Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

The fourth mission
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Pale Rider
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Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by Pale Rider » Sun Nov 03, 2013 6:55 pm

Planet: Gliese 876b
Location: Ekylprillion, Lunar Satellite
Date: July 18th, 2080
Mission Time: 2200
On board the Easy Eights Snake Fighter Transport:

Oksana commed ahead to the research facility and ordered the staff to prep a surgical bay for their arrival. For the balance of the flight in, she constantly checked all the cryotubes and their occupants, maintaining vigilance in case she'd missed anything. No one else showed anything out of the ordinary … save her husband.

Ten minutes out, she found herself at Dmitri's tube again. The scan results hadn't magically cleared in her absence. If anything, the dark mass in his thoracic cavity was getting larger. She wasn't dreaming. It was real. Dmitri has something growing inside him. There wasn't anything she could do until she got him to the surgical bay. Despair hit her then, despite her best effort to hold it off, and she slid down Dmitri's tube to the deck, her face in her hands. She sucked down a ragged breath, refusing to sob in frustration. Damned if she'd give the Universe the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

Planet: Gliese 876b
Location: Ekylprillion, Lunar Satellite
Date: July 19th, 2080
Mission Time: 0300

Five Hours Later:

"What's this I hear about you needing a surgical lab?" Kevin Labak grabbed Oksana's arm as they drew even in the corridor. Cryotubes trundled by under the watchful eyes of Marines and medical staff alike. "What the hell is going on?"

"Get all the tubes save Number Nine to Recovery," Oksana ordered the staff. She pulled free of her supervisor and grabbed tube number nine by its loading handle. "Follow me. I will fill you in." Oksana didn't even bother speaking over her shoulder at Labak. Her focus was zeroed in on the waiting surgical bay and getting her husband in it.

For his part, Labak followed her without another word and listened as she gave him the run down. There was a flurry of scrubbing and suiting up. Oksana walked into the surgical bay with Labak (similarly suited) to find everything made ready for her. Equipment lay established. Surfaces sterilized. Cryotube in the last stages of revival. She nodded her appreciation at the surgical staff and spotted several Marines standing just beyond the glass walls of the isolated surgical bay. They faced inward, weapons ready to deploy at a second's notice. Seeing them there perversely made it easier for Oksana to do what came next—cracking her husband's chest open and spreading his ribs wide.

Heart, Lungs, Normal. But something foreign lay beneath.

"Is the stasis box ready?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am."

An orderly held it open two steps to her right. Three other surgical staff stood by with grapplers and stunners—nothing that would pierce the parasite and release the acid. She'd been crystal clear on that. To her left, she felt Labak stir.

"Make this good, Barayeva," he said.

Now or never. Oksana lifted and pushed her husband's innards aside and revealed …

Oh God … !

The damned thing was MOVING.

