Andromeda: To Boldly Go... (SciFi Char RP|IC, Open)

[Dyelli Beybi]

Aula Cartia

In the background, Aula was counting down. After 40 seconds she motioned for Imogen to come with her, taking a firm hold of her weapon as she hurried towards the back door, crossing the short patch of lawn to press up against the wall as she counted down the last few seconds in her head, five... four... three... two... one... She put her foot to the door on the mark of 'zero', bringing the gun to her shoulder as she breached the property. Aula's weapon swung from side to side as she scanned for a target in what turned out to be a kitchen. Nothing. All clear. She moved inwards. It would have been useful to be a kiel at that moment, though she took comfort from the fact that there was one in the squad who could see what was going on in the dark. Even in the gloom though, Aula could make out that the room looked like someone had cleared out in a hurry.

Drawers were left open in the kitchen, as if someone had pulled them open, given a cursory glance to the contents and then moved on. The lounge-dining room, was similar, though there were also what appeared in the dark to be discarded clothing trailed on the floor. Potentially useful for some of the people suffering in the cold? She waited for Gabe and Inaotoann to breach the front door, before quietly motioning for them to take up positions covering the ground floor entrances as she and Imogen swept the rooms upstairs. There were three bedrooms with similar signs of a rapid exit and a bathroom. All of the rooms were empty. She checked the cupboards in the bedrooms then behind the shower curtain in the bath, finding no sign of anyone, either alive or dead, "Just like the Mary Celeste," she muttered to herself, checking the mirror in the bathroom to see if there was a cabinet behind it - jackpot! There was a cabinet and there were packages in it, though in the light, Aula couldn't figure out what they were.

She trundled back downstairs, "Building is clear," she announced to Gabe and Inaotoann, "Looks like someone left here in a hurry. Imogen, head down the hill and let the Major know that we've got shelter. Top floor should give us good visibility over the approaches. Inaotoann, I saw a generator out the back. You can see better at night than me, so head around back to see if there's some fuel to fire it up, that turn the heating on and get the lights on if the medics need it. Gabe, watch the front door, I'll keep an eye on the back until the rest of the group get up here. Everyone clear?"

[Alcona and Hubris]

Imogen followed the Lieutenant keeping an eye out for any oddities or signs of why people left.

"Just like the Mary Celeste,"

Imogen shakes her head at that, "I'm not sure that is the best analogy..." but doesn't suggest any others. Really, this whole thing seems rather anti-climatic and possibly problematic.
I have the creepies about this place...which means that mister falling shoe is just getting bigger and nastier. The scientist in her doesn't like large bits of data just hanging around. She begins to form theories in her mind but keeps them to herself. While Aula dug into the bathroom, Imogen studied the rest of the village from the window. Trying to see if there was anything more, or anyone else around. The dark village just looked back at her.

Imogen followed down the stairs and nodded. "Yeah...I have nothing to suggest at the moment..." Herself she pulls at some clothing up from the floor and wraps some kind of dark turtle neck that is a bit too large for her over. "Well that is an improvement anyway."

Imogen then goes out the door, jogs to the bushes and then stops and listens. She doesn't hear anything but continues to make her way back to the main group by moving quickly from cover to cover, stopping and listening.

[Bingellia]

Violann

Violann watched the four from the hill as they made their trek along then assume their positions for the action. She'd love a pair of binoculars, but she'd make do with her eyes before most disappeared behind some form of cover or another. There was a certain relief as from the lack of blaster fire as the group breached the building, and it was very much reinforced by the sight of Imogen beginning her return to rendezvous point.

The major turned and began her short walk back to the group. "Get up and get ready to move, everyone." she spoke just as loud as she needed to for her voice to carry across the bowl. "We're moving to some shelter soon." She hoped that would at least boost moral a bit, but it still wouldn't solve the sheer number of the wounded who needed assistance to me.

Moving towards Mac, she offered her own hand for a moment before retracting it and just grabbing the foul-mouthed quartermaster as delicately as she could. "You'll get some treatment soon. Hopefully they'll be light and some beds." The gesture, she knew, would be certainly unpredictable given what she had just advocated for, but the situation was now slightly less grim. However, she still defended it as the right choice in the absence of resources to treat them.

