C.C. - Mission 2

Connor heavily set his mech down, but did not leave right away. Instead he decided to look the part of the muscle to deter any on foot enemies as well as going on lookout of the immediate area. He was just as surprised as everyone else that this area was almost completely clean. He wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth, though. Grabbing his tent and opening the hatch, he clips the top of his tent to a bar in the front of the Bastion. And boom, his tent was set up. Cocoon tents, so easy to set up when you have a mobile anchor point.


"Alright, let's go and see what that lake's got for us." he said, rubbing his hands together and walking towards the lake. He had no intentions of walking into the lake, he didn't want to have wet clothes or shoes. Wet shoes led to wet feet, which lead to blisters, which was definitely uncomfortable and could get infected if they popped, which is also disgusting. Nah, he'd just look at it from the shore.
 
a bright, but subtle flash was spotted in the dark lake floor as Simon, took yet another selfie of himself whilst underwater. and by selfie of himself he took out a drone from his Mecha's utilities in order for him to take a picture of the mecha doing a funny little pose as a large and almost foreboding creature drew near and quickly withdrew the moment the flash had occurred. Simon then sent the picture to Cecil before taking a closer observation at the Sea monster.


It was dark and light was scarce as the drone couldn't operate underwater, it was water resistant but the water easily wears down the gadget the more its soaked.  Taking the drone back into the Soltiel's utility packet Simon noticed Large Ivory horns that swayed to and fro connected to the silhouette of a large leviathan like creature


latest
 


"i see... something huge.. with what looks like a pronged tail and and large horns... Its moving away but my goodness its huge.."


he relayed most of the information to his team and Simon would've wanted to describe it more but it looks like his orders were to get out of the lake. with a sigh and a desire not to disturb the massive, and almost perpetual looking beast Simon walked all the way to the lakeshore


"Ill be on my way, is there hostiles nearby or...?"


@tammynorthland @Beowulf @Abdel featherfall @Zer0
 

[SIZE= 18px]- Akira Sora -[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]"Lake Batoo, 1400 H"[/SIZE]






"[SIZE= 18px]Y[/SIZE]es, sir." said Sora.


Twenty minutes later he and Hikaru found themselves following the four men who, after finding themselves in the dead end of Hikaru's fake trail, decided to quickly, but stealthily, go back to the direction they came from.


The way was mostly uphill over thick undergrowth, sharp rock, and groves of pine, oak, and elm trees loosely clumped together, Hikaru and Sora were spread out a hundred meters apart and were now three clicks behind their targets. They were still in hostile territory and so they moved slowly.


As he stalked, Sora's eyes scanned the trees and the rocks for movement, any movement. His brown eyes flicked down to his feet every now and then, watching each placement for loose rocks or twigs. He only stepped on roots, stable rocks, hard dirt, or any place that allowed him to leave barely any foot prints or none at all. He sniffed the air sometimes whenever the wind blew his way for any smell that didn't belong to the forest.


After ten minutes the tracking device stopped moving and an hour later Sora lightly parted some ferns to see a dangerously steep ravine, where the river from the mountains that rushed and rolled towards Lake Batoo was roaring at the bottom about a mile below him. It was a very deep and dangerous drop. He checked his mini-map slowly and then looked up just as slow to find the spot the tracking device stopped. They had no map of the place, but his tracking device marked the point in space where the tagged man was, and there seven hundred meters north and some two hundred meters below the top of the ravine was a man-made cave. It looked empty.


Sora, moving slower than ever now, made his way down to the tree line and laid down in between some scrub bushes in a way that his silhouette and camou blended with it, tucked his rifle into his shoulder and looked through the scope to scout out the area. He first looked at the spots he knew would make good places to put a sentry or a sniper.


"Hikaru, position." whispered Sora.


"Coming down behind you, fifty meters." said Hikaru quietly.


"You saw me?" asked Sora, surprised.


"Yes, just now when you moved. That spot your in looked like the eighth best spot to recon the area and I figured you'd be here, or over that  open place near the rock that looks like a weird Euroglyphus maynei  that doesn't look like an obvious sniper's nest."


Sora smiled, a rare gesture, she knew him too well. It was hard to hide from someone who knew your habits and patterns, but then what can one expect after eight years in the military together?


Moments later, she appeared by his side wearing a shaggy guile suit netting just like him, her suppressed gunblade chimaera ready and trained at her shooting sector. He glanced at her and saw that she was excited, but under control, ready to get down to business. He could see it in her posture and the economy of her movement that separated real shooters from wannabes and in-and outers who were just waiting to return to civilian life.


"Okay, how do we do this, Sora?" she asked him.


"Spread out, circle around and look for sentries, traps, cameras, and for another way into that cave that we can use later tonight."


"Hai. These rogues must be pretty dexterous if they were able to traverse this kind of slippery terrain quickly." and with that she very slowly crabbed walked back into the shadows and out of sight.


***




[SIZE= 18px]A[/SIZE]n hour and a half later, Hikaru and Sora were slowly making their way back to Lake Batoo. Recon finished, they were able to make a rough contour map of the top and middle of the ravine around the cave. Apart from that they discovered: four trails leading into the ravine, six sentry points manned by camouflaged pairs whose faces could not be discerned through their dark non-reflective helmets, two snipers with a spotter each, a frequented watering hole, a tricky way down the ravine that the squad could climb and rope down from at night, and twenty four small wireless security cameras. They weren't able to find another way in the cave without getting spotted as it was daytime, and they couldn't I.D. the men either, but one thing for sure, they were wearing Crimson Canines suits and carrying U.S. chimaeras.


They reappeared in camp out of the blue an hour later than Redman ordered. The way down the mountain was harder than the way up, and so they had to take another route through wetter parts and had to obliterate their tracks as they went, so their going was slower than usual.


"Akira and Hitachiin back in camp." Sora announced through the comms. The two stepped down out of the tree line looking like a pair of shaggy leafy monsters with their rifles covered in earthy cloth and natural debris to break their outline sticking out. Hikaru removed her helmet, she was drenched in sweat and went over to the lake to splash some cool water on her face and clean the mud out of her suit.


Sora strode over to Redman with his dirty helmet off, saluted with a no-nonsense, "Sir." then handed over his suit's data collection device that contained all the information they carefully acquired and the photos and video of their recon through the live cameras of their helmets.


@tammynorthland
 
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Shina removed her helmet as well in disbelief. It was true. The natural air was breathable. They were able to breathe without their lungs burning. It was incredible, beautiful. Unbelievable. Shina walked up to Redmann. He smiled. She returned it as well. " How is this possible?" She asked.


Redmann gave a sharp happy glance as he looked up at the sky. "Lake Batoo is one of the purest waters left on Earth. It is filtered water from natrual springs underground. Once it makes its way through cracks at the bottom of the lake, the lake is filled with clean crisp drinking water. Clean enough to drink from the source since the water is constantly sinking back into the soil and re filtering. Fish that live inside including the one that Cecil described to us are able to live longer lives, the fish he saw was probably the Geyhorn that live in the massive waters. A vegetarian species, that much resembles an ox mixed with a manatee and fish. Very weird looking creature." Redmann paused. " the end result is a massive natural filtered lake that feeds the plant life in the territory and thus allows the plants to....lets use the word oxidate the area better than anywhere else known in the world. Our own next door neighbors." He chuckled. taking a deep breath.


"You hear that underwater," Shina spoke to The mech in the lake. "Your free to come to shore now." Shina said as she heard splashing probably from his mech.


Shina then  made her way to the waters. She smiled and glanced around. "whose coming with me?" Shina said deactivating the seal points in her suit as she removed it and her combat boots exposing her nano-skin.


Nano-skin: newly developed product of the crimson canines research group. The skin acts like an insulation to stay cool in heat and warm in summer. The skin is tight and acts much like a heat retardent for short period of time but not flame proof like armor would be. The skin is mainly used for an alternative for combat suit wear and help prevent rashes and chafing in long fight times.


Her nano-skin was pitch black like her hair. She tied up her hair. She hadnt swam in a very long time. "cmon pussies its nice in the water." She said walking into the shoreline into the clean crisp water. "An no one dare pee in here."


Redmann saw the recon group arrive. He exchanged the information with them as they showed them the different enemies and entry points. " yes yes they are most definitely the rogues." Redmann said recognizing the technology. " Once more our mission is to find out what they are doing here and why they went to this area." Redmann said. "What else did you find?" He asked them


@Orpheus 


@Zer0


@Killorkiller @Abdel featherfall
 

[SIZE= 18px]- Akira Sora -[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]"Lake Batoo, 1400 H"[/SIZE]






"[SIZE= 18px]T[/SIZE]hat's all, sir." said Sora. "We're planning to resume the recon tonight and enter the cave. Will you grant me permission to take Hikaru and conduct a clandestine operation? Main objective for the first twenty four hours would be to plant bugs inside the cave, map it out, get an accurate count of their numbers, and identify the leader."


