CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

The first Devil Dawgs campaign. The Marines travel to Fiorina 161 to respond to a distress call, but find much more than they bargained for.
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JuanPerez
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CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by JuanPerez » Mon Dec 24, 2018 12:21 pm

June 7, 2189
Location: Outer Veil, Neroid Sector, USS Heimlich, Approaching Fiorina 161 Standard Orbit, ETA 4 hours
Mission Time: 02:00:00
End-Of-Turn: 05.01.2019


The Devil Dawgs have been popped out of cryo two hours ago, just to find out that another mission was waiting for them. After doing their individual post-wakeup procedures to start the engines, the Dawgs NCO, Sykes, assembled the troopers in the USS Heimlich's operations centre shortly before briefing time. The operations centre was a dense room without any sparse places, just like the rest of the stealth spacecraft. The marines had to sit tight, shoulder to shoulder. There was not much difference to a combat seating within a M577 APC.

Lieutenant Harper entered the room from the bridge's side entrance, saluted to Sykes and the assembled marines and waved her hand down to signal for the Dawgs to sit down. As always, she wore a fresh buzz cutt and her steps and body language revealed energy, but not that kind of freshmeat energy to conquer the world, more of a mellowed one.

Her voice was loud and clear, while she maintained eye-contact with her troopers ..

"Good Morning Marines, at ease. Sit down, quit the chatter, listen up. The Dawgs have received new orders.

We are currently on approach vector to Fiorina 161, an ugly rock in the Neroid Sector of the Outer Veil, to respond to a distress call, sent out
by an USCM Force Recon team, that was dispatched to Fiorina 161 to investigate suspicious ground level activity.

Does the name "Fiorina 161" ring a few bells? Long time ago it had been a mining facility run by a Weyland-Yutani private prison firm. It was a Double Y Chromosome Class C Work Correctional Unit, shut down in 2175 by the company, thereafter operated by a skeleton crew, that stayed behind. 2179 a Type 337 EEV from the USS Sulaco crashed onto the surface, in it the survivors of the LV-426 xenomorph infestation: Corporal Dwayne Hicks, Warant Officer Ellen Ripley, a child named Rebecca Jordan and a damaged synthetic Bishop model. Unfortunately, a xenomorph got loose, too, and went on a killing spree. Weyland-Yutani sent out a commando to capture the creature, but Ripley and the others had already managed to kill the bug.

In the aftermath, the company sent three seperate science teams to scour the area, but they came up dry each time. The file on Fiorina 161 was closed and the facility complex was shutdown permanently. The company left some satellites in orbit and all went quiet. And it stayed quiet for quite a while, until the satellites started ringing bells.

A three-man-and-a-synthetic-pilot USCM Force Recon Team was dispatched, shiped out on a Starslip F-430 stealth vessel to take a closer look. In addition, our higher-up ordered Bishop to set course to Fiorina 161, just in case. That rock laid in our flight path back to gateway-station anyway. And here we are. This time, in-time for the party, as it seems. The synthetic XO of the USCM team stayed behind in orbit on the USS Jester, while the ground team dropped with a UD-4L to surface. The ground team failed to respond to a sitrep-update two times and the synthetic sent out a distress call a few hours ago and we have been ordered to respond.

The last thing, the ground team reported, was the probable finding of a advanced Bái lóng-class stealth exploration cruiser on the planet's surface, near the EEV crashsite. Those kind of ships usually belong to the Jĭngtì Lóng Corporation, a fierce competitor to Weyland-Yutani, based on New China. Afterwards, all contact with the ground team was lost.

Questions so far?"


<Tag Devil Dawgs>
Game Master
————————————
Image 1st Lt Daniela Harper - Platoon CO
USCM Special Forces Recon Team
Serial Number A08/TQ3.0.45013E2
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M10 Pattern Balistic Helmet
M3 Pattern Personal Armor
M41A Pulse Rifle (6 Mags, 20 Grenades)
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Corporal Hicks
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Re: CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by Corporal Hicks » Mon Dec 24, 2018 6:12 pm

Danny Sykes stood a little apart from the other marines. The stealth fighter was cramped, but he didn't mind it so much. It was almost cozy. His life was basically just being flown from one shitty rock to the next, always fighting for his life and the lives of his men. At least with a smaller craft he could get to know every corner of the ship; it almost felt like home.

When Harper entered the room, Sykes simultaneously barked "Officer on deck!" and saluted with the sharpest precision. When she waved her hand to imply 'at ease' he spread his feet apart and put his hands behind his back.