[Alcona and Hubris]

Imogen

Alright, so far half way there and nothing...

Rustle...rustle...

The sound of movement in the bush near the side of the trail gave Imogen pause.

Be safe rather than sorry Imogen dropped to the ground and rolled of the trail. She pulls her weapon and keeps eyes where the sound came from. But only silence greets her stare.

Okay...either they are waiting for me to move...or it isn't anything....need to get things moving one way or the other. Imogen ponders her opposition.

She feels around and finds a small, throwable rock. She tosses it into the bush with her left hand while her right grips down tightly on the grip of her weapon.

Hisssss....

sounds out as some creature of unknown creation with six limbs and a long tail bolts from its hiding place and off into the darkness.

Well doesn't that make me look like the bloody fool...some kind of six limbed cat analog? Great next will be eight limbed squirrels I will be hiding from. Although it seems weird that they had six limbs and not four like the reptilians. If the reptilians are local?"

Imogen rises and continues to go down to the main group cross country. She goes short distances then crouches for a few moments in the grass. She then rises but changes direction and pace. She is obviously not trying to make a strait single, continous line down to the main group.

Finally reaching the main group she moves towards the Major and states, "We secured one of the houses at the edge of the group. No people, power, water or electricity were found and it appears to be hastily vacated. The Lieutenant is attempting to get the generator in the building up and running and there is some refused clothing available. We don't have any idea of the status of other buildings in the group, but the local power grid does appear to be down."

[i]So one less reason for you to go on a kill happy jaunt you pointy eared Dagmar Overbye... She thought as she looked at the group dispassionately with no details on her face. Her absolute poker face, as her late husband called it.

So who should I take up hmm? Someone semi-able to move because I don't want to be in the cold but also someone who actually needs assistance? Yes warm only people...make no mistake folks those houses are not safe...the boot shall come...and every moment it does not arrive means it was dropped from that much greater a height.

[Demencia]

Aoibheann Mac Thréinfhir

Mac started to reach her hand out towards the major, but apparently not fast enough, as the Kiel just grabbed her and yanked her upwards anyway. "Oh shite, you always move that fast or should I be expecting dinner later?" she asked, caught off guard by the sudden assistance. "Thanks." she made a half-hearted attempt to dust off her clothes, which was really a wasted effort in the swamp. "At this point I'd take a tablecloth on some hay, let alone a full on bed."

She sighed, clutching the arrow in her side again. "Course I'd be most keen on gettin' rid of this fucker." the redhead winced as she moved.

[The Federal Government of Iowa]

Ensign Gabriel Schmeid, Engineer
Gabriel watched as the others went around to the back of the building and heard the door get kicked open. Gabe unholstered his gun and went inside. The Lieutenant told him to stay on the ground floor and he did so. He surveyed the mess that used to be a home, a pang of sadness struck him. Someone used to live here, play here, feel safe here. If you couldn't be safe in your own home, where could you be safe? He walked over to a shelf with some picture frames. He picked up the first one he saw and wiped off a layer of dust. The picture showed a family of five. Human, at least they looked human. A mother, father, eldest and youngest female with a male middle child.
Poor boy. Gabe laughed to himself. He set the picture back on its shelf gently.
Gabriel stays in the house as Imogen exits, looking out the windows and watching for threats.
He couldn't wait to get the heck out of here. He couldn't feel virtually any extremity of his body, he felt frozen. He looked down at his hands and didn't realize how hard he was gripping his pistol. He could barely feel it, and his hands were a deeper shade of purple than before. At least his head was starting to ache less than it was a short while ago.

[Bingellia]

Aoibheann Mac Thréinfhir

Mac started to reach her hand out towards the major, but apparently not fast enough, as the Kiel just grabbed her and yanked her upwards anyway. "Oh shite, you always move that fast or should I be expecting dinner later?" she asked, caught off guard by the sudden assistance. "Thanks." she made a half-hearted attempt to dust off her clothes, which was really a wasted effort in the swamp. "At this point I'd take a tablecloth on some hay, let alone a full on bed."

