From Rifles And Roses, Chapter One

[Sonitusia]

Variable Squad
2nd Lt. Sozin Yamagoto (Chaos-Variable), Presiding CO

---

Sozin rolled his eyes, dropping a heavy sigh as he shrugged his shoulders. This is why he didn't volunteer to break in Prospects in the first place. Out of 7 squad members, including himself, 2 had not reported in. And 1 of them was being smart. While the first didn't sound like much of a loss, in a League where every body in uniform counted as a added chance of victory, it was. The second... he didn't get enough Sovereigns in his officers allowance to deal with that. All thanks to Roxanne. That damned Invictus Leuitenant who commanded the 2nd years of the League. Though she was pretty hot shit just because of those gold bars on her shoulders, instead of the silver shave tails Yamagoto had on his. She was the one who volunteered him at the officers meeting... She was the one who was to blame...

Accessing his NetSet, Sozin found the troublemaker via his sim duty roster. It was common practice, if not professional, by most of the Cadets to not bother with learning a Prospects name. With the Exams 50% failure rate. With odds like that, why get to know any of them? Taking a quick glance at the list, Sozin opened the squad wide channel.

"Hourai, you're slated as Variable 2, not 3. If your going to jerk around, stay off the comms." The rebuke spoken into his NetSet had no heat to it, coming out bored and monotone. Sozin didn't want to be here. And he especially didn't want to deal with that furry freak of a women. Not after her Hulk episode on the train... Hopefully this embarrassment in front of the other newbs would keep her in line.

"All Variables, make your approach from your current position to grid mark Oscar-Six-Zulu-Zero. Objective code-named, The Route. Stay tuned to this channel for further information."

Turning the wheel of the truck, Sozin pulled off the street, next to one of the burning barricades. While the unpleasent smell was a lot stronger here, the barricade offered more cover than if he had parked at the cross roads ahead, out in the open. Sozin opened the rear window of the armored pickup. "You," scrolling through the list, the name came up," Liarz."

Not even asked as a question. More like a dull observation. "Get on that DSHK," he pointed to the large machine gun mounted upright in the truck bed, "and shoot anything that gets on that cross roads ahead." Saying what he needed to say, Sozin ducked back into the cab. His attention was immediately re-routed to his NetSet. Accessing the VR Battle-Net, Sozin submitted his first communication to their Observer. The illustrious MAC. Who else, really?

Chaos Variable: Variables 1, 2, 4, and 6 accounted for. Proceeding to nearest location objective: The Route. Will maintain defensive posture and establish ambush positions along said objective
MAC: Acknowledged Chaos Variable. Pick up or bag and tag your missing Variables ASAP. Points may be deducted for this failure.

That last bit irked Sozin. That his GPA may significantly fall due to the newbies inability to get their shit together, was in itself, bullshit. Breaking off the communique, Sozin started another. This one, addressed to his other two Squad Leaders and their XO's

Chaos Variable: Variable is approaching objective Route. Will monitor, dig-in, and provide ambush for enemy forces in AO. Maniac, move to grid mark Oscar-Seven-Tango-Two. Objective location code-named The Hotel. Engage enemy forces in the American Convoy located at The Hotel. Do not allow them to transfer VIPs to their custody. Repeat, VIPs must be extracted or eliminated at all costs.

Wolf, move to grid mark Oscar-One-XRay-Zero, location code-named The Rooftops. Establish over-watch to assist Maniac and Variable, and deny American Marines and Army Rangers use of the high ground.

Certifiable-Maniac: k whateves
Alpha-Wolf: Teh Hype Is 4 Real! OPFOR won't know what hit'em bro!

After that quaint chat, Sozin started up the truck once more, driving away from where they parked and continuing forward through the rubble and smoke choked streets. Getting back on the horn.

"All Variables.. repeat, all variables.. you should either be at The Route or on your way. Chaos-Variable and Variable-6 are nearly there. Once Variable is formed up on The Route, rally around the squads Technical. It will be our cornerstone for blocking the American Convoy. Maniac will be engaging the Convoy's rear guard, and Wolf will be assisting us with Overwatch. Lets just do this by the numbers and go home..."