After washing her face, Hikaru walked over to where Sora was reporting and stood a respectful distance behind him at ease, waiting to be dismissed or for further orders from him.


"Operation duration could be a couple of days." continued Sora. "We'll be staying in the area to monitor it effectively. The next phase after the bugs have been planted would be to explore the four trails, find out where the rogues keep going back and forth to. We won't reveal ourselves, there won't be any deaths, but if worse comes to worse, allow me the freedom to act as I see fit, sir, to capture the leader and as many prisoners as we can, and put down the rest."


@tammynorthland
 
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Redmann nodded. "If any of you 2 are spotted you abort right away. No excuses got it?" Redmann stated while Glancing at Shina in the water. She was relatively far out. ANd she honestly looked much  more appealing in the new nano-suits compared to the military suits they all were used to seeing each other in. Redmann finished. "We will be following up tomorrow at hours 1200 to finish the recon of the area. Let me know what you fins in the cave."


@Zer0 
 
"Take all the fun out of it, yeah?" Connor said jokingly, begrudgingly deciding to take off his suit, followed by his boots and socks and rolling up his pant legs. He didn't have that fancy nano skin stuff, but he didn't need it. His Titan frame was meant to do all that. The clothes he wore underneath, however, were still somewhat tight fitting. He didn't want to be getting a rash because of fabric constantly rubbing on his skin. And what was the worse that could happen? they were close to the shore, nothing to big could get at them unless it beached itself.
 
image.jpg


Alerius had simply kept his eyes and ears open. His helmet hissed and folded down. Exposing his black ponytailed hair to the elements, his lightly tanned skin truly feeling the earths wind for the first time in his life. He took a deep breath, unfiltered scents threatened to overwhelm his senses. It was absolutely relaxing. He looked to the rest who seemed to be getting ready for a swim and he decided to join. To feel the earths water against his skin, Without the suit in the way. Something he only dreamed of being able to do.


His armor seemed to fold into its self similar to his helmet allowing him to reach the releases for the suit. Each release clicked then hissed as pressure was released. He'd set the pieces neatly down on a rock off of the sand. He was wearing black pants and a tight fitting tee shirt. The pants were form fitting as well. Kicking off his boots and socks as he neared the water and stepped in. The chill sent a shiver up his spine and he pulled his shirt off. Both articles of clothing were water resistant, water would simply roll off even after being fully submerged.


The First thing that would be noticeable as Alerius lost his shirt was the sheer amount of scars the man had on his body. Some bullet scars in his back and one on the front of his hip. Scars from blades and shrapnel marred all sides of his otherwise exceptionally toned torso. His left arm was especially scarred though the medical team had gotten rid of most of the ugly stuff, there was only so much they could do. He took a moment to look at his scars, remember the stories they told.


--------------------------


FLASHBACK


 


Alerius woke with a start, his father having snuck into his room again to wake him up. There was a sharp stinging across his shoulder, like he'd been slapped with something. Through the haze of sleep there was his father, holding a bit of synthetic bamboo the man chuckled as Alerius grumbled in frustration, he'd failed again. He'll have to learn to sleep lighter sooner or later. 


 


His father spoke. " Dead again! How many times it's that now? Thirty-seven? Cmon! Your sister is making breakfast this morning, and happy twelfth birthday son." The man gave a playful wink and headed off out of the room, twirling that damn bamboo switch Alerius hated so much. He harbored no hard feelings toward his father for the rude awakenings every morning, on the contrary he appreciated it eve if he was annoyed by it. That's just how his dad taught lessons nothing his father did was ever malicious or just to be mean. It always had a purpose.


 


Sitting up he rubbed the sleep from his eyes then registered what his father said. " Wait.. My sister is only fou...crap." He resigned himself to having to eat anything his sister made for him because he hasn't learned by now his dad loves to yank his chain. He got up out of bed and shuffled down stairs. There was a whiff of something sailing through the air. Alerius reached up and caught it in his half asleep daze. A spoon, his dad threw a spoon at him. He'd never understand his family. To his surprise his sister wasn't actually the cook he was just too tired before to make that connection.


 


Breakfast went off without a hitch. Their family all got along just fine, this was before his mother had been confined to a wheelchair or an exosuit to assist her walking. The talk this time at the table was about the return to Earth in about eighteen years or so. Nearing the end of that topic and since the food was gone, Alerius's father stood and beckoned him over. " Cmon Son I've got a present for you." He said as he started walking out the door before Alerius could respond. So Alerius hopped up and followed him out into the bright lights.


 


-------------------------


Present


 


There was a splash as Alerius dove head first into the water. Gliding along the smooth sandy bottom before resurfacing just a couple feet from Shina. With a light gasp to draw in air. Holding their breaths wasn't a nessecary thing normally what with the suits filters and oxygen system. So he wasn't able to hold it as long as he'd have liked. " This is what real water should feel like.." He said as he leaned back and started to drift slowly toward shore.


 



 
 
"Hell yea!" Chris yelled as he took off his helmet by first twisting it left then right with a snap as its locks disengaged. Setting his Panda helmet on the ground he proceeded to undo the straps on his armor taking it off with little effort as it was so light.  Flopping his butt down on the sand he reached forward to untie his boots and take off his socks, the sand felt better than anything he could remember.  To be able to breath with out a filter was nothing short of a miracle, not that Chris was religious but it was hard not to believe that there was something high than you in this world.   


Once he was out of his armor all he had on was a pair of dark grey combat pants and a crimson t-shirt with a large black triangle and several smaller triangles in an alternating pattern.  Not wanting to get his shirt wet Chris removed it as well exposing, on his back, a set of jagged burn scars running from the back of his neck all the way down and even going past his his wast line.   Running down to the water with the others Chris jumped in, the shock of the water was refreshing and exhilarating. 


Flash back


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


[SIZE= 16px]Chris was being shaken awake very roughly, whoever it was obviously did not realize he was a Sargent was would boot their ass whoever they where. Chris had made a reputation for himself as the man that even if you where an officer he would still drop you with one punch.  Suddenly searing pain came from his back, he tried to open his eyes but the light was blinding and the pain intense.  Forcing his eyes to adjust, he took in the seen before him, carnage, fire burned everywhere melting a nearby forest as the intense heat killed everything.  The fire even seemed to burn the stone itself, an explosion from some sort of fuel caused his attention to be drawn to the wreckage of a drop ship that lay hear by.  Through the fire and smoke he could just barely make out the designation number of the ship, [/SIZE]Derva 8226c.  [SIZE= 16px]He laid there stunned, that was his teams drop ship, but there where back at base or that was the last thing he could remember.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 16px]Again a searing pain came from his back causing him to cry out, twisting to see want was going on back there he was greeted by the sight of his back on fire, literally.  A form was also back there trying desperately to put the fire out but with little success. [/SIZE]If that's a gas fire then you need an extinguisher, [SIZE= 16px]he thought hazily.  Then out of the smoke another figure appeared, this one had an extinguisher clutched in its hands as if it where his live.  The first person snatched the extinguisher from the second and then doused the flames eating Chris's back, it felt better but not great. [/SIZE]


[SIZE= 16px]The first figure moved in close so to talk to Chris, it was girl she had on combat armor and seemed to be angry at him.  It was then that he realized he could not hear a thing, shell shock, all he heard was a muffled voice telling him to get up.  Shakily Chris got to his feet, how he had no idea his wounds where bad and still he found the strength to stand.  As the shell shock wore off he was met by the sounds of gun fire, screaming, fire, and explosions. [/SIZE]


[SIZE= 16px]"Do you know what you did?" The girl was yelling at him.  "Cause of you we had to come and pull you sorry asses out, and they were waiting for us!" she screamed before turning swiftly and firing a couple of shots into the dark as to where Chris has no idea, his helmet had been damaged.[/SIZE][SIZE= 16px]  "Get him in the ship, evac is here." She said to the other soldier as she went back to firing at unseen foes.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 16px] [/SIZE]


[SIZE= 16px]The man grabbed Chris roughly and shoved him towards an other ship, other soldiers where already boarding it in droves.  As he was half pushed and half walked he over heard someone say something about their position being over run and they had to pull back.  But all he could think about was his team, where were they?  He had not seen any of them so far and was worried.  [/SIZE]


[SIZE= 16px]Boarding the ship as it took off, Chris looked at the man who was with him,  "What happened?" he asked out of breath and in pain from his back.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 16px]The man eyed Chris, "we were on an assault and your team got cut off from the main force.  They knew we where coming so the order was given to fall back but you would not leave your squad so ya fell back to a safe local.  We sent a bird to get you, you and your team got on but just as it was about to leave it got hit by a rocket.  We came in for the rescue and found your position over run, so we fought em and pushed em back far enough to get to the ship." something made the man stop, he had a solemn look in his eyes.  "You where the only one alive."[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 16px]Chris could believe his ears, his whole team...gone.  Letting out a scream of pure agony Chris started pounding the metal floor under with his fists.  The man who had helped him jumped up and tried to restrain Chris but it took some effort, by the time Chris was under control his knuckles where bloody and broken.  Laying on the floor, he stayed there until they got back to base, he knew there would be punishment for this and he knew it would be on his head.  But he accepted it, there was nothing he could do.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 16px]@tammynorthland @Zer0 @Beowulf @Abdel featherfall[/SIZE]
 

[SIZE= 18px]- Akira Sora -[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]"Mountain Ravine, Rogues' Cave"[/SIZE]




[SIZE= 18px]A[/SIZE]fter a late lunch --- Grizzly had caught a couple of freshwater fishes and turned them into sashimi and saved some for the Amber Fox soldiers --- and a swim in the lake, Sora and Hikaru emerged from the cold  water to sleep early as the two probably won't get any proper sleep for the next few days with all the work they have to do.


