storm felt like a something out of the movie as the two and their respective vehicles survived as the storm - or the first part of the danger was over. As the two carried on, there were calls to avoid the walls which they did for the time being. Weapons at the ready they continued to move, though Ray poised the question on everybody's mind. "Anyone got a flamethrower?"</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Xenobotany was never one of Yalu's interests. He warily eyed the vines either side of his spectre. They did not hang low enough to grab him around the neck on his way up and out to the ground, or at least they decided not to try. "Any suggestions which won't make this defend itself?" Yalu added.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar growled and turned around when she heard Vael cut through the vines. The rest of the team were framed in the dark by the cave opening behind them. Sheets of rain gyrated in the air, buffeted by howling wind. The noise from outside was deafening, but Tar still heard a gentle puff from nearby. "The spores released if you cut are toxic, and might grow one of these inside of you." As her eyes adjusted to the gloom and the fog cleared for a moment, Tar realised this cave was familiar to her. The vines and overgrowth was new, but the way the treeline of the basin below failed to hide a mountain range far in the distance - jagged basalt peaks with sloping plateaus. That was ingrained in her memory. "I have been here before, as a child!" Tar failed to completely suppress her excitement, despite the danger they were now in. "I think this cave winds up the mountain, to a high ridge. If we want to make progress without the spectre, we could take that route. It will probably mean killing the Tengmaa bulb though - not a task I take lightly. We'll need explosives and fire." Tar noticed a bit more movement in the boughs, and imagined just how much chaos they could cause if this plant realised it was under attack. The end of a thin vine tickled along the top of her foot, and she carefully but firmly lifted her leg to step on it.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- At first, Vael stepped back as far as he could from the vines, more towards the middle of the cave entrance. They needed a safe place to wait out the storm, or at least, that was what he assumed at first. When Tar mentioned that the cave could contain an alternative path up the mountain, however, that was enough for him to pause in thought. This being may have been a plant, but it seemed to be just as much of a predator. Going into the very heart of its lair felt like willingly walking into the maw of a helioskrill. But, the team was well-equipped, and they had numbers to be able to support one another. There were few simple creatures in the galaxy that could withstand the power of superior technology. "If there is a path through this cave, then we need not wait for the storm to subside. In fact, the storm can provide cover for our sabotage, if we can move quickly enough." Vael remarked. He stepped forward towards the front of the team, the blue glow of his sword illuminating some of the darkness ahead of them. The cave was narrower past the entrance, but the walls and floor were still just as thick with vines. Some seemed to hug tightly to the surface of the stone, while others were actually embedded into grooves in the stone itself. "If there are toxins, then we cannot afford anyone to be injured. If someone is grabbed, be ready to assist quickly."</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Glancing back outside, Ryker mentally kicks himself for not bringing a shotgun and puts the butt of his DMR to his shoulder before reconsidering and stowing the rifle in favor of his pistol, which would work better in the cramped corridor of the cave. "We still need a way to deal with this Tengmaa to move forward though right? The Spook makes a point, anyone bring a flamethrower or some kind of fire weapon?" Infiltrator Comi'Masam Comi kept the glow of her sword focused on the vines around her feet, stomping on a smaller one that was trying to be sneaky about moving to wrap around her ankle before glancing at Ryker. He and the ONI agent both made good points, they could not safely cut through the tengmaa with their energy blades if there were toxins involved, especially as many of the team did not have sealed helmets, if any helmet, on them. "Perhaps we can manipulate the tengmaa to move itself? Though Commando Tar'Mdalak is the most knowledgeable in this situation."</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko "I prefer fire," Yalu said. As he retrieved his weapons and dismounted his spectre, he kept his scattershot up to his shoulder. His other hand held up a plasma grenade. "Plasma may induce fire. Lacking firebombs of our own, perhaps our demolitions specialist can turn this into all the fire we need." Yalu followed along with his weapon faced as safely as he could. It could save their life in an emergency, but there was a higher risk of deadly ricochet in his cave. Better to use a wristblade if possible.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Waiting in a cave Grik watched and listened to the others talk about their new obstacle. A semi sentient plant was strange but he has also fought against a parasite that threatened the entire galaxy at one point. It seemed like everyone was a bit hesitant but Tar was certain that she had been in this area before and new of a shortcut that went through the cave system and possibly out to a good flanking position. At least carrying around your own methane supply meant that environmental hazards in the air were less likely to affect you. The Unggoy approached a section of vine that held a flower, to him it almost looked like it could absorb nutrients through this. Being fully aware that the others had already warned not to get to close he decided to be cautious about approaching it. He did have an idea after all even if it was a bad one. Pulling one of the small tubes of rations he had and slowly opened it. It was similar to the food nipple in covenant instillations but improved. More sugars and sweeteners were added with the help of the human cuisine. It essentially was a full days' worth of nutrients in a tube at least for a grunt. Grik had befriended several alien creatures before during down time on alien planets. It was hit and miss but sometimes it would be fun to do this. He was unsure of the result for this experiment with the knife in one hand ready to cut himself free Grik used the other one to pour the food stuff into the flower. If this didn't help he would always be able to just use small portions of his explosives to burn their way through but he wouldn't be an ultra if he wasn't able to think outside the box and know that force wasn't always the best option.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak "This plant isn't going anywhere - they nest for life." Tar responded to the new Infiltrator while Vael shuffled past her towards the front. She looked back towards the cave entrance, trying to remember what the interior layout was like. Nothing came to mind though, except the striking view of outside. Tar cursed herself for not paying more attention. Then, Tar noticed their team's Unggoy Ultra crouching down facing the wall. Lights from his suit illuminated a cluster of pinkness. "Grik, get away from the flowers!" She growled, taking a step back toward him. She stopped though, when a salvo of soft pops and poofs sounded up and down the tunnel. Pfff Tssssss Pfff Tsssss This was accompanied by an almost indistinguishable rustling from further into the darkness. Tar breathed in, and almost immediately detected a much stronger sweet smell in the air. She thought it seemed quite delicious, like some delicacy from her childhood. The rustling died down, replaced by a soft rumble that shook the cave very slightly. A pungent wave of treacly air wafted past them and out of the cave. As if to say 'there is more inside!'. Tar looked around her, and noticed that the pink flowers which dotted the vines were oozing an amber nectar, intensifying the saccharine odor. "It wants to eat us now. Good work, Grikgar." She muttered, turning back to Vael. "I can't say this is a good idea. Maybe even the opposite." Remembering what she'd been told about this ancient predator, Tar looked back at the entrance again. The Tengmaa wouldn't seal it off, unless it sensed that their group was making a concerted effort to leave. Prey that didn't feel trapped until it was too late was more likely to investigate further into the cave, which reduced the subsequent effort on the plant's part. "We could still leave, if we went slowly, one at a time, perhaps." Tar cautioned.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: heart of the beast Grik held his fire for what seemed like an eternity. The vines were thrashing more and more and Tar was still within the blast radius of the fuel rod. He knew he couldn't fire prematurely that would cause serious damage to Tar and the others but how much longer could they hold back the ever approaching vines. Hearing a cacophony of noises behind him made him glance back only to see a wall of vines surging towards them. The sight of it reminded him of his encounters with the Parasite. That was a creature that he very much wished never to encounter again. It seemed the plant was trying its best to get rid of something that was stuck in its throat as it continued to thrash and lash out. That's when he saw it loose its grip on tar as she was pulled back up. Grik didn't need to hear the order to fire. The moment they were out of the blast radius he squeezed off two rounds with mere seconds in between each shot to make sure they wouldn't collide. If they found its mark at the middle and top of the bulb he was sure it would kill it. However, his comrades were still a bit close and may be hit with at least some of the heat from the explosive.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- The damage that the fuel rod gun caused was immediate and pronounced. The sheer intensity of the heat was enough to penetrate deep into the bulb. The vines again reacted, but this time it did not seem to be a coordinated defensive response. Rather, they moved and spasmed seemingly at random for a few seconds. As the bulb served as the being's "mind", damaging it was like damaging an animal's brain. Those who had been constricted by them would find it as an opening to act. Vael and Ryker had only just managed to pull Tar from beyond the blast radius. Even still, Vael's shields flared from the heat. However, this was an opening on which they had to act. Grik had created an opening to the creature's core, so as soon as Vael could get up off the ground, he took aim with his plasma rifle and fired straight into the wound at the top of the bulb. The plasma could now hit straight to the core of the bulb where it was vulnerable, causing yet more random thrashing among its vines.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko The helmet Yalu wore picked up the ensuing sounds. Some parts of him were constricted tighter, some slackened, including his left hand holding onto the middle of his scattershot. The weapon was still stuck fast. He let go and tugged at the vines keeping his right arm pressed against his chest and wriggled it free. He ignited his wrist blade, grabbed at the vines holding his head and shoulders, and sliced them off in one draw. Finally, he fell free and found himself swinging upside-down from vines closer to the ceiling. The situation he took in was self explanatory. Catching his breath, he reached over his shoulder and found a grip on his needle rifle. He drew it and aimed forward. "Good hit, Grikgar! Our turn now..." Yalu said. The sight flipped up -- towards the ground from Yalu's perspective. The bulb lit up in the crosshair. He pulled the trigger as rapidly as he could. He did not need precision as much as enough blamite crystals in close enough proximity within the creature's new wound.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker The heat from the explosion caused the SPARTAN-IV's shields to flair, but it wasn't enough to break them fortunately even as he fell backwards from the sudden lack of resistance from the plant as Tar rejoined them on the platform. Standing up quickly, Ryker pulls his DMR free of it's place on his back and fired on the now exposed weakness of the Tengmaa. "Burn in hell, you crazy, carnivorous freak of motherfucking plant life." He fired most of his clip into the thing before stopping, taking a moment to see if the hail of fire had the desired effect as he quickly swapped out the clip, six rounds still in it for later. Infiltrator Comi'Masam The moment the explosions were done, Comi drew her plasma pistol once more and fired into the bulb with the rest of her new team, stopping her barrage just in time to allow the weapon to cool down before she resumed firing another burst. She would repeat this until the order to stop firing came from Vael. Her energy sword remained active and she would use it to lance out at and slice any vines that got too close down, though with the wounds inflicted to the bulb made their efforts weaker and less concentrated.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern The suggestion that Spartan Aviza had made about using the M379 charge against the massive Tengmaa bulb apparently went unnoticed among the squad, since there was no comment made about it in the slightest. The charge would have been quite dangerous to use but even more so effective against the hostile force that was trying to turn them into it's next source of nutrients. Instead, they focused upon cutting down vines that got to close to them and attempting to do any sort of damage. Thankfully, Aviza had decided to stay back from the edge of the pit that lead to the heart of the carnivorous plant, using her SRS99-S7 AM Sniper Rifle to fire upon the vines in the distance. If they managed to get close enough, she would then switch to either her underslung shotgun upon her MA5B Assault Rifle or Energy Sword to cut through them. A few of the vines had managed to end up getting a bit to close for comfort, drawing her attention away from what was happening at the pit to make sure she did not end up with a barb somewhere soft on her armor. The sound of her underslung shotgun firing off flechette shells echoed through the chamber as they tore through the vines with great ease. What did bring her concentration back to the center of the chamber was hearing from Vael that Tar had been caught by a few of the vines. Aviza swiftly moved to the edge of the pit, but kept herself at a safe enough distance to not be grabbed and dragged in afterwards. Without saying a word, Aviza took a half knee stance and aimed the cross hair of her SRS99-S7 AM Sniper Rifle at the vines below, firing off a few rounds that would hopefully do massive damage to the vines. The thought of tossing Tar her Energy Sword came to mind but that might end horribly, instead she kept aim, firing at what she could. This continued untill Grikgar fired off a few rounds from his Fuel Rod cannon at the Tengmaa bulb, giving them their chance to put it down for good. The intense heat from the explosions going off caused Aviza to shield her eyes for a few second, moving backwards in case Grik fired again. Lowering her arm to look at what remained, she noticed that they now had the chance to do some damage. Instead of firing immediately, Aviza took her M379 charge and tossed it down into the pit where it landed safely. It would not go off untill she detonated it, and she was going to make damn sure everyone was outside of the cave before she did so. For now, she returned to firing off high caliber explosive rounds at the massive Tengmaa bulb. As she did so, she checked her teams coms and spoke, "Does anyone need any medical attention? I can tend to injuries immediately." Aviza would then reach out to Shih, "Two things, I would like full medical diagnostics on the team and then I would like an update on the storm outside please and thank you."</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak A Tengmaa bulb's hide was tough for a reason - all of the plant's digestive and nervous capacity was contained within that control centre. However, the plant's evolutionary pathway evidently hadn't prepared for a barrage of radiation, explosives and bullets. So when the bulb's vulnerable innards were exposed under the water and promptly cut to shreds, the Tengmaa quickly lost control of its numerous appendages. The first to go limp were the half dozen thick trunks which stretched all the way out into the sunlight, gradually tapering at the end. Next were the serpentine manipular vines coating every surface of the cave interior. Then, with nothing left to distract the invaders, the throbbing cilia inside the pool trap promptly died. And with that, the Tengmaa bulb unmoored from the position it had held over the cave's onward descent for decades. First came a sickly snapping noise as the struts supporting it detached. Then, with a sound like a giant toilet flushing, it disappeared into the large hole on which it had previously been sitting. This was how it had filtered waste water out of the chamber to stop it flooding before. The water rushed over the rocks, disappearing down the waste chute after the bulb. The chamber was filled with this roaring sound for a while. This new opening also helped disperse some of the toxic particles from the room, though Tar still choked uncontrollably as she struggled to her feet and surveyed the area. Water was pouring in from the opening above their head and another gap along the wall from them (the other cave opening, most likely). It wasn't enough to refill the bowl below them though, so it quickly emptied until just a few carcasses lodged in place remained. Fanning her mandibles with one hand, Tar got up, walked to the edge and wordlessly jumped down into the barren bowl. Her energy sword's pommel had fortunately gotten stuck in a crevice and hadn't washed away, so she carefully picked it up. Looking up toward the ceiling and coughing lightly, Tar returned her lost sword to its mount on her back, with the other one. She pointed upward, to the feeble shaft of light shining down on her from above. "I see the way up the mountain! I remember now - it is an invigorating climb."</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar had always loved climbing, so pursued the dim light at the top of the Tengmaa's chamber with vigour. Brissekh was packed full of cliff faces to scale, and in a way she could remember the routes up and down them better than her way around the frigid woodland. It was the excitement of knowing a shortcut which stuck in her head, Tar supposed. The rock face here was shrouded in vines, but the Commando quickly figured out a way up, spotting hand and foot holds which jogged distant memories of this place before it became a death trap. The fresh water streaming in from above was cold and refreshing after the warm, smelly interior. The sound gradually built to a crescendo of howling winds and rain at the top, perfectly masking the sound of Tar hauling herself up. As soon as she was away from the hole, she crouched down and drew her Carbine. The spikes on her feet scraped against the craggy ridge. Visibility was shockingly bad, but Tar knew that could all change in a moment if the wind changed direction. "If they have any sense, they will be inside until the storm passes - we should move quickly. We do not want to be up here if the wind speed increases."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael heeded the advice of the others. A sudden shift in the storm could easily worsen their situation, so they needed to act quickly. "Come, follow quickly. There are some rocks closer, at the base of the ridge, we may use for cover." He ordered. Visibility was particularly terrible, but a combination of sensors and multiple perspectives from the team did reveal some about the area ahead as they moved down the ridge. Obviously, the most prominent feature was the anti-air cannon itself. The weapon was massive, as it had to be powerful enough to be able to damage capital ships. Given the rough, uneven terrain of the mountains, it was placed on a large, artificial platform. They could also make out multiple structures on the platform as well, in which most of the guards were likely taking shelter from the storm. If, for any reason, they ended up alerting the enemy, it was from there that they would need to expect reinforcements. Currently, there were only a few hostiles out patrolling on the platform. All seemed to be Unggoy that were unlucky enough to be burdened with the duty in the storm, and even they were trying to take cover as best as they could against the winds. The storm certainly would impact their perception, but unfortunately, it also meant that they would be more alert than they might have otherwise been, if only for the fact that they could not sleep if they wanted to. The winds and rain would severely limit the effectiveness of active camouflage, so it would not be effortless to walk past them unseen. There were only a sparse few objects surrounding the cannon at the moment. Anything not secured to the platform had likely been moved inside before the storm. For the most part, it was an open, flat area. "We must decide how to sabotage the weapon. Anything we do cannot be detected before it is time for the attack on the Keep. Your…engineer can do this, yes?" Vael said, glancing down to Flint. "Or we can simply plant a powerful enough remote explosive, if we can place it somewhere it will not be seen."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: the climb The climb up out of the cave and to the top of the ridge was difficult even for him. His species had natural enhancements that helped them climb but even climbing up this he could feel his methane tank catching the gusts of wind with its bulk and pulling him off balance occasionally. When finally at the top he made sure to stay low with a hand running along the stone next to him so he had something to grab on to if he was caught in another gust. At least now that they were getting closer they could see their massive objective a bit closer now. Speaking his opinion over comms as they continued their approach, "If we are not concerned about keeping the gun mostly intact to use after this engagement. Grik believes he has enough explosives combined with the remaining magazines for his gun to destroy the platform supports or its foundations to topple the gun." He couldn't tell if the platform had supports but it was likely given the terrain being uneven. Even the subtle erosion from fresh drilling and stormy weather could assist with this plan.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Shih and Vael 'Virisusai --- It took only an instant from the others' perspectives, but Shih ran as thorough of an analysis as she could on the practicality of sabotaging the platform from below. The others hardly had time to consider the suggestion before she started giving her report. "The storm is giving too much interference to my sensors for me to give a definitive answer. Whether or not an explosion of that yield could sufficiently destabilize the platform would depend on how well it is anchored. It is possible, and would certainly deal significant damage to the platform in any case, but it is possible that the cannon may remain operational." "So we could not simply place an explosive and leave. We would need to remain to ensure the cannon is disabled, and to kill any survivors." Vael remarked. "Yes, and I can jam their communications if it comes to that. As long as you leave no survivors, the Keep will not be alerted." Shih added. It seemed they did have options. Attempting stealth could allow them to silently achieve their objective without a firefight, but it was risky. Discovery would place their infiltrators in an exposed position, and they would have to fight the enemy at full strength. Opening with an explosive, even if it did not destroy the platform entirely, would still likely kill some, and disorient the rest. But, they would be guaranteed to have to fight here. "Spartan Ryker, your Forerunner sensors would make you the best suited to try to silently get close. Active camouflage will be useless in this storm, and the platform has little cover. I am not convinced that a silent approach would be best here; Grikgar's plan may be more likely to work. But, I would hear your assessment first. Vael requested. Compared to any other Human, Ryker would know best what Vael was asking for here. Unlike many other Sangheili, Vael cared little for pride when it came to strategy. He wanted to know, objectively, if Ryker believed his infiltration in this situation would be more likely to succeed than the alternative.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Recognizing what it was that Commander Vael was asking of him, Lucas sighed quietly and looked up towards the cannon, swapping modules over to the Promethean Vision and seeing what he could see, which was more than he would have admittedly given it credit for, as only heat signatures seemed to register, but even with that...We'd still need to get up the rock face, get Grikgar and his explosives in place... His brain continued to go over the details of what they would have to do in either situation and, while it couldn't do it as fast as Shih could, still came to a conclusion fairly quickly. "They're both uncertain and come with unique dangers and challenges. Mine comes from the fact that I'll be alone, Grik's has a chance of just not working like we need. So speaking objectively...I have to say stealth over chance. I've been in and out of plenty of Covenant installations, even before I was a Spartan. This? Nothing new. My concern is we know these guys are allied with the Prometheans, won't they have access to the Promethean tech as well?"</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko "We put the gun on a sudden lean, everything tips over," Yalu thought out loud. He held out his rifle horizontally in both hands, looking at it as he tilted the barrel end down. "What remains on the higher end, with their feet set to EVA combat, may fire stably down upon a stricken foe which wants for cover. A victory as swift as gravity." The suggestion had holes, Yalu knew. He was jogging tactical considerations as much as hoping such an approach might allow for a survivor or two, albeit alone in the jungle.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak While listening to the others discuss options, Tar sniffed the air and looked around. A tingle ran all the way down her arms and into her chest, taking cues from atmospheric pressure. Thinking back to when she was last here, Tar finally understood what was coming. "A rolling bank approaches… I say we use speed over stealth; take those buildings to shelter if it passes over." She scraped a couple of steps forward and looked through her carbine's scope just as the rapidly darkening sky suddenly lit up like daylight for a split-second. Tar studied the platform, looking for any signs they had been spotted. After a few seconds, a deafening boom washed over the mountainside they were on. The sky lit up again, and Tar growled. "We're exposed - whatever we do, we have to do it quickly!" The Commando looked over at the squad leader.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Recognizing what it was that Commander Vael was asking of him, Lucas sighed quietly and looked up towards the cannon, swapping modules over to the Promethean Vision and seeing what he could see, which was more than he would have admittedly given it credit for, as only heat signatures seemed to register, but even with that...We'd still need to get up the rock face, get Grikgar and his explosives in place... His brain continued to go over the details of what they would have to do in either situation and, while it couldn't do it as fast as Shih could, still came to a conclusion fairly quickly. "They're both uncertain and come with unique dangers and challenges. Mine comes from the fact that I'll be alone, Grik's has a chance of just not working like we need. So speaking objectively...I have to say stealth over chance. I've been in and out of plenty of Covenant installations, even before I was a Spartan. This? Nothing new. My concern is we know these guys are allied with the Prometheans, won't they have access to the Promethean tech as well?"</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko "We put the gun on a sudden lean, everything tips over," Yalu thought out loud. He held out his rifle horizontally in both hands, looking at it as he tilted the barrel end down. "What remains on the higher end, with their feet set to EVA combat, may fire stably down upon a stricken foe which wants for cover. A victory as swift as gravity." The suggestion had holes, Yalu knew. He was jogging tactical considerations as much as hoping such an approach might allow for a survivor or two, albeit alone in the jungle.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak While listening to the others discuss options, Tar sniffed the air and looked around. A tingle ran all the way down her arms and into her chest, taking cues from atmospheric pressure. Thinking back to when she was last here, Tar finally understood what was coming. "A rolling bank approaches… I say we use speed over stealth; take those buildings to shelter if it passes over." She scraped a couple of steps forward and looked through her carbine's scope just as the rapidly darkening sky suddenly lit up like daylight for a split-second. Tar studied the platform, looking for any signs they had been spotted. After a few seconds, a deafening boom washed over the mountainside they were on. The sky lit up again, and Tar growled. "We're exposed - whatever we do, we have to do it quickly!" The Commando looked over at the squad leader.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael heard and considered the advice of the members of his team. They all had their own expertise, and he could benefit from making use of it. Still, though they had a few options, a decision still needed to be made, especially when there was no clear "best" choice. "We cannot carry out our ambush and attempt stealth. An infiltrator would be in range of the explosives, if discovered. An ambush is the safer course. Most of their warriors will likely be in those structures on the east side of the platform. There are no guards underneath the platform, so Grikgar, you should be able to plant the charges on the supports underneath them." Pausing a moment, Vael started designating positions on the team's collective HUDs. "As Yalu suggests, we shall take positions on what will become the high ground. This ridgeline here will give a strong position for most of us. Aviza, Ryker, Yalu, take a position on the western ridge to create a crossfire. When the charges detonate, the Unggoy outside will most likely panic, so they will not be our priority. We will instead focus our fire on the exits to the structures to cut down the rest as they try to reach safety."</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: setting up for the big boom Grik nodded in agreement with Vael's decision and began to get his gear situated. Turning off his shield and camo he looked to the leader. "Ok Grik will move to the position and plant the explosives. It might take Grik a little while, might have to crawl or climb over the edge momentarily depends on cover." Turning for a moment to survey the land in front of them that he could see to plan his course accordingly. "If there is nothing else, Grik will head out now while the storm is still providing cover." The grunt sounded excited to go and blow something up. He was well aware of what he needed to do and how to do it. His low sturdy frame making the strong winds less effective against him and would help to blind the grunts on patrol if they didn't have goggles. The rocky sometimes steep terrain was well suited to his climbing ability. All he had to do was stay low and slow but still move with purpose to lay the explosives and start their assault. With the rest of his ammunition and his proximity to the structure when he arrived Grik decided that he would take a flanking position on the opposite side of the structure after the explosives were set and open fire after the others start to. Giving them a false sense of a larger force and to give them nowhere to hide.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Nodding an affirmative to the plan their commander decided on, Lucas joined Aviza and Yalu in heading up to the western ridge. His DMR wasn't quite suited to this kind of bad weather fighting, but they should be close enough that his shots wouldn't be overly affected by the wind speed. Glancing at the others, he grins behind his helmet at the sight of Aviza's sniper rifle. WIth that, the plan should go over well enough. "So, how do we want to space out?"</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko A quick affirmative and Yalu was in line with Ryker. He strode forward with his needle rifle down and to one side. With any luck, the engagement would finish rapidly after it started. Yalu had to perform some mental unit conversion in his head to give Ryker an answer. "21 metres during combat. Until then, Tar is the huntress here." He did not elaborate. "Grikgar, signal ten seconds before detonation. We will ready weapons and shields as late as we can." It was tempting for Yalu to take off his helmet to see further past the storm cover. Every second leading up to the clash was making him more tense. Until then, more climbing, more stalking.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar growled softly over comms when her plan was disregarded, but moved off with the rest of the team nonetheless. With the storm front rumbling over the mountain peaks behind them, Aegis team fanned out to surround the gun platform. Tar's clawed boots scraped lightly over the uneven granite rocks as she carried on along the western ridge, passing the others as they got situated. It was impossible to be totally quiet, but it didn't matter anyway. Almost all noise the team made was completely subsumed by the hammering rain, wind and thunder. There wasn't much cover on the outcropping furthest from where they'd emerged from the caves. So Tar just lay prone at the edge with her Carbine barrel wedged into a groove that let her peer down onto the platform below. Water whipping across the rocks found its way inside her armour and pooled around her abdomen. Lightning flashed in the thick clouds behind the massive cannon, which sprouted up from the platform below to tower over them. She watched through her scope as sheets of rain alternately obscured and revealed frozen Unggoy sentries. The wait seemed to go on forever. Then came a verbal confirmation from Grikgar, another wait, then the explosion. It married perfectly with a thunderous boom rolling over the western peaks. A gout of blue-green flame erupted from one of the supports, licking the cliffside underneath where most of Aegis was hidden. The ground shook, and a hideous note of rending metal carried on the wind. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the platform started to tilt. A startled Unggoy lost balance and began sliding towards the cliffs. Suddenly, a jagged bolt of lightning flickered down the side of the cannon snout, lighting the whole scene. "Hit." Tar confirmed from her angle, turning her attention to the nearest structure sat atop the listing platform.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu was less precise than his squadmates opening fire. The grunts were easy pickings. The elites and jackals might actually triangulate them. Yalu peered through his scope looking for Kig-Yar holding long weapons. They got a needle to their shooting hand, or their jaws. Disabled as they were, it would only add to the confusion. Sangheili caught a burst of needles until their shields flared. The light made them easy pickings for their marksmen. Time came to reload. Yalu rolled from his prone position behind a shrub on his back, took a couple of plasma grenades, and tossed them over to the enemy in a high arc. The reload came after, timed to spot the enemy by the time they decided to move away from the explosives. Wouldn't be long before it was time to assault the platform itself.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael, in this case, did not pay as much attention to Grikgar's attitude as he did the plan itself. The Unggoy, it seemed, had taken some of his own initiative. Vael kept firing, and kept up pressure, until his carbine's magazine was empty. Without missing a beat, he drew the plasma rifle and continued to lay down suppressive fire over the area until the detonation finally came. The secondary explosive was a shaped charge, intended to cut through the platform from below. It was more limited in area of effect than an explosive on the platform would have been, but it had been placed well. Evidently, Grikgar had observed the area and correctly guessed where many of those on the platform would flee to. The blast tore through the platform, killing some Kig-Yar and a few Sangheili immediately, while sending out a shockwave that knocked several others around them off their feet. From where he was, Vael could see several shields flare, and a few break, around the explosion. Hostiles had stopped coming out from inside the structure, so there were likely few remaining inside. The explosion had created some cover on the platform, by virtue of the warped metal plating from the floor, but it had also created an opportunity. Many of the remaining hostile Sangheili now had weakened or depleted shielding, though that advantage would not last long, if they were allowed to recover. Vael ejected the magazine from his carbine and slotted in a new one in one quick motion. "The enemy is weakened, push the advantage!" He ordered before jumping down onto the platform below. Given that he had to go below the platform to plant his charges, Grikgar was separated from the rest of the team. It would take some time to climb back up to the others, but in the wake of the explosion, there was something else he may have spotted out of the corner of his eye. Movement in the rain, and a silhouette just at the base of the hill. It was a Sangheili, currently in active camouflage, who must have dropped down from the platform above in the chaos, and now had his sights on Grikgar.</s> <\|message\|>Comi'Masam Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas didn't hesitate to follow the order to push in and did so, his DMR still ringing out to buy his squad mates who were slightly farther out more time to get closer to the main structure before he jumped on to it as well, stowing the DMR to draw his pistol and one of the knives. Switching on the Promethean vision, spotting the forms of the Covenant in the rain got a lot easier, especially as his silenced pistol found the head of one of the enemy Unggoy and spotted an opening in the shielded cover of a Kigyar. Hugging a taller box, he waited to the count of three before swinging around the corner, knife first, only to have the Sangheili he was trying to ambush block it and kick the container over the edge. "Well alright then. Let's dance, big boy." Infiltrator Comi'Masam Comi had not been taking shots at the forms exiting the indoor areas of the emplacement like the others primarily because her weapon simply did not have the accuracy to do so, though it certainly had the range. Instead, she chose to show her prowess when the order to push their advantage came, and she dropped onto the platform behind the unit's current commander, his golden energy sword coming to life as she lands. Her first opponent is an overeager Kigyar, who lunges at her shield first. Expertly sidestepping the shoddy attack, the blade cleaves cleanly through its body, even as she guns down a pair of fleeing Unggoy with precise bursts from her pistol. The second and third opponents are Sangheili minors who thought to overwhelm her with numbers and firepower. The first had never given his energy shield proper time to recharge and was dropped by a three round burst from her pistol, the first shot shattering his shields and the next two to ensure death. The second was smarter and tried to keep her pinned from cover, by intervention from an ally forced him out of cover towards Infiltrator Comi'Masam, who bisected him her her blade as well. Her fourth opponent, however, was a Covenant spec-ops member himself and drew his blue blade before squaring off with Comi. He spoke orders that none of his allies were to interrupt their fight and Comi agreed, passing word to her own that this was her fight, before holstering her pistol and assuming a stance across from the enemy infiltrator, her own sword held Vertically and even with her head in a partial crouch as the pair circled each other.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar rose to her feet as Aegis team surged aboard the downed AA gun. She popped the battery out of her carbine and deftly replaced it with a fresh one while surveying the scene. The storm had rolled over the spine of the mountain range and right onto their position. Shards of lightning scraped the grey peaks around them and splayed over the massive purple weapon they were trying to disable. Deafening cracks and booms assaulted Tar's ears, going over and above even the gunfire below her. Black clouds billowed out to obscure the evening light and the view of the forest valleys below. The rain was increasing its intensity, and a rising wind was blowing it sideways, creating a silver screen which made a mockery of their previous visibility. A metallic taste registered in Tar's mouth from the water, and a sulphurous smell wafted into her nose. Wasting no time, the Commando dropped the dozen metres or so onto the leaning AA gun's troop platform. Plasma bolts flew everywhere; one activated her shield. Plasma grenades went off nearby, jolting Tar into action. She jogged past Spartan Ryker, firing two shots at his Sangheili opponent as she passed. She didn't stop though, turning her attention instead to the gaggle of dazed defenders regrouping behind tangled wreckage in the middle. Looking through her sights, Tar loosed two more shots at an exposed head, and one at another shieldless Kig Yar. She drew fire for that, so Tar jouked across the platform diagonally, taking advantage of whatever cover existed to try and flank them. This brought her close to a low, thin shelter, partially buried into the deck plating. Tar only noticed it when she was practically on top of it because of the driving wind. Slowing her pace, she covered the wide entryway and approached at an angle. The noise of battle dimmed in her ears as she focused all her attention on the darkness inside, peering past the waterfall of rain water cascading off the top. Her eyes adjusted slowly. Is that… Two yellow Sangheili eyes opened to look directly into hers, before dashing forward and up the steps. The lithe black frame of a Hunter Killer was upon her in a second, sword shimmering on to impale her. Tar opened fire.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu snapped his aim around to the Kig-Yar. The distinct whistle of needlers firing prompted him to take only one shot. He went for the weakened Kig-Yar's hand. His own needle round ricocheted off the edge of the shield and into the clouds -- off-target by an inch. He would have cursed if his life was not in immediate danger. Staying still or moving forward or back would overload his shield and blow a hole in his chest. He dropped into a sprint lateral to the advancing jackals instead, leaving his autosentry to take the homing needles. As he ran around the edge of the platform, his the incline helped his speed but lost him his height advantage. "Two Kig-Yar running! Centre!" Yalu barked between breaths in his helmet comms. He jumped to a stop behind an external support nearer to the middle of the platform and let the remaining pink needles whizz by. He looked around and spotted a dead grunt holding onto a plasma pistol. Now he cursed to himself. There was not much he could do on his own to stop the Kig-Yar. It would be down to his team mates now. A tumult drew Yalu's attention up to Ryker rolling away from another sangheili. Yalu dropped his rifle and rolled forward, grabbing the plasma pistol as he went, and knelt with the pistol overcharged and pointing towards the enemy warrior. He let it loose to break the assailant's shield, or else give him a burn that would get Ryker out of trouble.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar lit up the Hunter Killer's shield in the dark with two shots from her carbine. Then she turned her gun sideways and chucked it forward. Her assailant paused on the top step for half a second, raising one arm to deflect the heavy object whipping toward him through the rain. He was taller than Tar, but not by much. He didn't have much mass on her either, but he was astonishingly fast. Seizing her chance while her opponent was distracted, Tar lunged forward and trapped his sword hand under her left armpit. The dual-tips buzzed behind her ear, her shields activated and the smell of singed metal assaulted her senses. Pushing with all her might, Tar shoved the Hunter Killer up against one side of the door frame he'd just emerged from. Sheets of water poured over them from above. The male looked straight in her face from a few inches away and hissed. "So it is you." His left fist smashed into the side of her helmet, blurring Tar's vision and toppling them both over. While in free fall, the black-clad Hunter Killer jerked his sword free of Tar's armpit. She crashed onto her back and her assailant leapt on top to pin her. She punched him meatily in the neck as his free hand pushed her chest down. Then she saw him raise his sword and plunge it towards her neck. Raising her left hand on instinct, Tar caught the handle between the sword's two deadly spikes. White-hot pain exploded on either side of her hand as the energy bit into her flesh. She roared. The Hunter Killer leaned into his attack, pressing the blade closer to her head. "Deserting your…Keep, for that PATHETIC…excuse of a Kaidon." He spat, growling as his weapon slowly came into contact with Tar's armour plating. Tar scrabbled frantically for her right thigh holster, her other arm still holding back the sword. But the Sangheili straddling her had his knee in the way of her Mauler. So she groped her arm out manically around her, searching for anything to use. Despite the carnage and imminent danger all around him, the Hunter Killer appeared to be relishing this moment. He leaned in even more. "Such a shame you're…too late to save…your brother!" Tar growled, activating comms while he spoke. "Urgent target on my IFF." She whispered as quietly as she could. She wasn't about to let him escape.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Vael had rushed in alongside the others to capitalize on the discord they had sewn among their enemy. Though, he was not concerned with anything except the efficient destruction of their foe. With his carbine in-hand, he targeted the most vulnerable among them first to thin their numbers the most quickly. Unggoy or Sangheili with damaged shields would fall within just a few shots. The fewer the number of their enemy, the less they would be capable of returning fire. The moment he heard Yalu's callout, Vael trained his aim towards the fleeing Kig-Yar. They had clear parameters for success in this ambush: none of their enemy could escape. The Human AI was jamming their communications and could prevent the keep from learning from this attack in that manner, but if any of them escaped, that could open the possibility of a warning reaching the Keep. Vael quickly took a plasma grenade in hand and threw it towards the edge of the platform, ahead of the jackals. They both had ample time to react, but Vael did not expect it to kill them. He just needed it to stall them. The jackal closest to the grenade tried to leap to the side, though wet metal platform did not give him the best grip. He slipped, lost his footing, and ended up sliding a short distance across the platform. He did manage to slide out of the range of the grenade's detonation, but without his shield in the way, he was completely exposed. Two carbine shots cut through his torso, and he did not get up from there. The second jackal had managed to stop short and stay on his feet. With his shield directed towards Vael, he unleashed a full magazine of his needler towards him. Even Vael's shields could not withstand a supercombine, but he did not panic. He knew just how needlers behaved. Rather than run away, Vael dashed towards the jackal and rolled diagonally to the side. Some of the needles still struck Vael's shield, but most could not turn sharply enough to keep up. By the time Vael was on his feet again, the jackal had emptied the needler's magazine. Vael had the time to line up a careful shot through the shield's cutout to strike his hand. The jackal staggered back, shifting the shield just enough to allow Vael to put a second shot through his head. Tar's call for assistance, however, was more difficult to handle than a few Kig-Yar. At a glance, he could see that the shields of the Sangheili pinning her were still up, and it would take too many shots from his carbine to break them in time. He was too distant from her for his blade to be of any use…at least, not in his own hands. Vael took one of his energy swords in hand, but did not activate it. For the briefest moment, he judged the distance between them and eyed the rain so he could see the wind. This would need to be a good throw. "Tar, on your right!" Vael replied as he threw his sword to her. He threw it on a flat arc close to the ground to try to reduce the impact of the wind, letting it slide across the floor until it came to a sudden stop striking Tar in the side.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar heard Vael's callout in her ear, then a moment later the solid impact of his sword pommel against her side. The Hunter Killer was so intent on forcing his sword into his opponent's chest that he didn't notice. He growled again and redoubled his efforts. White hot pain exploded at two points across her chest, and Tar screamed out. She grasped at Vael's sword pommel, turning it round so her fingers fit snugly around it. She pushed it up towards the Hunter Killer's side and activated it. A bright blue blade burst through his armour on both sides of his body. A look of surprise flashed into his eyes; his body tautened and his growl turned into a wet gurgle. Tar kept her embattled left arm straight, and pushed with her sword arm. The Sangheili on top of her flopped to the side, still holding his own blade. She rolled with him to avoid accidentally slicing the flesh of her arm on his sword. Once the Hunter Killer was on the floor, she pushed herself away and teased the sword tip out of her chest. The pain was excruciating - a wave of blindness rolled across Tar's vision and she nearly collapsed. Desperately holding her senses together, she awkwardly manoeuvred the blade away from her, then scrambled up and on top of her assailant. He struggled weakly against Tar's weapon which was still in his side. The Commando leaned in close. "WHERE is Falx?" She hissed. "Does he still live?" The dying Elite under her tried to laugh, but ended up coughing bright purple blood. "TELL ME!" Tar yelled, letting go of her sword pommel to grab his armour at both shoulders and shake violently.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Yalu's lungs emptied at the sight of his target slumping as instantly dead as it did. If not for the rest of the commotion, he might have frozen. Vael's voice over the comms brought him back to the action. He retrieved his needle rifle, aimed down at the fleeing grunts, and helped to pick them off. Tar's shouting made him glance to see what was going on. Yalu's kill, all the slaughter of the grunts with their backs turned, and then Tar's shouting, all combined to bring out a sudden irritation in him. "'Mdalak! Get up! Focus!" He felt his ears ring with how loud he shouted into his helmet. He felt an immediate pang of anxiety at his outburst. He shook himself out of it and headed for the nearest door to the platform. "Pushing ahead," he declared with a more moderated voice. "Cannot see any more targets outside. The rest will be barricading by now." He did not move out of sight yet, waiting for Grikgar's sitrep.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Being shook about proved to be too much while impaled by a sword. The Hunter Killer let out one last ragged breath, then his eyes closed and the struggling stopped. Gusts of wind drove sheets of rain across Tar's back and the dead Sangheili under her. Purple Lightning crackled all around the weapons platform as the stormfront rolled over. The black clouds sucked all other light out of the sky. The sound of her teammates in her ears died away to just a dull echo. Tar pulled the sword out of her opponent's side and changing position, sawed through his neck. Yanking on his helmet, she tore the Hunter Killer's head from his shoulders. Clambering to her feet, Tar took a short run up and threw the head as hard as she could off the side of the platform. There was no stopping the wave of pent up rage now. She turned her head to the obsidian clouds, puffed out her chest and let out a bloodcurdling roar, talons grasping thin air out to either side of her body.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- There was no immediate response from Grikgar, so with the platform cleared, Vael rushed to the edge to try to get a line of sight on the ground below. He had heard the sound of plasma fire echoing up from below, so he took aim down beneath him as soon as he reached the edge. However, by the time he arrived, he found no target to shoot. He spotted Grik climbing up the side of the ridge, leaving behind a dead Sangheili beneath him. Vael joined soon in storming the barracks, though there ended up being no one left inside for them to fight. Once they had started their attack, all of the warriors garrisoned inside had joined the fight. After they confirmed that the barracks were clear, that marked the last objective they needed to complete while they were here. The cannon was too damaged to be used, and there was no one left alive to report back to the keep. As long as the Human AI's communication jamming had been successful, then they now had a window to begin their attack on the keep. "The area has been cleared. Have we sustained injuries?" Vael asked succinctly.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker "All good here, boss. Should send the all clear to the fleet to let them know the objective's complete." Ryker approached Yalu and offered him his hand for a handshake. "Thanks for the save, Major. Was a little too close for comfort there." Infiltrator Comi'Masam "I'm unharmed, Commander. Securing any hidey holes that we might have missed."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- In the aftermath of the battle, the cannon was left sufficiently destroyed for their purposes. Certainly, it could not fire in its present condition, and while it could be sabotaged further, there was always the possibility that it could be repaired when the Keep was retaken. Shih was confident that she had been able to jam any attempt at communications during the attack, so the way had been cleared for the assault on the Keep. Following Tar's guidance, they took an alternative path back down the mountain to their vehicles. While it would have been unusable during the storm, the worst of it had already passed. All that remained was comparatively light rain. Even on spectres, it took hours to get to a safe distance, but they were eventually able to extract back to the ship. --- Vael spoke little to the others in the time before the assault was set to begin, apart from what was necessary. He did spend some time going over the plan for the assault itself. In short, their one and only goal for their attack was to reach the Kaidon himself. There was enough support for the Swords of Sanghelios among the Keep's population, but they were honor-bound to follow their Kaidon. If he could be deposed and Tar claim the position of Scion, that would grant the citizens an excuse to stand down that would still satisfy their honor. Perhaps there might still be some Covenant zealots that would oppose them, but the battle would essentially be over as soon as the Kaidon fell, so as long as Tar survived. For that reason, their plan was to make a powerful, direct push straight to the Keep itself. They would cut through anything in their way, but they aimed not to fight any more than necessary. The less damage they did and the fewer casualties they inflicted, the stronger the city would be as an ally. Certainly, the plan was risky. If they did not properly secure and defend the territory they captured, then they opened themselves up to be surrounded once they were in the Keep. Should their plan fail and they were unable to depose the Kaidon, they could end up being trapped. Standing before a wraith in the hangar, Vael observed as a pair of technicians gave it a last check before the battle, as others were with the rest of their vehicles. It would be more than Aegis team participating in this assault, but as Aegis was the spearhead, they had the full choice of how they wanted to proceed in the attack. They would have the choice of Human vehicles that had been brought aboard the Blockade Runner, or of its own stock of vehicles. Any class, from light to heavy armor, was available if they chose.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas was already in the hangar on the other end, speaking with several engineers about the use of one of the needler hogs in the assault on the Keep and one of them continued to argue. "You're going to need heavy firepower to breach those defenses and while the Needlehog is great against infantry, you're looking at, bear minimum, gun emplacements, heavy anti-vehicle, maybe even Hunters. I'm sorry, Spartan, but it just doesn't make sense." Ryker sighed as he rubbed his temple and met the man's eyes. "And all of that is going to be screened by infantry and while the traditional .50 caliber rounds are great for general use, the quicker we can cleave through that infantry. We've all seen how effective supercombines are against soft targets." The implication of what he meant was enough to make the engineer who had been arguing with him shut up, which gave the other, a woman who looked ready to strangle her fellow, the chance to speak. "We can prep one for ya, Spartan, but only the one. The others will be needed elsewhere." Infiltrator Comi'Masam Comi was in the armory, prepping for the assault and what they could run into. Despite her usual preference for a plasma pistol, she had traded it for the higher fire rate of a plasma rifle, which would work better for the assault ahead of them.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar wrenched off her breastplate and perched on a large crate to receive medical attention. A diminutive male in physician's garb leaned in to inspect the cauterised puncture marks on her chest. "Internal bleeding is common with sword wounds, but fortunately yours are only shallow. Do you feel any weakness, numbness or tingling?" "I feel well." Tar growled. The adrenaline of their fight for the cannon had worn off in the hours afterwards, and a dull ache had settled in. Her head was full of images of the Hunter Killer's snarling jaw and the sword searing through her armour. "Any changes to your hearing or vision? Any pain in your head?" The physician asked, carefully anointing the cauterised divots with bio foam. "Only from your incessant talking - bandage me up now. I need to prepare for the assault." Tar was looking past the doctor, searching for someone. "Armourer!" She called out, raising one hand. A white-clad giant turned off to one side, looked at Tar then mentioned for his apprentice to run over. Tar noticed the youth when he stopped reverently before her. "Take my breastplate - see if you can patch the holes." She pointed towards her discarded armour on the floor.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas was already in the hangar on the other end, speaking with several engineers about the use of one of the needler hogs in the assault on the Keep and one of them continued to argue. "You're going to need heavy firepower to breach those defenses and while the Needlehog is great against infantry, you're looking at, bear minimum, gun emplacements, heavy anti-vehicle, maybe even Hunters. I'm sorry, Spartan, but it just doesn't make sense." Ryker sighed as he rubbed his temple and met the man's eyes. "And all of that is going to be screened by infantry and while the traditional .50 caliber rounds are great for general use, the quicker we can cleave through that infantry. We've all seen how effective supercombines are against soft targets." The implication of what he meant was enough to make the engineer who had been arguing with him shut up, which gave the other, a woman who looked ready to strangle her fellow, the chance to speak. "We can prep one for ya, Spartan, but only the one. The others will be needed elsewhere." Infiltrator Comi'Masam Comi was in the armory, prepping for the assault and what they could run into. Despite her usual preference for a plasma pistol, she had traded it for the higher fire rate of a plasma rifle, which would work better for the assault ahead of them.</s> <\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak Tar wrenched off her breastplate and perched on a large crate to receive medical attention. A diminutive male in physician's garb leaned in to inspect the cauterised puncture marks on her chest. "Internal bleeding is common with sword wounds, but fortunately yours are only shallow. Do you feel any weakness, numbness or tingling?" "I feel well." Tar growled. The adrenaline of their fight for the cannon had worn off in the hours afterwards, and a dull ache had settled in. Her head was full of images of the Hunter Killer's snarling jaw and the sword searing through her armour. "Any changes to your hearing or vision? Any pain in your head?" The physician asked, carefully anointing the cauterised divots with bio foam. "Only from your incessant talking - bandage me up now. I need to prepare for the assault." Tar was looking past the doctor, searching for someone. "Armourer!" She called out, raising one hand. A white-clad giant turned off to one side, looked at Tar then mentioned for his apprentice to run over. Tar noticed the youth when he stopped reverently before her. "Take my breastplate - see if you can patch the holes." She pointed towards her discarded armour on the floor.</s> <\|message\|>Yalu 'Suumko Yalu 'Suumko Ryker got a chilly response from Yalu once they dusted themselves off. "Do not speak of it," he spat before moving on without reciprocating the handshake. Yalu did not make clear whether he was distracted or intentionally curt. It seemed like both. Yalu kept his helmet on and his communications austere for the clean up and the ride back to base. --- Yalu had composed himself enough with the task of rearming for the assault on the keep. He was no stranger to such places, and as such rearmed his scattershot and needle rifle. However, if they were going in heavy, he knew exactly what to ask for to assist their surgical strike. He approached Ryker's vehicle with large rectangular ordnance cases in each hand while the spartan was seeing through its inspections. One after the other, he lifted them onto the brackets behind the main gun. "I have come to seek pardon for my earlier tone," he proclaimed, before unlatching both cases to reveal a spartan laser and a rocket launcher. "I will be taking a Banshee in during the initial approach. You will need fire support."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- Now that they were back on the Blockade Runner, there was not much time left to wait. The ship was invisible to sensors, but unlike some other capital ships, it did not possess active camouflage. While mostly irrelevant in space, once they came near enough to the Keep, they would be spotted by anyone who looked up. They had just disabled the only weapon in range that could destroy the ship quickly, but the city still had other anti-air defenses. The Blockade Runner would only have time to get in, blast open the outer walls, then deploy their strike force before it would have to fall back out of range. Aside from some light close air support, this would have to be a quick, decisive armored assault. Finally, a ship-wide alert sounded and the crew started rushing to battle stations. They were closing in on the Keep. Vael had re-equipped himself for the battle ahead. He changed his armor equipment, swapping active camouflage for a jetpack. With the verticality of urban combat, the mobility could be life-saving. He kept his plasma rifle and swords, as usual, but exchanged his carbine for a plasma caster. Similar to a concussion rifle, its explosive firepower would be useful against both vehicles and entrenched infantry positions. Human and Sangheili both were taking part in this assault. Swords of Sanghelios warriors were quicker to react to the alert, but once they had their orders from their officers, the Human marines were quick to rush to their vehicles. Scorpions and wraiths would comprise the core of their armored column, supported by warthogs, ghosts, spectres, and banshees above. "To your vehicles!" Vael ordered as he jumped up onto a wraith and climbed into its turret.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak After getting patched up, Tar stalked over to one of the clusters of ex-Covenant storage crates, littered with weapons and equipment. Pushing to the front, she snatched up plasma grenades and tucked them away in her armour. They'd pack more punch against materiel than her usual spike grenades. Tar grabbed a jetpack and slung it over one arm. She was still without her armour, clad in just her thin underdressings. She leaned over and pulled a carbine out of its housing in a third crate, along with plenty of ammo. Lastly, she slapped her customary Maulers on each thigh. Tar turned and nearly jumped when she found the armourer's apprentice standing in front of her. He held her mended cuirass - with only a fleetingly short time to spare, they had just magnetised metal patches to it as a temporary measure. She grunted with indifference and raised both arms, guns and equipment hanging off them. The armourer's apprentice tentatively approached, holding the cuirass out in front of him. When it got close to her skin, the back flaps wrapped snugly around her with a satisfying clank. The interlocking parts shimmied around until they made a perfect fit around their owner's torso. "Give the armourer my thanks." Tar hissed, striding round the youth and heading for the armoured column. She fastened her jetpack as she went. She'd only just arrived back with the rest of her team when Vael gave the order to mount up. Tar roared, raising her carbine into the air and shouting for the chaotic mass of rallying troops. "Glory awaits us! Take it, it's yours!" It got a smattering of encouraging replies from the crowd. The Commando bashed her new carbine against her chest to raise more noise, before jogging towards the front of the column where she'd take a turret in a Wraith.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker Lucas wasted no time in climbing swiftly into the driver's seat of his needlehog, two marines manning his passenger seat and another his gun as he gives a thumbs up that he's ready. "Locked, cocked, and ready to rock, Commander." Infiltrator Comi'Masam Approaching Ryker's modified warthog, the marine on the gun nodded and hopped off, allowing her to take over and join her comrade in his vehicle of choice. Waiting until he finished, she gave the SPARTAN-IV a grin. "Remind you of anything, Ryker?" The Spartan nodded, a grin behind his own helmet. "Teren Outpost, thought the thing was more of a fortress. UNSC lead that one though. Hope this is as much fun."</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Through the glowing, translucent energy shield separating the hangar from the outside, the strike force could see the chaos start to unfold. Their Blockade Runner came in quick and low over the mountains, much to the surprise of the Keep's defenders who saw the warship suddenly approaching over the horizon. At the speed their ship could move, they hardly had time to raise the alarm before the vessel was upon them. With a well-defined plan to follow, the ship's crew carried it out quickly and efficiently. Immediately, the Blockade Runner fired a pair of plasma torpedoes at the city's outer walls, blasting a sizable hole in the city's defenses near to the planned drop zone. Anti-aircraft emplacements within the city opened fire to start pounding the ship's shields. It was at that point when the defenders were likely marking the ship for the nearest heavy cannon to eliminate, only to find it in no condition to fire, and its garrison unresponsive. There were other, similar cannons situated in other positions around the city, but at the ship's current altitude and position, only the one they had sabotaged would have had a shot. Even still, their shields could only handle ground fire from the city for so long, so this insertion would need to be quick. Being that the Blockade Runner was not specialized for ground assault, it had no grav lift for quick deployment, so they would have to settle for phantom drops. Aegis team's respective vehicles were already locked in place to the phantoms above them via their grav lifts, so once the hangar's shield dropped, they were among the first out the door. The first wave of phantoms exited on the side of the ship opposite to the keep so the Blockade Runner's shields could help protect them from the anti-aircraft fire. They were positioned directly above the drop zone, so it hardly took more than a few seconds for them to get to ground. Heavy armor, like scorpions, were dropped in the front, with wraiths behind. Lighter vehicles, like ghosts and warthogs, were initially dropped behind the heavy armor, though they were agile vehicles that could easily reposition as needed to support the main armor column. Shadow troop transports carried the majority of their infantry support and would move behind the armor at least until they were inside the walls. Banshees from both sides were being deployed for close air support. For now, the Blockade Runner's point defense could help fight off opposing aircraft, but it would not be staying for too long. The city had been caught off guard, as evidenced by the lack of defenses outside the walls. No doubt, the garrison was already deploying to meet them, but right now they had a chance to get to a better position before they faced resistance. Right now, the only incoming fire on the ground was coming from four rapid-fire plasma turrets positioned on the top of the walls. They were still at long range, so the incoming fire was mostly inaccurate, though they would become more dangerous the closer they came. They were completely in the open at the moment, so priority was to get to the breach before the enemy could respond, but it may have been wise to put some attention on the turrets along the way.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak "Good luck, Spartan." Tar called to Aviza over the rising din as Phantoms hovered into position over their armour. The ride down to the surface of Brissekh from the Blockade Runner was extremely loud and nausea-inducing, like being dropped from a great height. Rain battered their dropship's canopy and poured down the sides onto Tar's Wraith. Battle chatter burbled in her ears from the closest teams; her pilot was staying quiet for now. For a few seconds, she could only stare out at the city she knew so well and feel a mix of nostalgia and fear. While a relatively young settlement at just over two hundred years, the Keep occupied a commanding position over the valley they were deploying into. Three concentric rings of fortifications had been carved out of the black rock, each higher than the last, until the top of the Kaidon's migdol poked out like a mountain peak in itself. Tar wondered if her little brother was watching from a high window at the army which had just arrived. As soon as they touched down, Tar fired her turret at one of the defending guns closest the breach the Blockade Runner had made. "Move forward!" She grunted to the pilot, and they began advancing.</s>