Reaching in with the grapplers she grasped the offending growth and pulled it toward the stasis box. Only problem was the tail wrapped tighter around her husband’s spinal cord, keeping the grapplers firmly in grip she hands it off to the attending nurse. Taking another grappler she slowly unwinds the tail, the mouth opens a high pitched, hissing scream escapes from the mouth. The nurse spooks at the sound and jerks back; an audible cracking sound is heard as the xenomorph snaps free from the spine. The nurse slams the offending object into the stasis box.
Lt. Quinn rushes in grabbing the thing and rushing outside where he has a team of marines waiting with a flame thrower. He tosses the box down and jumps back as the dragon’s roar of flame sweeps the box from three different directions.
Oksana, quickly stabilizes her husband and closes him up. She had successfully saved his life, but unfortunately she knew he would never sail again. The xenomorph had snapped his spinal column. She had done all she was capable of but there was nothing else she could do to repair his spine.
Planet: Gliese 876b
Location: Ekylprillion, Lunar Satellite
Date: October 1st, 2080
Mission Time: 0800
Three months had passed since the latest encounter with the Xenomorphs. A few things had changed since then. For starters with the addition of the Snakefighter to the Eights arsenal they had gained an advantage they didn’t previously have. Using the Snakefighter, Quinn had sent Cpl. Larkin and Pvt. White back to get replacements and for those who had died and also because Pvt. Capone had requested to use earned time off now. The new blood would be arriving today.
The marines had been busy while awaiting the return of the Snakefighter. They had spent the time setting up a firebase on the continent that they had encountered the Xenos on. They had established it at their first LZ. Using local equipment they had hastily put up a fortified position. They had cleared a 457 meter (500 yard) kill zone around the perimeter. They had elevated the land and left the ditch around the mound. Quinn utilized the local fauna to fill the ditch with sharpened stakes and then with Oksana’s help mixed up a flammable material to fill the moot. Atop the mound they had built a basic but solid fortification.
The scout team had been put to work laying out markers and examining the terrain of the uncharted continent. They had found what they expected 966 kilometers beyond the Huldra Village a Xenomorph Hive rising high into the air in the middle of a swampy plain. They also located something they were not truly expecting to find. To the northeast of the hive was a human built compound that was not listed on any of the papers concerning the planet.
Thanks to the monsoon season passing while they were on planet Pvt. Giosso was able to piece together some mobile spy equipment to gather information without inciting the natives and not so native species. Using this equipment the Eights were able to run a visual of the compound and see that Weyland-Yutani was doing some secret research. While viewing the footage, Oksana recognizes some of her own research being put to use within the compound.
It was up to Lt. Quinn and the Easy Eights to determine what their immediate mission would be however, Quinn had received orders directing them to infiltrate and explore the hive in order to gain a better knowledge of the unit’s primary enemy.
Coming in silently the Snakefighter landed on the tarmac. The replacements were here and ready to be integrated into the Easy Eights.
<ACTION>
OOC: Anyone with more time than I have can feel free to make up a map for ya’ll to use. Just note that the terrain is primarily swamp/jungle think something alone the lines of South America or Cuba. There is however a small ring of mountains in the center of the continent. Where the Huldra Village was at is the southern most edge of the mountains. If you haven’t read my Fan Fiction know that the queen is the one mentioned in the story.
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Morse
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Re: Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by Morse » Sun Nov 03, 2013 10:11 pm

Three Months Earlier

This was pointless. As far as Morse was concerned the man was dead and they were just wasting their time. He was actually amazed that they had brought the infected man, Dmitri back to the compound without an incident. He had seen what the thing inside of him was inevitably going to do, though Morse had watched it in a much less controlled environment. At the time the only control in the situation was the weapons on hand, which were used to great effect. This place was much more controlled, many on hand who knew exactly what was going to happen.

Still Morse was wary of it all. He had never heard of this sort of procedure being attempted, let alone what sort of success rate it would have. He was still in favor of dealing with the problem in the proven method, but at the same time he was curious how this would turn out.

Oddly enough, Morse was somewhat hopeful that it would work out. He didn’t say anything to the others, but he liked knowing there was hope if the worst happened. He just watched by the window, flamethrower in hand, prepared to do what was inevitably going to happen.

He knew an M56 Smartgun was purely impractical in that situation, and they were looking for the greatest chance of success. Still Morse had an M41A Pulse Rifle seated on a chair in case it was needed. The M240 Flame Thrower was proven effective in those circumstances, but at times lacked the range and accuracy of the rifle. So Morse was prepared for whatever would happen.

When it finally did become apparent they were having some success with its removal, yet were coming across complications, Morse started up the end flame. When they had the monster out, Quinn led the charge in. Morse was directly the behind him and on the order they incinerated the box.

Dmitri was alive, though crippled. Still as far as ground breaking procedures went that was alright. After a few minutes of dealing with the situation, Morse had a brief lapse in character as he recognized the achievement. ”Good work doc…” He said with a nod.



Three Months Later

Three months in the jungle was not horrible for Morse. The environment was similar to ones he was familiar with, and he’d done a fair amount of training on bases in South America. This was really a lot of waiting but it could have been much worse. They were cut off from extraction, and had to rely on what they had sure, but at least they weren’t under fire day in and day out.

They had virtually emptied the Snakefighter before it left of nearly everything on it. All of the ammunition and ordinance, metallic barricade stands, robo-sentries, assault weapons, fuel, and living supplies. The Colonial Marines were the most capable force in the human history. This firebase, though only manned by a small number, would likely be able to withstand a siege of hundreds.