Like all soldiers who spend more time in the field than at home, more time in their suits than out, Sora and Hikaru had pale complexions, with the marksman the palest of the two. Sora was lightly built like a light weight boxer with big shoulders and a broad back. Being oriental he was the shortest among the men who had American blood. He had short blonde hair with a scar that stretched from the corner of his eyebrow, across the side of his head, and pass a missing chunk of his ear.


"How'd that happen?" asked Komodo who liked talking about scars.


"Enemy marksman decided to give me a hair cut." said Sora casually. He had been stalking in the forest where he conducted his guerilla operations one month ago, when all of a sudden a bullet shot through his helmet, taking off a chunk of his ear and he immediately dropped to the ground pretending to be dead. He didn't move for a day, but got out alright.


He didn't know who shot him, but one day he'd like to find out and give some pay back.


***




[SIZE= 18px]T[/SIZE]hat night, he and Hikaru were back in the ravine but in different spots, far from each other. The rogues must have had the same idea as them to recon at night as around sunset they saw a flock of frightened birds fly out of the tops of the trees, followed by about twenty rogues coming out from different parts of the area in pairs, then scattered to prowl the forest towards the east where Hikaru's fake trail had been heading to.


The rogues were agile indeed and used ropes and their climbing gear to traverse up the ravine with ease. The security had tightened around the area, with the sentries and the snipers re-positioned for a tighter watch.


And then Sora noticed one rogue who stood out from the rest: He was inside the dark man-made cave dressed just like everyone else with no mark of rank on his suit and a dark helmet covering his face, but he was pointing and giving orders to some men before he disappeared around a corner. Could it be the leader?


"Wasabi on site." whispered Hikaru's voice through the comms. They were using codenames in case the enemy tuned in on their communication frequency. "Waiting for your go, Ghost." she tied one end of a rope on to a tree, double checked her climbing gear and got ready to move out of the bushes she was hiding in and rappel down the ravine.


"Go." said Sora who was nestled concealed up a tree and watching the sentries and the enemy sniper's line of sight. There was a trick to moving through a tightly guarded area, and that's by timing your movements when they're not looking, which could only last for a second or two.


Hikaru in exaggerated slowness came out of the bush in a sniper low crawl, taking care not to cause overhead movement by rubbing on the areas where there were bushes and tall grass.


"Stop."


Hikaru froze. She couldn't see what he saw, but the scope of an enemy sniper was sweeping through Hikaru's area. Sora was cool as a cucumber, finger resting lightly on the trigger, ready to shoot if the enemy sniper so much as flinched at Hikaru's direction. The watch passed. "Go." said Sora calmly.


Hikaru continued, her heart hammering, but her breathing steady. Had it been someone else on overwatch, Hikaru would never be this calm being out in the open. They progressed inch by inch, slowly but surely roping down into the ravine and into the man made cave. This reminded Sora of the suicide mission he had taken a month and a week after the war started, it was his longest crawl behind enemy lines.


 


[SIZE= 14px] ----------------- Flashback -----------------[/SIZE]




[SIZE= 18px]The image of the "sniper" has captivated many people who had romanticized how it actually was and felt like in real life. Not many people knew about having to wear adult diapers while waiting, without getting up or moving from a concealed position, for a target for days without sleep, peeing sideways into a bottle, and how there was such thing as "unconfirmed kills". When you've taken a shot at a man seven hundred meters away behind enemy lines, you don't go over there to check if he's dead.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]Today was the day Sora was going to make his 91st unconfirmed kill, unconfirmed because he had no witness, and was alone for this mission. He had been crawling inch by inch through an open field heavily guarded and patrolled by Brits for five days and four nights without sleep and with only the short grass of the meadow for concealment. He had been stepped on by patrols about nine times already and almost got squashed by a mech during sunset the other day, but no one realized he was there.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]The thing that made him stand out was his ability to totally integrate himself into the environment and had an uncanny awareness of his surroundings. He was a man of the forest and could notice the smallest of details, from insects, to every shifting breeze. His target for this mission was a Brittannia General, his first one. Sora had slowly made it into firing position, where he lay on his belly watching, and listening before bringing his rifle very carefully up and tucked it in his right shoulder.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]He didn't know what the general looked like, this officer had only been seen in his suit and even then, the Brits in the camp seven hundred meters away were wearing the same suit. And then he saw him, a soldier who did not help with the chores, who sat and gave orders and was the only one who had an aide constantly attending to him. He had the same height as the general in the briefing Sora had received, and the same build.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]Sora slowed his breathing, no longer feeling tired, nor hungry, and centered his sights on the man's head. A leaf swayed in the breeze, and he moved the sights ever so slightly to settle above the man's left ear instead to compensate for the shifting of the wind. His finger rested on the trigger . . . easy . . . easy . . . squeeze --- pop.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]BANG[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]The general crumpled, leaving a thin vapor of blood in the air where he had been standing. He fell before the Brits heard the bang from Sora's rifle. The entire camp went into combat alert, mechs pointing their guns at the tree line two thousand meters away at the edge of the meadow, not knowing that the Sora was actually seven hundred meters nearby. He looked through his scope, the general wasn't moving. Mission accomplished.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]He had thought that they would find him, what with the tightened security. This mission wasn't called a suicide mission for nothing, it had very low or no chance of coming back home while you were doing it and after you've done it. But it went without a hitch. The way back took longer, Sora crawled away circling around and out of the hot zone before he was picked up by Izaya and Sandai in a hovercraft who were surprised at his appearance.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]Sora had weighed about a hundred sixty pounds before he started the mission, but when he got back he was just a hundred and twenty and looked like a scarecrow. That was another thing people didn't know about the life of a marksman, about subsiding for days on nothing but crackers, peanut butter, and whatever one could forage in nature, sometimes not eating at all so that you wouldn't give yourself away.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]Izaya and Sandai brought him back to the Amber Fox motherbase in the Sol mountains where Sora just collapsed on his bed, and without even changing the adult diaper he had been wearing for six days, immediately fell asleep.[/SIZE]


 


[SIZE= 14px]----------------- End -----------------[/SIZE]


 



Five hours later, Hikaru radioed in saying that she had found the leader and tagged his shoe with a tracking device. She had made it inside and had already planted Sora's little spy cams in different strategic points inside the tunnels and chambers, and placed some tracking device on a few mechs.


They discovered that the cave network was huge and seemed to be an underground ruin turned into a small fortress. Hikaru counted sixty six personnel inside, found one area full of mechs, a chamber that was the rogue's armory, their communications center, and discovered a chamber that looked like a command center. Here, while disguised as one of the rogues, she took a picture of a man who looked, talked, and moved like he was the one in charge, sending the data to Sora.


"Good work." he said. And switched frequencies, radioing Redman at around midnight to tell him all they found.


(OOC: @tammynorthland, I'll leave the leader and whatever they saw the rogues were doing in the cave to you?)
 
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3vBCqI4.jpg



The cavern was massive, filled with little bungalos and establishment. The work clearly couldnt be done simply by a few people. There had to be another reason. Upon further analysis there seemed to be a few scouts that were suitless, alot of them were suitless. In fact only a select few were still in their combat uniforms. They held rifles and pistols that most likely were able to transform at their portside ready to attack. The two on the scouting mission successfully were able to hook up cameras to get a better view inside the cavern. It must have been a result of the weathering that the rock took over the years. Combined with water that flowed to what would probably be safe to say lake Batoo. The cavern being not just a camp. But what appeared to be a village. There was a massive bridge leading to what seemed the central part of the establishment. Upon another take there seemed to be construction mechs that had the Crimson Canine symbols across the backs of them. This was how it was all possible to do with the ammount of people they had.