<\|description\|>Tar 'Mdalak Rank: Swords of Sanghelios Commando Species: Sangheili Appearance: Tar (right) practices CQC tactics with an energy lance Skills: Experience of piloting Banshees (Type-27 & Type-54) and Type-57 Phantoms Covert infiltration Sabotage Close quarters combat Military administration & combat training Application of non-standard weaponry Preferred Weapons/Equipment: Type-1 Energy Sword for hand to hand combat Type-52 Mauler for closing with targets Type-57 Carbine for medium/long range engagements Commando Harness (halopedia.org/Commando_harness) with propulsion unit Type-2 Spike Grenades and Type-3 Firebombs, if available Background: Tar 'Mdalak was born on Brissekh, a pristine frontier world, in the 2520s. Her father was Tarkr 'Mdalakai, old swordsman and kaidon of the planet's largest settlement. Her homeworld was heavily tapped by the Covenant for fighters, with nearly all Tar's numerous siblings conscripted into the military. Tar was desperate to earn glory along with her brothers, but the Sangheili ranks wouldn't have her. The place of females was to guard their home keep, and a lot of the Covenant traditionalists preferred it that way. So instead she served as the captain of the guard for her father's keep. Frustrated with the relatively small scope of her responsibilities, Tar put all her effort into modernising her troops. She expanded their training far beyond basic guard duties, incorporating asymmetric warfare tactics and mechanised detachments. She also supplemented the traditional energy lances favoured by traditional guard units with the latest Covenant weaponry, like Carbines and Beam Rifles. There were lots of opponents to her reformist vision, especially seeing as she was a female wielding significant influence over the old kaidon. This often resulted in skirmishes between would-be dissidents and Tar's well equipped militia. It was in danger of boiling over into all out civil war until the Brutes attacked. The Sangheili-Jiralhanae war hit Brissekh completely by surprise. None of the Keeps received warning of the raid until Brute RCS class cruiser was in low orbit. Before any of the Keeps could react, they'd destroyed the space port and bastion compounds before deploying two companies of heavy infantry to kill as many citizens as they could find. With the distress signal sent, Tar deployed her troops to the large city outside the Keep. With everyone behind the fortifications, maybe they could hold out until friendly ships arrived. However, her father wasn't content to cower behind walls while Sangheili across Brissekh were slaughtered. Despite Tar's protest, he struck out for the landing zone with his retinue, seeking a duel with the War Chieftain. They found each other, but survivors say Tarkr 'Mdalakai was separated from his bodyguards during the fight and captured by the enemy. When Tar found out her father had been imprisoned, a much worse fate than death for Sangheili, she went mad with rage. Abandoning her position near the gates of the Keep, she plowed into the marauding Brute hordes. Her vigorous training and agility let her use the Brute numbers against them, with the weight of bodies allowing her to get in close and butcher them. When her Energy Sword expired from overuse, she took Maulers and Spike Grenades from eviscerated Brutes and pushed forward. Whipped into a frenzy by their commander's raw fury, her troops set upon the Brutes with a cruel precision. The narrow streets of Brissekh's main city ran with Jiralhanae blood. Such was the ferocity of the Sangheili counter attack that the landing party never even reached the gates. And when a nearby Swords of Sanghelios battle cruiser arrived to help, the Brutes fled the system, taking Kaidon 'Mdalakai with them. Upon meeting the rescue ship's commanders, Tar immediately invoked the right of release, an intention to rescue her father from a shameful life of capture. In the spirit of Thel 'Vadam's liberalisation of the Swords military, the cruiser's captain granted her passage and enlistment aboard. The cruiser gave chase to the Brute ship, but it got away. They searched for the aggressors, but the trail went cold. Tar vowed never to give up, but accepted that she needed to contribute. She quickly fell in with a squad of Brute hunters that were formerly part of the Silent Shadow division of Covenant crack troops. They were operating from the battle cruiser and had learned of Tar's plight. When they realised her ability in combat, they offered her a place on missions slaughtering any Jiralhanae they could find. Tar gained a reputation for exceptional cruelty when it came to Brutes, often appearing to exact personal revenge on each combatant. It took three long years of searching before Tar got a solid lead. Some of the Brutes they'd interrogated had heard a rumor Sangheili kaidons were being held on Brute ships near a Forerunner construct known as Sarcophagus. Her squad tried to convince her the intel was shaky at best, but Tar didn't care. She parted ways with Silent Shadow and set out on her own. Finding passage aboard a military vessel, she gained access to the Sangheili-Human facilities on Sarcophagus by joining the colony's defensive contingent. However, despite searching for months, Tar could find no trace of the Brute cruiser. To make matters worse, she couldn't stray far from her unit for fear of being tried as a deserter. Many of the assignments on Sarcophagus were for life, but Tar certainly wasn't planning on staying that long if she could help it.</s> <\|message\|>Comi'Masam Spartan Lucas Ryker and Infiltrator Comi'Masam The moment the needlehog hit the ground, Lucas slammed the gas pedal down to the floor, the lighter vehicle racing ahead of the heavier and slower Scorpion and Wraith tanks as he got the marine and Comi lines of sight on the defensive emplacements that were firing on the landing zone. "Light them up, Corporal!" The marine, using a DMR, was already picking targets from around the gun emplacements as Comi'Masam spun up the needle cannon, rapidly sending needle spikes sailing into all the soft targets that were exposed along the wall and near it. {Spartan Ryker here, I'm heading the light armor group in a needlehog. Aside from those turrets, anyone see other priority soft targets for us?}</s> <\|message\|>Grikgar (Grik) Seeker Grikgar /Grik/ Seeker // Unggoy Ultra // Demolitions and Artillery // Location: Armored Assault on a Shadow Grikgar was happy to be out of the situation with the elite, it was always stressful going up against them but normally he could use the weak and cowardly stereotypes of his people to his advantage against most enemies. He was quite thankful of his team while they prepped for the next assault on the keep. Rearming was easy what took time was running the final diagnostics on the goblin to make sure it was ready to go without too many issues. This would be the first 'official' use of the grunt mech and he was going to make sure that nothing was going to jam. The weapons were ready and the shielding seemed good to go, Grik was sure to check everything twice while eating a ration, especially with the current model being new. The others seemed to be going through their own ways of mental preparation for the assault. His only issue he could see so far was just getting in close enough to the wall in the first place. Getting a lift from one of the troop transports or just going in for the hot drop from a phantom from up high were what seemed to be his choices so far. They both had their pros and con's but for what they were looking at he decided to stick with the armored column so he doesn't get picked off for lack of cover. So after his system checks were completed and the orders were starting to be given out Grik powered up his mech and linked up with the lead Shadow and found a spot to latch onto its aft half to provide fire support during the advance. His spot had a great view while they were being airlifted into position, enemy flak already opening up on them but panic was sure to follow for the enemy once they realized their big gun was off line. The mech began to fire on anything that came into range of either his needle cannon or grenade launcher but mostly just tried to block or dodge incoming fire the best he could. Armored assaults were his favorite advance, so many explosions and pretty colors.</s> <\|message\|>Aviza Morgenstern Sitting inside of a vehicle such as the Theseus Command Mantis during a tactile insertion was always an intense experience, and one that Aviza had begun to enjoy over the last decade or so. This time around though, was slightly different due to the fact that they were being dropped from Phantoms instead of Pelicans. Still, Aviza had strapped herself in a bit more securely just in case the ride would be more turbulent or something else went wrong along the way. "All safety procedures passed, all systems are green, now we get to wait for the fun to begin." said Aziva as she leaned forward slightly and flipped a switch on the control panel in front of her. A gentle electronic hum followed before the interior screens came to life, giving the Spartan a clear view of everything out-front of her as if the reinforced platting on the outside of the vehicle was made out of glass. A few moments would pass in relative silence within the Theseus Command Mantis before Aviza not only felt the Phantom touch off but also saw the rapid deployment with her own eyes. The steep approach and high speed they were taking with the Phantoms brought a smile across the Spartans face as they approached their drop off point. With the sudden feeling of freefalling that only lasted what felt like a few seconds, the Mantis gracefully made contact with solid ground. "Over already? I was just starting to enjoy myself, makes me want to fly again." thought Aviza, though Shihi quickly responded, "I am sure you will get more chances to experience that again, or perhaps even fly something in the near future. For now though, you should focus on the objectives at hand." Using the connection from the Theseus Command Mantis to her armor, Aviza quickly turned her attention to one of the fortified positions and fired off a round from the Theseus Command Mantis's M149 Recoilless Rifle. The force from the weapon firing could be felt even from within the cockpit of the vehicle, as well as creating a could of smoke that quickly faded away due to the rain and moisture.</s> <\|message\|>Vael 'Virisusai Vael 'Virisusai --- The armored column had to move quickly to take advantage of the surprise they still had over their enemy. The open ground outside the walls would have made for a strong defensive position, had the city's garrison been able to see the attack coming. The plasma turrets alone atop the walls were far from sufficient to stop, or even slow down an armored assault. At the moment, they were able to push forward at max speed to close the gap to the city walls. Weapons fire from the mantis and scorpions at long range could tear apart the plasma turrets long before they could do meaningful damage to the vehicles. The plasma turrets were intended for anti-infantry or anti-aircraft roles, while other defenses would normally handle heavy vehicles. The push to the wall had been simple, with little resistance, but now that they were approaching the opening their ship had made, they were about to be stepping into much more danger. While the breach was not small, two scorpions side-by-side would only barely squeeze through. For their entire column, it was going to be a choke point. They caught a few glimpses of infantry through the opening, but machine gun fire from the scorpions forced them back into hiding. No doubt, they were scrambling to establish a defensive position inside. At the moment, the team could not know how many anti-tank weapons were already in position inside. The defenders would be scrambling to deploy them to the breach, but it had been less than a minute since landing. If they were lucky, they would be able to get a foothold inside before the enemy could arm themselves to deal with them, but the longer they took, the more the enemy would be able to fortify. "Shadows, stay back until we have a foothold inside. Everyone else, push forward!" Vael ordered. They were going to be pushing into an urban environment. The city did have streets wide enough to accommodate their vehicles, but it was still going to be far more cramped than the field they were in now. For armored units, urban fighting could be particularly dangerous, so they would need to be adaptable and alert for threats that could come from any angle. They did not know exactly what the other side of the breach looked like or where the enemy was positioned on the other side. There was only so much planning that could be done ahead of time; at a certain point, they had to adapt and improvise. How they decided to cross the choke point would be important to improve their odds.</s> <\|message\|>Lucas Ryker Spartan Lucas Ryker and Infiltrator Comi'Masam Leading a group of warthogs and a couple of other needlehogs, Ryker and Comi were already inside the breach, lighting up any infantry that they could see. However, once they were inside the walls, the needlehogs were in a very different situation, as their munitions were worthless against the walls and heavier protections offered by the urban environment. The warthogs equipped with standard armaments would have the penetration to clear out walls without having to risk their crews, but Ryker and the other needlehogs were going to have to hope they could catch the defenders between positions as they raced through the streets. {Light armor group is inside the walls and doing what we can to push back the city defenders. What's the plan for securing the buildings as we move? Needlehogs are good against infantry, but not much else.} Comi, meanwhile, was lighting up every Unggoy, Kig-yar, and Sangheili that exposed themselves long enough to take more than a couple of needles, keeping any of them holding anti-tank weaponry from getting an actual shot on both the Warthogs and the approaching scorpions and wraiths.</s>	<\|message\|>Tar 'Mdalak As the breach was so small, a traffic jam inevitably ensued as the heavier armour filtered through into the city. Soldiers on the walls began firing small arms and chucking grenades down onto the vehicles beneath. Tar's Wraith hung back slightly and pounded the walls with blue balls of plasma. She tilted her plasma repeater as far up as it would go and sprayed the parapets, forcing some of the Sangheili there to take cover. Her shield flared as a carbine bolt pinged off the Wraith and into her face. "Clear the gap, move!" Tar yelled, ducking back down as far as she could go into her cockpit area as her gun overheated.</s>
<\|description\|>Ayuka Eiruni (Not my image. Like her, but brown eyed) Ayuka Eiruni --- Age:18 Gender:Female Personality: ● Snarky ● Hot-Headed ● Calculating ● Soft Spot for Children ● Curious ● Impulsive ● Ashamed ● Honorable Background: Born to Fire Nation Nobles, Ayuka was raised with the ideals of the Fire Nation. Of being noble to all, brave in the face of danger and honorable no matter the circumstances. Growing up then, she was proud of being of the Fire Nation, and took delight in her firebending. She set forth to learn all about it she could, training herself to be a master of her power. Then one day, she learned of how the Fire Nation terrorized the world for a hundred years, and of the scars that still lay on the land from that time that only Avatar Aang was able to end. Her worldview shattered. Had everything her parents taught her been a lie? She sought to repress her bending, ran away from home, and retreating as far from her heritage as she could. Since the Fire Nation had been so horrid, she'd refuse to be part of it! However, the more she refused, the more her powers became unstable and burnt the woods around her. The more she destroyed, the more ashamed of herself she became and the cycle continued from there. Until finally, she ran into a cave and cried, wishing she wasn't a fire bender anymore. A kindly old man came to her, asking why she didn't want the gift she was born with. She just cried and yelled about how it was an evil curse, not a gift. The man though came close and talked with her, helping her to see that that wasn't the case. After that talk, her parents finally found her. She ran into their arms and the family embraced, reuniting finally then returning home. As she became older, she still struggled with what the Fire Nation had done in the past and those that did look evilly at those of Fire Nation descent for what had happened. But she also found a new love for her powers and the good parts of her heritage, and resolved to be an example of a Fire Bender that brought balance to the world. And so, she became a proficient firebender, impressing even the old man that had been coming by that way. He told her that she would have a place among the White Lotus if she wanted to join. The idea stuck with her and she applied, using her parents' connections and that of the old man to help out in the endeavour. Through that and a demonstration of her prowess, she joined the White Lotus, vowing to her parents that she'd be everything a Fire Bender should be.</s> <\|message\|>Haoran "Hao" Li As his team arrived, Hao turned to face them replacing the soft, gentle smile that he gave Yuya into a more stern frown. He didn't picture them being so rag-tag, but inside he was happy that they didn't really notice who he was and question him about it, at least not yet. Raising his arm, he gave the air bison beside him another loving pet. "I'm Haoran Li and this is Yuya." "If there aren't any other questions and if you're all ready, we can start getting aboard with your things." Hao said as he signaled to the team to climb the rope ladder on the side of Yuya. This was his first time leading a real team and the anxiety he felt was through the roof, but he was a pro when it came to keeping a straight face, something he picked up from the nervousness his family always gave him. As the team all settled onto the large saddle firmly attached on the back of the air bison, Hao took the reins, still with a firm, yet blank stare. "Hold on tight, our destination is a few hours out, so please get comfortable." Slightly whipping Yuya's reins, the sky bison took off, mooing loudly as they lifted into the air. His team was made up of four benders, all from differing nations and a non-bender. First impressions were important to Hao as he reflected on each person and remembering what their files had said. All four members of Hao's team were proficient in their bending and combat, which was something he was happy to read up on. Ayuka Eiruni was said to be quite the hot-headed Fire Bender, but an extremely skilled fighter. Tikaani was energetic and from their first meeting, Hao hoped that energy and curiosity transferred into him proving himself as he and Ayuka were two of the younger and newer members on the team. Seung Bik on the other hand was more known in the White Lotus, having joined them at a later age than most recruits. He had created an academy of sorts or research center where others could learn Earth Bending techniques, something Hao was envious when he had heard about his story. Hao hoped he could rely on Brother Bik as he was more experienced in the world, but knew he had to earn the respect of him and the rest of his team. Last was Hinra Langtei, the only non-bender on the team. Hao didn't know much about her and she left him without a real impression, something he would have to figure out as their journey went on. Feeling the breeze rush across his body, the air bender slightly turned, half facing his team. "I know we just met, but I want to express how grateful I am to have you all here. We have a lot of work to do and this assignment isn't the easiest one out there for a first mission for most of you." Hao said. "I've been in your shoes before, but I want to let you all know that if you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to ask." Hao wanted to make sure his team knew that he could be a nice guy underneath the grumpy rest face he carried. Most of the time he was cold and distant, sure, and there were plenty of rumors that he had his head up his ass, thinking he was better than the rest. But there were times he could be quite kind towards others.</s> <\|message\|>Seung Bik Seung Bik Brother Bik looked over the group then to the Airbender, Haoran Li if he remembered the letter he had been sent before being told to report here. It's interesting to see, he hadn't known who would be on the team, but since he joined he'd heard of the Li family. Members of the Lotus for who knows how many generations at this time, and Haoran being the most recent addition from the family. He bows in greeting then climbing up onto the sky bison. With a grin Bik pats the saddle then reached over and runs a hand over the fur of the great creatures back, "Amazing." And soon out comes a small notebook as he jotes down his observations, "An Air Bison, since the full return of the Air Nomads, one can see them alot more often. But to be up close. I spend too much time at the Academy, they are a rarity there you see." He nods to the group. Bik hums curiously, observing and trying to memorize faces, he's barely been a member of the Lotus for a year. Everything is still new to him as well. He'd never been called for missions before. Let alone on the all important mission to find the Avatar. As they took flight he hummed and coughed, "So, it's a pleasure to meet you all. And I look forward to working with you all on this adventure we're all going on. I'm sure between us and the other teams out there we'll be able to locate our new avatar. We're all White Lotus we can do this together. I'll do my best to be of use."</s> <\|message\|>Ayuka Eiruni Ayuka got on Yuya in stunned silence. How had she not recognized her leader when she first saw him?! Just what did that reflect on her? She took a silent deep breath. Just, had to prove herself a worthy member on the team. Or at least, more worthy than the puppy-peacock they had on their hands. What had his name been again? Tikaani Aput? Her leader, Haoran Li, at least seemed to have not taken any offense. Even seemed, kind of friendly as they rode on. Though, of course that could change on the field... After Brother Bik said his piece, she inclined her head. "As will I. I know fire nation lands. I can assist that way in our search. What places in particular have been rumored to contain the Avatar?"</s> <\|message\|>Tikaani Aput Once the group was assmbled, the group boarded the Bison, and away they went. Tikaani looked over the edge, and appreciated the view from how high up they were. He threw his arms up in the air. "WAHOO! This is so much fun!" He looked towards the others in his group. They didn't appear to be as excited about flying on a real life flying bison as he was. They were having a discussion amongst themselves. "Yes yes. We'll find the Avatar. All will be well." Tikaani added. "I'm a Waterbending extraordinaire! I capable of pulling my own weight." He made some movements with his arms, and produced a small stream of water from the clouds. They were just water and air after all. "See? Nothing to worry about." He made more arm movements and swirled the water around himself. Then, he smirked, stuck out his arm. And splashed the Fire Nation girl with the water he was bending. "Oh my gosh! I am so sorry!" He said, feigning surprise. "Although, you looked like you needed to chill a little anyway!" The Water Tribesman giggled. "Anyway, can we talk about the fact that we're actually on a flying bison having the adventure of a lifetime?" Tikaani's eyes went wide. "Just look at the view from up here!"</s> <\|message\|>Hinra Langtei Even though it wasn't shown on her face, Hinra was very much this close to soiling her clothes. Like some of her peers, it was also her first time riding a flying bison. She closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air to calm her nerves as she felt her heart beating so fast, she felt like it was about to burst out of her chest. She wanted to scream her heart out but she couldn't, not when she was with company. She was so wrapped up in her fear that she almost forgot that she was not alone on Yuya if her group didn't speak up. Hinra never met any of these people prior to their assembly so she was also curious as to what they were like. She opened her eyes just as Hao, an Airbender and their de-facto leader, spoke about his feelings and thoughts to the whole group. He seemed to look like the typical leader: serious and steadfast with a aura of kindness surrounding him. He's probably the most reasonable one among all of them. Bik looked like the enlightened type, one who's always spewing out words of wisdom to his peers whether he was asked about it or not. He probably meant it with good intentions and besides, he gave off an 'approachable mentor' type of vibe. There were Ayuka who was more of a serious type and Tikaani who was the goofy, go-with-the-flow type of person. They were complete opposites of each other and Hinra feared that this would not bode well for their group. Case in point: Tikaani used his waterbending and accidentally made Ayuka wet. Hinra just rolled her eyes and sighed as she proceeded to get a dry towel for Ayuka to use, putting it on her lap while secretly hoping they wouldn't notice her shaky hands before the young non-bending woman spoke, while also hoping they won't sense the fear in her voice. "I may not be a bender like the rest of you but I assure you that I will not be a burden in our group. I will also help in any way I can so you can all count on it." Hinra said before closing her eyes to calm her nerves again which seemed to the group that she was meditating.</s> <\|message\|>Haoran "Hao" Li Easing into his team atop of Yuya was a transition in itself. They were even more colorful than he imagined. Acknowledging his team, Hao replied to Ayuka's question. "Shu Jing is our first stop, otherwise the rumors are spreading like wildfire throughout the Fire Nation. Nothing is concrete as of yet." As he finished answering her question, the young waterbender began showing off his skills, conjuring a stream of water and splashing the girl. "Oh great," Haoran thought to himself, but as quickly as the situation started, the quiet Hinra chimed in assisting in diffusing the situation with a bit of kindness. "You're a member of the White Lotus for a reason." The young commander said, reassuring the girl. "I trust you're skills are just as sharp as ours, bender or not."</s>	<\|message\|>Ayuka Eiruni Ayuka took the towel with a quick "Thanks." Then used that and a bit of warming of the air to dry herself off while she glared at Tikaani. If he thought he was going to get away with this, he had another thing coming. This meant war. But how to best respond? Without seeming that unprofessional? She really didn't want her new leader to think any less of her. She focused her attention back on Haoran, prepared for whatever he'd next say while keeping Tikaani in the corner of her eye and giving the towel back to, what was her name...that's right, Hinra! Then as she focused on Haoran, hands behind her, she heated up a puff of air without it turning to flame and sent it towards Tikaani's stupid face.</s>
<\|description\|>Tikaani Aput TIKAANI APUT Alias: N/A Age: 18 Gender: Male Personality: ● Chatty ● Attention Seeker ● Bubbly ● Optimistic ● Boisterous ● Unfocused ● Impulsive ● Easygoing Background:Tikaani was born in the South Pole, a member of the Southern Water Tribe. Tikaani's father was a warrior, and died in battle when the boy was very young. Thus, the boy has little to no memories of him. All he knows about his father are some photographs his mother had, as well as things his mother told him. For the majority of his life, it was only Tikaani and his mother, and Tikanni was responsible for a lot of household things while his mother worked as a healer in the village. Primariy fishing, and cooking meals. He would go out on boat rides with his uncle on his mother's side to catch fish, and diving for sea prunes and fresh seaweed. His uncle also taught him how to navigate and steer a boat, because Water Tribesman should be able to navigate the seas. His mother however was the one that taught him to cook. The boy really liked to eat, and she felt it best that he learn to make his own meals sometimes. His cheerful and upbeat persona made Tikaani popular with his peers. He found it very easy to make friends with people. In between his chores, he made time to play with the other younger children in the village, whom he thought of as siblings. He particularly enjoyed going Penguin Sledding with them, although he was often the one who had to make sure the other kids didn't hurt the otter penguins. While he was happy at home, Tikaani has always wanted to leave his small settlement in the South Pole, see the rest of the world, and potentially have a cool adventure. Mainly because he got bored with the day-to-day routine at home. Tikaani finally found some excitement in his life when he learned he was a Waterbender at the age of 12. He found out while he was watching his mother bend, and imitating her movements for fun. Obviously, he didn't have much control of it at that time, and the end result was Tikaani getting wet. After that, he trained with Waterbending masters in the tribe, as well as his own mother to hone his skill. Surprisingly, Tikaani took to bending rather quickly. Even though the masters didn't particularly care when the boy referred to it as 'cool water magic.' His boundless joy and enthusiasm overwhelmed a lot of the people who tried to teach him. He got bored with studying and often just wanted to play. The ones who actually mananged to hold his interest were his mother, and Nukka, the Chief of the southern tribe. He learned a lot during his lessons and became a skilled Waterbender. At 14 years was the age when a boy takes part in the Southern Water tribe rite of passage of ice dodging. This was usually something a boy did with his father, but Tikaani's father was dead. Fortunately, there was a reason why his uncle taught him to sail a boat when he was younger. He took Tikaani out to sea, and had to guide the boat through iceberg infested waters. It was difficult but Tikaani managed to do it, and he earned himself a Mark of the Trusted on his forehead for proving to be exceptionally steady and dependable. When he turned 18, Tikaani decided that he learned all he could in his small village. He wanted to leave the South Pole, see the rest of the world. He did after all know how to sail and could Waterbend like no one's business. His mother was hesitant to let her only child go off into the world all by himself. After all she did lose her husband, and couldn't live with herself if she lost her son too. She had to be convinced to let him go. Both by her brother and Chief Nukka. She was the one who gave Tikaani his membership into The Order of the White Lotus. This way, Tikaani could travel and see the rest of the world, but he would have an organization to keep him safe. His mother was put at ease by this. So, reluctantly, and with a tearful good-bye, she let her son go. Tikaani promised his mother he would return someday.</s> <\|message\|>Haoran "Hao" Li --- "Remember, you aren't the only team out there searching for the Avatar. But you must be the first to find them." "Yes, sir." Hao responded, respectfully bowing to his father's orders. "I'll do whatever it takes." "If your squad is the one who finds the Avatar, our family will reap the benefits for many years to come. We'll also have the debt of the White Lotus and the Avatar." His father reiterated. The idea was concocted many years ago, when Avatar Ria had passed, that once the search of the new Avatar began Hao would be the one to find. His father strongly believed and almost knew for a fact that being the one to find and bring the new Avatar in would bring power and influence into the family, and breathe new life into the dying oak tree. "Those are things that are hard to come by these days." "I understand." Hao said. Haoran Li had a lot barring down on his shoulders as not only a member of the White Lotus, but also a member of the Li family, which had been ingrained in the secret society since it's inception centuries ago. Hao's father was pressuring him to bring honor to their family name, which something that he couldn't do himself. It pained Hao to see his father act so desperate in search of power, but knowing how much his family has sacrificed as well made him realize his father's perseverance. The young branch of the Li tree listened to his father's orders diligently. Young and new teams were being formed sent throughout the Fire Nation to find the new Avatar and Hao was selected to lead one of them. He knew next to nothing about his team other than the fact that most were newer and younger members than himself, but Hao wasn't going to let that stop him from accomplishing his mission. Listening to the rest of his father's lecture and giving final his goodbyes, Hao retreated back to his quarters to finish the last of his packing. With his father's position and influence in the White Lotus, he didn't have to sleep in the barracks with other young members, something that he never really contemplated on how it affected his relationships with others until now. Was he really suited to lead a team, was he ready for it? Questions attacked his mind and flurried his thinking, but it was too late for all these questions. He had to prove his worth and had to show that his family was more capable than what other's thought. Packing the last of his gear and clothes into his rucksack, Hao hurried his way to the Li family air bison stables where he had informed his teams to meet. Again, with the backing of his father his team was one of the only teams lucky enough to have an air bison, while others had to use airships or boats to find their way into the Fire Nation. Their assigned destination was a cluster of islands off the eastern part of the Fire Nation, heading to the town of Shu Jing first and following leads after that. A low grunt and yawn rang through the air as Hao neared the stables. The flying bison that his team was taking was going to be Yuya, one of the most dependable and by far the most playful of bison in the stable. "You'll take good care of us right?" Hao cooed, petting the larger than life bison.</s> <\|message\|>Ayuka Eiruni "The Fire Nation." Ayuka scowled as she forced her things back into her bags. "Barely a week here and I'm already being sent back home! Who the heck was in charge of planning?!" She threw the bag against her barely used barracks bed, then forced herself to take a breath. "Calm down, Ayu. No use getting all heated up over a little thing like this..." She took the bag back up, and continued to pack. "So what you barely got to know anyone here, or had time to know about the new change of plans...It's fine. You joined the White Lotus. You knew things weren't going to be easy or simple. You were going to be assigned elsewhere on missions eventually, and missions back to home. This'll be a chance to prove yourself. We're going to be looking for the Avatar and you'll be the one that knows the lay of the land. Be a big help if you don't screw this up, like by being late if this dumb bag won't take back what I need to pack. I just unpacked this stuff out of you!" She huffed, sending some of her black hair out of her face. Then sheepishly she looked around and sighed. "I also need to stop talking with myself." The firebender shook her head and focused her attention back on her bag, finally getting everything packed and closed away. With a nod, she placed it on her back and left the building, bracing herself as the chill winds hit her. It always was so cold around here. She took warming breaths as she walked, heading for where she was sure the air bison stables were. That her team was told to meet here struck her with surprise, but it would probably be explained once there. At least with the air bison they were easy to find. She walked through the door and looked around. She spotted a guy petting one of the bison, really seeming to bond with the animal. A team member? One way to find out. She walked to him. "Hello. I was told to be here as part of Haeo's team. Would you happen to be part of it as well?"</s>	<\|message\|>Tikaani Aput "I'm going on an adventure! I'm going on an adventure!" Tikaani sang to himself as he packed up his stuff into a bag. He had only been here a week, and he was already asked to be part of a group to search for the next Avatar. He was finally going to see the world like he always wanted. He already got to explore the Southern Air temple. It was impressive. "Mom would be so proud if I'm actually successful." Once all his things were packed, he threw his bag over his shoulder, and grined. "Yep, all set!" He left the barracks, and after refilling his canteen with water, he made his way to the stables. It was cold outside, but since he lived in the South Pole, he was used to this kind of weather. The young waterbender happily skipped along like everything was right with the world. Once he arrived at the stables, he spotted a guy petting one of the flying bison, and a Fire Nation girl talking to him. That must have been his group. Tikaani bounded over to them. "Hey! Tikaani Aput, waterbender extraordinaire at your service!" He said giving a salute. Then his eyes went wide. "Oh, my gosh! Are we actually going to ride a flying bison?! This is gonna be so exciting!"</s>
<\|description\|>Tikaani Aput TIKAANI APUT Alias: N/A Age: 18 Gender: Male Personality: ● Chatty ● Attention Seeker ● Bubbly ● Optimistic ● Boisterous ● Unfocused ● Impulsive ● Easygoing Background:Tikaani was born in the South Pole, a member of the Southern Water Tribe. Tikaani's father was a warrior, and died in battle when the boy was very young. Thus, the boy has little to no memories of him. All he knows about his father are some photographs his mother had, as well as things his mother told him. For the majority of his life, it was only Tikaani and his mother, and Tikanni was responsible for a lot of household things while his mother worked as a healer in the village. Primariy fishing, and cooking meals. He would go out on boat rides with his uncle on his mother's side to catch fish, and diving for sea prunes and fresh seaweed. His uncle also taught him how to navigate and steer a boat, because Water Tribesman should be able to navigate the seas. His mother however was the one that taught him to cook. The boy really liked to eat, and she felt it best that he learn to make his own meals sometimes. His cheerful and upbeat persona made Tikaani popular with his peers. He found it very easy to make friends with people. In between his chores, he made time to play with the other younger children in the village, whom he thought of as siblings. He particularly enjoyed going Penguin Sledding with them, although he was often the one who had to make sure the other kids didn't hurt the otter penguins. While he was happy at home, Tikaani has always wanted to leave his small settlement in the South Pole, see the rest of the world, and potentially have a cool adventure. Mainly because he got bored with the day-to-day routine at home. Tikaani finally found some excitement in his life when he learned he was a Waterbender at the age of 12. He found out while he was watching his mother bend, and imitating her movements for fun. Obviously, he didn't have much control of it at that time, and the end result was Tikaani getting wet. After that, he trained with Waterbending masters in the tribe, as well as his own mother to hone his skill. Surprisingly, Tikaani took to bending rather quickly. Even though the masters didn't particularly care when the boy referred to it as 'cool water magic.' His boundless joy and enthusiasm overwhelmed a lot of the people who tried to teach him. He got bored with studying and often just wanted to play. The ones who actually mananged to hold his interest were his mother, and Nukka, the Chief of the southern tribe. He learned a lot during his lessons and became a skilled Waterbender. At 14 years was the age when a boy takes part in the Southern Water tribe rite of passage of ice dodging. This was usually something a boy did with his father, but Tikaani's father was dead. Fortunately, there was a reason why his uncle taught him to sail a boat when he was younger. He took Tikaani out to sea, and had to guide the boat through iceberg infested waters. It was difficult but Tikaani managed to do it, and he earned himself a Mark of the Trusted on his forehead for proving to be exceptionally steady and dependable. When he turned 18, Tikaani decided that he learned all he could in his small village. He wanted to leave the South Pole, see the rest of the world. He did after all know how to sail and could Waterbend like no one's business. His mother was hesitant to let her only child go off into the world all by himself. After all she did lose her husband, and couldn't live with herself if she lost her son too. She had to be convinced to let him go. Both by her brother and Chief Nukka. She was the one who gave Tikaani his membership into The Order of the White Lotus. This way, Tikaani could travel and see the rest of the world, but he would have an organization to keep him safe. His mother was put at ease by this. So, reluctantly, and with a tearful good-bye, she let her son go. Tikaani promised his mother he would return someday.</s> <\|message\|>Ayuka Eiruni Ayuka got on Yuya in stunned silence. How had she not recognized her leader when she first saw him?! Just what did that reflect on her? She took a silent deep breath. Just, had to prove herself a worthy member on the team. Or at least, more worthy than the puppy-peacock they had on their hands. What had his name been again? Tikaani Aput? Her leader, Haoran Li, at least seemed to have not taken any offense. Even seemed, kind of friendly as they rode on. Though, of course that could change on the field... After Brother Bik said his piece, she inclined her head. "As will I. I know fire nation lands. I can assist that way in our search. What places in particular have been rumored to contain the Avatar?"</s> <\|message\|>Tikaani Aput Once the group was assmbled, the group boarded the Bison, and away they went. Tikaani looked over the edge, and appreciated the view from how high up they were. He threw his arms up in the air. "WAHOO! This is so much fun!" He looked towards the others in his group. They didn't appear to be as excited about flying on a real life flying bison as he was. They were having a discussion amongst themselves. "Yes yes. We'll find the Avatar. All will be well." Tikaani added. "I'm a Waterbending extraordinaire! I capable of pulling my own weight." He made some movements with his arms, and produced a small stream of water from the clouds. They were just water and air after all. "See? Nothing to worry about." He made more arm movements and swirled the water around himself. Then, he smirked, stuck out his arm. And splashed the Fire Nation girl with the water he was bending. "Oh my gosh! I am so sorry!" He said, feigning surprise. "Although, you looked like you needed to chill a little anyway!" The Water Tribesman giggled. "Anyway, can we talk about the fact that we're actually on a flying bison having the adventure of a lifetime?" Tikaani's eyes went wide. "Just look at the view from up here!"</s> <\|message\|>Hinra Langtei Even though it wasn't shown on her face, Hinra was very much this close to soiling her clothes. Like some of her peers, it was also her first time riding a flying bison. She closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air to calm her nerves as she felt her heart beating so fast, she felt like it was about to burst out of her chest. She wanted to scream her heart out but she couldn't, not when she was with company. She was so wrapped up in her fear that she almost forgot that she was not alone on Yuya if her group didn't speak up. Hinra never met any of these people prior to their assembly so she was also curious as to what they were like. She opened her eyes just as Hao, an Airbender and their de-facto leader, spoke about his feelings and thoughts to the whole group. He seemed to look like the typical leader: serious and steadfast with a aura of kindness surrounding him. He's probably the most reasonable one among all of them. Bik looked like the enlightened type, one who's always spewing out words of wisdom to his peers whether he was asked about it or not. He probably meant it with good intentions and besides, he gave off an 'approachable mentor' type of vibe. There were Ayuka who was more of a serious type and Tikaani who was the goofy, go-with-the-flow type of person. They were complete opposites of each other and Hinra feared that this would not bode well for their group. Case in point: Tikaani used his waterbending and accidentally made Ayuka wet. Hinra just rolled her eyes and sighed as she proceeded to get a dry towel for Ayuka to use, putting it on her lap while secretly hoping they wouldn't notice her shaky hands before the young non-bending woman spoke, while also hoping they won't sense the fear in her voice. "I may not be a bender like the rest of you but I assure you that I will not be a burden in our group. I will also help in any way I can so you can all count on it." Hinra said before closing her eyes to calm her nerves again which seemed to the group that she was meditating.</s> <\|message\|>Haoran "Hao" Li Easing into his team atop of Yuya was a transition in itself. They were even more colorful than he imagined. Acknowledging his team, Hao replied to Ayuka's question. "Shu Jing is our first stop, otherwise the rumors are spreading like wildfire throughout the Fire Nation. Nothing is concrete as of yet." As he finished answering her question, the young waterbender began showing off his skills, conjuring a stream of water and splashing the girl. "Oh great," Haoran thought to himself, but as quickly as the situation started, the quiet Hinra chimed in assisting in diffusing the situation with a bit of kindness. "You're a member of the White Lotus for a reason." The young commander said, reassuring the girl. "I trust you're skills are just as sharp as ours, bender or not."</s> <\|message\|>Ayuka Eiruni Ayuka took the towel with a quick "Thanks." Then used that and a bit of warming of the air to dry herself off while she glared at Tikaani. If he thought he was going to get away with this, he had another thing coming. This meant war. But how to best respond? Without seeming that unprofessional? She really didn't want her new leader to think any less of her. She focused her attention back on Haoran, prepared for whatever he'd next say while keeping Tikaani in the corner of her eye and giving the towel back to, what was her name...that's right, Hinra! Then as she focused on Haoran, hands behind her, she heated up a puff of air without it turning to flame and sent it towards Tikaani's stupid face.</s> <\|message\|>Hinra Langtei Hinra looked at their leader. She imagined his age won't be that far off hers yet he spoke more maturely than her. Then again, Brother Bik spoke like a very mature and educated man too. She was sure her peers have accomplished more things than her at their age. She forgot about her fear of heights for a second when she thought more of the differences between them. Perhaps she should have heeded her parents' request to go out and explore the world when she was younger. Would she have turn out to be a different person than she was now if did that? "Thank you for your kind words and for putting your trust in me. I promise that I won't let you all down." She said to him before nodding in respect to her peers, getting the towel back from Ayuka once she's done. Hinra gulped down her fear when she remembered they were still high up in the air as Ayuka blew hot air at Tikaani's face. "Hmmm... Now that I think about it, you all have shown what kind of bending you do. It's only natural for me to share what I can do too." Hinra looked down at her open palm before closing it to form a fist. "My people were not born with the ability to control the elements like you all. Because of that, we needed to seek other ways of honing our skills to defend ourselves when danger came. We needed to be creative in order to survive." Hinra then looked up at her peers. "Simply put, I can do what is called 'chi blocking'. I can strike certain points to make a part of the body or the whole body paralyzed. I can also block certain chi paths in the bender's body to make them unable to bend for a time. I can make them move again and regain the flow of their chi too." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "So yeah, that is what I can do. I also know how to cook too so there's that." Hinra said, realizing she had said more words to people other than her family more than what she intended to, making her blush a bit and look at the horizon. If her parents were here, they will be very proud of their daughter finally opening up to others nad making friends, one step at a time.</s> <\|message\|>Seung Bik Brother Bik Seung Bik smiled and bowed to Haoran from where he sat, "We shall endeavour to not let you down Brother Li. We all bring something interesting to the table one could say. We are White Lotus it's true. And our range of Bending will triumph I'm sure." He bows his head to Haoran Li respectfully. He looks up in time to see their Waterbender Tikaani splashed their Firebender Ayuka. He chuckled, "And thus it begins." He chuckled a little more and turned to study the Sky bison somemore. But Hinra caught his attention. And upon revealing her talents. Bik had quite suddenly scuttled forward, "Wait, Sister Hinra are you saying what I think you are saying?" He looked at her, "You're a Chi Blocker?" Seung has the biggest grin on his face, "A real Chi Blocker, I can honestly admit and with great humility, that I have not yet had the chance to meet one of your folk. I've read much of you. In the journals and stories from Avatar Aang and Avatar Korra's times of course, but to actually meet one." He pulled back realizing he's gone into utter fanboy-scholar mode, "Ah your pardon. Perhaps while we're out here we can discuss your abilities? To add some more first hand knowledge on the Chi Blockers, and maybe experiment how your skill work first hand, yes I indeed mean you can smack me around abit. I hope you will grant me the honor of chronicling you and your abilities some Sister Hinra." He bows to her respectfully.</s>	<\|message\|>Tikaani Aput Tikaani suddnly felt a puff of hot air hit his face. That could have only come from one person. He wasn't upset about it though. Tikaani simply giggled to himself. He had expected her to yell at him in front of everybody, and just make everything awkward. The fire girl had a sense of humor after all. That was good. Travelling with a stick in the mud was no fun. Hinra revealed she was a chi blocker, and Tikaani's eyes went wide. "You're a chi blocker? Remind me not to get on your bad side. He was more interested in the fact that she could cook too. Tikaani loved food. "Ooh, I can cook too. Although... I'll admit, Water tribe cuisine isn't for everybody. Not everyone appreciates a good two headed fish soup the way I do!"</s>
<\|description\|>Seung Bik Seung Bik Alias: Coppercore Age: 28 Gender: Male Personality: ● Gruff ● Careful ● Straight-forward ● Unbelieving ● Caring ● Worrying ● Forthright ● Protective Background: It's a fairly well known fact that Earth Kingdom citizens are not the most spiritually inclined of the four nations. As their Benders tend to be very earthy in their ideals. And them being so diverse culturally, as let's face it the Earth Kingdom is the most massive of all the other nations, well there are so many beliefs and cultural nuances it's hard to adhere to just one system. But there is something that the Benders find very inclined to keep. It's the varying styles of Earth Bending, that give life to Earth bending. So Bik went to great lengths to gather all the literature, pictures and evidence of all the varying styles of Earth bending. Finding manuscripts on lava, sand and metal bending. Finding books written by this or that Avatar, finding one of Toph Beifong's own metal whip assemblies. He even found a very obscure mention of Mud-Bending and it's applications among both Earth Benders and Water Benders. Seung did his level best to create a repository of all things Earth Bending and its variations. He did this all between the ages of 18 and 26. Devoted to his quest to make sure Earth Bending has a archive of it's intricacies and the various arts and details. Seung for all this is a passable Earth Bender. And had to find and even hire people who had ability in the variations of Earth Bending to keep them alive. The repository eventually became something of an unofficial academy and temple and with the help of much older benders, it became a place for all earth Benders to come together. It took him almost 8 years to do this. And by the age of 26 he'd managed to create something for all Earth Benders. He spent a year curating and care taking the Academy of Earth-Bending Arts. It was this dedication that got him an invite to the White Lotus Society. His dogged, and let's face it, very Earth Bender approach to perserving the Earth Bending ways, well it got the notice of the WLS. He had worked in the Academy for a mere year after his personal quest before the White Lotus Society asked him to join. They wanted to help him, and in turn he was invited to become a junior member of the Society and continue his work within the Society and at the Academy for Earth Bending Arts as it'd come to be known.</s> <\|message\|>Tikaani Aput "I'm going on an adventure! I'm going on an adventure!" Tikaani sang to himself as he packed up his stuff into a bag. He had only been here a week, and he was already asked to be part of a group to search for the next Avatar. He was finally going to see the world like he always wanted. He already got to explore the Southern Air temple. It was impressive. "Mom would be so proud if I'm actually successful." Once all his things were packed, he threw his bag over his shoulder, and grined. "Yep, all set!" He left the barracks, and after refilling his canteen with water, he made his way to the stables. It was cold outside, but since he lived in the South Pole, he was used to this kind of weather. The young waterbender happily skipped along like everything was right with the world. Once he arrived at the stables, he spotted a guy petting one of the flying bison, and a Fire Nation girl talking to him. That must have been his group. Tikaani bounded over to them. "Hey! Tikaani Aput, waterbender extraordinaire at your service!" He said giving a salute. Then his eyes went wide. "Oh, my gosh! Are we actually going to ride a flying bison?! This is gonna be so exciting!"</s> <\|message\|>Seung Bik Seung Bik It's an interesting thing, the south that is. The Southern Air Temple is a wonderful place, he read the history abit before he was called down here. A place of great historical significance really, where the great Avatar Aang had called home before sealing himself away, along with his mentor Monk Gyatso. It is also where Avatar Roku had trained in Airbending. It's a spectacular place to say the least. And upon Seung Bik, known as Brother Bik, the somewhat known young man who had endeavoured for years collecting lore, transcripts and materials on Earth Bending, arrival to the temple, he'd immediately more or less made his home in the temple library and archives. Learning everything he could. Reading accounts of Avatar Aang, and Roku, of Earth Benders who had visited and left anecdotes. Learning everything he could, wishing to add what he learns to the respositories at the Earth Bending Temple and Academy when he returned, or perhaps sending notes back while he's traveling. It had not been too long ago that he'd been told that he'd be joining a team of benders and non benders to go out looking for the new Avatar. The cycle of Avatars had continued of course. Avatar Korra may have disconnected from her past lives, but that didn't mean the status of Avatar would not continue. Avatar Ria showed that after all, may her soul rest well. And now, the Fire Nation has another chance at producing an Avatar. It's interesting to see how this has sparked new events in the world. Some holding their breath and waiting for the reveal, others, well he's head tell of Earth Bender mercenaries being sent out to find and well, it's not good. A dark pall on his efforts to create a place for Earth Bending and students of Earth Bending sent out to murder. He's setting down a manuscript when he feels a tug at his shirt elbow. He turns to find a White Lotus initiate there. A young girl in initiate robes. She bows shyly, "Brother Bik, the call to assemble has been made, your team is likely waiting for you." Seung looks up at the water clock nearby and gasps, "Ah! I had missed the time. Thank you young friend, can you see to these scrolls for me. I must hurry." He grabs the duffle bag at the foot of his chair and races off. Once outside he turns to look at the stables, my but it would take awhile to run there. So he looks around to make sure no one is nearby, and planting himself, and with a powerful push, a pillar of stone launches him into the air, he sails up, up, over the wall to the stable and as he comes down he tenses and thrusts his hand down the ground coming up and he settles down into the softened ground, moments later he's standing on flat ground. Looking back as another Earth Bender with the White Lotus puts his launch site to rights and gives him a look of amusement. Seung looks to the Water, Fire and Air benders already there. He takes a step forward and it's only then that karma strikes, he trips, and faceplants on the slightly cracked ground of where he landed. He sighs, "Of course, wonderful first impression Seung..." With a push and the help of a small rock pillar he stands back up then bows, "Pardon my stumble, Seung Bik, Brother Bik if you like, or if informal, Coppercore, Earth Bender at your services." He straightens up and looks all those here already over, "Interesting. We are such a diverse group."</s> <\|message\|>Hinra Langtei Hinra was long awake even before the others did. She already packed all her stuff in her bags the night before so she wouldn't have to do it in a hassle and forget something. As the sun began to rise on the horizon, she placed a mat on the ground outside of her room and meditated, closing her eyes and channeling the spirits of the universe within her while she breathed in the cool dawn air. It had been a habit of hers to wake up early in the morning and meditate so she could welcome the day in bright spirits but her mind was addled with fear and nervousness. This was also the day that she will join a group of White Lotus members on their own expedition to find the new Avatar. The girl focused her thoughts once more and breathed deeply, letting her doubts flow out of her system like a breeze. As much as she didn't want to do it, she figured she had no choice of the matter. Once her parents set their mind on something, nothing could change it. In reality, Hinra's parents have been very lax in raising her. They let her do things at her own pace and let her decide on her own at some times so she could grow more as a person. This expedition was the only thing her parents asked of her to do in her whole life yet and she knew that this will help contribute to her growth. Besides, she trusted her parents' judgment. Still, she couldn't get the feeling of apprehension off of her. She was so used to feeling calm and collected almost every day so the thought of just doing something that's out of her comfort zone has made her feel uneasy which was foreign for her. She could also feel this weird twinge of emotion just behind doubt. Was she feeling... excitement? Either way, Hinra figured she wouldn't have to waste any more time here. She didn't want to make her teammates wait longer than they should and set off a bad first impression. She stood up and picked up her mat, returned to her chambers to pick up her bag so she could leave. Well, she took in one final deep breath before leaving completely. She was informed that they will meet at a flying bison stable and she could hear voices coming from inside as she neared it. She found four people already there, one female and three males. All of them looked different from each other so this was a pretty diverse team in her eyes. She also saw what looked like the flying bison their group will be riding on for the entirety of their mission. All animals were adorable in Hinra's eyes and flying bisons were just on the same level of cuteness of koala sheeps, otter penguins, and turtle ducks. "Hinra Longtei. Pleased to make your acquaintance." She said formally to the group before nodding her head politely in greeting. Even though they haven't left yet, Hinra could tell this mission was going to change her life for good.</s> <\|message\|>Haoran "Hao" Li As his team arrived, Hao turned to face them replacing the soft, gentle smile that he gave Yuya into a more stern frown. He didn't picture them being so rag-tag, but inside he was happy that they didn't really notice who he was and question him about it, at least not yet. Raising his arm, he gave the air bison beside him another loving pet. "I'm Haoran Li and this is Yuya." "If there aren't any other questions and if you're all ready, we can start getting aboard with your things." Hao said as he signaled to the team to climb the rope ladder on the side of Yuya. This was his first time leading a real team and the anxiety he felt was through the roof, but he was a pro when it came to keeping a straight face, something he picked up from the nervousness his family always gave him. As the team all settled onto the large saddle firmly attached on the back of the air bison, Hao took the reins, still with a firm, yet blank stare. "Hold on tight, our destination is a few hours out, so please get comfortable." Slightly whipping Yuya's reins, the sky bison took off, mooing loudly as they lifted into the air. His team was made up of four benders, all from differing nations and a non-bender. First impressions were important to Hao as he reflected on each person and remembering what their files had said. All four members of Hao's team were proficient in their bending and combat, which was something he was happy to read up on. Ayuka Eiruni was said to be quite the hot-headed Fire Bender, but an extremely skilled fighter. Tikaani was energetic and from their first meeting, Hao hoped that energy and curiosity transferred into him proving himself as he and Ayuka were two of the younger and newer members on the team. Seung Bik on the other hand was more known in the White Lotus, having joined them at a later age than most recruits. He had created an academy of sorts or research center where others could learn Earth Bending techniques, something Hao was envious when he had heard about his story. Hao hoped he could rely on Brother Bik as he was more experienced in the world, but knew he had to earn the respect of him and the rest of his team. Last was Hinra Langtei, the only non-bender on the team. Hao didn't know much about her and she left him without a real impression, something he would have to figure out as their journey went on. Feeling the breeze rush across his body, the air bender slightly turned, half facing his team. "I know we just met, but I want to express how grateful I am to have you all here. We have a lot of work to do and this assignment isn't the easiest one out there for a first mission for most of you." Hao said. "I've been in your shoes before, but I want to let you all know that if you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to ask." Hao wanted to make sure his team knew that he could be a nice guy underneath the grumpy rest face he carried. Most of the time he was cold and distant, sure, and there were plenty of rumors that he had his head up his ass, thinking he was better than the rest. But there were times he could be quite kind towards others.</s>	<\|message\|>Seung Bik Brother Bik looked over the group then to the Airbender, Haoran Li if he remembered the letter he had been sent before being told to report here. It's interesting to see, he hadn't known who would be on the team, but since he joined he'd heard of the Li family. Members of the Lotus for who knows how many generations at this time, and Haoran being the most recent addition from the family. He bows in greeting then climbing up onto the sky bison. With a grin Bik pats the saddle then reached over and runs a hand over the fur of the great creatures back, "Amazing." And soon out comes a small notebook as he jotes down his observations, "An Air Bison, since the full return of the Air Nomads, one can see them alot more often. But to be up close. I spend too much time at the Academy, they are a rarity there you see." He nods to the group. Bik hums curiously, observing and trying to memorize faces, he's barely been a member of the Lotus for a year. Everything is still new to him as well. He'd never been called for missions before. Let alone on the all important mission to find the Avatar. As they took flight he hummed and coughed, "So, it's a pleasure to meet you all. And I look forward to working with you all on this adventure we're all going on. I'm sure between us and the other teams out there we'll be able to locate our new avatar. We're all White Lotus we can do this together. I'll do my best to be of use."</s>
