Robotech - Tales of the RDF

Barbara glances around, almost as if expecting to see the onrushing hordes of evildoers about to come charging over the hill.  "We should be able to find the headquarters building easy enough.  From there, we can make a run to find the mystery Lieutenant.  Assuming that he'll see us at all."


After a couple of quick questions to some of the base personnel, you are given directions to the headquarters building, near the center of the base.  It doesn't take long to hike over there, assuming you leave your destroids at the 'parking lot'.  There are a pair of fancy looking security guards standing at the front doors that ask for your Id cards and they check them on their terminals before letting you into the building. 


The lobby of the command building has several enlisted personnel moving about, with a young corporal sitting at a reception desk.  He looks up with a smile as you approach.  "How can I help you?"
 
Staff Sergeant Taniya

Taniya returned his smile with a curt nod.  "I am Staff Sergeant Taniya and we are the Red Panda Squadron from Anton-17, South America.  We are reporting for duty.  Is your commanding officer in?"
 
The young man politely asks for your Id and thumbprint to verify who you are, then turns to his terminal and types rapidly.  "Ah, yes.  Sergeant.  The General and most of the command staff is away attending a diplomatic function at the moment, leaving Lt. Barker as de facto commander of Carson Naval Base.  As such, his schedule is quite busy, having to handle the paperwork for the next few days until the rest of the command staff return.  If you tell me what you need to see him about, I can try to find a opening in his schedule in the next day or two."


Barbara leans forward and plants both her hands on the desk.  "Look here, corporal.  I understand that you are just a overworked paper pusher doing your job, but some real soldiers are here to talk to your CO about a security risk to this base.  We need to see the LT now.  Not later, now.  Do you get me?  This place is about to be attacked, probably by APR forces using captured tanks and mecha that they have already liberated, and the security standards we see here are nearly non-existent.  Now, where is Lt. Barker?"


If Barbara has a diplomatic bone in her body, it was not showing itself today.  The corporal frowns at her tone, then leans back in his seat and crosses his arms.  "Well, sergeant, as I said, I'm afraid that the Lieutenant is quite busy, and doesn't need to be interrupted by hysterical rantings from some NCO's far from their normal duty post.  We are quite secure here, and in no danger from the APR or any other force here.  Now, if you still insist on seeing the Lieutenant, the first opening in his schedule is tomorrow at 1500."
 
Connor raised his eyebrows a little at Barbara. Who'd have thought she'd be the one threatening violence of all people. In all honesty he'd have expected it from Taniya, but there was Barbara, hands planted firmly on the desk. "I don't think we really give a damn what you think." he added, joining in on the bullying of the paper pusher for the sake of getting results. And he was in pretty good shape for being a Destroid pilot if you asked him. So, cracking his knuckles, he looks at the corporal he says. "If we're wrong, we're wrong. If we're right, you're dead. And if you still don't want to tell us where he is, I can just as easily look over at that schedule of his that you got pulled up there. Don't say you don't have one, how else do you know when he's free?"
 
The corporal doesn't look intimidated.  In fact, he leans forward.  "I don't believe that the Lieutenant will be speaking with you anytime soon.  So, if you don't leave, I will call the MPs over to have them escort you out of the building.  Have a nice day."  At this point, he returns his attention to the terminal, typing away once more.
 
Staff Sergeant Taniya


Taniya turned to Tolson and then McKinley with a combination of surprise and annoyance.  "Red Pandas," she indicated the door and spoke her next word slowly and with much emphasis.   


"Outside."  


Assuming they (including Braidwood) followed orders, Taniya carefully attempted one last chance at military etiquette and civility with the clerk.  "Corporal, please excuse the behavior of my squadmates.  We come from another realm entirely..."  Without any forcefulness and with as much tact as she could summon, she made her request.  "The 1500 hour appointment tomorrow.  Might your lieutenant be accepting of an appointment with a single party - myself?"  