Redmann glanced at the cameras as the night appeared. the mist lightly covering the lake from the water that evaporated during the day. He was outside his suit at this point, enjoying a warm fire and sashimi that was prepared from the beautiful waters of lake Batoo. The campfire always held many stories but Redmann was deep in thought. His mind trying to digest the cavern in the mountain sides near the lake. 'This seems familiar.' Redmann thought in his head, studying the layout. The man in the pitch black suit..... He resembled someone. He couldnt place a finger on it. He recalled the footage and studied for a bit longer.


Shina approached him sitting next to the small handheld moniter. "Is that from the scouting mission in the cave?" She asked.


Redmann nodded. "This man in the black suit.... he doesnt need to wear that, but a few of them are. He resembles someone or something I have seen before."


Shina sat in silence, she was still in her nanosuit which dried really quick and the fire kept her warm on the perfect night. "Why would he? They are rogues."


Redmann scratched his scraggly beard. "yes. perhaps our right."


Shina chuckled a bit eyes glowed under the milky way galaxy and stars it was beared with. "Besides, its not like you fought the guy or anything."


Redmann stared at the suit, there was a tiny emblem on its back, one with what seemed to be the letter "R;" There was a pause. redmann sat up in his spot next to the fire. 


Flashback:


The night was long it was a battle not to be remembered. The u.s. army was sent into battle for 3 days with the enemy lines. The faction was about 100 men. Now only 20 remained, several injured. Most were dead. The warrior was inside his mech armed with 2 swords in the field his suit riddled with bullet holes but still somehow operating. His chest had an armor plate he ripped from another mech to double up his defense. the silent night became interrupted at their temporary camp in the clearing of the woods they were resting in for the meantime.


Several mechs and soldiers dropped from the trees. It was an ambush. The soldiers all lept up to battle leaving the wounded fire being exchanged side to side. More men and mechs taking damage and falling. A soldier in a mech planted his grip into Redmanns armored plate riping it off. He stumbeld back from the attack and wielded his two swords. The enemy armed twin blades as well. 


"Thats a mighty fine mech you have there." Said the voice.


Redmann held a guard in a similar fighting position as the enemy as the battle rode on between the others explosions and gun fire in the background. The battle started on with returning sword strikes, blow after blow. The enemy overpowering Redmann, getting his first blow to the arm dropping his 2nd sword. He returned a slash. only for the swing to miss by the stronger less weak soldier. "Its great to see you worn out like this otherwise I wouldnt be close to your level" The voice said. He sent a flying kick knocking Redmann to the ground. The mech planting a foot on top of Redmanns chest. " Just remember this." The voice said. "The Remnants will always prevail."  Redmann took a blow to the mainframe of his suit before everything went black.


2 days later Redmann woke up in the hospital, they sent in a bird that rescued them, but the battle he had no memory of. Only the beginning and waking up in the hospital.


"The Remnants. That man has to be the leader of that group that attacked us that night. I was put in the hospital ad had amnesia. But I remember it like that. The suit had a red and black crest with an R shaped slash almost like it was paint on it." Redmann sulked down. he tried to remember that night for 2 years. and couldn't remember it at all. Nothing, like it never happened. he remembered the pain his comrads went through. The pain hit him once more of the pain he went through.


Shina listened as the others listened on the story he told about that night. What happened. The Remnants..... 


"If that symbol is the same thing, I would bet anything that group that ambushed us is in there. And hes the leader of that group." Redmann said quietly.


Shina stood up. "Then shouldnt we get reinforcements and eliminate all of them?" Shina said.


"No the mission was to scout and report back, we can do a full assault once we know who they are tomorrow." Redmann said. "we will get rest and let Sora and Hikaru return, perhaps they will learn more."


@Zer0 @Killorkiller @Abdel featherfall @Orpheus  (return to camp after your next post we time skip to the morning.) (also any more flashbacks are welcomed :)
 
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Alerius stayed in the water like that for a good hour just swimming, once the day cooled a little he stood from the water and dried himself off as he carried his gear back to the camp, throwing his shirt back on. He'd set his suit aside for now next to his bedroll he reached down and drew his dagger then found a branch and set to carving while he listened to the others and the plan for the next few days. " I'll take first watch tonight" he piped up before falling back into his carving. The information being absorbed into his head.


---------------------------------


Flashback PT. 2


 


Alerous followed his Dad out the door. A surprise for him? That was rare their family did well enough but luxuries were few and far between. This included presents on birthdays. Though his family always tried it was almost always a small gift and that was okay.


 


They walked into the training rooms and Alerius's dad motioned for Alerius to stay there in the middle of the Dojo floor and he obeyed. The room was very traditional looking with swords on the racks as well as wooden training swords. Alerius's was on the end of the rack and was easily the most worn out out of all of them.  He was diligent, there was no doubt about that. He was also rather gifted though he'd never been able to come close to Beating his father. 


 


Speakong of his father, the man reemerged from a back room with a long black box with a white ribbon tied around it. " Here you go Son open this up and tell me what you think." Gifts were as mentioned somewhat of a rarit. Especially anything this expensive looking. Alerius hesitated but took the box from his father and undid the ribbon. Allowing it to fall to the floor as the wooden box slid open. Inside was a beautiful two and a half foot Short sword, glistening in the artificial lighting of the Dojo. It was Alerius's first real sword and it was finely made at that. " This.. This is for me?" He asked almost too shocked to believe it.


 


His father nodded and Gave a genuine smile. An infectious and charming smile that Alerius had inherited. " Yup! Had it custom made just for you. Let's hit the Sim room and test it out huh?"  Alerius nodded and closed the box for now as he followed his dad to the Sim room. 


 


------------------------

 

[SIZE= 18px]- Hitachiin Hikaru -[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]"Mountain Ravine, Rogues' Cave"[/SIZE]




[SIZE= 18px]H[/SIZE]ikaru was in the rogue's busiest mech hangar sorting tools and doing some cleaning in front a table while facing a wall. She was dressed plainly for the disguise --- no suit, her own gear wrapped up in an inconspicuous bundle and hidden in some nook --- and behaved the same way everyone was behaving; she had carefully chosen an engineer's cap that casually covered her eyes and smudged her face a bit to look the part.


It was now two in the morning, she had heard the plan to launch a full scale assault on the rogues later today and had spent the last two hours casually wandering the areas near the command center, communications center, and the largest mech hangar, as if she belonged to the place, to memorize its layout. Now she was currently waiting for Sora to join her as they had decided to change plans and plant bombs, then sneak into the rogue's command center to find out more about what they were doing here.


A male engineer with short black hair placed a crate of dirty tools on the table.


"Thanks." said Hikaru sarcastically without looking.


"It's me." said the man quietly with Sora's voice. Hikaru smiled without looking at him.


"When did you dye your hair?"


"About an hour ago." said Sora without looking either and began helping her clean. "Had to use coffee and things from the toilet . . . Do you have the bombs?"


"Yes. Where are we placing them?"


"Comms center, barracks, and one on each mech if you can." Sora gave her another crate that had dirty tools and dirty cloth and looked like a supply crate  for engineers who repair mechs or repair structures. "Hide the bombs in here, then just abandon the crate and meet me in mess hall one in five hours when you're done."


"Got it."


Six hours later, she and Sora met up in said hall that was now full of chattering soldiers having breakfast.


"You're late." said Sora, sounding a bit relieved. "I thought something happened to you."


"Sorry," said Hikaru, she looked annoyed for some reason, " a guy tried to be courteous to me and I had to let him carry the crate, and we ended up talking, and he wouldn't let me go until I agreed to meet up with him tonight . . . on a date. Can you believe it?"


Sora chuckled. "At least you're blending in well."


"Sometimes I wish I was a guy. Then I can just stand there like you and stare at people with that special, 'don't mess with me', look you have and they'd just leave me alone. I wish I could scare bad guys away."


"Lady, I wouldn't mess with you even for the fun of it." complimented Sora. They didn't use their real names as they talked. Hikaru looked up at him with an expression as though trying to hide how pleased she was to hear this, and then just looked down and continued eating, the tips of her ears slightly red.


Hikaru wasn't used to this kind of compliment, thought Sora. She was sensitive about being a woman in the military. It was hard. Even after two million years Japanese women still had a lower standing in their society, especially in the military. If a man accidentally shot someone, he made a mistake, but if a woman accidentally shot someone, then that's the reason why women shouldn't be soldiers.