<\|description\|>JeimSeu Igawzi Created by Harumi Shirayama on Pinterest \| JeimSeu stands an average 5'7" and weighs 136 lbs with a swimmer build. His hair is shoulder length now. Age: 17 Nationality: Filipino-Korean Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Tahimik na Pagninilay (Quiet Meditation) Tahimik na Pagninilay is about 5 feet in length. It is classified as a "polearm" weapon. Although heavy compared to other weapons, it is incredibly light in the right hands. The blade almost resembles glass or some sort of crystal. Noble Arm Abilities: Aside from the abilities listed below, Jeim can move the weapon without touching it. It is completely in tune with his mind. He can sense it even if he is separated from it, and the weapon will come to him when called. It has immense physical properties, able to move through matter by vibrating intensely or slicing through the hardest of matter. The Noble Arm allows him full control over sound and vibrations, and the spectrum therein. Below are just three of the skills he has acquired with training but is not limited to only these three. Quiet Negation: By focusing the innate powers of the weapon, JeimSeu can produce a field around him or anyone he chooses. This field of sonic vibration matches the specific vibration of incoming projectiles/abilities and dampens them to the point that negation occurs no matter how strong the attack. If it is a physical attack, the enemy is cast away like feedback and may receive laceration damage. This ability can only be used twice, after which a recharge period of 24 hours is needed to use again. Catostrophic Reverberation: By matching the sonic vibration to different matter that he strikes with his Noble Arm, Jeim can effectively cleave through it seemingly effortlessly. When facing other Noble Arms, this technique causes the other weapons to deflect like a magnet. Embodiment of Sound: Channeling the immense power of his Noble Arm, Jeim becomes the pure embodiment of sound and vibration. He becomes intangible to physical abilities, but is still susceptible to elemental abilities, although the damage he takes is dampened. Jeim can only maintain this form for at most 5 minutes max. His body, when overexerted, will become covered in lacerations. A recharge period of 24 hours is necessary to use the ability for 5 minutes. Accessing this skill before the recharge time can result in damage to the body. Personality: Jeim is very open to those he meets, but he likes to keep a low profile. Trust is something that is earned and not easily given. He is very cautious of those around him and will tend to shrink back his bubbly personality when facing someone new. Jeim is an extrovert and loves to have fun and is very sassy. He tries very hard not to allow his dark past to overshadow the future he wants to build. Jeim can be seen singing while strutting down the hallways of the school or training his body and martial skills. He has a dark side that shows up if he is tested by someone he doesn't like or by someone who has ill will against him. Likes: Music, Cooking, Training, Reading, His Feminine Features, Fashion. Dislikes: Foolish Behavior, Unnecessary Destruction, Irrationally Loud People, Judgement. Fears: Dying Alone, Failure, Normalcy. Bio: JeimSeu was born to a Filipino father and a Korean mother. His mother is an actress who travels a lot, leaving his father to take care of him. His father is a martial artist who has his own studio and is also a businessman. JeimSeu was raised to be tough and to stand tall among those around him. His father dislikes his feminine side while his mother embraces it and nurtures it. Because of his feminine side, his father trained him relentlessly hoping that it would somehow remove the feminine side of his son, but it only caused it to grow. Within the pain and heartache of not knowing if his father loved him, Jeim found his passion for fashion. It was through the outward expressions that he was able to live, thrive, and smile. All good things must eventually come to an end. During a walk home from school, Jeim was attacked. He didn't know how he called forth the Noble Arm, or how he managed to escape. All he remembered was seeing the agonizing look on the faces of the three boys who had attacked him. They were clutching their heads, screaming out in pain. Jeim rushed home afterward too scared to tell anyone. Even though he thought no one saw, someone was paying attention. The first visit was the most bizarre. He could remember the man's face. Handsome. Tall. Beautiful tanned skin. Jeim was infatuated at a young age over the mere presence of this man. The man spoke with his father on the first visit, but whatever he said to his father, Jeim remembered the curse words that spewed from his father's mouth. Each visit was more cautious and planned. The man visited him after school and on his route home. It became a normal occurrence for Jeim. Then the day came that the man revealed who he was. He told Jeim he was part of an organization known as the Hammer of Masters and that there were others like him. Jeim didn't believe it, but one day the man took Jeim to meet the members of the organization. Jeim was shocked to be around others like him. The man smiled as he watched Jeim talk to the other members until he could no longer. His father barely noticed him missing, but his mother called every chance she got and was happy to know that he'd found a friend, even if she didn't know about the gift. Shortly after being introduced, Jeim started training with the unnamed man. He was told how much his Noble Arm was needed, and how much stronger he would be if he focused on training the abilities of the weapon. Jeim was hesitant but took on to the training with fair ease. His father still had no clue about anything, and only realized he was missing when he hadn't seen him for a couple of days. The day his father witnessed his Noble Arm display was the day he sent him to Trinidad Academy in hopes that no one would find out. JeimSeu holds a bitter resentment towards his father and has dark thoughts that plague him. PS: The Man's name is Anton Riverez, a high member of the Hammers. *Current Goal: Assassination of an Important Figure. Student Rank: 132</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- Oscar decided today might be a good day to double up on his exercises and language learning, so he took a quick stroll down to the library to see how much audio books would cost. He saw that everything, not just the audio books, seemed to require you to rent the facilities. Thankfully the money he saved and given would clear him for quite a bit of time as the exchange rates were in his favor. Oh, thank you capitalism! You saved me this day! Was all that ran through his head as he had a big grin, not for the fact he was thinking something perverted. He has this smile when he is saving money, being highly efficient, or he is just in a good mood. Yet it seems to have given him a bad rep with people as they think he is thinking of perverted thoughts as he is just doing normal tasks. As he began looking through the library he asked some librarians where the English and Filipino audio books were and was directed quickly. As he was walking he was looking up which ones are the best, so he can try and learn the language as fast as he could. Oscar was excited to learn another language, after all to learn a new language means he would be able to understand the stories and culture better here. With that it would be a whole new level of mythology he would start to get to understand. Oh the excitement is just hard to contain, I wonder how long it would take me to learn the language? Hopefully not too long. While Oscar was walking, he noticed the School Paper near by and knew it had an English and Filipino/Tagalog, so he decided to read it and learn as he caught up on the news and walked towards the audio books. It seemed to speak of the coming visit by the two members of the Philippine Senate, Bam Aquino/Benigno Aquino the IVth and Samira Gutoc. "Hmm, this doesn't seem too fun. We'll probably have to sit through some speech and then some poor saps will have to accompany them", but Oscar shrugs as he then says, "Eh, not my problem I suppose". As he sets down the paper and began to continue towards the audio books in hopes of finding a good one before they are all gone.</s> <\|message\|>Henry Durand --- Henry --- Henry usually focused on his running when he was exercising but today was a different. He had 2 thoughts that kept running through his mind. Swimming and learning Filipino. His run would randomly stop as he would just end up looking towards the pool thinking that would be such nice exercise. Mix that with his halfhearted attempt at practicing greetings led to a bit of an awkward spectacle. Eventually, Henry finished his run and took seat under a tree to rest a bit and try to clear his thought. I guess I'll try to take care of the things I can. Henry hops up onto his feet then leaps to a sturdy tree branch and begins to do one armed pull ups, switching off every 20. Okay, so Virgil Vazquez is the one renting the pool right now. I could just go ahead and ask him if i could use the pool. I even heard he has been letting normal people in! Wait wait, What if it's a trap to get more cronies? Do I mind being one of his goons. Henry switches from pull ups to upside down crunches. I mean if he is a upstanding guy I don't think it would be that bad. He hops off when he is done and decides to go and talk to him. the best way to figure things out is to be direct. The problem is he has no idea where Virgil is. Henry just decides to jog around until he finds him.</s> <\|message\|>Vane Wilson Vane --- It was an early morning. A schedule that Vane still hasn't adjusted to even after a week has passed in the first semester. He just finished up the required daily rituals and was lazily taking a walk. A yawn slipped out of his mouth. He made no moves to cover it up. He was slightly annoyed that he couldn't use the training facilities due to a certain Virgil; however, it wasn't all that bad. He can just train his body with push-ups, squats, and daily jogs. "Might as well go inside the building." The sound of a fight made him curiously turn his head towards that direction. He was greeted by the impact of two people running into him. The surprise of it almost knocked him down, but he balanced himself to view the conflict. "A two-on-five?" It seemed like a nice potential fight for him to get involved in. If he were to go all in on it, the best option would be to turn all of them on him. He thought for just a split second before acting like a busybody. He got in the way of those students running towards the other two that crashed into him. "Come on now. You guys don't need to fight this early in the morning, right? You can just save it for sparring." He cheerfully smiled at everyone even though his heart wasn't in it this early in the day. His tired eyes were clearly visible to those who were even mildly perceptive.</s>	<\|message\|>JeimSeu Igawzi Jeimseu the Silent Assassin --- Jeim, if anything, was punctual. He stood in front of a training dummy shirtless. He was always the first one awake. He would go to bed around 8 or 9 pm and would be up and functioning by 5 am. Today he would forgo breakfast and prayer and would focus on training his body as he often did. He focused his breathing, remembering what the older man would tell him. "Who are you?" he would ask Jeim. "I am the bringer of silence." Jeim would respond. "What is your purpose?" "To silence opposition." "How will you do this?" "By any means necessary." Jeim had struck the wooden dummy so hard it had caused splinters to break off. His muscles rippled with every punch that collided. His mind went back to his past. Training day in and out, his father not caring where he was or who he was with. The man was the epitome of a worthless father. Had it not been for his mother, Jeim would have run away long ago. Being at Trinidad Academy was his way of getting away from his no good father. The only downside is that he didn't get to see his mother as much as he'd like, and he missed HIM. The very man who was like an older brother to him, showing him and guiding him. If it had not been for that man he wouldn't know what this strange gift was. Jeim flipped away from the wooden dummy after landing a well placed kick. His noble arms appeared, falling into his open hand with a soft thud. Jeim lifted the blade and smirked. With one swing, sound burst forth in an arc, visible only to the trained eye. It struck the wooden dummy and dispersed. Jeim stood up slowly from his crouched position and watched as the dummy slowly fell to the ground in two pieces. His noble arm vanished from his hand as he heard footsteps coming. "Strange, I am normally the only one here," he said softly as he moved to grab his shirt. That was when he heard the voice. It was calm and informative. Jeim listened with his eyes closed, an odd smile on his face. Whoever planned to betray him would suffer, just as the others suffered. He grabbed his shirt and moved towards the showers. There wasn't enough time in a day for all of this, but Jeim always made sure to get as much training as he possibly could. Training developed one's abilities and as such allowed one to grow stronger.</s>
<\|description\|>JeimSeu Igawzi Created by Harumi Shirayama on Pinterest \| JeimSeu stands an average 5'7" and weighs 136 lbs with a swimmer build. His hair is shoulder length now. Age: 17 Nationality: Filipino-Korean Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Tahimik na Pagninilay (Quiet Meditation) Tahimik na Pagninilay is about 5 feet in length. It is classified as a "polearm" weapon. Although heavy compared to other weapons, it is incredibly light in the right hands. The blade almost resembles glass or some sort of crystal. Noble Arm Abilities: Aside from the abilities listed below, Jeim can move the weapon without touching it. It is completely in tune with his mind. He can sense it even if he is separated from it, and the weapon will come to him when called. It has immense physical properties, able to move through matter by vibrating intensely or slicing through the hardest of matter. The Noble Arm allows him full control over sound and vibrations, and the spectrum therein. Below are just three of the skills he has acquired with training but is not limited to only these three. Quiet Negation: By focusing the innate powers of the weapon, JeimSeu can produce a field around him or anyone he chooses. This field of sonic vibration matches the specific vibration of incoming projectiles/abilities and dampens them to the point that negation occurs no matter how strong the attack. If it is a physical attack, the enemy is cast away like feedback and may receive laceration damage. This ability can only be used twice, after which a recharge period of 24 hours is needed to use again. Catostrophic Reverberation: By matching the sonic vibration to different matter that he strikes with his Noble Arm, Jeim can effectively cleave through it seemingly effortlessly. When facing other Noble Arms, this technique causes the other weapons to deflect like a magnet. Embodiment of Sound: Channeling the immense power of his Noble Arm, Jeim becomes the pure embodiment of sound and vibration. He becomes intangible to physical abilities, but is still susceptible to elemental abilities, although the damage he takes is dampened. Jeim can only maintain this form for at most 5 minutes max. His body, when overexerted, will become covered in lacerations. A recharge period of 24 hours is necessary to use the ability for 5 minutes. Accessing this skill before the recharge time can result in damage to the body. Personality: Jeim is very open to those he meets, but he likes to keep a low profile. Trust is something that is earned and not easily given. He is very cautious of those around him and will tend to shrink back his bubbly personality when facing someone new. Jeim is an extrovert and loves to have fun and is very sassy. He tries very hard not to allow his dark past to overshadow the future he wants to build. Jeim can be seen singing while strutting down the hallways of the school or training his body and martial skills. He has a dark side that shows up if he is tested by someone he doesn't like or by someone who has ill will against him. Likes: Music, Cooking, Training, Reading, His Feminine Features, Fashion. Dislikes: Foolish Behavior, Unnecessary Destruction, Irrationally Loud People, Judgement. Fears: Dying Alone, Failure, Normalcy. Bio: JeimSeu was born to a Filipino father and a Korean mother. His mother is an actress who travels a lot, leaving his father to take care of him. His father is a martial artist who has his own studio and is also a businessman. JeimSeu was raised to be tough and to stand tall among those around him. His father dislikes his feminine side while his mother embraces it and nurtures it. Because of his feminine side, his father trained him relentlessly hoping that it would somehow remove the feminine side of his son, but it only caused it to grow. Within the pain and heartache of not knowing if his father loved him, Jeim found his passion for fashion. It was through the outward expressions that he was able to live, thrive, and smile. All good things must eventually come to an end. During a walk home from school, Jeim was attacked. He didn't know how he called forth the Noble Arm, or how he managed to escape. All he remembered was seeing the agonizing look on the faces of the three boys who had attacked him. They were clutching their heads, screaming out in pain. Jeim rushed home afterward too scared to tell anyone. Even though he thought no one saw, someone was paying attention. The first visit was the most bizarre. He could remember the man's face. Handsome. Tall. Beautiful tanned skin. Jeim was infatuated at a young age over the mere presence of this man. The man spoke with his father on the first visit, but whatever he said to his father, Jeim remembered the curse words that spewed from his father's mouth. Each visit was more cautious and planned. The man visited him after school and on his route home. It became a normal occurrence for Jeim. Then the day came that the man revealed who he was. He told Jeim he was part of an organization known as the Hammer of Masters and that there were others like him. Jeim didn't believe it, but one day the man took Jeim to meet the members of the organization. Jeim was shocked to be around others like him. The man smiled as he watched Jeim talk to the other members until he could no longer. His father barely noticed him missing, but his mother called every chance she got and was happy to know that he'd found a friend, even if she didn't know about the gift. Shortly after being introduced, Jeim started training with the unnamed man. He was told how much his Noble Arm was needed, and how much stronger he would be if he focused on training the abilities of the weapon. Jeim was hesitant but took on to the training with fair ease. His father still had no clue about anything, and only realized he was missing when he hadn't seen him for a couple of days. The day his father witnessed his Noble Arm display was the day he sent him to Trinidad Academy in hopes that no one would find out. JeimSeu holds a bitter resentment towards his father and has dark thoughts that plague him. PS: The Man's name is Anton Riverez, a high member of the Hammers. *Current Goal: Assassination of an Important Figure. Student Rank: 132</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- When Oscar began to come over fully, he noticed that Henry seemed off put or even concerned, maybe he doesn't know him. After all, it has been a week since they came here. Knowing the names of all first years is hard, Oscar just knows quite a few people from their prominence or their note worthy looks. However, Henry seemed to have answered quickly with, "Sorry, I really don't know what we are here for either. It's nice to know I was not the only one to show up though." Oscar knew that would be the response, yet it does at least lead into a more sociable topic. Yet, as he was about to speak up and try to strike conversation, someone new came in and started talking, "Oscar Helgrem and Henry Durand right? I'm Jordan Quinn, any idea what is going on? It's kinda strange." Oscar was happy to actually see everyone here, as he would not like to be here and try to protect the senators with them, and hey they could make this as a good experience to maybe make some new friends. He has seen Jordan and he seems like a nice guy, just maybe quiet. They both seem nice, probably very similar, as they act nearly the same. One is just a foot taller than the other. As Oscar was about to speak up again he was interrupted one more time. Oscar does not despise getting cut off he is just getting annoyed now as it happened within literal seconds of each other. Great, I can't say god damn thing. Everyone's timing is so god damn great at interrupting me from trying to speak! As Oscar turned his attention towards the now incoming teacher, as he takes notice of Mr. Cinter. As he realizes that Henry and Mr. Cinter are giants, they could probably take a bullet and just laugh at the bullet. As Mr. Oli began to speak, Oscar began to listen to what he had to say. Alrighty, that was my general idea, good to know that the paper knows more than I do at times. I should read it more, obviously it spreads news like wild fire and anyone can get it. As Oscar thinks through this, Mr. Cinter continues on to explain each of their weapons and Oscar's was first. As Oli immediately gets his Noble Arm wrong, Sword of...truth? I...just won't humor it. Might have been a reading error, who knows? Oscar just chuckles slightly as Mr. Cinter continues as Oscar listens with intent to try and figure out what he is teamed up with. A fist type and a long rifle? Hmm, all we can really say is that we have no worries about close or long range, we just have no defensive Noble Arms, so we will have to hope we thwart all attacks before they start. As now, Mr. Cinter asks them the question they were all waiting for, "...Will you take this opportunity up and watch over the two senators when they arrive later today?" Oscar already knew his answer around 5 minutes ago, yet now with everything set in front of him, he knew he had no true choice, as his own morals wouldn't let him. To leave two people unprotected, was already a no brainer, yet when it could help with the school and the Arms masters in-training here it became something he had to do. As Oscar realizes that he is the last to respond to Mr. Cinter, he gives out a slight chuckle andrubs the back of his head, "Well I guess I would look lame if I didn't take up the mantle. I'll help protect the senators." Oscar had a small smile as he said this. Not realizing he had it, yet knew well enough this is a step towards his goals and dream. Just taking his first steps forward. @BigPapaBelial</s> <\|message\|>Jordan Quinn Oli Cinter and Jordan Quinn Jordan grinned broadly and pumped his fist. Not because this situation is amazing, no, more that he gets to use his Noble Arm in a situation that he can actually test what he's been learning here in the Academy. Shooting at targets and bottles is one thing, but this time he'll be able to see how his Arm works when it's actually in a situation where it counts. Targets and bottles don't move very much after all. He takes a deep breath, "Alright...so...what now?" He looks at the two other students, no his teammates, then back at Coach Cinter. Oli for his part is nodding slowly and it looks like a weight has been taken off his shoulders. He relaxes a little, "For now you three, go about your days as usual." Internally Oli is spinning in circles and yelling victoriously I got all three! Aw yeah I rock!, is the thought in his head at that moment, but he keeps a straight face, "I need to alert the Director about your agreement to the assignment. When the times comes to stand too, I or another, more like myself, will email you with an alert to get into position when the time comes. For now, you three, maybe stick around get to know each other." He grins, "And thank you, sincerely and deeply, for taking on this mission gentlemen. We can consider this a huge step in the right direction for yourselves, the school and for Noble Arms everywhere. I'll leave you be and go and alert the Director." He winks at the three turns on his heel and tromps off. Jordan blinks, "Well, umm I'll be honest, I've only ever seen the two of you at a distance. So uh, "I'm Jordan Quinn, from Alberta Canada, it's great to meet you." He hums then takes a deep breath and holds out his hand, that walnut finish, silver and platinum musket appearing in his outstretched hand, "And this, is La Longue Carabine, named after a great Mohawk scout way back during colonization. So I guess I'm our long range option in all this." He smiles, "So, yeah pleased to meet you both." He spun his Noble Arm up onto his shoulder, resting it over his right shoulder almost casually. @dragonpiece Oli jogged down the halls carefully, weaving through early bird students heading to class early or too other venues as the time for class draws nearer. Up he goes, towards the Director's office. Checking the time, his first class isn't for awhile yet, so he has time. Taking the stairs three at a time until with a hop, and a little skip step he stops at the Directors door. Straightening his coat and the shirt under it he reaches up and raps on the door, calling through it, "Director? It's me Oliver Cinter, I have an update for you." Bee</s>	<\|message\|>JeimSeu Igawzi Jeimseu the Bringer of Silence --- Jeim had made it into the shower room when he felt the presence of another. This wasn't the normal routine he was used to, but it wouldn't stop him from showering and getting ready for the rest of his day. Jeimseu had no intention of talking to the guy who had strolled casually into his space, but when he mentioned someone named Virgil, his ears opened to the possibility of this older guy having information he may find useful. Jeim turned to look at Malenkov. He watched him remove articles of clothing and toss them into a basket. He seemed to be waiting on Jeim to do the same. Smirking, he continued to listen to him while slowly removing piece by piece of his attire, folding it neatly before stepping underneath the showerhead. Jeim's body was toned from all the training he did over the years. He wasn't a stick figure, and he felt good about his appearance. He didn't let others bring down his mood with their opinions of him or his appearance. As he listened to Malenkov, he raised an eyebrow. So this was the help he was supposed to have when the time came to kill their target? He was talkative, Jeim would give him that much, but if the voice he'd heard was right, then this boy and his helper would try to betray him. A long-ranged snipe. A killing blow. As he listened, he mentally took notes. This was his mission, and he didn't like sharing, but the voice played over in his head as he turned to look at Malenkov. The male's body was nice under the showerhead. The water cascaded down his nude form and hit the wet floor. Jeim's eyes slowly moved from the male's head down to his feet and he quickly looked away to make sure he wasn't noticed. Those kinds of thoughts were forbidden. He had a job to do, and he had things to learn. There was no time for relationships or any of that. If you keep people away from your heart they can't break it later. Finally, after Malenkov finished speaking, Jeim gave a half-smile. "So you and this Virgil guy are supposed to help? You haven't even shown me what you can do so how can I rely on you to do what needs to be done when the time comes?"</s>
<\|description\|>JeimSeu Igawzi Created by Harumi Shirayama on Pinterest \| JeimSeu stands an average 5'7" and weighs 136 lbs with a swimmer build. His hair is shoulder length now. Age: 17 Nationality: Filipino-Korean Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Tahimik na Pagninilay (Quiet Meditation) Tahimik na Pagninilay is about 5 feet in length. It is classified as a "polearm" weapon. Although heavy compared to other weapons, it is incredibly light in the right hands. The blade almost resembles glass or some sort of crystal. Noble Arm Abilities: Aside from the abilities listed below, Jeim can move the weapon without touching it. It is completely in tune with his mind. He can sense it even if he is separated from it, and the weapon will come to him when called. It has immense physical properties, able to move through matter by vibrating intensely or slicing through the hardest of matter. The Noble Arm allows him full control over sound and vibrations, and the spectrum therein. Below are just three of the skills he has acquired with training but is not limited to only these three. Quiet Negation: By focusing the innate powers of the weapon, JeimSeu can produce a field around him or anyone he chooses. This field of sonic vibration matches the specific vibration of incoming projectiles/abilities and dampens them to the point that negation occurs no matter how strong the attack. If it is a physical attack, the enemy is cast away like feedback and may receive laceration damage. This ability can only be used twice, after which a recharge period of 24 hours is needed to use again. Catostrophic Reverberation: By matching the sonic vibration to different matter that he strikes with his Noble Arm, Jeim can effectively cleave through it seemingly effortlessly. When facing other Noble Arms, this technique causes the other weapons to deflect like a magnet. Embodiment of Sound: Channeling the immense power of his Noble Arm, Jeim becomes the pure embodiment of sound and vibration. He becomes intangible to physical abilities, but is still susceptible to elemental abilities, although the damage he takes is dampened. Jeim can only maintain this form for at most 5 minutes max. His body, when overexerted, will become covered in lacerations. A recharge period of 24 hours is necessary to use the ability for 5 minutes. Accessing this skill before the recharge time can result in damage to the body. Personality: Jeim is very open to those he meets, but he likes to keep a low profile. Trust is something that is earned and not easily given. He is very cautious of those around him and will tend to shrink back his bubbly personality when facing someone new. Jeim is an extrovert and loves to have fun and is very sassy. He tries very hard not to allow his dark past to overshadow the future he wants to build. Jeim can be seen singing while strutting down the hallways of the school or training his body and martial skills. He has a dark side that shows up if he is tested by someone he doesn't like or by someone who has ill will against him. Likes: Music, Cooking, Training, Reading, His Feminine Features, Fashion. Dislikes: Foolish Behavior, Unnecessary Destruction, Irrationally Loud People, Judgement. Fears: Dying Alone, Failure, Normalcy. Bio: JeimSeu was born to a Filipino father and a Korean mother. His mother is an actress who travels a lot, leaving his father to take care of him. His father is a martial artist who has his own studio and is also a businessman. JeimSeu was raised to be tough and to stand tall among those around him. His father dislikes his feminine side while his mother embraces it and nurtures it. Because of his feminine side, his father trained him relentlessly hoping that it would somehow remove the feminine side of his son, but it only caused it to grow. Within the pain and heartache of not knowing if his father loved him, Jeim found his passion for fashion. It was through the outward expressions that he was able to live, thrive, and smile. All good things must eventually come to an end. During a walk home from school, Jeim was attacked. He didn't know how he called forth the Noble Arm, or how he managed to escape. All he remembered was seeing the agonizing look on the faces of the three boys who had attacked him. They were clutching their heads, screaming out in pain. Jeim rushed home afterward too scared to tell anyone. Even though he thought no one saw, someone was paying attention. The first visit was the most bizarre. He could remember the man's face. Handsome. Tall. Beautiful tanned skin. Jeim was infatuated at a young age over the mere presence of this man. The man spoke with his father on the first visit, but whatever he said to his father, Jeim remembered the curse words that spewed from his father's mouth. Each visit was more cautious and planned. The man visited him after school and on his route home. It became a normal occurrence for Jeim. Then the day came that the man revealed who he was. He told Jeim he was part of an organization known as the Hammer of Masters and that there were others like him. Jeim didn't believe it, but one day the man took Jeim to meet the members of the organization. Jeim was shocked to be around others like him. The man smiled as he watched Jeim talk to the other members until he could no longer. His father barely noticed him missing, but his mother called every chance she got and was happy to know that he'd found a friend, even if she didn't know about the gift. Shortly after being introduced, Jeim started training with the unnamed man. He was told how much his Noble Arm was needed, and how much stronger he would be if he focused on training the abilities of the weapon. Jeim was hesitant but took on to the training with fair ease. His father still had no clue about anything, and only realized he was missing when he hadn't seen him for a couple of days. The day his father witnessed his Noble Arm display was the day he sent him to Trinidad Academy in hopes that no one would find out. JeimSeu holds a bitter resentment towards his father and has dark thoughts that plague him. PS: The Man's name is Anton Riverez, a high member of the Hammers. *Current Goal: Assassination of an Important Figure. Student Rank: 132</s> <\|message\|>Henry Durand --- Henry --- Once I was done talking Oscar began his introduction. Wait Sword of Piece? I thought it wa- Before Henry had the time to question what the name of Oscar's Arm, the golden light appeared on his chest as he rips the sword of whatever out of his chest. Henry looked at the beautiful sword and immediately liked it. That looks Magical as Hell! Henry was for a moment stunned but then his mind refocused to what Oscar was saying. Oh he is from the Arizona? Where is Arizona? As once again he didn't have time to recall information as he gives even cooler information. As Oscar plunges the sword toward, Henry started to cringe immediately as he was expecting to hear aloud cling or worse the wrenching sound of bending steal. But to Henry's very visible surprise it entered the ground without a noise of even the slightest effort. Is it super sharp? Does it go trough any obstacle? As Oscar explained Henry began to realize that he hasn't had his Arm for long by the way he doesn't seem to know it's properties very well. Or he isn't giving all the details because it would be to his detriment. Oscar's comment about people not wanting to fight me would be helpful but I should let them know I am not that skilled. With a slightly disappointing smile on henry's face "Actually, while I have the body and Arm to be a combat expert I lack a lot of practical experience." The question Oscar posed went right over Henry's head. Guns weren't something that he interacted with. He is not sure if he ever even held a gun before. He realized at that moment that he should take time to learn more about them for safety. I can probably ask Jordan about them or Oscar, he does sound American after all. Wait is that where Arizona is? As Henry finally had time to put his thoughts together he was ready to make a comment on it would make him an excellent deterrent but Jordan beat him to the punch on that. Not like that was a difficult accomplishment. So Henry nodded along in agreement. He would make a great sparing partner with that huh? I should ask if he would be interested in that after we guard the senators. As Jordan explains how it reloads Henry more or less nods to show he understand. On the inside he is realizing his illiteracy towards guns is far deeper then he thought. As he primes it Henry gleamed that you pull the small metal piece then you need to pull the trigger. He thinks he knows that much now which is 100% more then he knew before so cool. As Oscar seems really impressed Henry is left there feeling like the new guy who can't tell why it is even cool. As Oscar then asked how my defensive ability works "Oh yeah. Since I will need a little help with it I should let you know. I take physical Force and I can absorb some of it in me and then I can use it to put a shield on myself or other people. I'm going to begin charging it up now for safety. So if you guys could maybe help me get a jump start on it that would be great." Henry smiles at them hopefully convincing them to help cause he would have to do a lot of needless exercise to build up enough to stop something serious. "Let us work together well to complete the mission." Henry says while still smiling now extending a hand out to shake on their new team. @BigPapaBelial</s> <\|message\|>Vane Wilson Vane --- "Huh, we do? Now that I think about it, I might remember you guys." Vane made a note of all four of them sharing the same class while resting the back of his head on his hands. He walked in that carefree position all the way to class with everyone around him. All he could think about was pushing through the classes and then getting some training in, possibly sparring with others. Since he already knew a bit about Nuru... "You two shorties," he began, obviously referring to Cynthia and Pablo. "Who are you guys? I know the big dude, but you guys are a mystery to me. Entertain me with some small talk while we head to class won't you?" It was then that the bell rang. Vane clicked his teeth in disappointment and picked up his pace. He's gonna make Virgil his sparring partner for sapping the rest of his free time away. He just has to sit through all the slow-paced classes until he gets to the blood-pumping good stuff. Bee</s> <\|message\|>Jordan Quinn Jordan Quinn Jordan smiled broadly and looked between his two new teammates, he wouldn't call them quite friends yet, but teammates and compatriots works. He reaches out and places his hand with Henry's and gives it a firm shaking, "I like the sound of that. Between us three we ought to do great." He looked to Oscar, "What do you think? I think we've got this covered." He claps a hand on Oscar's arm and nods to him. It's just then that Jordan's phone starts to rattle and beep. He blinks and whips it out, it's an alarm, that classes are going to start any second, "Oh crap! We're gonna be late for homeroom!" He unsummons La Longue Carabine, "Crap crap crap, hey we got some time. See you guys in class!" HE races off shouting something about, "I forgot my book bag back at my room!" Oli Cinter Having reported to the director that their three guards had said yes to the mission and making sure Johnny is okay. Oli had started back towards the gym and his first class of the day with some of the other students. He'd see the class the guards are in later. As he's going he jumps aside as Jordan comes racing out of the gym and making for the dorms, "Be careful you crazy man! If your homeroom says you're late just tell them you have an excuse and tell them to come to me!" He enters the gym to see Oscar and Henry, "Oi! You two! Git! I have a class of Firsties coming in shortly and I need the gym." He makes shooing motions getting the pair moving. As he gets them out the door and starting down the hall he calls after them, "Stay safe. And you'll get your call to get to your positions later." He then throws both doors open as a bunch of first year students come thundering towards the gym. oli can be heard calling out, "You give me 5 laps jogging, then 2 laps sprinting before you even dare get to the center of the gym! You move!" Followed by a laugh and Oli racing past the door leading the pack. @Th3King0fChaos</s>	<\|message\|>JeimSeu Igawzi Jeimseu the Silent Assassin --- Impatient. Jeimseu was more patient than most men his age, but to hear someone say he was impatient made him smile for a reason he didn't even know. Maybe this Malenkov brought with him a new thrill that Jeim had yearned for. It had been a while since he'd heard from the Hammer. He missed the communication with them and the atmosphere was always lively, unlike this school which lacked the very essence of what he yearned for. Jeimseu observed the older male as he displayed his Noble Arm and, like a faucet, divulged the abilities of his weapon. A gun. How mediocre. How bland. Jeim would have rolled his eyes had he not heard the soft voice whisper in his ears once again. Things would come together and the weak would perish under the foot of the strong. There was no place for weakminded sheep, not in the Hammer, not where he was trained. Jeimseu blinked a few times processing what Malenkov said and shrugged his shoulders. "If you are aware that he will betray you, why do you still go forward with it? Why not kill him afterward? No loose ends right?" The fact that he suggested such a devious act was unlike Jeim. He didn't kill without reason, and given the chance, he would slay Malenkov where he stood, but he was needed, as was Virgil. All a part of a plan to get him a more suitable target. He didn't want to waste his skills. His training had become valuable to him. All the sleepless nights of taking his body to the limits of breaking and beyond. All to satisfy a man he viewed as an older brother, more so a father figure in his life. Whatever made him happy made Jeim happy. The bell rang signaling the end of their conversation. Jeim pulled on his articles of clothing and pulled his hair into a ponytail. His hair was long and ventured between the color spectrum of lilac and soft pink. It was beautiful to the eye. Jeim stepped pass Malenkov as if he didn't see him and left the showers.</s>
<\|description\|>Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin Appearance: He stands at 5ft 9 ¼ inches tall and weighs 73 kilograms. Age: 18 Nationality: Russian Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Imperial Fists - A pair of floating hands made of stark white stone. They glow a ghostly green whenever they are in use. Noble Arm Rank: B Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Ranged/Retaliation/Close to Long Range Noble Arm Abilities: Consecration: Nikolay is able to command the Fists to his whim. Thus, he can use them for manipulating/holding objects and directly attacking assailants. Retribution: The Fists are capable of absorbing and emitting energy from attacks directed against their wielder. They have an upper limit of absorption of up to the power of a hand grenade, though this is not known at this time. The Fists emit the energy that they receive in the following ways: - Kinetic: Concussive Blasts/Increased Punching Force - Fire: Fireballs/Firestreams - Magic: Energy beams - Radiation: Focused rays - Electricity: Tesla bolts Retribution is not without its faults. The Fists are tied directly to the user's state of mind; as such, losing focus or even just mere hesitation can cause them to stop whatever they are doing. They will also crack if they take in too much power, forcing them to return to the pocket dimension to regenerate. Mobotone: The Fists switch to a red color and emit all stored energy. In return, they are able to fire beams of magic energy with a lengthy cooldown, though each shot has a high damage potential. Monotone can also switch to a rapid fire mode that rapidly shoots magic bullets, though this is ineffective against armored or shielded targets. Misc Abilities: Pretenseful Voice: He is able to switch accents at will, allowing him to present himself as an American, Englishman, or a Scotsman. High Level Intelligence: He excels in most subjects, though he detests mathematics. Personality: Nikolay Andreevich is a rather literal minded boy, as he often fails to comprehend idioms and metaphorical remarks. He usually takes words at face value, and as a result, is often the last person to understand a joke. Despite this, however, he is quite intelligent and persevering, spending more time on books and writing than anything else. When out in the world, he is rather socially awkward and often speaks in sentence fragments. However, when in private with his close circle of friends, he can be seen as boisterous, insane even. He is quite affectionate towards his friends, and there has never been a time when he forgot anyone's birthday. Nikolay also does NOT like going solo, and prefers to do things together. Likes: Cats, Pizzas, the French, and hugs (and kisses). Dislikes: Communism, broccoli, mayonnaise, and most politicians. Fears: Being abandoned. Bio: Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin was born in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the provincial capital of the Sakhalin Oblast in the Russian Far East north of Japan. He was the elder of two siblings, as he was older than his sister by three years. One look at his family immediately betrays the terrible kind of early life that he had in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk; his father, Pavel, was a massive alcoholic, a prime specimen of a casualty of Russia's crippling problem of alcoholism that has afflicted the nation ever since the Soviet Union fell. There were times when his father didn't return for days, and when he did, all he would do was sleep, and then demand more money from Nikolay's mother to satiate his addiction to vodka. While all of this was going on, Nikolay found refuge and companionship in the Internet, where it seemed that strangers from across the planet had far more compassion and understanding than his own alcohol addled father. In his spare time in between school and home, he would go out to the fields of Sakhalin, immersing himself in the tranquility of the wilds beyond civilization. This continued until Nikolay was 16, when his mother, Katya, had enough, and moved along with her son and daughter to her parents in Vladivostok, leaving Pavel in Sakhalin to waste away. However, upon arrival in Vladivostok, they were robbed almost immediately as a thief snatched Katya's purse. It was at this time that Nikolay finally managed his Noble Arm as two hands of pure white rushed out of a portal and dragged the thief back towards them. Word quickly got out, and his mother was elated to see that her son was indeed one of the gifted. Russia's own Noble Arm Universities called, but Trinidad University was closer to Vladivostok and thus was the first to send an invite. Nikolay looked upon a mother brimming with pride and a sister that will miss him very much, and swore to do his best as a student in Trinidad... *Current Goal: Attain the best version of himself. Student Rank: 47</s> <\|message\|>Pablo Legazpi GM Post Pablo, Jeim, Vane, Henry, Oscar, and Nikolay Pablo instinctively enclosed Jeim in his arms, holding him tight before saying, "I was thinking of you, actually. And we're boyfriends now?" His expression was that of a puppy searching for affection, melting at Jeim's touch even as his mind burned with the urge to try and 'redeem' Jeim as soon as possible, to show him that his mentor in the Hammers was an exploitative, even abusive, ass who would gladly throw Jeim away, not knowing that the Korean-Filipino/Filipino-Korean deserved more. How Pablo wanted to kiss the other student, to publicly display affection in ways others might deem scandalous! But he won't - Not when Jeim was just putting up a cover. Pablo nevertheless relaxed and softened his posture before saying, "I hope you're seriously proposing - My heart will break if you're just playing with it." Pablo knew he was doing that anyway - Jeim was too engrossed with preserving his cover to actually have a serious relationship. That and he was probably infatuated with his Mentor anyway. So he waited for the other young man to get off him, all the while as his own body was flowing with urges due to the closeness of Jeim's own. How he wished that he were in Malenkov's position right now! A shadow then covered them both - It was a Human-sized Siege Tower, two meters tall and one meter wide, with tiny ballistae and catapults on top. It was a Noble Arm projected by one Kim Daehan, a full-blooded Korean who was another member of Malenkov's cell. "Can you two sick fucks stop with the public displays of affection already?!" the tall, well-muscled (though not as much as Henry) student shouted at Pablo and Jeim. "Some of us are trying to study here!" Pablo whispered into Jeim's ear, his composure recovered, "I think Mr. Daehan himself has a crush on me - Don't ask how I knew that." "I heard you, you twink-wannabe!" Kim shouted, "And I'm giving you valuable life advice: Stop acting as if your life is your personal Yaoi Hentai fantasy - No one likes your 'magical realms' except yourself!" Pabo whispered again, "He and I used to play Tabletop Games together - He plays overpowered characters with absurd combinations of skills, I GM scenarios involving his character ending up shirtless or… Unclothed. Let's just say he throws shit at me for that, just as I complain that he defeats all challenges with a few rolls." "You're just jealous because I am better at building characters than you are!" was Kim's enraged response. "I can create characters with anti-everything chaotic damage, unlimited initiative ratings, divine armor, and multiple anti-world artifacts!" A new voice broke in - A young Japanese woman, about 15 years of age, was patting Kim's shoulder, saying, "Stop associating with the wilfully ignorant. Those who fail to see the truth we wield deserve naught but our scorn and bafflement that they do not think the same, elevated way we do. Once those who are smarter, more rational, and better rule the world, we can usher in Utopia." "Okay, goodbye!" Pablo said, even as the voice, the telepathic message from the Hammers, whispered into Jeim's ears again. These are Malenkov's associates, Kim Daehan, the 'Siege Tower', and Kasumi Karasuma, the Arbiter of Fate. The former's Noble Arm is plain as day, the latter is a Katana which tricks the weak-willed into thinking that it can alter Fate and Time. Once Malenkov is gone, you will either lead them or kill them. @dragonpiece@Not Fungus@The Man Emperor@Th3King0fChaos@TheHangedMan</s> <\|message\|>Vane Wilson Vane --- The monotonous and boring wait for the class to start was broken up by Vane's fellow students. Their colorful nature naturally painting over the dull atmosphere of the room with their own vibrant life. Jeim's presence brought a smile to Vane's own features with the possibility of a fight ever so present. As he looked on at the blatant flirting between Jeim and Pablo, he became even more amused at the interruption. "Come on, Kim. Let them enjoy themselves while the rest can study. It's not like the studious will be all that distracted by something like this, right?" This was a wonderful day aside from the early morning that forces him to wake up at a murderous time. Though that little Japanese girl makes him want to act a little bit more like Keith and mess with her. Her self-assurance and unparalleled confidence is screaming at Vane to just poke and prod at it a little bit. And so he did. "Aw, that was a little rude, little girl. Nobody really knows the truth of the world, so we're all ignorant there." He closed his eyes and felt a little smirk come on to his face as he pushed a little further. "I'm already living in Utopia anyways. Guess that means I'm smarter, more rational, and a better ruler than you are, though you'll get to where I am with a little more experience when you grow up some more." He didn't even bother holding in his laugh.</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- As Oscar was waiting he looked away as he was watching the clock as he felt himself get lifted up as Oscar realized he was being man handled by Mt. Everest as he took a breath in and sighed as he felt his stomach hit the man's giant ass boulders for shoulders. As he let out a chuckle as Oscar waved Nikolay as he says, "Well talk to you later". As his voice trails off as they run. Oscar is laughing as he waves to everybody as he passes them by. As when they come skidding to the classroom, there stood Jeimseu as he waved to them and made a more than playful face towards them. As Oscar makes a playful wave as he is taken into the class then set down. As Oscar is internally laughing at what a strange situation that had happened. He was carried and taken to class by Henry Mountain-born, as he ran past so many people and waved to everybody like a princess being carried by her prince? Yet that good mood fades slightly as he heard some people yelling/talking. Oscar's eyes slowly fell to the perpetrators. As he saw some of the strangest people in front of him, a man the size of Henry, and a small Japanese woman. As the larger man seems to be bashing on…'Pablo and Jeimseu? Well never expected those two to be together. But that big guy could be less of a fuck face'. As Oscar was about to step in, he saw the girl go and break the argument quickly and they stepped down, but not without a sly remark. As Oscar takes a seat calmly and quietly he is having himself calm down as he was about to go off on that girl. Elitism is not something Oscar thought he was gonna deal with today. Yet as it seems that it is all that he is seeing. As he is about to take a seat as he hears Vane talk to the girl. Oscar almost spills over his silent laughter as he hears some of the dumbest shit Oscar heard all day. 'Vane, you need to stop you dumb-ass! Class is about to begin' Oscar continues to listen now even with even his smile hard to contain with Oscar now feeling okay and better after that angering moment.</s>	<\|message\|>Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin \| The Imperial Fist \| You Wot Mate?! "I can't believe that I'm seeing all of this.", Nikolay grumbled with a low voice as he watched... many things unfold within the classroom. He had arrived in the room, reading a Warhammer 40K novel on his phone beginning from the moment since Henry bolted off with Oscar on his shoulder. They were a fun sight, those two; if Nikolay hadn't known any better, he would have thought that they were a couple. Would be a crack ship if they truly were. Nikolay watched from the back of the class while obscuring his own face from potential prying eyes, looking at the fight that almost exploded right in there and now. It was those two, Pablo and Jiem, doing public displays of affection with no fear or care of what the other people all around them would think. Now these two were truly together indeed, and although Nikolay wasn't one that agreed with that kind of relationship as per his religious inclinations, he still found them rather entertaining to see, if anything. After all, he too was an affectionate one, though that was usually in private or when he is comfortable with the surroundings. This certainly wasn't the place, what with a Korean Siege Tower and another barrel man being in the room along with literally everyone else. "I... Err, suggest that you all settle down. It's it's about to be class. And Daehan.", he said to the Siege Tower. "You can just them ask nicely without using your Noble Arm." He looked back at his book, his face bearing a neutral expression. "Bozhe moi, if someone does something dumb just because of latent homophobia, I'm going to flip..."</s>
<\|description\|>Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin Appearance: He stands at 5ft 9 ¼ inches tall and weighs 73 kilograms. Age: 18 Nationality: Russian Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Imperial Fists - A pair of floating hands made of stark white stone. They glow a ghostly green whenever they are in use. Noble Arm Rank: B Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Ranged/Retaliation/Close to Long Range Noble Arm Abilities: Consecration: Nikolay is able to command the Fists to his whim. Thus, he can use them for manipulating/holding objects and directly attacking assailants. Retribution: The Fists are capable of absorbing and emitting energy from attacks directed against their wielder. They have an upper limit of absorption of up to the power of a hand grenade, though this is not known at this time. The Fists emit the energy that they receive in the following ways: - Kinetic: Concussive Blasts/Increased Punching Force - Fire: Fireballs/Firestreams - Magic: Energy beams - Radiation: Focused rays - Electricity: Tesla bolts Retribution is not without its faults. The Fists are tied directly to the user's state of mind; as such, losing focus or even just mere hesitation can cause them to stop whatever they are doing. They will also crack if they take in too much power, forcing them to return to the pocket dimension to regenerate. Mobotone: The Fists switch to a red color and emit all stored energy. In return, they are able to fire beams of magic energy with a lengthy cooldown, though each shot has a high damage potential. Monotone can also switch to a rapid fire mode that rapidly shoots magic bullets, though this is ineffective against armored or shielded targets. Misc Abilities: Pretenseful Voice: He is able to switch accents at will, allowing him to present himself as an American, Englishman, or a Scotsman. High Level Intelligence: He excels in most subjects, though he detests mathematics. Personality: Nikolay Andreevich is a rather literal minded boy, as he often fails to comprehend idioms and metaphorical remarks. He usually takes words at face value, and as a result, is often the last person to understand a joke. Despite this, however, he is quite intelligent and persevering, spending more time on books and writing than anything else. When out in the world, he is rather socially awkward and often speaks in sentence fragments. However, when in private with his close circle of friends, he can be seen as boisterous, insane even. He is quite affectionate towards his friends, and there has never been a time when he forgot anyone's birthday. Nikolay also does NOT like going solo, and prefers to do things together. Likes: Cats, Pizzas, the French, and hugs (and kisses). Dislikes: Communism, broccoli, mayonnaise, and most politicians. Fears: Being abandoned. Bio: Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin was born in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the provincial capital of the Sakhalin Oblast in the Russian Far East north of Japan. He was the elder of two siblings, as he was older than his sister by three years. One look at his family immediately betrays the terrible kind of early life that he had in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk; his father, Pavel, was a massive alcoholic, a prime specimen of a casualty of Russia's crippling problem of alcoholism that has afflicted the nation ever since the Soviet Union fell. There were times when his father didn't return for days, and when he did, all he would do was sleep, and then demand more money from Nikolay's mother to satiate his addiction to vodka. While all of this was going on, Nikolay found refuge and companionship in the Internet, where it seemed that strangers from across the planet had far more compassion and understanding than his own alcohol addled father. In his spare time in between school and home, he would go out to the fields of Sakhalin, immersing himself in the tranquility of the wilds beyond civilization. This continued until Nikolay was 16, when his mother, Katya, had enough, and moved along with her son and daughter to her parents in Vladivostok, leaving Pavel in Sakhalin to waste away. However, upon arrival in Vladivostok, they were robbed almost immediately as a thief snatched Katya's purse. It was at this time that Nikolay finally managed his Noble Arm as two hands of pure white rushed out of a portal and dragged the thief back towards them. Word quickly got out, and his mother was elated to see that her son was indeed one of the gifted. Russia's own Noble Arm Universities called, but Trinidad University was closer to Vladivostok and thus was the first to send an invite. Nikolay looked upon a mother brimming with pride and a sister that will miss him very much, and swore to do his best as a student in Trinidad... *Current Goal: Attain the best version of himself. Student Rank: 47</s> <\|message\|>Jordan Quinn Jordan Quinn The long haired Canadian came jogging down from the dorms. Book bag slung over his shoulder, in time to see Henry and Oscar, Oscar being held on Henry's shoulder. He blinks and laughs, "Okay that's a sight to see!" He grins and hurries to get to class. Waving to Nikolay as he passes with a grin, "Morning!" He shouts as he jogs on. "Gotta get to class before the Prof. gets there!" He slid around a corner and then slid a few feet into the class, waving his hands to the side and shouted, "Safe!" Chuckling to himself and looking around, spotting Jeimseu and Pablo, at it again. Henry and Oscar having beat him there and just behind him Nikolay, "Alright...I'm not the last one!" He then makes for his seat. Just another day right? He hoped so outside of what ever the staff had planned with that visit. He looks around the room, not at all sure what to expect in the coming hours of the day. But this here, is a good start to it.</s> <\|message\|>Fredrick Jones --- Fredrick Jones --- Fredrick is sitting in the teacher lounge doing some final prep work for class. The printer was being used up all day by the chemistry teacher. A little annoying but it's fine. Once he got done printing out his handouts for today he played with Emily a little bit "Aren't you the cutest cat in the world?" as he pet her. About five minutes until class he started he grabbed his papers and Emily and began to walk to class, waving goodbye to the other teachers. He took his time getting there. Frankly, it was more fun if he saw how the class progressed if he wasn't there. It always seemed like students go out of their way to cause mischief when the teacher isn't around. As he entered he got exactly what he was expecting a little mischief here and there. Fredrick began setting up for the day, watching them to make sure it didn't go too far. Speak up about the blatant Homophobia? Or the amount of PDA Jeimseu and Pablo is showing? Oh Kasumi breaking them up, that's good. As he went back to setting up, he listened in to what they were saying and the elitism she gave off was enough to make Fredrick eyes roll. Well at least it broke up without me having to get involved. Then Vane started looking for a fight with Kim. Oh for fuck sake please hold yourself back Vane. Oh he is now teasing Kasumi. You know what I'm fine with this, better than them fighting in here. Fredrick was thankful Nikolay tried to talk down Kim peacefully was a nice change of pace, refreshing actually. He gets the laser pointer today, looking at Nikolay. Alright, enough fooling around, it's time to start class. Fredrick gores and taps his knuckles on the whiteboard to start gathering attention, "Alright everyone get to your seats so we can start." Fredrick looked at Jeimseu, "Also new rule, laps may only be considered seats if you are doing a partner project." Honestly Fredrick only cared because he believed that it would be to distracting for them to do that all class. Fredrick gave the students a minute to get settled then he walked to Nikolay placing the laser pointer on his desk "You get to use this to play with Emily today." with that he walked back to his desk and stretched a little. It felt like so much just happened in a few minutes. "So today Filipino senator Aquino and Senator Gutoc will be coming to the academy, so please be on your best behaviour for them. And with that I think we can start the class. Where we last left off we were discussing…" Frederick continued his lecture for the entire class period, only having 3 minutes before the bell. Completely forgetting to hand out the homework he dismisses the class a little early as he rushes off to get some water preparing for the next class. @BigPapaBelial@Th3King0fChaos@Not Fungus@Letter Bee@The Man Emperor</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- As Oscar sat and watched the room waiting for the class to begin he noticed that Mr. Jones had already made it to class. As he seemed to have snuck in at some point when Oscar was trying to take in everything. Mr. Jones seemed stunned as he watched the class go on as it did. With him noticing the whole exchange of near fist throwing, Mr. Jones looked like he was getting near upsetting as then it quickly deescalated and calmed down. As Mr. Jones seemed to collect himself as he started to get the class together as Oscar looked around and watched people sit down and take their places. As Mr. Jones took notice of the lap sitting happening from the two love birds over there, and had made a rule for…only partner projects? 'Well at least he seemed like a very chill man'. As Mr. Jones was continuing to speak, Oscar was looking around as he noticed…! EMILY! She was heading towards him as Mr. Jones was busy with getting on with the class. Oscar started petting Emily as he was waiting for announcements to be over, starting to rub the back of her ear, every cat loves this and Emily seemed to be no exception. As when Emily heard the clutter of the laser pointer hitting a desk, she started heading off to it, taking his heart with her. As Oscar started pulling his head back up and started focusing on the class, first came the announcements of the senators. Oscar found it interesting to tell everybody of the senators arrival. After all, most schools in America didn't give a shit if the student body knew of their presence, just the people who were pertinent for their visit. So Oscar was very concerned, almost as if the Director was trying to make a showing of their work. Almost as if trying to show off, and that idea doesn't sit well with Oscar. But he has no time to think about that, the lecture is about to begin, and Oscar needs to make sure he does well. After all, his Noble Arm isn't going to gain him any higher marks to rank up, so he has to make sure his studies are the best thay can be. ============ After Class ============ Oscar had taken very well made notes, using his many skills he learned from his high school time, "Man Cornell Notes are really useful. Now I can transcribe it into Filipino". With his normal smile Oscar started to head out of the class with his notes, as when he passed by Emily, he realizes he has no self control with her. As he kneels down and starts to pet Emily and scratch her ear he sees she plops and lays down on her side for Oscar. A gasp escapes Oscar's lips as he slightly coos as he begins to scratch her belly, side, and right at the base of her tail. As his large smile ceases to end as he petted her for literal minutes, until his attention is pulled away as he feels his cell phone begin to ring. As he slipped it out as it was an alarm he set for himself. As it is telling him to text the others and see if they want to meet for lunch. As Oscar knew what he had to do, he leaned fully down and gave Emily a kiss on her head as he stood up to send a text to both Henry and Jordan: --- Group Chat Name: Sword of Hope Group Chat made [Henry D.] Invited [Jordan Q.] Invited [Oscar H.] Changed Name of Group to: Sword of Hope [Oscar H.] Changed color of Group Name to: Sword of Hope [Oscar H.] Changed Name to: [Trunks] [Trunks] Changed Color to: [Trunks] Hey guys, I was wondering if y'all would like to meet up and talk shop about our mission on protecting the senators. I'll be off to the gym, I think Oli would be fine with us being in there to talk about this. I can't wait to get started! --- As Oscar Chuckled as he set up the group chat with them, he started jogging off to the gym as he felt his bladder slosh. He stopped in his tracks as he started to take a fast walk to the nearest bathroom to piss. As he almost pissed his pants as he didn't notice his bladder this entire time. @dragonpiece</s>	<\|message\|>Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin As always, Nikolay had taken a lot of notes, applying just about every color in the rainbow when it came to his highlights on important words and terminology out of all the things that the teacher had taught. He usually wrote his notes in his native Russian Cyrillic, translating his thoughts from English to his mother tongue before jotting them down. He did this on purpose; these were, after all, his personal notes, and he wasn't at all the type that let others copied from his work, as it was his firm belief that everyone should learn independence when it came to studying properly. There weren't a lot of other Russians in the school anyway, and it wasn't like he would actively let them copy either. Nikolay licked his lips as he looked upon the food that was being served to him in the cafeteria. He wasn't sure what this was called, but it has been the stuff that he has been buying for the last few days that he has been here. It was probably called zinikang... or something. It was much better when rice is added, too. He bowed to the lady over the counter in an attempt to give his thanks... only for him to remember that this was the Philippines, not China or Korea. The small minority of Koreans in Sakhalin were the only Asians that he had interacted for most of his life, so he kind of assumed that they were all similar... only they weren't at all. Embarassed, he simply managed to say 'salamat po' (thank you), though with a heavily accented tone. He need more practice... Nikolay proceeded to look for people that he already knew; those he already considered to be somewhat familiar or amicable to him in this school of magical warriors. Thankfully, he found Jiem and Pablo. Together as always... "Eyo, privet.", Nikolay said to the two. "Do you mind having a third wheel?"</s>