She sighed, clutching the arrow in her side again. "Course I'd be most keen on gettin' rid of this fucker." the redhead winced as she moved.

Violann

---

It would be a lie that the ever-so-faint warmth provided by the contact with the other woman wasn't welcome to the Kiel. It still wouldn't make the walk to the shelter pleasant, but it would make it more bearable to a degree.

"I don't give an order I wouldn't do myself, Lieutenant," She addressed Quatermaster. "I'll get you there, and hopefully without aggravating that arrow." The joke clicked after a moment, but Imogen's approach momentarily distracted her, so she stifled her chuckle and turned to face the new woman.

"We secured one of the houses at the edge of the group. No people, power, water or electricity were found and it appears to be hastily vacated. The Lieutenant is attempting to get the generator in the building up and running and there is some refused clothing available. We don't have any idea of the status of other buildings in the group, but the local power grid does appear to be down."

"Well done, we'll be moving to the village then. Even without heat, it's better than sitting in wind," Violann answered

Once Imogen shifted her focus to the wounded, Vio returned hers to Mac. "I think I would prefer somewhere much warmer to eat out at," she said in a deadpan voice, finally responding to the joke.

[Demencia]

Aoibheann Mac Thréinfhir

Whether or not the Major had intended the innuendo, Aoibheann's grin widened. "Aye, if you're looking for recommendations. I can help." she said with a chuckle that quickly turned into pained coughing. "Feckin' arrow!" she complained, now being practically half-carried by the Kiel. It seemed like half the crew would have rather stayed bleeding out in the mud before being touched by the Kiel, something that was not lost on Mac. "Y'now, I get the feelin' that some of these bastards would rather be still in the mud right about now." she said. "Buncha pricks if you ask me." No one had actually asked her, but maybe the Major would take some comfort in knowing that not everyone on her crew was vehemently racist. "If you feel like carryin' me the whole way, I'm not gonna complain."

Some of it was the weariness of the wound setting in deeper. Not completely, but a good portion of it was. The pain really did have a way of sapping someone's strength.

[Bingellia]

Violann

---

Mac's quip back send a deeper shade of red to cheeks as she started to walk with the woman in her grip, and she momentarily struggled to focus on the group around her over the growing heat from embarrassment. It was a distraction from the cold, at least, even as she took on more of Mac's weight.

Then Mac's coughing fit aggravated the arrow, and the shout that followed brought Violann back to reality as the weight in her grip shifted. "Easy, ensign," Violann said as she stabilized her stance. "You tense up every time that arrow gets jostled, and neither of us are going to be happy if I drop you." The quartermaster may have been disrespectful to the captain, but she was still crew.

Violann stayed silent as the topic shifted towards the beliefs of the crew. A few of the officers and department weren't quite so subtle as they thought. It wasn't anything she was unused to, but it was infuriating to stay civil about her heritage until they did anything actionable about it. They'd never push the envelop so long as she had that oak leaf on her collar, the absolute cowards. At least the staff at OCS were honest.

"Well," she broke her silences as the topic shifted once again. "It could have been worse. I might not have grabbed someone-" Violann found herself at a loss. Joking wasn't something she generally did, but the ensign was friendly enough compared to some of the others. "Who knows so much about dining," Violann finished as a blush once again returned to her cheeks. She knew it was bad.

[Khasinkonia]

Daotraou Inaotoann
A Generator to Warm Your Hearts

While rubbing her arms rather roughly, Inaotoann nodded in response to Aula, and simply said, “Understood.”

Without a second word, she skirted around back, and began to quickly look around. It wasn’t long before she spotted the generator, but she was unable to find any fuel nearby. Looking around, she soon spotted a shed. It wasn’t particularly large or ornate, but it was a sturdy structure without any clear holes or signs of decay that often marked Earth sheds. After a cursory search around the small building’s perimeter, she carefully went to open the door. It had a small handle, which suggested that it was to be pulled open. She tugged at it in an attempt to open it, and then gave another harder tug. The wooden door came loose after the second time. With a squeak of the hinge and the creaking sound of a door coming unstuck, it swung open.

