"I am also going to request that we have all the Mages in town who are not on guard duty or working in the construction of magical defenses, submit their energy reserves to an Energy Sphere for the construction efforts. They can replenish themselves from the Ley Line as they help out in other areas, simply to draw on a larger pool that isn't being used. It only takes perhaps fifteen to twenty minutes for most to recover while at a Ley Line so it shouldn't be a deteriment for too long."

"Silvermasque...I have a thought. A simple fire is no threat to you or myself correct? I wonder if it would be possible for us to find a way to hide my 'heat signature' and disguise myself as a giant boulder. This would allow us to come up behind the Coalitions forward most advance..."

   After hearing Calliandra's message on the radio, Lotus suspects an imminent attack.  She signals her three companions with a hand gesture and points back at Madtown before heading back right away.  She will lead them back to Silvermasque's last known position.  It would not do well to be out this far when the shit hits the fan.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:53, Thu 06 Sept 2007.

Banshee lands her TW board next to Silvermasque and walks up to him.

"Silvermasque right? I have come for the female Mystic Knight. SHe has a meeting with the major."

 "Sounds like most of things are just magical versions of grenade with no pin left under discarded kit." remarks 'Masque, in a fashion that makes it plain that this isn't a dismissal, but rather a way to shoehorn the more than slightly magical ways of magic into his pretty well established tactical sense. "Will be good way to stretch out munitions."

 "Make sure to work somewhere safe, and will you be needing guard?" the 'Borg calls out to Mephisto (because as noted, he doesn't have to like it to support it), before a slightly less comprehending, but basically agreeable nod then follows the suggestion of creating some sort of 'group power bank' frm Photios, "I will put that to boss when handing in deployment plans and Lotus' request." he states, mentally adding it to a little checklist of 'things that need to be decided above my pay grade'.

 'Cannon gets a grin and another of those man-shattering high-thigh slaps from the good-natured 'Borg, "Is good thinking, only I am kind of concerned about Dog Boys sniffing us out if we get too clever - maybe these travel circles or just good, old-fashioned tunnels will do job. We don't want to be knife-fighting with skullheads until we've thinned them out a little though... They are having too many men for that."

 And then the compromised communication channel opens up, followed shortly thereafter by messages of alarm from one point or another in the settlement... And 'Masque goes over to strictly audio for the benefit of the group clustered around him... "We stop using radio for updates  except emergencies now, if you have to report trouble, do so on platoon channel, but authenticate transmission with code-word Swordfish. One transmission will invalidate Swordfish, then use Seperator and Peachtree. If we need more, I shall send runners."

 He swiftly indicates members of the platoons by hand, "Photios, go join Mephisto, make sure he does not end up throat-slit. Work on your projects with him. Nilus, I want two of your men to go with Black Andy to outside edge of Arena, set up watch position, one two more to go with Biltimore Hotel. You, Na-wa, the two with Lotus and I are heading for animal pens... Mission is to interdict hostile movement in and out of Madhaven until we receive further orders, keep groups in visual contact."

 The arrival of the Technowizard on her board brings a nod from the large 'cybernetic feline, one that's accompanied by a gesture skywards, "She is coming back in from patrol... Tell Major I am deploying Fourth Platoon and auxiliaries in three groups to edge of secondary perimeter on watch until we have verbal orders, if he is wishing to use radio, tell him to use private channel and to authenticate Farseer, Fossil, then Foreigner if we are having three whole emergencies that need putting out."

As Obidiah approaches his heavy footsteps cause vibrations in the ground around him. He waits until Silvermasque is finished speaking to Banshee. His telepathic voice is primarily directed at the cybernetic tiger though he errantly lets it broadcast out to anyone in a twenty foot radius or so. "Hello Silvermasque. I was just coming back around to lend some supernatural muscle to the earthwork projects you have going. I wanted to make sure the majority of connecting tunnels were big enough for me to plod around in. To that end I have some abilities I wanted to make you aware of and then see if you wanted to inlcude any of them in your overall strategy."

The big golem takes a moment to make sure the cyborg tiger was not too busy to listen to him before he continues.

"Firstly I intend to enlist the aid of ten fragmented essences of an air elemental commonly reffered to as Phantoms. They are hearty little fellows who are naturally invisible and can fly. Their orders will be to locate the dogboys and cast Clouds of Slumber and Miasma upon them and then Call Lightning upon those that remain standing until they run out of energy. Lastly they can engage with their supernatural strength. As for myself I can blanket the entire battlefield in fog and driving rain along with smaller areas of blizzard like snowstorm conditions or even a tornado if that can help. Also if there is an area you need protected from railgun fire I can create numerous, overlapping if necessary, 40ft diameter electromagnetic fields that will ensnare all iron and iron alloys in their radius of effect. I could also protect strategic locations from any missiles, bombs or similar conventional attacks within 120ft of myself as long as I have at least a second or so warning. Finally I should mention that while I find it very distasteful I could feasibly assassinate anyone from the attacking force with ease. Perhaps even a number of their leaders if they were meeting together and we somehow knew about it. Thats about it really. You might ask the sherriff if there are any Earth Warlocks left in town. If so then all of this digging might become a whole lot easier."