After three months you would have thought that this place was a somewhat permanent base. It was perfectly defended, well supplied and fortified, and the marines inside were well trained and prepared.

Morse did not go with the scouting troop generally. Though he was skilled at infiltration and scout like operations, he was better suited towards holding their position. He spent most of the time trying to keep the firebase sturdy and fortified. Digging new trenches and bunkers, and helping to keep the place livable.

For the moment however, he just lay on his back in a shady spot in one of his trenches, enjoying the smell of the dirt, waiting for a call to action.

< Tag Anyone
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Obi
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Re: Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by Obi » Mon Nov 04, 2013 7:01 am

The humid air made Obi think he was drowning in sweat as he finished his sit up and lowered back down again, only to rise back up. Obi breathed heavily as he finished his set and rolled over on his stomach and breathed in and out to regulate his breathing. Standing slow to his feet Obi used the bottom of his T-shirt to mop his brow as he walked around slowly. Picking up his water bottle Obi sipped at it as he slowed his breathing down.

Looking around the FB Obi took in what the platoon had accomplished in the past three months. Solid fortifications had been constructed and the place had been turned into a little bit of home. Not that there was much in the way of creature comforts, however there was plenty of shelter to stay dry. Which given the climate of this planet the marines had discovered that you could set your watch by the rain. Obi glanced at his watch and saw the time, 1600 local. Turning skyward, Obi felt the soft patter of rain and smiled. Yes, you can set your watch by this fucking rain!

Closing his water bottle, Obi jogged over to the hardened accommodation module that was home for him and his other squad mates. Standing inside the door way, Obi watched the rain start to hammer down. A feeling of contentment overcame him however the knowledge that a hive was not far away did not let that contentment last long...
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Re: Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by Quicksilver » Tue Nov 05, 2013 6:51 pm

A full step behind Morse, Mark stood with a mix of hope and trepidation. Although he had encountered the aliens before, they’d always been full grown – he’d never ventured into asking how they reproduced. Despite everything the corp had thrown at him so far, however, Mark was still an optimist, and had concrete hopes that the doctor would be able to remove this xenomorphic disease and save her husband. Optimistic didn’t mean stupid, however, and like the rest of the marines he was ready to deal with whatever Oksana did manage to pull out from her injured husband. In his particular case, it meant having motion tracking and sensor equipment up and running so if the worst happened, if the creature escaped the flames and made a run for it, they’d know where it was hiding. Like the others he was there to make sure the creature didn’t get a second chance to kill someone.

Much later, as the flames died down, Mark took a deep breath and echoed Morse. “You got it.”

Three Months Later

Mark pulled out a handkerchief and tried to find the driest part to wipe his forehead with. The heat wasn’t really the problem for him, he could handle heat, the humidity was really the annoying part. No longer feeling like he was going to drip onto the keyboard, the technician packed his cloth back into his shirt pocket and went back to work, tapping away at the field command center’s computer, compiling orbital imagery, fleshing out maps and otherwise keeping himself busy as the time passed. He paused only a moment to look up at the roof as the rains began their daily sweep over the camp. That time again already?

Standing up and stretching, he sauntered over to the window-flap and zipped it closed again so the room wouldn’t accumulate any more water than necessary. At least the regular rain meant no water rationing. That was something he didn’t miss.
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3rd Bn, 2nd Reg, 1st Co, 8th Plt
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Re: Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by eyeball » Tue Nov 05, 2013 10:58 pm

Planet: Gliese 876b
Location: Ekylprillion, Lunar Satellite
Date: October 1st, 2080

several months had passed since pvt Paul "eyeball" Williams had finished basic and then some seconded training, he had been shifted around from bases to base but was now finally meeting up with his new unit, the easy Eights or was it the Crazy Eights? no that had just been bar talk at one base or another. he vaguely recalled that he may have met one of the members of this unit in a club many months ago, but because it had involved some rough as alcohol and it was many moves ago he wasn't quite sure.

the new snakefighter assault drop-ship banked hard on its final approach to the LZ the rain was so heavy you could hear it on the hull. the engines were in stealth mode there output virtually silent as she touched down.
"up and out newbies!" called someone from the front and Eyeball punched his quick release and grabbed his gear dismounting into the poring rain.
scanning the area quickly Eyeball spotted a covered area and made his way towards it, scanning all me could see looking for the CO's office then it dawned on him, front line base, not going to have a label on the office just to inviting for some unknown sniper to put rounds into it. he stopped by the first marine he saw, "morning, point me to the staff Sargent or CO please.