She had trouble making out labels, but soon found some things that seemed to be 10-litre gas cans, all lined up on the floor along the back wall of the shed. She took one gas can in each hand, and felt their weight by shifting them. Both felt full, so she lugged them out of the shed and over to the generator. After setting them down, she fiddled with the generator to find the fuel cap. Inaotoann soon found it, and unscrewed the cap from the tank. She dumped one can in, and then the next. She could make out a small display that showed how full the tank was, and it seemed as if it had room for around another can’s worth of gas, so she promptly dropped the empty cans and returned to the shed.

As she went to grab the next can in the row, however, she hesitated. As she gripped the handle, she heard a hissing sound. She grabbed her blaster off her back and kicked the can. A creature which resembled a snake sprung out from behind the can. Inaotoann leapt backwards, and practically hopped back out of the building. Her intense shivering made aiming far more difficult, so she had to wait until she could really get a good sight on it. She fired multiple times, as fast as she could, and on perhaps the fifth or sixth shot in a row, she managed to get a hit on the creature. Due to its biology, the shot practically eradicated a section of the creature’s torso, though it was large enough that it wasn’t a total severance. It writhed for almost a full minute until it finally stopped twitching. With a heavy sigh, Inaotoann trudged back to the shed with her gun still in hand. She was ten shots down, just from dealing with a pest, but had no intention of getting a venomous snake bite.

She nudged the same gas can with her foot, and then nudged it again for posterity. Nothing seemed to be there, but she nonetheless carefully dragged it away from its spot before picking it up. She dumped it in the generator, tossed the can to the side, and then screwed the gas cap back in quickly. She felt around the machine until she found a panel that seemed to be where the controls were. A faint red light at the top allowed her to vaguely make out different shapes. There was a translucent plastic switch that seemed to be an on-off switch, and, when she pressed it, the generator whirred alive. She returned to where Aula had stationed herself, and cleared her throat.

“The generator is on,” she stated. Her expression was somewhat tired, perhaps a bit battered if nothing else. Her eyes essentially said “I’ve seen enough here.”

“I saw no controls for lights or heating on the generator, so they must be inside or elsewhere.”

[Europa Undivided]

Rommel Salazar

It had been quite a long walk. Ah, finally, some light. With the lights of the village being roused to life by the efforts of the woman with an impossible to pronounce name, Rommel, who had been carrying a man on his back for the last few minutes, set him down on one of the habs. With the power on, the medics and doctors in the team could finally actually see what the hell they're doing instead of trying to fumble around in the damn dark, which hasn't been helpful towards the alleviation of the suffering of the arrow victims.

"At least we can now see without needing Kiellar eyes." Rommel took a seat in the hab, taking a breather from the ardius trek through the swamp. "Come on... just a few more hours..."

[Dyelli Beybi]

Aula Cartia

Daotraou Inaotoann
A Generator to Warm Your Hearts

“The generator is on,” she stated. Her expression was somewhat tired, perhaps a bit battered if nothing else. Her eyes essentially said “I’ve seen enough here.”

“I saw no controls for lights or heating on the generator, so they must be inside or elsewhere.”

Aula had shuffled forward by the time Inaotoann got back and was now peering out from the doorway, sweeping her weapon about as she scanned for threats, "I heard shots," she said, visibly relieved to see the other woman, "Everything alright?"

She left enough time for a response before adding, "I'll go around and switch on the central heating. You cover the door. We'll keep the lights switched off for now."

Aula moved to the nearest unit, a big white electrical heater on the wall, switching it on before moving back out, covering off the ground floor before moving upstairs. When she got to the bathroom she switched a light on as well, blinking in momentary blindness before she opened the cabinet to check what was inside. It looked fairly standard; plasters, gauze, tape, painkillers and a few other assorted bits and pieces. No doubt Tita would be able to put them to good use. She checked the window - frosted - before deciding it was probably safe to leave that light on. Finally, Aula scooted between the bedrooms, switching on the heating in each of them before tramping back down the stairs, in time to meet the rest of the group as they arrived.