As he listened, his mind picked out a few words that triggered a connection. He knew where he had heard of Fiorina 161. For a moment he felt the rushing, sinking feeling in his stomach. "USS Sulaco. Corporal Hicks. LV-426." He had been on LV-426, five years ago now. It was his first real taste of combat, and his first encounter with the xenomorphs. It was the turning point in his life that set him on the path to become what he was now. Friends had died there, a part of him had died there with them. It was LV-426 where he had first developed his morphine addiction after the terrible leg-wound. It was LV-426 where he had been given the mantle of command.

Sykes wanted to believe that they were going in to fight Jĭngtì Lóng mercenaries, that would be easy enough. But he knew deep down what Fiorina 161 meant for his men. God damned xenomorphs.

"Ma'am, what military compliment is aboard the USS Jester? And what are the names of the marines already engaged?" He wanted to know exacty what their strength was and he figured he might know someone down there.

"It sounds like we already sent in recon troops and lost contact with them. If there are hostiles there, they most likely know they are compromised. Is there an advantage in a stealthy approach or are we going in hot?"
<Tag Lt. Harper>
ImageSgtMaj. Danny Sykes - Platoon NCO
USCM Special Forces Recon Team
Serial Number: D26/TQ6.3.48412E9
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JuanPerez
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Re: CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by JuanPerez » Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:40 pm

Harper turned to Sykes to answer his questions ...

"Master Sergeant Alyn Harper, Sergeant Lulu Hoops and Sergeant Bax Patel are the marines, who where sent down to Fiorina 161, which is also the full military compliment of the USS Jester."

... she paused a moment, before she answered his second question ...

"Before i will answer your question, let me tell you about the results of the tactical situation assesement, which Bishop and myself have computed and run through the machinery several times."

... now she turned to all the marines in front of her ...

"There is only one possible reason, that justifies the precense of a Jĭngtì Lóng spacecraft on a planet like Fiorina 161, which is basically a worthless rock. There are neither interesting indigenious lifeforms nor ressources. Jĭngtì Lóng is known for taking a weird approach to everything and they have been quite successfull so far. So, they must be here to obtain a xenomorph dna sample or something like that. The computer calculated a probability of approximately nintey-five percent for that. As Jĭngtì Lóng is currently the leader in the field of genetics, they might want to breed some xenomorphs out of that.

Also, taking into account, that a Bái lóng class starship has a compliment of round about sixty persons, Master Sergeant Harper would never have enganged. Instead he would have pulled out and called in reinforcements. So, the computer-aided conclusion is, our boys must have run into something, that is way above their paygrade, and that can only be the bugs."


... turning her head back to Sykes ...

"Back to your question. As always, i definitly want to know, what we are up against, so we are not going in hot.

Further Questions?"

<Tag Dawgs>
Game Master
————————————
Image 1st Lt Daniela Harper - Platoon CO
USCM Special Forces Recon Team
Serial Number A08/TQ3.0.45013E2
Image Image Image Image Image Image
Image Image Image

Image

M10 Pattern Balistic Helmet
M3 Pattern Personal Armor
M41A Pulse Rifle (6 Mags, 20 Grenades)
Service Pistol (2 Mags)
Combat Knife
Shoulder Lamp
Portable Command Terminal
M94 Marking Flares

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StConstantine
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Re: CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by StConstantine » Tue Dec 25, 2018 11:08 pm

Further Questions?
"I'm sorry ma'am" Karl said raising his hand "did you say xenomorphs? Why aren't we just bombing this planet to ash from orbit?"
PFC Karl Sarafian
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"Boom"

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Re: CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by Pale Rider » Wed Dec 26, 2018 7:53 pm

James sighed heavily! He had seen too many good Marines go into their cryotubes due to the xenomorphs and piss poor Intel.
"Here's the way I see it; we have no business dropping in without better Intel. I suggest we drop a drone down and do a quick survey of the surface and the enemy vessel. Once we have a better handle on what we are facing I suggest we recon the ship first. That way we know if we are up against the Jingti Long and an another unknown force. That's my opinion not a question but, it's how I feel we should run it."
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JuanPerez
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Re: CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by JuanPerez » Thu Dec 27, 2018 10:41 am

Harper turned to face PFC Karl Sarafian and MGySgt James Screaming Eagle ...