But being a woman had tactical value. Over the years several people have underestimated Hikaru and then come within her reach. Not professionals of course, those could read her eyes and see the danger that lay behind them, if she bothered to turn on the lights which rarely happened.


Hikaru meanwhile was trying hard not to smile. This was just like that time they first properly met in the military academy.


[SIZE= 14px] ----------------- Flashback -----------------[/SIZE]




[SIZE= 18px]S[/SIZE][SIZE= 14px]he was sitting on a chair in a neighborhood city block outside a three story building where her company was having their live simulations with paint balls with another group.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]She was sad because she "died" again during their simulation training with the two paintball marks in the middle of her back and one just underneath her arm marking a lung shot that would have killed her had the bullet been real.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]"Again? My word, woman, to die like that is a real shame." commented his superior in Japanese, looking at the paint smears on her back. A shot like that meant you were dead before you knew it, before you could put up a fight.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]Using paint balls was an old school way of training. Japan had more advanced tech with digital bullets, but pain served a better lesson. It helped make you take getting hit or "killed" during simulation seriously. They did use that type of needle ammunition that released chemicals into your system that mimicked the pain from a real bullet, but they wanted paintballs to mark where the bullet had hit a person.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]One of the recruits from the other company, the blonde guy who had shot her came over and just said, "Hey, you want ice for that?" he pointed at her side.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]"No." said Hikaru immediately in a testy voice. They weren't wearing any armor, so she knew she was going to see an itchy bruise there in the showers later, but she didn't want the men in her company to underestimate her more than they already did now.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]The blonde guy just nodded. What was he still doing here? Did he feel guilty for hurting a woman?[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]"You were hurrying."  he said pointing out her mistake.[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]"I know." said Hikaru wondering if he was going to cricize her and give her a look like she didn't belong here just like the other men.[/SIZE]


"But more than that you assumed, you assumed that the target you saw in the room was the only one in there and after you put him down, you stopped worrying about it. That's 'Ambush Relief Syndrome', you survived one and then you subconsciously labeled that room clear when you haven't gone in there yourself."


If it was a dumb enemy and there were two in there, they would have open fired at the same time, but there are always exceptions, a smart bad guy. And exceptions get you killed."


". . ." Hikaru didn't know whether to thank him for this insight or be annoyed because he was chewing her out, although his voice wasn't loud nor angry. She looked at him, he looked like someone who wanted to teach her, not criticize her and she just nodded her thanks.


When she still looked down, he said: "Look, nobody cares if you make a rookie mistake your third time out. The ten times I ran in this simulation I caught a bullet, they almost named that door after me after the number of shots I took there. The only ones who can run this simulation perfectly, are those who've done it so many times they dream about it in their sleep. That's the way it works, practice makes perfect." said the blonde.


Hikaru felt a little better. "Yes . . . I'm sorry if I'm being moody. I thought you were here to look down on me."


The blonde man chuckled. "I'm not keen on telling you this, but you did pretty good your first time out. Scary good."


"Now you're making fun of me."


"No, I'm serious. You're rough around edges, you [SIZE= 14px]had barrel crossed one of your boys twice out of your firing zone, but ---"[/SIZE]


"Barrel cross?"


"Yes, when you're out of your firing sector and you accidentally [SIZE= 14px]point your gun over the back of  your partner --- in this case his head, which is a big no, no."[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]"Okay. Point taken, don't point your gun at your friends."[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]The blonde guy laughed. "Exactly, like I said [/SIZE][SIZE= 14px]you're rough around the edges, but you have great instincts, didn't you notice you had the third most kills today? Most deaths too, but still, I wouldn't mind having you at my six."[/SIZE]


Hikaru felt her cheeks flush and she just mumbled a thanks and said that she had to go and meet up with her company. The blonde guy didn't seem to notice anything and just told her she was welcome and jogged off.


She had learned later on that he was Akira Sora, and since then had had a liiiiittle crush on him.


[SIZE= 14px]----------------- End -----------------[/SIZE]

 


After a while she blinked out of her reverie when Sora began talking about sneaking into the command center, but looking like he was talking about the weather or something light hearted in case someone was looking at them.


"The leader doesn't sleep in the command center, he's got his own place and he's got a suit with a black visor. If I can get that suit, wear it, I can get into the command center and read up whatever files they have."


"Where shall I standby?" said Hikaru.


"Replace one of the command center's guards, the ones with the suits and assault rifles when they change their shifts. And put a suppressor on your weapons. If things go south, we can keep it quiet and keep it inside. Let's do it this lunch time when most of the soldiers are in the mess hall."


"Alright."


After that they went back to the mech hangar and blended in. Sora contacted Redmann and told them of their plan and how they had planted bombs in all the major areas, including the communications center which they plan to blow up first before the assault proper.


@tammynorthland
 
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Shina went to sleep around 2300 hours. She was tired. She wanted to get some much needed rest. During the night of sleep she needed.


The camp was quiet. First one at watch. Shina was inside a popup shelter, much like a tent but assembled itself and was more sturdy. Folds up and such fitting inside a box she clipped on her mech for travel;


There was a slight breeze. 2 shadows emerged from the treeline by the lake front of Batoo. They were unarmed. Creeping in past the one who was currently on watch. They made their way to Shinas shelter. She was in her sleeping bag unarmed. They slithered inside the camp undetected. Injecting Shina with a needle. She was sure to stay asleep. They picked her up one standing guard while the other holding her over his shoulders snagged her bringing her back into the tree line unoticed. The morning only a few hours away. She was taken. She didnt even know it yet.


Flashback:


"Shina your not going to go anywhere with fucking art! You need to do something to have a good life. You dont want to end up poor and homeless!" Shinas father yelled at her.


Shina was crying holding back tears. "Dad its what I love and you cant change it, why cant you guys accept what I want to do?!"


"I made a name for myself, and you being my only daughter needs to do the same!" He yelled back


"I dont want to I want to make a name in what I love if I am happy you should be happy too!" She retreated back into herself a bit more sobbing. her parents never supported what she liked to do, they always wanted her to be like them. Successful business owners, while her father just never seemed to be impressed by anything. She was 17 at this time. No college in her future, grades were average, she was good with art work though; she loved it it made her happy.


"Your going to graduate and you have nothing with your life going on! your gonna just expect to live her for free?!" He screamed, her mother was gone at work, unable to put her thoughts in. "You need to do SOMETHING Shina." He said calming his voice down.


Before graduating Shina was interested in the Crimson Canine recruitment. It would be the only way she could make it after high school. Her parents said that if she didn't get her life together by then she would be homeless by the time she was 18. She was pressured into it. Not having a choice, fear, anxiety, sadness, depression. All her artwork was inspired by these themes during that time. It was hard for her to try in school but the canines wont accept you into recruitment unless you graduate. So....she did. and her first day of boot camp was going to start in 21 days after grad night.


Shina woke up. She quickly came to her senses, reaching for her 805 just to grab nothing on her back. She was in her nanosuit. unarmed. She was locked up. "What the fuck? Where am I??" Shina said quietly. he was in a cell.


Redmann bolted outside waking everyone up. After searching the perimeter he was certain of it. "EVERYONE WAKE UP!! SHINA WENT MISSING! IM PRETTY SURE THE ROGUES GRABBED HER IN THE NIGHT!"


Redmann quickly got his clothing on and scanned the radio. There was interference but he broadcasted the message to sora and Hikaru. "Shina has been taken, locate her. We are in route!"


@Zer0 @Killorkiller @Orpheus @Abdel featherfall (Shina is inside the cavern somewhere. sora and Hikaru cannot blow the place until they rescue her. they do not know where she is)
 
"Get up its supper time"


"..."


"Hey wake up now Sarah's gonna smack you with a hanger if you don't"


"nngghh.... just five more minutes"


"Oh sure lemme just leave you here... its not like... i dunno its not once everyday we get chicken or....."


"...."


"......"


".....Clank...?"


"......"


"...."


*FWIP, SMACK!*


"OW!! HEY WHAT GIVES!!!"


"WE"RE GONNA EAT ALL THE CHICKEN YOU TWO BIT NO LEGGED SLOTH!!!"


"WHAT!!??!"


*TAP TAP TAP Tap...*


"WAIT NO FAIR!!!! I HAVE TO GET ON MY LEGS!!!"



*CLAnk, Clank, Knock...*


"Damnit!! ARRRGH!!!! ITS ALL IN KNOTS! CHOPSTICK!!!!!"


"Chopstick, did you wake up Clank?"


"He's on his way.."


"are you sure Orange and Cupcake had a hard time waking him up"


"IF YOU EAT ALL THE CHICKEN I'M GONNA STRING YOU UP AND EAT YOU!!!"


"I have my ways"


*CLANK CLANK CLANK CLANK SMACK!!!!*


"Ah, welcome to the dining table!"