After he and Silvermasque have concluded their conversation Obidiah will go and put his supernatural strength and endurance to good use digging, hauling and otherwise doing the heavy lifting.

Cannon Fodder reaches his hand down and pats the Golem on his back

"You know we're in a battle just now right?"

"We do not have enough explosives to layer the whole town... we will need alot more for all of what you been suggesting. And DeeVee here isn't a borg for reference he is a drone. Artificial Intelligence."

Firefly Demolition Inventory:

60 Anti-vehicle mines
140 anti personnel mines
250 lbs of plastique
30 heavy fusion blocks
50 medium fusion blocks
25 light fusion blocks
300 grenades (125 frag, 50 heavy, 100 plasma, 25 tear gas).

A large Coalition Mark-V APC painted drab grey comes barreling out from Madtown plowing through a fence and thoroughly ruining a farmers corn crop as it rolls towards 4th platoons outer defenses. It grinds to a stop in a big cloud of dust. The side door open and a fidgety mutant rat hops out. He immediately affixes a set of fabricated steps that make it easier to walk down out of the large vehicle and then opens a side compartment that contains some lawn chairs and a table with one of those umbrellas in the middle for blocking the sun. A man wearing a grey Armani suit with a pink shirt and cornsilk blue necktie steps gingerly down the ladder to the dusty ground. He checks his Rolex out of habit and then runs his hand through long auburn hair which despite being greasy and unkempt still manages to look luxurious. He stares at everyone in turn tapping an index finger against his lower lip as he does. Spotting Silvermasque he stops tapping and points his finger at Cyborg.

"Considering you are the only "Big Fucking Tiger-Guy" present I assume that would make you Silvermasque. My brother and I are here to help you."

The rat stands up and snarls at Doc.

"And me too boss. Don't forget about me."

OOC, to Silvermasque: Na-Wa want's to know if the patrol he is on has been completed. The poor guy is dumber then a rock (well maybe a pebble), and he is quite confused.

 As 'Masque is speaking, he's reaching into the heavy and decidedly non-issue pack that he usually has around, and from which the computer and sundry other toys have been extracted, producing in the process a set of oversized MI-B2 cyborg infantry armour which he starts putting, cunningly concealed ports in his synthetic fur covering opening to lock onto the armour attachment points.

 "Would be good to be able to maneuver underground, out of sight from skullheads." he replies, when Obidiah opens his conversation, "But I am not sure what ground is like around here... to take our size and weight, tunnel would need to be in rock, but if we go too deep, others cannot move from bunker to bunker quickly enough. I guess this is where mages are coming in, da."

 Once the big Golem begins explaining what he can and cannot do however, things get a great deal more involving, and 'Masque leans back against a building whilst he puts on vambrances and gauntlets (themselves studded with closing firing ports for a fair selection of onboard heavy weapons) with low 'thunk' sounds of engaging clips... "You have been thinking about this, is good." he comments, turning the suggestions over in his mind "If you can be assured spirits will behave, they sound good. Rogue weather I think is best to treat like fire support, we can call down to disrupt enemy line of advance... I doubt spell will stop railgun slug dead, they move hellish fast, da, but will probably make *real* hard to hit anything beyond end of barrel, which is good. We will add your abilities to defence plan, but for now we are on lockdown - our communications have been compromised and we may have infiltrators in town. For meantime, until we are hearing from Major I want you to join Black Andy over by hotel on guard duty."

 "Real ticktock soldier, huh?" asks 'Masque of Nihlus as he finishes shrugging into and settling down the massive plates of layered alloy armour, "But I was referring to Ludo - still, if DeeVee is having same onboard computer targetting as I am and I hope Ludo is, he may just be added to fire support team, if we can be getting him grenade launcher." - he takes a quick glance at the inventory, then nods, "You are right, is not enough to dig in properly - so we will be needing to use cleverly. Work out best use of existing resources between outer and second defence line and we'll substitute big damn' soldiers and vibro-blades for any demolition work we need done in town."

 The arrival of the APC just as he's packing away his BDU's brings all four hands sliding up to a 'just in case' position at his sides, but it's fairly apparent early on that it's not looking for an out-and-out fight. Still, that said there are meant to be infiltrators in town, and so... "Is good, we are needing all the help we can be getting right now, I think. What is being your expertise and names?" ...is asked, as they remain under the attention of an impassive cybernetic visor system.


 ---

 OOCly Bruce, your idea is as good as mine. As I read it however, about fifteen to twenty minutes ago, Lotus, Na-Wa and two members of Firefly got sent out to make sure no-one snuck up on us. Seems as though they already have and so Lotus is bringing people back in.
 I think. ^_^

After the seemingly normal man steps off the APC a frustrated growl can be heard from inside the huge vehicle, then a few heavy thumps before a large animalistic man leaps out of the APC. Feral lands in a crouch, one hand on the ground the other holding a small black object. Feral moves up with his brother, sniffing the air, "Brother, big cat smells like car. Not really a cat I bet." Having said his piece Feral lifts the hand holding the black object up, "Hate this level, never gonna win." Feral almost rips his PSP in half but stops, remembering how hard it was to get it to work again, he simply turns it off and places it in his pocket.

