M2T4

The 9th campaign
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maxvale76
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M2T4

Post by maxvale76 » Sun Oct 10, 2010 3:26 pm

May 22nd, 2180; 0516 HRs; Vaxian Mine Tunnels, Colony World of Forge; Alexandria Sector


Despite several minutes of thorough searching; the marines found nothing to explain the brief moment of movement that Morse had seen and that had caused Honeysett's motion tracker to ping, once. A somewhat annoyed Simovic ordered the marines to resume moving down the tunnel.

The marines formed back up and moved out down the tunnel. The tunnel wound slowly back and forth, much like a snake's body in motion, and the marines could see wires that had been bundled along the sides, near the ceiling, that once powered the occasional comm speaker and the numerous lights; none of which were on. The tunnel then ended at a T intersection, with Dunn in the lead calling back quietly to ask which way to go; when the motion trackers all suddenly began thier high-pitch warnings that motion was occuring down both sides of the tunnel AND behind the marines...

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Quinn
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Re: M2T4

Post by Quinn » Mon Oct 11, 2010 9:49 am

Quinn's medical diagnostic kit went nuts as all the Marine's adrenaline levels spiked. Quinn immediately looked up, pulled out a flare, lit it and tossed it on the floor to provide some light. Anyone within earshot would know that they were here, so he flicked his light on and checked the ceiling. His flamer was ready to toast anything.

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Casey
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Re: M2T4

Post by Casey » Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:46 am

"Sir!? Orders?"

*Corporal Valentine tried to sound firm, stern, strong in her voice; but her body's subtle bunching forward and her leg's slow backing up towards the rest of her unit betrayed that verbal strength. The slow, back and forth, methodical sweep of her shoulder-lamp's progressive beam cut through the dimly lit atmosphere colored by Quinn's flare. Her breaths slow and growing more shallow each time the screeching beeps of the team's trackers went off.

"Where the hell are they fellas?"

She spoke, glancing down the rear choke in hopes that the others had her back. The narrow hall had her thinking big; and as she moved one hand forward and tightened her grip at the front of her pulse rifle, she pumped a grenade into the chamber. She didn't know what to expect down the hall, but she wanted them to expect some god-damned heart-burn if they were coming down the corridor she was facing.

"Keep it together..."

Casey murmured into the air, quiet, but loud enough to be heard by Morse at her side, if he were paying attention.*

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Obi
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Re: M2T4

Post by Obi » Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:50 am

Obi estimated that they waited about ten minutes or so while Honeysetts' squad investigated the contact. Maintaining his position against the rock wall Obi waited until the Staff ordered the platoon to regroup and continue forward. Standing up Obi quickly looked back up the tunnel to have a shoulder lamp catch him right in the face. His lens whited out as he turned his head away rapidly, blinking as his vision was blurred. Fucking idiot. Obi directed towards the unseen marine as he shook his head and fell in behind the SSGT. Using on only his lens eye and keeping the other one closed to speed it its night vision recovery process, Obis' world was green as he followed a few metres behind the Staff. Looking up at the roof of the tunnel he noticed heavy duty cabling which had at evenly spaced intervals had non functioning lights and speakers coming off it.

An idea stuck Obi as he adjusted his wrist mounted controls for the OrbComm. If they have comm speakers here, the freq hopper on the OrbComm should be able to isolate it the freq in operation... Tapping a few controls Obi started the freq hopper and the OrbComm scanned the entire freq range in a matter of seconds. No joy, that means that they have deactived the comms or they are trashed.

Not wanting to broadcast his findings over the platoon net, Obi closed the distance and tapped the Staff on the shoulder.
"Staff, nil joy on comms. Just ran through a freq hopper diagnostic. It looks as if the mine's comms are either deactivated or trashed. The OrbComm couldn't pick up any freq in operation." Obi whispered.

