After Pluto Company is completely and safely out of the town of Desire, the troops set up to rest while the officers meet with Major Karno. The meeting lasts no less than 30 minutes, and the outcome is rather severe, taking effect instantly.

It seems the events that took place, were made public to Tolkeen command and they were less than impressed.

Pluto Company is to be dissolved. Most of Pluto Company will be returning to Tolkeen for reassignment, while a small team will be reformed into a special task force, and remain in the field with new orders.

The Dragons will rendezvous with Neptune Company and continue on their mission to the town with the magic weapons.

Major Zor Karno has been held responsible for the blunders of this last mission resulting in several 'preventable' civilian casualties. He has been reassigned elsewhere in the Tolkeen military.

Drano Pierce has been reprimanded for drinking while on duty and reckless behaviour unbecoming of an officer (they seemed to have overlooked the potential murder charges). As a result he has lost his command and has been busted down to the rank of Sergeant.

The new task force will be comprised of 2 squads designed to work together, taking their orders from the new Major who will remain in Tolkeen. Tolkeen will also be providing an ambassador of sorts to remain with the task force at all times to ensure Tolkeen's best interests are being considered with every decision on the field.

Lieutenant Portia Lynn has been promoted to Captain and given command of the unit, with Lieutenant Dyvalis and Silvermasque as next in command who will report directly to her.

Furthermore, the rest of the team will consist of :

Amy Weyland Yutani and her transport ship
Comartin
Drano
McCloud
Daemonis
Van Fanel
Na-Wa
Severin
Mephisto
Hopper
Thasha
Burd
Photios

EVERYONE else has been reassigned and is to return to Tolkeen immediately.

The task force is to hold up on the outskirts of 'Desire' and await the arrival of this new ambassador and new orders. They are to keep an eye out for any new leads on the Tolkeen traitors.

 The confused rambling struggle in the small town whose point of origin is still somewhat unclear to 'Masque but whose results are all to obvious leave the big 'borg irritable as all hell, and after he turns in his 'catch' to the authorities (Where hopefully the 'borg will either be released as a PR gesture or offered a job, either way ending up a cigar and several dents richer for the experience) he heads down to the bivouac area for what was Pluto Company, automatically and without orders or instructions breaking out his shovel to dig half a dozen foxholes and one tiger pit around the perimeter in case of aerial assault before he considers actually settling down to rest.

 But when he does so it's to seat himself a little back from whatever camp or cook-fire has been arranged and go through his pockets looking for a smoke, which he ignites from said fire before turning to whomever else is seated there and rumbling, "So... is having been one hell of day, huh?" in a 'let the healing begin' sort of tone.

Thasha says his good-byes as the bulk of Tolkeen's forces in the area leave back the way they came. He quickly stomps over to Silvermasque to assisst in the digging. Thasha keeps looking up to the skies at the mention of possible air strikes, it had not occured to him until now...

After the foxholes have been prepared for the 15 or so remaining soldiers he sits next to Masque and cleans his hands with his tongue. "Yes, today was different. "Not sure if our officers are as good as the Coalition's officers... I think maybe we are on the wrong side... not morally, but maybe for hope of victory..."

 "If all you are fighting for is to win, is maybe you are right." 'Masque shrugs amiably enough, giving the weird little lizard-creature a bright silvery grin before going on to gesture vaguely Eastwards "For my part I am not liking facists very much, and pay is good - but I do not think this was matter of policy, just fuck-up by numbers. I have been seeing before in other armies, youbet."

 That done, he takes a nip from a flask taken out of an armoured pouch on his kit and then extends the high-proof vodka across to Thasha with a comradely air, "Here is thing - what most soldiers are fighting for is not man in big hat sitting in tower, is man on left, man on right. Has been something Pluto Company was never getting head around - too many prima-donnas, too many want-to-be heroes. Is never good."

Na-Wa did not really understand what was going on. What he did know is that many people were sent away and only a few remained. But still that number was more fingers then Na-Wa had.

After being told he was being reduced to the rank of sergeant, Drano merely shrugged his shoulders. There was not much he could have done about it anyways, besides it wasn’t his fault the town’s people weren’t cooperative. The fact the town’s people were uncooperative was a clear sign the war was not going in the favor of Tolkeen.

Amy spends most of the time the others dig on maintenance for her beloved dropship, first making sure its functioning at absolute peak efficiency, and then in carefully sweeping, dusting, and cleaning of the inside before finally she moves to join masque and the others outside just in time to hear their conversation.  "Well, many of us are not used to working together for years, like the coalition are.  They might not have as much diversity but well... that is its own kind of strength you know."

 "Is true." 'Masque replies, shifting a little over to one side to give Amy room to settle in and sit down alongside the big 'borg and the D-Bee lizard, while the Russian casually uses a vibro boot-knife to trim some supportive pieces of conveniently fallen tree into rough and ready planking to reinforce the foxholes some, as well as provide a little overhead cover "But is being something we should be trying to learn and do. Too many of us have been more interested in being special snowflake than member of team, da."

Amy grins and looks back.  "Well, when we are compared to the coalition we are all special snowflakes.  They can all wear the same clothes, use the same weapons, fit in the same vehicles, everything is the same.  But us, well, look around it would be hard to find two of us alike.  I know I couldn't share much more than food with either of you, nothing would fit!."

Severin meanders about those gathered, mumbling something about rending flesh from bone the next time he's set loose on CS troops, he seems to be in a foul mood for some reason.