"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!"

The juicer stands, breathing heavily, and snarling...

Xion is down on one knee when he materializes in Tolkeen, holding one pistol out in front of him as his other hand holds a pistol but is clutching at his gut, as his armor is dented. He wills himself to stand, which is a testament to his resolve and demeanor, quickly saluting as best he can to the superior officers. "Only a few left. We can help them...we have to try..."

Any who look closely can see blood dripping off of Xion, from one ear, his nose, and under his breast plate. "Masque and the others..." Xion drops back to one knee, doing everything in his power to remain concious.

Van scans the crowd. Looks like everybody from 3rd platoon is here except...Silvermasque, Lotus, Obidiah, Harmon. Four from 3rd platoon. Even if they still had anyone from the other platoons, their chances were slim. He knew Silvermasque and Lotus though, and they wouldn't go down for Tolkeen, that was for sure. He trusted they'd find a way.

With a pistol drawn and a psi-sword just flickering into existance, Callie blinks in the sudden light in Tolkeen.  Her head whips around for a confused few seconds, and as she struggles to recognize where she is.  "What... is heard over the company's radio channel.

The clatter of her pistol hitting the ground is largely obscured by the bustle in the square, as the young woman collapses to the ground and shakes.

Van tries to slow Callie's collapse, catching her and lowering her slowly, "Woa, easy Red. You're alright, you're at Tolkeen now."

He looks around at his comrades, scarred by the battle he was meant to fight. It was completely arbitrary that he was taken in the first wave, just because of where he happened to be standing. This was war, arbitrary, indifferent. No matter how much you prepared for it, anything could happen.

Drained of his PPE he tries to help as best he can, making sure everyone is ok, and helping medics get others onto stretchers. This is about all he can do for now.

The transport spell dissolves around the group and Mithas collapses to the ground.  Snorting for breath, his chest heaving up and down as he tries to reclaim his breath.  Gashing cuts cross his face and blood flows freely from some of the larger ones. A piece of metal.... from the frag grenade, likely, is lodged into the right side of his snout.  ... "Huff.... Huff.... Fear....less...."  Mithas' head rolls to the side as he passes out..... Still breathing.... but in need of a serious nap.  He may be able to wake up.... or maybe he'll just sleep where he is.

Jelme rushes around to get the most severely wounded into the medics hands. Fearless and Hulan being the worst of them.

He says nothing as he does this. This has onviously been an emotional battle, and subsequent teleport away without everybody coming...

Braga re-appears standing calmly. His rifle at his side, he looks over his companions to see who is missing. He wayches some of them bleed, others lose conciousness, and many are rushed away with the medics. He stands, emotionless, deep in thought.

Raz appears on one knee, coughing. He appears to be fine, other than being out of breath. He quickly regains his wits and assists the medics and their escorting of the wounded.

Callie leans on Van's offered support for a moment, collecting herself.  With a shuddering sigh she stands on her own and pauses a second longer before pulling off her helmet and looking around.

Her brow creasing at the suffering around her, Callie turns back to the nearby technowizard and smiles "Thanks.  You know, you're all right."

Though she can't offer much direct support, she will do what she can to help clear the wounded, offering to deaden their pain a bit if nothing else until she's out of ISP.

Fearless, Hulan, Mithas, and Arven are carried off to the medical station. The rest of the group is escorted to the staion with Warlord Scard.

Malik and members of "The Expendables" take the prisoners into custody, strip them down, and bring them into the King's Tower.

Most members of the company have sustained wounds of some sort in the recent battle, others are not sure if they have - and at least require a check.

Their are showers available, along with sandwiches and soup for the taking.

Most of the treatment will not take long, but the free rest in a soft bed is a nice break...

After a while the members of Pluto Company are returning to their normal healthy selves... well, at least the ones that made it.

On route to the medical station the Warlord looks excited at the signs of war, and Tolkeen's soldiers fighting the good fight on the front lines.

"You boys are heroes. You know that? You brought us the god damn Emperor! Lieutenant - that is some damn fine work. You all did some damn fine work. I sometimes wish I was out there with you guys fighting it out like I used to. Perhaps I will get my chance, perhaps not... Whatever the case - you all did The Kingdom of Tolkeen a great service today, Your comrades gave their lives for a good cause."