<tag anyone>
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Re: Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by Morse » Thu Nov 07, 2013 1:42 am

The sound of the Snakefighter returning was unmistakable. They hadn’t heard anything that resembled the rush of a jet engine in months. The roar of the APC from time to time, and every few days the noise of the buggies. But they were easily separate from the loud hum and distinguishable titan of metal that came in over the camp.

There was a separate area set up for the Snakefighter to land, which was essentially the size of the whole camp itself. The craft was immense compared to them, though much smaller then the usual Conestoga Cruisers which Morse missed operating on. Still anything that would help them evacuate the world and give them fresh supplies while dropping off new recruits was a welcome sight.

Morse hopped up out of his hole, picked up his M-41A pulse rifle which he was carrying around, and began moving towards the landing zone. His little trench had a tarp over the top to keep the sun off of his head, and he had not noticed it beginning to rain. It was so common there, that Morse hardly took notice of it anymore. The trick was staying dry, and taking your immunization supplements to help keep sickness away.

He headed arrived right where the ramp was going to drop down. Morse recalled the Snakefighter very well, and it was the same access point he’d lay machine gun fire down from three months earlier. ”Up n’ out newbies!” Morse yelled, knowing they were receiving fresh recruits.

There were not many of course, the USCM kept only functional groups, not ones overflowing with troops. He kept his M-41A slung over his shoulder. He would have been more at home with a Smartgun, but it was just impractical to carry around on base all the time. And he worked just fine with the Pulse Rifle so he wasn’t worried.

He chewed on a bit of gum as the recruits came down, and one approached him, asking where the Sergeant was. ”Quinn’s round here somewhere.” Morse said, not noting he was the Lieutenant still. After being on a small base with the small amount of people, names generally took the place of rank. At least that was Morse’s excuse. ”He’ll show up ‘fore too long.” Morse noted, knowing the commanding officer would be there to inspect the new arrivals.

Morse had a moment of recognition seeing the new recruit. He looked very familiar, though Morse could not remember from where. ”You look familiar. I know you from somewhere?” He inquired with his thick southern accent dribbling out as he did, his jaw hanging to the side as he tried to figure it out.


< Tag eyeball
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Re: Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by Duncan » Thu Nov 07, 2013 3:41 am

Duncan pushed forward. It was what he did, his nature. He had tried to help Oksana's husband but the complications from the surgery ruined everything. Over the last several months, Duncan had pushed ahead from the forward base, scouting and reporting on the surroundings. He knew Dirk and Quinn wanted him to be a washout. But he pushed ahead, knowing that he was the 'wildcard' of the mission.

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Re: Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by maxvale76 » Thu Nov 07, 2013 8:02 am

Neither the heat nore the humidity had bothered Samantha too much; but the incessant rain was REALLY starting to get on her nerves. Shrugging it off as just one more thing that was completely out of her control; a slight smile came over her as the rain on this world reminded her of the rain on the last world they had visitied. Not that she had any happy memories of THAT colony; but it did remind her of Oksana and her saving her husband; even if he was crippled; he was alive and they were together.

Coming back to the present with the arrival of the Snakefighter; Sam wondered how the new arrivals would do....
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Re: Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by eyeball » Thu Nov 07, 2013 8:43 am

”You look familiar. I know you from somewhere?”
, Eyeball looked up at the marine he had asked directions from, now that accent he knew, but the name....hip flask? Club a few months back? he questioned....nope sorry no name gonna have to cheat. then glance at the marines name tag, Morse, ....um sorry, corporal Morse, private Williams, oh yes now I recall, well the beginning of the evening any way. Good to see a face I recognize, I will move out of your way corp. Eyeball moved aside so as to not to get in Morses way, as a new recruit unassigned as yet the last thing he wanted to do was get noticed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Moving out of the rain Eyeball kept his eyes wide open alert for an officer or senior Sargent to turn up, Quinn was bound to be one of those.....probably.