<\|description\|>Fredrick Jones Height: 5'10 \| Weight: 170 lbs. Age: 45 Nationality: American Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Blue Quill Noble Arm Rank: C Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Melee; Spirit; Close-Range Noble Arm Abilities: Shared world: Fredrick can touch people with Blue Quill. Within 10 seconds of touching someone he can put them under either an individual or group illusion that he creates with his imagination. Before Fredrick can put someone under the influence of Shared World he must have said a key word in the last 10 seconds towards them or a group including them. The key word is also how any person under the effect can leave the shared world by saying the key word. A key word has to be a singular word. The illusion he can create is either programmed or he can enter the world with them and shape it there. The illusion can last up to 2 minutes if the participant isn't a willing participant. If they are a willing participant then it can last up to 3 hours. A participant can change their mind at any point if they are willing or not willing. Fredrick can show them anything he wants inside Shared world. He can simulate the senses in there as well. However there physical body will always remain unaffected by this. The illusion cast on someone, whether willing or not, is broken is they are hit in the real word with the force of a slap or more. Personality: Frederick is inclined to be more introverted however teaching seems to be his way of expressing himself. He is quick to get wrapped up in a conversation on history. He doesn't like putting a huge wall between himself and his students. So it wouldn't be odd to see him playing his guitar before or in between classes. Likes: Guitar, Teaching, Learning, Antiques, History, Debates, Games Dislikes: Grading, Fighting, Entitlement Fears: Failing when it matters Bio:Born in Savannah, Georgia, Fredrick was raised by a loving family that was moderately well off. His father was a carpenter and general contractor. His father had Fredrick work with him on weekends and breaks. Fredrick enjoyed it but what he really enjoyed was making money from it. His father had got Fredrick into antiques. A weird interest at a young age but the past seemed to intrigue him and items from those times were ever interesting to the young man. He saved up money and got an antique pocket watch. Frankly it made him like a dick in middle school and high school, but honestly he didn't care. During his sophomore year he was pretend sword fighting with his buddy Anthony during lunch. Anthony knocked the stick out of his hand and his noble arm just came out of nowhere. Honestly getting it was a bit of a hassle if he was being honest. He had to get registered and all that, random places were vying for his attention, and he was treated differently by some. He decided to ignore it for now and jump into his studies. He received a full ride to Harvard and there he studied history and politics. It was during that time he began to mess with his noble arms. He realized it could create illusions out of his imagination. He found it as an excellent tool to help himself and others in studying, being able to literally replay lectures or show the abstract in real life. He decided he wanted to be a teacher at that point. He finished up college and trained to become a teacher. He taught at the University of Georgia for a few years when he got a job offer at Trinidad Academy. Frederick took the job opportunity in a heartbeat. He learned Filipino in about 8 months. Now he is there teaching history. *Current Goal: Inspire people to follow their dreams Student Rank: Staff</s> <\|message\|>Fredrick Jones --- Fredrick Jones --- After teaching the classes before lunch, Fredrick finally started to unwind in his class. He loosened his tie as he pulled a chair to do some paperwork by the window. He usually found himself diverting his attention between grading and watching the clouds roll by. Watching time pass, giving a somewhat melancholic look all the while. He pulls out his pocket watch, giving quick inspection to it. Slowly, the ticking hands drew him into its time. The grumbling of his stomach brought him back out of his sedated state. He took a look at the wall clock to see only 10 minutes had passed since he lost focus. Fredrick put his watch away and began to rub his eyes. He stretched in his chair and but the papers into their folder and then placed them in his backpack. "I should get some lunch" as he stood up, throwing his pack over his shoulder, and started towards the door. "Come on Emily!" He said with a bit more energy, smiling at his cat. Emily stretched herself back to life and quickly hopped on Fredrick's shoulder. Fredrick scratched under her chin as he walked to the teacher's lounge. As he entered the lounge, Fredrick went and popped a ready-to-go meal in the microwave and poured himself some of the cold leftover coffee. He turned around and leaned on the counter as he checked who was in the room to see the infectious smile of Herman. That grin of his always had a way of making Fredrick smile. "Hey Herman how are you?" still leaning against the counter, stirring a large amount of flavored cream into his coffee.</s> <\|message\|>Herman Atmeni, the Master of 1000 Names. --- Herman --- Herman has spent the first half of his day relaxing, meditating, watering his plants, and many other just menial activities to pass his day by until he is needed for his actual services as a teacher. As he finds himself finally needing to get ready to start teaching. Herman finds himself on a nice large stone in the middle of the courtyard. He is suspended in the air on his polearm. As he is sitting in a very relaxed position with both of his legs crossed and his hands grasping each other in his lap. He is lightly humming as Sherly is on his head. The Owl on his head began to who as she 'sung' in tune with Herman's humming. Slowly Herman's humming rose and burst into song as he was getting extremely excited as he has so much he wished to do with the kids, but he must wait. As he stands from his sitting position, almost like he was made of air as he stands perfectly from his crisscrossed position. He stands and stretches as he takes a kneeling position as he looks off and looks to see as people are running around as they are off to the lunchroom, Herman knew what that meant. Herman had now found himself in the teacher's lounge whistling music to Sherly as she is eating from his hand. He is feeding her right now as he is holding pieces of meat for her to eat. As he whistles, he notices a wonderful face to see as a wide smile comes from Herman's face, "Fredrick! I am doing well. How is yourself? Oh, Emily! Come 'er to Baba!". Herman sets Sherly into his other hand as she eats as Herman heads over and starts to scratch Emily on the back right at the base of the tail, Herman found this to be one of her weak spots very quickly. Herman gives Fredrick a wonderful smile as he starts to coo as he scratches and lightly plays with Emily.</s> <\|message\|>Nikolay Andreevich Ivushkin Nikolay Ivushkin \| The Imperial Fist So far, Nikolay had been one that preferred to stay still and unleash the beams of Monotone upon distant targets, focusing on either keeping a long distance between himself and his opponent or defending himself via the energy absorption of Retribution. Now, though, that record was broken. Henry had deftly made a slide tackle, one that looked very similar to the one that football players do, in order to avoid the seating hot red beams of destruction that Nikolay had just fired. Seeing the impending slide tackle, Nikolay made his move. Drawing from the lessons that they had been given not too long ago, he dodged the side tackle, sidestepping and rolling towards the side before ending up in a semi-kneeling position. The Russian boy looked back at Henry before standing right up, seemingly a little nervous now as his usual tactic obviously won't work very well in this situation. "I had… huff… moment of panic there…", Nikolay said to Henry as the two hands floated beside him in earnest, their color still a flaming red. Frowning a little bit, he clenched his right hand, ordering the Fists to switch modes to Retribution. Now, they were glowing green, and so were his eyes. At this time, he waited for Henry to make the first move. Nathaniel Gregorio \| The Blitzkrieg Nath readied his own Noble Arm, pulling out a pair of ornate black and gold revolvers from the dimensional storage space that all of those magical weapons had. Both of the guns crackled with electricity, and Nath himself had the occasional arc of electricity, though he did not seem to be confident in his abilities, as while he would be classified as a rather Noble Arm wielder, he lacked both the experience and will to really live up to the fearsome potential of his power of electromagnetic control. In fact, he was nervous that he would drain the school's power grid… If such a thing were possible. "Be ready, my friend.", Nath simply said soberly as the cartridge of the Shock Bolters spinned wildly for a few moments before pointing both of the firearms at Oscar. "Now." With that, no less than six projectiles shot out of the Shock Bolters, all of them glowing blue with the electrical energy that was imbued upon them. They were moving slowly enough for the naked eye to catch, but were still fast. Were they accurate? Not so much, what with them being pistol bullets and not very well aimed. One might think that Nath was quite afraid of hurting Oscar even a tiny bit, but that remains to be seen as the revolvers reloaded. In the immediate aftermath of his shots, Nath planned to quickly prepare an electromagnetic energy blast. @Th3King0fChaos</s> <\|message\|>Henry Durand --- Henry --- Henry watched as Nikolay rolled away from the slide tackle with a bit of panic. Henry's eyes were sharply locked on Nikolay as he moved out of the way, this speed seems reasonable for him, Henry thought as he monitored his reaction. Henry took his slide and shifted himself onto the side of his hip, keeping an eye on Nikolay who wan now crouching. His Noble Arm was still red. Henry believed that he might have a difficult time trying to defend against a rush style. With that analysis of the situation, Henry ground his gauntlet into the floor to bring himself to a halt. All the while he had shifted from the side of his hip to his front. At this point, Nikolay was about to fully erect himself. In the singular moment that Henry had stopped his body had gotten itself ready for a low tackle. His leg muscles fired off, bursting Henry forward. His shoulders being at knee level with Nikolay, he was going to try to grapple him in this exchange and slowly win. Halfway from making contact with Nikolay, the marble hands changed to a sickly green. Henry would have to continue his charge towards Nikolay at this point, unable to stop on a dime. Man Emperor</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- Oscar watched patiently, watching Nathaniel and his very slight movements. Oscar learned that watching for the fist to tell when a person would punch would give you no time to dodge. So he waited and watched Nathaniel's lips and forearm, waiting for him to say go and watching for the slightest moment a bullet would be fired. For a slight moment Nathaniel would let loose on him, like in his vision. Once Nathaniel started the match, Oscar noticed the slight twitch in Nathaniel's forearm, meaning he was in the act of closing his fist, the shots were about to be let loose. Oscar took in a quick breath as he jumped back and away in a diagonal direction away from Nathaniel, moving away from the incoming bullet fire. They seemed slower than Oscar had intended to dodge, as they weren't missing by a large margin, but Oscar expected to have to up his timings for the next volley, yet this seems like a comfortable pace. Oscar had a keen mind in a fight, so much so he even paid attention to the number of rounds Nathaniel has fired off. As Oscar knew from many movies and from a decent understanding of guns, that revolvers have 6 rounds in their chamber, and Nathaniel had fired off 6. Meaning Nathaniel had used half of his shots already, most likely leaving 3 in each revolver, which tells Oscar he can't rush in yet. He will need to reload soon, after all. Oscar takes a quick wide birth around Nathaniel, staying around 15 feet away as he circles Nathaniel, as it gives him ample room to move, without being out of range of a lunging strike when the time comes. Oscar's face never loses his smile as he says to Nathaniel while running around him in a circle, "So is this your first spar?". All while never truly losing his focus in this fight, as he was very ready to dodge or lunge in when the time comes. Man Emperor</s>	<\|message\|>Fredrick Jones Fredrick just watched his beloved cat run over to Herman. Even Fredrick can't get Emily to come running over to him. All he could do is laugh a little bit as he watched Herman playing with Emily. Being satisfied with his cream and coffee "I'm doing alright. Just decided to get some coffee to help me get through the grading. I seem to be a little distracted today" Fredrick started to walking over to Herman to take a seat near him, sipping his coffee along the way to his seat. He takes a seat crossing his legs, leaning deeply into his chair. His shoulder lowered releasing some stress, "Herman, my first class was even crazier man. "He undid his tie, his teacher voice fading "A fight broke almost broke out. Twice!" as he throws up his hand gesturing a 2, continuing the gesture to stroke his hair back. "I swear I'm going to lose the little sleep I have left." After that small amount of venting, Fredrick lets his arms fall to his side and lets his legs fall flat to the fall, throwing his head back in defeat.</s>
<\|description\|>Hailey Leena Strassen Height: 5'6" \| Weight: 126 lbs Additional Tidbits: Hailey wears her hair in a ponytail most of the time and has an hourglass frame. She carries a picture of her parents; Caroline I. Strassen and Victor E. Strassen. There's three names on the back of the picture, which are Caroline Irene Strassen, Victor Ethan Strassen & finally their daughter Hailey Leena Strassen. Hailey wasn't born at the time of this picture was taken, which was like during her mother's 2nd trimester or at least 5 months pregnant. Caroline Irene Strassen is a very beautiful Midwestern American Woman. It was shown on the specific picture, where Caroline on the right of her husband was smiling gleefully and talking about something at this exact moment in time. She has beautiful green eyes, black hair with green highlights and always looks beautiful no matter what. Caroline takes very care of herself, while also wearing a summer dress with flowers. She's about 5'6 or 5'7 in the picture, which is why she's wearing flip flops and trying to relax and sit on their back patio in a chair. As well, she's wearing a beautiful expensive necklace that specifically has her birthstone of Ruby and her daughter's birthstone of Emerald in the necklace. Caroline looks around 22 years old, at the time of this picture. Victor Ethan Strassen is a tall handsome German-American with a haircut specifically being a baker. His height is around in this picture is like 6'3" - 6'4". He wears comfortable clothes since he's taking a break and talking about something similar with his wife. However, its probably has to do with Caroline's pregnancy and their daughter specifically. All the while they live in a very peaceful neighborhood in a Gated Community. He's wearing a Rolex on his left wrist, with his wedding ring on his left ring finger. As well, he has specifically a sapphire wrist band to signify his birth month. He looks around 24 years old at the time of this picture."It's nice to meet you, my name is Hailey! What's yours!?" --- Age: 17 Nationality: American-German Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Vaeth's Malice Vaeth's Malice is a six feet in length Scythe weapon. It has a dark presence surrounding it, which it feels alive as if its wielding the wielder. The weapon itself has always been ever watchful since it has two eyes, which keep in eye contact with whom it is watching. It usually relishes in the demise of people it deems requires death. Noble Arm Rank: C Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Melee \| Dual-Element (Dark and Wind) \| Close to Mid-Ranged (80 Yards) Noble Arm Abilities: The weapon manifests as itself, which it conveys a nature of dread, death or awaiting for someone to die. As well, this manifesting ability surrounds the wielder in a dark fog, which rolled in from utterly nowhere. The Bright Red Eyes glows within the Dark Fog and they move searching for someone within the fog, it brought. There's eerily a hint of laughter that goes quieter when the dark fog slowly vanishes or if the wind picks up. Vaeth's Shadow Slash The Blade of the Scythe changes its shape, size, and starts changing its color from its perfect metal sheen to a dark obsidian color; in terms of the blade's size it grows one size larger. When it releases the element energy it stored, which it released a similar sized black crescent shaped attack towards people. This attack stops at its maximum range of Mid-Ranged, which is good. At the same time of the release of the attack, the wielder is put into a large jolt of pain to make them cry. The weapon only wants to do is spill blood and watch people die. It usually causes the nervous system to go out of wack, which will cause paralysis but it only lasts six seconds. The Sorrowful Winds The Wielder is forced to start spinning Vaeth's Malice, faster and faster until it starts effecting the movement of the wind. The noise the wind makes as its being effected by Vaeth's Malice is an intense deeply hidden emotion within the wielder of feeling as they are being pricked and prodded everywhere on their body. It forms a barrier of wind surrounding the wielder but the wind was pushed away in a blasting gust. The Gust's wind speed is 35 mph, additionally the effect of the billowing effect of this entire ability. Will usually cause the wielder to cry uncontrollably as if wielder remembered something awful. The Watched, Waited and Demise Veath's Malice uses its eyes to watch specifically the wielder, and one other person its delighted to watch. It's patience is legendary since it always wants to see when someone breathes their last breath. The encouraging words from it to its wielder usually try to make sure the wielder understands one thing. That its helping them to become what they so deserve, but underneath the veneer and encouraging words is always an ulterior motive. In that case, it usually allows the wielder to use it instead of the other way around if it gave very encouraging advice. But in essence, the wielder is a puppet to its will of seeing them hurt and others. Misc Abilities: * Passable Cook – She can cook passable meals since its required of her to do this now and then. Its something she likes doing in her spare time. * Singer – She is a pretty good singer for a girl her age, which is saying something. It's probably because she got her mother's singing voice. * Hailey's Brightness – In terms of this misc. ability is mostly because she's the kindest person and always the brightest. Even though she always look like there's something wrong with her. She always looks for the positivity instead of the negativity. * Clumsy – She's naturally off balance, its probably have to do something with that dark cloud hanging over her head... * German Language - She speaks this language very well mostly because her father Victor primarily speaks it and usually curses like a sailor when angered or just outright raged. Personality: Hailey always tries to be the center of attention, even when it backfires sometimes on her badly. She has a massive black cloud hanging over her, but she has no real idea why. Its probably because she doesn't want to remember all the bad memories in the back of her head. However, she has modestly high middle class type flare to her. It doesn't help she does get a bit moody when someone asks what's wrong and she tells them off. She constantly apologizes to every single person she offends with her outburst of anger. Its in her nature to make friends and not making enemies. Likes: Boys, Talking, Singing, History, Urban Legends, Calming Music, Cooking, Sweets and Friendship. Dislikes: Distractions, Interruptions, Spoiled Brats, Science. Fears: Dying Alone and her Memories Bio: Hailey was born to Caroline Irene Strassen and Victor Ethan Strassen in Kansas City, Kansas. In terms of the Strassen Family, they finally got the one thing they wanted for so long, a child. They were a bit rigorous in how they were raising her because of their need to protect her. However, her parents allowed her to coast throughout most of her life because they were very happy. This family was content with their lives, the mother was hopeful she could get her daughter into a singer's course. While her father wanted her to join him at the bakery when she gets older. Hailey wanted to please her family so much that she agreed to take turns in learning each thing. Its always better to have a happy family than a grumpy one even though she was a bit spoiled at this moment. Hailey was happy just coasting through life, which she was in a bit of shock. The School she was going to recognized how good she was at singing, which she was allowed to sing for the entire school for a fundraiser. The Fundraiser was supposed to raise an amount of money for charities involving sick children. She did sing for the school for this charity fundraiser, even though it would've been better to get her mother to do it. The funds needed to be raised was gotten in less than three hours only because of very generous patrons that were impressed with her singing. However, she learned really quickly the one who put the school up with this was her own mother Caroline. It shocked her but she didn't want to be surprised again, it was a bit annoying to be stuck in school for longer than needed. In terms of all good things must come to an end and that end happened when Hailey manifested her Noble Arm within her home, one day. Hailey has no recollection of that day's events because it was a bit too traumatic for her to remember. It caused her to basically be kicked out of her home and forced to go to Trinidad Noble Arms Academy in the Philippines by her own father. This was utterly heartbreaking for this family since Victor wasn't really that happy about the whole situation. How was no one in the Government able to respond when that happened, he was utterly disappointed in his country. However, he did one last nice thing to his daughter and that was he will give her an allowance since she'll be living somewhere far away. The likelihood she'll never see or hear from her father again because of something that happened. It hurt her more than anything, which did cause her to cry while she was flying her way to Philippines. However, she's very afraid of what had happened has to involve why she cannot remember what so ever. In terms of what happened the day her Noble Arm awakened, which scares her to no end. She guess it took a lot of out of her when it first awakened or something. Current Goal: She wants to do her best in Trinidad Noble Academy and stop coasting through life as she had been. However, she has a longer goal that is probably going to take a very long time to achieve since she needs to know what had happen but she's too scared to know and dislikes her memories too much. She must get over that hurdle to finally be able to go through the memories, which will hurt her but she needs to know what had happened or she'll never get rid of this dark cloud over her head. Student Rank: 169 Optional</s> <\|message\|>Hailey Leena Strassen --- It took her a few seconds to look up to Henry in a bit of shock, which he was really nice and his smile helped. She couldn't help but smile mostly because of Henry was as well. Smiling is somewhat infectious in that sense, however, she couldn't help but giggle at the fact he gets that a lot. "D-Do you count how many times a day someone says that to you?" Hailey questioned Henry curiously. Even though she was still shivering, terrified and utterly hopelessly clumsy. When he walked away from her to go to his group of friends, which she was hopeful whatever they need to do they get to do it. However, what shocked her was when he came back and said her name. This made her start crying it triggered the fact no one as ever asked that question in along time to her. "Y-Yes… I-I need a hug… I feel so lonely and… the D-Dread is scaring me…" Hailey said, towards Henry question. She actually sprinted as fast as she could into Henry's arms to get a hug. Because she needed one but most of the time people just ignored or teased her when she got here. However, then suddenly something happened, it was a massive increase of what's been scaring her ever since. The Dread's intensity increased dramatically, which felt like it was angry. "N-No… S-Stop it… " Hailey said, basically trying to talk to the Dread itself. However, usually no answer happens for her pleas. The temperature dropped by 10 degrees around Hailey, which involved Henry since she was hugging him. "I-I'm scared… S-Stop It… Noble Arm Please?" Hailey questioned again trying to get the dread to stop. However, this time she specifically said something she never said before the NA specifically, without saying its name. The Dread intensity slowly decreased as it felt as it was satisfied with Hailey's terror, which meant the temperature was slowly increasing.</s> <\|message\|>Henry Durand --- Henry --- Henry felt relieved that Hailey would let him try and comfort her. The sprinting hug was a surprise though. Although it caught him off guard, Henry wouldn't be pushed down by someone her size jumping on him. Henry took her charge full force and wrapped his arms around her, doing his best to make her feel comfortable. As he held her, he couldn't help but thank himself for taking a shower. Henry just said "it's okay" a common thing anyone says to someone in need. However things got scary as Henry could feel her get more scared as he held her. At first she said stop it and Henry loosened his hold on her. She still seemed to be latched on so Henry was momentarily confused. That is when the sudden drop in temperature hit. Out of instinct he pulled Hailey close again, looking around for what could be causing the phenomenon. Not being able to figure it out, Henry pulls Hailey and himself to the floor, holding her more securely than before. "It's going to be okay" Henry said to her trying to calm her down. Hailey spoke again this time she seemed to speak to her Noble Arm. The phenomenon seemed to calm down after her plea. Henry could only hold her as he realized the pain her Noble Arm must put her through. "Your alright now, it's going to be alright" Five-One</s>	<\|message\|>Hailey Leena Strassen It was a good thing, which Henry and everyone else was in the Gym when these strange occurrences happened. Specifically her talking about her dreadful Noble Arms, but the name scares her. She always tries to stop her teachers from asking her to activate it because it just scares her too much. She enjoyed hearing its going to be okay from Henry the first time, it calmed her down much. However, she was still shaking and shivering all over by the fact the dread was still there. "I-I believe you, Henry… b-but… it's always there..." Hailey said, slightly less terrified than she was. She had a small smile on her face but in the back of her mind, made her terrified of what could happen if it was ever released. Hailey definitely felt much better when Henry hugged her tighter, when the temperature dropped. She had a bit of chattering teeth, which in the end was definitely colder but she couldn't help but try to smile while during this scary time. It's always like this she freaks out at the little small things most of the time. However, all she could do was agree with Henry in that its going to be okay yet again. "T-Thank you for helping me..." Hailey said. She was smiling but she remembered something dreadful. "Dad… why did you have to kick me out of your life? I would never do anything wrong… Dad..." Hailey said, underneath her breath, where only Henry could hear her. She was primarily reminiscing about how she got here mostly, which she was definitely scared. It took her a few seconds to realize she said something to Henry. She was a bit teary eyed about it even though all Henry was doing was comforting her terrors. "T-Thank you for being with me… through this… horrible thing… I live with… the D-Dread and What causes this feeling of hopelessness are… the same, is my… Noble Arm..." Hailey said, only to Henry with tears in her eyes. It's only because her noble arm scares her to no end, which it hasn't ever done these things in awhile. The Noble Arm usually leaves her alone. She wasn't really capable to bear the burden of what her Noble Arm is, when all she wants to do is make friends and be happy. Even though she still has no idea about what its doing now.</s>
<\|description\|>Nathaniel Gregorio Appearance: Nathaniel stands at 5'3" and weighs 58 kilograms. Age: 18 Nationality: Filipino Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Noble Arm Rank: B Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Ranged/Electromagnetism/Line of Sight Noble Arm Abilities: Electric Tri-shot: Nathaniel loads three bullets into each of the Shock Bolters, each one being charged with electric energy. Their velocity is amplified, making their penetration values being twice that of a Desert Eagle pistol. Each Shock Bolter generates 50 bullets everyday, and they do not stack. As such, he only has a fixed amount to go with per day. Electromagnetic Blast: The Shock Bolters are an eternal reservoir of electromagnetic energy which Nathaniel can unleash as blasts against targets within line of sight. They are capable of stunning or knocking back humans, and will only be fatal if Nathaniel willingly amplifies them. However, they become extremely energy costly when elevated to deadly levels. Electrical Control: Nathaniel is able to siphon electricity from external sources within line of sight, amplifying his Noble Arm's offensive capabilities. He is also able to channel electricity into machines in order to power/short circuit them, and on metallic objects to either shock those in physical contact with said objects or to accelerate their heat. He can also form shapes (especially letters) out of electromagnetic energy. Electro-Form: Nathaniel is able to transform his entire body into a purely electrical form, allowing him to travel through metallic objects, conductors, and the power grid itself. He can exit this form whenever he wishes. Misc Abilities: Coding Shenanigans: His IT specialist father taught him basic hacking, such as getting the password of a neighbour's WiFi and denying others access to certain sites. Barber: He can do you a basic haircut for a dollar. Stroker: Nath could be a professional cuddlist if he wanted to. Personality: Nathaniel is a boy of few words, giving the impression that he is an edgy, brooding character. He is a sleepyhead and often dozes off in the wrong moments, though he still manages to do well in class despite this. He is also rather generous, as he spares no expense in his gifts. Just like his electromagnetic powers, he is volatile and easily angered by perceived slights, though he doesn't bear grudges longer than a day. Nathaniel is quite affectionate to friends and family, and is sometimes seen looping his arm around someone else's before using their shoulder as a lean-on as he sleeps. His friends sometimes know him as Spine Cracker because… he hugs really hard for someone of his size. He also likes to eat. It is a miracle of how he is able to stay in shape. Likes: Cute, fluffy animals, girls smaller than himself, lasagna, baguettes, explosions, and seeing more subscribers to his YouTube channel. Dislikes: Reptiles, anti-vaxxers, flat earthers, Hawaiian pizza, broccoli, and ampalaya. Fears: Heartbreak, memories, and heights. Bio: Nathaniel Gregorio was born as the second of three children in a middle income family from Makati City, the financial center of the Philippines. His father, Gordon, was an IT specialist, whilst his mother, Melinda, was a neurosurgeon. His family were all Protestants, having been born and raised in the faith by their parents and grandparents before them. Overall, he had what one could say was a 'typical life' for a person of his generation; he was a compliant kid when he was younger, had rebellious phases in his teen years, and sometimes has these bad influences, like… smoking (too much). He presented himself as this inviolable boy of the church that beat the drums and sometimes spoke to the youth, but he had this darker side that he kept secret in the shadows. Perhaps it was shame, or the gnawing of conscience simply didn't come through until recently, but he lived a dual life of light and darkness from the time he was 16 until the time his Noble Arm manifested. It was a dark night at the time, and he and his less than reputable friends have been wandering the streets for no good reason other than for the sake of it. It was when Nathaniel was on the way home alone that his path was blocked by a pair of drunken men; two very big, and definitely unfriendly men. Nathan is unsure about the details, as he chooses not to remember, but he does recall being punched quite a few times. Were they the ones who were agitated by their noise? Maybe, but it was at this moment of great stress that the Noble Arm of his own manifested itself. A pair of revolvers that writhed with electricity arose unto his hands, which he then used to disable his attackers by shocking them with taser-like blasts. It was at this time that he realized his folly of living a dual life of secret decadence and pretenseful holiness. This incidence was, according to him, a message from the Almighty that he needs to take a better path. And a good path was it, then, when a letter from Trinidad University came in. He'll be a good addition, they said... *Current Goal: Make up for his past mistakes by being the very best. Student Rank: 58</s> <\|message\|>Nathaniel Gregorio --- Nathaniel Gregorio --- "No, no, its cool.", Nath said to an apologetic Hailey as he stood up rather uneasily because of the combined factors of falling face down and putting his body in a state that he wasn't completely used to yet. If one asked about what it feels when he turns himself to electricity, he would be at a loss for words; maybe it wasn't something that could really be described in one sentence as it was a very bizarre experience and power to have. Anyway... "I know, I know, I'm so sorry about scaring the hell out of you...", Nath said to Hailey, putting his hand on his forehead as it still stung from the pain of falling down. But it looks like you're the one that needs help now... you alright-" At that moment, Oscar came in, and asked if the two of them were okay. "Oh, Oscar.", Nath said whilst facepalming due to disappointment on himself. "I overslept again... but, yes, I'm alright." How nice of that American boy to be so nice to everyone. It was very likeable. And yet, that wasn't the end, as Oliver Cinter and Jordan Quinn. Now, Nath was quiet, as he had already confirmed that he wasn't injured or anything to two people already, and didn't want to repeat himself too much anymore. He simply nodded, indicating that everything was fine.</s> <\|message\|>Hailey Leena Strassen --- It took her a few seconds to realize that Nath spoke up, which was primarily because the dread was overwhelming her. It had never gotten this bad before, but she smiled towards Nath. Out of everything, she couldn't help but to cry a little bit because she was utterly terrified. What he said next calmed her nerves somewhat but the dread was ever present. "T-Thank you, Nath… f-for the apology." Hailey said, with a heavily nervous tone in her voice. She did notice him touch his forehead and say something specifically about her. Its a bit obvious she needed help since she felt not that alright since she felt cold. Hailey heard a very familiar voice, which is basically like her in terms of making friends, Oscar. Oscar, did interrupt what Nath was saying towards her. When he touched her shoulder, she couldn't help but start tearing up. "I-I'm terrified and a bit chilly… I don't know why I feel this way… The D-Dread never got… this bad..." Hailey said with a tone of being utterly afraid and gave a hint of what's going on. However, she felt the dread itself was angered by what she spoke and increased its intensity onto her. Hailey couldn't help to be a little scared in why all this is happening now. It's not like she could've angered anything, until it hit her. The strangest thing happened, even though the intensity was at its highest it slowly died down as if it was toying with her or something. She couldn't really understand why it went down until she recognized the coach's voice. The strangest of coincidences, even though she did say what she was afraid of. "U-Uhh, I'm a b-bit better coach…" Hailey said, with a look of utter disbelief and shock of the situation that surrounds her. In back of her mind, she basically knew one specific thing its her Noble Arm that's probably doing it. However, she wasn't going to tell anyone about that monstrosity, its too evil. Since she got here she hasn't once used it, even though she did come to this noble arms Academy to train herself to use her NA. Hailey came here for classes and nothing else really and knew the coach's rules really well. However, another familiar voice showed up and it was Jordan. She just basically gave him a smile and slightly gave out a sigh. "Could be better but nothing worse for wear, even though I am a bit clumsy..." Hailey said, in response to Jordan's words. Its true though she is a bit clumsy but she does love the normal PE usual stuff in the class. She gives some attitude to the teacher when it involves the NA. "I know about the rules Coach Cinter, I guess I should start doing that now." Hailey said, towards the Coach. She was grateful for all the people worried about her but she did get up. Even though the dread was still there but at a similar intensity as it usually is before that little incident. She start doing the laps, which are six, four jogging and two full sprint. In the back of her mind, "I am so scared that sooner or later someone will have to see that..." @Th3King0fChaos@The Man Emperor</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- As Oscar noticed the girl's face started to dribble tears as something seemed to be off. As she spoke under her breath as if she is scared. Something cold and dark seems to loom over her, maybe it was because something similar happened to her or whatever, Oscar didn't know. Yet he knew things like these are better solved with people, as alone is where many people trip up and fall as they lose hope and can't really find a way to pull themselves out of the pain they feel. He makes sure she knows he's there by just lightly keeping his hand on her shoulder. As Oscar's attention was pulled away and toward the boy in front of him. As Oscar's eye came to the man, he heard that he was alright, "Ah well it's good to hear you're alright. You need to stop sleeping in so much." Oscar gave him a smile as Immediately his eyes twisted and pulled his head towards the very sporadic yet precise movements that seem to land with hyper precision. As his eyes quickly scanned the movements and watched the flow of each strike. Almost leading perfectly with each movement, gorgeous. Yet Oscar didn't watch long as he looked back at the girl, as she seemed to calm quickly as in comes Jordan as he remarks the display Oli had shown. Which was in fact a marvel of technique, yet Oscar was more focused on Hailey. As She seemed to have lightened up enough to put on a strong face and even a smile. As Oli started to talk to them, splitting them up, as those who are early to class, and those here for, other reasons. As When Hailey was about to leave Oscar says to her before he heads off, "Hey, it'll be okay. Ain't no rain cloud that can keep a smile down". As he throws her one big smile and waves her off before he heads off with Jordan to the benches to sit and wait for Henry. Realizing that was cheesy as shit. He slightly blushes yet hides it well underneath his tanned skin. Five-One@The Man Emperor@BigPapaBelial@dragonpiece</s> <\|message\|>Henry Durand --- Henry --- The jog over to the gym was honestly what Henry needed to start to unwind. After spending a few years training he learned to make exercising his stress relieve. However it seemed that with his classes straining him more than usual, the stress was mounting quicker then Henry could dissipate it. It felt nice to break up his usual cycle of translating during lunch. Henry stopped his jogging and pulled out his phone as he approached the gym. "I need to put a reminder to translate my notes when I get home" Henry spoke aloud, he had a habit of saying what he types on his phone. The habit worsened as he started to translate more frequently. As Henry entered the Gym he saw most of the people sitting on the benches and a girl running laps. Henry, still being a bit drained, thought that you had to do laps before you could sit. I guess that makes sense as he rubbed his chin like he just solved a mystery. With that Henry began to start running laps. It occurred to him in his 2nd lap he didn't know how much he actually needed to run. Asking in English was out of the option for Henry as the thought of thinking of language was aggravating for him at the moment. He was stuck in a loop of wanting to ask and not wanting to think. Eventually he just projected his voice toward Mr. Cinter "How many laps do I have left?" in German. He didn't know if Mr. Cinter, or anyone in the gym, knew German. He prayed that someone in the gym would answer or he might just keep running laps until lunch was over.</s>	<\|message\|>Nathaniel Gregorio "Oh...", Nathaniel managed as Hailey began to tear up once Oscar touched her shoulder. She said something about the dread not being this bad... could it be that her Noble Arm was something that had a bad side effect on her mental health? She sure needs some comforting, but the kind of comforting that he was used to give wasn't really suitable for this time and place. Either way, she went off her own way, running the laps like anyone else should. Nath just tilted his head as he watched her run and sprint, though he didn't take long to notice that Oscar had a slight blush while watching her. Could it be... "You like her, don't you.", Nath privately whispered to Oscar as he walked behind the taller hybrid. Oscar was a very friendly boy, one can give him that, but to blush? Now that was something else. Nath yawned, and then put his chin on top of Oscar's shoulder, though he was careful not to press. Oscar would have by this time experienced Nath's touchy-feeliness, perhaps more so than others who did as he was so nice. "Do you mind if I do...?"</s>
<\|description\|>Nathaniel Gregorio Appearance: Nathaniel stands at 5'3" and weighs 58 kilograms. Age: 18 Nationality: Filipino Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Noble Arm Rank: B Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Ranged/Electromagnetism/Line of Sight Noble Arm Abilities: Electric Tri-shot: Nathaniel loads three bullets into each of the Shock Bolters, each one being charged with electric energy. Their velocity is amplified, making their penetration values being twice that of a Desert Eagle pistol. Each Shock Bolter generates 50 bullets everyday, and they do not stack. As such, he only has a fixed amount to go with per day. Electromagnetic Blast: The Shock Bolters are an eternal reservoir of electromagnetic energy which Nathaniel can unleash as blasts against targets within line of sight. They are capable of stunning or knocking back humans, and will only be fatal if Nathaniel willingly amplifies them. However, they become extremely energy costly when elevated to deadly levels. Electrical Control: Nathaniel is able to siphon electricity from external sources within line of sight, amplifying his Noble Arm's offensive capabilities. He is also able to channel electricity into machines in order to power/short circuit them, and on metallic objects to either shock those in physical contact with said objects or to accelerate their heat. He can also form shapes (especially letters) out of electromagnetic energy. Electro-Form: Nathaniel is able to transform his entire body into a purely electrical form, allowing him to travel through metallic objects, conductors, and the power grid itself. He can exit this form whenever he wishes. Misc Abilities: Coding Shenanigans: His IT specialist father taught him basic hacking, such as getting the password of a neighbour's WiFi and denying others access to certain sites. Barber: He can do you a basic haircut for a dollar. Stroker: Nath could be a professional cuddlist if he wanted to. Personality: Nathaniel is a boy of few words, giving the impression that he is an edgy, brooding character. He is a sleepyhead and often dozes off in the wrong moments, though he still manages to do well in class despite this. He is also rather generous, as he spares no expense in his gifts. Just like his electromagnetic powers, he is volatile and easily angered by perceived slights, though he doesn't bear grudges longer than a day. Nathaniel is quite affectionate to friends and family, and is sometimes seen looping his arm around someone else's before using their shoulder as a lean-on as he sleeps. His friends sometimes know him as Spine Cracker because… he hugs really hard for someone of his size. He also likes to eat. It is a miracle of how he is able to stay in shape. Likes: Cute, fluffy animals, girls smaller than himself, lasagna, baguettes, explosions, and seeing more subscribers to his YouTube channel. Dislikes: Reptiles, anti-vaxxers, flat earthers, Hawaiian pizza, broccoli, and ampalaya. Fears: Heartbreak, memories, and heights. Bio: Nathaniel Gregorio was born as the second of three children in a middle income family from Makati City, the financial center of the Philippines. His father, Gordon, was an IT specialist, whilst his mother, Melinda, was a neurosurgeon. His family were all Protestants, having been born and raised in the faith by their parents and grandparents before them. Overall, he had what one could say was a 'typical life' for a person of his generation; he was a compliant kid when he was younger, had rebellious phases in his teen years, and sometimes has these bad influences, like… smoking (too much). He presented himself as this inviolable boy of the church that beat the drums and sometimes spoke to the youth, but he had this darker side that he kept secret in the shadows. Perhaps it was shame, or the gnawing of conscience simply didn't come through until recently, but he lived a dual life of light and darkness from the time he was 16 until the time his Noble Arm manifested. It was a dark night at the time, and he and his less than reputable friends have been wandering the streets for no good reason other than for the sake of it. It was when Nathaniel was on the way home alone that his path was blocked by a pair of drunken men; two very big, and definitely unfriendly men. Nathan is unsure about the details, as he chooses not to remember, but he does recall being punched quite a few times. Were they the ones who were agitated by their noise? Maybe, but it was at this moment of great stress that the Noble Arm of his own manifested itself. A pair of revolvers that writhed with electricity arose unto his hands, which he then used to disable his attackers by shocking them with taser-like blasts. It was at this time that he realized his folly of living a dual life of secret decadence and pretenseful holiness. This incidence was, according to him, a message from the Almighty that he needs to take a better path. And a good path was it, then, when a letter from Trinidad University came in. He'll be a good addition, they said... *Current Goal: Make up for his past mistakes by being the very best. Student Rank: 58</s> <\|message\|>Henry Durand --- Henry --- The jog over to the gym was honestly what Henry needed to start to unwind. After spending a few years training he learned to make exercising his stress relieve. However it seemed that with his classes straining him more than usual, the stress was mounting quicker then Henry could dissipate it. It felt nice to break up his usual cycle of translating during lunch. Henry stopped his jogging and pulled out his phone as he approached the gym. "I need to put a reminder to translate my notes when I get home" Henry spoke aloud, he had a habit of saying what he types on his phone. The habit worsened as he started to translate more frequently. As Henry entered the Gym he saw most of the people sitting on the benches and a girl running laps. Henry, still being a bit drained, thought that you had to do laps before you could sit. I guess that makes sense as he rubbed his chin like he just solved a mystery. With that Henry began to start running laps. It occurred to him in his 2nd lap he didn't know how much he actually needed to run. Asking in English was out of the option for Henry as the thought of thinking of language was aggravating for him at the moment. He was stuck in a loop of wanting to ask and not wanting to think. Eventually he just projected his voice toward Mr. Cinter "How many laps do I have left?" in German. He didn't know if Mr. Cinter, or anyone in the gym, knew German. He prayed that someone in the gym would answer or he might just keep running laps until lunch was over.</s> <\|message\|>Nathaniel Gregorio --- Nathaniel Gregorio --- "Oh...", Nathaniel managed as Hailey began to tear up once Oscar touched her shoulder. She said something about the dread not being this bad... could it be that her Noble Arm was something that had a bad side effect on her mental health? She sure needs some comforting, but the kind of comforting that he was used to give wasn't really suitable for this time and place. Either way, she went off her own way, running the laps like anyone else should. Nath just tilted his head as he watched her run and sprint, though he didn't take long to notice that Oscar had a slight blush while watching her. Could it be... "You like her, don't you.", Nath privately whispered to Oscar as he walked behind the taller hybrid. Oscar was a very friendly boy, one can give him that, but to blush? Now that was something else. Nath yawned, and then put his chin on top of Oscar's shoulder, though he was careful not to press. Oscar would have by this time experienced Nath's touchy-feeliness, perhaps more so than others who did as he was so nice. "Do you mind if I do...?"</s> <\|message\|>Vane Wilson Vane --- Vane yawned right when class was dismissed. "That was pretty tiring," he said aloud. He left his seat and stretch out the unused pats of his body to get the blood flowing. Soon after that, he packed his bag and went to leave for lunch. When he collected his lunch, he found an open seat and began slowly gorging himself on rice and chicken. There's a little orange on the side to fill up the healthy portion of his meal. He was lost in thought from the confrontation with some other people this morning. 'What was his name again? Virgil?' The threat of him not being able to use training facilities bothered him a bit because he so desperately needed those to get stronger. Maybe he can strike a deal with him if they just sit down and have a little chat. As Vane absentmindedly peeled an orange clean, he wondered. "If I was Virgil where would I be?" There were a couple of places he could think of, so he'll just knock one of them down before classes start up again. The American dumped his empty plate into the proper spot and left the cafeteria in search for Virgil and his ragtag group. "Honestly, why'd he feel like getting in the way of my flight?</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- As Oscar sat down and began just watching Hailey run, because frankly he had nothing better to do, he felt someone walk up as it was Nathaniel. As Nathaniel asked him something that is very straight forward and with little hesitation. As Oscar watched as Nathaniel placed his chin on his shoulder and rested there. With a small smile Oscar answered one of his questions very quickly, "Yeah, go ahead. I don't mind." As Oscar shifts his body to allow Nathaniel to better lay himself onto his shoulder and to lay a little onto his back. Oscar knew Nathaniel liked doing this as he then gets to lay better onto him. As Oscar watched Henry entered the Gym…and began to ran? Oh well, he'll remember why he was here after he notices Jordan and him so Oscar just waits and looks back at Nathaniel as he then answers his first question, "No I'm not into Hailey. May I ask why you think that?" Man Emperor Oscar was quite curious as to why Nathaniel would think that. As Oscar was wondering what was the thing that Nathaniel was going off of. However, as he was thinking he heard Henry yell to Oli, in German, 'Oh he was asking about his laps'. As Oscar then quickly translated in his head and spoke out to Henry in German, "Hey Henry! You don't need to do that! You should come over here! Remember you're here for our group!"</s> <\|message\|>Hailey Leena Strassen --- It took her a few minutes while she was jogging around the gym to realize what Oscar had said to her. Hailey specifically gave off a giggle since it was really sweet to say to her. "U-Um, thanks for little pick me up!" Hailey yelled towards Oscar, while jogging. It was super sweet in that case, even though the dread was still there. Hailey noticed the tallest man in her homeroom class, which was Henry. It was pretty unmistakable anyways, even though she's a bit intimidated by how tall he is. However, Coach Cinter is taller than Henry but Henry's tallness makes her a bit terrified slightly. Only because her father was a gentle giant when he wasn't cussing in German. It made her slightly be shocked that she never really talked to Henry before in his native language. However, she heard Oscar speak in German directly to Henry. "Wait… he knows German too? He's a very nice guy to help his friends out too. Like he helped me… even though what he said too me was a bit too cheesy." Hailey thought to herself, with a big smile on her face. She was a bit nervous in speaking the language she learned from her father. Its only because she can't even speak to him anymore and hear his wonderful German charm, so to speak. "Uhh, Hi Henry… S-Sorry I haven't really spoken to you… only because you are quite intimidating. It would probably be a good idea to go over to Oscar, Henry" Hailey said, in German towards Henry with a smile on her face. Definitely a bit of a scared of a tone when speaking in German towards Henry, but she definitely trying to cut the ice so to speak. One of the reasons why she tried to stay quiet since she's living here basically by herself with no one else. All she could think about is her family's picture in her right pocket on her jacket, with her cellphone within it. She kept on her way via jogging through the pain of what her heart feels so much. All she did remember about her father was the fact he cursed her out for what it felt like hours. "W-Why did you do that father? Why were you so angry that day… that I cannot recall." Hailey thought to herself, with a tear coming down her cheek. She was about to cry again even though all she was trying to do is jog around the gym. It felt like she was on at least her 2nd lap around the Gym anyways via jogging. In how her whole body feels with the dread slightly increasing intensity again in certain spots. She tried to ignore the dread but her breath that came out of her mouth was alike she was in cold temperatures, which you can see it. @Dragonpiece</s>	<\|message\|>Nathaniel Gregorio "Ah, thank you.", Nathaniel quietly said to Oscar as the much taller boy did not mind him using his shoulder, and adjusted himself just make him more comfortable. Nath looked over the distance, watching as Hailey ran her laps and spoke to Henry, who seemed to have some sort of business with Oscar and Jordan. He then wrapped his arms around Oscar's waist and lay his chin on the man's shoulder... it was a quaint little backhug that he liked to do. It was understood that this was simply his nature and not anything... else. When Oscar answered that he wasn't into Hailey, Nath frowned a bit. "Oh... you blushed... though I could just be making assumptions. Haha. Well, that's a relief... because I'll admit that I am while you are not." Shocking truth!</s>
<\|description\|>Nathaniel Gregorio Appearance: Nathaniel stands at 5'3" and weighs 58 kilograms. Age: 18 Nationality: Filipino Noble Arm Name & Appearance: Noble Arm Rank: B Noble Arm Type, Element, and Range: Ranged/Electromagnetism/Line of Sight Noble Arm Abilities: Electric Tri-shot: Nathaniel loads three bullets into each of the Shock Bolters, each one being charged with electric energy. Their velocity is amplified, making their penetration values being twice that of a Desert Eagle pistol. Each Shock Bolter generates 50 bullets everyday, and they do not stack. As such, he only has a fixed amount to go with per day. Electromagnetic Blast: The Shock Bolters are an eternal reservoir of electromagnetic energy which Nathaniel can unleash as blasts against targets within line of sight. They are capable of stunning or knocking back humans, and will only be fatal if Nathaniel willingly amplifies them. However, they become extremely energy costly when elevated to deadly levels. Electrical Control: Nathaniel is able to siphon electricity from external sources within line of sight, amplifying his Noble Arm's offensive capabilities. He is also able to channel electricity into machines in order to power/short circuit them, and on metallic objects to either shock those in physical contact with said objects or to accelerate their heat. He can also form shapes (especially letters) out of electromagnetic energy. Electro-Form: Nathaniel is able to transform his entire body into a purely electrical form, allowing him to travel through metallic objects, conductors, and the power grid itself. He can exit this form whenever he wishes. Misc Abilities: Coding Shenanigans: His IT specialist father taught him basic hacking, such as getting the password of a neighbour's WiFi and denying others access to certain sites. Barber: He can do you a basic haircut for a dollar. Stroker: Nath could be a professional cuddlist if he wanted to. Personality: Nathaniel is a boy of few words, giving the impression that he is an edgy, brooding character. He is a sleepyhead and often dozes off in the wrong moments, though he still manages to do well in class despite this. He is also rather generous, as he spares no expense in his gifts. Just like his electromagnetic powers, he is volatile and easily angered by perceived slights, though he doesn't bear grudges longer than a day. Nathaniel is quite affectionate to friends and family, and is sometimes seen looping his arm around someone else's before using their shoulder as a lean-on as he sleeps. His friends sometimes know him as Spine Cracker because… he hugs really hard for someone of his size. He also likes to eat. It is a miracle of how he is able to stay in shape. Likes: Cute, fluffy animals, girls smaller than himself, lasagna, baguettes, explosions, and seeing more subscribers to his YouTube channel. Dislikes: Reptiles, anti-vaxxers, flat earthers, Hawaiian pizza, broccoli, and ampalaya. Fears: Heartbreak, memories, and heights. Bio: Nathaniel Gregorio was born as the second of three children in a middle income family from Makati City, the financial center of the Philippines. His father, Gordon, was an IT specialist, whilst his mother, Melinda, was a neurosurgeon. His family were all Protestants, having been born and raised in the faith by their parents and grandparents before them. Overall, he had what one could say was a 'typical life' for a person of his generation; he was a compliant kid when he was younger, had rebellious phases in his teen years, and sometimes has these bad influences, like… smoking (too much). He presented himself as this inviolable boy of the church that beat the drums and sometimes spoke to the youth, but he had this darker side that he kept secret in the shadows. Perhaps it was shame, or the gnawing of conscience simply didn't come through until recently, but he lived a dual life of light and darkness from the time he was 16 until the time his Noble Arm manifested. It was a dark night at the time, and he and his less than reputable friends have been wandering the streets for no good reason other than for the sake of it. It was when Nathaniel was on the way home alone that his path was blocked by a pair of drunken men; two very big, and definitely unfriendly men. Nathan is unsure about the details, as he chooses not to remember, but he does recall being punched quite a few times. Were they the ones who were agitated by their noise? Maybe, but it was at this moment of great stress that the Noble Arm of his own manifested itself. A pair of revolvers that writhed with electricity arose unto his hands, which he then used to disable his attackers by shocking them with taser-like blasts. It was at this time that he realized his folly of living a dual life of secret decadence and pretenseful holiness. This incidence was, according to him, a message from the Almighty that he needs to take a better path. And a good path was it, then, when a letter from Trinidad University came in. He'll be a good addition, they said... *Current Goal: Make up for his past mistakes by being the very best. Student Rank: 58</s> <\|message\|>Henry Durand --- Henry --- As the chaos brought by the Noble Arm passes Henry begins to relax his body. He lets out a relieved sigh, still holding a smile towards Hailey. The momentary reprieve didn't last long as Henry could fill her still shivering from the incident. He pulled her slightly closer to show he was still there. He could only listen calmly as she reveals that this… fear… never truly seems to go away. The thought of living with such a crippling pain stung and tightened his chest. He couldn't show the grimace of his heart to her when she was so vulnerable. Hailey smiled at Henry as she thanked him. At this point he was making direct eye contact with her the entire time and like a storm he could see coming from deep inside of her heart. Preparing for this Henry put his hand behind her head and pulled her into his chest. What he heard sent chills down his back. Why… These words echoed through Henry's mind. The idea of throwing out your kid like that enraged him to no end. He couldn't accept that. Henry's heart was sent aflame with anger over a person he didn't even know. He had to hide it for now, she still needed comfort and these emotions are nothing compared to the living hell she goes through. Henry just gently caressed the back of her head to help calm her down the best he could. She seemed to recompose herself after the PTSD like experience. Henry knew those words weren't meant for him to know. However now that he does he made a promise to himself that he would never betray her as her confidant. Hailey thanked him again and now confirmed Henry's thoughts that this was her Noble Arm. A Noble Arm that would cause such grieve to their user was unheard of to Henry. But all those inquiries were shoved to the wayside as Henry needed to make this clear. With a quiet but clear voice Henry spoke "I don't know your full situation or how I can help but what I do know is that I want to be there and help. Would you have me as your friend?" Henry learned at a young age from his father that when you feel this strongly you need to be direct.</s> <\|message\|>Nathaniel Gregorio --- Nathaniel Gregorio --- By this time, it looked like Henry had Hailey's temporary episode of PTSD under... well, how should it be... under control. The height difference was a little unsettling to look at though, as Henry had a full foot over the girl that was already three inches higher than his good self, and it looked dlike he could reduce her to atoms if he squeezed her too hard. That looked very far from the case though, as his current proceedings seems to indicate him as a big friendly giant. Hell, he just have her a hug. Oscar was still the hopeful boy that he has always been when Nath had confided that he had sort of an attraction for Hailey, and just said that he do what he likes. "Aw, thank you so much.", he whispered to the American's ear as he just lay his head there. Truly, there is no friend like Oscar. So nice. A literal radiator of hope. "By the way, I should ask.", Nath said to Oscar as squeezed a little bit. "What's your shoe size?"</s> <\|message\|>Hailey Leena Strassen --- It took her a few seconds, while in Henry's arms to finally feel much better. The dread specifically subsided since it was truly done with tormenting her right now. She gave out a sigh of relief alike she was getting back to how she acts normally. However, what gave her the biggest shock is what Henry specifically asked her. She was flabbergasted it was the biggest kindest thing anyone ever done for her. "I-I'm grateful for your help… I-I… would… l-like to b-be your friend… H-Henry." Hailey said, with happy tears going down her face. She hugged Henry tighter and had that cute little smile return to her. It's the one thing that she always seemed to be doing, smile in the face of adversity and strife she's been through. However, this smile was sincere for the first time in a long time. Hailey had a really tough time getting used to this school since she didn't really have any friends until now that is. In a sense, she sees everyone as her friends but this is the actually first time someone confirmed those feelings. Basically how she felt with her family, they protected her through thick and thin and now these students at this school will do the same. "I… should probably get back to… my laps… since I have 4 more to go." Hailey said to Henry with a slight nervousness in her voice. She does enjoy PE but she wouldn't want to get the coach mad, since its a rule to do the laps she has to do. Its pretty obviously were the nervousness comes from the rule's in this class requires to be done. She was teary eyed but much better than she has felt in along time. Always like she didn't really fit in this school, mostly because of her Noble Arm. However, she found someone that's willingly to be her friend, which she is grateful for. It was like she couldn't really open up too many people because of the fact she was afraid. "I-I truly appreciate everything, you've done Henry… You made me feel welcomed at this school. I-I didn't feel like I belonged here. But I suppose I was wrong, Guess most of the people in my class are friendly like Oscar..." Hailey said, giving a compliment loud enough to Oscar in German at least. She felt better like she could talk about more things, her feelings and what not. It's still going to take a very long time before she feels truly good about everything, but this is one step in that very long road ahead of herself. In the back of her mind, "Take it one step at a time, Hailey… is probably what Henry would probably say..." When Henry lets her go and allows her to get back onto her laps for the Coach, since she still has 2 laps jogging and two sprinting to do. However, this was truly needed for her since she was a scaredy cat and the dread was causing her to not really do much. Even though, her written work was better than usually her NA training because of the fact she's scared of it. @Th3King0fChaos</s> <\|message\|>Oscar Helgrem --- Oscar --- As Oscar watched Hailey and Henry, he was getting worried more and more, at the situation. She seemed to have entered a deep part of some fear she had, yet as quickly as the situation began it quickly came to a conclusion with Henry's help. As it seems Henry was quite a great comforter as he seems to have gotten her to calm down and smile again. As Oscar couldn't hear, he could tell from the way Henry is comforting, it is the same as a loving father or a caring brother. Making sure they are alright and comforted. As they quickly started getting up, Oscar heard Hailey speak in a higher tone, almost as if wanting others to hear. As she spoke out in German, Oscar heard Hailey compliment him, as a small smile falls onto Oscar's face. Oscar didn't take it as a compliment, just as an observation, after all the world is kind, you just have to be looking. Oscar is genuinely happy that Henry and Hailey met, Henry is able to show his true self and the world doesn't look at him badly, while Hailey can be shown that the world isn't dark and cold with her being alone. Giving them a connection that is hard to find for some, a strong friendship built from turmoil and a loneliness that seems to loom as they are both carrying something Oscar can't see. Sometimes this is the most explosive and the most helpful relationships you can have, especially for people with trauma. Even more so for those who had nothing here other than maybe a single goal, this friendship doesn't seem like one that will break easily. Oscar does chuckle a little in his own head, Seems Nathaniel has some competition. That's something hard to beat. As Oscar's attention was pulled back to the boy using his shoulder as a rest. He asked Oscar an…interesting question? Wait, was that an innuendo? Is he making a pass? Wait no, what..hu?. This is one of the few times Oscar's introverted nature actually comes out as he doesn't know what he is supposed to say. Is he supposed to say, was he supposed to answer normally? Was he supposed to throw another innuendo at Nathaniel? Oscar didn't know as he sat there for a moment as he blushed slightly as he said, "Um, I'm size 10, I.. I…uh mean I'm a 44". Oscar didn't realize Nathaniel might have been vying for multiple people, Oscar didn't know how he felt about that idea. He heard of people being together with multiple people, yet never knew someone who has. So he never had those ideas pop into his head. @Landaus Five-One@The Man Emperor</s>	<\|message\|>Nathaniel Gregorio If the American boy had thought of the possibility of the question being a possible innuendo being directed towards him, Nath simply hadn't thought of it as one. Hell, he knew nothing about the convoluted innuendos and idioms of the West, so he just tilted his head at Oscar's answer, and took out his phone. "Oh, perfect.", Nathaniel replied to Oscar as he texted rather furiously, even though he was using only one of his thumbs. "My uncle that is living in America periodically sends a lot of stuff over here to the Philippines, you know, clothes and stuff. Heck, this jacket that I am using right now,", he said, "... is from California. He had to look over the children's section to get something that fitted me though, as... well, as you can see, you people tower over us." He exhaled shortly, sending another round of texts. "My uncle asked me to get the shoe sizes of my friends and classmates so that I can give stuff out when my birthday comes around. He got really affluent in the States, you see. Perks of being married to someone in Hollywood, I guess." Nath looked over at Hailey and Henry, and wondered at they were saying. "What did they say by the way? I don't know any German, hah... oh." Was that a blush? "I'm sorry... did I say something weird? Or... did I say something... wrong?"</s>