   "Thank you sir!"  Zephram pauses to acknowledge his commander-in-chief but his face shows how desperately he wants to continue helping his troops to the medical station.  "Sir, request permission to prepare a debriefing after the wounded are tended to."

You, Xion, and Drake are already scheduled to report with Major Hulan here in the King's Tower in 3 hours. They figured you guys could use some down time.

With that, Scard realizes he is not needed, nor overly "wanted" here. He shakes Zephram's hand, and salutes, before walking back to the tower with Malik.

"As long as you're alright," he says to Callie, trying to be a gentleman. He lends her his aviator jacket as he takes off his helmet and throws a few of his weapons down on his board, pushing it along beside him.

As they walk to the medical station, Van stands back from the officers and Warlord Scard. As Corin and Malik walk away Van tries to get a word in. "Um...shit..." is all he can muster. His one opportunity to meet not just one, but two of the circle of twelve, and he couldn't think of anything intelligent to say. But afterall, he was just militia; farmboys with rifles. If this war lasted long enough, maybe he'd get his chance to impress the right people, but for now he was basically invisible.

Turning to Zephram, "Lieutenant, you did it. I mean, it was chaos, but you captured the Emperor. I'd like to be able to say I played a part, but really you could've done that by yourself -- I mean except the teleporting part, that was that tall broad, and the tornados helped...Anyways I just think it was impressive. You're a fine commander, sir."

(Unless anyone had anything better to do)

Within a few hours Silvermasque is within decent radio range to call Tolkeen. Shortly thereafter a troop transport arrives to lift them all back to Tolkeen.

The wounded are mended. Some minor aches from actual puncture wounds remain, but most injurues were light, and are now completely healed. The wounded are all to report to Barracks Alpha-Mike Four. It is among the other mercenary barracks - and supposedly there are several new recruits gathering there waiting to join Pluto Company on their future missions. Also, everybody is about to get split up into 4 seperate platoons, designed to communicate, and co-ordinate attacks, and battle plans.

Major Hulan will command 1st platoon. Lieutent Xion will command one, Lieutenant Zephram another. And Lieutenant Drake from one of the other platoons - one of the rescued wounded from the battle for Prosek actually - will command the other. There are apparently some other soldiers, mostly mercenaries and a sample of Tolkeen's new weapons... whatever that might be...

Pluto Company is to wait at the barracks, until the officers arrive. At which point they will be released to acquire repairs, and receive a re-armament.

Xion, Zephram, Drake and Major Hulan are to meet at the tower.
Private...

A television station in the medical station is playing the Tolkeen sation. As of late it has become a war billboard, displaying updates on the war; including city battles, and their change of control, casualty reports, and known casualties; along with Coalition updates, in their affairs around their borders.

The updates are displayed in several languages as words, and read aloud in English by a female news reporter.

"Just hours ago history was written people of Tolkeen. I am pleased to announce that Tolkeen's dragons engaged a Coalition Air Transport this morning and brought it to the ground. King Creed had been made aware that Emperor Karl Prosek of The Coalition States was likely on board this transport. Tolkeen dispatched a company from Battle Group Odin. The men and women of 3rd Platoon, Pluto Company, outstandingly battled against the odds, and engaged the Coalition full force as the survivors from the crash fought for their lives to defend their leader. Our men secured the Emperor and brought him home. Emperor Karl Prosek is a prisoner of Tolkeen! This is a good day of the war, this could change everything..."

Text scrolls by in several languages:
Hillcrest was lost to the Coalition today. Only 4 survivors... including Captain Maddox


Faust and Hudak were re-captured recently. No word on when reinforcements will be sent.

"Remember, we must stop the Coalition from advancing. Our offensive, which will annihilate their invasion force will come. We must stop them from pushing farther into our land."

A new agreement was made today with Chief Koraga of the Taijuk Simvan tribe. He has pledged full military support to the Kingdom of Tolkeen.

Nearly sixteen thousand mercenaries have been recruited in the last two weeks. They now fight to defend Tolkeen's borders.

"Tolkeen soldiers have been using guerilla tactics effectively to destroy Coalition advancements. Remember to use sabotauge, hit/run tactics, and divide and conquer. Incapacitate the enemy using spells such as Carpet of Adhesion and Magic Net. Capture the enemy, by using sleep and confusing magics. Invoke retreat and then block it off.