Feral eyes the 'big cat' carefully, walking a circle around him, "Feral my name, don't know what expertise is." Feral will then wait for Doc to speak.

   The three hovercycles are heard first, and then shortly after the repeated thuds of Na-Wa's robot horse.  Lotus comes barreling towards her platoon's position at high speed, decelerating quickly at the last moment.  She steps off her hovercycle as the plume of dust from the bike's jets catches up with her and blows across the area.  She marches over to Silvermasque, glancing briefly at the several new faces standing around.
   "I cut our patrol short after all that garbage on the radio.  We were about half-way out when that Ike-guy broadcast.  I figured if they can hear and talk to us, then they can probably jam us any time they want, and an attack is probably imminent.  I didn't want to get caught out there with no coms.  We have a new channel yet?"

Mephisto does not wait for Photios but instead mutters the words to a spell and vanishes from sight.

"Ah, Ludo The Strong. Well he is still mostly orcish... just a half-borg. Not too much in tha way of onboard systems. But all three of the triplets are combat specialists, who sepcialize in weapons that explode - so they have grenades and rockets already Masque. Where sould we deploy the mines first exactly?

Corporal Dragon lands in the midst of 4th platoon interrupting the newcomers introductions. The gromek walks right up to Silvermasque and speaks.

"Message from the Major. He wants constant reports on platoon deployment and defensive measures. He also wants two people to be made ready for radar duty."

He then looks over to Banshee.

"You're still here?"

PM

 "Not a cat, nope..." agrees 'Masque amiably, as he settles his helmet in place, shaking his head once or twice to make sure the optic pickups are connecting properly, "Am cyborg Shocktrooper, though Lord Kolodenko would be pretty surprised if he could look under hood just now, God allow that he will have the chance. Time was I was looking like you." - he indicates 'Doc' with one silvery thumb, then chuckles, "Only more pretty."

 That would probably be something along the lines of his idea of a joke. He turns his hand over, from a thumb-gesture to a 'wait one moment' palm when Lotus comes barrelling in at speed and then turns to receive her report, nodding a moment later, "Is good, you are being asked for by Major - follow mage-girl, and please - be taking this along to him." - turning, 'Mask transfers a copy of what's been decided on so far for the defensive plan for Fourth Platoon's sector onto a dataslug and hands it over to Lotus.

 Nilus on the other hand is swung around on and studied for a moment, "I was telling you - between outer and secondary defense lines, to interdict movement and channel foes into firing arcs of bunkers, when they are dug. If you can be thinking of way of securing command-detonated mines against enemy intrusion or disabledment also, be emplacing them once we are free to dig in at leisure. You are professional, and I have heard good things of your team. If you are wanting me to rubber-stamp plan once it is drawn up, is okay, I will do - but I am not going to hold hand and wipe arse for you, da?"

 Being about to swing back to 'doc and co, the arrival of yet *another* command decision brings a slight sigh, but a heartfelt one - if nothing else, the ability to drip-feed stimulants into his own brain chemistry is going to be a major bonus for this particular officer-candidate. Looking over at the nondescript, but very definitely non-Coalition individual 'Masque nods, jerking his thumb at Lotus, "I am sending her with update, also Banshee is having authentication for three radio messages worth of real emergency if he is having to make transmission I can know is not bad people playing silly buggers. I don't know about two people for radar duty though - I can find bodies, but I am guessing he is wanting trained ones, and I do not have any information on platoon training history yet, but I will shake a couple free as soon as emergency is over.

 Rather more quietly however, and with the sort of voice control that takes an awfully well-programmed synthesiser, he does ask of the large D-Bee, "Oh, and would you be knowing anything about those three?", before tilting his head very slightly at the Human, Mutant human and possible Lone Star escapee off to one side... Just to be safe, you understand.

"hate to interrupt but if I am redaing this Radar correctly we have about 7.5 minutes before something BIG arrives in Madtown....I mean BIG."

Nilus' face changes to a scowl, "It's not my fault you can't speak english you big pussy. So you want me to lay mine fields before the bunkers are contructed? I have the remote detonation under control that's for sure."

"I think what he's after is two minefields one on either side of a 'safe zone' shaped like a big funnel, that way the enemy will either be in a killing field of your mines or a killing field of our guns"

   Lotus takes the computer pad from Masque and looks over at banshee, a sneer crosses her face from within the helmet.  "Go see the major?  What the fuck's he want with me?"  Lotus asks rhetorically.  Then she looks up at the world's largest radar operator as he mentions something big this way comes.
   "Ummm... do you mean big compared to you or big compared to me?"

"it's a blip it's hard to say, but if you fly out near it and back I can tell you how big your blip is compared to it's blip?"

Obidiah is physically incapable of shrugging. Instead he walks away silently.