<\|description\|>Olympio Rank: Battle-Brother Specialisation (If any): N/A Psychic Aptitude: Olympio is a very powerful psyker even by the standards of the Grey Knights, the leadership of the Chapter considering him for the Librarius or even the Prognosticars should his career prove fruitful; however, his powers are rather unfortunately for a Grey Knight in the fields not immediately tangible in the battlefield; very powerful telepathy, divination, and even the power of logokinetics are natural to young Olympio. Thus he will in battle more often than not simply lend his power to his Brothers rather than using it himself. Appearance: Brother Olympio is a fairly tanned man, his skin the shade of aged wood, with matching dark hair and brown-green eyes. He is generally bald, with his skin from head to toe covered in tattoos and decorative brands or scarrings from his past though these fade rapidly with time.</s> <\|message\|>Olympio Crashing into the next group of gunners it was only a few spins before they were a pile of dismembered bits. With that the remaining resistance in this part of the open street was rather thin, the few fighters remaining having mere flimsy iron weapons and an occasional stub weapon that wouldn't even penetrate a Space Marine's black carapace, let alone their power armour. However, though the enemy here was sparse Olympio knew he was alone and isolated here, and to try fight on solo was an exercise in baseless arrogance; easily a trait let swell by the prince of pleasure's magics. Closing the distance to once more return to the comfortable embrace of his Brother's psychic aura was easy, only a few leaps crossing a great many metres until they were in his sight. As he moved in the message of Bieito came through the vox. Truth be told he was somewhat underwhelmed by the usage of vox instead of telepathic communication. The majority of Grey Knights had at least enough of the aptitude to communicate at the very least with their own squad using their Justicar as a means to help relay the information if needed. "Noted." he replied using his mind. The presence of daemons was certainly ominous. It seemed to redeem his foretellings, but that was nothing to be happy about given what it implied. "I am coming to reinforce." he continued, stomping over. Though grouped up they would be far more vulnerable to heavy weapons of all sorts, it seemed for now the greater part of the eternal enemy's rabble was culled and their firepower would now be all but negligible. Daemons would now be the main quarry if the report of Bieito was correct and in such a case a tight formation of blades would be optimal rather than the loose slaughter they had previously enacted. Flourishing his sword, he for now kept between the Justicar and Bieito ready to support - or if needed fall back to - either of his comrades should the enemy try to strike them down one by one. Checking his heads-up-display to correct his path, he started his march towards the destination of the squad. He had no interest in killing that which later the PDF could clean up when there was a foe more urgent to deal with, thus seeing no purpose in increasing his current kill-tally. For Brother Olympio there was only the objective, and he hoped that his Brothers would join him with haste.</s> <\|message\|>Basilious Aphodium Sirius' efficient and timely arrival proved the necessary turning point to shift the tides in their joint favor against the dark god's servants. Gaunt, pale faces once jubilant in their small victory fell in despair, their cries of anguish and human suffering falling on deaf, uncaring ears as the two battle brothers parted them like wheat before the scythe. Bolter rounds and holy flame washing them away like the foul taint they were. Alone, a single space marine remained a terrifying force. Together, they were a living nightmare. They devastated those remained, putting to flight the few that survived. Standing utterly victorious amongst the smoldering ruins nary a single living cultist in sight Basilious took the moment to recuperate and reload. His expended tank lying forgotten in the ashes at his feet as he fastened fresh fuel to his arm mounted incinerator. Perhaps he had been too generous in his usage, already having expended two full canisters and locking his third into place. The town around him had been rather swiftly transformed from its humble origins into a hellscape, fragile homes collapsing into smoldering ruin. Hungry fire leapt from house to house in an uncontrollable maddening dance of destruction. Overhead dark chemically blue smoke clogged the sky, climbing ever higher in as a grim beacon to the Astarte's wrath. A mark that could no doubt be seen for miles around. Flames licked at his armored boots as he parted from the inferno, stepping into a less volatile portion of the town, where his respirator need not work so hard cleansing the pungent smog from the air. The fire would not doubt spread to these currently untouched buildings, but that would be in the next three minute or so. His gaze traveled across the abandoned portions. Either the residents were dead, concealed, or in total rout. Either way there were no threats currently. The fire would see to the hidden ones soon enough. Off to his left Sirius attended his own business, the two marines maintained standard combat dispersion, close enough to aid one another, but far enough apart that no lucky explosive would end them both. Their separate purges, though disparate in their methods were similarly effective. Basilious took a moment to attract Sirius' attention, not to give warning but only to convey his thoughts. He did not require words to express his appreciation for the assistance his brother provided. Instead he gave Sirius a singular nod before turning and continuing in his hunt. A robotically transmitted voice interrupted Basilious' actions however, and the steel-clad warrior paused his progress. Their words of warnings and orders were followed by Olympio, demonstrating his talent in telepathic communication. Basilious' lips twitched upward, unable to keep the competitive grin off his face. "Received Bieito, Justicar. Sirius and I shall change course and rendezvous with you at the gate. And we shall be on guard for the daemonic." The young knight felt a tinge of what could only be good natured jealousy, though his conditioning prevented him from recognizing the truth of the feeling. Bieito would be the first of them to slay the hated foe. It was possible Basilious considered, that his fire had purged a few daemons, eradicating them under its holy power where eyes could not witness their demise, but he doubted it. Such fortune was not his to count upon, and could one really tally the death of daemons if one did not witness their slaying firsthand? A question for later he decided swiveling forty degrees to the right, moving through the remaining town post haste. A guarded, but rapid advance that met no adversary yet…</s> <\|message\|>Sirius Elazar The enemies of the Grey Knights had posed little threat thus far. In tandem with Brother Basilious' purging flame, Sirius' blades and weapon had torn them asunder, sending their souls to weep at their dark masters' feet. All that remained in their wake was ash and ruin. It came as little surprise when Brother Bieito announced the inevitable: their arrival was anticipated, and with it came daemons of Chaos. But why else would they, scions of the Emperor's divinity, be called but to fend off the maleficient spectres of the dark gods of the Warp? Basilious answered for him, and so he merely offered 'Received, Justicar' to the command to head toward the gate. Their movement, then, was swift: no quarter could be brooked, not for such a time-sensitive matter. Which was why, when two more small bands of foes entered their line of sight and aimed their weapons, Sirius offered no bladesmanship to the one he set his sights upon. Unwilling to lose focus on the current goal for too long, he instead raised his hand, and launched a salvo of psy bolts even as he continued to move forward, the gesture as smooth as it was deadly. In seconds, the humans were no more than meat, the threat of their possession done. No matter. Onward to the gate.</s> <\|message\|>Warriors of Squad Kallikles @BCTheEntity@Andreyich The objective toward which the Grey Knights now propelled themselves was none other than the entrance into the subterranean labyrinth of tunnels, dug over thousands of years in anticipation of this very moment, that all lead to the sacred chamber of the Cult of Anash'Ra – a vile and demented subordinate of the Prince of Pleasure, said to have enticed and corrupted more religious figures, aristocrats and foolish Aeldari than any other of her servants save the Masque – a chamber in which the summoning ritual was close to reaching a zenith. Covering the entryway (which itself was no more than an opening in the basement) was a solid bunker-like structure of rockcrete, barbed wire wrapped about it, and various slits beginning to brighten as heavy weapons fire sought out the servants of the God-Emperor; within was a garrison of purple-clad cultists, of a higher quality than the peasant rabble fought thus far, armed with Imperial constructed las-guns and armoured in carapace, expertly trained humans... but still humans nonetheless. Sand was swept into the air around the rapidly moving formation, bullets whipping about them as they moved, armour of unadorned ceramite causing gleams and glints in the hot noon sun of Anairu, Justicar Kallikles forming his squad into a living arrowhead of gene-enhanced fury with himself as the tip of the projectile. "I am the hammer..." began the Justicar, reciting the sacred words of the six-hundred-and-sixty-sixth Chapter of Astartes – widely unknown outside of the most clandestine of organisations, unheralded as heroes and lorded as such by none, their own dead forgotten by all save their own brethren - "I am the right hand of the Emperor," his voice lifted as those of his brother joined him, Kallikles lifting his left arm and sending blessed bolter rounds into the unholy mass of human and half-formed neverborn that opposed them over the sand, "the instrument of His will..." those of mere flesh were blown apart with ease, their remains ground underfoot by the Knights or by their comrades, those of more unnatural flesh screeched as their bodies burned, "... the gauntlet about His fist …" a fanged face without a nose reared up before the Justicar, only to be cut in twain in an instant, "the tip of His spear, the edge of His sword!" A mass of devoted followers and summoned minor daemons crowded round the Grey Knights as they came, unable to stop the arrow now that it has been loosed, perhaps slowing them somewhat – buying more time for their master to be risen, no doubt – but not fully able to halt their momentum. "Basilious," voxed the Justicar as his legs continued to grind forward, "you will find an exit for us once inside, put your incinerator to good use, while Bieito will hold the entrance tunnel. Brothers Olympio and Salazar will come with me, together we shall cease the summoning itself." Picking out multiple targets within his helmets HUD, the Justicar shared them with his squad, targeting reticles closing over the weak points of the enemy fortification. "We must break through and descend into the tunnels, from there we can force our way to their 'temple', and bring this to an end." --- In the Temple-cavern of Anash'Ra... Magister Mordegan Arakane could sense that time was running out, his body shivering and shuddering as he spoke the ten-thousand material names of his Lord, sweat making his hook-beaked mask slick with perspiration and his lips moist with his own lather, eyes of shifting colours half closed as he attempted to blot out all distractions and concentrate on the matter at hand... but how could he?! The Corpse-Emperor had sent his servants, and now a millennia of work was going to be wasted because of it... because of them... he would not, could not die here. He must survive to bring his master back into real space, something he could not accomplish if he were stripped of life. Yes... yes... he knew now what he had to do. He waited until he could hear the approaching enemy, until he could hear the roar of their bolters and the radiance of their armour, until he could visibly see them from the other side of the cavern acting as his stronghold, then he leapt from the far side of the granite plateau! Before his body could his the floor it burst into spectral flame, his form disappearing even as the two Beastmen stood dumbfounded and turned to the Magisters assistant – this man was equally flabbergasted as they, attempting to take up his masters ritual chanting even as the Grey Knights bore down on them.</s>	<\|message\|>Olympio As Olympio walked through the scene, he did so with some consternation. His mind looped back to his flourishes, the skill with which he fought in battle. It was necessary for him to be a master of the sword and his storm-bolter of course, for he could not leverage his mind to the same destructive potency that many of his Brothers could. But this was the realm of She-Who-Thirsts as the damnable xenos called the God of Chaos. Here, it as excess that reigned, and he knew that it was a mistake of many an initiate to assume this only applied to more base things from lust to gluttony. Many a man fell into the lures of Slaanesh with promises of being the greatest of swordmasters, and though he was confident in his unyielding purity Olympio was nevertheless concerned that by his very actions he had been strengthening the beast. So deep was he in his musings that he lagged the incantation of the Justicar by a few milliseconds when he echoed it. As daemonettes and mortal abominations alike descended upon the Space Marines, Olympio made sure to take the conclusions he came to in his musings into account. No longer were there the skillful, artistic sweeps, slices, and parries.e Now he made use of all the brutality that the strength of his power armour and genetic enhancements allowed him. He turned his sword over, grabbing it by the blade in the grip of a murder-stroke, the gilded crossguard of the weapon now the ends of a piercing bludgeon that was soon coated in gore. As ever more enemies pressed in, he felt his weapon ever more a burden given there was less and less space to truly swing it. He transitioned to using his fists, feet and even his very head as blunt weapons, the appendages flailing with the speed and force to crush just as a hammer or hatchet would. But even that was enough. Though individually he was stronger than many dozens of these abominations, the fact was that there were so many he could hardly move. Although likewise it meant that they too had little room to maneuver, it was still more than he and eventually they would get a lucky dagger or claw into the soft spot of a joint in his armour. It is said Space Marines know no fear. While true in the abstract, the self-preservation instincts of the Grey Knight nevertheless kicked in and overpowered his previous vows to conserve his psychic fortitude for greater foes. With a roar, witch-lightning coarse through the entire surface of the warrior. It arced between the aberrations covering him, turning the mortals into crisps and the daemons into puffs of smoke. Not ceasing his battle-cry, he used his shoulder still crackling with psychic electricity as a ram with which he tried to charge through the mass of evil and clear a path for his comrades.</s>
<\|description\|>Anatu Taauth Age: 16 Anatu wears fairly concealing clothes of silk, I'm a mixture of dark colors with scant brighter accents. If nothing arduous is expected of her, she will be in conservative robes, along with her head wrap and sometimes even a veil if she's feeling fancy. Background: It is said that Anatu's great-grandfather was cursed with daughters. He himself only had five, but each of them had only daughters as well, as did each one of those daughters. Anatu and her sisters failed to break this "curse," but by this time it's only referred to as something of a joke. Her mother, Bilit, is a sorcerer herself, from the Cult of the Serpent. Her father, Sekh, "works for the Rehati," but Anatu isn't sure what this means. Two of her sisters are in the Fellowship of Quiet Companions, and the third is in the Fellowship of Stellar Philosophy. Bilit Taauth is a powerful and ambitious sorcerer. Her skill with biomancy is such that political rivals have. Begun to spread rumors that her family deliberately altered themselves to produce only beautiful daughters. Though probably untrue, this rumor has directly affected the lives of her daughters, who have been forced to fend off suitors from an inappropriately young age. This has led half of them to join in the fashion of cover themselves. The other half became prostitutes instead. All three of Anatu's older sisters, as well as her mother are well respected members of their various fields. Anatu, the youngest of her siblings, is the first to show any aptitude for magic. Bilit made sure her youngest daughter went into the Presedjet to further her education, with the hope that she would join her in the Cult of the Serpent. Anatu's father, for his part, encouraged this development as much as he did anything in her life. Which is to say, he consented to his share of the cost. Personality: Sociable and charming. Anatu is a people pleaser, and her greatest weakness is that she can't stand it when someone doesn't like her. She is kind and helpful, but will attempt to befriend even those who clearly don't want it. Aptitude: While attending Presedjet, she showed herself remarkably teachable, and thus far no avenue of magical study has proven too difficult for her. She is, however, particularly adept at the more concrete and physical studies, such as pyromancy and particularly telekenisis. Tutelary: A sardonic calico cat called Amontu. A bit of a foil for Anatu, Amon is distant and reserved, but loves Ana in her own quiet way. She has a peculiar quirk in which her mismatched pattern often changes from day to day.</s> <\|message\|>Sarahi Parvaneh How dull. There may have been honor in tradition and in the future there was very much the possibility that she would come to appreciate their people's customs, but standing around while an old geezer blabbed away was boring Sarahi to death. Yes, they were the future, they were the chosen ones to pave the way for future generations--fine, but all this could have been valuable time used for lessons and resolved easily with a few congratulatory letters. Even the Crimson King himself elected not to show, further proving her point. That said, she did pay attention, even if she found the entire ceremony pointless. The only upside was Diadem hiding pitifully under her cloak instead of consistently ringing in her ear, the occasional chime mixed in with the occasional breeze heard every once in a while. One look at one of the others' tutelaries and they had retreated, chirping about 'winged demons' and 'hiding their light'. At the very least they were quiet, sticking to her clothes and only sending one tiny butterfly as a lookout. She would have felt bad if it wasn't for the fact that they hid every time a bird flew past; by now she was used to it. Sarahi's mood didn't lift when she heard her name wasn't associated with the Cult of the Scarab. That was what she got for actually hoping for something. Moving over with the other faces she didn't care about, Sarahi closed her eyes and tuned out the rest of the names and speeches out as she deliberated. It wasn't the Cult of the Phoenix, at least, but wasn't even her second or third choice, either. What was the point of accepting an average student into a cult specializing in something else? Did her mother have a hand in this? No, she doubted that--Behiti would find any cult worthy of bragging about and wasn't aware of what Sarahi liked. Maybe a transfer could be arranged--biomancy didn't really hold her interest enough for her to specialize in it. Once they were free to roam, she let out a long sigh that she had been holding. Right, if this was how it was going to be, she may as well embrace it. First things first: Magus Nevrakis, the only person worth speaking to at the moment. Or at least that had been the initial plan, as one of her fellow initiates decided to engage her. At the salute, Sarahi slowly raised an eyebrow, though had no comment. Peppy and sociable, everything Sarahi actively avoided, go figure. "Good for you," Sarahi replied as she lifted her hand, watching the little creature of light land on her finger. A small bell could be heard ringing, its voice in Sarahi's head. Is it safe to come out? "I don't know," She replied verbally, flicking her wrist as she noticed the other girl was still around. "Sarahi." She offered her name at least, having no comment on the other thing. It wasn't like she recognized anyone here, either, but there wasn't any point in saying as much. "The selections are interesting, considering they inducted someone into the Cult of the Serpent with no interest in biomancy. Truly fascinating." And asinine.</s> <\|message\|>Khotanebre Bekenamun --- He felt so pretentious. Khotanebre wasn't normally one for excessive jewelry, but his mother insisted he flaunt the wealth of their family at such an event, and the stark-white cloak that completely draped his body was as plain was it was prestigious. Still, as much as he enjoyed the splash of color they provided, he didn't see a reason to be toting his family's entire panoply of gemstones on his person. A string of cylindrical beads - the only piece of the collection he personally owned - adorned his neck, alternating bronze and precious turquoise. Hidden partially beneath his hair, a circlet inlaid with malachite made itself visible in flashes of green between sweaty locks of carmine as the movement of his head and rare breeze displaced his bangs. One of his father's armlets wrapped around his right bicep, a band of gold ornamented with a magnificent lapis of almost violet hue and flecked with golden streaks of pyrite. His mother was especially adamant about showing that one off, but Kho had no idea how he was supposed to accomplish such a feat when his arm was almost constantly veiled by his cloak. Simple gilded loops decorated his wrists and ankles - were it not for his brother's objection and the simple fact that he was running out of room on his person, Kho was certain he'd have been more gold than man by the time his mother was finished with him. The boy stood attentively among the other novitiates, the folds of his cloak belying the excited fidgeting underneath. A falcon sat perched upon his shoulder, a tiny white scarf wrapped around its neck to match with its master. As was common for the tutelary, Tekenkhasut prodded at the new brooch Kho had been given with one of his talons. Khotanebre wore similar adornments often enough - he was never seen without a cloak, after all - and the bird often liked to critique them on flashiness and hauteur. Needless to say, he wasn't pleased with this new development. "How long until this thing gets decorated?" Teken inquired in a low voice, despite the ceremony not having officially begun yet. "Stop it," Kho hissed as he brushed the falcon's claw away, flashing that ever-important armband as he did so, "We don't even know what cults we're in yet. I'm sure it'll be stylized soon enough." "What're you thinking? Something feathered, I hope." "Maybe a less obnoxious animal with some nobility, like a scarab or a ram." "Oh, Khota, that's cold," Tekenkhasut whined as it turned its head away. Khotanebre silenced the bird with a stern guttural noise as the mages took to the dais. The Vizier's leading of the ceremony elicited a frown from the boy. As far as he knew, His Majesty not being in attendance was highly unusual, if not unprecedented. He hoped nothing bad had happened that drew the Crimson King's attention away so urgently. Putting his concerns aside for the time being, Kho drew in a sharp breath of anticipation as Amon unrolled the papyrus. He knew he had no reason to worry; the fact that he was even standing here was proof enough that he had been accepted. The only unknown was which cult had sponsored him, and it wasn't as though he had a particularly strong preference to any one cult over the others; he was just happy to be a sorcerer. Still, the pressure of Teken's talons against his shoulder was the only thing keeping him grounded against the unease in his stomach. The tension drained out of him as his sponsor was named, despite the man's terrifying appearance. The Cult of the Phoenix made sense, given his aptitude, and Teken would certainly be happy about it. He gave the bird a quick glance of warning before stepping forward, lest it disrupt the ceremony with cackling as he approached Magus Xavier. When Vizier Amon approached him after, he bowed his head respectfully in the man's presence. No words he could possibly string together could appropriately express Kho's pride and elation in this honor bestowed upon him, so he simply remained silent. The silence didn't last long, as Tekenkhasut resumed his fidgeting with Kho's brooch as soon as the vizier had dismissed them. "Look at that, feathers after all," The bird chirped smugly, as if it had personally accomplished something. Kho ignored the creature in favor of looking around. Energy was buzzing within him now, and he had no idea what to unleash it on. His fellow novitiate under Magus Xavier disappeared into the crowd, and he wasn't quite sure he wanted to be alone with the man himself yet. Plus, Amon had encouraged him to mingle. "What's the plan? Gonna go beg mommy dearest to let you take your little baubles off?" "No, she'd never let me do that while we were still in public." In fact, he was rather certain approaching his family would result in an embarrassing assault of his mother trying to 'fix' his outfit while his father offered pointers. Khotanebre perked up on his tiptoes in a quick survey of the crowd. In all the fanfare of the festivities being prepared, he couldn't locate them, though he doubted his family would have any trouble locating him. Rather than fidget in place until the inevitable, Kho delved into the midst of the celebrants after his fellow Phoenix novitiate. What was her name? An-something... Anat? Damn it, he only remembered her family name. He knew what she looked like, at least; he'd seen her at the Pesedjet before, and thankfully she had foregone the usual modesty with which she dressed. Picking one headscarf out of every woman in attendance would've been a challenge, even with the obvious white cloaks. "Behave," he chided Teken in a soft voice as he approached Anatu from the rear. He didn't think she was aristocracy, but he erred on the side of caution when addressing her regardless. "Novitiate Taauth?" Kho tilted his head briefly at the similar-looking woman nearby, "Apologies, am I interrupting?" ---</s>	<\|message\|>Anatu Taauth Anatu smiled at her fellow Novitiate, which was barely visible between the links in her veil. It was strange that her Magus only had the two students, but she found herself hoping that it would equate to more personal training. "Not at all!" she said, gesturing toward Anakh. "This is my sister, Anakh. I was just looking to meet some of my fellow students, so I'm glad you approached. And you may call mr Anatu if you like. Or Ana, if you promise not to mix my sister and I up."</s>
<\|description\|>Khaemtir Maryatum Age: 16 Appearance: Preferring to wear flowing, colorful silks over cotton, Khaemtir dresses to his social standing in a flashy style. His accessories are usually gold, and he wears a lot with his piercings that his mother has been trying to dissuade him from keeping, but rarely display any sort of gem unless the occasion demands it. He stands just under 5' 10", a little shorter than his father and average for his classmates, but he is broad shouldered and muscular, the result of hard training and an athletic nature. HIs cheerful disposition is easily apparent, between the perpetual sparkle in brown eyes and the smile he keeps most everywhere he goes. Background: Stretching back to the founding of Phetop, the Maryatum family considers themselves a pillar of the great city. They fanatically keep their lineage well documented back to the days before the Crimson King and a list of the achievements of each member. They drill their history into each generation, ensuring the traditions that made their family so great endure unchanged through the centuries. While this makes them come off as rigid and old fashioned, the Maryatums consider it preserving history in a world where progress threatens to consume it. They've maintained Lordship over the same trade district since the founding of the city and their influence is obvious; although modern building materials have been admitted, buildings and stalls are still required to replicate the original architecture of the city as closely as possible. The early matriarchs of the family helped establish the Red Orders under the direction of the Crimson King and they've maintained a presence in them ever since, prompting the family to teach combat and math through private tutors in addition to their children's regular education. The call of service is the highest honor, with Lord Pimay Maryatum commanding a position of some authority in the Order Sehkmet, but it isn't the only path for the family to take. Those who aren't called serve under the current matriarch, Lady Kiya Maryatum, and focus on maintaining the family's business and social standings. They're known for hosting large charity events in traditional Phetopian style that benefit educational and low income housing social services. Khaemtir is the youngest of three, two sisters older than him by ten and eight years respectively. His eldest sister is a double of their mother, focused and determined and set in the past. She serves at their mother's side faithfully and loves the city beyond most Lions. His other sister serves one of the Red Orders but Khaemtir has learned to stop asking about her work. The last time he did, she'd taken one piece from every game set he owned and it drove him insane. The expectations for Khaemtir were blessedly low; all of the required roles are filled which left him far more flexibility than his siblings. He grew up slipping away from tutors and lessons with little repercussion but with low expectations also comes little attention despite fulfilling the youngest sibling role perfectly. His grades were satisfactory, his mother far too fearsome for anything less, but they rarely held his interest, disappearing to his friends instead. He was permitted the freedom so long as his grades stayed up and his actions didn't bring shame to the family name. That changed when his affinity for magic made itself known. Only three other Maryatums ever became Sorcerers and none of them were living. The expectations suddenly exploded as his parents threw him head first into the Pesedjet. The change was jarring and he struggled with the adjustment to the stifling requirements but the fact that it was magic made it a little easier. Going from the extra child to something unique present quite a challenge as his carefree personality clashed with his studies. But it was also the motivation he needed. Going from nothing to somebody in the family changed the entire dynamic and he took to magic like a fish to water. He learned and consumed everything he could and, while he could never be considered a great scholar by far, his passion for the subject couldn't be denied. Personality: Carefree, attention seeking, and mischievous, Khaemtir is a younger sibling through and through. He's flirty and social, flitting from one conversation to another in an unbroken chain through the day. He's energetic and upbeat which lends him to preferring physical activities over his studies. Most of the time when he isn't pouring over his magical studies or when he's avoiding the boring ones, he's practicing his family's sword techniques, playing some game in the sun with his friends, or working out. His devotion to magic is an anomaly as any of his family tutors would tell you but it's clear he is dedicated to his craft as it's a topic of discussion that he could go on for hours if someone lets him. Unfortunately, his cushioned lifestyle makes him come off as insensitive sometimes. His upbringing was dedicated to the matters of the old aristocracy and he surrounded himself with them. He often fails to understand issues outside of that scope which leads to poor conversation with those outside of his social class. More than once he's stepped on someone's toes and struggled to give out an apology for something he didn't understand. Aptitude: Surprising everyone, including himself, Khaemtir's potential for magical practice has shown itself stunningly. Khaemtir's aptitude and passion has seen him excel in nearly every Pesedjir curriculum except one glaring, failing exception: Biomancy, something that makes him retch at the thought of it. Pyromancy has had his heart from day one and the eve of his commencement has done nothing but stoke the passion. Tutelary: Udjebten's summoning was unexpected. Khaemtir was ready for the spell to take some work but instead Udjebten appeared as if she had always been there and was just waiting to be seen. She took the form of a baby hippo with three eyes, one made of ruby, one of sapphire, and one of emerald, and is a delicate balance of maternal instinct and aggression. She dotes on him, insisting he take care of himself and demanding he keep better habits, but her advice on most problems are usually straightforward and violent. Someone insulted you? It's hard to talk without a jaw. Someone forgot to do their part for a project? A little fire never hurt anyone. Udjebten has taken a liking to his mother and her advice sounds more and more like her everyday, much to Khaemtir's chagrin. Aura: The excitement of a child on their namesday waiting to open their first present.</s> <\|message\|>Sarahi Parvaneh Sarahi had mumbled something unintelligible as she stirred, nearly letting out a scream at the body next to her. It didn't help that Diadem decided to surround her in a flurry, tiny bells all at once shouting at her mentally a multitude of things that she couldn't understand. She would've yelled at them to shut up if she hadn't felt so tired, ignoring them as they eagerly clung to her in what she could only assume was comfort. Well, at least they weren't in that terrible place anymore, though she felt dirty and cranky all the same. Judging by the teacher who looked like she just woke up herself and their surroundings, she guessed they were wherever she lived. Lovely. Sarahi had to resist the temptation to just lay down again, her head pounding slightly. Her body protested as she forced herself into a proper sitting position--through bitter cold or intense heat, she'd be damned if she was going to look unprofessional, even if she probably looked like she could use a bath. She didn't bother questioning the coffee. Even if it was poisoned, death wasn't something she'd exactly bat away right now. She swatted away a few of the curious butterflies that had chosen to sit on her cup as she took in a deep drink. Now that was what she needed to properly wake up her mind. "Don't usually have your students alive at this point, do you?" She ended up asked. "Can't say I envy someone who has to go explaining the deaths of the people they're supposed to be responsible for."</s> <\|message\|>Ishara Thumotep Ishara --- A stern warning indeed, warning of the commitments they had made back at the ceremony last night. They wielded power that many did not, and likewise had the responsibilities that came with it. It brought back recollections of her stepmother's constant reminders over the matter, pushing the importance of becoming a Sorcerer but also that it came 'at a price' at times. It was a responsibility, she'd said, and with this great power came great responsibility of an equivalent level. Likewise there were ramifications for not living up to those...or worse. More so, however, Ishara seemed to listen to Magus Dagon with a look of serious and rather rapt attention as he spoke even before that final part of his words thus far. If Sekhandur and some others were any indication of a noble's or Sorcerer's potential pride, then it wasn't surprising to hear such things be said. She had not wanted to make assumptions yet, as she was new after all, and yet Magus Dagon seemed to speak about things as they were to them in plainness. The man had already left her with a good impression the prior night to some extent, but this seemed to hammer in a sense of respect for the one who was to teach them. Of course this would not amount to simple idolization and blind following, clinging along like a lost puppy who saw a cool person walking down the road, as his seeming looking inwards at one's own faults and the faults of where they worked was a valuable thing to be able to do. After all, an institution nor an individual could improve unless it was from being to effectively admit to and address those thing that were 'going wrong' and such. Even the Crimson King probably had-... ...Mmm, she was thinking too hard on this. Far too hard. "Hmm...if Studying the Hall of Prophecy is a good exercise, then where would be best to study in regards to our own...ah...personal education? Er. Studying and the like outside of formal lessons I mean." For a second she tried to find the right word, ultimately stumbling into it with a silent relief washing over her mind in the process. So many things to ponder, so little time! Of course she didn't want to seem like she was rushing, but at the same time having a good place to read up and study would be beneficial to her learning in her mind. So it was only natural she ask about such things!</s>	<\|message\|>Khaemtir Maryatum A pang of defensive irritation shot through his chest at the Magus' resolute dismissal of the Hall. His own family etched their achievements and successes in the walls of their home, mosaics and murals depicting their family history in loving detail. They were guides and reminders of why they worked so hard to make this city like it was, a testament to the blood, sweat, and tears they'd poured into this world, and he found that the Hall reflected that quite clearly. The Maryatum family mosaics served as guides when they found themselves wavering in their dedication, faltering in their resolve, or even just weary in a way sleep could never ease. He didn't quite understand what that meant but the first two were understandable. Their stories were a flame that burned so long as the images stood and would always find a way to light the way for a Maryatum who found themselves without a beacon. Khaemtir could admit vanity played into it but that wasn't all there was. It was so much more. And the Hall resonated with the idea that the past could illuminate and inspire the future. Khaemtir had no doubt some of it was vanity. If the leader of the greatest city in history chose to favor one Cult over the other, they deserved to preen. Khaemtir could certainly understand vying for a parents attention; that was the same Sorcerer or not. But there was more and Khaemtir felt a sourness in the back of his throat at the Magus' certainty that there was nothing more. It felt… personal, as absurd as that was, and Khaemtir wasn't sure if a rebuttal was appropriate. Scathing words, hot and heavy on his tongue, died at a concerned and soothing presence in the back of his mind and he felt himself relax as Udjebten whispered calming words to him. The timing couldn't have been any better because he'd almost missed the beginning of Dagon's discussion. There were books in front of each of them now and Khaemtir was itching to pick it up and open it, new as it was. But he paid attention to Dagon instead and nodded at the seriousness of his words. It made sense. Magic was a terrible force, awesome in it's breadth but equally terrifying for the same reason. Khaemtir only stared at the Magus with confidence and his head held high, his irritation at the earlier conversation all but gone, and smirked. "The Heka, and you, chose me. Through moon, sun, and storm, you're stuck for better or for worse." He laughed, nudging the two next to him as he did.</s>
<\|description\|>Radaam Esi Age: 16 Appearance: Radaam has matured quickly, no longer the skinny long-legged boy some of his neighbours are at his age. He stands quite tall, towering over most of his peers, and his frame is solid and muscular, thanks in no small part to his dedication in honing it. The rich brown of his skin has been further deepened by a lifetime either working or training under the scorching sun, and his hands are rough and strong from both. His thick, long hair is black as river mud, and his eyes are dark as well; so dark, in fact, one may very well fail to notice they are actually blue. He does his best to look presentable in simple, loose-fitting clothing that allows him to move without getting in the way, usually made of well-used, inexpensive fabrics. (This is certainly something fancier than Radaam has ever worn) Background: Radaam comes from modest means. Hailing from a desert-dwelling people called the Chenzira, it was Radaam's grandparents, along with a number of other members of their tribe, who did the arduous work of gaining Photepi citizenship and thus, leave to dwell within the city. Radaam's family stayed where they originally settled, in a part of the city that acted like a buffer zone, a place filled with working-class (and often, recently naturalized) citizens separating the shantytowns from the middle class. Like many of their neighbours, Radaam's parents were general labourers, working particularly as brickmakers helping to supply the ambitious infrastructure projects sanctioned by the Sekhmet. Still requiring some skill, their work was just too freelance to warrant membership in a craftsman's fellowship. Income was modest and often irregular, but through diligent work and careful management, Radaam's parents always ensured there was enough to get by. Always present in Radaam's community were the Khenetai. Often overlooked or outright ignored by his neighbours, they patrolled his area often, and were a common sight on the street. Their effect was profound; crime in Radaam's area was rare and severely punished, and its residents thought little of sending their children to school unattended or hawking their wares in the street with minimal supervision. Radaam himself never thought of them as much more than a constant, as much a part of the streets as the lamps and paving stones, until such time that he needed their protection. That time came one evening when he was about twelve years old. It was dusk, and his parents were hurrying to finish their work before they lost the light, with Radaam and his little sister, only six, helping as best they could. When his sister opened the kiln hatch to try and stoke the fire, the sudden rush of air spit the flames out at her, engulfing her clothes and the dry thatch she carried in flame. Instructed by his distraught parents, Radaam ran to the street and screamed bloody murder, beckoning two Khenetai officers to his aid. They rushed back to help his sister, administering medical aid with expertise the likes of which Radaam and his family could never have hoped to provide. Radaam attributes his sister's survival to the actions of those two Khenetai that night, and from that day on, came to see them as akin to the heroes of legend. In the years since, Radaam developed a fierce sense of patriotism in Photep and has dreamed of being selected for the Khenetai to serve the city as his childhood heroes did. He started training his body as soon as he reasonably could, but when he showed an aptitude for magic in school, both he and his parents worked their hardest to be able to send him to a moderately respected academy of sorcery, his parents hoping sorcery would brighten his future and Radaam hoping it would make him stand out in the eyes of the Khenetai. Applying himself diligently, Radaam's work ethic rose him through the ranks of his school, and he stands now at commencement at the top of his class, a prime candidate for the Cults - provided there's any room left after the picking from Pesedjet is done. Personality: With his height, muscular build and oft-present stonefaced expression, Radaam cuts a much more imposing figure than he really is. While some may mistake him for cold or even angry by his usual thoughtful frown, Radaam is actually a kind and gentle soul, happy to keep quiet while others speak and simply do what he can to help. His greatest virtue is his work ethic; Radaam will do any task, no matter how small, as if it were vitally important, and has been known to make up for any lack of innate talent with an abundance of hard work. Above all, Radaam has a strong sense of responsibility, justice, and balance; it's a small wonder the Khenetai appeal to him so much. Aptitude: Were Radaam attending Pesedjet, he would hardly be remarkable; however, at his smaller academy, his unwavering dedication placed him at the top of his class. He's dabbled in all disciplines with the exception of Pyromancy and has taken a particular interest in the mysteries of Biomancy, influenced in no small part by the medicinal expertise he witnessed that fateful night with the Khenetai. Overall, Radaam will admit that he is not interested in researching magic for magic's sake, but rather to advance how it can be applied to improve everyday life. Tutelary: Radaam rose to the top of his class through dogged effort, and one of the things that set him apart from his peers was being the first to summon his tutelary - even if he only preceded his classmates by a few weeks. His tutelary is named Toruk, taking the form of a young desert viper in colours much more vibrant than the dusty reds and browns found in nature, with pointed scales that look to be made of obsidian and ceramic. Toruk rarely speaks, but his curious and mischievous nature is abundant in his actions, contrasting his master's much more reserved demeanour. It is not unusual to find Toruk snooping around in someone's satchel or a bookshelf high out of reach, and he's prone to investigating where he shouldn't. He listens to his master (more or less) but never acts to his detriment; in fact, Toruk is fiercely protective of Radaam, and will do all he can to aid him in his endeavours and further his ambitions - even when his 'help' isn't altogether wise or warranted. Aura: Cool, quiet dampness and calm; like the cellar of one's childhood home, or a brief terrace reprieve from a boisterous party. Other:* As stoic as he is, one might not expect that his sister's ordeal eight years ago actually made Radaam afraid fire. He won't turn heel and run from the cookfire, but he gives torches a wide berth, and Pyromancy is off the table. The Chenzira, or Chenziri people (meaning "journeyers" in their old language) are a swath of desert-dwelling nomads split into various smaller tribes, not entirely unlike the original Aemeni in lifestyle. Despite this similarity, the Chenzira are culturally distinct from the Aemeni; among other differences, they travel in smaller groups of 20-50 people and lack the Aemeni's predisposition to magic, making up for it in rich spiritual belief and tradition. Principally, the Chenzira's religious beliefs revolve around the worship (and revulsion) of animals. Most potently, rodents are reviled as ill omens and bringers of sickness and bad luck, and are universally despised; a campsite infested with rats, for example, is considered dirty and an invitation for bad fortune, and would be passed over. Similarly, those animals who kill rodents - principally snakes, cats, and birds of prey - are revered as symbols of good luck and protection, valued for their skill in driving out evil. As such, it is common to find snake charmers and falconers among the Chenzira, and one would be hard-pressed to find a Chenziri family without at least one cat. Purposefully harming any of these animals is a cultural taboo, punished by anything from ostracization to outright exile. Chenziri theology surrounding all types of animals is vast and colourful, but the cat, snake, and bird of prey (usually represented as a hawk or a falcon) are revered above all others. All three are equal in prestige and valued by all Chenzira, but each Chenziri family line is considered to be specifically guarded by one of the three. Radaam's family, for example, is guarded by the snake; small wonder, then, that his tutelary manifested as a viper. Despite Photepi society at large generally considering animal worship primitive, Chenziri citizens of Photep still diligently practice their nameless religion all the same. Their beliefs are quite harmless and non-invasive, and thus usually get little worse than a strange look or patronizing comment from Photepi people outside their communities.</s> <\|message\|>Sirvan Nouzari Sirvan Nouzari Are we already heading to the pyramid for training? Sirvan thought as he followed Magus Nevrakis to the Cult of the Serpent pyramid. That was fast, the night is still young, and the festivities are not even over yet. Guess this Magus is straight to the point of things and not waste time that could be used for training. Or at least that is what Sirvan thought as he walked. Still, what does the Magus have in store for them this night? He wondered, some kind of training exercise or maybe a test of their skills? Who knows, he should not focus on it, figuring out what it is. Better to just see it for himself and hope he is up to the task. Meanwhile, Sirvan got a look at his fellow novitiates. He recognized the two of them from the academy. Sarahi and Berenice he thinks their names are. Sirvan does not know alot about his fellow novitiates. Only a few memories from the academy days. Surely there will be an opportunity to learn more about them soon. Maybe even get a chance tonight if allowed to. Sirvan was eager to talk to them and perhaps become friends down the road. Then he heard Sarahi speak and was confused. Wait, what does he mean that training might be them doing something menial like getting food for the Magus. Did Nevrakis order Sarahi to do such things before they all gathered? If so, then... a bad feeling in his stomach started to form. Hopefully, not, and they will do some actual training and not something a menial as being Nevrakis's servants. He did not come here to train to be a Sorcerer and learn how to use magic just to be a servant. Guess Sirvan will see what the Magus has in store for them and hope for the best.</s> <\|message\|>Ishara Thumotep Ishara --- Ishara nodded to the older mage as he gave his advice of the night, though as the man walked away she could not help but ponder why he seemed like he was. Or rather, why he seemed to have such a weight upon him. She'd once heard a saying, she had forgotten from which people, that had gone: "To be in the present is a gift, but to know of the future is a burden indeed." It came to mind when she watched the straight-laced-looking older Sorcerer walk off to converse about some other business. He seemed to be wise from his years, something that indeed some peoples took value in indeed. Yes the old did get weaker in the flesh as the waxed on long enough, but to have lived for so long was a testament to their lives in turn. Ah...but before she could ponder on things some more, the green-haired girl felt an inkling trickle into her as she watched Dagon and the Magistrate move off to the side. Whilst much of her felt like going off to find Radaam at the moment, perhaps talk to him before they all headed out and such and she'd hoped to before, something of an inkling wormed its way into her thoughts. A certain curiosity about what the older men were talking of, as it were, seemed to linger in her thoughts and against her better judgement. Usually she would have tossed away such thoughts, and yet at the same time she couldn't really get herself to move away. 'Hmm. W-While it is not rather polite...what might those two be talking about, I wonder? Us? Why the Crimson King himself was not here?" The girl thought to herself for a moment, she positioned herself to eavesdrop nearby. She even grabbed a drink and was taking sips, looking out over the crowd despite the true focus of her endeavor. The beer wasn't very hydrating, if at all, but she knew well enough how to smile and put on a face for events like this and such interactions. Not that it was intended for this sort of less polite activity, but...it worked at least. Cruiser</s>	<\|message\|>Radaam Esi Zahra Zahra hardly noticed the boy's falter, too busy lighting up when the hawk took the offered meat like she'd seen her neighbour's falcons do before. She bounced on the balls of her feet as she watched him, immeasurably pleased that her little ploy had worked out. She didn't even need help that time! Toruk, meanwhile, was a little less pleased, tensing at the hawk's cheeky little wink. He kept his eyes trained suspiciously on the bird, lowering himself to either curl protectively around his young charge or discreetly hide himself behind her; it was hard to tell which, and Zahra wasn't paying attention anyway. Zahra looked between boy and hawk as they had their little exchange, breaking into an excited fit of giggles when the bird spoke. "Yes, yes!" she replied exuberantly, braids bouncing with a quick nod. "He did great! He must be very smart. And pretty," she turned her attention to the bird, leaning over to deliver her compliment. "Your scarf is very handsome," she told him sweetly. Straightening up, she turned a serious face to her brother's tutelary. "Toruk, why don't you ever talk?" she demanded, though she got little more than a bashful shrink out of the snake before he threw the hawk an equally accusatory glare for making him look bad. The girl hmphed at the non-answer, but was all smiles again when she looked back up at the boy with the pretty pink hair. "A hawk family!" she declared again, suddenly remembering she'd been - sort of - asked a question. Crossing her arms and straightening up, her voice took on an overly-stiff 'grown-up' tone, imitating her father when he explained it in his stories. "Every family has a guardian, either a snake, a hawk, or a cat," she explained, counting them off on her fingers. "You know, they bring you luck and protect you from evil! My family is protected by the snake." She held up the arm Toruk had coiled himself around to demonstrate. "This is Toruk. He's my brother's tutor-ary. Radaam says he was just a coincidence, but I'm pretty sure he showed up because we're a snake family." She grinned matter-of-factly before looking around, hoisting herself up on her tiptoes. Luckily even from her diminutive height Radaam was easy to spot, towering over much of the crowd not far off from them. She pointed in his direction, expecting the boy to know precisely who she was referring to. "That's him over there. He's a sorcerer like you!" "Anyway," she added, daintily repositioning one of her braids, "we're a snake family, but I bet you're like my neighbour. He's a hawk family too - he even taught me how to feed them." She perched her free hand on her hip, beaming triumphantly both at her excellent explanation and her suburb hawk-feeding skills. of Thoth</s>
<\|description\|>Sirvan Nouzari Age: 16 Appearance: Short black hair with gray eyes and with coffee-colored skin. He is an average height for his age with an above-average build. Sirvan dresses modestly but, a bit minimal based clothing due to his clan's culture. Along with having a tattoo of his clan's symbol on his right shoulder which he keeps bare of clothing to show it proudly. Background: Sirvan's family used to be a clan of nomadic horsemen called the Nouzari that had decided to live in Phetop decades ago. It was his grandparents and others of his clan that made the effort to gain citizenship and integrate into Phetop's society. Where his clan would settle in a district in the southern part of the city, near the southern gate of the city. When it became known that Sirvan had the potential to be a sorcerer was met with mixed reception from his clan. For after an incident with a magic-user before the clan moved to Phetop. The clan has seen magic with disdain and which after moving to Phetop. This has lessened somewhat but, the stigma remains. Thus, some of the clan started to stop seeing Sirvan and shunned him. Sirvan himself thought of being a Sorcerer was one with distinction and was excited to learn more and to use magic. Sirvan found that he excelled at and earn high marks with his teachers. Ever curious about magic, he read as much as he could about the magic disciplines while learning to use the different disciplines. Which his proudest moment was when he managed to summon his tutelary ahead of his classmates. Now he hopes to be inducted into one of the Cults and continue his path to becoming a Sorcerer. Personality: Sirvan growing up has always been an inquisitive person. Curious about the world both inside and outside of Phetop. He tends to like to study alone though he does enjoy the company of others. Along with being rather kind and friendly to the people around him. He holds his clan in high esteem and is proud of his heritage but, won't preach about it likes some of his clanmates. Also, once he sets his mind on something, it can hard for people to dissuade him from that task or idea. Aptitude: While at Presedjet, he has the experience and has daddled with all of the magic disciplines. He shows most promise with pyromancy, favoring controlling lighting over fire. Also shows promise in telekinesis. Tutelary: Being named Amata and taking the form of a large falcon with kyanite gemstones for eyes. Since Sirvan summoned her, Amata has treated him like a loving sibling. Making he does not forget important things and likes to spend time with him. Also, the occasional teasing to get a rise out of him. Amata also so hates cramp rooms as they restrict her ability to fly and sometimes rests on Sirvan's shoulder while he is walking. Aura: The excitement of discovering something new, a warm and pleasant sensation.</s> <\|message\|>Sarahi Parvaneh Sarahi wasn't entirely sure why she was surprised to have been delegated to servant so quickly. Expecting the worst was her typical way of thinking--nothing in life came without some sort of great annoyance. Maybe it was because this was actually something she had been looking forward to, or maybe for just a second she had somehow assumed her new mentor wouldn't be the same as the other adults in her life. Then again, she had some sort of expectations for the magically inclined and highly respected the art of magic and those who rose through the ranks and assumed they had some sort of dignity about them. But no, she was entirely wrong. Diadem had nearly come out in full force, although they chose to cling and climb all over her hair and clothes, looking around at the various people she passed. She ignored their occasional whispers, acutely aware that she probably sounded like she was jingling with every step and movement. Unfortunately, when she walked back to the Magus, Berenice Whats-her-name was there, too. Great, she was going to get a massive headache from this interaction, she could already tell. She didn't miss that questioning look, either, glaring daggers at the brunette in return. Did it look like she was enjoying this?! Just as the urge to drop the next plate and walk away came, Diadem was spooked, hastily hiding under her hair and cloak. Sarahi had seen it so many times that she wasn't remotely surprised when the last third of the trio came over with their tutelary, a falcon of some sort. Interesting, although the constant tingling Diadem chirped in panic ruined the first impression just a touch. The only solace she got was that the Magus found Berenice just as irritating, though that wasn't saying much since her first impression on Sarahi was well into the negatives. Have some dignity she said while ordering Sarahi around like a servant. This was all so stupid. Did she forget that Sarahi was the only one around when she first spoke of training? Not only was the Magus a lazy fuck, she was also either forgetful or delusional. Yeah, because anyone would equate sending someone to fetch food with actual training. This was all going to be painful, wasn't it? To her surprise, it looked like the Magus was actually doing something of value. Straight into the pyramid, huh? About time they were doing something of value. Though if her initial interaction had any indication, they were probably going to do some dusting or something mundane. All care thrown aside, she decided she may as well get her expectations out of the way. "Are we doing actual training, or is it favors disguised as 'training' like fetching you food and drink?" She asked, not bothering to hide her bitterness. "Because I'm not here to be anyone's servant."</s> <\|message\|>Khaemtir Maryatum Khaemtir laughed to himself as the Novitiates interacted with their new master, especially that stiff Eldri girl. Everyone knew the Sorcerers and the Red Orders had a strained relationship. No one in their right mind could consider that tasteful. And how regrettable it was so early in her career but a public faux pas was too good to pass up and he made a mental note to bring it up at his group's little rendezvous later. Ishara would certainly enjoy the tale and even if Radaam didn't quite get it, Khaemtir would teach him how to enjoy the simple things in life. His thoughts came to a screeching halt as one of the three newest Serpents was covered in tiny, iridescent butterflies when she returned. He blinked in awe at what he could only assume was her tutelary. They were absolutely beautiful, the way they glowed and shimmered. He'd thought Udjebten beautiful with her gemstone eyes and baby fat all over but those butterflies were absolutely stunning. He wouldn't trade his tutelary for the world―Not that he would ever tell her that!―but maybe they could work together and make her eyes glow like that. The obvious superficial desires aside, he wouldn't need to light a candle if he got up at night anymore. "It's rude to stare, little Khae." Udjebten nudged him from where she sat on the bench next to him but he wasn't fooled. Not only was she perched up on her hind legs and resting her forelegs on the table for a better look, usually she'd have commented far sooner than she had. She was just as enthralled by the butterflies as he. He smirked at her and scratched behind her flicking ears like she enjoyed. "Alright, alright. I'll keep my appreciation to a minimum, mother." Khaemtir laughed, finally standing to approach the group. If their master was anything like his, they'd be dismissed shortly or at the very least sent on some inane assignment Khaemtir could steal them from. He still needed to give his regards to Ms. Faux and he definitely wanted to get to know the girl with the butterflies. He smoothed out any wrinkles in his outfit, helped Udjebten off the bench, and stood back up to see where they'd gone and… Groaned in disappointment. They'd vanished somewhere in the crowd, the entire bunch of them including their master, which only made him think they were off on some purpose or another. Great. He had been hoping to greet all of the necessary parties away from his mother before he had to play proper but it seemed fate did not smile on him today. He sighed dejectedly. "Well, it seems another greeting and it's off to your family. But first, you need to drink some water. Beer is a poor substitution for hydration and it is hot out here." Udjebten demanded, trotting off into the crowd. Khaemtir followed obediently. As long as it kept him away from his family, he was all set for it. Udjebten led him to a refreshment table, watching him drink water and eat a little before giving a satisfied nod. "Why is being a noble so difficult?" Khaemtir complained to Udjebten. "I just want to hang out with people but I know it'll get stuffy if I don't greet people somewhat formally." "You are a Sorcerer now. Your future is yours to write. If you wish, you could disappear from your noble life and become a hermit in your pyramid." The hippopotamus suggested, the closest thing to teasing smile on her face. "Absolutely not. I'd die." Khaemtir shuddered. He didn't want to give it up; he just wanted to be a noble his way. Was that so much to ask?</s> <\|message\|>Khotanebre Bekenamun --- Kho turned his head downward at the tug on his cloak, only stagger backward a half-step at the sight of the figure that had accosted him. He kept his face politely neutral for a moment as he waited for his mind to catch up with his eyes before realizing the figure speaking to him was just a little peasant girl - albeit a disfigured one - and not some Sybaris-infected goblinoid. Tekenkhasut, in the meantime, had no such hesitations. The falcon puffed its feathers up predatorially as it eyed the offered piece of meat, then shifted to the equally-appetizing snake that coiled around the girl. He offered his fellow tutelary a coy wink as he spread his wings and hopped off his perch on Khotanebre's shoulder. On his descent, Teken snatched the offered meat with his beak and listlessly glided to the ground, where he began ripping his meal into sinewy ribbons for consumption. "Am I a... what now?" Kho asked, belatedly registering what the girl had said. What on Ea was a 'hawk family'? Was that some kind of code for people with avian tutelaries? The girl didn't look old enough to be a sorcerer, and definitely wasn't dressed finely enough, so he doubted she was privy to any secret cabals of bird summoners. Other than feeding Teken, Kho couldn't fathom what the girl could want - at least, that meat better have been intended for the falcon; if the flying rat was stealing food now, that'd be a whole other issue he wasn't confident he could deal with. "Um, that was for my bird, right? He didn't just steal it?" "Yes, Khota, she whistled and everything," Teken interjected in feigned offense between bites. "I didn't ask you, go back to your lunch," Kho chided before offering the girl a polite bow of his head, "Sorry about that." --- Symphony</s>	<\|message\|>Sirvan Nouzari Are we already heading to the pyramid for training? Sirvan thought as he followed Magus Nevrakis to the Cult of the Serpent pyramid. That was fast, the night is still young, and the festivities are not even over yet. Guess this Magus is straight to the point of things and not waste time that could be used for training. Or at least that is what Sirvan thought as he walked. Still, what does the Magus have in store for them this night? He wondered, some kind of training exercise or maybe a test of their skills? Who knows, he should not focus on it, figuring out what it is. Better to just see it for himself and hope he is up to the task. Meanwhile, Sirvan got a look at his fellow novitiates. He recognized the two of them from the academy. Sarahi and Berenice he thinks their names are. Sirvan does not know alot about his fellow novitiates. Only a few memories from the academy days. Surely there will be an opportunity to learn more about them soon. Maybe even get a chance tonight if allowed to. Sirvan was eager to talk to them and perhaps become friends down the road. Then he heard Sarahi speak and was confused. Wait, what does he mean that training might be them doing something menial like getting food for the Magus. Did Nevrakis order Sarahi to do such things before they all gathered? If so, then... a bad feeling in his stomach started to form. Hopefully, not, and they will do some actual training and not something a menial as being Nevrakis's servants. He did not come here to train to be a Sorcerer and learn how to use magic just to be a servant. Guess Sirvan will see what the Magus has in store for them and hope for the best.</s>
<\|description\|>Sirvan Nouzari Age: 16 Appearance: Short black hair with gray eyes and with coffee-colored skin. He is an average height for his age with an above-average build. Sirvan dresses modestly but, a bit minimal based clothing due to his clan's culture. Along with having a tattoo of his clan's symbol on his right shoulder which he keeps bare of clothing to show it proudly. Background: Sirvan's family used to be a clan of nomadic horsemen called the Nouzari that had decided to live in Phetop decades ago. It was his grandparents and others of his clan that made the effort to gain citizenship and integrate into Phetop's society. Where his clan would settle in a district in the southern part of the city, near the southern gate of the city. When it became known that Sirvan had the potential to be a sorcerer was met with mixed reception from his clan. For after an incident with a magic-user before the clan moved to Phetop. The clan has seen magic with disdain and which after moving to Phetop. This has lessened somewhat but, the stigma remains. Thus, some of the clan started to stop seeing Sirvan and shunned him. Sirvan himself thought of being a Sorcerer was one with distinction and was excited to learn more and to use magic. Sirvan found that he excelled at and earn high marks with his teachers. Ever curious about magic, he read as much as he could about the magic disciplines while learning to use the different disciplines. Which his proudest moment was when he managed to summon his tutelary ahead of his classmates. Now he hopes to be inducted into one of the Cults and continue his path to becoming a Sorcerer. Personality: Sirvan growing up has always been an inquisitive person. Curious about the world both inside and outside of Phetop. He tends to like to study alone though he does enjoy the company of others. Along with being rather kind and friendly to the people around him. He holds his clan in high esteem and is proud of his heritage but, won't preach about it likes some of his clanmates. Also, once he sets his mind on something, it can hard for people to dissuade him from that task or idea. Aptitude: While at Presedjet, he has the experience and has daddled with all of the magic disciplines. He shows most promise with pyromancy, favoring controlling lighting over fire. Also shows promise in telekinesis. Tutelary: Being named Amata and taking the form of a large falcon with kyanite gemstones for eyes. Since Sirvan summoned her, Amata has treated him like a loving sibling. Making he does not forget important things and likes to spend time with him. Also, the occasional teasing to get a rise out of him. Amata also so hates cramp rooms as they restrict her ability to fly and sometimes rests on Sirvan's shoulder while he is walking. Aura: The excitement of discovering something new, a warm and pleasant sensation.</s> <\|message\|>Sarahi Parvaneh 'About time', she says, as if disobedience or questioning elders was commonplace. Sarahi openly rolled her eyes, feeling like she got stuck with one of those 'eccentric' sorcerers. She almost laughed at her statement about not being considered an underling; if that much was true, then what was the entire point of taking in novitiates? Regardless of whatever pea-brained scheme the lady was up to, all she wanted was magic. If the magus wanted to be all 'mysterious' and weird then at the very least she could do something interesting. Diadem chirped once in a while but remained relatively silent, opting to quietly crawl over Sarahi as they walked. They seemed wary of the other two novitiates, occasionally jingling to one another in what she could only assume was wild guesswork. Not surprising considering they opted to stick to her, but at least they were behaving properly enough that she could take in the sight of the pyramid. Now this is what she wanted, even if she didn't get much time to look since Nevrakis decided she was suddenly in a hurry. Maybe she could take some time in the future to admire everything since this was her cult and all. The most interesting thing of the entire trip was probably the flame Nevrakis produced, the light barely illuminating anything. Diadem's light glowed, though their whispers dulled as Sarahi swore she saw a face in the walls. The chamber's heat was somehow worse than outside. Sarahi let out a slight cough, waving away any smoke near her. At least Nevrakis decided to grace them with an 'explanation' disguised as some sort of stupid wisdom. Obviously they had a lot to learn, that was what they were supposed to do, but Sarahi was convinced the woman was nuts at this point. At this point she'd rather get taken advantage of--at least then she'd get something out of the exchange. After some other boring stuff that she didn't care about, things got interesting again as the floor shifted. Of course once again she was proven that she really shouldn't get her hopes up about anything as they were presented with a pitifully tiny mushroom. This is what they came all the way here for? If her face wasn't already sketched in a frown then it definitely was now. This was their 'first lesson', although for the first time today Sarahi was not at all surprised once Nevrakis decided to leave--she would've been surprised if she actually decided to stay. "How exhilarating," Sarahi commented dryly on the mushroom once the trio was alone. "Any ideas?"</s> <\|message\|>Khotanebre Bekenamun --- Cult of the Crow? Radaam must be either very talented or very lucky. Kho didn't recognize him from the Pesedjet, and he doubted the cult with the most prestigious reputation would have to resort to picking from lesser academies if one of the students hadn't specifically caught a magus' eye. Though for all this supposed Aethetic ability, his tutelary seemed a bit... simple. It certainly didn't talk, unless it was a telepath - or maybe it was just shy. Kho returned a stiff wave to Zahra and the serpentine tutelary as they bounced back into the crowd on her brother's command. Judging by the way Radaam was talking to her, this seemed like a common occurance. He arched a brow at Radaam's rhetorical question, but didn't actively comment. What could he do? Quite a bit; Kho would've never gotten away with that type of thing. The wandering was expected of a curious child, but pestering a sorcerer? That could easily be a poor reflection on the family, or worse, if the sorcerer in question was particularly crabby. The boy's nose crinkled almost imperceptibly in distaste at Radaam's comment on his new cult, though he quickly caught himself before he visibly made a rude face. What was not to envy about the Cult of the Phoenix? Kho's first thought was that this uppity commoner's ego was already inflating exponentially mere moments after being inducted into the Cult of the Crow, but Radaam spoke of his own cult with the same amount of hesitation. Was he hoping for another one in particular, then? Sensing his master's discontent, Teken looked up from the last scraps of his snack and peered at the large newcomer much the same way he'd eyed his tutelary; like a predator sizing up its next meal. The bird flicked the lingering juices from its talons before rapidly flapped its wings to hover up and perch on Kho's shoulder once again. Great, now he'll probably have meat stains on his pristine white cloak like some slob. "Err, yes. Pyromancy was probably my best subject. I take it you're not much of a diviner if your assignment surprised you," Kho answered plainly, rather than chide Teken or ask the potentially accusatory question lingering in the back of his mind. "And what's wrong with the Cult of the Phoenix, huh?" Unless Teken decided to ask for him, that is. Stupid bird. "Please excuse my tutelary, he hasn't learned to ignore veiled insults yet." He sighed wearily. Kho wasn't even sure if that was an insult, but the proverbial cat was already out of the bag. Thank the heavens this guy wasn't too important; crassness was probably the norm for him. --- Symphony</s> <\|message\|>Khaemtir Maryatum Khaemtir chatted animatedly with a few other people stopping for food and drink at the same table, passing a few minutes with idle conversation. He never understood some people's aversion to small talk; surface level conversation was pleasant to pass the time and came with no expectations of further communication. It was calming in a way though to be perfectly honest, he had few qualms taking a conversation further. Goodness knows his family told him to control his mouth more than once. His record is 34 times in a day and he has every intent on beating it at the next family dinner. But for now, he had a target. He politely separated from his conversation with another family congratulating their child on their acceptance and wandered his way back where he had seen the Bekenamun with the Order of the Phoenix. Khaemtir would admit it still upset him a little that the Order he would have preferred hadn't selected him but really who would complain being selected by the Crows? In terms of social status, Khaemtir clearly got the better end of the deal and for that he should be grateful. Another tick on the family's register. His first on his scroll, that's for sure, and quite an impressive one at that. All he could do was just cross his fingers that his studies wouldn't be impeded too much not having access to the Phoenix's knowledge. Khaemtir beamed when he saw Radaam already talking with the Bekenamun. He stuck out like a sore thumb still but taking the initiative already for their little group? Khaemtir felt like a proud father. It would be a little impolite to intrude on their conversation so suddenly but he couldn't help himself. The last time he waited, his quarry had gotten away and he had no intention of that happening again. And he really wanted to see Radaam interact with this one up close. But, details. "There you are!" Khaemtir beamed as he practically bounced his way up to Radaam. Udjebten looked up at Tekenhasut and greeted him politely before sitting next to Khaemtir. "I found someone you absolutely had to see but she disappeared before I could get to her. Her tutelary was amazing, wasn't it Udjebten? "You should apologize for interrupting their conversation, little Khaem, but yes, her tutelary was quite the spectacle." Udjebten scolded him but she couldn't help indulge his question. "But yes, her tutelary was quite the spectacle." "You're right as always, Udjebten! It seems in my eagerness I disrupted you. I hope you can forgive my rudeness." Khaemtir bowed in apology but the amusement never left his face. He did, after all, do it entirely on purpose but whatever made his tutelary feel better. "But it was amazing! It looked like a myriad of butterflies shimmering under the moon! Of course, it didn't have anything on my precious Udjebten but an impressive second place nonetheless." Khaemtir paused a moment, taking in the Bekenamun. His name surfaced after a few moments―he only remembered because they shared the first few letters of their name―and Khaemtir beamed. They may not have been incredibly close before this but opening up some channels of communication now might make it easier to access whatever specialty knowledge the Pheonix's have on Pyromancy. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance again, Kho! And congratulations on your acceptance. It's amazing that all our hard work paid off, huh? Minus the favorite of course but I can't help this sense of disbelief. I wonder if it's rude to ask what they saw in us out of everyone they could have chosen." Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony @Scribe of Thoth</s>	<\|message\|>Sirvan Nouzari That is it, that is their first lesson? Sirvan looked confused and Amata who was perched on his shoulder took easily tell that. Meditating on a mushroom? Sirvan looked long and hard at the mushroom. It looked healthy as far as he could tell and it did look rather small on the plinth it was on. Sirvan scratch his head, was he missing something or does this first lesson from Nevrakis make no sense? It is just a mushroom that is in the middle of the room. Unless this is some kind of special mushroom or something. Though what could the purpose of meditating about a mushroom? What is the lesson that can be taught or learned here? The rest of the pyramid was interesting and piqued his curiosity. The room with the skeletons was fascinating. How he would love to learn about the animals he did not recognize. Like the large lizard-bird creature or the giant finned, aquatic creature. Surely studying those creatures can be more enlightening as a first lesson then an ordinary-looking mushroom. If this can count as a first lesson that is. Sirvan sighed confusedly, at least they are not doing menial tasks that he was worried about. Nevrakis was even glad that Sarahi stood up for herself which was a good thing. Shows that Nevrakis does not want those without spines. Though he was not sure of what to do really. Is he actually going to meditate on a mushroom? She said she would be back when they are done so. How long with he has to do this? Ten minutes, twenty minutes, thirty minutes, an hour? Who knows how long before they are deemed done. After hearing Sarahi speak up, he answered her blankly. "I guess we meditate on a mushroom until Nevrakis comes back. Sirvan shrugged, "unless you got a better idea of what to do".</s>