If at this point the desk jockey was not calling the military police, Taniya added, "Is this the correct place for new arrivals to present themselves, or would you direct me to where that office is?"  Given her team's recent apparent faux pas, Taniya attempted to use a word that she hardly ever heard during her long life under Lord Breetai in his Zentraedi fleet, but among humans, when used correctly and if honestly meant, it sometimes provided results, albeit from a humble approach - "Please?"
 
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Looking somewhat mollified by Taniya's efforts to placate him, the corporal finally nods.  "Since you are new here, I can make some allowances for your companions.  Yes, I can put you in for the appointment time for tomorrow afternoon.  I can only give you 15 minutes, so I hope that will be sufficient.  As for reporting in, that can be handled by Command Sergeant Major Wilcher."  He pulls out a paper showing a map of the naval base, then he circles one of the buildings.  "You'll be able to find him here." 
 
Staff Sergeant Taniya


"Gratitude."  Taniya bowed wholeheartedly and bothered the lieutenant's paper-pusher no more.  She made her way outside to her squadmates.  


Once there, she turned to Tolson and McKinley and glared at them in confusion.  "Walk with me."  Taniya purposefully marched toward the building the corporal had indicated to find CSM Wilcher.  "Enlighten the non-Earthborn in your squad, if you please.  Has your rank gone to your heads? What in the cosmos were you thinking when you approached the lieutenant's representative in such a manner?"  Taniya was not angry, but greatly bewildered.  Not only had she never seen Tolson act in such an undisciplined fashion, but Tolson had also succeeded in apparently infecting McKinley with her line of thinking.  Only Dorsey and Braidwood were excluded from Taniya's less-than-pleased stares.  


The look on Taniya's face seemed to ask, "What made you think that approach was going to work?"
 
Barbara has a look somewhere between embarrassment and irritation.  "This stinks as bad as week old fish sitting out on the counter.  This place is in imminent danger, and that clerk is in there, playing power games with us when we are coming to report a serious threat!"  She takes a few deep breaths, obviously struggling to calm down.  "I'm sorry if I screwed up.  I just lost my temper with that . . . idiot in there."
 
Staff Sergeant Taniya


"I do not doubt your instincts and sense of purpose; if you believe this place is in imminent danger, then it certainly may be.  However, as the newcomers here, is it plausible that their defenses are hidden or otherwise not noticeable?"  During their walk, Taniya began to do more than familiarize herself with Carson Naval Base; she found herself looking for signs of previous attacks on the base.   She was also making certain she knew the most-efficient path back to their mecha if an attack did take place.  


(Player OOC note)

Taniya is looking for blast craters, blackened earth or buildings, signs of repair, brand-new structures that might have replaced those previously-lost, and the like.  She is calling on skills like Intelligence, Military Tactics, and Detect Ambush for ambush points that the base could benefit from and things like pop-up bunkers or defense systems (like spider holes).  Is it plausible that Carson Naval Base has such defenses or does it really appear wide-open to attack?  Does it appear to have been attacked before?  How recently?



"At this time, I am not convinced of anything except that we need to learn more of our surroundings and situation.  I believe the corporal has reasons for his confidence; either it is well-warranted or he is a complete and utter fool.  I would find out which by speaking with Command Sergeant Major Wilcher."
 
Eadric Braidwood, Field Scientist


Eadric just shook his head, listening.  Barbara's outburst had caught him off guard as much as it had Taniya, but he'd gone outside with the others when ordered to.   "Yes, but Sergeant Taniya just told him we needed to report in, so that's all he knew at first.  He didn't get huffy until you went off on him, and it went downhill from there."  He shook his head again, more in bewilderment than disapproval, and glanced at Barbara and Connor both.  "Are you feeling all right?"


Taniya's talking about existing but hidden means of security got him looking, too.  He'd picked up some knowledge of base fortifications over the years; now he used that knowledge to see if he could spot anything like what she was talking about.


OOC:

Like Taniya, Eadric is studying what he can see for signs of hidden defenses.  Should I roll his Fortification skill for that?
 
