Grimathor turns to face Braga when he greabs his left shoulder and nods his head at the simvan's words.

Sergeant Fanel reports to Portia after a quick scouring of the vehicle yard. Before speaking he stops himself and gives her a quick salute, as if it almost escaped his mind, then he proceeds. "Well, in terms of armor and hovering capabilities, it almost seems like it's one or the other. There's a pair of Triax Wilderness Crusaders which would hover us, but with only moderate armor. Then there's an Iron Heart APC which would definately give us armor and be able to accomodate us all, but no hover. You're call. Me and Callie can pilot either. If we've got the time too, I'm sure we could make a few enhancements too -- I could at least throw an armor spell on there or something, and they already come with Chameleon and Globe of Silence."

After Braga moves along, Thasha makes his way over to Grimathor. "Are you a real Cyber Knight?"

Braga notices a family of Silonar gathered in a large fenced in area. With a few clicks in his throat they all take notice and stop what they were doing, one even wakes up and follows the others to the door to the gate.

Braga opens the latch and all the silonar remain still watching him. Braga motions to one very fit-looking beast and waves it over. It comes to Braga, yet the others remain where they are without struggle, while he closes the gate.

Braga hops on top of the unsaddled silonar and rides it back to his squad. The remaining silonar return to what they were doing before the influential simvan arrived.

Real? Well I was trained as a Cyber-Knight. If that is what you mean by real than yes, I am a real Cyber-Knight. If you mean powerful and of legend, than no I am not a real cyber-knight. Grimathor says.

"My father used to tell me stories about Cyber Knights. He was a mercenary for a long time, and he said it was always an honor to work with them. If you die before I do, could I take your skull with me? It would mean a great deal..."

A raised eyebrow is the only reaction that Grimathor gives to the grisly request. Shaking his head he says, I do apologize, but it is custom among my people that fallen are returned to their family for burial, intact as much as possible.

"I understand..." He replies, complete with an overdone look of disappointment and hints of a pout. Thasha walks off by himself to look at power armours with Calliandra, glancing over from time to time at Van and Portia.

Turning to Portia, he asks How do I go about getting a Hovercycle or some form of transportation that will bear me?

Burd turns to face Grimathor from Portia's side. "Maybe a coffin? Cyber Knight scum!". The Thornhead puffs out his chest and snarls at Sir Thunderhoof, trying very hard to be insulting.

Callie waved to Sir Grimathor, "Over here, big guy."  The psi-tech was browsing the available hoverbikes while Van was talking with Portia.  "And anyone else who needs one, we'll have some storage space in the back to bring a couple along.  Worst case, we can always bungee it to the top when we're not under fire."

The young woman seems much more in her element here, surrounded by the technology she loves, than on the battlefield.

Portia laughs at Burds little outburst and actually rolls her eyes slightly. "Now Burd mind your manners. You know that the Cyberknights are our allies. Well the half of them that disobeyed a direct order from the leader of their entire order." She turns her cool gaze over and up to the large Minotaur. "At least that is what I heard through the grapevine. None of my business really I just hope that the disobeying orders is not a habit. For both our sake. You can pick out whatever hovercycle they have here that will accommodate you. Try and find a nuclear powered one if you can."

Portia returns Vans salute crisply but with about as much as enthusiasm as he performed his with. "I think the two hover vehicles would suit us best. Make sure the additional hovercycles, those who plan on riding independently choose, are of the proper make so that they can be scavenged for parts should repairs become necessary. It would be nice to add some magical enhancements. I also would like to discuss some side projects with you when time is sufficient. I already had a decent amount of precious stones and I just purchased a hundred thousand credits in additional gems for that very purpose."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:16, Wed 07 May 2008.

"Thunderhoof, take small cycle if haf'to. I take Silonar inside, but wont need I thinks"

Another few clicks in the back of his thraot and he stretches his neck out, and raises his chin to speak commandingly to the squad.

"Finish up! Lt Lynn will go in Hover One with Callie, and demons and Karnon. I will go in Hover Two with Van, and Oksana and Thunderhoof and young Thasha. Five of minutes."

He looks to Portia for approval before riding his silonar into the back of one of the hover vehicles Van and Callie picked out.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:39, Wed 07 May 2008.