---

Harriet Collins

---

Harriet nodded, watching as the white truck dashed away. "Variable-1 assuming command!" Harriet called out, "Let's move guys!" The boy pulled the fabric closer to his face, and made a quick check on a map to find where they were supposed to go. Alright, that's at least a two minute run from here, I hope they can keep up. Starting to move at a jogging pace, Harriet motioned for the rest of the Variables to follow him as he opened doors and made quick shortcuts to get to the position required.

"All Variables.. repeat, all variables.. you should either be at The Route or on your way." Harriet himself had indeed already reached the point, but awaited the rest of his squad to arrive soon. Come on, make haste!

Maniac Squad
SSGT Remy Rinzler (Certifiable-Maniac), Presiding CO

---

"All right my little fucklings, listen up!"

The shout reverberated across the squad chat channel. Maniac, luckily, was already on the move. And somehow, through magic that only non-commissioned officers seem able to procure, every single one of the 8 squad members was pressed and packed into the technical. Three in the cab, four in the bed, and one standing with the DSHK. To any who saw them, it looked like a heavily-armored circus clown car.

"We've got our orders! We'll be making first blood against the American OPFOR as they are transfering the VIPs to their convoy. Expect heavy, fuckin' H-E-A-V-and-Y resistance. NPCs or Upperclassmen, they won't give up The Hotel without a fight. That means I need you all to take your balls out of your purses, strap on those AKs you have for dicks, and storm that beach like its a Eureka strip club on nickle-night!"

"Here.. we.. GOooo!"

The steady speed of the overloaded truck suddenly shot up as Rinzler floored the petal, cackling as she weaved in and out of the American Marine and Somali Militia fire-fights, barricades and burning derbies that were quickly absorbing the narrow streets of Mogadishu. Bullet pinged off the side of the truck as STAG Upperclassmen, as American Army Rangers, worked their way across the rooftops. Black Hawk helicopters flew overhead, low and fast, as they either began or concluded dropping off additional Marine reinforcements. These squads quickly began their own turkey shoot of Maniac's white technical, as it pushed further through the battlezone.

---

Fauna Pool

---

"Oh for fuck's sake, how is it we all even managed to get on board this thing?!" Fauna grumbled loudly, her thighs pressed up against some other squadmate, and she glared at them to make sure they didn't try anything stupid. But appreciating the CO's go hard attitude, Fauna's expression became devious, and she was wholeheartedly accepting the callsign 'Maniac'. We're all just a bunch of crazies, aye? Being at the back of the truck, Fauna brandished her AK-74U, aiming up towards the rooftop, firing at the American cunts that decided to ruin their party.

"A'ight mates, let's 'ave some fun now!"

[Altito Asmoro]

Variable Squad
2nd Lt. Sozin Yamagoto (Chaos-Variable), Presiding CO

---

Sozin rolled his eyes, dropping a heavy sigh as he shrugged his shoulders. This is why he didn't volunteer to break in Prospects in the first place. Out of 7 squad members, including himself, 2 had not reported in. And 1 of them was being smart. While the first didn't sound like much of a loss, in a League where every body in uniform counted as a added chance of victory, it was. The second... he didn't get enough Sovereigns in his officers allowance to deal with that. All thanks to Roxanne. That damned Invictus Leuitenant who commanded the 2nd years of the League. Though she was pretty hot shit just because of those gold bars on her shoulders, instead of the silver shave tails Yamagoto had on his. She was the one who volunteered him at the officers meeting... She was the one who was to blame...

Accessing his NetSet, Sozin found the troublemaker via his sim duty roster. It was common practice, if not professional, by most of the Cadets to not bother with learning a Prospects name. With the Exams 50% failure rate. With odds like that, why get to know any of them? Taking a quick glance at the list, Sozin opened the squad wide channel.

"Hourai, you're slated as Variable 2, not 3. If your going to jerk around, stay off the comms." The rebuke spoken into his NetSet had no heat to it, coming out bored and monotone. Sozin didn't want to be here. And he especially didn't want to deal with that furry freak of a women. Not after her Hulk episode on the train... Hopefully this embarrassment in front of the other newbs would keep her in line.

"All Variables, make your approach from your current position to grid mark Oscar-Six-Zulu-Zero. Objective code-named, The Route. Stay tuned to this channel for further information."