To the trained eyes of Eadric and Taniya, there are multiple craters outside the boundaries of the base, but they are all older, probably from as far back as the orbital bombardment from the Zentraedi fleet.  There are no signs of anything more recent.  When looking to the physical defenses of the naval base, there is a series of barriers between the sensitive interior and the wild outer countryside, the most significant is a wall that encircles the land side of the base at a height of 20 feet, topped with barbed wire, and most likely, some kind of electronic sensors to detect anyone climbing over the wall.  The terrain outside the wall has been cleared away, and it is most probable that there is a minefield laid out, just like at Anton-17, with both anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines mixed together.  Along the top of the wall, there are six guard towers, all armed with auto cannon turrets that use the same stats as the Defender's main weapon system.  In addition to the guns, there are two missile turrets that you can see, most likely armed with a twelve shot short range missile battery. 


These are all the obvious physical defenses you can see.  This does not take into account any roving patrols, but from the short amount of time that you were able to see to the walls, there were not any patrols that you could see.  If there are any hidden defenses, you are not as of yet seeing them. 


When you question Barbara, she looks embarrassed.  "I'm sorry.  I just . . . don't know what came over me.  Other than my natural disgust with stupid people, that is." 
 
Staff Sergeant Taniya


During their trek across Carson Naval Base to CSM Wilcher's office, Taniya paused from time to time to be certain of where they were in relation to their mecha and therefore continue to know the most efficient way back to them.  


Taniya tells Barbara, "Tolson, I would say you were acting out of a perceived threat to this base and the RDF forces in it.  I think you pushed him because of the sense of immediacy and urgency reacting to such a threat requires.  Your approach was...  very Meltrandi...  and may have worked were we all Zentraedi.  Since we are not, I am only glad that the situation was salvageable; I secured a 15 minute appointment at 1500 hours tomorrow with the lieutenant, assuming this base is still here at that time.  I intend to make good use of every minute of it."  


Taniya continued on, ever-watchful for anything out of the ordinary.  For if there were an imminent attack, there was nothing to do but defend the base.  If there were not, what else was there to do but carry on with hackles raised and all senses alert?
 
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The trip to see CSM Wilcher is quick and uneventful.  As you go along, Barbara is quiet, reflecting on her actions and what Taniya has said to her.  When you get to the building, it is more of an armored bunker than office building, complete with armed guards standing out front.  They are respectful, but firm I their request to check all of your identification cards against the computer files.  When they see no problems, they allow you to go inside. 


Once you get past the guards, there is another receptionist, this one a woman with corporal chevrons on her shoulders.  "Welcome, sergeant.  How can I assist you today?"
 
Connor just crossed his arms and didn't respond, digging his heels in when it came to what he did. He believed that what he did was the right thing at the time, and he'd take whatever punishment Taniya decided to give him, but he wouldn't say that what he did was wrong. To his surprise she didn't really say anything about what he did aside from ask why they did it. And Barbara basically answered for him so he remained quite. Instead he stuck with his squad, doing as Taniya did and making sure he knew where his Defender was at all times in relation to him.


The bunker that was the officers building was a welcoming sight, finally something that actually looked like they were ready for the war they were in. He was a bit annoyed with all the paper work he had to do, though no papers were involved for him. But what had to be done had to be done, so he just left it to grumbling softly, the words quickly getting lost in his beard. He'd let the Sergeant take care of the talking this time around, she knew what she was doing more then he did. As was obvious with what happened not to long ago.
 
Eadric Braidwood, Field Scientist


On the walk over, Eadric quietly points out what he saw to Taniya, in case he saw something she missed.  And, like the others, he makes sure to always bear in mind the quickest route back to the mechs.  He actually smiles when asked for ID, pleased to finally see something security-related.  Only a cursory inspection, sadly, but it's better than just being allowed to walk anywhere they like.
 