"Ey Simon!"


"Dude! Did you just Run all the way here!?"


"Look his legs all in knots"


"yeh yeah yeah... wheres the chicken.."


"Straight to the point huh Clank?"


"Sorry... i just... hah... That rude Rusty bolt over there woke me up"


"Please, I saved you from starving you lanky twig"


"Alright alright settle down now, and get your seats you two"


"Hmph.."


"Hehe.."


"Okay so Everyone better thank Orange today, we have him to blame for our soup"


"THANK YOU ORANGE"


"Twas nuthin"


"And For Cookie and cupcake in helping me set it all up"


"Thank you Cookie and Cupcake"


"Say thanks cupcake"


"BBlllbllbbnnn!"


"hehehehaha!!"


"Thank you cupcake, okay so everyone..."


"...."


"......"


"..."


"Uhhh..."


"....WHAT IS THIS BRAZILIAN FRICKING IDOL!!! CMON WE;RE HUNGRY!!!"


"hehe, Dig in!"


*Chink, clank, Clank, Glomp, Mash*


"HEY slowly now! Save enough for everyone!"


"Oh yeah, speaking of Brazilian Idol, think we can turn on the radio"


"Oh yeah sure hold on"


"So what the heck where you dreaming Clank?"


"Nommm nomm.. MMm.. Sasajes?"


"Sausages?"


"Mhhm..."


"Dude thats so gay"


"PFFT! Get off my back i saw you chomp down on those weiners!!"
"Yeah sure, lets forget the time we had to risk ourselves getting caught because you Wanted those hungarians so bad!"



"I remember that too!! you were so dumb!! who risk's it all for Hungarian!?"


"They were delicious and you know it!!!


"they we're~"


"Oh great now Orange is gay"


"Duude!"


"Hhahahaha!!"


"Everybody shush!!"


"...."


"......."


*Kzzt.....Ev....Now...Al...Ever..........Esca....*


"What?"


*Ever...ne...Wa..... wa....*














"WAKE UP!!!"


"gaH!!"


Redmans distress woke Simon up as he slept on the grass


"Wait what?"


He overhead the situation, Shina was missing, and possibly abducted by others. He didnt think anyone else would abduct them... or perhaps it was Russia all over again. his brain was still trying to wake itself up as well as his body as he groggily got off from the ground.


"Shina's gone? Hold on argh... Anyone able to track her signal? or last known location? ill be there en route as well ill help with the search. can't have gone far"


Simon then Activated his HUD to get the topography of the area and possible routes, in addition he took out his bow and started walking to a possible route. 


@Zer0 @tammynorthland @Abdel featherfall @Killorkiller
 

[SIZE= 18px]- Akira Sora -[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]" Mountain Ravine, Rogue's Cave "[/SIZE]




[SIZE= 18px]H[/SIZE]ikaru and Sora were drinking coffee in far different locations, but they were casually watching the same area: the Command Center to time the change in guard shifts and the route they took for their plan later this lunch time. Sora was on his belly in a nook between the rocks in the vast underground chamber wall and behind a outcrop of rock far above the city, watching the fortress below through his scope.


"Shina has been taken, locate her. We are in route!" came Redmann's voice in the comms.


"Copy that, sir, any other details you could give me that'll help us find her? Number of footprints, any mech foot prints? Anything missing from her tent?" said Sora now alert. "Wasabi, stand by."


"Roger." said Hikaru.


Sora checked all the video feeds from the cameras they installed earlier, starting with the one at the entrance of the cave and rewound the video.


(OOC: @tammynorthland, did the cameras see her or anything that looked like someone was carrying a bag or container big enough to hide a body?)
 
the cameras upon closer analysis revealed that she was taken to the northern most sector of the cave establishment. The building being furhter up guarded all times by 6 guards and 2 sniper towers. Far to difficult to sneak into with only having one entrance. No one is allowed here except authorized personell.


redmann gave his commmands as they hopped onto the trails on foot. If they were by mech they would be spotted for sure this was going to be their best chance at getting close possibly infaltrating without being spotted. The grass and mud shuddered beneath their feet as the made their way toward the cave entrance. "Guys we are on our way DO NOT lose your cover GOT IT!!!???"


Inside the other soldiers were beggining to depart from the mess hall making their way back to their post and locations. They all lived inside this place, they ate, they laughed together. It was all so odd. The fact that they were up to something and meanwhile they were going to be destroyed on the inside out by Sora and Hikaru along with their group in the Crimson Canines.


-----


Shina was dreaming her body ached she was falling in and out of consiousness. 'where am I? am I dying? I dont feel liek it? I just feel tired....' Shina thought to herself. She was inside of a cell. Surrounded by bars. It was cold, freezing in fact.


"Where am I?" Shina jolted into a coma.


Flashback.


Shina was always a great artist. But the fact she was forced by her own family into the military made her feel like she lost her artistic touch. It was several weeks after she was stolen of her true eyesight. The scientists that operated on her successfully implanted the bioptics into her body. he was no longer able to claim herself as a human. She felt worse than that. Like she wasnt normal anymore. Shina sat up in her recovery rooms bed and made her way to the bathroom. The mirror reflecting her red piercing eyes. They glowed softly with red. Like she was a demon, a monster. Her parents probably never visited her because this reason. She was told by her doctor they never called and asked despite her superiors calling and reporting the news. She lost the ability to create tears. Something that could not be replicated by the bioptics system, she didnt need them. She was sobbing regardless. Tryin to cry. Shina slammed her hands on the sink as it rumbled stinging pain in her hands from the cold porcelain. She stared once more at her eyes. They looked human for the most part. But the color was gone, she lost her green eyes she once had. Now they were alot like a glowing red camera lense with the textures of a cameras guts inside. 


Shina went back to her bed lying down. This was the main reason she never spoke to her parents anymore. They didnt care about her. They didnt even want to be around her when she almost lost her life. They lost all need to be in her life, she never had a great relationship with them. Now she wouldnt have one at all.


"Get up Shina!" A voice chimmed


Shina jolted into reality. she rubed her eyes and looked around. "What?" She felt more alert than before. Like she wasnt.......


"High anymore."  a voice finished.


''I was drugged? When? how?' Shina thought. she was hoping this was a dream a nightmare. 


"Its real." The voice chimed once more.


Shina sat up eyes adjusting to the light. She wasnt in a cell....she was in a room. a white room with one painting on the wall done by a current famous artist from her time. She recognized the piece. She smiled a bit her dream...at least what she thought made her appreciate the artwork. The room had a bed she lied on unrestrained, a nightstand with a bottle of water, as well as her clothing. She was currently in some regular clothes that were put on her. They were a simple tshirt and black lounge sweatpants. Shina looked around. The place had no window, one door, and a lamp in the corner of the room. She realized quickly she was kidnapped....


@Zer0 @Killorkiller @Orpheus @Abdel featherfall
 

[SIZE= 18px]- Akira Sora -[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]" Mountain Ravine, Rogue's Cave "[/SIZE]






[SIZE= 18px]A[/SIZE]fter some recon, Sora gave Redman the details that they found about Shina's location, then he thought for a moment . . . How were they going to do this? Seemed like, the only way is to fight their way through, blow up some of the bombs as a distraction, then sneak and fight through during the chaos, but that would probably kill Shina. "Any ideas, Wasabi?"


"Mmm . . . We could find out who's cooking and delivering Shina's food, then hide a small bomb or a blade in there for her to use when the firefight starts. Or we go with your plan impersonating their leader and make them believe you want to talk to her alone somewhere outside the building."


"How do we fix my voice? I don't have the same voice as their leader."


"I can speak for you after I impersonate one of the rogues with suits. We can hit two birds with one stone this way: get intel as to why they're here and get our friend out of that place."


"Alright, first recon the area, there may be sewers or air vents we can crawl through, then find out where her food is being made and who's delivering them. I'm going to look for the leader." said Sora, checking the location of the tracking device Hikaru had managed to stick on to the leader's shoe.


"Sir, did you copy that?" he added to Redman. "Do we have your go to proceed, or do we wait and just do some intel gathering until you arrive?"


(OOC: @tammynorthland, Hikaru is going to look for cameras, the location of the comms room, the location of the electric generator or power line that powers the lights and electronics of the building, count the number of soldiers inside the building, and see if there was a way to enter the building from above or underground. Sora meanwhile is going to look for an opportunity to ambush the leader and take his suit if Redman gives him the go.)
 
Alerius had been asleep, his shift having ended. He didn't hear anything. Sleeping near the camp fire under the open sky. The sound of the crackling fire had masked the sound of approaching footsteps for him. He awoke with everybody else when he'd heard the news. " She was what?!" It was unusual for Alerius to lose his composure. But one of his squad mates. Part of his family was now missing. His Armor went on in record time. Shield clipped onto his forearm, folded down so it was little larger than a dinner plate right now. But it could expand to cover almost his entire body.