Turning the wheel of the truck, Sozin pulled off the street, next to one of the burning barricades. While the unpleasent smell was a lot stronger here, the barricade offered more cover than if he had parked at the cross roads ahead, out in the open. Sozin opened the rear window of the armored pickup. "You," scrolling through the list, the name came up," Liarz."

Not even asked as a question. More like a dull observation. "Get on that DSHK," he pointed to the large machine gun mounted upright in the truck bed, "and shoot anything that gets on that cross roads ahead." Saying what he needed to say, Sozin ducked back into the cab. His attention was immediately re-routed to his NetSet. Accessing the VR Battle-Net, Sozin submitted his first communication to their Observer. The illustrious MAC. Who else, really?

Chaos Variable: Variables 1, 2, 4, and 6 accounted for. Proceeding to nearest location objective: The Route. Will maintain defensive posture and establish ambush positions along said objective
MAC: Acknowledged Chaos Variable. Pick up or bag and tag your missing Variables ASAP. Points may be deducted for this failure.

That last bit irked Sozin. That his GPA may significantly fall due to the newbies inability to get their shit together, was in itself, bullshit. Breaking off the communique, Sozin started another. This one, addressed to his other two Squad Leaders and their XO's

Chaos Variable: Variable is approaching objective Route. Will monitor, dig-in, and provide ambush for enemy forces in AO. Maniac, move to grid mark Oscar-Seven-Tango-Two. Objective location code-named The Hotel. Engage enemy forces in the American Convoy located at The Hotel. Do not allow them to transfer VIPs to their custody. Repeat, VIPs must be extracted or eliminated at all costs.

Wolf, move to grid mark Oscar-One-XRay-Zero, location code-named The Rooftops. Establish over-watch to assist Maniac and Variable, and deny American Marines and Army Rangers use of the high ground.

Certifiable-Maniac: k whateves
Alpha-Wolf: Teh Hype Is 4 Real! OPFOR won't know what hit'em bro!

After that quaint chat, Sozin started up the truck once more, driving away from where they parked and continuing forward through the rubble and smoke choked streets. Getting back on the horn.

"All Variables.. repeat, all variables.. you should either be at The Route or on your way. Chaos-Variable and Variable-6 are nearly there. Once Variable is formed up on The Route, rally around the squads Technical. It will be our cornerstone for blocking the American Convoy. Maniac will be engaging the Convoy's rear guard, and Wolf will be assisting us with Overwatch. Lets just do this by the numbers and go home..."

Radiansyah Bagaskara

Radi nodded along with Lt. Sozin's explanation, and command, of course. "Variable-4, ready to serve!" Radi called out, and as soon as Harriet called out to move, he moved. He ran at jogging mode, even though his equipment are more or less heavier, with LMG and other equipment. He ran behind Harriet,

"Variable-1, what is your strategy to handling the enemies, I mean the Americans?" asked Radi as he and Harriet reached the point already, and waiting for the rest of the squad.

[Sonitusia]

---

Harry 'Harriet' Collins

---

Looking at Variable-4, Harriet recognized the voice as the one belonging to Radi from before. From behind the keffiyah, Harriet scowled slightly, the question catching him off guard, as he wasn't prepared to make strategies out of the blue. I'm better at field work than theory in this matter, sorry. But he couldn't say that, for he was now in acting command of the squad that was awaiting the technical to arrive. There wouldn't be much time to think if he didn't decide now, so he pulled down the fabric covering his mouth, and said, "They're going to most likely rely on keeping their distance from us, using their superior training to counter our zeal."

That was actually quite true, as Harriet believed that all the cadets here were most likely untrained in military warfare, save for a select few. All of them would be relying on pure spirit and the will to move on. Like Harriet himself. "But we have the advantage of civilian support," he continued, waving at a random Somalian who had been passing onto their position. The man nodded briefly, and Harriet threw one of his pistols to him with a couple magazines. The man's eyes widened, but he seemed to realize what was going on, and he ran off with the pistol held with a stance of actual competence in firearm safety. "There, that's already another person off to kill Americans," Harriet finished, covering his mouth once more.

"The more targets the Americans have, the lower chance we'll be shot at, yes?" Harriet wondered out loud, lifting up his G3 and scanning the surroundings for any US forces that might try and cut off The Route before the Technical even arrived.

[Brechalht]

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