Staff Sergeant Taniya


Taniya grinned appreciatively McKinley's restrained grumbling, for she felt the alternative was to let the bear-like man roar out loud as perhaps his soul desired.  And who could blame him?  Was this not the infamous and dreaded "red tape" found in all military societies in action?  If Taniya had any edge here whatsoever, it was wholly because she was Zentraedi and born to kill straight out of the tank.  Her years of war were nearly all in a military where there was no red tape, only the bodies of the dead and the cheers of the victors.  She had no long years of this human-created drudgery and thus had no real impatience for it.  Perhaps in time it would come but that day was not today.


Taniya also found herself appreciating Braidwood's thoroughness and second pair of learned eyes as they surveyed the base.  It was one thing to make individual notes, but his move towards teamwork was a move that helped the entire team.  It was spirit and actions like these that not only bound a set of individuals into a team but was the glue that kept them molded together.  Taniya had taught her Meltrandi warriors this very ideal; to see it practiced by a human without ordering him to do it was...  nice.


Taniya's reply was another attempt at cordial behavior, something she felt she needed practice with.  "Thank you for your welcome.  We are the Red Panda Squadron from Anton-17, near Braziilia base.  We were directed from Lt. Barker's officer to check in with Command Sergeant Major Wilcher.  May we see him or her?"
 
The corporal gives Taniya a pleasant smile.  "Of course.  The SarMajor is in, and I will see if he has a moment for you."  After a quick call back, she waves over at a doorway behind her.  "Just through there to the left.  He will see you now." 


Inside the office of the Sargent Major, you can see that this is not your average paper pusher.  All around the desk is camouflage netting that hangs from the walls, along with many different firearms, including a M-60 machine gun complete with a ammo belt!  Several pictures of CSM Wilcher in various poses with other men and women in uniform adorn the walls, showing steps in his career and old friends.  The man himself is a powerfully built man, six feet tall and easily 250 pounds of solid build without an ounce of fat on his frame.  A wicked scar creases his otherwise chiseled face, and all of that is topped off by a buzz cut of grey hair. 


SarMajor Wilcher stands as you come in, offering a beefy hand to shake with a firm grip.  "All the way here from the Zentraedi Control Zone?  What brings you to this part of Africa?"  He sits and leans back in his chair, waiting for your response.
 
Corporal Zaile Alencar


"It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do"


Zaile sings softly to herself as she heads out of the accommodations office and makes her way towards the Port's NCO.  She'd had ample time to study a layout of the base in advance, which made finding her way around less awkward than it might have been.  But perhaps familiarity breeds contempt?  Because the place looked much less impressive in person than it had on paper.


There's no escaping the lack of manpower.  Zentraedi were bred for manpower.  In nine million ways, if there was a choice between using a machine or using brawn, a Zentraedi would use brawn every time.  Elaborate defensive perimeters had their place but there was absolutely no substitute for butts in seats or feet with rifles.  Granted, the Micronians didn't think that way.  Not entirely.  They were careful with their people, perhaps because making more of them took decades instead of weeks.  


And if she'd been unfamiliar with the RDF, Zaile might have brushed this base's depletion on a simple difference in strategy.  But Anton-17 had been adequately defended, and more than adequately.  


Had this Port suffered some catastrophe?  


"I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had"


Finding the NCO's office, Zaile steps in behind her squadron and manages to mostly conceal that pesky Micronian infection known as a 'catchy song stuck in your head', though it's possible those immediately next to her might hear some humming...
 
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Staff Sergeant Taniya


Taniya returned Wilcher's handshake with the firm grip of a warrior.  "We are the Red Panda Squadron.  Sir, we have been ordered to assist you with the destruction of your enemies, some of whom we understand have their hands on RDF property?"


As Zaile entered, Taniya gave her fellow Meltrandi an amused glance.  Without speaking or taking too much attention from her superior NCO, Taniya's body language and facial expression seemed to say, "Sleep in late today?" but her eyes said, "Good of you to be with us again, dear Zaile."
 