<tag SSGT Simovic>

An Aussie accent sounded loudly in Obis' headset as the pointman, Dunn, reported that the tunnel had reached a T junction. As he did, all hell broke loose, motion tracker's pinging with contact's both ahead and behind the platoon, up ahead a flare popped into existance, bathing the tunnel into an eerie red glow. Obi eased off the safety catch on his M-41A and stayed close the to SSGT and provided him cover as he started snapping off order's.....
CPL Mike "Obi" O'Brien
Communications Operator

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Dugan
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Re: M2T4

Post by Dugan » Tue Oct 12, 2010 10:29 am

Simovic moved the platoon off again after Honeysetts squad had failed to re-establish the contact they'd picked up earlier. This place was so enclosed and deep underground he couldn't be sure if the motion trackers would eve function correctly. O'brien interrupted his thoughts.
Obi wrote: "Staff, nil joy on comms. Just ran through a freq hopper diagnostic. It looks as if the mine's comms are either deactivated or trashed. The OrbComm couldn't pick up any freq in operation." Obi whispered.

"Roger that if we find a control room you can try and rig something up".


<Tag O'brien>

Then Dunn reported in about the intersection before Simovic was able to give a reply the Motion Trackers started going haywire reporting contacts closing in from all three directions, the worst possible scenario..

Simovic had to think fast he mentally went through the squads and weaponry at their disposal trying to ascertain the best way to cover the fire arcs.

Hitting the platoon comms channel he spoke.

"OK Sgt. Pitt I want you to move up with Dunn and cover the left tunnel, I'll also move up and cover it with my Flamer. Get Quinn and Lonebear to cover the right tunnel, O'brien you also move up and help them out. Honeysett your squad is to guard the rear again. Remember there's a small chance these contacts could be civilian so check your targets before letting loose. If there's multiple groupings of targets feel free to use grenades".


<Tag Platoon>


He knew there was a small chance of a cave in but rather that chance than a bullet or worst still a Xenomorph getting in amongst them.

Clutching his Flame Unit in a firing stance he moved up to support Pitt and Dunn.

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Obi
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Re: M2T4

Post by Obi » Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:02 am

Get Quinn and Lonebear to cover the right tunnel, O'brien you also move up and help them out.
"Roger Staff." Obi acknowledged to both his report on the comms and the order to support the platoons' medic and reinforce the tunnel to the right. Obi charged forward, pushing up his IR lens as its night vision was negated by the flare that was burning brightly ahead. Peeling slightly off to the right, Obi saw the medic braced up against the rock looking down the tunnel. Sliding to a stop behind him, Obi wedged himself up against the tunnel wall.

"What have we got mate?" Obi asked the medic in a no nonsense tone.

<tag Quinn>
CPL Mike "Obi" O'Brien
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Dirk Pitt
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Re: M2T4

Post by Dirk Pitt » Wed Oct 13, 2010 5:40 pm

Dugan wrote: "OK Sgt. Pitt I want you to move up with Dunn and cover the left tunnel, I'll also move up and cover it with my Flamer. Get Quinn and Lonebear to cover the right tunnel, O'brien you also move up and help them out. Honeysett your squad is to guard the rear again. Remember there's a small chance these contacts could be civilian so check your targets before letting loose. If there's multiple groupings of targets feel free to use grenades".

Dirk heard the high pitched whine of the motion tracker as it sent a chill up his spine. It wasn't that he was afraid of dieing at the hands of an enemy or even these damn bugs, he just hated the moments before the battle. Spitting out his cigarette he turned to his men. He didn't like splitting his men between two tunnels, but orders are orders.

"Quin, Lonebear. Get your asses to the right tunnel. Dunn, your with me on the left. Remember, short controlled bursts and check your targets. I want you to hold this line. Go" He said moving to the left tunnel

<Tag second>

As he waited for the action Dirk lit another cigarette. Straining his eyes against the darkness he searched for the enemy to emerge and engage his men.

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Morse
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Re: M2T4

Post by Morse » Wed Oct 13, 2010 6:37 pm

Morse continued with the squad when they went down the tunnel, though he was still thinking something was out there, though he couldn't figure out it was. But it was when he heard all of the motion tracker start to ping off. At first he tensed up at it, nearly squeezing the trigger on the M41A-E2 in his hand. He got his baring on it pretty quick, however at this point he wasn't in the tense state the others seemed to be. "Haha, best part a the shit." Morse said quietly in a snark like tone.

He heard the newer addition, Casey, say something to him. He nearly started busting up laughing at it, but he didn't. "Keep it together?" He said in a low scratchy tone. "Come on, it's moments like this'ts panics all we got." He said keeping his weapon ready the whole time, but his snide grin didn't fade.