"the very first thing, that will drop off this ship, once in orbit, will be our full compliment of surveillance and recon drones. I want to know what i am up against as soon as possible and as much as you, Gunny Screaming Eagle. If, and only if, the presence of a xenomorph hive is confirmed and verified and all other required parameters are valid, the hive will be nuked from orbit, Private Sarafian. As we all know, it is the only way to be sure. All computer-based target calculations, based on intel so far, show a sufficent heavy ordonance and missle contingent left to deal with it."

<Tag Dawgs>
Game Master
————————————
Image 1st Lt Daniela Harper - Platoon CO
USCM Special Forces Recon Team
Serial Number A08/TQ3.0.45013E2
Image Image Image Image Image Image
Image Image Image

Image

M10 Pattern Balistic Helmet
M3 Pattern Personal Armor
M41A Pulse Rifle (6 Mags, 20 Grenades)
Service Pistol (2 Mags)
Combat Knife
Shoulder Lamp
Portable Command Terminal
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Re: CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by Morse » Thu Dec 27, 2018 4:10 pm

"Jingtis" Morse muttered. "Great."

Fighting the Jingti Long corporates wasn't the same thing as fighting a bunch of under funded fascists on some barren rock or a horde of mindless bugs that came popping out of every dark hole possible. Both of those were things that Morse was good at dealing with, as were they all. The Jingti Corporation actually made serious weapons, and had enough money that they could afford people that knew how to use them. They would not be dealing with simple wounds and disorganized rabbles if this was going where he thought.

Of course he could not be sure, the brief wasn't finished yet. For all he knew this could wind up as a simple extraction. The threat of Jingti however was real enough that he was mentally preparing himself for the sound of a phased plasma shot burning a hallway in half or automated hunter killer drones eyeing their moves and killing them from a far. They were not a joke, and even Morse felt a bit nervous in the face of dealing with something that might have technology as good as the stuff they were using.

< Tag anyone
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Re: CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by Dirk Pitt » Thu Dec 27, 2018 11:27 pm

Dirk listened to the briefing with a detached interest. Xenos were bad enough, but heavily armed and well trained troops were now in the mix. The ways this could go bad were multiplying rapidly. They could find themselves outnumbered and in a heavy firefight and then have those things hit them hard if they were making too much progress.

“Damn.” He muttered to himself as he put an unlit cigarette between his lips.” A clusterfuck in the makings”
<Tag anyone>

It was good to see the team though. He had missed it. Not so much the combat, though he did miss that, it was the depression he had endured over the past several months seem distant.
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Re: CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by Corporal Hicks » Fri Dec 28, 2018 2:53 am

JuanPerez wrote: Tue Dec 25, 2018 10:40 pm"Master Sergeant Alyn Harper, Sergeant Lulu Hoops and Sergeant Bax Patel are the marines, who where sent down to Fiorina 161, which is also the full military compliment of the USS Jester."
Sykes nodded thoughtfully. He knew Alyn Harper well. He didn't particularly like the man, but he was a good marine, no doubt. Sergeant Hoops he had heard of, a bit of a hot shot if the rumors were true. Patel's name didn't ring a bell.
"Back to your question. As always, i definitly want to know, what we are up against, so we are not going in hot.
Sykes nodded again. Fair enough, he figured. Over the past five years he had matured a lot, but he was still essentially a creature of impulse.

He listened with satisfaction at his marines' critical questions. They had all thought of things he hadn't.

"Ma'am, if I may... Thank you. As for firing a nuclear missile, you can guarantee I won't allow that when we have marines on the ground. Alyn Harper is a good marine and there's no way he would have engaged the enemy half-cocked. If he is out of contact, you can bet something went wrong. But they might be hunkered down waiting for back-up." Danny was silent for a moment to emphasize his final point, "We do not leave anyone behind."
<Tag everyone>
ImageSgtMaj. Danny Sykes - Platoon NCO
USCM Special Forces Recon Team
Serial Number: D26/TQ6.3.48412E9
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Re: CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by StConstantine » Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:26 am

If, and only if, the presence of a xenomorph hive is confirmed and verified and all other required parameters are valid, the hive will be nuked from orbit, Private Sarafian
"Sounds like a few unnecessary steps" Karl muttered under his breath
They were not a joke, and even Morse felt a bit nervous in the face of dealing with something that might have technology as good as the stuff they were using.
Karl turned to the medic and with a smile and a wink asked, "This is going to be a shitshow, mind if I stick with your corpsman?"

<Tag Morse>

Turning back to the lieutenant "what sort of munitions are we getting for this ma'am?"