<\|description\|>Fernstar Gender: She-cat Age: 48 moons Rank: Leader Personality: Intelligent, loyal, charismatic and calm, Fernstar makes a firm and protective leader. However, she is wary of cats who are not clear and genuine about their intentions; be it with her or the Clan as a whole. She seems to have very strong intuition and easily sees through those who lie. She is private with her emotions as well as her personal story, except with Maplestream, who is her best friend. Description: Long haired calico she-cat with green eyes Backstory: Fernstar, (originally Fernkit), was born to an ex-Clan Mother and a loner Father. Her Mother raised her alone in the forest, taught her the Warrior code, how to hunt and enough battle moves to defend herself if necessary. Shortly after Fernsky had been given her warrior name, her Mother disappeared suddenly. After searching and waiting for her for moons, she finally realized she had to strike out on her own and survive. While grieving the loss of her Mother, Fernsky made her own way hunting, exploring and learning every bush and gravel trail of the forest until eventually, she stumbled upon a group of loners living and hunting together. Mate: None Kits: Honeypaw (adopted)</s> <\|message\|>Spidernose ___________________________________________________________________________ WillowClan Warrior's Den ---> WillowClan Camp interacting with: @Hazelrah's Stonefall, @savannahssu for plot/technically Fernstar for the Clan meeting! Mentions of Maplestream, Moosepaw and Duskwing and Stormheart ___________________________________________________________________________ Spidernose had been curled up in her nest beside Stonefall's - in fact it was a surprise they weren't sharing a nest at this point… - and snoring quietly, peacefully asleep until their Clan leader's summoning yowl cut through the foggy blanket that had dulled her senses for the night. Stirring with a wide, gaping yawn, the she-cat delicately stepped from her nest and paused to stoop down and nudge Stonefall's head gently with her own to rouse the deputy with a gentle mew of, "Hey, Stone…wake up, Fernstar's calling. C'mon." not wanting to nag him, however, it wasn't like they were mates or anything like that, for StarClan's sake, Spidernose then left it at that for now and padded out of the den. However, before joining the others she also stopped to survey their surroundings. The cream and brown she-cat's thinner fur immediately fluffed out against the biting cold morning breeze that ruffled through it once she'd left the relative warmth of the den, and she fought down the urge to shiver, instead reaching her forepaws out in front of her and digging her claws as much as she could into the partly-frozen earth beneath them to give herself some leverage as she arched her back in a stretch. Straightening up again, Spidernose trotted briskly over to the space beneath the Highstump where Fernstar held their Clan meetings, mewing quiet "G'morning!" greetings to the other cats who had begun to gather there, she settled herself into the spot on Maplestream's other side from Stormheart, being sure to leave enough space for Stonefall to join her once he'd woken up too. Spidernose turned to seek out Duskwing and Moosepaw in the crowd too, twitching her whiskers at the young tom too, she knew he would be having his warrior assessment today which was no doubt a time of both nerves and excitement for him, however she also knew Duskwing had taught him well, and hopefully he would pass without any problems. Then, not wanting to stare too long and make Moosepaw uncomfortable, she turned her gaze upwards towards Fernstar, and behind the leader, her den where she knew Honeypaw and Frogkit had slept that night, hoping they were kept safe from the rogues in Fernstar's care. Surely, they were younger and therefore just a bit slower to rouse than their older counterpart and the Clan's warriors, and the fact that she hadn't seen them yet this morning was no reason to worry, she kept telling herself. But both Frogkit and Honeypaw were quite important to her, even if Honeypaw had only been her apprentice for a day and a half so far, she'd still found herself developing quite the soft spot for the spunky little she-cat. And of course, she'd promised her mother that she'd look after Frogkit so she couldn't let anything happen to her little sister… But she was worrying for nothing, Spidernose reminded herself, even though the rogues were still in camp, there was no way they would have been allowed anywhere near Fernstar's den! So there was no possible way they could have hurt the younger she-cats.</s> <\|message\|>Blackpelt Blackpelt: Base of Highstump _______________________________________ Blackpelt twitches in his sleep, and looks around in his dream. The dark, heavily wooded and starless forest is all he can see. He begins slowly padding his way through the thick brush, and listens for any whispers or sounds. Aside from the wind, he hears very little. Untill he hears a loud growl, as if it's right behind him. He jolts awake, and looks around frantically for a moment, his fur puffed up. He breathes heavily, and slowly sits up, waiting for his limbs to stop shaking. He groans, sore, then begins slowly licking his pelt clean, trying to calm himself down. He begins rummaging through his herbs, eyes bloodshot and weary, and he looks over when he hears Fernstar yowl for a meeting. Then he begins to walk towards Highstump, pausing for a moment at the entrance of his den. His eye twitches, and he slowly walks out of his den, looking up at Highstump with his half-lidded eyes, betraying his weariness and sheer exhaustion. He groans softly, and paws at his ear for a moment, then settles down near the back of the group in a small patch of light, ears pricked up. He licks his lips slightly, and wraps his tail around his paws to try to hide his shaking. He looks across the group of cats, eyes flicking between muzzles as he searches for anyone who looks out of place. He looks up at Fernstar, then down at her den, wondering if Frogkit and Honeypaw were still asleep. He looks around, and tilts his head slightly. I wonder what Fernstar's going to do about the rouges...... He sighs, and looks at the group of his fellow clan members gathered at the base of the stump.</s> <\|message\|>Fernstar Interacting with:@The Elvenqueen Sunfur dragged his tired body out of his nest in the Warrior's den, feeling as limp as a piece of fresh kill. He had been roused from his deep sleep by Fernstar's call for a Clan meeting, and as he was about to exit the den he stopped to call out to Stonefall who was not yet out of his nest. You would think the Clan's deputy would have been the first to respond to his leader's call... Sunfur observed. As he padded out into the clearing, the sunlight glinting off the snow was almost blinding, and he averted his eyes to the base of the Highstump. His eyes fell on Spidernose, and the empty space next to her. He lifted his head and gave Fernstar a nod as he sat down in the empty space between Maplestream and Spidernose. He twitched his whiskers and purred quietly, "Morning Spidernose! I had an amazing idea I spoke to Fernstar about yesterday, I'm sure she's going to talk about it. And you'll be able to help!" Teaching the Clan to hunt in the treetops wasn't going to be easy, but he felt that he would be serving his Clan and honoring their ancestors by teaching an ancient hunting method. He would be proud to do it; and he hoped he and Spidernose could grow closer as she taught with him...</s> <\|message\|>Frogkit ___________________________________________________________________________ WillowClan Camp, The Highstump interacting with: @savannahssu's Sunfur Mentions of Fernstar and Frogkit ___________________________________________________________________________ While she awaited for Fernstar to start the meeting as the rest of the cats of WillowClan gathered, Spidernose took the time to give herself a quick groom. She brought one of her forepaws up, gave it a few licks, then passed that paw over the closest ear. And when she was satisfied that was done, Spidernose began to do the same for the other side of her face. The she-cat turned her head as she heard pawsteps padding up to join her. Spidernose couldn't help but feel a tug of disappointment as she realised it was Sunfur and not Stormfall. Though she didn't treat the ginger tom unkindly, and twitched her whiskers back at Sunfur as she purred out a cheerful greeting. "Good morning, Sunfur! Stonefall still not awake yet? I wonder if we should be worried, I did shake him when I woke up…" she mused, turning her head to look back over her shoulder at the entrance to the warrior's den. Was the deputy getting sick? She felt her gut twist with worry, and couldn't help but send a prayer up to StarClan that her hunch was wrong. She didn't know how she'd feel if anything bad happened to Stonefall… The cream she-cat's ears perked up as Sunfur mentioned speaking with the Clan leader the night before. It had to have been about their little hunting trick that they'd tried out the night before. Her first reaction was one of apprehension, That means having to go back up the tree, huh… That had been quite a frightening experience. However, Spidernose did believe Sunfur was onto something and if more of their Clanmates could perfect the technique then it meant WillowClan would have more options for hunting birds during winter, which would keep the fresh-kill pile stocked… This might be worth it. And Spidernose was quite sure that with more practise, leaping out of the tree like that wouldn't scare her as much. So, if Fernstar did want her and Sunfur to teach the others, she'd be more than happy to pitch in. "Oh, really? You think she'll like it? Well, we might have our paws full for a while if that's the case!" she giggled, playfully nudging Sunfur's shoulder with her own. "But sure! If you need me, I'll be happy to help out!" ___________________________________________________________________________ Fernstar's Den ---> WillowClan Camp, the Highstump interacting with: @savannahssu's Fernstar, mention of Honeypaw, Spidernose and Sunfur ___________________________________________________________________________ Hearing the steady, growing chatter of the other cats below the Highstump finally roused Frogkit from her slumber. The little tortie-point kit gave a wide yawn, showing all of her teeth, for a second as she blinked the sleep from her eyes. Beside her, she could still hear Honeypaw snoring, and rolled her eyes a little. Springing up to her paws, Frogkit began to poke the apprentice as she called her name in an attempt to wake her up. "Honeypawwww, Honeypaw! Wake up, lazybones! Fernstar's calling a Clan meeting!" she frowned as her companion still didn't stir, and gave an annoyed huff. The kit bent down and nipped at Honeypaw's ear with her teeth, not hard enough to draw blood or leave any sort of mark, but tugging on it enough that Frogkit hoped it might wake Honeypaw up. "C'moooon!! We're gonna be late!" she complained, and when the older she-cat still didn't respond, Frogkit gave up. She didn't want to miss the Clan meeting, even if she technically wasn't old enough to catch her own prey just yet… she almost was and Frogkit wasn't about to miss out on a cool announcement just because Honeypaw was sleepier than a hibernating badger! So Frogkit left Fernstar's den, trotting right up to where the Clan leader was waiting for the rest of the Clan, her tail shot up into the air as she chirped a greeting. "Hiya Fernstar! I'm awake! Honeypaw's still sleepin' though, I tried to wake her!" she giggled in amusement, much to poor Spidernose's horror. Frogkit jumped a little in surprise, flattening her ears at her older sister as she heard Spidernose hiss to her: "Frogkit! Get down from there, you're not the Clan leader!"</s>	<\|message\|>Fernstar Fernstar's yowl shook Felix from his sleep, and for a moment he forgot where he was. It wasn't until he glanced upwards at the scraggly walls of the WillowClan nursery and saw Heather curled next to him that he remembered. Otis was curled against the back wall of the den, not needing the warmth of another cat's pelt. Sometimes Felix wished his own fur was as thick and long as Otis', despite how much extra work it would be to groom. He sat up and nudged Heather's flank with his forepaw. "Heather wake up. We need to see what Fernstar is going to announce." As she stirred, he padded over to Otis and woke him as well before thrusting his head out the entrance of the nursery. The cat who had been assigned to guard them was sitting on her paws not too far from him and a couple other Warriors were gathered in front of the fallen tree stump in the center of the clearing. The Clan leader seemed strong and well rested, despite the cold and the barren fresh kill pile. Her head was lifted against the blinding sunlight as she surveyed the camp. He could tell that she was waiting for the rest of the Clan to gather before she spoke. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Heather and Otis followed and carefully slipped out into the clearing, keeping towards the bramble walls of the camp. The cold air startled him and he shrunk towards Heather for warmth. His ears twitched in amusement as the small kit they had met last night scrambled and scratched her way up onto the Highstump next to Fernstar and squeaked in delight as she looked down on her Clanmates. Just as the Clan leader noticed, a different she-cat leapt to her paws and meowed in a stern tone for the kit to get down. The kit spun in a small circle, her fur spiked against the cold, then hurled herself off the stump before Fernstar could say anything. The she-cat, Felix thought he remembered her saying her name was Spidernose, hooked the kit with her tail and pulled her into her under-belly. The Clan leader met their eyes and dipped her head before meowing "Good morning. How are your wounds doing? Did the herbs from Blackpelt help?" Heather nodded and emphatically replied "Yes, thank you." before giving her forelimbs a few licks. Otis was quietly surveying the camp, and in the relative silence, Felix wondered where the Clan deputy was. It seemed the tom in second command should be the first out of his nest when his leader called This Clan seems very disheveled. . . Felix thought with a glint in his eye. He concluded it would be best for them to appear respectful and wait for the rest of the Clan to gather. He was anxious to hear what this "leader" had to say.</s>
<\|description\|>Spidernose Gender: She-cat Age: 26 moons Rank: Warrior Personality: Spidernose is a determined, no-nonsense cat with a bit of an abrasive side. She can be blunt, but she only wants what is best for her Clan, she doesn't mean to be stand-offish but sometimes comes off that way when she is lost in her work, however if a Clanmate came to her with a concern she would treat it with the utmost care and compassion until it was resolved. Appearance: A skinny, long-legged she-cat with cream fur and dark brown points, Spidernose's fur is sleek and short, her appearance calling back to her father's kittypet roots a lot more strongly than her sister's. Her eyes are a piercing blue, and often seem to stare straight through someone very critically. Backstory: Born as "Spider" to a loner mother and a wandering kittypet father - who, although he cared for the she-cat, could not always be there for her due to his housefolk sometimes shutting him away - Spider was the oldest in her litter of two, with one other sister. Her mother, young and naive, had conceived too close to winter and the result was very nearly a disaster for her two kits. She did her best to try and keep them fed and warm, but doing so alone became a real struggle. When she heard of WillowClan, Spider's mother quickly sought refuge with the Clan and asked them to take in her kits. She was too used to life alone to leave her life as a loner behind and join the Clan, and Spider's sister found staying continually in one place too stifling as well and soon followed her mother to return to a loner's life. Spidernose isn't sure where her littermate went after that as she presumably went to carve out a territory of her own, though she kept in close contact with her mother who is currently living somewhere as a loner, in the area surrounding WillowClan's territory. She will always be an ally to the Clan and has a kind word for any of the cats should they happen to run into her on their travels. Spidernose took to Clan life very well, and is as dedicated a warrior as any, considering WillowClan her home. A few moons ago her mother sought out WillowClan again, she had had another litter with Spidernose's father and yet again brought another kit to them in order to strengthen the Clan, little Frogkit, who seems to take great delight in irritating her big sister and anyone else in the camp whenever possible. Mate: None for now, but crushing hard on Stonefall ;3 Kits: None for now</s> <\|message\|>Hawkpaw Cinderpaw : WillowClan Camp --- Cinderpaw sighs as she pad the den to the next, she rather go patrolling with Hawkpaw and Moosepaw, looking around the forest and catching my prey but what she doing? Staying at camp and padding some den. When Cinderpaw walk out of a den, she can see her parents in the warrior den with the other warriors, just talking, Deertail and Silverstorm spot their silver daughter and wave at her with smiles on their faces, Cinderpaw wave back but she wonder what are they talking about, probably talking about who is a great apprentice and Cinderpaw feel like it not her, she wish she was like Hawkpaw, eager, optimistic and ready to face danger and Moosepaw, very silent and observant hunter, which Cinderpaw is none of those things. Cinderpaw was about to head inside the medicine den but then see Fernstar inside, talking to Blackpelt, she shrug, probably talking about warrior and medicine stuff. Cinderpaw was about to walk away but then, Blackpelt talk a glowing pool, filled with stars and seeing cats made of stars, Cinderpaw slowing lean to the side of den entrance, she want to learn more. Blackpelt mention some warrior names from some stories that her mother use to tell to her and her sister, Firestar, Bluestar, Yellowfang, every warrior and medicine cat were there, Cinderpaw can feel her heart racing, Blackpelt was talking to Starclan members! Cinderpaw can hear Fernstar walking toward the medicine den entrance and with no hesitation, she quietly rush toward some den and watch Fernstar walking away from the medicine den. Cinderpaw heart is still racing, Hawkpaw and Moosepaw need to hear about this when they come back.</s> <\|message\|>Maplestream Maplestream: WillowClan Territory Maplestream shivered against the damp spray from the rushing rapid as it misted against her pelt. It was cold enough already without being damp to make it worse. Fernstar had asked her to help strip the dens of old bedding and dispose of it into the rapids like usual. She would gather more moss and bracken on her way back for the warrior's and apprentice's den. She would have rather been out hunting but she was in such a deep sleep that she had missed the morning call. She sighed and realized it was her own fault; it wouldn't happen again. As she noded her way past the tall grass that bordered the banks of the rapid, she disturbed a mouse from it's digging in the dirt and it darted away, too fast for Mapleshade to catch it. Not to mention she didn't want to risk falling into the rapids. No cat would survive that. . . As she pushed the last of the old moss and fern leaves over the edge, she turned and made her way towards the trunk of an oak tree where she could see moss growing thick on one side. She stood on her hind paws and began shredding the trunk with her claws ans the moss fell in bunches at her feet. It was soft and dry and hope bounced in her heart as she thought what it would be like sleeping in fresh warm bedding tonight. She began clumping the moss into a large pile and filled her jaws with as much as she could carry in one trip. As she padded closer to camp, her ears pricked and her pelt bristled as she heard what sounded like hissing in the distance. Tucking the moss close to the roots of a nearby tree, she sprinted in the direction of the commotion. Exploding through the undergrowth, Maplestream's eyes widened in horror as she saw Stormheart, Hawkpaw and Brambletail circling around a fox, avoiding it's snapping jaws and getting frenzied blows in where they could. Two warriors and an apprentice wasn't enough to drive a fox from the territory. Should she try to help on her own, or race back to camp to get help from the others? Thoughts racing, she had an idea. Darting as fast as she could towards the fox, she gathered all the strength she could from her hindquarters and leaped onto the fox's shoulders digging all four paws in as hard as she could and sunk her teeth into the fox's ear, shaking her head back and forth vigorously. The fox spun in circles desperately trying to throw her off, but Maplestream was ready and jumped away landing beside Stormheart. Darting beneath the fox's belly, she raked her claws along it's underside to distract it and make it turn it's back towards the rest of the patrol. Yowling above the fox's growl she flashed her gaze towards her Clanmates. "KEEP FIGHTING! But while you're at it, yowl as loud as your lungs will let you! We have to be loud enough to attract the attention of the hunting patrol! With four more cats to help us, the fox won't stand a chance!" Baring her teeth and swiping at the fox's muzzle, she hoped Duskwing and the rest of the hunting patrol would hear their cries for help.</s> <\|message\|>Sunfur Sunfur: Hunting Patrol Sunfur lapped at his foreleg trying to curb the bleeding, worry flowing through his pelt as he hoped the snake that bit him wasn't poisonous. Leafbare had made it hard for Blackpelt to find herbs and he wasn't sure the Clan had the herbs to treat a snake bite. He glanced up at Spidernose who was shifting around anxiously not knowing what to do. "I can most likely get back to camp if you could support the side I was bitten on. Three of my paws still work after all." He tried to muster a grin to reassure Spidernose that is might not be as bad as she thought. "Someone will come have to come back for the snake though. We can't afford to waste prey, not to mention it's against the Warrior Code. He leaned against Spidernose's side and hopped along with his good paws. As they passed a small section of forest where the trees thinned, Sunfur heard a yowl in the distance and jerked his head in the direction of the noise, ears pricked and eyes watchful. He wondered if what he had heard was trouble, or just Duskwing scolding her apprentice for missing a piece of prey or getting himself hurt. He hast a worried and confused glance towards Spidernose and asked "Should we go see what that is?"</s> <\|message\|>Moosepaw Moosepaw: Hunting Patrol Staying in a crouched hunting pose, Moosepaw waited patiently for Duskwing to sneak around the clearing to get to the other side and corral the rabbit to his position. While he was waiting to strike Moosepaw began to wonder to himself. Is it just me or am I getting a bad feeling right now? Everything feels like it's going to well... I can bring up my concern with Duskwing later. he was brought out of his thought when he heard Duskwing yowl as she sprung at the rabbit. keeping his attention sharp, he waited patiently as the rabbit got closer and closer to his position. When close enough he let out a mighty leap and tackled the rabbit into a tumble and with all of his strength he bit into it's neck and shook his head back and forth violently. With an audible snap the rabbit was dead. Standing upright to admire the kill Duskwing and he had accomplished he winced as he put pressure on one his paws that seemed a bit swollen. Being careful he put some weight on the paw slowly. "I think I hurt my paw tumbling with that rabbit... not my most agile moment." Remembering his feeling and the slight yowl he heard in the distance he asked Duskwing "Do you think we could go check on the other two patrols? I have a bad feeling and I don't think I'm good to keep hunting with my paw like it is...or I could collect the prey we've caught and bring it back to camp while you go check on them."</s> <\|message\|>Blackpelt Blackpelt: Willowclan Camp (Medicine Den) Medicine Den _______________________________________ He shakes himself awake. How long have I been asleep for? He looks around, and rushes back to his den, checking that no one has touched his herbs. Did anyone try to self treat themselves? He sighs in relief when he sees that everything is as it should be. Why am I so paranoid? He yawns, feeling tired still, and curls up in a small black ball, falling asleep. He looks around in his dream, and sees...nothing. Nothing but dark trees. No stars, no light. He whimpers, and hides behind a tree. He sees a few cats, but they feel.....dark and cold. Dangerous. He bites himself hard to wake himself up. He wakes with a jolt, and laps at his bleeding paw. Where on earth was that?</s>	<\|message\|>Spidernose Hunting Patrol: with Sunfur, near Maplestream's Patrol __________________________ Spidernose nodded, still looking worried, but at least now she had a course of action that she could focus on and that helped her to not panic. Offering the tom her shoulder to lean on, she took his weight onto it to support him and began to stumble carefully along back towards camp. "Don't worry, as soon as we get you back to camp I'll get someone to help me come back for it. I'll have to come back for the vole, too." she promised, agreeing that they shouldn't waste any prey. The Clan needed everything they could get right now...The two hunters had made it a little way on, camp was still far enough away, when they heard the sound of the yowl. Spidernose did not scare easily, but even she jumped a little at how unexpected and loud the sound was. "Eeeek!" her dark ears flattened and her nostrils flared slightly as she and Sunfur stopped to locate the direction of the sound. "Is that...is that one of the Clan? They sound like they could be in trouble." she muttered, knowing that they should go and check it out. "We definitely should try and help them, but I don't know if you should over-exert yourself with that snake bite..." Spidernose was no medicine cat, of course, but she had a bad feeling that Sunfur trying to run or fight after being bitten by a snake was not a good idea. "But if they are in trouble....we can't just leave them. C-Come on, we've gotta. Do you think you can manage? Wh-Why don't you try and call Duskwing and Moosepaw and then catch up, I'll run a little ahead and see what's going on" she decided with a nod. Only when she was sure Sunfur wasn't going to collapse or fall over without her to lean on did she push away from the golden-pelted tom, darting through the underbrush and keeping herself somewhat low to the ground, she headed towards Maplestream's screech. StarClan, please let us be on time...don't let them be hurt... they couldn't afford any more injuries.</s>
<\|description\|>Blackpelt Gender: Tom Age: 36 moons Rank: Medicine cat Personality: Strict, but in a caring manner. Not afraid to tell you exactly what he thinks, even if you take offence. Appearance: Backstory: Born and raised in the clan, he walked out to the woods one day on a hunt, and got lost. He hid in a cave, and slept until the moon rose. He saw a large glowing pool, and, feeling thirsty, he lapped at it. He suddenly felt very very tired. He curled up, but when he woke, he....wasn't on the ground anymore. Instead, he was surrounded with cats. But what manner of cats? They were made of stars! They told him that they were the ancestors of all good cats. But he noticed that they didn't talk about the bad cats. Strange. He woke up, and felt weak, and tired. He walked back to the group, and told them that he....had been away. Mate: None Kits: None</s> <\|message\|>Honeypaw Honeypaw: WillowClan Camp Interacting with: @The Elvenqueen @TykerS97 Honeypaw nearly vibrated with excitement. This was it! It was happening! She was an apprentice! As Moosepaw approached, she gently touched her nose to his shoulder, which was just about as high up as she could reach on the much larger apprentice. At his words, she instantly started to bristle. Well, of COURSE I'm going to be a strong Warrior. Who says I need YOUR approval?! but before she could reply indignantly, she realized that Moosepaw was just trying to be kind. So she dipped her head respectfully, and meowed "Thank you, Moosepaw. That is very kind. I am sure we will be friends. Now if you'll excuse me, I think my mentor needs to talk to me." Even just getting to SAY the words 'my mentor' was very exciting to Honeypaw. She had a place in this Clan! She felt like she finally had a reason for being here. She purred a little bit, instinctively, as Spidernose touched her nose to Honeypaw's forehead. She then stepped back and listened very intently as Spidernose spoke about Maplestream. She nodded, solemnly, at Spidernose's explanation about having to guard the camp. "Well, I'm very ready to help guard the camp, Spidernose! Just show me how!" The small she-cat nodded her head emphatically, stood to her very small paws, and stuck her tail high in the air. She was so ready to show Spidernose and Fernstar just how helpful she could be! Stonefall: WillowClan Territory > WillowClan Camp Interacting with: @TykerS97 The cold snow crunched under Stonefall's paws as he brought himself closer to camp. The sleek silver and grey tabby kept his body low to the ground as he jogged, his ears pricked for any sounds of disturbance, of prey, of anything out of place. He had said he was going hunting, and so he dutifully was bringing back a mouse for the fresh-kill pile, but his journey had multiple purposes. He knew Fernstar and Blackpelt were traveling to the Moonpool. And he trusted his leader to look out for both of them, without a doubt. But Stonefall's natural inclination to serve and protect had inspired him to take a quick solo patrol around the camp and the territory closest to the journey to the Moonpool, to at least make sure there was nothing extraordinarily dangerous in the nearest vicinity. He owed that much to Fernstar, since he was out hunting anyhow. So Stonefall continued his sojourn back to camp from his self-assigned solo patrol. He knew Fernstar wanted cats to stay in pairs, but he had to check the surrounding area for himself before she left on her journey. As he approached the camp, he heard Fernstar calling a Clan meeting, and picked up his pace. He slipped inside camp and jogged over to the fresh-kill pile, dropping the mouse. He noticed that Honeykit, well, Honeypaw now, was being apprenticed to Spidernose, and he flicked his tail appreciatively towards Spidernose and Honeypaw. That's a good match. Trust Fernstar to always know who will match up well. He noticed Fernstar and Duskwing talking, and spotted Moosepaw just a few feet away from where Honeypaw was chatting with Spidernose. The newly appointed Deputy padded over to Moosepaw and gently touched his nose to the large apprentice's shoulder. "Hey there, Moosepaw. How is training going?" Stonefall asked in his deep, light baritone voice, wrapping his long silver and black striped tail around his paws.</s> <\|message\|>Spidernose ___________________________________________________________________________ WillowClan Camp interacting with: @Hazelrah's Honeypaw, @savannahssu's Fernstar & Sunfur, @Ambra's Redleap, @Shadow Dragon's Blackpelt ___________________________________________________________________________ Honeypaw purred as she stooped to touch noses with her, and Spidernose felt some of her own insecurities melt away a little. Maybe this would be okay, she could do this. She just hoped the poor kid wouldn't be too disappointed to be stuck in camp for one more day, but they really couldn't afford to leave the Clan undefended. Spidernose let out a tiny huff of relief, however, as the apprentice seemed just as excited by the task she had proposed. If she could make it sound important enough, perhaps it could be just as good for Honeypaw as a territory tour would have been. "Excellent, I'm glad. It shouldn't be too tricky, tell you what we'll do, is go and meet the others at the entrance there. You can see Fernstar, Blackpelt, Sunfur and Redleap off with me, and we'll sit either side and keep watch until one of them gets back, just use your ears and your nose and if you hear or smell anything strange, you let me know and we can warn the rest of the camp. That sound good?" The she-cat flicked her tail towards where the other cats she'd mentioned were gathering, keeping her strides small to allow her new apprentice to keep up with her better as they padded through the settling snow to join them. "Take care, all of you. May StarClan watch over your paws. We'll keep the camp nice and safe while you're away." Spidernose promised, settling herself on one side of the entry tunnel and curling her tail over her paws so she could hunker down comfortably. It might be a long night, if Honeypaw got tired before then, she was willing to let the poor kid head off to the apprentice's den and finish the watch by herself, unless Stonefall insisted someone else relieved her before then. Spidernose would sit guard all night if she had to.</s> <\|message\|>Honeypaw Honeypaw: WillowClan Camp Interacting with: @The Elvenqueen Honeypaw pricked her ears up at Spidernose's spoken blessing to the traveling cats. She listened intently, trying her best to commit the words to memory, though she was feeling overwhelmed at all of the change today, and more afraid than she cared to admit about Maplestream's disappearance, and Fernstar's journey. The small she-cat watched as Spidernose hunkered down, and Honeypaw decided to sit on the other side of the entrance. She mimicked Spidernose's post as much as she could, and hated how small she was. She tried to puff up her fur to look a little bit bigger, before tucking her paws in and wrapping her tail around her tiny frame. "Spidernose?" Honeypaw meowed, trying to sound brave. "Do...do we know what we're guarding the camp from?" Honeypaw hoped this wasn't a silly question. But she wasn't at all sure what she would do if something actually invaded the camp on her very first watch. She didn't know how to fight, and she wasn't very big. Well, all you can do is try, she thought to herself, trying not to let the nagging fears overwhelm her. She was an apprentice now. She had to be brave!</s> <\|message\|>Spidernose ___________________________________________________________________________ WillowClan Camp interacting with: @Hazelrah's Honeypaw ___________________________________________________________________________ Spidernose's attention had been fixed upon the camp entrance, her eyes barely blinking and her ears perked forward to detect the tiniest of sounds in the underbrush outside. She listened to the pawsteps of the patrol, the leader and the medicine cat as they pattered away on their own journeys. Silence settled across WillowClan once they were far enough away, and for a few heartbeats there was nothing to break it until she heard Honeypaw squeak out her name and a question nearby. The older she-cat's ears angled towards the apprentice and her whiskers twitched slightly in amusement. "Try not to worry too much, Honeypaw. It's more a precaution than anything else. The border patrol ran into a fox earlier and while they chased it away, it might come back with a friend." she explained, her tail flicking from side to side absently. "The chances of us needing to see anything off are pretty low, what with leafbare creeping up on us. Most things will go to ground at night to stay out of the cold."</s> <\|message\|>Fernstar Interacting with: @PrankFox@Shadow Dragon@Ambra@The Elvenqueen@Hazelrah Casting a glance over her shoulder at the medicine den, Fernstar perked her ears at Duskwing's news about Moosepaw's warrior assessment. He would be ready to be made a warrior by the time she returned from the Moonpool. "Excellent. Assess him while I am away and when I return, the first thing I will do as a StarClan appointed leader is perform Moosepaw's warrior ceremony. I shouldn't be gone for more than a sunrise." Blinking farewell to Duskwing, Fernstar padded out of the entrance tunnel and paused to speak with Spidernose and Honeypaw. She dipped her head to Spidernose as she stood at the entrance to camp, waiting for Blackpelt and the patrol of warriors setting out in search of Maplestream to follow. She then turned to Honeypaw and smiled as a soft purr rang in her throat. She padded up to the new apprentice and rested her tail over Honeypaw's shoulders. "Sitting vigil is the first way to prove to your Clanmates that you will always fight to protect them; until you walk with StarClan. While I'm gone, I hope your training begins with a good start. I know you will do well." Waiting for her medicine cat and warriors to emerge from the entrance tunnel, Fernstar realized how nervous she was. Even though she had been leading WillowClan for moons, she was always aware in the back of her mind that she had never actually been appointed by StarClan and given her nine lives. To tell the truth, she had never known if StarClan would speak to her at all. She had always used her best judgement when making decisions and of course, always had her Clanmate's best interests at heart. What more could any cat ask from their leader? But she knew that with Blackpelt's help, she could receive her nine lives, and become a leader worthy of padding alongside the leaders of legends her mother had always told her of. Bluestar. Firestar. Onestar. Let me follow in your pawsteps. . .</s> <\|message\|>Fernstar Uncertainty and fear washed over Maplestream like a cold flood as she began to scan the nearby territory for anything that may indicate the presence of the strange cats. Anxiety prickled in her pelt as her head swam with thoughts and what she should do. Surely this was more important than scouting the territory ahead of Fernstar and Blackpelt. Of course, she had never expected to be derailed from her plans by something so startling, but she was certain now that she had to streak back to camp and catch Fernstar before it was too late and she had left camp. Struggling to keep her fur flat, she quietly began stalking back in the direction of the WillowClan camp, her eyes and ears more open to her surrounding than they had ever been before. Every few fox lengths she stopped and opened her jaws to try and catch any remaining scent of the trespassers; but she found nothing. Whoever these cats were, they certainly were not the pampered kittypets she remembered from the Twoleg place she grew up in. But she had never met any other Clan cats who were not her own Clanmates. Fernstar had told her so many moons ago that the four Clans who lived around the Lake had fallen apart long before she was born; disbanded due to resentment and being torn apart by battle after needless battle. No one knew where the ex-Clan cats had gone. She imagined some of them had wandered off to live as loners. Others may have finally given in and taken up the soft life of a kittypet. No cat knew. She would find out who these cats were however; and more importantly what they wanted with WillowClan.</s>	<\|message\|>Blackpelt Blackpelt: Medicine den _______________________________________ He sniffs at the herbs, and carefully makes two more herb wraps, setting them aside for the warriors that will be joining them on the trip to the Moonpool. He swallows nervously, and scratches at his neck for a moment, trying to calm his nerves. He then eats his own traveling herbs, and passes the other piles to the warriors that will be joining them. His thin fur gives little protection from the cold, but he can't worry about that now. His leader needs him. He bites his lip, and takes the herbs to the three cats. "Eat these, then we can leave. I know where the pool is, so follow me carefully. It's a long journey."</s>
<\|description\|>Blackpelt Gender: Tom Age: 36 moons Rank: Medicine cat Personality: Strict, but in a caring manner. Not afraid to tell you exactly what he thinks, even if you take offence. Appearance: Backstory: Born and raised in the clan, he walked out to the woods one day on a hunt, and got lost. He hid in a cave, and slept until the moon rose. He saw a large glowing pool, and, feeling thirsty, he lapped at it. He suddenly felt very very tired. He curled up, but when he woke, he....wasn't on the ground anymore. Instead, he was surrounded with cats. But what manner of cats? They were made of stars! They told him that they were the ancestors of all good cats. But he noticed that they didn't talk about the bad cats. Strange. He woke up, and felt weak, and tired. He walked back to the group, and told them that he....had been away. Mate: None Kits: None</s> <\|message\|>Maplestream Interacting with: @Hazelrah Fernstar chuckled slightly at Honeypaw's concerned tone as she asked about Frogkit. She suspected the young apprentice was trying to hide a trace of jealousy in her meow, and her ears twitched in surprise, yet her heart warmed for a heartbeat when she realized that her adopted kit was still attached to her, even though she had grown so much. Ducking her head downward towards Honeypaw's ear she whispered, "Just until the loners leave the nursery. They won't be here for more than two sunrises." As Frogkit began to ramble furiously about her short interaction with the loners, she turned away and began heading towards the Warrior's den where Maplestream had been sleeping for some time now. Smiling to herself she wondered how Honeypaw was going to feel about watching Frogkit for a couple sunrises. Maybe she will think twice about having kits of her own someday after she gets Frogkit off her paws. As she pushed her way into the Warrior's den, she settled down comfortably next to Maplestream and began to nudge her gently with one paw. After a few taps, she began to stir. Blinking her eyes heavily and yawning, she sat up slightly and asked, "Fernstar; what's going on? Do you need me for something?" Fernstar nodded slightly and meowed firmly, "I do." She told Maplestream what she had learned from the loners arriving in camp before revealing what she would ask Maplestream to do. "While the loners are here, I would like you to guard the nursery, night and day. Of course, after sundown you may sleep in the den if it is too cold. I will assign someone to bring you fresh kill when there is any, and when you need to make dirt alert someone to watch while you're gone. I chose you for this job because you are vigilant and I trust you. It should not be for more than two sunrises. You start tonight."</s> <\|message\|>Blackpelt Blackpelt: Entrance to the nursery _______________________________________ Blackpelt watches the loners from the darkness, his smaller frame making him seem almost apprentice or even kit sized. His tail lashes in stress and anxiety, his exsuasted mindset giving him too many thoughts to deal with at once. Why are they here? They're something off about them, but I can't put my claw on it. They seem dangerous, but I don't know why. He licks his paw, rubbing his face to try and get his fur to lay flat again, but he's too on edge. He slips out before they see him, and he heads to Fernstars den. Once he gets there, his tail gently taps Honeypaw. "You aren't fighting, are you? Your pelt spiked for a moment. Everything ok?" He looks them both over, then gently gives Honeypaw a lick on the head. "You're too stressed. Whatever happens, the clan will protect you." He settles down. "So. What's gotten you so upset Honeypaw?" His eyes study her, intense, but not accusing.</s> <\|message\|>Fernstar As Sunfur made his way back to the large tree they had caught the bird in, he kept his jaws parted to taste the air, just in case any prey did decide to emerge from their dens. He couldn't wait until newleaf, when hunting wouldn't be so difficult. The clan had been struggling through this harsh leafbare for quite a few moons now and every sunrise got more and more exhausting to handle. During his internal lamenting, he felt a single flake of snow drift down to settle on one of his whiskers. Great. Just what we needed, more snow. As if we didn't have enough already. As he approached the base of the tree, he tried to ignore his frustration as he dug through the snow in search of the bird. He lashed his tail as the falling snow drifted down into the hole and replaced the snow he had removed. Eventually, he removed the bird and began trudging back towards camp. Pushing his way through the sparse brambles of the entrance, he made his way to the fresh kill pile and deposited the bird, scanning the camp for Fernstar. He needed to tell her what he and Spidernose had accomplished bringing down the bird. Following her scent trail led him to the entrance of the warrior's den and he eased his head into the den reluctantly. Fernstar was discussing a job she had selected Maplestream for and it seemed to important to interrupt. He waited until the leader rose to her paws and diverted her attention in his direction before speaking. "Fernstar, if you have a minute to spare, I need to share something with you that I feel would be of great use to the Clan." He turned and gestured towards the Highstump where no cat was in earshot before he spoke again. "When I first joined the Clan, I remember you sharing stories with me about the original five Clans and the things your Mother had seen before they were severed. You once told me that SkyClan often hunted high in the treetops, something that no other Clan did." He took a deep breath before continuing and tried to make his meow sound confident. "I believe Spidernose and I have figured out a way for us to do the same. During leafbare, prey is so hard to come by on the forest floor because of the deep snow and the cold, yet it seems birds are just as abundant as ever." Gesturing towards the fresh kill pile, he meowed with excitement, "Spidernose and I managed to climb a tree and work together to bring down a bird right from it's nest. The other got away but it's a start. I believe it would greatly benefit the Clan if we were to teach all our warriors and apprentices to hunt this way. And I'm confident I could be the one to teach them."</s> <\|message\|>Fernstar Interacting with: @The Elvenqueen Trying to appear genuine, Felix dipped his head as the WillowClan leader left the den, her deputy and medicine cat in tow. When they had completely exited the den and their pawsteps had faded, he snatched up one bundle of herbs and padded towards the back of the den to lay next to Heather. As the leaf wrap unfolded, the strong smell overwhelmed him for a heartbeat. I haven't smelled medicine cat herbs in so long. They're stronger than I remember. . . He pushed some closer to Heather with his paw. "Eat some. I don't want you getting sick for real." He blinked affectionately at her before turning to Otis. The large brown tom had already begun chewing the herbs, and he could tell the bitter taste had struck him just as potently. "Tugging that loose piece of fur from your chest was great Otis," Felix praised. Rising to his paws, he noticed the hunger gnawing at his stomach. He had to admit, Fernstar telling them they couldn't take from the Clan's fresh kill pile had been a good decision. If he was leader, he would have made the same rule. Rolling his eyes, he thought, I wouldn't have let random cats spend the night in my camp in the first place. Deciding on catching a meal for himself, he padded towards the entrance of the den and waved his tail over his shoulder. "I'm going to hunt, I'm starved. Either of you are welcome to come if you would like." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Otis rise to his paws and scramble over just behind Felix. Heather didn't move, and he assumed she was simply tired. As they emerged into the center of the camp, Felix suddenly realized the sun was just starting to crest the top of the trees. He didn't think an entire sundown had passed already. He cast a friendly but respectful glance towards the deputy who was sharing prey with a cream colored she-cat. His ears twitched as he heard the small kit he had been forced to meet earlier squealed up to an apprentice in the large tree that held the leader's den. They padded on confidently towards the entrance of the camp, and Felix was genuinely surprised that no cat had tried to stop them, or even ask where they were going. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, we aren't their Clanmates after all. But I would think they would still want to keep an eye on us. . . He wasn't going to question it, not yet. They pushed their way through the brambles and made their way out into the woods scenting for any small animal that would make a good meal. Heather finished the last few strokes of her paw across her muzzle before rising to her paws and shaking out her fur. She couldn't believe what that mouse-brain Felix had asked her to do. She had to admit to herself that it had been a good plan, no matter how unpleasant it was. She hadn't followed Felix and Otis outside the den to hunt because despite not having eaten for almost an entire sunrise, she wasn't hungry. However, she was curious to explore the rest of WillowClan's camp. She hadn't seen much of it when they had got there, as they were herded so quickly into the nursery. Her ears perked as she made out the excited squealing of the kit she had seen coming from across the clearing. She stopped abruptly, lashing her tail as she tried to remember what the kit's name was. Frogkit! That was it. She sauntered gracefully in the direction of the large tree and the two young cats and let out a small meow of greeting before she flopped down, relaxed as ever, right next to Frogkit. "I saw how happy you were helping with those herb bundles earlier. Would you like to be the Clan's next medicine cat? You seem destined for it!" She cast her glance away from the small kit, surveying the rest of the camp and what every cat was doing as she waited for Frogkit's response.</s> <\|message\|>Frogkit ___________________________________________________________________________ Fernstar's Den interacting with: @savannahssu's Heather, mention of @Hazelrah's Honeypaw ___________________________________________________________________________ Despite the older cats in camp being quite uneasy over the presence of the strange Loners, Frogkit was still vibrating with excitement and this only seemed to increase further as Heather hopped up to join then and initiate a conversation. Being young and naive and not knowing any better, Frogkit disregarded Blackpelt and Spidernose's earlier warnings about not talking to strangers and the kit's tortoiseshell ears and tail perked right up as Heather asked her a question. Even if she smelled kind of strange, the molly seemed nice, so Frogkit really didn't understand why the grownups were so suspicious and upset! "Hiya! I'm Frogkit! And this is Honeypaw!" she chirped, flicking her tail to indicate the apprentice beside her as she spoke of Honeypaw. "What's your name?" she asked the older she-cat, though was quickly distracted from asking any further questions as Heather began to inquire whether Frogkit was interested in being a medicine cat one day. The kit's eyes shone with excitement and she nodded so vigorously that she lost her balance for a split second and almost fell clean off the branch she was perched on, but managed to dig her claws in with a small squeak and steady herself again. Frogkit then looked back up at Heather, purring in excitement as she answered. "Oh, yes! Yes I would really love that! I've been trying to learn all the herbs and what they look like and smell like so I can impress Blackpelt!" she announced, though the kit's shoulders did sag a little in disappointment as she remembered how the grumpy tom had snapped at her when he found her in his den earlier. Still, despite the medicine cat's…prickly, nature, Frogkit seemed determined to win him over in the end and make him want to take her on as his apprentice. "But I don't think he likes me much…he's always yelling at me and telling me to stay outta the medicine den. He's kinda mean."</s>	<\|message\|>Blackpelt Blackpelt: Fernstar's den _______________________________________ He jumps down from the ledge, and lands next to the loner and Frogkit. He pulls her into his paws, and growls at them, eyes slits. "Frogkit. I told you to stay put." He picks her up by her scruff again, and stalks away, heading to Leafstar, ears pulled back, tail lashing in anger. He puts Frogkit down next to Leafstar. "I don't know what those cats want, but I want them gone. They creep me out, and they approached a lone kit. Make them leave." His pelt is spiked in fear and rage, eyes burning. His breathing is harsh, and his fur is ragged, like he hasn't been taking care of himself. He's not acting like his normal grumpy self. He's terrified and furious with the loners for daring to approach a kit. "The longer they're here, the more danger we're in." He looks down at Frogkit. "If you want me to teach you what I know, listen to me when I tell you something. I told you to stay away from them."</s>
<\|description\|>Blackpelt Gender: Tom Age: 36 moons Rank: Medicine cat Personality: Strict, but in a caring manner. Not afraid to tell you exactly what he thinks, even if you take offence. Appearance: Backstory: Born and raised in the clan, he walked out to the woods one day on a hunt, and got lost. He hid in a cave, and slept until the moon rose. He saw a large glowing pool, and, feeling thirsty, he lapped at it. He suddenly felt very very tired. He curled up, but when he woke, he....wasn't on the ground anymore. Instead, he was surrounded with cats. But what manner of cats? They were made of stars! They told him that they were the ancestors of all good cats. But he noticed that they didn't talk about the bad cats. Strange. He woke up, and felt weak, and tired. He walked back to the group, and told them that he....had been away. Mate: None Kits: None</s> <\|message\|>Frogkit ___________________________________________________________________________ Fernstar's Den interacting with: @savannahssu's Heather, mention of @Hazelrah's Honeypaw ___________________________________________________________________________ Despite the older cats in camp being quite uneasy over the presence of the strange Loners, Frogkit was still vibrating with excitement and this only seemed to increase further as Heather hopped up to join then and initiate a conversation. Being young and naive and not knowing any better, Frogkit disregarded Blackpelt and Spidernose's earlier warnings about not talking to strangers and the kit's tortoiseshell ears and tail perked right up as Heather asked her a question. Even if she smelled kind of strange, the molly seemed nice, so Frogkit really didn't understand why the grownups were so suspicious and upset! "Hiya! I'm Frogkit! And this is Honeypaw!" she chirped, flicking her tail to indicate the apprentice beside her as she spoke of Honeypaw. "What's your name?" she asked the older she-cat, though was quickly distracted from asking any further questions as Heather began to inquire whether Frogkit was interested in being a medicine cat one day. The kit's eyes shone with excitement and she nodded so vigorously that she lost her balance for a split second and almost fell clean off the branch she was perched on, but managed to dig her claws in with a small squeak and steady herself again. Frogkit then looked back up at Heather, purring in excitement as she answered. "Oh, yes! Yes I would really love that! I've been trying to learn all the herbs and what they look like and smell like so I can impress Blackpelt!" she announced, though the kit's shoulders did sag a little in disappointment as she remembered how the grumpy tom had snapped at her when he found her in his den earlier. Still, despite the medicine cat's…prickly, nature, Frogkit seemed determined to win him over in the end and make him want to take her on as his apprentice. "But I don't think he likes me much…he's always yelling at me and telling me to stay outta the medicine den. He's kinda mean."</s> <\|message\|>Blackpelt Blackpelt: Fernstar's den _______________________________________ He jumps down from the ledge, and lands next to the loner and Frogkit. He pulls her into his paws, and growls at them, eyes slits. "Frogkit. I told you to stay put." He picks her up by her scruff again, and stalks away, heading to Leafstar, ears pulled back, tail lashing in anger. He puts Frogkit down next to Leafstar. "I don't know what those cats want, but I want them gone. They creep me out, and they approached a lone kit. Make them leave." His pelt is spiked in fear and rage, eyes burning. His breathing is harsh, and his fur is ragged, like he hasn't been taking care of himself. He's not acting like his normal grumpy self. He's terrified and furious with the loners for daring to approach a kit. "The longer they're here, the more danger we're in." He looks down at Frogkit. "If you want me to teach you what I know, listen to me when I tell you something. I told you to stay away from them."</s> <\|message\|>Frogkit ___________________________________________________________________________ Fernstar's Den interacting with: @savannahssu's Fernstar, @Shadow Dragon's Blackpelt ___________________________________________________________________________ "Hey!! Put me down!!" Frogkit shrieked in protest as without warning and completely uninvited the medicine cat interrupted her conversation with the Loner and carried her away. "I'm not a baby anymore!! Stop carrying me around like one! I was talkin' over there!" she hissed, flailing around in Blackpelt's grasp and refusing to stay still. How DARE he! As he set her down in front of Fernstar and began to chastise her, Frogkit's tail bushed up as far as it could go, her fur fluffed and the kit very clearly annoyed beyond measure. "You're not my ma, you can't tell me what to do!" Frogkit spat back at him petulantly, her back arching and teeth flashing. "Maybe if you want me to listen to ya, you should stop bein' such a meanie! I was only talkin' to 'em, they weren't doin' anything bad! The warrior code says we should help other cats in need, they're hurt and scared and they need our help!" she pointed out, in her young mind believing everything that had been told to her about the strange cats in WillowClan's camp at face value and assuming they were telling the truth. Because why would they lie? Huffing in annoyance, Frogkit plunked down onto her bottom, her fur still puffy, and craned her head back towards their leader, pouting as if hoping Fernstar would take her side and tell Blackpelt off. "Tell him, Fernstar! Tell him he's being a meanie!"</s> <\|message\|>Sunfur Interacting with: @Shadow Dragon @The Elvenqueen While pondering Sunfur's interesting offer, she was ripped from her thoughts by Blackpelt, holding Frogkit by the scruff and stomping towards her. He plopped the kit down a little rougher than she would have liked, down by her paws and fixed her with a burning gaze, his fur bushed and his tail lashing. She was taken aback by her medicine cat's aggressive tone and demanding request that seemingly came out of nowhere, and she wasn't quite sure how to respond. Should she defuse the situation and thank Blackpelt for his concern? Or should she put her paw down as leader and put her medicine cat back in his place? After a couple heartbeat's thought, she decided on both."Blackpelt, I suggest you keep your fur on before I cuff you around your ears" Fernstar meowed firmly, trying to hold back a hiss. Casting her glance away from Blackpelt momentarily and down towards Frogkit, she meowed softly, "Are you alright Frogkit? You're not hurt are you?" Gently pushing and turning the kit around, carefully inspecting her body she was satisfied when she found nothing wrong, nothing more than fluffed out fur due to Blackpelt's unnecessarily rough handling. "Didn't I tell you to meet Honeypaw in my den and stay there until I came back? Go back to the den now and stay there until I say so. Do you understand?" She shoved the kit in the direction of her den and directed her attention towards Blackpelt once again. "Blackpelt, I appreciate your concern, and I realize this is a strange occurrence that has every cat in camp a little on edge, including me." She raised her head and lashed her tail in annoyance before continuing. "However, as medicine cat, you must not forget you are an advisor to the leader which means you do not make choices for the Clan. That is the leader's job, and regardless of status, every cat in the Clan must follow the leader's orders whether they think they are correct or not. I make decisions based on the knowledge StarClan has given me as well as personal experience, and I do not take these decisions lightly. StarClan would not have given me nine lives if they didn't think I was fit to lead this Clan, but if YOU don't then you may feel free to leave and discuss your opinions with our ancestors yourself. I would hate to lose my medicine cat, but I will not have cats questioning the validity of my decisions." She forced her fur to lie flat and considered Blackpelt's other action. If for nothing else, he did deserve some credit for taking Frogkit away from the loners. She shouldn't have been speaking with them, and he was right to remove her. "I do thank you for bringing Frogkit to me; I told her to stay in my den with Honeypaw and she shouldn't have been talking to them. That kit's curiosity is going to get her hurt someday I can sense it." She turned back to Sunfur and tried to reengage in the conversation they were having before they were interrupted. "That is a very bold undertaking Sunfur. I see where your thoughts are coming from, but I feel this is something the entire Clan should have a voice in. We will hold a vote at sunhigh before the dawn patrol. If the Clan agrees on this, I hope you understand what you're getting yourself into." Suddenly realizing how tired she was, she pushed past Sunfur and Blackpelt and made her way towards the fresh kill pile. She barely paused for long enough to grab the bird Sunfur and Spidernose had caught and jumped up into her den. She flopped down and took a bite of the bird before beginning to groom her legs and chest. After a few licks she pushed the bird towards Frogkit, urging her to eat. Hopefully she could get some sleep before sunhigh, she would need to be well rested for what would happen tomorrow.</s>	<\|message\|>Blackpelt Blackpelt: Fernstar's den _______________________________________ He looks down at his paws, eyes closed, and he lets out a deep breath. "I'm sorry Fernstar. I know I shouldn't have acted so rashly, nor spoken to you like that....." His shoulders slump, and his tail wraps around his paws in shame. His eyes are bloodshot and fur still matted. He sighs, and goes to his den before he does anything else to get himself in trouble. He sorts though some herbs to keep himself distracted, looking up at seemingly every sound, real or imaginary. He whispers and mutters to himself, and his ears pull back and lay flat on his head in shame. He huffs and puts the rest of the herbs away, then lays down on his bed, staring at the entrance to his den. His tail coils around him as he curls up into a small ball, tired and upset. He falls asleep without realising it. His sleep is restless, upseting, and his dreams is full of scorn and disapproval over how he acted. He quietly mutters the Warrior code to himself, and reflects on his actions over the past few days. Ever since the loners showed up, he's been anxious and paranoid, and full of doubt. He shivers, still feeling trapped in his dream-turned-nightmare. He looks up finaly, only to see black trees, not a star in sight. He curls around himself, and his pelt spikes when he hears laughter. Please go away, please go away, please go away..... He slowly opens one eye, and slowly stands up, deep in the Dark Forest. Why do I keep ending up here......what am I doing wrong? He walks forward aimlessly, waiting for someone to show up and 'educate' him. He fights his way though brambles and thorns, uncaring of the cuts and scrapes all over his pelt and paws. He looks around every now and again, but sees only darkness filled woods. He unsheaths his claws, and tears at the brambles tangled in his pelt, walking out of them, dripping with blood from uncountable tiny wounds. In the waking world, anyone close enough to him would see tiny drops of blood appear on his claws and lightly mixed into his fur.</s>