<Tag Casey

He really hated this sort of thing when it came to the job, but he had 300 rounds of intervening to in his hands that could easily change their situation if need be.

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Darkblade Bug
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Re: M2T4

Post by Darkblade Bug » Thu Oct 14, 2010 12:56 am

Sam Jack Dunn knew a trap when he saw one. Out in front, one eye on his tracker and one kept to the front at all times, he swept his M56D Smartgun back and forth as he moved, making sure that the weapon's various scanners got an eyefull of every nook and cranny of the tunnels. He also made sure to pan it upwards, in case the enemy was above him, listening and watching for the ping and red crosshair that'd show that his weapon had found a target...or green to show a friendly.

Anyone or anything alive without a USCM IFF implant would read as an enemy - he was being at his most cautious, ready to unleash a torrent of HEAP into any hostiles that dared to get in his way. He didn't look over his shoulder at the others, even to check if they were still there. He simply could not afford to take his eyes off point for a second. He kept his ears out and listened for the telltale thump of their boots on rock and their breathing to make sure he didn't leave them behind. Shit knew, he didn't want to do that.

Partly because they relied on him. Mostly because he knew his chances of survival were far higher when he had people to watch his back. That was why he had tried to warn them - but no-one had responded or even listened to his warning. What was the damn point of bringing in a tunnel warfare expert if they were gonna ignore him? He checked his motion tracker (since it was on his HUD, he didn't even need to take his eyes off point), trying to gauge distance and numbers.

"Dunn here, we got a T-Junction up ahead. Reading lots of movement ahead - both directions."
<Tag Easy Eights>
He reported in, before shaking his head softly. He murmured so that only Dirk could hear, slipping a little more advice just in case the man was up to listening to him.

"Sergeant, we're being played. They're trying to split us into as small groups as possible so that they can ambush us piecemeal. I've seen the Bugs do this kind of thing before."
<tag Dirk>

He sighed as Dugan gave the very orders he had feared, and Dirk lit a cigarette. With all the noise and light they were making, he wondered why they weren't all dead yet. He kept his lamp off, his Motion Tracker on earpiece only so that only he could hear it. He didn't know about the others, but he was going to try and play this by stealth. It meant he might not get spotted first, which meant he'd not only not get shot at first, but he'd effectively be able to pull a counter-ambush.

He moved into the left-side tunnel, sticking to the right wall, and moved at a low crouch, making sure to make as little noise as possible. He placed his heel on the ground first, then rolled his foot so that only the outer edge of his boot's sole was on the ground, then gently lowered the rest of his foot into place. Nice and quiet, no sound. Just like he'd learned. Step, roll, lower. Step, roll, lower. Breathe nice and regular, nice and quiet. He'd already used rubber bands to keep his trouser legs from rubbing together, and had secured his webbing so that it made as little noise as possible.

The dark armour, quiet movement and lack of light should give him an advantage. He hoped.

He checked his tracker, dropped as quietly as he could to one knee, and kept his eyes on the tunnel ahead, making sure to not miss a damn thing.

This was his chance to make up for his mistakes in Acid Reign. He wasn't wasting it.

<Roll Stealth, Perception, Motion-Tracker Use>

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Quinn
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Re: M2T4

Post by Quinn » Thu Oct 14, 2010 6:38 pm

When Dirk snapped out the orders, Quinn moved into the right branch. Lonebear was on point, with Quinn slightly to his right and behind. He lit another flare and tossed it down the tunnel.

"Careful squad, xenos don't show up on IR. Movement could also be indigenous bats or something else. Keep your eyes peeled." he muttered over the tac-comm. He panned his vision with his flamer, finger on the trigger housing.

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Dirk Pitt
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Re: M2T4

Post by Dirk Pitt » Fri Oct 15, 2010 12:13 am

Darkblade Bug wrote: "Sergeant, we're being played. They're trying to split us into as small groups as possible so that they can ambush us piecemeal. I've seen the Bugs do this kind of thing before."
<tag Dirk>
Dirk grimaced at the thought. He knew that these bugs were as smart in tactics as they were ruthless. But the situation they were in wasn't the worst he had see.. As long as no one cut and ran or opened up without orders they should have a good chance to walk away from this. The one thing he learned about fighting these things was that it was a more fluid battle than with an armed enemy.