True to form, Aula immediately reported in to Violann, "Ma'am, heating is on across the property. I've turned the bathroom light on so that the medics can use it as necessary. There are good vantage points on the top floors where we can watch the approaches. There is also plenty of discarded clothing lying around which could be salvaged for bandages or worn by anyone who's clothing got wet in the swamp."

[Demencia]

Aoibheann Mac Thréinfhir

Did the Major... blush? Mac filed that away for later, that could be a fun thing to explore if done carefully. "Aye, once we're out of this bloody sim and I'm not a pincushion I can tell you a bit about how we do dining in Ireland." Violann might be bad at joking, but it was a significant improvement over her earlier hardassery. The position of being carried by the Kiel was slightly awkward, because it didn't leave Mac much choice but to rest her head against the other woman's chest. Violann didn't say anything about it, and neither did Mac, but it had to have been noticeable.

The lights came on in the village, and Vio carried Mac all the way there without much further interjection from the redhead. The quartermaster was still tired, but she tried to keep some level of energy so as to not worry the Kiel. "D'ya think they found... a bar?" she asked, shaking her head to keep awake.

[Alcona and Hubris]

Ensing Cyrano
Imogen begins to help one of the walking wounded back up the hill. She is somewhat silent as her fellow traveler seems to be using most of their strength to put one foot in front of the other. The two trudge up the hill in companionable silence.

I can feel the cold sapping at my bones now, and this poor fellow is getting weaker and weaker. I hope that damnable pointy ear knows how to turn on the power. Just our luck if we get one who doesn't know the word 'on' from 'off'. Although I hope the bastard didn't get fustrated and shoot the generator...

Imogen looks up at the small light of the bathroom turn on. "Well, we got the electricity back, I hope the heat works too..." she comments out loud to those in the front of the pack moving up the slope to the house.

Okay, lets not go down negative lane right now. If there is problem with the heat then we fix it. I just hope that the locals don't decide this rag tag evacuation is a good target.

As most people seem to be making for the front door, Imogen takes a short cut to go strait for the side door. Lets not get caught in the rush...

Dr. Tita
The good doctor is tired, warn out and very cold. She limps with the help of someone up to the house. She can make out the Major carrying the Quartermaster. The Doctor sniffs at that considering that one of the people who are most likely to make it is Aoibheann.

The woman's kidney may be painful but likely will not kill her in the near term. So once again the good Major demonstrates her preference for those who can live rather than those who are fighting for their lives.

[Bingellia]

Violann

---

Seeing the light as the generator kicked on seemed to improve Violann's spirits as she carried Mac towards the village. The sight of light and the thought of heat provided a reprieve far greater than the head resting on the Major's chest, but it was warmer than braving the trip alone if only from the exertion. However, there was some part of Vio that had to admit that the scenery was oddly nice.

True to form, Aula immediately reported in to Violann, "Ma'am, heating is on across the property. I've turned the bathroom light on so that the medics can use it as necessary. There are good vantage points on the top floors where we can watch the approaches. There is also plenty of discarded clothing lying around which could be salvaged for bandages or worn by anyone who's clothing got wet in the swamp."

Aula's punctuality was completely expected. She did the job and she did it well, just as the major expected. "Good, Lieutenant." Violann said as leaned against the wall, with Mac still her grip. Violann took a second to catch her breath, and feel comparative warmth of the building provide a bit of comfort. "Get the marines and our fighter pilots into positions on the upper floor," she continued as she scanned the room. "Operations and other support staff can assist two doctors with the wounded for the moment."

"D'ya think they found... a bar?" she asked, shaking her head to keep awake.

"You aren't that lucky, Macthreinfhir," Violann replied sternly. "I would need to keep it closed if they did." For a moment, she looked down to the woman and sighed faintly. The Quartermaster was clearly tired, and the pain from the arrow had to be immense. "Rest and warm-up once the doctors tell me where to put you," She added, her tone just as strict as before, "That's an order."

[Dyelli Beybi]

Aula Cartia

"All right, everyone let's roll!" she waved her good hand to get their attention, "Marines, pilots, on me!"