<\|description\|>Charlotte Butcher Title(s): Burning Soul of Justice, Master of the Fire's Destiny, Super Desturction Beam Gamma (?), and 37 other nonsensical titles composed of random english words thrown together (All Self Given). Gender: Female (WITH A MAN'S BURNING SOUL!!!) Age: 17 Alignment: LAWFUL GOOD! (Chaotic Good at best, Chaotic Neutral at slightly less than best.) Rank: Master Purpose at Chaldea: Extremly easy to manipulate and appease, incredible capacity for brutality with little to no mental scarring, and an intense and genuine desire to protect humanity. Also she was very easy to acquire. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Command Seal: A single flame and 2 strokes of embers. Personality: In case it wasn't obvious enough, Charlotte is an incredibly intense individual. Her motivations, interests, and opinion of others can shift massively within the span of a single rather mundane conversation. This may appear to be simply because Charlotte is psychotic, which is a very fair assessment. She rushes into combat with what seems like reckless abandon, makes herself a massive target with her constant screaming, and refuses to withdraw from even the direst of situations without being forcefully dragged. That isn't even including how frivolous she is with her Command Seals, which she will gladly waste on the most pointless of actions unless presented with a better alternative. The reasoning behind most of her eccentricities is due to a near-death experience Charlotte once had, resulting in her Origin of Fire partially becoming awakened. While this appeared to help save her life and enhanced her already impressive Flame Magecraft even further, it irreparably damaged her psyche. Now she is just like a fire, constantly burning resources and anything else it can reach to ash and being manipulated by those around her... As well as her incredibly brutal nature. Not everything about Charlotte is negative, however. Perhaps it is due to the connotation Fire has with 'Courage' or 'Inspiration' - or maybe she was just born a certain way - but Charlotte is incredibly skilled at motivational speaking and encouraging others to achieve their goals. She is interested in others and helping them develop their abilities and interests, and will go to great lengths to assist them in any way she can. Charlotte is also exceptionally charismatic in general, and usually able to leave a positive impression on most people she meets - this is a combination of natural affability and training her family had given her. Charlotte always does best at any task she puts her mind to, and while she rarely takes other people's advice at face value or improvises new strategies, she devotes immense amounts of time and energy to something she truly believes is important. Charlotte greatly enjoys creating incredibly elaborate titles for otherwise minor things. Nearly everything in her room has at least a 2-page backstory, of which only a sentence at most is truthful. This extends to those she is comfortable with or dislikes, and she will give them impressive or derogatory nicknames respectively. She interacts best with people who flatter her and inflate her massive ego and will go to great lengths to preserve their respect for her. This is such a strong part of her mentality that it is the easiest method through which she can be manipulated - merely mentioning her prowess at something, followed by a task that was exaggerated to be insurmountable is enough to cause her to immediately undertake anything from cleaning dishes to killing dozens of sapient beings. While she may seem simply eccentric at a glance, Fire is an inherently destructive force. Charlotte hangs onto mere threads of lucidity, and if something were to fully awaken her Origin, it would invariably end in her killing those around her. Even when her Origin is only partially awakened, she has no problem whatsoever with killing dozens or even hundreds of lives for very little justification. At the very least, fully awakening her would make an excellent distraction should Chaldea ever need one. Bio: The Butcher family was originally a part of a much larger and older clan that had started to decline in quality as technology grew more impressive. Breaking off of the initial Clan, the Butcher's used their knowledge of Elemental Magecraft to construct familiars out of the world around them. While Familiarcraft is regarded as quite trite and dull, the Butcher's were able to craft long-lived and effective familiars out of most of the elements. Their most destructive and shortest-lived, however, were the only ones that interested the young heiress of the family. Charlotte throughout her youth had been fascinated with flammable objects, and fire in general. She very frequently was caught staring at the family fireplace, and always was most attentive when one of her elders did anything even remotely related to Flame Magecraft. This was initially encouraged by the Butchers, who thought that the interest would encourage her to grow into exploring other aspects and uses for the families Magecraft. She never did so. At the age of 14, she was already one of the most proficient users of Flame Magecraft in her entire family's history, but she knows barely any other Magecraft whatsoever. Despite how promising she was with Flame Magecraft, Charlotte's parents decided to not pass the Crest onto her a few years prior, instead choosing to have a second child they hoped would be more easily molded to the families wishes. By this point, most of her family had become fairly distant with her and she was raised more as a researcher to advance the family Magecraft, as well as a suitor to sell off to another family when she came of age. The only person who continued to regularly speak with her was her uncle, who did so primarily out of pity and a sense of duty. Little changed over the next few years, and despite making numerous advancements to her Family's Magecraft, Charlotte received very little recognition or respect. She steadily grew more bitter as the years passed, culminating in her burning her family's home at the age of 17. She nearly died in the incident, resulting in her Origin being partially awakened. Since the incident nearly killed her younger brother and caused a large amount of property damage, Charlotte's parents attempted to sell her off to any suitor they could for a decent price. When no one agreed to take an extreme pyromaniac as a bride, they were contacted a month after the incident by the Chaldea Security Organization who made a generous offer. Charlotte had only joined Chaldea a few weeks ago, but she is greatly enjoying her time there thanks to the inhabitants and nature of her employment. --- Magic Circuit Switch: A Lighter being lit. Number of Magic Circuits: C Quality of Magic Circuits: C --- Elemental Affinity: Fire. Her Origin is also Fire. Everything is Fire. Magecraft: Not Everything is Fire. The Butcher family originally attempted to reach the Root through mastery over the elements. In other words, they practiced Elemental Familiarcraft. While the Butcher Magecraft was quite developed over their existence and encompassed all Five primary elements and several lesser ones like Wood and Metal, Charlotte shunned everything except the Fire Magecraft. Charlotte's primary Magecraft are her Wisp Familiars (SOULS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!), which by default appear as small balls of floating fire. They are capable of performing several actions when supplied with Magical Energy, such as shooting bolts of fire from their bodies, transmitting visual and auditory information to Charlotte, and glowing with incredible brightness that can blind people that look directly at the Wisp. By default, they explode like a small explosive whenever they touch something with a decent amount of force, so Charlotte uses them mostly as flying 'Smart Bombs' akin to drones. If she can reasonably excuse the expense, she enjoys combing several Wisps into a single, much larger explosions. They cannot be summoned rapidly or 'spammed' since they are such complex familiars, which can easily get Charlotte in trouble if she isn't careful... which is most of the time. Some people may find the thought of using sentient beings as explosives somewhat troubling, but Charlotte does not give it much thought at all. Crest: Charlotte was never given her family's Crest due to her personality, and her hyper-specialization not fitting the style of Magecraft that the Butchers practiced. It is instead planned to be given to her younger brother when he completes his Magecraft training. Nystic Codes: Oil Rags (BINDING OF THE FLAMING FIGHTER'S RESOLVE!!!) - A Mystic Code created as a gift for a younger Charlotte by her family, meant to encourage her growth and development of the family's Magecraft before they decided to have a new heir. These cloth bindings can be held by hand, but Charlotte usually wears them wrapped loosely around her arms. When she focuses, Charlotte can compress her Wisp Familiars into the Mystic Code, which is connected to an Imaginary Number Space. She can store 3-4 dozen Wisps in the Mystic Code, and they do not impose a Magical Energy Cost while stored. Retrieving them is only a fraction of the cost it would be to summon a new Wisp, which greatly improves their use as suicide units. Staff (STAFF OF INCANDESCENT SPIRIT!!!) - Not a Mystic Code. It's literally just a wooden rod that has a high power flashlight on the end. Charlotte, like many magi, lacks advanced knowledge of modern technologies and genuinely believes the Staff has some mystical quality. Despite being infinitely less useful, Charlotte treasures this item more than the Oil Rags because it was a gift from her Uncle, one of the few people who cared about her in her family. Has a charging port to refill the battery.</s> <\|message\|>Yasuke Hallways, Chaldea --- "One hour. That's how long I've been gone and you already burnt something down Master, that's a new record," Charlotte heard a voice behind her, turning around she would find a tall dark-skinned man, wearing a black shirt underneath an open white and yellow coat that left his rather muscular arms exposed. Her Servant Lancer with a wry smile on his face, "Maybe I should get one of those 'fire extinguishers' for my stay as your Servant. What do you think, Master?" When he was summoned Yasuke expected many things, but one thing he didn't expect was his Master being a pyromaniac who almost burnt down her room not even five minutes after the contract was sealed. It was impressive in a way, he who once had to wrangle a crazy person in life will now wrangle another in death. "But that's enough about your blazing tendencies. I see you already made a friend, a fellow lover of flames I presume?" He asked jokingly, while he knew that the other Master, Daniel if he remembered it right, looked to be more of a stuffy type than a 'burn the house down for fun' type the chance of teasing his Master was too much to pass on. "But seriously please tell me he wasn't the one who made the mess in your bedroom. Dealing with you and the Saber is already looking like it's gonna be a handful you know? I don't want to add another pyromaniac to the list." He said in a more serious tone. ---</s> <\|message\|>Daniel Palailogos Daniel I want to make this clear, Daniel responded to Don Juan's telepathic message. I am not really interested in what you do as long as it's not with my family. Just don't shatter the domestic bliss of my home life and we're good, okay? Now, I am going to start a discussion on tactics I want you to listen in on - Can you multitask? Then he went to answer Yasuke, saying, "I like fire, yes - I am a person of many interests, and fire is a good tool for someone who wants to be a 'Magus Killer'." A pause, "All my life, ever since I was aware of the corrupt nature of the Clock Tower and the Church, I've been researching ways to kill Magi, the more powerful, the better. I've also searched whatever intelligence reports, rumors, and wild stories I can wheedle out of Chaldea's staff - Which includes my parents - for rumors of people or monsters effective at killing powerful Mages and Church Enforcers and the methods they use to be effective at said killing." Then he turned to Charlotte, "And I am glad to have one of the most skilled Pyromancers that I know as part of my team, and I know we'll save many lives together and defeat those who would corrupt the timelines." He hoped that Don Juan didn't go after 17-year olds - Wait, that's legal in Europe and most of the world - Because Charlotte was beautiful and he just gave the Servant another glance at her. Back to Yasuke, "And with your help, I'm sure we can keep collateral damage to a minimum, same for Don Juan and his own abilities! Heck, with DJ's 'ultra-redemption' Noble Phantasm, we might even redeem a few evildoers instead of just killing them! Actually, with you and DJ's immense resistances to damage, Crazy Horse's scouting skills, plus Autocylus' various abilities which can solve a problem without killing -" It was then that Daniel decided to contact Auto telepathically, Auto, what are you doing right now? Can I see through your eyes for a bit? Also, I'm having an ad-hoc tactical discussion right now - Want to join? Then back to the discussion, "Either way, we'd be an unstoppable force of Magus and Churchmen-killers, disposing of corrupt individuals to save innocent people! Can't one think of a better career path?"</s>	<\|message\|>Charlotte Butcher "One hour. That's how long I've been gone and you already burnt something down Master, that's a new record," Charlotte stopped in her tracks as she was making her way to the canteen, and she barely made it a few steps out of the training room. She recognized the voice and turned to meet her new Servant. "Maybe I should get one of those 'fire extinguishers' for my stay as your Servant. What do you think, Master?" "Like a pail of water? That's rude of you, to assume such a thing could stop my Burning Soul!" Charlotte chuckled a little too loudly for comfort at her own statement, before nodding her head to herself. "And I would think you'd be appreciative that I withheld myself for an entire hour. The last time I remember doing that was on the plane ride here, and that was awful..." She stopped as she listened to the new discussion underway between her Servant and Daniel. While she didn't really care for the morality behind becoming a 'Magus Killer,' especially considering her willingness to be a regular killer, she never really considered the Church or the Clock Tower to be especially corrupt. She even visited it one time with her family, and while she refused to take classes, the Clock Tower itself seemed like a very respectable foundation... If a bit elitist. Well, a bit was pretty generous, considering some of the things she saw in her very brief visit. Charlotte knocked herself out of her trance when she heard her name being spoken, specifically focusing back in when Daniel complimented her. She smugly nodded at the recognition of her skills. She didn't really understand the part about timelines, even when members of Chaldea Staff explained it to her in detail, but she didn't really mind ignorance unless it would become an issue later on. "There you have it, Lancer! And I would call what I do to my room 'making it homey' rather than 'making a mess.' Anyways, I'm going to the Canteen to get some food, and maybe look for Caster afterward - you guys are welcome to follow if you want. Just be sure not to babysit too much if you come, Lancer."</s>
<\|description\|>Abelard Fhundil Race: Koth Backstory: His parents labeled as pagans and heathens during one of the many inquisitions in the Kingdom of Aquilonia, Abelard was taken in swaddling clothes back to his mother's homeland of Koth. They grew up poor and in squalor, until Koth's secret alliance with Nemedia was discovered when Abelard was a young man. His father helped Koth by giving information of the homeland and gave them a decent living on the outerlying areas of Strabonus' Palace. One day when he was a young boy, Abelard exploring the palace grounds found a secret chamber in the catacombs where a priest was worshiping the God Asura. Instead of killing him, as the priest almost did, he took Abelard under his wing and taught him of dark secrets beyond the veil. In hushed whispers, he grew as a man of the Asuran faith, practicing what little sorcery he was able to as the years passed and various coups rose and fell. After his master was discovered as a traitor priest to the God Ishtar, he was executed while Alebard was on campaign with the army as a sergeant, a position gained by his father's loyalty. Once they came back, he discovered the execution and took what supplies and scribes he could and fled without a word, traveling from the wilderness of the Picts to Iranistan. Luckily, he received a tip from a prostitute on where an ancient tomb lay in the desert.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil Saga 1: Opal of Power --- A fell deed was told long ago in this land. Past Ophir and Koth, and Stygian Sand. The Opal of Vulkur the priest did sought. But the only one who was searching for it, he was not. A woman of the North had traveled far and wide. To join the priest in a trap, where a demon doth reside. A black wind rose and swept through Kafir's infertile lands, shivering what broken roots and withered stems still stood among the barren, cracked earth. It was as if the gods or powers beyond comprehension murmured in displeasure. Tumult and echoes of the last great cataclysm shook the land in earthquakes that shook the very bones of the Ilbar mountains. In the streets of the city, slaves stumbled and sellers of ivory and bronze screamed at whatever customers passed, and yet Abelard still felt the unease in the air. A grim omen to take notice of, that even within the walls of streets of the city he could hear the distant howling. It seemed to pierce stone, sand, and flesh. The ruddy skinned priest had traveled far just as the prophecy had instructed him, passing through the lands Ophir and his grim homeland of Koth. Just as foretold in his vision, the provinces of Zimbabwe and Achaemenid were in rebellious uproars, slaughtering one another in the streets as a dread plague swept through the closed cities, the fools not realizing the disease was sorcerous in nature. The only thing closing the gates did was to spread the disease among the populaces quicker. He could do no good for them, nor was it his destiny. Kafir had so far been unaffected by the madness that spread over Iranistan, the city making a sizeable profit by selling its slaves to the desperate cities and fleeing despots in need of men to haul their loot. The activity brought buyers from across the desolate east to the city. Rogued women in ne'er but thin cloth along their hips shook convulsed their bodies and blew kisses at the unamused priest, who was nearly late for his meeting with the thief, Ibn-vakir. The foul smelling nomad given him the information he sought at long last, but now he would provide the key to the tomb of Khuten-ra. Whether the Iranistanian gained the item through nefarious means, he cared not. All he wished for was the key Ibn-vakir had promised him he would need. Abelard had long lost feeling out of place in distant lands. A man of Koth by lineage, his aquilonian mother had bestowed him his northern name. Of moderate height, Abelard was not a weak man, having served as a soldier of Koth against the black terror of Stygia. But his power did not lie in his strength of arm or skill with a blade. Asura had collapsed the illusion of this world and had opened his eyes to the true nature of reality, bestowing upon him great gifts of insight and even magic. At his side he bore a sheathed, curved broadsword made of bronze and ivory. His robes were formed of woolen cloth and colored crimson after they had been washed in the blood of goats at day's twilight. The priest's staff was taken from the sacred temple of the Sun in distant Shem and his Atlantean bronze and silver ring was procured from a Pictish shaman. Those memories seemed but a backdrop to his current mission, the significance dwarfing his previous cares in both might and terror. He passed the codgers and the bakers, the cutthroats and the vagabonds, the weaponsmiths and the glassblowers. Near the corner he strode by a group of hard northmen in rough leathers and iron chainmail, eyeing every corner of the streets with barely supressed violence radiating off of them. Hired by Kafir's King to keep order no doubt. Passed the mercenaries was the archway just as his informant told him, with two crossed spears carved at the center just above the doorway. Abelard stepped down the sandstone stairs into the thief's den, casting a glance behind him to make sure he was not being followed. A stench of feces and dried blood wafted lightly across the inner air of the chamber and he realized he was now in an outcropping of the sewer. A stone 'dock' within the slowly drifting murk of the collective sewage of twenty thousand Iranistanians. Boxes of timber of unknown origin were stacked on the far end, the rafters holding draped clothes to cordon off sections of the grounded area for various points of business to be had. Meet me at the last area just beside the edge of the black market, Ibn-vakir had told him. He did just that, walking past shadowing figures behind hanging cloth, whispers of fear and business giving a hushed quality to the very air around him.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter The only good wizard was a dead wizard. Anya Sorensdaughter had lived with those words from her first memories. Years of travel had provided scant contradiction to the old adage. Priest and sorcerers would bable about their arts and the mighty feats they would work, but however mighty they might be Anya had yet to meet one whose belly would repel a sharp blade. Skavi the Black was a wizard, she had sought him out in far of Asgard, retracing her blood soaked steps through Aquillonia and Cummoria to the familiar snowfields of her home. There, in the frozen north, at the head of a vast glacier she had found Skavi's cave and faced the phantoms he conjured to protect it. For all their terrors they too had been bested by the cold steel of her sword, forged under the light of the winter moon and quenched in the Tears of Ymir where the glacial ice had smoked and sizzled around the red hot iron for a day and a night. Such was the craft of Soren Danicson and of his daughter whom men called Anya. In these lands she was an aberration. Even here, where men with sharp swords and hard hearts would always find welcome, there were few Aesir, and in all the world, there was only one Anya Sorensdaughter. Among the Aesir, those blond haired and blue eyed reavers of the frozen north, it was not customary for women to go to war, nor to travel beyond the steps of Cummoria and south to the sweltering kingdoms below the desolate hills of that grim country. That Anya had done both spoke much of her unique character. She was short for her kind, though she towered over all but the tallest southerners, with hair of a blond so pale it seemed a snowy white in the sun and picked up the character of the light in all other settings. A mark of Ymir's interest most assuredly, though that was rarely a good or a happy accolade. Ymir was not like the soft gods of the south, to be wheeled with and placated by the endless mouthing of empty prayers. Her beauty too was that of the ice, hard planes and angular bones which no rogue pot could tame. Her body was slender but wound with whipcord tight muscles which gave her the constant and unnerving appearance of a wolf about to pounce. There had been men who had thought she might fetch a fine price on the slavers block. The had regretted their mistake. Briefly. Kafir was alive on this muggy evening. Citizens bustled about on business or in revel, some animated by they new not what, simply a feeling that this was a time to be alive and doing. Armed men, mercenaries hired by the prince of this sprawling city of adobe houses and high walls of sun bleached stone, patrolled or, more frequently, staggered and caroused according to their wont. These were troubled times, and though the Kolaks and their bands of raiders mounted on wiry southern ponies were always a threat, there was little they could do against steel guarded stone. Perhaps the prince simply felt better with men under arms than in the pay of his enemies, which was a wise enough strategy when plague and disorders stalked the land. A few of them leveled speculative glances at Anya, but the long sword of pale blue steel, the mail of tightly woven links, and the short hafted axe at her belt convinced them to find more congenial targets for whatever entertainment they had planned. With his dying words Skavi had sent her her, screamed as the ice that had fallen on him slowly crushed the life from his body. The answer to the question of whether the shade of Soren Danicson had entered Valhalla. No. That her father had died in battle she was certain, having held his spear pierced body in her arms, but his shade appeared to her in dreams when the moon was full and the wind was cold, and so she had sought out Skavi the Black and he had told her, through his cracked and bleeding, of the curse that the Vanir shaman had laid upon her father. That such a black rite should exist at all astonished her and she could not abide that the shade of her father should be held by such a trick. The shaman had been slain by a spear of mistletoe fashioned with the blackened bones of Soren Danicson, all that remained was for the blood of the Shaman and the blood of Soren Danicson to be smeared upon the Opal of Vulkur, that Ymir might know that he had been cheated of a soul by base trickery and Soren Danicson might take his place in the halls of Valhalla. For Anya's part, she was eager to be done with the company of shades. The gem had been lost long ago, stolen by the mighty thief Paven, who had carried it from the crown of the slumbering High King Wulfric in full view of his court. It had passed through many hands since then, but Anya, guided by Skavi the Black's dying words, had come to this place and found the thief who called himself Ibn-vakir. The Iristanian claimed to know where the jewel lay and promised to reveal the information to her in exchange for a fortune in gold. Anya didn't have a fortune in gold, but she suspected that her sword pressed to his genitals would prove equally persuasive. She reached the dockside where they were to meet, nose wrinkling at the smell of human filth and the spicy scent of exotic timbers. This was the thieves quarter of Kafir and she could expect Ibn-vakir to know every bolt hole and back alley. She needed to be quick and clever. As she neared the appointed rendezvous she caught sight of another man, hooded and cloaked. Perhaps she was not the only taker for what the accursed thief was selling.</s>	<\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil The fumes bothered Abelard little, having smelled far worse during his campaigning. There was little that smelled worse than feces and vomit mixed with blood, and mercifully the sewers were filled with mostly just the former. Grey eyes saw a tall, lithe figure stride into his field of view. A northern woman, gleaming white and gold among a land of filth and darkness. She seemed as dangerous as any man in the city, but he didn't foresee her taking any action against him. She seemed a wolf on the hunt, merely curious and stumbling upon a traveler by happenstance. He removed his blood-red hood, his face hard set and weathered. With his black beard and rough skin, he looked a decade older than his thirty two years of life. Asura's blessings had cost him much of his youthful vigor, an ardent contrast to Set and Ahriman who rewarded their followers with the pleasures and powers of this world at the expense of their very souls. Gripping his staff and turning, he spoke to her. The first time in three days he had chosen to utter any words. "You enter a den of serpents and rogues, Asgardian. Go back to the frozen white north what spawned you. You will fine ne'er but misery here by my reckoning." He intoned, his manner recondite and shadowed. His words paled compared to the shadow of those that watched from above, black clad and swords drawn, waiting in the deep to plunge their blades into the bosom of the two traveler's chests. Ibn-vakir had betrayed them and sought the favor of this land's new master known as the Bandit Kazim. Word had spread the nomadic tribes had flocked under one banner, coalescing at the central Vilayet river in the deep wilderness. Or so the stories foretold. The tribesmen were great horse archers and wild lancers famed the world over on ponies that frothed at the mouth, joined by ebony spearmen from Kush clad in naught by cloth. Soon the horde, now perhaps hiring mercenaries with their plundered gold, would be a horde of thundering steel that threatened to trample the province into the dirt. Wailing spirits of lamentation danced around Abelard's staff, visible only to he. He was used to see them, but only when great violence was about to be wrought. He placed his hand on the ivory hilt of his sword, his subtle facial twitch showcasing he was wary of attackers from behind. Coiled like serpents, the assassin's sprung near silently, leaping from the rafters. They found nothing but mist as they landed on the ground as nimble as apes, Abelard disappearing into nothingness. The Priest of Asura stepped out of the shadows behind Anya, sword in his hand. As they approached, the dozen men eyed the warrior woman the same as the priest. "They seem to be after you as well."</s>
<\|description\|>Abelard Fhundil Race: Koth Backstory: His parents labeled as pagans and heathens during one of the many inquisitions in the Kingdom of Aquilonia, Abelard was taken in swaddling clothes back to his mother's homeland of Koth. They grew up poor and in squalor, until Koth's secret alliance with Nemedia was discovered when Abelard was a young man. His father helped Koth by giving information of the homeland and gave them a decent living on the outerlying areas of Strabonus' Palace. One day when he was a young boy, Abelard exploring the palace grounds found a secret chamber in the catacombs where a priest was worshiping the God Asura. Instead of killing him, as the priest almost did, he took Abelard under his wing and taught him of dark secrets beyond the veil. In hushed whispers, he grew as a man of the Asuran faith, practicing what little sorcery he was able to as the years passed and various coups rose and fell. After his master was discovered as a traitor priest to the God Ishtar, he was executed while Alebard was on campaign with the army as a sergeant, a position gained by his father's loyalty. Once they came back, he discovered the execution and took what supplies and scribes he could and fled without a word, traveling from the wilderness of the Picts to Iranistan. Luckily, he received a tip from a prostitute on where an ancient tomb lay in the desert.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil The other rogues would have loved to have taken her up on her challenge, but they had not been idle. Nor had the man named Fhundil, having only a second to watch her terrifying display before an assassin robed in rags made a leap at him, stabbing with his short sword. Abelard moved aside as if he had seen it from seconds before the attacker's initial movement. He angled his staff's butt to slip between the thief's legs, tripping him up. He hit the ground just as Abelard tapped his staff-head with the blunt side of his sword. A brass spike shot out of the staff's bottom, and Abelard used it to impale the downed man in the back. To the common eye, he looked vulnerable to the more cunning cutthroat that had circled behind with a kushite khopesh of bronze, but Abelard turned as if he expected him. His broadsword parried what would have been a fatal stroke as the priest himself stabbed at the man, cutting him in the side. The Iranistanian sliced and kicked out, doing whatever he could to regain his advantage. He hadn't counted on the swinging staff head that cracked his skull. He hadn't the time to realize he was dead until the broadsword was already through his body by its full length. Blood dribbled onto wretched sewer stone. Abelard withdrew his blade and stepped aside politely to let the corpse fall onto its face with a harsh crack of bone. He opened his eyes and saw the enemies still outnumbered them three to one, and so he held his staff aloft and raised it high as if he could reach the sun under the very streets of Kafir. Some God seemed to answer his call, as the central dias opened and light as pure as the very sun beamed out and blinded the attackers so powerfully, they felt as men who had never seen light in their life. They screeched and cried out, running in all directions, their morale broken as the two cut down what men they could reach with their swords. Blood flowed like running rain into the sewage as the docks became as silent as a tomb. Abelard approached Anya without fear or hesitation, though he perhaps cracked a small grin. Hard to tell behind his thick beard. "It seems Ibn-vakir sought to betray both of us. From what I can tell, his previous information on the treasure's location was credible. What demon or man got to him to have him wish for our deaths had pulled him into their claws after he had spoken to me. I seek the Opal of Vulkur. Will you travel with me?"</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter The sun rose over far of Kosala, spreading across the Iranistani steppe to reveal two riders forging their way north towards the distant white capped daggers of the Ilbar Mountains. In the spring snow melt from those mountains would rush downwards in mighty torrents, wending its way towards the sea in a network of shallow creeks and rocky gullies that for most of the rest of the year ran at but a trickle. Like all steppe-land it was the preserve of nomadic headers rather than farmers, with herdsmen moving their flocks of goats or horned sheep from water source to watercourse with the season. Dawn had bought a few smuts of smoke from neglected cook-fires but from horizon to horizon no soul could be seen save for the two riders. That wasn't to say they weren't here of course. The steppe looked flat to a new comer, but deep gullies and short canyons could be concealed by the waving grass and a traveler might pass within bow shot and never know it until an arrow plucked them from the saddle. The pair had set out from Kafir after midnight on fine roan horses which the Priest had purchased with coin which had impressed even Anya with its variety of denominations. The solution had been cleaner than her own plan of stealing the beasts, and as Abelard pointed out, lacked the problem of potential pursuit. As the Priest had said, the fact that Ibn-vakir had sent men to killed him argued for the veracity of his information, why else spend the hundred silver drachma to engage the Guild of Thieves to murder them? They had ridden as hard as they dared across such uncertain terrain, there was little doubt that news of the assassins failure would reach their paymasters in due time. They could hope it was carried by a horseman and not upon the wings of ravens or some other sorcery. Anya had made her name as a raider by riding hard and relentlessly and coming at her opponents unexpectedly. She saw little reason to change the habit of a lifetime now. They drove on towards the headwaters of the River Ashan where the faithless thief had bragged that he had seen the fable Opal, though hadn't dared risk its retrieval. How it had come to rest in such a land, so far from the northern glaciers of its birth was lost to the knowledge of men, though perhaps, not that of Gods. Of their purposes they spoke little. Anya was unsure of exactly why her companion sought the jewel, perhaps only as any man seeks a thing that is vaulable, and of her own quest she had spoken only evasively. The peace between them was yet uneasy. "Smoke!" Anya called as they cantered across a low shale bedded creek, their horses kicking up shimmering spray in the early morning sun. She pointed to a low dome of haze beyond a small hill more or less along their path. It was too significant to be a single cookfire.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil Abelard reined in his roan, the beast whinnying lightly in the crisp morning air. Anya and he had been riding through the night with barely a word passing between them once they had mounted the horses. He found he believed her story and her virtue, however. Her manner against her assassins and they way she moved had a surety to it that spoke of honesty. Perhaps it was the soldier in him, or the still very earthly mind of his that led him to trust her motives. But he knew, somehow, Asura had not spoken of her. Her vision was correct, he saw a large pillar of smoke rising into the sky. It stood as a black line against the newly risen sun. Abelard dismounted, advising it was best they left their horses here tethered to what roots they could find. The two did so and drew their blades, creeping out of the creek-bed towards the signs of what Abelard knew to be their quarry, even if it were not what they truly sought. Advancing swiftly, they found a small rise that spoke of a sheer drop just before them. The two crouched and almost crawled toward the edge what seemed to be a large, dried waterway. Beneath them more than a score of men spoke and drank and ate a hearty breakfast, devouring the ribs of a great boar they had slaughtered likely the day before. Iranistanian Horse nomads with their scalemail cuirasses and their strange spiked helms wrapped in cloth, sallow skinned and stout builds grunting in their rugged tongue. They looked armed for war, their horses tied to a small copse of trees within earshot. The nomads had made two cookfires separate from Ibn-vakir and four Stygian giants. Head and shoulders taller than any nomad, the giants were armed with iron tipped spears and shields made of wood and bronze. Queer torques of Set lay on their bare chests, splattered with the grog they drank greedily beside their fire. Their belts were inlaid with gold and Ibn-vakir wore a similar belt and torque atop his rogueish garb. Abelard nearly surged upwards to curse Ibn-vakir to the Gods, but he held himself for what he saw next. Past the dried inlet was a structure, swept in style as the cloth atop the horsemen's helms. The opening was alien in design. Nearly perpendicular but many layered in stone, like the opening of a flower or the folds of a woman that so drove men mad. Abelard had seen sketches of such structures before in his studies that bespoke it a remnant of the Acheron Empire. It looked to have been rebuilt in an Iranistanian style and then buried in sand from some wild storm, only to have finally been revealed again. "We cannot take rash action," Abelard whispered to his fellow traveler. He spoke to himself just as much as the Northern woman. The priest likely seemed a coward to the fierce warrior, but his only goal was to keep the Opal out of wicked hands.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter "These are Khaseem Bai's men," Anya muttered pointing to a red banner that fluttered from a spear that was thrust into the earth. The silken flag was emblazoned with a black lions head that almost seemed to snap and snarl as the wind worked the fabric. Khaseem Bai was a name much on the tongues of the Iristani. It was said that he had come down from the deserts beyond the Ilbar mountains after the tribes of that inhospitable waste had put aside their ancient blood feuds to drive the renegade from their sands. Since that time he had preyed on the caravans and herdsmen of the step, snatching up city-dwellers and ransoming them for supplies and silver. It was said, among the hokah dens and drinking houses of Kafir, that no blade had ever drawn blood from Khaseem Bai and that he was protected by black and malign spirits. It did not surprise Anya that it had been he who had sent assassin's to kill them after learning Ibn-vakir had sold the same goods three times. "If they know their footpads have failed they don't show it," Anya observed. Indeed, the mood in the camp was alert but the men did not seem alarmed. As she watched a paunchy man hauled a cauldron of soup from the fire and bawled something unintelligible from this distance. The various cut throats ambled towards him to take their mourning meal. "Strange, I don't see Khaseem Bai among them," Anya noticed, her keen eyes having finished their survey of the camp. "Indeed you do not," came a deep basso voice from behind them. Anya whirled her hand going to her blade but freezing as the point of a spear pressed against her throat. Two similar weapons were leveled at Abelard. The men holding them had the dark sun burned skin of desert tribesmen and the hooked noses and slightly slanted eyes of the lands beyond the Ilbar mountains. Their leader was a muscular man in a tunic of white silk. His eyes were dark and burned bright with intelligence and his face was handsome in a brooding way. His legs were covered with armor of tooled leather that gripped the side of a galloping horse so a man could use the short recurve bows in fashion in these parts. The thugs with him were dressed less finely, but Anya wagered all of them were veterans who had come south with Khaseem Bai. The must have snuck around them through some hidden ravine, though they had done so with so little sound that even Anya's razor keen senses had been deceived. "But do not worry," he said with a formal bow that would not have been out of place in the court of Aquilonia, "Khaseem Bai sees you."</s>	<\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil A strong east wind blew over the desolate earth as Abelard raised his hands in supplication, having dropped his sword and staff. The light of the newly risen sun glinted off the spearheads, their edges sharpened to pierce both flesh and mail. A cry of curious demand in Stygian rose behind them. The two were quickly relieved of their weapons and taken to the camp below to be surrounded by harsh lancers, ebony tribesmen of fierce strength, and towering thugs of stygian strain. Out of the crowd poked Ibn-vakir who was short enough to step through the legs of one of the giants. He spread a smile of teeth the color of mule piss save for the missing teeth so far not replaced with any wealth. Two of the nomads had brought forth a wooden chair covered in skins that Khaseem Bai reclined upon, sitting as arrogantly as if he were the newly crowned king of Iranistan. In one hand he held his spear while in the other he nipped at an apple unfamiliarly, the fruit a strange sight in this unforgiving land. No doubt a sign of his fortune and prestige. He must be drunk on his own power if he thought that would intimidate Abelard and particularly the warrioress Anya. Even though he attempted to keep earthly matters from his mind, Abelard fretted the imminent fear of death in equal measure to how the smell of the pork churned his stomach. "How strange to find such two foreign jackals." Ibn-vakir said. His smile spread like the plague with his mustached pulled along as well. "Better kill these two quickly, my lord. We cannot have word getting out on the location of the Opal." Abelard laughed suddenly, one of the first times he had shown any emotion since meeting Anya. He grinned as feircely as any cimmerian barbarian. "You little fool, Ibn-vakir. You did not think we would ever meet with your precious master, did you? Khaseem Bai you are called? This one had already given me the location of the Opal, and had promised to deliver the same to this one beside me. He then wished to join the winning side and lied to you, telling you we were already in pursuit of the prize. He wished for your assassins to silence us, so that you may never learned he attempted to buy your trust with deceit." Ibn-vakir paled, the grog in his stomach finally wearing off on his mind. Khaseem Bai's face, at ease before, was now a mask of fury and disgust. With a simple wave of his hand he had two of the giants grab Ibn-vakir the wretch. "No master! He lies!" The thief shrieked in terror as he was rooted into the ground. Almost ritualistically, and it likely was knowing Set's laws, one of the giants took his belt knife and cut open Ibn-vakir's stomach. Blood and bile and a putrid stench erupted from his torn open belly. The thief sank to his knees, eyes wide opened in death. Despite himself, Abelard found it satisfying. His claim had also been a bluff without divine intervention, but seeing as Khaseem Bai did not correct him, his bluff had been correct and the warlord's side of the claims were confirmed plausible.</s>
<\|description\|>Abelard Fhundil Race: Koth Backstory: His parents labeled as pagans and heathens during one of the many inquisitions in the Kingdom of Aquilonia, Abelard was taken in swaddling clothes back to his mother's homeland of Koth. They grew up poor and in squalor, until Koth's secret alliance with Nemedia was discovered when Abelard was a young man. His father helped Koth by giving information of the homeland and gave them a decent living on the outerlying areas of Strabonus' Palace. One day when he was a young boy, Abelard exploring the palace grounds found a secret chamber in the catacombs where a priest was worshiping the God Asura. Instead of killing him, as the priest almost did, he took Abelard under his wing and taught him of dark secrets beyond the veil. In hushed whispers, he grew as a man of the Asuran faith, practicing what little sorcery he was able to as the years passed and various coups rose and fell. After his master was discovered as a traitor priest to the God Ishtar, he was executed while Alebard was on campaign with the army as a sergeant, a position gained by his father's loyalty. Once they came back, he discovered the execution and took what supplies and scribes he could and fled without a word, traveling from the wilderness of the Picts to Iranistan. Luckily, he received a tip from a prostitute on where an ancient tomb lay in the desert.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil A strong east wind blew over the desolate earth as Abelard raised his hands in supplication, having dropped his sword and staff. The light of the newly risen sun glinted off the spearheads, their edges sharpened to pierce both flesh and mail. A cry of curious demand in Stygian rose behind them. The two were quickly relieved of their weapons and taken to the camp below to be surrounded by harsh lancers, ebony tribesmen of fierce strength, and towering thugs of stygian strain. Out of the crowd poked Ibn-vakir who was short enough to step through the legs of one of the giants. He spread a smile of teeth the color of mule piss save for the missing teeth so far not replaced with any wealth. Two of the nomads had brought forth a wooden chair covered in skins that Khaseem Bai reclined upon, sitting as arrogantly as if he were the newly crowned king of Iranistan. In one hand he held his spear while in the other he nipped at an apple unfamiliarly, the fruit a strange sight in this unforgiving land. No doubt a sign of his fortune and prestige. He must be drunk on his own power if he thought that would intimidate Abelard and particularly the warrioress Anya. Even though he attempted to keep earthly matters from his mind, Abelard fretted the imminent fear of death in equal measure to how the smell of the pork churned his stomach. "How strange to find such two foreign jackals." Ibn-vakir said. His smile spread like the plague with his mustached pulled along as well. "Better kill these two quickly, my lord. We cannot have word getting out on the location of the Opal." Abelard laughed suddenly, one of the first times he had shown any emotion since meeting Anya. He grinned as feircely as any cimmerian barbarian. "You little fool, Ibn-vakir. You did not think we would ever meet with your precious master, did you? Khaseem Bai you are called? This one had already given me the location of the Opal, and had promised to deliver the same to this one beside me. He then wished to join the winning side and lied to you, telling you we were already in pursuit of the prize. He wished for your assassins to silence us, so that you may never learned he attempted to buy your trust with deceit." Ibn-vakir paled, the grog in his stomach finally wearing off on his mind. Khaseem Bai's face, at ease before, was now a mask of fury and disgust. With a simple wave of his hand he had two of the giants grab Ibn-vakir the wretch. "No master! He lies!" The thief shrieked in terror as he was rooted into the ground. Almost ritualistically, and it likely was knowing Set's laws, one of the giants took his belt knife and cut open Ibn-vakir's stomach. Blood and bile and a putrid stench erupted from his torn open belly. The thief sank to his knees, eyes wide opened in death. Despite himself, Abelard found it satisfying. His claim had also been a bluff without divine intervention, but seeing as Khaseem Bai did not correct him, his bluff had been correct and the warlord's side of the claims were confirmed plausible.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Khaseem Bai watched the execution without much interest before turning back to his two prisoners. His eyes were dark and intelligent and had a pragmatic cruelty about them as he measured each of them. "Well one of the two of you looks fearsome enough to have given the Thieves Guild pause," he declared. Anya relaxed ever so slightly. It would be better to die fighting than to be killed in chains but it seemed that the bandit lord had other plans for them, else he would scarcely bother to keep them alive. "As it happens without Ibn-vakir I will require someone to guide me to my treasure, perhaps..." he drew a long knife from his belt and tossed it into the dirt between the two prisoners, "the survivor would be interested in such a position?" Anya glanced sidelong at the priest, perhaps she could kill him before he could employ his arts, perhaps not, but either way it seemed of little matter. By herself it would be difficult, perhaps impossible to overcome Khaseem Bai and his men, and much as she hated to admit it, Abelard could be an ally to her in that. "Lord," she said in his own tongue, with which she had a passing familiarity from time spent as a pirate up in Villayet, "I could cut this whelps throat as you ask, but what if Ibn-vakir told lies to all of us, perhaps together we have enough of the truth to pass the traps he described and reach the Opal." Kasseem frowned, arching a dark eyebrow. "Traps?" he asked, it wasn't clear if he believed the Aesir woman, but there was enough uncertainty in his voice that she knew she had him. "There are three traps Lord," she proclaimed, confident for all that these traps existed, so far as she knew entirely in her imagination. "Fool!" Abelard broke in, "There are five traps each more fiendish than the last! I learned of them in my study and I make Ibn-vakir tell me what he knew of them!"</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil "Silence dogs!" Khaseem Bai spat, raising his fist. Were he to swing it down the order would be met to execute them both on the spot. "If you do not wish to wander the desert without eyes or tongues then you will speak when I permit it! Do not be so foolish as to think you are so valuable as not to maim." He grimaced a moment further like a tiger that watches a receding bear. His devil-may-care manner returned once silence reigned once again. "You will both lead at spear point. Have I any inkling that you will betray me, if we cannot kill you we will seal you within the tomb, understand?" Abelard and Anya did not immediately answer, though he took that as an acquiesce to his command and he grinned as a snarling lion. "Good. Now priest, lead the way into the tomb with the northern bitch close to your heels." The thieves watched expectantly as the two regarded one another, and they turned to the ancient Acheron structure. Abelard approached it warily, eyeing the opening. He looked at Khaseem Bai, holding his hands together as if to beg forgiveness. "My staff?" He bade. "To better serve your desire of entering. I will give it back once I open the hole." The bandit lord measured him and nodded. One of the Stygian Giants tossed Abelard his staff, which he caught promptly and placed on the ground. There was an audible 'thud' when it touched the sand, as if the staff weighed far, far more than it conceivably could. Anya could perceive a tingle of power emanating from the rod, and through the top jewel the sunlight poured through and struck the Acheron opening through the center. As the light penetrated into the strange slit, the stone began to move with a deliberate slowness that shoved great rends of sand in the earth around it. "He has done it." One of the bandits muttered. "No, I have not." Abelard answered boldly, and all eyes turned to him with sudden incredulity. He smiled calmly, with a certain satisfaction to him. "I opened it, but in an incorrect manner." "What!?" Khaseem Bai snarled, confused. His curiosity would be sated in moments when the door, now gaping wide like a vast wound, spewed forth three unknown shadow beasts from within. Demons, Abelard knew them to be. Shaped like apes and as dark as the blackest night and as even larger than the Stygian Giants. He had foreseen their presence and purposefully awoke them. He placed his hand on Anya's shoulder, the sunlight still within his staff as the beasts moved quicker than any horse, loping over and attacking the band of cutthroats. Men screeched and pissed themselves as huge arms of abyssal matter wrapped about them and consumed their bodies and souls utterly. "The sun will banish them before long." Abelard whispered, eyeing the now unguarded door to the Acheron ruin. "Grab your sword and follow me!"</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Anya snatched up her sword and darted after the priest. The shrieks of the bandits were ghastly as the shadow beasts fell upon them, rending and tearing. Kaseem Bai hurled a dreadful curse at them as they fled and Anya pivoted smoothly to strike sparks as she batted away the warlords thrown dagger. It had been foolish of him to shout but she supposed it wasn't the worst mistake he had made this day. With a burst of speed she looped after the priest, deflecting a spear thrust from one of the wide eyed bandits and taking his throat with her riposte. The pair of them darted through the door of the ancient structure and Abelard raised his staff again. Stone shrieked as the ancient portal began to seal itself, not quickly but with the inexorable inevitability of a tide coming in, or a glacier sliding towards the ocean. The entry stones boomed together, abruptly cutting off the screams of dying bandits as completely as if they had existed only in the imagination of the listeners. "I'd give you my thanks priest," Anya said, pausing to spit towards the now sealed portal, "but I don't know if our situation is better or worse." "We are alive," Abelard replied austerly and turned towards the passageway ahead of them. The walls were of sandstone, smoothed but not built, as though it had once been a cave that had been laboriously polished to remove the worst of its irregularity. A thick mist filled it that reminded Anya of the unexplored jungles that stretched for uncounted miles in the lands beyond the forbidding southern borders of Stygia. There was something else on the air too, a faint taste of sulphur that put Anya in mind of the volcanic hotsprings of Trondhel or Aikanaborg. The mist was so thick they could see no more than a few feet infront of them as they edged their way down the passage until they found an opening. Anya had seen many things in her life that others might deem strange, but the sight before them was more incredible than any she had yet witnessed. The passage opened onto a lush fog shrouded jungle, the air so humid that water condensed in droplets on the tip of her blade. Vast trees reached up towards the sky and large leafed plants squatted at their bases. Strange animals called and hooted in the jungle and lizard like creatures skittered and leaped from the wrist thick vines which hung like spider webs. Vast columns of greenish soapstone reached upwards into the low hanging mist which was none the less illuminated by a sickly green yellow light beyond. There was no way that this place existed within the structure they had scene in the desert, either in scale or in the alien aspect of the jungle which was unlike anything Anya had scene. "By Wotan's eye," she marveled, staring in awe at the landscape before her.</s>	<\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil At first Abelard considered this a dream or some wild vision granted by Asura. But his skin watered from the humid heat, feeling it course and rough to breathe in. He felt itchy from the brushing of the long fern-like grass, and the microscopic insects clinging to his ankles. The Priest had seen many wonders of the gods; vast cataclysms and eldritch spells given to him within visions and dreams. But what manner of magic this thing was, was daunting to his sensibilities. He sensed that the Opal was not far off, however, and that was what they would need to cling their hopes to. "Ware and steel yourself Barbarian woman," He said to her, clutching his staff in both hands now. Twisting his hands, the spike at the end protruded again and he changed his stance as if he held a spear, which he practically did. In the distance a grinding roar lifted in the air and a porcine squeal echoed. Abelard had heard tale of the great southern jungle cats thrice as large as a man, and felt their potential all too real at that moment. "Whether we are in the Black Lands south of dreaded Stygia or some nether realm, we must retrieve the Opal at all costs." The two of them crept warily, Abelard with his spear at the ready. Somehow he felt less suited to the situation that Anya, for the woman seemed just as home here as she likely was in the frozen north. Abelard nearly tripped over what he had perceived to be a log at one point, until he realized it was the midsection of an enormous python, resting in the brush. So large was it, it moved too sluggishly to give he or Anya any notice, and the two stepped over it carefully. Likely it was savoring a recent meal, which brought many uncomfortable questions they needn't dwell on. After cutting through thickly draped vines and undergrowth that clutched at their hips, the two of them burst into a clearing. Anya landing as any skilled warrior would, and Abelard moving like he preconceived where the correct places to step was to keep his footing. The jungle glade was about fifty square feet with turfts of exotic blades of grass mingled with dirt. Sunken bones of both man and beast jutted out of the soil. What was slightly more concerning and significant was the Opal of Power set upon a dias of tied bone at the very center.</s>
<\|description\|>Abelard Fhundil Race: Koth Backstory: His parents labeled as pagans and heathens during one of the many inquisitions in the Kingdom of Aquilonia, Abelard was taken in swaddling clothes back to his mother's homeland of Koth. They grew up poor and in squalor, until Koth's secret alliance with Nemedia was discovered when Abelard was a young man. His father helped Koth by giving information of the homeland and gave them a decent living on the outerlying areas of Strabonus' Palace. One day when he was a young boy, Abelard exploring the palace grounds found a secret chamber in the catacombs where a priest was worshiping the God Asura. Instead of killing him, as the priest almost did, he took Abelard under his wing and taught him of dark secrets beyond the veil. In hushed whispers, he grew as a man of the Asuran faith, practicing what little sorcery he was able to as the years passed and various coups rose and fell. After his master was discovered as a traitor priest to the God Ishtar, he was executed while Alebard was on campaign with the army as a sergeant, a position gained by his father's loyalty. Once they came back, he discovered the execution and took what supplies and scribes he could and fled without a word, traveling from the wilderness of the Picts to Iranistan. Luckily, he received a tip from a prostitute on where an ancient tomb lay in the desert.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil "You offered gold, but intend to pay in blood I see," Amal chuckled, listlessly tossing the bone dice across the slab of sandstone. Idly the dice rolled, until they came up with the exact roll that won him the game not seconds prior. Across from him sat a fierce Turanian whose eyes bulged at the results of the roll, shrieking like a shemite stallion. He bolted upright, his state of bemoaning from losing the game replaced with wrath at having been cheated. The thief gave a grin that would make a jackal rile from envy, deigning not to reach for the twin daggers planted at the center of the makeshift table. "Cur and loathsome dog!" The Turanian accused, pointing his finger at Amal Ibn Hakeem in the little hovel within the bowls of Great Xarame. The chamber was dry and dim, smoke rising lazily from hookahs and incense candles amid the crowd of ne'er-do-wells and travelers. All seeking refuge from the oppressive guards and the Sultan's taxes. A few white northmen sat and watch, whispering in their brute tongues and laughing as apes. In many cities, the Shem were distrustful of outsides. However, all were welcome in the city of Xarame. Kings and Princes rose and fell over the vast ages of the world, endowing the city with commerce and glory unimaginable, all to bring Amal and this Turanian this little game of chance that would change the Shemite's life forever. "I am a dog, but this dog has killed bigger goats than you," He quipped, unmoving despite the clear threat. They were not the only ones in on the game; a bone Blythunian glared daggers at both of them, clearly wishing to simply continue whilst the noseless Iranistani was too busy picking his teeth with the femur of his last slave. Amal brazenly took his eyes off the Turanian, coming nose to nose with the Aquilonian dancing girl whose slim arms had been draped around his neck all throughout the game. "And fucked more northern swans than you have." She giggled, only for it to be stifled by the ring of steel as the husky Turanian unsheathed his shamshir, breaking the vow of Xarame hospitality. Unfortunately, Amal had done the same by cheating, so he could not complain nor call him a fiend. As a pack of lions, three of the Turanian's comrades stood with him, crossing their jeweled arms and glaring at Amal, their noses pierced by brass rings that shimmered in the firelight. Amal calmly reached for his scimitar, but groping, he felt it gone from his belt! The thief turned from his cushion to see the Aquilonian women giving it to one of the Northmen, her wiles now blemished by the betrayal, though he would not blame her. He might have done the same. Amal did not go for the knives at the center of the sandstone table, knowing they were bait. Anyone who had been there before knew they were glued to the table, so men might make a grab for them and lose an arm in a dispute. The master of the hovel was wicked that way. Instead, Amal flipped backwards in a roll, feet going over his head to press to the ground not a moment before, and he sprung out into the corridor as the Turanian and his friends pursued him out into the street, losing him down the Causeway of The Forbidden, where Amal sank into the shadows and reached the roof of the Temple of Ishtar, cursing his luck.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter The Temple of Ishtar in Xarame was a magnificent place. It dominated the temple square, rising from the eastern side of the wide expanse of sandstone like the moon on a clear night. Its sides were sheathed in white marble that had been imported at great expense from Aquillonian quarries across the mountains and then laid so precisely that the a knife blade could not have been inserted between them. Two great obelisks stood to either side of the main gate, through which the flickering oil lamps light the way into the sanctum. Sythemis walked easily to the gate, apparently heedless of the ever present threat of cutpurses and robbers in the torchlit streets. The Temple guards did not know her, but they clearly knew better than to interfere with a well dressed and mysterious woman approaching the Temple at night. They raised their pikes and let her pass without comment, eyes following her from behind their intricately wrought helmets. Beyond the first gate was a courtyard in which lemon trees had been planted in profusion. Beautiful women stood or longued on marble benches infront of the bowers that that were artfully woven from the citris trees branches. The Temple Prostitutes were famed for their beauty, each selected for their voluptuousness and improved upon by regimes of diet and prayer until the resembled the bronze depictions of their mistress, with swollen busts and wide hips that gave them the aspect of beautiful but very slightly overripe fruit. Two of the girls approached Sythemis but she lifted her palm in a gesture which made the girls instantly abase themselves. "Mistress," the whispered as one, grinding their faces into the dirt in obeisance. Such whores had their place of course, but it was not their place to question the initiates of the deeper mysteries. "I have come to seek counsel, you will prepare the bath for me," Sythemis decreed. Both women sprang to their feet and rushed off into the temple. Sythemis turned abruptly, conscious of a gaze upon her and scanned the roofline, but there was nothing but moonlight. Shrugging it of as a passing foolishness she returned her mind to the task at hand. She needed to find a thief afterall. After perhaps ten minutes of waiting the two prostitutes returned. Sythemis nodded and led them into the temple itself. All three of them prostrated themselves before the bronze statue of the Goddess and then stood. The pair of initiates took up their positions to either side of Sythemis. The Stygian began to disrobe methodically, dropping her silken robe to the floor before adding her jewelry and undergarments until she stood naked before the statue. Her body was leaner than her escorts, darker also, dusky with the olive burn of the Stygian sun. In truth she was unusually voluptuous for her race, her bosoms and hips pleasing to Ishtar in the same way as her crooked mind was pleasing to her other patron. She raised both hands above her head. "Eia, Eai Shub-Niggurath," she intoned, using one of the forbidden names of the Goddess, "Calliya, Calliyae, eian sun nyto!" For a moment nothing seemed to happen. Ten heartbeats passed and then a slow grinding sound shook dust from the temple walls. A section of the floor before the statues feet slid inwards to reveal a passageway down into the earth. "Leave me," she told the wide eyed Temple prostitutes. The girls needed no encouragement to scurry back into the courtyard as Sythemis began her passaged down into the earth.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil Amal cleaned the blood from his knife, idly wiping out the imperfections on the Nemedian steel. The bright moon glinted off its polish, brightening the darkness of his shemic eyes. Truthfully he had not wished to kill the temple-servant, a boy no older than eleven. But the youth had spotted him among the spires and Amal had been younger than he when he had killed his first. Had he the right mind, he would have run and told someone of the thief's whereabouts. Now he but basked upon the temple roof, perched upon the battlements as he gazed into the structure from above. The temple girls were supple of limb and gifted in ways men only dreamed, so he contented himself with watching them lounge and titter. A few gave prayers and litanies to Ishtar, which seemed fitting with all the death in Xarame surrounding their pretty little temple. He had heard the northerners of Cimmeria worshipped no Gods, and only paid the barest of homage to one. Grom, that was his name. A barbarian god who gave no shits to who spoke of him was amusing. Perhaps he would go there one day. Amal's musings were interrupted when someone else entered the temple. Briefly he wondered if they were guards having discovered the body of the boy, but no. This was a Stygian; a woman at that. She made the other women look like silly girls in comparison. There was sly maliciousness in her eyes that enchanted him as much as the Jewel of Khemi. There was an air of gravity to her presence. Something he couldn't pinpoint but it intrigued him. He watched with bated breath as she dismissed the others from the grounds, opening up a portal to underneath the superstructure of the temple. He watched her saunter within, hips swaying like the head of a cobra. Like a panther he sprung from the heights, landing on the ground in a roll. Some of the women had yet to even exit the door, but their backs were turned. None saw the theif silently pad into the maw of the stone behind the Stygian woman, following her to see what treasures she may seek within...</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Sythemis passed down through the tunnel of hand smoothed stone until it opened into a chamber that centered around a large pool of dark water that shone like glass under the light of bowls of burning oil. A great statue of Ishtar stood above the pool wrought of gold and naked. This was not the tame Ishtar that the priests of Mitrha bleated about. This was the primal Goddess her hips and bust swollen, her face contorted in ecstasy or agony, her eyes terrible. The chamber had obviously been a natural cavern one, but the walls and roof had been polished and shaped by patient labor. Niches had been caved out of the walls, each glittering with small statues of Ishtar each bedecked in gold and jeweled highlights. The Stygian paid no mind to them, walking with slow gravitas into the pool sinking to her waste in the dark cool water. She raised her arms over her head and met the eyes of the statue. "Bikania Ishtar, emadazu nire senargaia Set," she began to chant, her body began a graceful dance, fingers cutting the top of the water in showers of droplets which set up rippling waves of glittering light. "Bikania Ishtar, emadazu ikuspegia," she chanted, her dance growing more estatic. The lamps began to flicker and writhe weirdly, the light dimming as she moved. Something slid past her in the water, brushing against her leg, but she ignored it continuing the chant and the dance as she beseeched the Goddess</s>	<\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil The Shemite thief was many things, but not a fool. There was something ephemeral about what was transpiring; some darkness he could only feel in his soul, causing the hairs on his neck to stand on end. Had he been a man who's sense outweighed his curiosity, he might have fled. But that was not Amal Ibn-Hakeem, jackal of the sands. The scents of jasmine and myrrh wafted up the stone stairway, showcasing the pythoness was performing some rite or ritual. Her echoing words, whispers in a harsh tongue. She sounded as if her statement was both a command and an abasement of herself. The knife clutched in his hand, his arm bent to throw even before he saw her dancing there in the sacred pool. He might have seen the ripples beneath her, but her dancing was mesmerizing. The cutthroat felt a very mannish stirring within him, a warmth spreading from just below his belt as he watched her. He forcibly tore his gaze away to scan the rest of the cavern, spying the statues of gold. The ever pragmatic thief went from desiring her to thinking of slitting her throat before she could halt him from stealing the jewels mounted on the carvings. Lapis and lazulis, garnets and rubies, diamonds and emeralds that glittered like the stars, blinking in and out of existence as the lights began to flicker from what foul magic she was enacting. Amal had made a point to keep away from the dark powers, but this was a scene he couldn't leave empty handed. He made no sound as he stepped down the last steps and stalked across the stone floor behind the writhing seductress. He moved seven steps to hide behind a small dias that raised the carved stone floor. Certain he was no longer in her line of sight, the approached a small bronze statue of a dog-headed man, likely placed here as a war trophy from the old conquests of Xarame, and he used his knife to dig at its agate eyes, attempting to pry them out silently through the priestess's litany. The water sloshed for but a moment, halting his progress and causing him to look over his shoulder. He waited, and his patience was greeted by another, similar sound. The strong young man crept to the edge of his hiding spot, peering out to view what was transpiring. "Dagon and Ashtoreth," he breathed, calling upon his shemite gods to protect him.</s>