<tag Quinn>
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Re: Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by Dirk Pitt » Fri Nov 08, 2013 3:36 am

Dirk sat behind a makeshift desk in a tent that served both as his office, and home. Being the NCOIC had some perks like a tent of his own. However the paperwork that he was looking at wasn't among them. His duty was to make sure that the platoon ran smoothly and that nothing got to Lt. Quinn without him knowing about it, or trying to solve the problem before he dose. Crushing out his cigarette he took another out of the pack and lit it he hit enter on the padd and stood up.

"Enough of this crap, for now." Dirk said to no one.

Putting his gun belt on he grabbed his M-41A and slung it over hi8s shoulder. He had made a point that all Marine personnel were to be armed t at all times, not that anyone really had to be told that.

Walking out into the light rain he saw Morse and someone he didn't know, thought it was more than likely the FNG they had requested. Pfc Williams.

"Who's your friend Morse? Could it be out new guy? Dirk said, his cigarette still hanging from his mouth.

<Tag Morse and Eyeball>
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Re: Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by Morse » Fri Nov 08, 2013 4:51 am

Still trying to figure out why the new guy was so familiar Morse’s eyes squinted a bit. He really could not remember. But the man murmuring out what he found familiar about Morse helped. The portion where he mentioned the E-club was what stuck out, and Morse thought on the last times he’d been there. And then it popped back into his head.

”Right, you was there when Yorvon won his seat fer the senate again.” Morse recalled. Morse based a lot of his timeline on various political events that happened around the galaxy, and the ones that pissed him off stuck out the most. The win led to a night of bitter drinking where he had met this man. He remembered he had a nickname but did not recall it.

They moved underneath the Snakefighter, where there was cover from the incoming rain. As they did Morse saw Dirk coming up to meet the new arrivals.

”I figured you’da ordered this one.” Morse said to Dirk. ”And if I’m rememberin’ right he’s got a stupid nickname, from a stupid story a him bein’ dumb involvin’ alcohol… but I don’t remember it, so he’ll have to tell us again.” Morse did not remember the nickname or the story, but he remembered it was funny and stupid at the same time. A brief refresher would pick it back up, but that was not important the moment.
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Re: Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by Whisky » Fri Nov 08, 2013 12:35 pm

The last few months Colson had started by digging defences and setting up the firebase, from that was a mix of guard duty and keeping dry. Not that the rain bothered him much, he was originally from what was left of the British Isles but the havoc it played on the equipment made them hell to maintain.

When he wasn't on the perimeter he could either be found in the common tent with a deck of cards or studying medical field manuals, after the medical 101 he had on the Snakefighter with Morse he decided to keep at it. As it was, what with Morse now being his squad Sargent & Gunner and Lt.Quinn being locked in an APC he had become the defacto Medic of the Easy Eights.

It was raining again when the Snakefighter came in, Morse walked passed Colson who was sat at the common table shuffling a deck of cards
”Up n’ out newbies!” Morse yelled
The replacements had arrived it seemed Colson thought as he glanced over at the new guy. Seems Morse had bumped into him somewhere before. Could help, or not. Still couldn't tell with Morse. With the arrival of Dirk, Colson stood up and waited, no doubt there'd be something either of his seniors would want doing.

<<OOC: Sorry for the long time getting back into the fray, been working a show.>>
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Re: Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by taimdala » Fri Nov 08, 2013 5:40 pm

Planet: Gliese 876b
Location: Ekylprillion, Lunar Satellite
Date: October 1st, 2080

"'Sana, don't." Dmitri pushed his wife away and rolled over. He grabbed the metal leg of the horizontal bars and pulled himself up hand over hand until he was upright again. Sweat glistened off every inch of him, dripping from his jaw and unresponsive knees as he stiff armed from one end of the parallel bars to the other. Sweat made them slick. The gym mat underfoot was streaked with more sweat, painting the story of his progress (and failures) in yet another physical therapy session.