<Tag GM>
PFC Karl Sarafian
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"Boom"

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Re: CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by JuanPerez » Sat Dec 29, 2018 5:13 pm

"Thank you, Sergeant Major Sykes, for getting "all other required parameters are valid" across."

... she replied, as PFC Sarafian asked another question. Slightly hesitating, she turned to him ...

"What is it exactly, Private? Surely you don't want me to recite our current armory munition stock?"

... she asked, in her usual tolerant voice.
Game Master
————————————
Image 1st Lt Daniela Harper - Platoon CO
USCM Special Forces Recon Team
Serial Number A08/TQ3.0.45013E2
Image Image Image Image Image Image
Image Image Image

Image

M10 Pattern Balistic Helmet
M3 Pattern Personal Armor
M41A Pulse Rifle (6 Mags, 20 Grenades)
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Re: CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by BarbarianMathematics » Mon Dec 31, 2018 12:45 am

At the mention of Xenomorphs, Nikolai cringes at the mention of previous things he was told about them, but he quickly composes his expression.

He idly rubs at his chin for a moment as he ponders on the things mentioned. Finally deciding to make his presence known, he mutters in his deep booming voice, "If I might add, Lieutenant, I might also add that it would be wise to see if there is more information we can extract from the remains of anything left behind from the Jĭngtì Lóng Corporation to see if they left any intel or details into what exactly they were doing down below. I would suggest that we do not destroy evidence if there is anything more that can be 'extracted' from the situation."
ImageLCpl. Tanya Sokolova
USCM Special Forces Recon Team
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Corporal Nikolai Pushkin - ComTech
(Currently recovering)

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Re: CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by Apachetear » Mon Dec 31, 2018 1:53 pm

Jacob kept his mouth shut. The questions he would ask, were already being asked.

He knew, sooner or later, one of these missions would be his last. This sounded like a good candidate, xenomorphs and some other shitty corporation involved.

He knew they needed more Intel, he knew that it was wiser to just bomb the place from afar. Planetside though...he started to feel the butterflies in the pit of his stomach, suddenly he didn't want to be sat here and cramped.

Somewhere along the line of this career, Jacob realised he lived for the adrenaline of the fight. It was these times, when he was awake and between missions, that he struggled to know who or what he was...

"fucking bring it" he muttered under his breath

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Re: CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by JuanPerez » Tue Jan 01, 2019 10:54 am

Harper continued to speak to Sarafian ...

"... but if a ground team deployment becomes necessary, the section will probably be dispatched in the APC and i expect you to bring your standard loadout and assortment of demolitons, mines and grenades, if that is, what your question was asking for."

... hoping, that she had answered, what he had asked for, one of the last-minute-before-departure additions asked something. She remembered the newly assigned ComTech Corporal, Pushkin was his name.

"Corporal Pushkin is it. Your question brings up an important point for all of you. Rules Of Engagment."

... she paused a moment to emphasize the point and looked to each of the marines in turn ...

"As Fiorina 161 is confirmed property of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation and a possible Type 337 EEV is definitly property of the United States Colonial Marines, anybody down there, who is neither USCM nor W-Y personel has to be classified as a looter, and as such, does not fall under protection of ICC law. In short, weapons free."

... her gaze turned back to Pushkin ...

"orders are to respond to a distress call and to deal with a possible xenomorph infestation, not to extract as much evidence or intel as possible."


<Tag Dawgs>
Game Master
————————————
Image 1st Lt Daniela Harper - Platoon CO
USCM Special Forces Recon Team
Serial Number A08/TQ3.0.45013E2
Image Image Image Image Image Image
Image Image Image

Image

M10 Pattern Balistic Helmet
M3 Pattern Personal Armor
M41A Pulse Rifle (6 Mags, 20 Grenades)
Service Pistol (2 Mags)
Combat Knife
Shoulder Lamp
Portable Command Terminal
M94 Marking Flares

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Re: CHAPTER 2 - The Briefing

Post by BarbarianMathematics » Tue Jan 01, 2019 8:32 pm

Nikolai listened to Harper's response with a nod. "Understood Ma'am."

After hearing this, he takes a moment to stand back into position, idly muttering quietly under his breath to nobody in particular, "Suppose if we see them, they'll be fiercer than a pack of rabid wolverines."
ImageLCpl. Tanya Sokolova
USCM Special Forces Recon Team
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Corporal Nikolai Pushkin - ComTech
(Currently recovering)

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