His revolver holstered and his cloak on, covering his shoulders and front. His helmet closing around his face as the pressure seals hissed as they locked into place, a gentle whine as the visual display booted up. His sword was holstered for now. Apon receiving orders he followed them. His footsteps quiet as he traipsed along the forest floor, under the green canopy. His footsteps sure and careful. If one didn't know better it was almost like he wasn't there. 


His weapons holstered to keep his hands free as he took up the Point position in order to scout somewhat ahead to make sure it was clear, and for Now it was. Back in camp he'd been trembling in anger. the most frightening thing about him when he's like that is the hellfire burning in his intense ocean blue eyes. Like a single faze would set you ablaze. As soon as his helmet was however his body language was incredibly cold despite the fire in his eyes. May the gods help any who stand in his way now. He'd get like this for any of them should something happen this just happened to be the first instance of it they'd seen.


"I'll be ready to blitz in sword swinging. Whenever you're ready. " he said as he reached down and rested his hand on the hilt of his blade. Awaiting the Go order to storm the castle. He was itching to draw blood right now. Something he was almost scarily good at most of the time. He'd destroyed multiple enemy mechs nearly a dozen single handedly, literall, with one hand. In his last mission. He was itching to get back into that zone again.


@tammynorthland @Zer0@Killorkiller @Orpheus @Beowulf
 
Redman and the group made it to the entrance of the cave. It was unguarded. Something that seemed a bit odd. Almost as if they didnt care to guard it knowing that SHina was kidnapped. "Redmann here, I give you permission to seek how to cut the power. We are going to need a sneak attack because the entrance is unguarded once the power is cut your in and we will be too. Let us know when and where to rendezvous." Redmann answered as they watched the post. He had Shina 805 at hand. "Alerius, I need you to hold the gear for Shina, we dont know what they are planning on doing to her, or if shes even alive. Without her suit on we hve no idea of her location or vitals even." Redman noted to Alerius handing over the rifle she beared as her main weapon. "Fire any intruder you see. Kill anyone who seems hostile everyone." He commanded.


Shina wandered the small room. she tried opening the door which was obviously locked. The lights were all behind thick glass. To thick to knock them out and sneak attack. Let alone they were out of reach even if she threw the table in the room at the lights. SHe merely didnt have the ability to make something work she was relatively helpless. The door made a psshh sound. This meant that it was operated by air locks or electronic. One or the other would be important to getting out. THe door opened with an armed guard with a combat shotgun. "Permission to enter captain." Said the voice as a man in a black suit came in without a helmet. His suit bore the white slashed up "R" logo. Remnants....


"Shina it was correct?"


Shina sat silent on edge as the door closed behind, He was unarmed and so was she. At least so she could see. His suit was finely made. As if it was made of a cloth. It was beautifully crafted to say the least the logo haunting her from what the Remnants did to Redman the night he told her about shortly. 


"I have these for you, they were filthy so we cleaned them up. Never seena material like it before, a fellow comrad said they were not traditional materials like leather, cloth, and fibers." he paused. "Is this true?"


She sat silent. Fear struck through her body. But adrenaline put up the mask ready to kill and fight.


He chuckled a bit relatively politely his face had a massive scar across it ending by his eye but his eye was normal, unlike hers. " I suppose I owe an introduction. My name is Raildon. I would ask you you name, but strangely to you i know it." He said. 


"What do you want from me?" Shina snapped. Raildon standing about 5 feet from her as she was sitting on the bed.


He paused and glanced up for a second before looking back down. He stood quietly for a few more seconds. "I want you." He said. He whispered to the guard by opening the door leaving his back turned for a few moments. Shina was powerless, she had no idea how many soliders were behind the door. He nodded as they sealed the door this time. "Lets talk." He said 


20 minutes later about an hour after Redman commanded to kill any hostiles.


The group continued to hold their position, as they waited to find any clues leading to Shinas location through Sora and Hikaru. The 2 were inside somewhere and they were still waiting on data. Redman put on his helmet. "Ok we are going i-" He was interupted with a dart to his neck. Followed by the others immediately after. He quickly yanked it out. But it was to late. "sl----eeep Daaa------rrts?" He passed out as well as the others.


Several men made their way from the hidden hillsides, they were equipped with sniper rifles that were being carried at calm arms. They seemed not to be to worried about the enemy as they were all currently asleep. a voice marked through the comms, It was a soldiers voice. "All of them are asleep." He said.


Raildon replied. "Thank you, bring them in." He said.


Inside the cave. 


Hikaru and Sora were still inside undetected. They were beginning to get a few sets of eyes on them as a cargo loader mech holding a huge container made its way up to the heavily guarded main hall that they noticed before guarded by the same ammount of people. A few voices chimed here and there but nothing seemed suspicious. They had several bombs planted and begun to notice water flowing underneath in the cave. Most likely underground water from lake Batoo.


(Hikaru and Sora will be on their own here @Zer0 make your next reply and I will debate how the turn out will occur. everyone else can use this time for a flashback pot to waking up in their own seperate rooms like Shina did. This time they will be in rooms with food on the table. @Killorkiller @Abdel featherfall @Orpheus)
 
Alerius had only had the opportunity to kill a few of them, his blade being wiped clean in his cloak as he moved forward with the rest. But before he knew it.mhed had a dart in his neck and he hit the ground on his knees. He pulled out his revolver in his last moment of lucidity and fired off a gauss round. Instantly incinerating the entire top half of the poor soul that it had hit and punching a bowling ball sized crater into the stone behind him before Alerius hit the floor out cold.


---------------------------------------------


Flashback


 


Alerius stood on the precipice of a massive frozen cliff. He was In the simulation room. Everything felt absolutely real, including the whipping wind and the sharp biting cold. He was fourteen and taking the first trials to enter the Scout Corps. It was a teamwork survival sim and he'd been made to take point on this trecherously steep and slick mountain pass as he was the best climber in his squad. Squad leader was directly behind him leading from the front as an example. Alerius's job was simple. Find the best footholds and have everybody behind him mirror them. They had no climbing gear, this was a trek without them.


 


They had lost one on the climb. Lost to simple bad luck, he was in the middle of finding footing when a gust took him from the mountainside. He now watched the rest of the trial from the monitors in the waiting room. The others made it to the top. Alerius was the first one over the edge and was greeted with rifle barrels in his face. It seems he was to be tested next. The squad leaders test had been the mountian side and he'd passed with flying colors. Alerius's test was next, one by one each of the squad ten in all were taken captive and thrown into cages by marauders.


 


Alerius had his own cell. His breathing started to quicken, He was trapped, no longer free and Caged like an animal. This was his greatest fear, to be trapped and caged unable to escape. He was trapped.. He was trapped..


 


-----------------------------------------


Reality


 


He woke up with a start. Already sitting upright, alert and ready to attack. Only to find he was confined in a small white room. He stood from the bed immediately taking stock of his surroundings. His heart rate began to quicken and he tried the door, locked of course. He stepped back and closed his eyes and took several deep breaths to calm himself, and it worked somewhat. 


 


He looked more closely at his surroundings and found the food and the water. "What the hell.." He said to himself as he moved over and began to eat the food laid out. If they wanted him dead they'd have killed him, they wanted him alive for a reason so he was going to at the very least be well fed and hydrated when they came for him. He was in his black scout corps shirt he wore to every mission and his black pants, even his shoes were still on. But no gear, No surprise there. So after he finished off the food and drank a little water he sat on the bed cross legged and closed his eyes. Entering a form of a meditative state.


 

[SIZE= 18px]- Hitachiin Hikaru -[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 14px]" Prison "[/SIZE]




[SIZE= 18px]T[/SIZE]he moment Sora and Hikaru heard the ambush they stopped using the comms. Hikaru was in the middle of casually walking through a common path on the third floor of one of the buildings overlooking the prison. It was a barracks and she leaned against the railing outside with a cup of coffee as though resting from a long night of hard work.


And then she spotted it, a thick high voltage transmission line that ran along the rocky wall outside the prison and then down underground. It probably connected to a main fuse box somewhere inside. Some guy came out to chat with her and Hikaru was surprised to see it was the same guy who had offered to carry her crate earlier and who wouldn't let her go until she agreed to go out with him tonight.


He was surprised to see her here as this was the men's barracks and Hikaru just shrugged saying, "I just wanted to talk to you again." and smiled the most charming shy honest smile she could muster.


The guy just grinned back, looking smitten.