CSM Wilcher motions towards the seats that line the wall, indicating that you should sit.  "Red Pandas, huh?  I remember hearing your squad name come up in reports of the Malcontent fighting in Brazil.  Good work,  there."  He leans back in his chair.  "A pair of RDF armories were raided, resulting in the theft of multiple conventional tanks, APCs, aircraft, personal firearms, and, most disturbingly, four Gladiators and two Tomahawks.  From the video, we can see that the operators of the Destroids were not skilled in their operation, but even in the hands of an amateur, they represent a deadly threat to stability in the region.  Needless to say, I was not a happy man to see these reports.  I hope that your team can help me root these troublemakers."
 
Staff Sergeant Taniya


"Gratitude."  Taniya nodded at the compliment Wilcher gave her team and took a seat.


Then, hands folded and leaning forward, Taniya launched into a series of questions.  "What else is known?  Do we know specifically who did the raiding?  Where are the mecha now?  Are there other RDF armories in similar danger?  Also, how did the raiding take place and why were we unable to protect those armories?"


She turned to her teammates.  "Ask your queries, Red Pandas; this might be the only chance we get to do so."
 
CSM Wilcher swivels in his chair to point to a large map of the area on the wall.  "There were two different armories that got attacked.  They were supposedly secret, and only had a skeleton crew there to maintain the equipment, depending on the secrecy and some robotic defenses that were deactivated by remote by using a coded signal.  How the insurgents were able to get ahold of the codes to shut down the guns is still being investigated.  Once past the outer defense line, they made a beeline straight to the armory to 'liberate' as many guns and tanks as they could cart off.  So far, we have a few leads, but there is no solid evidence as to the source of the leak."  It looks like the man is quite ready and willing to take the person or persons responsible and tear them apart with his own bare hands. 
 
Corporal Zaile Alencar


The amused look from the elder Zentraedi brings a most undignified blush to the cheeks of the perhaps-too-Micronian-socialized younger soldier.  Clearing her throat, the blue haired woman manages a "Just settling some accommodations, sir" before falling into formation with the others and doing her best to not stand out.  Taniya wasn't the Zentraedi female terror she'd been in the Robotech War, not...exactly.  The older female had adapted to Micronian customs and norms but hadn't been transformed by them in the way Zaile herself had.  And that left the younger woman discomforted, caught between the memory of what Taniya had been like coupled with her own clone-tank training, the Imperative conditioned into every soldier.  


Thankfully, little of the Corporal's inner conflict showed as she did her best to bring honor to the Red Pandas, at the moment mostly by not being more of a distraction than she'd already been.


The questions asked by CSM Wilcher bring Zaile back into the game and she leans forward slightly to study the map on the wall.  "Sir, I'm certain your internal investigations have more training and ability to hunt down a leak than we do.  Unless you'd like our unit as newcomers to try to...blend in or join this movement and infiltrate it."  There's a slightly unfocused quality to the Zentraedi's words that comes from only grasping these concepts through Micronian television.  While the Zentraedi had employed several sets of spies in the Robotech War, that had been an exception to traditional Imperative military doctrine which had very little deviation from "Find and kill your enemies at any cost".  


"If you have any leads on where the equipment might have been taken, we could retrieve it.  We're highly trained soldiers, much more so than any civilians no matter their weaponry.  A little shock and awe might even get it back intact!"


The normally cheerful, chipper alien has a decidedly bloodthirsty Zentraedi look on her face at the prospect...
 
"I would love to be able to retrieve the stolen equipment, but I -"  His next statement is cut off by an insistent buzz from his phone.  "Yes?"  He listens for a moment, then turns to his computer, typing rapidly.  "Excellent.  I have just the team to deal with this right here.  Keep me informed."  Placing the phone back on its cradle, Wilcher says, "You may have your chance to do something about the missing mecha.  A UAV spotted a armored column that includes the four missing Gladiators and several tanks.  Get your team to your mecha to go after them, and I'll send you the link to the Predator's data feed to get real time video of where the insurgents are.  Remember, there are still two missing Tomahawks out there, somewhere, but this might just lead you to them.  Get moving!"
 
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