His spine had been broken, but his spirit had not. If anything, it had gotten stronger, sharper, fueled by determination and anger… and not a small bit by the shadow lurking behind his wife's eyes. No matter how well she hid it, Dmitiri always saw it. He didn't want her sympathy or her pity. They were too heavy for him to carry, too excoriating to bear. And as for the guilt she took on herself for the damage done to him …

"Черт возьми!" he snarled at her as she wiped the bars dry with a towel inches ahead of his grip. Chert voz'mi! Dammit! God, but she was smothering him. "Leave it!"

FWAP!

The towel slapped him in the face, covering his head. He shook it off in time to see Oksana draw herself up, eyes blazing, pissed-off woman writ large in every line of her.

"Вы задницу!" Oksana snarled back. Vy zadnitsu! You ass!

"Сука!" Dmitri bellowed in turn. Suka! Bitch!

"Говнюк!" Oksana spat and turned on her heel and stalked out. Govnyuk! Shithead!

There she was, the woman he'd fallen in love with, the woman he'd married. Spirited and beautiful even in a rage, hurling insults at his head. He preferred her anger to the silent stoic ghost she was slowly becoming. This damned planet had already taken his legs. Damned if he'd let it take his wife.

Sucking down a deep breath, Dmitri hauled himself around for another run down bars, inch by agonizing inch.

***

Oksana stormed out, a steady stream of obscenities turning the air blue in her wake. She didn't stop until she gained the quarters she shared with Dmitri, locked the door behind her, and flung herself on their bed. Damn him! Ungrateful son of a bi—! She screamed into the nearest pillow until her lungs were empty, slammed the bedframe with her fists until they were numb, until the scent of her husband filled her nose and drove her to tears. For months when he'd gone missing she'd lived with his ghost, slept with it every night at her side. It had been sheer hell … but now it was worse. She had him at her side again, real flesh and blood but refusing to touch her. At first she thought it was fatigue that caused him to hold her off, but as the weeks turned into months, she figured it out: paralyzed from the waist down, Dmitri felt less than the man she knew he was and still could be. Deprived of the physical means to express it, he locked himself away in a box even she couldn't open. Afraid of what would happen if she gave in to the impulse to smash that box to bits, she'd bottled up her hurt and disappointment and waited for Dmitri to come back to her. Waited in the dark for a caress, waited in the daylight for a tender word … waited for a moment when all their conversations were not screamed in anger at the top of their lungs.

Three months of living with yet another ghost of her husband… no solace at all for her loss.

Oksana let go the pillow and sat up. Against worry, work is better than whiskey … or so her mother always said. She pulled herself together and once she was presentable again, Oksana took herself to her lab again. Work waited for her there, unending as always, and she dove into it gratefully. And as she worked, she carefully, painstakingly pursued a private little investigation… the seed of it planted by the work she'd recognized at the alien facility. Work of hers she hadn't authorized …. The who and the why and the wherewithal would be buried in the records somewhere. She just had to find it.


How to Speak Russian
Черт возьми! = Chert voz'mi! Sound clip

Вы задницу! =Vy zadnitsu! Sound clip

Сука! = Suka! Sound clip

Говнюк! = Govnyuk! Sound clip

To hear the sound clip, click on the little speaker icon once you get to the webpage.
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eyeball
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
Posts: 438
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 1:16 pm
Location: australia

Re: Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by eyeball » Sat Nov 09, 2013 2:20 am

Eyeball had stepped out of the way of the unloading that was continuing from the snakefighter, stores and supplies hurrying to their allotted place. he was just out of earshot as the Sargent approached cpl Morse, he didn't hear the exchange but saw the gestures and a raised eyebrow from the Sargent. the Sargent looked directly at Eyeball, " front and centre marine!" his voice barked, Eyeballs body was moving before his brain finished hearing the words..."damn, he thought "how do Sargents do that?".
"Pfc Williams, reporting Staff" Eyeball replied as he halted in front of Morse and Staff Sargent Pitt.
ImageLCpl. Robert Paulson
incinerator, 2 spare fuel bottles, motion detector, first aid kit, pistol, knife, 2 frag.
special weapons tech
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Quinn
First Lieutenant
Posts: 1263
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 6:31 am
Location: Look up.
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Re: Turn 1 Down to Gehenna

Post by Quinn » Tue Nov 12, 2013 6:06 am

Thankfully, cryosleep had actually slowed down the gestation, if not outright stopping it. It meant that these people had a chance at the least.