She led them upstairs, taking the steps two-at-a-time before pointing out the bedrooms, "Take up position in those rooms. Leave the bathroom for the medics, if they need it. Keep the lights off so that it's darker in the property than out. They'll struggle to spot us in here but there moon will illuminate them outside. Don't squander that advantage. If the battle on the road was anything to go by, we'll be outnumbered but have better gear. These walls should give adequate cover. Also, draw the blinds across the window, preferably draping over your back and head. If it comes to a fight you will need to open them to shoot out but there is still a good chance the glass will get shattered by an arrow. The blinds will help stop it going everywhere and also help keep the warmth inside.

"I'll stay in the centre, for now, and provide support to whichever side of the house needs it. Unless it is a life or death emergency, don't abandon your position on one side to reinforce another. We don't want to fall prey to a feint designed to lure or guns away from the main assault. If you are covering the back, make sure they don't get into the generator, which is in the lean-to under you. It's not the end of the world if they break it, but it will make life less comfortable for us. All clear?" she asked.

There wasn't much time for questions, or to get any further defences set up on the ground floor. There was movement on the road they had just come from. Figures advancing cautiously in pursuit of their retreating adversaries. Within a few minutes they would be going back into battle...

[The Federal Government of Iowa]

Ensign Gabriel Schmeid, Engineer
"Oh thank God that thing still works." Gabe was immensely relieved after hearing the generator come to life, especially after hearing the shots from outside. Gabe was even more relieved to see that Inaotoann was ok. He continued to watch for anything odd out the windows as Cartia went around turning on the heat. It could be his imagination, but Gabe could swear he was already feeling the warmth penetrate his fridged clothing.
People started to file into the house, most of them either injured or carrying the injured.
"I wonder if they need more people to aid the injured."
It was then he spotted the Major making her way into the house with a member of the injured. When she was done giving orders, Gabe approached her and stood at attention.
"Major, would I be of any use going to help the injured, seeing as there are now Marines on the top floor to stand watch?" Gabe stood, awaiting a response.

[Grenartia]

Aula Cartia

"All right, everyone let's roll!" she waved her good hand to get their attention, "Marines, pilots, on me!"

She led them upstairs, taking the steps two-at-a-time before pointing out the bedrooms, "Take up position in those rooms. Leave the bathroom for the medics, if they need it. Keep the lights off so that it's darker in the property than out. They'll struggle to spot us in here but there moon will illuminate them outside. Don't squander that advantage. If the battle on the road was anything to go by, we'll be outnumbered but have better gear. These walls should give adequate cover. Also, draw the blinds across the window, preferably draping over your back and head. If it comes to a fight you will need to open them to shoot out but there is still a good chance the glass will get shattered by an arrow. The blinds will help stop it going everywhere and also help keep the warmth inside.

"I'll stay in the centre, for now, and provide support to whichever side of the house needs it. Unless it is a life or death emergency, don't abandon your position on one side to reinforce another. We don't want to fall prey to a feint designed to lure or guns away from the main assault. If you are covering the back, make sure they don't get into the generator, which is in the lean-to under you. It's not the end of the world if they break it, but it will make life less comfortable for us. All clear?" she asked.

There wasn't much time for questions, or to get any further defences set up on the ground floor. There was movement on the road they had just come from. Figures advancing cautiously in pursuit of their retreating adversaries. Within a few minutes they would be going back into battle...

"Aye, ma'am!" Emily shouted, as she ran from the position she had taken among the hedges, towards the front door, and up the stairs. She claimed her spot in the room with the window facing the generator shed, and readied her weapon. "Out of curiosity, how many extra mags do we have on hand?" she asked Aula.

[The Imarian Monarchy]

Sofia Calhoun

Having entered the house with the rest of the column, Calhoun went through the rooms looking for clothing to replace her drenched uniform from her tumble in the swamp. Going up the stairs and into the Master Bedroom, in the room she had her way with anything the closets and dressers, wool coats and socks,scarves, gloves, turtlenecks, and other winter clothing. Putting on the winter clothing, Calhoun went to look for the nearest vent to sit under to warm up.