<\|description\|>Abelard Fhundil Race: Koth Backstory: His parents labeled as pagans and heathens during one of the many inquisitions in the Kingdom of Aquilonia, Abelard was taken in swaddling clothes back to his mother's homeland of Koth. They grew up poor and in squalor, until Koth's secret alliance with Nemedia was discovered when Abelard was a young man. His father helped Koth by giving information of the homeland and gave them a decent living on the outerlying areas of Strabonus' Palace. One day when he was a young boy, Abelard exploring the palace grounds found a secret chamber in the catacombs where a priest was worshiping the God Asura. Instead of killing him, as the priest almost did, he took Abelard under his wing and taught him of dark secrets beyond the veil. In hushed whispers, he grew as a man of the Asuran faith, practicing what little sorcery he was able to as the years passed and various coups rose and fell. After his master was discovered as a traitor priest to the God Ishtar, he was executed while Alebard was on campaign with the army as a sergeant, a position gained by his father's loyalty. Once they came back, he discovered the execution and took what supplies and scribes he could and fled without a word, traveling from the wilderness of the Picts to Iranistan. Luckily, he received a tip from a prostitute on where an ancient tomb lay in the desert.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Sythemis, Child of the Desert, danced in the sacred pool of Ishtar, her dark hair flying as she spun in increasingly ecstatic arcs. The names of both Ishtar and Set spilled from her lips and the water began to churn and foam far beyond the power of her slim form. Shapes began to appear like queer waves, their crests furrowing to suggest the passage of serpents formed of living water, they curled around the Stygian, sliding over her legs and coiling up around her chest before dropping away in showers rain drops. Her chanting grew more frenetic as the water around her waist surged and foamed and she threw back her head dark eyes wide as she shouted the names of the gods interspersed with the arcane syllables which seemed poorly. The candles which lit the grotto guttered and dimmed, almost extinguishing before bursting into a queer black flame that seemed to fill the chamber with sharp hard edged light. The water spray froze in the air, hanging like a thousand firestruck gems, glowing with light of the braziers and the dark golden gleam of Sythemis' own eyes. "Mighty Set," she intoned in a voice of breathless anticipation, "reveal to me that which I seek, turn your gaze upon the thief whom I have sought in your embrace. Again the light flickered wierdly and then in an instant, every drop reflected the face of Amal Ibn-Hakeem.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil Despite the strange spectacle, he still watched in a mixture of fear and lust. For a moment he had worried the water hid some great serpent, but instead it held a surprise the cutthroat not been prepared for. This was why wise men did not trust sorcerers, by Dagon. She was toying with him, he angrily theorized. This would not do for the thief, and so he sprang into action. With the grace of a panther, he scaled the incline of the stones and leaped off at its highest elevation, soaring over the water to splash and land right behind the voluptuous woman, pressing his knife to her throat. By all the gods, he should have cut her slim neck then and there, but her scent overwhelmed him just as the curves of her form pressed to his. Her beauty was even more captivating up close, but truthfully, he was more curious than anything. Why would she seek him of all the theives in Xarame, and there were very many. Amal had the strength and ferocity of an ape, palpably apparent as he wrapped his strong arm about her waist and pressed the knife to her neck, giving her just enough room to gaze into his dark shemite eyes, the smell of poorly bought alcohol on his breath. "Do not play games with me, Witch-priestess," he said in her ear, deathly calm. The waters began to recede about them, whatever magics she intoned draining away to nothingness. "What is it you want of me? Speak any words that do not answer my question, and you are dead." His eyes glinted in the torchlight, and she knew he was serious. Amal would not let any sorcerer or sorceress speak any arcane words to cast a spell as long as he could help it, and so he was prepared for the moment she attempted it. But as he looked at her, he added: "Speak what may please me, and you will yet live." softly. She had either cast a spell on him, or he earnestly was too curious to let the matter drop with a slit throat and a quick run from the scene. Some god wished his presence for some reason, and it may prove beneficial to know why. Plus, he had never had stygian woman before.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter It had been said by irreverent that the gods had a sense of humor. As the blade pressed against her throat Sythemis wondered if it they had a point. She should still a desert statue, motionless save for the throb of her heartbeat in her supple body. For a moment they stood together in silence. "I asked Ishtar to reveal a great thief to me," Sythemis said calmly and simply. "I did not expect her to answer so swiftly," she admitted truthfully. That was something of an understatement, by Temple Law it was death for any man to set foot within this chamber. It should have been impossible for anyone to find there way into this hallowed space.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil His strong hand grabbed her neck to cow her, though he doubted even he could do that. Here she was in his embrace, blade poking into her teasingly, and she seemed to have the power of him in the conversation. The slender, shining skin of her neck tantalizing in the firelight. "Well, I am a great thief. Ishtar did not lie on that count. But that is not the entire picture. You will tell it to me and more." He readjusted his grip on her, hoisting her up in his arms, his eyes never leaving hers. He was afraid she could bewitch him in such a fashion, but he couldn't risk taking his gaze off of her. She had to ring her arms around his neck after he ascended the stairs and began climbing, the acrobatic rogue easily able to haul her up with his ape-like strength. "Perhaps your bite is poisonous... Perhaps you have a hidden blade... I would not be surprised if you could slither out of my grasp despite your lush body, but kill me or escape, and you will fall to your death, serpent woman." He warned, breathing into her ear as she was lifted off the ground and sent to the roof of the temple. The women began to wail in despair and call after him to return her, but he ignored them. Soon they leaped from rooftop to rooftop, his biceps rippling like a constrictor as he grabbed ledges and nooks in the walls he scaled, until finally she was unceremoniously dropped onto her ass on a dusty floor within an old tower of shemite design, only used twice a year during the equinoxes to light the great fires of Xarame during their lavish festivals. Amal crouched before her, his teeth shining in the dark as he grinned ferociously. He toyed with his knife on his left hand, the hilt and blade flipping as it undulated between his flowing fingers. "I advise you to begin speaking. You are tempting to look upon, but even I am growing bored without an explanation. Now speak."</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Sythemis worked hard to control her breathing and still the swell of her chest. Many times she had stood before the serpents of great Set, whose bit was death and who feasted upon fear. Many times she had delved into ancient tombs for hidden relics or fragments of arcane lore from creatures whose form and memory were lost to the minds of men. All these things she had done but never had she felt herself so surely on the edge of death. The glittering knife and hard eyes of the thief were a hot death, not the cold of a serpent's fang or antediluvian spell. It thrilled her to consider. "For three hundred and thirty three years a precious jewel has lingered in Xareme," she began, her voice was melodic but lacked any suggestion of hypnosis of coercion sure to bring a swift hot stroke of the blade. "It is no earthly gem, but a piece of the Moon itself, fetched back in the times before men rose from the mud of the southern jungles, from before great Atlantis was sunk beneath the waves. Strange beasts brought it in their black galleys which rode the stars on their thousand oars and silver sails," she explained, gesturing up to the waning gibbous moon that hung above the spires of the city. It seemed to peer down at them like the lidded eye of a waking lover, warm and expectant. "Once there were many such gems, prized by the Elder race above gold and silver, above even the glittering anthrax for which they traded armies of slaves and mountains of riches. They are gone now, taken up to the stars or lost in the abyssal depths to the hunger of things that lay below the ocean which men fear to even think of save in the dim recesses of dreams," the stygian continued, her words redolent with forgotten lore and the blasphemous secrets of past ages which had been dredged from the ancient crypts, or drawn from the lips of things long dead but undying. "Only one such gem now remains upon the earth, locked in a chamber within the Emir's palace," Sythemis continued, nothing the glimpse of hungry avarice on the thief's hard face with pleasure. "It is written that during the dark of the moon, in this auspicious year, a great thief will come to Xareme and take the jewel. The Emir's astrologers have seen this written in the stars, as others have seen it in augury and dream. I have come to Xareme to make this prophecy come true so that I may lay my hand upon the Moon Stone. One who has touched it may ask a boon of the moon, and I have such a boon to ask." The air shivered as warm wind blew in of the desert, the smell of hot sand and the cedar of the distant hillsides that made Xareme famous throughout the cradle of the world. "I asked Ishtar to reveal to me the thief that would take the stone, and you stood before me in a chamber where you ought not stand, in a temple which you ought not enter."</s>	<\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil There was no dark magic in her voice, and yet Amal could see the jewels of the outer void. Their glimmer in the light of the moon and the mesmerizing glint that begged for his fingers to grasp it. The thief almost reached out as if waking from a dream. He had never been one for histories, but the rise and fall of nations were in her tale, and even the sand beneath their feet seemed to stir as if in awe of the majesty of ages past. Amal was a reaver, slayer, murderer, and thief, but the last was the greatest of his talents. What manner of thief would he be if he did not steal the greatest jewel of the land? His eyes snapped back to reality and regarded the pythoness, realizing he had almost fallen for her honeyed words. Stygians were ever a danger to those they put into their schemes or portents, and he did not trust her. He considered his options, and realized it would be far wiser to heed his perspicacity and cut her throat here, letting this legend die with her black blood spilled in this loney tower. And yet greed was too great of a seductress to him, and he was hungry for her despite his misgivings. "My wont is to enter places I cannot go and and stand in places no man can. I have seen the serpent temples of your country, sorceress, though your kind did not know it. I saw what lay there, though I dare not speak it. I have been to the Scarlet Citadel of Koth, and escaped its clutches unscathed, though it nearly took my life." He looked at the blade of his knife as he spoke, the steel gleaming in the light of the moon. The light illuminated his dread eyes, the orbs as sharp as his whalebone dagger. Beneath them, men had come out to bandy and drink, shouting to one another in their differing tongues and laughing with great mirth. Even the most remote places in Xarames had men stumble upon it, when taken to drink. The only dangers in the city were of Amal's ilk. A knife in the dark or poison in your cup. But beneath the Emir's palace, perhaps there were more dangers than those that men could pose. He would find out, he knew. "I will play the role of what you say I am. I will take the jewel and more besides, but if you betray me, I will open your belly and leave you to bleed." He warned. Amal knew the Witch-Priestess knew the price for betrayal regardless, but he wished to make it clear. He stood up from his menacing crouch, and with a deft twist imperceptible to the eye his knife was sheathed within his shagreen belt, swathed within a softer sash that no doubt hid further dangers. "Does your prophecy tell us of an entrance, or must I find one?"</s>
<\|description\|>Abelard Fhundil Race: Koth Backstory: His parents labeled as pagans and heathens during one of the many inquisitions in the Kingdom of Aquilonia, Abelard was taken in swaddling clothes back to his mother's homeland of Koth. They grew up poor and in squalor, until Koth's secret alliance with Nemedia was discovered when Abelard was a young man. His father helped Koth by giving information of the homeland and gave them a decent living on the outerlying areas of Strabonus' Palace. One day when he was a young boy, Abelard exploring the palace grounds found a secret chamber in the catacombs where a priest was worshiping the God Asura. Instead of killing him, as the priest almost did, he took Abelard under his wing and taught him of dark secrets beyond the veil. In hushed whispers, he grew as a man of the Asuran faith, practicing what little sorcery he was able to as the years passed and various coups rose and fell. After his master was discovered as a traitor priest to the God Ishtar, he was executed while Alebard was on campaign with the army as a sergeant, a position gained by his father's loyalty. Once they came back, he discovered the execution and took what supplies and scribes he could and fled without a word, traveling from the wilderness of the Picts to Iranistan. Luckily, he received a tip from a prostitute on where an ancient tomb lay in the desert.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil There was no dark magic in her voice, and yet Amal could see the jewels of the outer void. Their glimmer in the light of the moon and the mesmerizing glint that begged for his fingers to grasp it. The thief almost reached out as if waking from a dream. He had never been one for histories, but the rise and fall of nations were in her tale, and even the sand beneath their feet seemed to stir as if in awe of the majesty of ages past. Amal was a reaver, slayer, murderer, and thief, but the last was the greatest of his talents. What manner of thief would he be if he did not steal the greatest jewel of the land? His eyes snapped back to reality and regarded the pythoness, realizing he had almost fallen for her honeyed words. Stygians were ever a danger to those they put into their schemes or portents, and he did not trust her. He considered his options, and realized it would be far wiser to heed his perspicacity and cut her throat here, letting this legend die with her black blood spilled in this loney tower. And yet greed was too great of a seductress to him, and he was hungry for her despite his misgivings. "My wont is to enter places I cannot go and and stand in places no man can. I have seen the serpent temples of your country, sorceress, though your kind did not know it. I saw what lay there, though I dare not speak it. I have been to the Scarlet Citadel of Koth, and escaped its clutches unscathed, though it nearly took my life." He looked at the blade of his knife as he spoke, the steel gleaming in the light of the moon. The light illuminated his dread eyes, the orbs as sharp as his whalebone dagger. Beneath them, men had come out to bandy and drink, shouting to one another in their differing tongues and laughing with great mirth. Even the most remote places in Xarames had men stumble upon it, when taken to drink. The only dangers in the city were of Amal's ilk. A knife in the dark or poison in your cup. But beneath the Emir's palace, perhaps there were more dangers than those that men could pose. He would find out, he knew. "I will play the role of what you say I am. I will take the jewel and more besides, but if you betray me, I will open your belly and leave you to bleed." He warned. Amal knew the Witch-Priestess knew the price for betrayal regardless, but he wished to make it clear. He stood up from his menacing crouch, and with a deft twist imperceptible to the eye his knife was sheathed within his shagreen belt, swathed within a softer sash that no doubt hid further dangers. "Does your prophecy tell us of an entrance, or must I find one?"</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Sythemis let out a weird shuddering sigh as he sheathed the knife. Behind her the stars seemed to grow brighter and the moon seemed to pulse for a moment like a living heart. She wrapped her arms around the thief, the motion oddly devoid of human warmth despite the soft and pleasant feel of smooth skin. "There are more sources of wisdom than that which is whispered by the stars," she told him. The priestess opened her mouth and breathed, and something silvery and smelling of sharp spices came from her mouth like a hot breath on a winter's morning. Amal had time to stiffen before paralysis locked his limbs, and his vision dimmed down to the dark pinpricks of her eyes before finally going black. When Amal awoke he was in a dungeon. Heavy iron chain had been fastened around his wrists with cunning locks. The cell was small and barred with rods of rusted iron. Festering straw, rank with filth and death covered the floor. Screams could be heard in the distance, the eerie repetition of them bespeaking madness rather than simple pain. Torches of rancid fat guttered and burned in the hallway beyond like snapping dogs. The Black Cells were immediately recognizable from legend, even if few had ever returned to describe them. The Emir's personal dungeons, deep beneath his spire. "Awake is it," a paunchy jailor asked. He had a lazy eye and a wound on his right cheek that constantly leaked some foul-smelling exudate. He cuffed at it with a filthy tunic sleeve. "The last two she brought down here died without waking," the jailers told him conversationally. "I guess this means we will have some time to have fun with you before we take your tongue and your fingers," he went on brightly. The plump man got up and hurled a chicken bone he had been gnawing on at Amal. It struck him on the chest and dropped to the floor. "That's your dinner, you should enjoy it while you still have teeth to chew," the jailer advised, the pulled up his torch and headed off down the hallway, the light fading until Amal was left in near total darkness.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil What he had initially taken as a carnal endeavor had turned into somehow both a fitful and yet deep sleep. He had let his guard down, and while he hadn't paid the ultimate price, it was a hefty one. His body ached, but he still had strength in him. He spat venomous curses at the woman, wanting nothing more than to get his hands on her, and not for anything pleasant. He had gotten out of worse, though this one had particularly caught him off-guard. Amal swore he would get out of here, and when he did he would do as he said and opened her belly with his knife. Amal looked at the man as he casually tossed him a chicken bone, seeing the sneer and watching him walk away into the dank halls of the dreaded cells. As the moments passed, he felt his wrath go from overwhelming to a distant simmer, and he could think more clearly. The fat gaoler had a point. He slid his foot out of its sandal, and he felt around on the floor until his heel bumped into the chicken bone. Sliding the object between his big toe and secondary one, he lifted his leg up by its side and bit into the bone a dozen times with his molars until it snapped in half. He coughed and spat out the lesser side, and arched his back to reach his foot above his head, limber as the apes that lurked south of Kush. He did not know precisely how long he worked at the lock, but he knew the usual shemite mechanisms, and eventually the sharpened bone served as a suitable lock-pick. He felt success flood into him as the manacle snapped open, and he grinned evilly. He placed the bone in his freed hand and picked the lock of the other, and it was during this that he smelled something rotten and awful, followed by a raspy voice of one who seemed on the brink of dehydration. "What know you of the Serpent woman?" It asked. Amal looked to where he heard the voice. A lean, gangly old man with a wispy beard gripped the bars and looked at him with sullen eyes. He looked so malnourished and weaselly, Amal felt a strong breeze would break his bones and rip the beard off his pointed chin. He looked at Amal as if he was the key to the world's redemption, and it both disturbed and confused the cutthroat. The smell, he realized, was from the old man's mouth. "Know you the secret of what she seeks?" "What I know is she will die," Amal promised softly as his next manacle popped open. The bone was still sharp, and so he kept it in his hand as he got to his feet, the thews of his limbs were as ready as the day he had first murdered a man. "Do not get in my way, elder, or you will be first." "All die, thief." He croaked, reaching for Amal as if he could touch him from across the cells. "But there is more to you and the priestess. More you have yet to finish. But my task is done, though my spirit yearns for life." His last word ended in a long breath, and to Amal's horror, snakes began to slither out of the aged vagabond, his mouth, nostrils, and ears like venom pits, and his form went from lean to naught but bones and skin like rags. Amal stepped away from the spent corpse, and to his left he suddenly noticed the door to his cell was open. The old man was not reaching for Amal, but the door. He had opened it, somehow. The serpents coiled away into the darkness as Amal felt a chill run up his spine.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter There was only one way up from the Black Cells. It wound up a set of basalt stairs, cut too tall for the easy tread of men, though whether to allow the egress of fouler things, or simply to make the passage harder was unclear. The stairs opened onto a room paved with the most intricate mosaic Amal could imagine. It seemed the whole of the city was picked out in tiny tiles of white ceramic, the variations from ivory to a dull brown barely enough to provide contrast. Amal realized they were human fingerbones, cut and polished flat. In the center of the room, perhaps thirty paces away, a man in a snow white robe and a blindfold as black as night sat cross legged. Here, where the Tower would have been, the fingerbones lost their flat cross section and regained themselves reaching up to grasp at the mans legs like drowning victims reaching for a hand. It was very bright, moonlight shafting down from some place impossibly far above through some clever trick of mirrors and engineering. The whole tableau seemed to glow like the stars on fresh snowfall. "Welcome thief," the robed figure said and lifted his left hand. Tendrils of light whipped around Amal's wrists and thighs. They were no solid thing but they burned like fire. Smaller tendrils spread out from their parents, coiling and hooking. "Long have I pondered the secret of the old man, and long have I wondered what this so called Stygian priestess sought. I have long known that she bent the ear of the Emir with her filthy trickery but to what end I had not yet divined," he stated, making a gesture that lifted Amal into the air. The pain grew more intense, like standing too close to a fire that was flaring hotter and hotter. "Little wonder a fool such as you should choose to aid her. You all see only how she appears on the outside, but a pleasant curve can hide things that a man might not want to see. Shall I tell you? You are after all going to die so the secret does you no good, and perhaps it might bring you some extra measure of torment in hell? Well…" The man's voice suddenly cut off as a red line appeared from ear to ear. For a moment the man seemed shocked. Then the red line began to pour down his white robe in a torrent of blood, soaking the pristine fabric in moments. "You always talked too much Antiachus," Sythemeis stated. Her hand gripped the white robed man's cowl and the knife in her hand sawed back and forth, the edge grating against the bone. The fingers on the ground spasmed as blood rained down upon them and their color darkened to black. The ebon hue began to spread from tile to tile like dye poured into clear water. The fiery ropes of light holding the thief aloft vanished as the old man, the Wizard Antiachus, coughed his death rattle. The priestess had not succeded in severing the head, despite her strenuous effort so she let the ruined corpse fall forward into the embrace of grasping fingerbones. "Run!" she called to Amal as the stain spread. "You must reach this side of the chamber without touching the black, move, for your soul dont tarry!"</s>	<\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil Amal loathed sorcery. Somehow he had become engrossed with cabals of rival mystics, and he wanted nothing more to be gone from here. Or, nothing more save the jewel, and perhaps even the woman still if she proved faithful and as useful as she just was. By Bel, he would find the truth of this! The daring thief ran forward as the blackness spread, some of the liquid pouring down creases in the tiling but remained off the face of the tiles for the moment, giving him small islands to hop on. He leaped like a puncing jackal, and with the black quickly encircling him, he made a desperate jump to the left. A normal man of comfortable living would have hit the wall and broken bone, but Amal landed on the sandstone and planted his feet as if he were right-side up, and launched himself off the wall like the spring of a lock. He spun mid-air and landed roughly against the solid surface of the ground at Sythemis's feet. He bled from a small wound on his leg, naught but a scrape but he grunted from the pain and rose before her. Beside them, Antiachus's body lay still and bleeding uncontrollably, and the two thieves fled the room into the following tunnel. It was a dark corridor of dim torches and the screaming faces of demons carved into the walls. "This way," Sythemis said, but she did not make it two steps before her slender throat was grabbed and she was shoved into the wall. Amal's eyes were not cold like they had been at the tower. Here they blazed with wrath, the torch-light dancing along his rippling muscles that were even now poised to snap her neck if she made a move. "Using me, I can understand. Even respect. But throwing me into this pit without warning me first would have been your death had you not just saved me there." He told her, his voice like iron. Amal was clearly not a wizard or sorcerer of any kind, for if he could manifest his will, she would have burst into flame. "It will not save you again." He let her go, and gestured with a small tilt of his head for her to continue. Bel curse him, he did enjoy seeing her walk before him, despite his rage.</s>
<\|description\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Race: Aesir Bio: Anya was born on the frozen glaciers of Asgard, the only child of the famous smith Soren Danicson. Anya was the surviving child of a pair of twins, her brother dying during childbirth. Her icy white hair, already present at birth marked her as particularly fated (for good or ill) by Ymir the Frost Giant. The shaman of the village counseled the heart broken Soren not to despair over his fallen son, and that the child's shade might yet enter Valhalla through the deeds of his sister Anya. Although women were not typically called upon to bear arms, Anya's unique doom made her a special case. From the time she could work Soren trained his daughter in all the arts of war as well as in his smith craft. By the time she was ten should could run for a full day without rest and hold her own with sword, axe or spear as well as any man of eighteen summers. She wen't on her first raid against the Vanir at age sixteen and distinguished herself as a skilled and ruthless warrior. Over the succeeding years she became a champion and a war leader, leading her own raiding parties west into Vanirheim and south against the Cummorians. She developed a reputation for attacking unexpectedly, particularly in bad weather and in the snow, and savagely pressing the attack until the enemy was shattered. When Soren Danicson was mortally wounded in a battle in the Cummorian marches, he told his daughter that the night before he had dreamed of Ymir the Frost Giant and that the time had come for her to venture out of Asgard and find the doom she had been promised. Anya left before her fathers body was cold, working her way south towards an uncertain goal, selling her sword and following the charnel call of the ravens.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter The only good wizard was a dead wizard. Anya Sorensdaughter had lived with those words from her first memories. Years of travel had provided scant contradiction to the old adage. Priest and sorcerers would bable about their arts and the mighty feats they would work, but however mighty they might be Anya had yet to meet one whose belly would repel a sharp blade. Skavi the Black was a wizard, she had sought him out in far of Asgard, retracing her blood soaked steps through Aquillonia and Cummoria to the familiar snowfields of her home. There, in the frozen north, at the head of a vast glacier she had found Skavi's cave and faced the phantoms he conjured to protect it. For all their terrors they too had been bested by the cold steel of her sword, forged under the light of the winter moon and quenched in the Tears of Ymir where the glacial ice had smoked and sizzled around the red hot iron for a day and a night. Such was the craft of Soren Danicson and of his daughter whom men called Anya. In these lands she was an aberration. Even here, where men with sharp swords and hard hearts would always find welcome, there were few Aesir, and in all the world, there was only one Anya Sorensdaughter. Among the Aesir, those blond haired and blue eyed reavers of the frozen north, it was not customary for women to go to war, nor to travel beyond the steps of Cummoria and south to the sweltering kingdoms below the desolate hills of that grim country. That Anya had done both spoke much of her unique character. She was short for her kind, though she towered over all but the tallest southerners, with hair of a blond so pale it seemed a snowy white in the sun and picked up the character of the light in all other settings. A mark of Ymir's interest most assuredly, though that was rarely a good or a happy accolade. Ymir was not like the soft gods of the south, to be wheeled with and placated by the endless mouthing of empty prayers. Her beauty too was that of the ice, hard planes and angular bones which no rogue pot could tame. Her body was slender but wound with whipcord tight muscles which gave her the constant and unnerving appearance of a wolf about to pounce. There had been men who had thought she might fetch a fine price on the slavers block. The had regretted their mistake. Briefly. Kafir was alive on this muggy evening. Citizens bustled about on business or in revel, some animated by they new not what, simply a feeling that this was a time to be alive and doing. Armed men, mercenaries hired by the prince of this sprawling city of adobe houses and high walls of sun bleached stone, patrolled or, more frequently, staggered and caroused according to their wont. These were troubled times, and though the Kolaks and their bands of raiders mounted on wiry southern ponies were always a threat, there was little they could do against steel guarded stone. Perhaps the prince simply felt better with men under arms than in the pay of his enemies, which was a wise enough strategy when plague and disorders stalked the land. A few of them leveled speculative glances at Anya, but the long sword of pale blue steel, the mail of tightly woven links, and the short hafted axe at her belt convinced them to find more congenial targets for whatever entertainment they had planned. With his dying words Skavi had sent her her, screamed as the ice that had fallen on him slowly crushed the life from his body. The answer to the question of whether the shade of Soren Danicson had entered Valhalla. No. That her father had died in battle she was certain, having held his spear pierced body in her arms, but his shade appeared to her in dreams when the moon was full and the wind was cold, and so she had sought out Skavi the Black and he had told her, through his cracked and bleeding, of the curse that the Vanir shaman had laid upon her father. That such a black rite should exist at all astonished her and she could not abide that the shade of her father should be held by such a trick. The shaman had been slain by a spear of mistletoe fashioned with the blackened bones of Soren Danicson, all that remained was for the blood of the Shaman and the blood of Soren Danicson to be smeared upon the Opal of Vulkur, that Ymir might know that he had been cheated of a soul by base trickery and Soren Danicson might take his place in the halls of Valhalla. For Anya's part, she was eager to be done with the company of shades. The gem had been lost long ago, stolen by the mighty thief Paven, who had carried it from the crown of the slumbering High King Wulfric in full view of his court. It had passed through many hands since then, but Anya, guided by Skavi the Black's dying words, had come to this place and found the thief who called himself Ibn-vakir. The Iristanian claimed to know where the jewel lay and promised to reveal the information to her in exchange for a fortune in gold. Anya didn't have a fortune in gold, but she suspected that her sword pressed to his genitals would prove equally persuasive. She reached the dockside where they were to meet, nose wrinkling at the smell of human filth and the spicy scent of exotic timbers. This was the thieves quarter of Kafir and she could expect Ibn-vakir to know every bolt hole and back alley. She needed to be quick and clever. As she neared the appointed rendezvous she caught sight of another man, hooded and cloaked. Perhaps she was not the only taker for what the accursed thief was selling.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil The fumes bothered Abelard little, having smelled far worse during his campaigning. There was little that smelled worse than feces and vomit mixed with blood, and mercifully the sewers were filled with mostly just the former. Grey eyes saw a tall, lithe figure stride into his field of view. A northern woman, gleaming white and gold among a land of filth and darkness. She seemed as dangerous as any man in the city, but he didn't foresee her taking any action against him. She seemed a wolf on the hunt, merely curious and stumbling upon a traveler by happenstance. He removed his blood-red hood, his face hard set and weathered. With his black beard and rough skin, he looked a decade older than his thirty two years of life. Asura's blessings had cost him much of his youthful vigor, an ardent contrast to Set and Ahriman who rewarded their followers with the pleasures and powers of this world at the expense of their very souls. Gripping his staff and turning, he spoke to her. The first time in three days he had chosen to utter any words. "You enter a den of serpents and rogues, Asgardian. Go back to the frozen white north what spawned you. You will fine ne'er but misery here by my reckoning." He intoned, his manner recondite and shadowed. His words paled compared to the shadow of those that watched from above, black clad and swords drawn, waiting in the deep to plunge their blades into the bosom of the two traveler's chests. Ibn-vakir had betrayed them and sought the favor of this land's new master known as the Bandit Kazim. Word had spread the nomadic tribes had flocked under one banner, coalescing at the central Vilayet river in the deep wilderness. Or so the stories foretold. The tribesmen were great horse archers and wild lancers famed the world over on ponies that frothed at the mouth, joined by ebony spearmen from Kush clad in naught by cloth. Soon the horde, now perhaps hiring mercenaries with their plundered gold, would be a horde of thundering steel that threatened to trample the province into the dirt. Wailing spirits of lamentation danced around Abelard's staff, visible only to he. He was used to see them, but only when great violence was about to be wrought. He placed his hand on the ivory hilt of his sword, his subtle facial twitch showcasing he was wary of attackers from behind. Coiled like serpents, the assassin's sprung near silently, leaping from the rafters. They found nothing but mist as they landed on the ground as nimble as apes, Abelard disappearing into nothingness. The Priest of Asura stepped out of the shadows behind Anya, sword in his hand. As they approached, the dozen men eyed the warrior woman the same as the priest. "They seem to be after you as well."</s>	<\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter It would seem that Ibn-vakir was less of a fool than Anya had taken him for. A dozen men rushed into the small courtyard, leaping down from the high flat celings of nearby building and rushing from the maze of blind twisting alleys. The wore the tawny robes of local peasants, though in many cases the bulged unnaturally, betraying the presence of mail or leather armor beneath. The priest trick saved his life and Anya felt a slight pang of disappointment, she did not despise trickery, for the mind should be as sharp as any sword, but magic in any form made her lips curl. "Perhaps priestling," she observed, "I should return to Ymirheim and leave you to your reckoning." The assassins milled for a moment before catching sight of her and surging forward. "But I think, perhaps I won't," she concluded before throwing her head back and bellowing a blood curdling warcry. Without a moments hesitation she ripped her axe from her belt and swept it up through the jaw of the nearest attacker, sending the man twitching and spasming to the round as the life fled from his ruined body along with blood and brain matter. With a flick of her wrist she reversed the grip on the use worn grip of the weapon and hurled it overhanded into the chest of a scraggly bearded rogue with a rusted spear, the impact knocking the man from his feet and filling the air with the metallic rip of shattered mail. In the half second breathing space the throw brought her she pulled her sword from the leather sheath across her back. The bluish metal sang as it slid free of the leather, its point glinting in the moonlight. She didn't unsling the wood and leather shield with its raven device, for the courtyard was too cramped to allow for more than a sword and the will to use it. With a ululating cry she darted forward leaping the bodies which still twitched in the dusty street, planting a foot on a pile of stacked timber and spring boarding high into the air. Another of the attackers lifted his sword to fend of her strike, but the massive double handed blow with all her weight behind it, shattered the cheap iron of the scimitar like a hammer striking ice. Anya's blade struck him on the left shoulder, severing his arm at a downward angle starting at his collar bone in a spray of blood. She hit the ground in a crouch with one hand outstretched to spread the impact, the sword in her free hand slashing her across the hamstring of one of the thieves who had been too slow to react to the unexpected attack. The man dropped to the ground screaming and clutching at his crippled leg, crimson blood seeping between his dark fingers. Screams echoed through the thieves quarter as Anya straightened, her eyes a light with the exstacy of battle. "Come rogues!" she bellowed, "let us see if the men of Iridistan are good for anything other than cheating at dice!"</s>
<\|description\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Race: Aesir Bio: Anya was born on the frozen glaciers of Asgard, the only child of the famous smith Soren Danicson. Anya was the surviving child of a pair of twins, her brother dying during childbirth. Her icy white hair, already present at birth marked her as particularly fated (for good or ill) by Ymir the Frost Giant. The shaman of the village counseled the heart broken Soren not to despair over his fallen son, and that the child's shade might yet enter Valhalla through the deeds of his sister Anya. Although women were not typically called upon to bear arms, Anya's unique doom made her a special case. From the time she could work Soren trained his daughter in all the arts of war as well as in his smith craft. By the time she was ten should could run for a full day without rest and hold her own with sword, axe or spear as well as any man of eighteen summers. She wen't on her first raid against the Vanir at age sixteen and distinguished herself as a skilled and ruthless warrior. Over the succeeding years she became a champion and a war leader, leading her own raiding parties west into Vanirheim and south against the Cummorians. She developed a reputation for attacking unexpectedly, particularly in bad weather and in the snow, and savagely pressing the attack until the enemy was shattered. When Soren Danicson was mortally wounded in a battle in the Cummorian marches, he told his daughter that the night before he had dreamed of Ymir the Frost Giant and that the time had come for her to venture out of Asgard and find the doom she had been promised. Anya left before her fathers body was cold, working her way south towards an uncertain goal, selling her sword and following the charnel call of the ravens.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter The sun rose over far of Kosala, spreading across the Iranistani steppe to reveal two riders forging their way north towards the distant white capped daggers of the Ilbar Mountains. In the spring snow melt from those mountains would rush downwards in mighty torrents, wending its way towards the sea in a network of shallow creeks and rocky gullies that for most of the rest of the year ran at but a trickle. Like all steppe-land it was the preserve of nomadic headers rather than farmers, with herdsmen moving their flocks of goats or horned sheep from water source to watercourse with the season. Dawn had bought a few smuts of smoke from neglected cook-fires but from horizon to horizon no soul could be seen save for the two riders. That wasn't to say they weren't here of course. The steppe looked flat to a new comer, but deep gullies and short canyons could be concealed by the waving grass and a traveler might pass within bow shot and never know it until an arrow plucked them from the saddle. The pair had set out from Kafir after midnight on fine roan horses which the Priest had purchased with coin which had impressed even Anya with its variety of denominations. The solution had been cleaner than her own plan of stealing the beasts, and as Abelard pointed out, lacked the problem of potential pursuit. As the Priest had said, the fact that Ibn-vakir had sent men to killed him argued for the veracity of his information, why else spend the hundred silver drachma to engage the Guild of Thieves to murder them? They had ridden as hard as they dared across such uncertain terrain, there was little doubt that news of the assassins failure would reach their paymasters in due time. They could hope it was carried by a horseman and not upon the wings of ravens or some other sorcery. Anya had made her name as a raider by riding hard and relentlessly and coming at her opponents unexpectedly. She saw little reason to change the habit of a lifetime now. They drove on towards the headwaters of the River Ashan where the faithless thief had bragged that he had seen the fable Opal, though hadn't dared risk its retrieval. How it had come to rest in such a land, so far from the northern glaciers of its birth was lost to the knowledge of men, though perhaps, not that of Gods. Of their purposes they spoke little. Anya was unsure of exactly why her companion sought the jewel, perhaps only as any man seeks a thing that is vaulable, and of her own quest she had spoken only evasively. The peace between them was yet uneasy. "Smoke!" Anya called as they cantered across a low shale bedded creek, their horses kicking up shimmering spray in the early morning sun. She pointed to a low dome of haze beyond a small hill more or less along their path. It was too significant to be a single cookfire.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil Abelard reined in his roan, the beast whinnying lightly in the crisp morning air. Anya and he had been riding through the night with barely a word passing between them once they had mounted the horses. He found he believed her story and her virtue, however. Her manner against her assassins and they way she moved had a surety to it that spoke of honesty. Perhaps it was the soldier in him, or the still very earthly mind of his that led him to trust her motives. But he knew, somehow, Asura had not spoken of her. Her vision was correct, he saw a large pillar of smoke rising into the sky. It stood as a black line against the newly risen sun. Abelard dismounted, advising it was best they left their horses here tethered to what roots they could find. The two did so and drew their blades, creeping out of the creek-bed towards the signs of what Abelard knew to be their quarry, even if it were not what they truly sought. Advancing swiftly, they found a small rise that spoke of a sheer drop just before them. The two crouched and almost crawled toward the edge what seemed to be a large, dried waterway. Beneath them more than a score of men spoke and drank and ate a hearty breakfast, devouring the ribs of a great boar they had slaughtered likely the day before. Iranistanian Horse nomads with their scalemail cuirasses and their strange spiked helms wrapped in cloth, sallow skinned and stout builds grunting in their rugged tongue. They looked armed for war, their horses tied to a small copse of trees within earshot. The nomads had made two cookfires separate from Ibn-vakir and four Stygian giants. Head and shoulders taller than any nomad, the giants were armed with iron tipped spears and shields made of wood and bronze. Queer torques of Set lay on their bare chests, splattered with the grog they drank greedily beside their fire. Their belts were inlaid with gold and Ibn-vakir wore a similar belt and torque atop his rogueish garb. Abelard nearly surged upwards to curse Ibn-vakir to the Gods, but he held himself for what he saw next. Past the dried inlet was a structure, swept in style as the cloth atop the horsemen's helms. The opening was alien in design. Nearly perpendicular but many layered in stone, like the opening of a flower or the folds of a woman that so drove men mad. Abelard had seen sketches of such structures before in his studies that bespoke it a remnant of the Acheron Empire. It looked to have been rebuilt in an Iranistanian style and then buried in sand from some wild storm, only to have finally been revealed again. "We cannot take rash action," Abelard whispered to his fellow traveler. He spoke to himself just as much as the Northern woman. The priest likely seemed a coward to the fierce warrior, but his only goal was to keep the Opal out of wicked hands.</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter "These are Khaseem Bai's men," Anya muttered pointing to a red banner that fluttered from a spear that was thrust into the earth. The silken flag was emblazoned with a black lions head that almost seemed to snap and snarl as the wind worked the fabric. Khaseem Bai was a name much on the tongues of the Iristani. It was said that he had come down from the deserts beyond the Ilbar mountains after the tribes of that inhospitable waste had put aside their ancient blood feuds to drive the renegade from their sands. Since that time he had preyed on the caravans and herdsmen of the step, snatching up city-dwellers and ransoming them for supplies and silver. It was said, among the hokah dens and drinking houses of Kafir, that no blade had ever drawn blood from Khaseem Bai and that he was protected by black and malign spirits. It did not surprise Anya that it had been he who had sent assassin's to kill them after learning Ibn-vakir had sold the same goods three times. "If they know their footpads have failed they don't show it," Anya observed. Indeed, the mood in the camp was alert but the men did not seem alarmed. As she watched a paunchy man hauled a cauldron of soup from the fire and bawled something unintelligible from this distance. The various cut throats ambled towards him to take their mourning meal. "Strange, I don't see Khaseem Bai among them," Anya noticed, her keen eyes having finished their survey of the camp. "Indeed you do not," came a deep basso voice from behind them. Anya whirled her hand going to her blade but freezing as the point of a spear pressed against her throat. Two similar weapons were leveled at Abelard. The men holding them had the dark sun burned skin of desert tribesmen and the hooked noses and slightly slanted eyes of the lands beyond the Ilbar mountains. Their leader was a muscular man in a tunic of white silk. His eyes were dark and burned bright with intelligence and his face was handsome in a brooding way. His legs were covered with armor of tooled leather that gripped the side of a galloping horse so a man could use the short recurve bows in fashion in these parts. The thugs with him were dressed less finely, but Anya wagered all of them were veterans who had come south with Khaseem Bai. The must have snuck around them through some hidden ravine, though they had done so with so little sound that even Anya's razor keen senses had been deceived. "But do not worry," he said with a formal bow that would not have been out of place in the court of Aquilonia, "Khaseem Bai sees you."</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil A strong east wind blew over the desolate earth as Abelard raised his hands in supplication, having dropped his sword and staff. The light of the newly risen sun glinted off the spearheads, their edges sharpened to pierce both flesh and mail. A cry of curious demand in Stygian rose behind them. The two were quickly relieved of their weapons and taken to the camp below to be surrounded by harsh lancers, ebony tribesmen of fierce strength, and towering thugs of stygian strain. Out of the crowd poked Ibn-vakir who was short enough to step through the legs of one of the giants. He spread a smile of teeth the color of mule piss save for the missing teeth so far not replaced with any wealth. Two of the nomads had brought forth a wooden chair covered in skins that Khaseem Bai reclined upon, sitting as arrogantly as if he were the newly crowned king of Iranistan. In one hand he held his spear while in the other he nipped at an apple unfamiliarly, the fruit a strange sight in this unforgiving land. No doubt a sign of his fortune and prestige. He must be drunk on his own power if he thought that would intimidate Abelard and particularly the warrioress Anya. Even though he attempted to keep earthly matters from his mind, Abelard fretted the imminent fear of death in equal measure to how the smell of the pork churned his stomach. "How strange to find such two foreign jackals." Ibn-vakir said. His smile spread like the plague with his mustached pulled along as well. "Better kill these two quickly, my lord. We cannot have word getting out on the location of the Opal." Abelard laughed suddenly, one of the first times he had shown any emotion since meeting Anya. He grinned as feircely as any cimmerian barbarian. "You little fool, Ibn-vakir. You did not think we would ever meet with your precious master, did you? Khaseem Bai you are called? This one had already given me the location of the Opal, and had promised to deliver the same to this one beside me. He then wished to join the winning side and lied to you, telling you we were already in pursuit of the prize. He wished for your assassins to silence us, so that you may never learned he attempted to buy your trust with deceit." Ibn-vakir paled, the grog in his stomach finally wearing off on his mind. Khaseem Bai's face, at ease before, was now a mask of fury and disgust. With a simple wave of his hand he had two of the giants grab Ibn-vakir the wretch. "No master! He lies!" The thief shrieked in terror as he was rooted into the ground. Almost ritualistically, and it likely was knowing Set's laws, one of the giants took his belt knife and cut open Ibn-vakir's stomach. Blood and bile and a putrid stench erupted from his torn open belly. The thief sank to his knees, eyes wide opened in death. Despite himself, Abelard found it satisfying. His claim had also been a bluff without divine intervention, but seeing as Khaseem Bai did not correct him, his bluff had been correct and the warlord's side of the claims were confirmed plausible.</s>	<\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Khaseem Bai watched the execution without much interest before turning back to his two prisoners. His eyes were dark and intelligent and had a pragmatic cruelty about them as he measured each of them. "Well one of the two of you looks fearsome enough to have given the Thieves Guild pause," he declared. Anya relaxed ever so slightly. It would be better to die fighting than to be killed in chains but it seemed that the bandit lord had other plans for them, else he would scarcely bother to keep them alive. "As it happens without Ibn-vakir I will require someone to guide me to my treasure, perhaps..." he drew a long knife from his belt and tossed it into the dirt between the two prisoners, "the survivor would be interested in such a position?" Anya glanced sidelong at the priest, perhaps she could kill him before he could employ his arts, perhaps not, but either way it seemed of little matter. By herself it would be difficult, perhaps impossible to overcome Khaseem Bai and his men, and much as she hated to admit it, Abelard could be an ally to her in that. "Lord," she said in his own tongue, with which she had a passing familiarity from time spent as a pirate up in Villayet, "I could cut this whelps throat as you ask, but what if Ibn-vakir told lies to all of us, perhaps together we have enough of the truth to pass the traps he described and reach the Opal." Kasseem frowned, arching a dark eyebrow. "Traps?" he asked, it wasn't clear if he believed the Aesir woman, but there was enough uncertainty in his voice that she knew she had him. "There are three traps Lord," she proclaimed, confident for all that these traps existed, so far as she knew entirely in her imagination. "Fool!" Abelard broke in, "There are five traps each more fiendish than the last! I learned of them in my study and I make Ibn-vakir tell me what he knew of them!"</s>
<\|description\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Race: Aesir Bio: Anya was born on the frozen glaciers of Asgard, the only child of the famous smith Soren Danicson. Anya was the surviving child of a pair of twins, her brother dying during childbirth. Her icy white hair, already present at birth marked her as particularly fated (for good or ill) by Ymir the Frost Giant. The shaman of the village counseled the heart broken Soren not to despair over his fallen son, and that the child's shade might yet enter Valhalla through the deeds of his sister Anya. Although women were not typically called upon to bear arms, Anya's unique doom made her a special case. From the time she could work Soren trained his daughter in all the arts of war as well as in his smith craft. By the time she was ten should could run for a full day without rest and hold her own with sword, axe or spear as well as any man of eighteen summers. She wen't on her first raid against the Vanir at age sixteen and distinguished herself as a skilled and ruthless warrior. Over the succeeding years she became a champion and a war leader, leading her own raiding parties west into Vanirheim and south against the Cummorians. She developed a reputation for attacking unexpectedly, particularly in bad weather and in the snow, and savagely pressing the attack until the enemy was shattered. When Soren Danicson was mortally wounded in a battle in the Cummorian marches, he told his daughter that the night before he had dreamed of Ymir the Frost Giant and that the time had come for her to venture out of Asgard and find the doom she had been promised. Anya left before her fathers body was cold, working her way south towards an uncertain goal, selling her sword and following the charnel call of the ravens.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil "Silence dogs!" Khaseem Bai spat, raising his fist. Were he to swing it down the order would be met to execute them both on the spot. "If you do not wish to wander the desert without eyes or tongues then you will speak when I permit it! Do not be so foolish as to think you are so valuable as not to maim." He grimaced a moment further like a tiger that watches a receding bear. His devil-may-care manner returned once silence reigned once again. "You will both lead at spear point. Have I any inkling that you will betray me, if we cannot kill you we will seal you within the tomb, understand?" Abelard and Anya did not immediately answer, though he took that as an acquiesce to his command and he grinned as a snarling lion. "Good. Now priest, lead the way into the tomb with the northern bitch close to your heels." The thieves watched expectantly as the two regarded one another, and they turned to the ancient Acheron structure. Abelard approached it warily, eyeing the opening. He looked at Khaseem Bai, holding his hands together as if to beg forgiveness. "My staff?" He bade. "To better serve your desire of entering. I will give it back once I open the hole." The bandit lord measured him and nodded. One of the Stygian Giants tossed Abelard his staff, which he caught promptly and placed on the ground. There was an audible 'thud' when it touched the sand, as if the staff weighed far, far more than it conceivably could. Anya could perceive a tingle of power emanating from the rod, and through the top jewel the sunlight poured through and struck the Acheron opening through the center. As the light penetrated into the strange slit, the stone began to move with a deliberate slowness that shoved great rends of sand in the earth around it. "He has done it." One of the bandits muttered. "No, I have not." Abelard answered boldly, and all eyes turned to him with sudden incredulity. He smiled calmly, with a certain satisfaction to him. "I opened it, but in an incorrect manner." "What!?" Khaseem Bai snarled, confused. His curiosity would be sated in moments when the door, now gaping wide like a vast wound, spewed forth three unknown shadow beasts from within. Demons, Abelard knew them to be. Shaped like apes and as dark as the blackest night and as even larger than the Stygian Giants. He had foreseen their presence and purposefully awoke them. He placed his hand on Anya's shoulder, the sunlight still within his staff as the beasts moved quicker than any horse, loping over and attacking the band of cutthroats. Men screeched and pissed themselves as huge arms of abyssal matter wrapped about them and consumed their bodies and souls utterly. "The sun will banish them before long." Abelard whispered, eyeing the now unguarded door to the Acheron ruin. "Grab your sword and follow me!"</s> <\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Anya snatched up her sword and darted after the priest. The shrieks of the bandits were ghastly as the shadow beasts fell upon them, rending and tearing. Kaseem Bai hurled a dreadful curse at them as they fled and Anya pivoted smoothly to strike sparks as she batted away the warlords thrown dagger. It had been foolish of him to shout but she supposed it wasn't the worst mistake he had made this day. With a burst of speed she looped after the priest, deflecting a spear thrust from one of the wide eyed bandits and taking his throat with her riposte. The pair of them darted through the door of the ancient structure and Abelard raised his staff again. Stone shrieked as the ancient portal began to seal itself, not quickly but with the inexorable inevitability of a tide coming in, or a glacier sliding towards the ocean. The entry stones boomed together, abruptly cutting off the screams of dying bandits as completely as if they had existed only in the imagination of the listeners. "I'd give you my thanks priest," Anya said, pausing to spit towards the now sealed portal, "but I don't know if our situation is better or worse." "We are alive," Abelard replied austerly and turned towards the passageway ahead of them. The walls were of sandstone, smoothed but not built, as though it had once been a cave that had been laboriously polished to remove the worst of its irregularity. A thick mist filled it that reminded Anya of the unexplored jungles that stretched for uncounted miles in the lands beyond the forbidding southern borders of Stygia. There was something else on the air too, a faint taste of sulphur that put Anya in mind of the volcanic hotsprings of Trondhel or Aikanaborg. The mist was so thick they could see no more than a few feet infront of them as they edged their way down the passage until they found an opening. Anya had seen many things in her life that others might deem strange, but the sight before them was more incredible than any she had yet witnessed. The passage opened onto a lush fog shrouded jungle, the air so humid that water condensed in droplets on the tip of her blade. Vast trees reached up towards the sky and large leafed plants squatted at their bases. Strange animals called and hooted in the jungle and lizard like creatures skittered and leaped from the wrist thick vines which hung like spider webs. Vast columns of greenish soapstone reached upwards into the low hanging mist which was none the less illuminated by a sickly green yellow light beyond. There was no way that this place existed within the structure they had scene in the desert, either in scale or in the alien aspect of the jungle which was unlike anything Anya had scene. "By Wotan's eye," she marveled, staring in awe at the landscape before her.</s> <\|message\|>Abelard Fhundil At first Abelard considered this a dream or some wild vision granted by Asura. But his skin watered from the humid heat, feeling it course and rough to breathe in. He felt itchy from the brushing of the long fern-like grass, and the microscopic insects clinging to his ankles. The Priest had seen many wonders of the gods; vast cataclysms and eldritch spells given to him within visions and dreams. But what manner of magic this thing was, was daunting to his sensibilities. He sensed that the Opal was not far off, however, and that was what they would need to cling their hopes to. "Ware and steel yourself Barbarian woman," He said to her, clutching his staff in both hands now. Twisting his hands, the spike at the end protruded again and he changed his stance as if he held a spear, which he practically did. In the distance a grinding roar lifted in the air and a porcine squeal echoed. Abelard had heard tale of the great southern jungle cats thrice as large as a man, and felt their potential all too real at that moment. "Whether we are in the Black Lands south of dreaded Stygia or some nether realm, we must retrieve the Opal at all costs." The two of them crept warily, Abelard with his spear at the ready. Somehow he felt less suited to the situation that Anya, for the woman seemed just as home here as she likely was in the frozen north. Abelard nearly tripped over what he had perceived to be a log at one point, until he realized it was the midsection of an enormous python, resting in the brush. So large was it, it moved too sluggishly to give he or Anya any notice, and the two stepped over it carefully. Likely it was savoring a recent meal, which brought many uncomfortable questions they needn't dwell on. After cutting through thickly draped vines and undergrowth that clutched at their hips, the two of them burst into a clearing. Anya landing as any skilled warrior would, and Abelard moving like he preconceived where the correct places to step was to keep his footing. The jungle glade was about fifty square feet with turfts of exotic blades of grass mingled with dirt. Sunken bones of both man and beast jutted out of the soil. What was slightly more concerning and significant was the Opal of Power set upon a dias of tied bone at the very center.</s>	<\|message\|>Anya Sorensdaughter Saga 2: The Moon Thief --- It was a sweltering night in Xarame, but then all nights were sweltering in that desert city of rough yewn sandstone and faded adobe. Xarame crouched where the rocky foothills of the Khorhaja began to shoulder their way out of the sands of the Great Shem, eventually rising to block the way to distant Koth far to the north, save for the few passes on which caravans chanced themselves against bandits and storms for the hope of riches and wealth on one side or the other. The seven spires of the Caliph's palace rose into the moonlight, surrounded by the shorter towers of the cities hungry emirs. Many of those emirs would have built towers to dwarf those of the Caliph, but the difference between wealth and power was a sharp thing in Xarame, in ancient times an emir had tried to build such a tower only to find himself ground into the mortar of the palace while still living, or so the story went. Beyond the palace the city sprawled to its mighty stone walls and its crowning parapets like a wave that struck the edge of a great ocean. The buildings were less grand, slums in some places, but they bustled with trade. Textiles from Stygia, perfumes from Kush, gold and silk from Turan and the lands beyond came to Xarame to be exchange for iron work from Aquilonia, Nemedian wines and even ice diamonds and amber from distant Vannaheim. The great pulsing arteries of trade had made Xarame rich beyond the dreams of the humble shepeards who had founded the city in eons passed, so that it was said among the nations that even the beggars of Xarame ate of gold plate and bathed with frankincense. That wealth had bought with it a paranoia that others might seek to take what the city claimed as its own and so when rumor reached the Caliph that a great thief had come to Xareme to steal the Moon Stone which was his greatest treasure he was naturally concerned. "I have thwarted many such thieves mighty Caliph," the Stygian Woman proclaimed. Her name was Sythemis and she was a great beauty, round of hip and bosom with jet black hair that shone like lake water under starlight, with the full lips and dark eyes of ancient Stygia. In other lands she was known as the asp or the sand viper for a rumored fondness for poisons and supposed sorcerous arts. Like many she had answered the Caliphs call to protect his treasure until the great thief was apprehended. The Caliph leaned forward on his thrones, the thousand colors of his silken stole shimmering and the gold chain around his neck clicking as he did so. "You are a woman," he said sternly, "how can a woman accomplish such things?" There was a general murmer of approval from his courtiers, each draped in his own silk and jewelry, though each careful not to rival the Caliph, lest they find themselves in that jealous princes ill graces. They were not best pleased that the Caliph had chosen to bring in outsiders, even though the implication that their own guards might be corrupt was far from unfounded. "A man looks at another man as a threat," Sythemis said, taking no insult, "but what threat can a woman be?" The question had a playful edge, but as she spoke she lifted her hand and pinched the fingers together. The gesture looked innocent, save for the fact that the shadow cast on the wall of the opulent throne room was not that of a woman closing her fingers, but of a snake striking across the shadowed wall. The Caliph sat back, considering the beautiful Stygian woman in her simple robes of white linen and her serpentine wristlets of polished copper. "Very well," he said after a moment, "you will bring me the thief before the moon is full and I shall reward you with your weight in rubies." The words bought a mutter of low disapproval from the gathered nobles but the Caliph once again held up his hand. "If you fail to do so however, you will become my slave concubine for as long as I will it," he decreed. Sythemis lowered her eyes to the tiled floor of the throne room. "As the Caliph wishes."</s>