Lt. Lynn nods in approval. Opting not to load her mystic powered hovercycle up into one of the larger vehicles she chooses to ride for now. Before she lifts off she looks over at Braga and says, "Sergeant if that beast shits or pisses inside the vehicle then I am going to let Burd eat it." She floats up into the air and waits until everyone is ready before flying out.

Callie verified that her new suit of power armor was safely stowed inside her vehicle then climbed into the cockpit, trying not to think about the nature of her passengers.  Eschewing the standard pre-flight checks, she linked with the Wilderness Crusader and querried it's systems one-by-one.  Though methodical about the task it was a far quicker way than a standard checklist.

"All systems check out, Lieutenant," she said as the check neared it's completion, "We're ready to go on your word."

   Although she really prefers not to be cloistered inside a big metal box on wheels, Oksana knows she can escape with a thought in the event she is needed in the air.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:02, Tue 13 May 2008.

Van catches himself laughing at Portia's warning. He jokingly comments to Braga "That's funny I didn't know Thornheads ate shit."

Pre-flight; Van familiarizes himself with the machine by laying a hand on the controls and closing his eyes. It is only a moment before he begins confidently starting up the systems on his vehicle. The hover jets come on and the Wilderness Crusader begins to float a couple inches off the ground. He plays with the environmental controls while people filter on.

Braga stares at Van for a few seconds before responding to him. "Lieutenant Lynn meant Burd would eat my silonar..."

Braga hops off of his Silonar, and points towards the cage he got it. He grunts several times, and the silonar walks off towards its cage alongside him. He opens the lock, and it walks willingly back inside.

Braga then returns to the group and enters 'Hover Two' with Van and Sir Thunderhoof.

Thasha marches inside 'Hover Two', breaking into a stomping-jog to catch up with Van.

"You're a kid too right? You are the only human male in the squad, I think your size is hidden, because the 2 females are small too. But I can tell you are young. The other pilot is the same age as you I think. And I believe she also wants to mate with you."

   Oksana's metal face turns into a smirk as she realizes the humour of the situation.  She might be elven, but she grew up among humans and saw little distinction between humans and herself.  Most d-bees in the Chi-Town burbs spent their time trying to emulate humans in fact.  It was refreshing to meet one that was at the opposite end of the spectrum.

   "Thasha, I do not think Callie would appreciate you sharing her feelings, but I'm sure she'll understand.  Maybe its for the best in fact."

Van is caught off guard. Instead of being embarassed though he can't help but laugh. "Intuitive little guy. You know I thought I picked up on that too, but I tried to play it off. Considering our offspring aren't born able to fire a gun like Greots I don't imagine 'mating' would be the best idea right now with a war to fight."

Portia chuckles at the comment showing she has at least some sense of humor. "You might be surprised what the people under my command will eat if I tell them to." She says coldly as she mounts her hovercycle and lifts up into the air leading the way out of Tolkeen.

Portia leads the way further west. She takes them south of the town of Blue Earth, and then north of Spring Valley, both Coalition sympathisers waiting for them to finally secure the area and get rid of the vile magic worshippers and demonic plagues that have scorched the land.

The small, quiet town of Vosberg supposts Tolkeen for the most part and welcomes Squad One as they enter. Dozens of human and d-bee villagers come out of their homes and offer home-cooked food and small trinkets to Portia as she passes through ahead of the two hover crafts. The only person of note is a dark man standing on the front porch of his farm-house watching the squad pass by, with a scowl. Probably a CS sympathiser.

Squad Three should be just 5 miles behind, and Squa Two should be just 10 miles north.

On the trip, Callie kept mainly to herself, uncomfortable associating closely --or, to be honest, at all-- with the vulgar demons in her hovercraft.  She smiled to see the townsfolk come out to greet them, that was part of the reason she'd joined the militia and it was good to have that reminder.  Tempted, as she was, to stop and sample the gifts she knew that Lieutenant Lynn would come down hard on such behavior so merely contented herself with waving to the crowds through the small window.

Squad Three is reportedly stopped, which means they will soon be without back-up. There has yet to be any signs of any Coalition patrols, locals, or The Apocalyptic Cavalry.