[Alcona and Hubris]

Imogen

Imogen drops her charge to the floor in an out of the way place and looks over the space as people with wounded slowly truge their way inside. Then she looks at the windows around the lounge-dining room and the kitchen.

Why what I wouldn't do for some darkness...or at least some bars over these downstairs windows. They are large enough for a human to get through...

Imogen turns and begins to look through the drawers herself. Mostly it seems to be the refuse of the kitchen with peelers, forks, spoons, and various other odd and end utensils. Unlike her own kitchen there did not appear to be a tools of any kind.

Damn...what is this? She pulls out a device with a square wooden handle and a long shaft that ends imbedded in a wine cork. She pulls it off to reveal the long, nasty point on the end. What the hell is this? she states before pocketing it.

Imogen turns and looks over the group and heads over to the Major. "Ma'm, we've got warmth at the moment but these windows are sort of bare and exposed. I am going to see if I can find some tools, nails or screws to see if we can put some barriers over the largest of them. I think the marines can keep them off but...hope for the best, prepare for the worst."
I wonder if she'll recognize that quote?

[Dyelli Beybi]

Aula Cartia

"Aye, ma'am!" Emily shouted, as she ran from the position she had taken among the hedges, towards the front door, and up the stairs. She claimed her spot in the room with the window facing the generator shed, and readied her weapon. "Out of curiosity, how many extra mags do we have on hand?" she asked Aula.

"I've got one," Aula replied, "Don't know how many shots I've taken with the one I've got loaded into the blaster... Everyone!" she raised her voice so it carried to everyone on the top floor, "Be economical. Aim and fire if you have a target. Do not waste your ammunition or we will be overrun!"

The first attack came from the South-West, the direction of the road the snaked up from the pickup zone. The reptilians crept up in small groups, fading into the surrounding properties as they built up numbers in the town itself. This process went on for the best part of an hour and it was entirely possible there were others approaching from the North, beyond where the crew could see. Either way, there was time for the crew to warm up before the inevitable happened.

The attack was sounded by a horn as a few dozen of the creatures dashed towards the property armed with clubs and primitive slashing weapons. They weapons looked primitive though that would be small comfort if you actually got struck by one. In the background a number of others armed with bows were taking up position to return fire on anyone in the house who shot at them. The horn had alerted Aula to the direction of the attack and she had ducked into one of the rooms that faced towards where the enemy were coming from, "Windows up!" she called, "Open fire!"

She opened up the one she was standing by, dropping down into a kneeling position behind the window sill as she picked her first target...

[Bingellia]

Violann

---

"Major, would I be of any use going to help the injured, seeing as there are now Marines on the top floor to stand watch?" Gabe stood, awaiting a response.

"Yes, you would be of use," Violann quickly answered in a deadpan. "Either by running supplies down from the bathroom or by helping move people. Ask one of the doctors for specifics for they need"

I am going to see if I can find some tools, nails or screws to see if we can put some barriers over the largest of them.

"Excellent idea, Ensign," Violann replied to the ensigns suggestion. It would seem like it wasn't only Aula that was willing to show "Take one of the support staff to assist, it's best to do it as quickly as possible."

Then the horn sounded and Violann's expression hardened. She had expected this, of course, but time always proved to be a commodity that she so dearly lacked in this sim. She contained her frustration as she scanned the building. Hopefully there would be enough furniture on the upper-floors to help barricade the windows.

"Alright," Violann called to everyone on the first floor, her voice gradually raising with every word. "Whoever can move needs to help make barricades for the exterior doors and the windows, now!" Violann, for her part, took the end of the nearest sofa and started to pull it while offering a glance to Imogen. "Help me move this to the front door, Ensign," she said over the sounds of it scraping on the wood.

[Demencia]

Aoibheann Mac Thréinfhir

"You aren't that lucky, Macthreinfhir," Violann replied sternly. "I would need to keep it closed if they did." For a moment, she looked down to the woman and sighed faintly. The Quartermaster was clearly tired, and the pain from the arrow had to be immense. "Rest and warm-up once the doctors tell me where to put you," She added, her tone just as strict as before, "That's an order."