After moving the people off the Snakefighter and through an MRI one at a time, a laborious process to say the least, it was found that not many had been infected. However Dmitri, Oksana's husband, had been. With great caution, Quinn and a small group of Marines moved the man to the operating table for the xeno to be removed surgically.

The Lieutenant stood by as the surgery went on, his hands twitching, wanting to take the surgical tools from Oksana and do it himself. But he knew that to do so would be an incredible insult. The operation was a fair success, but there were... complications. The chestburster wasn't complete, but it was... aware. Quinn heard something snap, and knew from long experience that it could only be bone. He fervently hoped it was just a rib.

Getting an old ammo can ready, he burst in when Oksana cried out, pushing the thing into the can. Quinn bolted outside into a large open area where three Marines stood by with Incinerators. He ran, set the box down and leapt out of the way, crying "Burn the xeno!"

The heat bloom from the three flamers was incredible, and the creature's near ultrasonic cries as it was burned alive pierced his ears. But once he was able to look, the thing was only halfway out of the can, pale skin charred and blackened. The Lieutenant sat up and just looked at it, then back at the operating table. Dmitri's life signs were a little outside the norm, but steady all the same. It had worked. He gave a weary thumbs up to Oksana, then stood and walked back in to assist with closing up the man she had worked so desperately to save.

THREE MONTHS LATER

Quinn had the base established here against his better judgement, as being on the same island with xenos made his skin crawl and fuel for his nightmares. But Command was explicit about it with no getting around it. So to compensate, he removed all the sentry weapons from the Snakefighter, requisitioned a few materials from the scientific outpost, and had the heavy weapons moved to the armory, which was stocked with a myriad of high explosive firepower. The weapons pits contained remote-operated M402 Multiple Launch Mortars, the inner perimeter guarded by UA-571 Sentry guns, the outer perimeter with Claymore mines, and the entire base watched by Motion Sensors. Hell, there was even a PIG, though why Command had thought they needed one was beyond Quinn.

But the APC needed work, and the Lieutenant was the only one cleared to repair it. And so, he'd been steadily replacing armor plates and the damaged mortar system (which had live shells in it, Morse wasn't happy dealing with those). The two buggies were their common patrol vehicles, but Quinn had kept exterior patrols to a minimum. But the Snakefighter had transmitted the orders, and they weren't good. This would have to be handled carefully.

And there was new blood to be taken in on top of that.

At the time of the Snakefighter landing, Quinn was atop the APC welding an armor plate back into position. He finished up a few welds just as the rain came pattering down. The Lieutenant pulled his mask down onto his face to keep himself from literally drowning in the atmosphere. Steam poured up from the welds, giving the Lieutenant atop the APC a sinister look with his mask on. He jumped down from the roof, slipping in the mud as he did and falling squarely on his ass. It wasn't much of a fall and hurt his pride more than anything else.

Swearing, he stood up, opened the side door and ran a diagnostic check on the mortar system. It checked out clean and good. Quinn shut down the APC and clambered out, closing the door behind him. He walked to the landing platform, nodding to Dirk as he went past. He walked up the ramp into the Snakefighter to speak with it's pilot.

"Once the supplies are offloaded, head to the Corp facility and pick up Doctor Oksana." he told the man, who nodded and went back to his work of unsnapping restraints from large cargo containers. Quinn picked up the manifest of what actually came. "Giosso, Morse, Obi, offload the Snakefighter. We got our special requests, even yours Giosso."

<tag Dirk, Giosso, Morse, Obi and anyone who saw the LT fall flat on his ass>
Current Gear
M42A Scope Rifle
M4A4 .45 ACP caliber Sidearm, Suppressed
Combat Knife
K52 Medical Kit
Flashlight, Flares (6)
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