In truth Hikaru didn't like this guy, but any excuse to stay in this area longer and watch the prison for someone she could impersonate was good. And so they talked, Hikaru just imagining that she was talking to one of the good Crimson Canines soldiers and not someone she was probably going to kill or will kill her soon.


She wondered where Sora was. She knew he was outside the city high on the wall in a nook somewhere, but she did not dare look his way.


It was well after four hours of talking and hanging out when Hikaru was finally able to get away. She resumed her spot in the mech hangar cleaning tools and waited for Sora to arrive.


A rattle of metal as someone placed a crate of spare mech parts on the table.


"What happened? No more dirty tools?" she joked at the man who began segregating the parts beside her without looking at him.


"Not a single one, you cleaned them all last night." said Sora, not looking at her. His tone then changed, becoming more serious, but his face remained casual. "They all got taken into the prison. Their weapons aren't in there, but are in the armory we saw earlier two blocks away. We're you able to get in?"


"No, but I found the main power line and one of the soldier's in suits that I can impersonate on their next guard shift. We can do it lunch time."


"Good. I'll be on overwatch. Leave the power line to me." said Sora.


Two hours later after devising a plan, Sora was on overwatch in another location, blending his silhouette in the rocks and on his belly. Hikaru had taken down one of the guards that had the closest semblance to her body during their guard shift change and donned the guard's suit and the black visor.


She had the guard's weapons and grenades and walked up to the main prison gate where she was allowed inside.


Sora practiced breathing exercises as he watched Hikaru disappear into the building. He never told Hikaru nor Sai, but he was always extra nervous whenever his female teammates do something really risky. He wasn't afraid that they will fail, rather he was afraid of what soldiers would do to them if they get captured alive.


Back in the building, Hikaru walked the hallways with purpose even though she had no idea where she was going. But she took visual cues, going through barred doors that had guards behind desks that looked like it was visited often. And she listened to the sound of a crowd, wherever the prisoners were there was sure to be voices talking or sound of eating lunch and there she could blend in with the other guards, though she could be wrong. More likely they had only few or no other prisoners at all except for her squadmates.


Then she noticed something was wrong. A man started following her, then another, and another. She did not run, showed signs that she noticed, nor shot anyone, if the jig was up then she had a higher chance of staying alive by not attacking, since they weren't attacking her and they captured all her teammates, hopefully. If she was lucky, she could probably bluff her way out and call the guy who fell in love with her to verify her identity or at least give her time to stall.


Two soldiers appeared out of the corner in front of her. Hikaru pretended to be confused and kept walking forward. "Yes, sir?" she began, but then paused when the soldiers pointed their gun at her. "Wait, hold it, it's me!" she blurted raising her hands in surrender. "Wh-what are you guys doing?!"


A man in a black suit emerged from the shadows.


@tammynorthland
 
The man wore a helmet, It was theatening and filled with blackness. It had a small razor shaped visor that was tinted to a tone that disabled from seeing his face. He made his way up to the girl named Hikaru. He slowly commanded the other men to waypoint around her as she was cornered like a rat. "Hikaru I presume." He said. There was a silent pause as she replied. He noted her voice then made a silent walk around her. "I have heard many things about you guys being at lake Batoo. I didnt want to believe it, but here you all are." He said reffering to the others as well she may or may not knew they were all captured. He recalled that some of his men were attacked, injured, but not dead. There was a loose cannon who did however fire off a couple rounds blowing them back a bit. Thankfully the darts took them down before things got to hostile. "Follow me." He said as the guards led her inside the guarded building while he commanded them to all stand down. They let them inside.


Upon getting inside everything seemed so elegant. It looked like a house No a mansion, It had beautiful steel futuristic gates that opened up sideways with a futuristic swish with funiture that filled each room. He walked silently as the guard then lowered and racked their weapons. "you know the rules guys." He said as they saluted and eased off less hostile. "Here we have to put up a front to the soldiers outside, but in here there are no weapons allowed. " He pulled out a folding pistol unloacked it removing the energy pin and placed it on the rack that then flipped around and locked not allowing them to access it without his handprint. He continued leading her into a large room. Equipped with tables, chairs, and......


Shina, as well as the other soldiers were all inside. They were sitting down comfortably, not threatened by any guards inside. Although the doors were locked from the outside so they couldnt escape they were all together. He motioned to let Hikaru take a seat and had them sit down. Even Redman was there unharmed.


He let the guards leave the room but waiting right outside as he thanked them all for their help. And turned to the group.


"Now you might all be wondering why I brought you here today." He paused and breathed. "Its not what things may appear. " The man removed his helmet as it removed the seal and he took it off exposing a tatterede face of facial hair and battle scars. One across the face from a sword slash and the other above the eye that led into the forehead. He had thick black hair that was greased back by his helmet. He was the one Redmann was talking about.


"Here we are all refugees of the world. We discovered Lake Batoo 1 year ago." He paused again, almost on purpose. " My name is Kashmir."


Shina didnt recall the name. Nor did Redmann, their faces calm and contented for some reason. Still unknown as to why. "Before you arrived Hikaru I told the others I will not harm you guys. Oviously the attacks on us made me a bit updet, but fortunately the hallucinagenic darts prevented you guys from landing clear shots on my men." He swallowed. "Now to finish what we started." I found Lake Batoo a year ago, we were all like you guys, warriors. Fighters, men of the nations. But we found something more beautiful than a simple place to like this far away from everyone. Yes, we discovered that this lake... has granted us the ability to leave our suits and biodomes that us humans are confined too. My scientists, just like you guys, came and joined us. To help preserve this place we found, protect it. Inform only people that are worthy of it. You guys made the cut." He said. " For the past year people have tried to take this home we made, killing us, cutting resources, and our friend in the waters has kept a peaceful watch on anyone that poses a threat to our home. This being said you must have questions."


Redmann interupted. "your the fucker that ambushed us 2 years ago in the middle of the battle!!!" He called out. 


Kashmir paused blankly glancing at him.... "What did you just say??"


"You heard me you piece of shit. I remember your suit, your mask, your voice!"


The man stood stroking his hair back. "ah..... do you mean the man who wore this suit before me?"


Redmanns eyes widened and dialated. "No i mean YOU!!"


"Ah I understand now... You see one year ago, This suit belonged to a group of rogues who came to our lake, trying to overtake it for their own personal benefits. They did not listen to reason. I killed him and took his suit. As not only it struck fear in eyes like yourself and others. But it also served us a purpose to allow us to show we did not want to be messed with. This being said that man was named Black Dawn. Hes been dead for quite some time."


Redmann couldnt believe his ears. He saw this suit, he remembered it. "what about your voice then.??"
 


The man placed his helmet back on and spoke the same sentence back to him. Causing even more disbelief. He removed it once more in a few moments. " Changes your voice. Must have forgot I leave it on so hostiles do not remember my real one."


Redmann listened next to Shina. Shina wasnt even able to comprehend his purpose. What he wanted, why he was telling them this.


"I begun rebuilding with leftovers, followed by using enemies who scouted here and taking their equipment as they claimed this land like they owned it. While we did not mean to kill. We had to protect a place as surreal as this, we believe more might be out there making human life normal for some of us. This is what we seek here." He turned around and showed the slashed out "R" on his back of his armor. The mark that all the others wore on their backs as well. carved into the metal itself unlike his. "This R once showed the Rogue symbol. Now we are humans with a new purpose. A new life that awaits us. We are the Reborn."


@Killorkiller  @Zer0 @Orpheus @Abdel featherfall ( feel free to respond and also ask questions. Please someone bring up the sea monster in the lake as well. He hasnt finished speaking yet)
 
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Alerius had been less than cooperative when the door to his room had opened. He'd likely caused minor injuries and a concussion to at least two of the guys that came to get him before he'd been restrained. After a bit of coaxing and a lot of patience he finally calmed down and decided to play along for now as he was helped up and assisted to the gathering room. He'd taken a seat and looked to the others. " What a fine predicament we've found ourselves in today."


He sat back attempting to relax as the man with the black armor entered with Shina and began talking. Alerius of course listened carefully and looked for anything that could be used as a weapon Incase things got sticky. He wouldn't act on that yet and instead opted to sit pretty while he listened. 


"So you moved out here and took over this portion of a valley simply to live and not cause problems as a rebel faction? You're just a colony of defectors?" He asked shortly after the leader had stopped talking. " And what's up with your friend in the lake? It seemed a little too large to live comfortably in a lake that small."


He figured this was his last chance to ask any questions before they were inevitably asked to join this faction or whatever it was. Judging by the treatment they'd received and the fact they didn't really bite back when bitten he guessed that was exactly what was going on. He didn't like these sorts of situations. They made him feel trapped, and without options. He hated not having options.


@Zer0 @tammynorthland @Orpheus @Killorkiller
 

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