Tolkeen offers spells to intelligent students. Magic Net, Carpet of Adhesion, Levitate, Force Bonds, Circle of Flame, Cloud of smoke, Blinding Flash, Charm, Befuddle, Fear, Domination, Trance, Compulsion, Paralysis, Agony, Sickness, Blind, Mute, Wisps of Confusion, Aura of Death, Aura of Doom, Disharmonize, Mental Shock, Speed of The Snail, Sustain.

Tolkeen has come out victorious at The Battle of Morning Glory, and Sectorville. They used smaller units.

The Pecos Empire has successfully conducted dozens of raids on Lonestar and El Dorado Coalition Outposts. Allegedly the Leaders have united under a mercenary company known as the Shadow Warriors. All diplomatic attempts with the Pecos have been unsuccessfull.


"Please do not fear or hesitate to fight alongside underwordly creatures, or the animated corpses of dark mages. These are necessary to defend our home. The Coalition has comitted genocide agaist us, under the Command of General Micander Drogue, and must be stopped. This message will now repeat.

At the medical station, Callie is diagnosed with nothing more serious than a case of post-battle nerves, and is bustled off to find someplace quiet and something warm to drink.

Finding both in the barracks, she settles down, back to the television.  When she speaks it's to whomever is near, needing the act of speaking more than any listeners' comments.  "I just can't stop thinking about it, about what else I could have done, how I could have killed more people..." she shudders a bit, in presumed horror, at that thought.  "My first battle wasn't that bad, was it?  This does get better, right?"

When the television starts talking about the great victory, Callie closes her eyes over her mug of tea, and the volume goes down almost to inaudability.  Apparently she's not in the mood to hear about it while the fates of some of her companions are still unknown.

PM

   Looking down at the younger soldier.  "It was just a case of right-place-right-time, Van.  I couldn't have pulled it off without the back-up.  You guys did great."  Although Zephram's words are obviously sincere, it is obvious he is holding back a bit due to the presence of the Warlord.  Zephram's sense of discipline and military etiquette are quite strong.

Mithas awakes in the medic hall, to his surprise feeling quite rested after only a few hours.  Yet he feels extremely hungry.  Ignoring the hunger for now, he asks if anyone knows where a badly injured orc named Fearless was taken....

Lady Marlene retreats to the new company barracks for some R and R. She gathers all her Magical energy that she used to for the mission and wonders what's next... After a few seconds, she wonders about one other thing. But, she will wait to see if it's true or not...

That evening she checks with the Major to see where she should be in the company. Because, most or all the platoon members died during the battle.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:52, Wed 13 Sept 2006.

Nodding to Zephram, "Glad to still be here. Those warlock spells of yours are more than handy I must say." Xion turns serious momentarily, "These new recruits we are receiving, I do hope they fare better than Ren and that other fellow. I am sure in the common defense of our homes we can tolerate them. All we really need worry about are those cyberknights...if we can keep them and the new guys apart we should be fine I would think."

   Responding to Xion while he and Drake are walking to a local rest stop to grab some drinks and maybe some food, Zephram speaks casually.  "I really don't think we need concern ourselves with the cyberknights.  Discipline should be their middle names.  Its the brodkil and syvan that have me considering the options.  Those creatures are monsters, inhuman, and are only lending Tolkeen their aid for the opportunity to kill other humans.  They don't care if they kill Coalition troops or our own men, except that killing ours will get them attacked from all sides.  As long as they can keep our leadership convinced that they are on our side, they get a free ticket to kill.  Well, I won't stand for any extraordinary behaviour from them.  They're soldiers like the rest of us.  We just need to make sure they get consistent treatment from us and I think everything will be fine.  I'm also considering enlisting the aid of Mephisto.  He knows more about these creatures than most and I don't think his mind is completely poisoned by them yet."

Fearless is just 2 beds away from Mithas, and is spotted easily. Any conversation will be limited as Fearless can't speak a word of English... he listens well though...

He is concious when Mithas approaches him. He looks up at the Minotaur and nods, extending his hand for a firm handshake. An emotional thank you for saving his life...