Mac winced a little when the Major hit every consonant in her name wrong. "We're gonna have to talk about your pronunciation later..." she said weakly. This wasn't the time or the place for that, and Aoibheann wasn't up to a lesson on the Irish alphabet at the moment. She sat upright when the horn sounded. "I can still shoot at some fuckers, hi."

She wasn't about to try standing up again, so she started to slide herself towards a window. Of course, by sitting down she wasn't able to see super well out of it, so it was more blindfire hoping to persuade some people to keep their heads down. By herself, it was pretty ineffective. With someone else taking advantage of the covering fire, it might actually be a decently held window.

[Alcona and Hubris]

Imogen

The first attack came from the South-West, the direction of the road the snaked up from the pickup zone. The reptilians crept up in small groups, fading into the surrounding properties as they built up numbers in the town itself. This process went on for the best part of an hour....

"Excellent idea, Ensign," Violann replied to the ensigns suggestion. It would seem like it wasn't only Aula that was willing to show "Take one of the support staff to assist, it's best to do it as quickly as possible."

No, I think I will dilly dally like a school girl waiting for her crush to ride by on his bicycle...what kind of useless order is that pointy ear? Is all Imogen thought as she stated "Yes, Ma'm" before turning and moving towards the kitchen door. Hopping over

"Your an engineer right? She pointed at a tall, young man who looked to be somewhat lost and looking for something to do...'lets do some Martian Engineering shall we? Grab that idiotic sweater with the...is that supposed to be a stag with a red nose on it? Never mind grab that to keep warm and let's get going...."

The horn sounded and Imogen swore. "God damn it..."

"Alright," Violann called to everyone on the first floor, her voice gradually raising with every word. "Whoever can move needs to help make barricades for the exterior doors and the windows, now!" Violann, for her part, took the end of the nearest sofa and started to pull it while offering a glance to Imogen. "Help me move this to the front door, Ensign," she said over the sounds of it scraping on the wood.

Imogen shakes her head and grabs a bit of small clothing items from off the floor and tosses a few to Violann. "Here..." She pulls the sofa up for a moment on the other end and puts the bits of cloth under the legs. She helps to push the sofa with much less resistance across the wooden floor and into place. Pulling the bits of cloth out again when done.

"We should get that refrigerator in the kitchen thrown over to block the backdoor..." She points when they have finished with the front door.

[Bingellia]

Violann

---

"You," Vio pointed at the engineer that Imogen had previously volunteered to assist, "Help Cyrano with the fridge, quickly."

"Aye aye, ma'am," he answered quickly before heading to the kitchen.

Moving towards the window, Violann peered out the front of the property and glared at the approaching force of primitives as she took her rifle from her shoulder. Dull thunk of an arrow or light javelin embedding itself into the wall of the building near Mac's window filled the major with anger and she suddenly bashed the window with butt of her rifle, breaking the glass. A second strike closer to the window frame cleared any fragments still attached. Steadying on the frame, she once again aimed and fired two shots at the reptile leading the approach. The major hoped it was the leader of that little band as she watched it fall to the ground.

Ducking back in, Violann looked back into the room for any adhoc bits of cover. "Knock that table down, and put it somewhere to cover the ways in" she gestured to a coffee table. "Someone can use it to help stable their shots should the house be breached." For a moment she tallied the room. "And get anyone who can't fight upstairs," She loudly added, "They'll be slaughtered if there's a breach."

Peering back out, there were at least two dozen taking the approach she could was covering. A quick glance out another window made it obvious that they were attacking from multiple approaches, and the sheer mass may be overwhelming if they could muster a similar number for the other angles and entrance. "Thasyn, may we shield my men from our enemies," the Major lowly said in Kiellari. It's harsh tones seemed to take a more guttural sound as once again steadied to fire at another reptilian. "Rhustus, may we break our foe through bloody force," Violann finished, and punctuated her prayer with another three-shot burst of blaster fire, scoring another hit on a smaller reptile seeming to forgo cover.