"I know Dunn, Just stay ready for contact. They already know we're here so there's no sense hiding our presence." Dirk said watching his motion tracker count off the distance he got ready to move his men around his area.

<Tag Dunn>

"Quin's right. Check your targets before firing. I don't want ammo wasted on a bunch of damn bats, we'll need it later" He said over the comm
<Tag Second>

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Apachetear
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Re: M2T4

Post by Apachetear » Thu Oct 21, 2010 10:16 am

So far Jacob had found no reason to say anything. He was quite happy to stalk through the mission without saying a word - listening to the babblings of his squad and the platoon in general.

His heart had raced when the blip appeared on his motion scanner, but that had so far been the only reason for him to get excited. It was when the bullets started flying that he'd have use of his voice, for orders to his squad and spotting enemies.

An unlit cigarette dangled from the corner of his mouth...he ached to smoke it, but he knew to do so would be a very stupid move! He looked at the back of his hand, where a ciruclar patch lay - it wasn't the same at all, but it would have to do.

Leg muscles burning from moving in a stoop for a long period of time, he ventured walking upright. It felt better on his legs - but he hated being a big target...so he crouched once more.


"Why can't something happen - this is tension is killing me"

he muttered to himself

(OOC: Sorry for the delay in my post- just started uni, and boy is it hectic!)

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Obi
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Re: M2T4

Post by Obi » Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:53 am

The dying light of the flare that Quinn and thrown was the only activity in the immediate vicinity. The motion tracker's were still pinging away as Obi waited, his eyes and ears straining to detect the movement that the tracker's had locked on to. His thumb flicked off the safety on his rifle, as he peered down the length of the mine tunnel. They are playing with us, a predator teasing its prey. I can respect that. Obi thought with a tight smile to himself as he waited for something to kill.
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maxvale76
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Re: M2T4

Post by maxvale76 » Sun Oct 24, 2010 11:05 pm

May 22nd, 2180; 0520 HRs; Vaxian Mine Tunnels, Colony World of Forge; Alexandria Sector

The motion trackers all began to beep faster and in ever-increasing tones as the contacts from all three directions crept closer and closer. The marines formed up and readied weapons and then the movements abruptly stopped and there was a sudden echoing down the tunnels of the mine as cylindrical objects came boudning into sight from each direction...

A marine cut loose with a quick burst from a weapon before an NCO harshly yelled out; "Check your target marine!". A moment later each cylinder began to spew out a thick cloud and the objects were immediately identified as Smoke Grenades. As the corridors became more and more filled with the thick clouds; the motion sensors suddenly increased in volume again as the various signatures; now identifiable as 4 signatures in each tunnel for a total of a dozen bogeys; moved closer...

As the bogeys moved closer; the thick smoke began to get into the marines noses and mouths and hacking coughs could be heard throughout the unit. PFC Dunn and SGT Pitt could now get an indistinct look at several humanoid shapes moving slowly down the tunnel to the left as CPL Quinn and PVT Lonebear could see the same coming from down the tunnel to the right. At the rear of the marine's position; CPL Morse and CPL Valentine could see 4 figures moving slowly towards them as well.

None of the figures registered much heat on the IR lens; which was odd; because at this range; human beings should be standing out light torches in a pitch black room. SSGT Simovic was about to order the marines to engage anyway when from each of the groups of advancing figures came more objects being hurled thier way. As if a cue in a movie; the combined sounds of Pulse Rifles, Flamethrowers and a Smartgun opened up and the tunnels of the mine suddenly became a huge cacaphony of sound...

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Quinn
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Re: M2T4

Post by Quinn » Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:11 pm

To Quinn, the smoke grenades alone were enough warning to keep his flamethrower up and ready. Through the smoke however, the igniter light stood out like a lighthouse in a fog. When he saw the humanoid shapes, he turned off the igniter and sprayed the area where the people would be walking. When they made a hostile move, Quinn would be able to set off a tango barbecue.

Which they did, seeing the incoming thrown objects, Quinn barked "HARD CONTACT!" and washed the area that he had saturated with unlit flamer fuel with a blast from his own flamer, sending the area up in, well, flames.

<tag Marines>

<OOC: Minor Edit; the tangos did NOT open fire; they threw things; the fire came from the USCM squad in response>

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