"Totus-sator, quisnam visum totus res," whispered the theurgist as she waved her staff over Darian, "ostendo sum verum ut meus visum."

She closed her eyes for a moment, and then opened them with a renewed focus, staring unblinkingly through the medic as if looking into some far off place.

"What do you see, Sister?" inquired Sister Theafana gravely, watching Darian. "Are we too late?"

"The taint is deep." answered Yesrina as if partially in a trance, her eyes unshifting. "He hasn't long before he turns."

The Avestite tightened his grip on his flamegun, watching the medic intensely.

"How long?" pressed Theafana.

"Minutes." replied Yesrina, "Perhaps less."

"Can he be helped?"

"There is a chance. It will be difficult."

"Do what must be done." answered Theafana with gravity.

"Yes, Sister." replied Yesrina, waving her staff once more over Darian as she began her rite.

"It is dangerous to attempt it this late." warned the Avestite at Theafana's side, visibly on edge.

"I know." answered Theafana without turning. "But it is in times such as these that the Pancreator tests our faith." Then she added, more softly, "And our hearts."

The Avestite nodded uneasily and returned his focus to the rite.

"Totus-sator, quisnam vigoratus quod purgo totus feculentia ut suum vox sanctimonia, ego precor vos restituo is, vestri parvulus, ut sanctimonia sub vestri pius obtutus."

Sister Yesrina waved her staff slowly before Darian, tracing signs and symbols in the air as she invoked the blessings of the Pancreator. Her soft prayers continued as Theafana looked on silently, clutching the jumpring at the pommel of her sword. Even the Avestite seemed subtly moved by the invocation of the rite.

As the troops held Darian securely, he began to feel his mind swimming. His body was in total upheaval. Chaotically shifting temperatures, violent muscle spasms, and a million unidentifiable sensations wracked his entire form while flashes of powerful and contradicting emotions quaked through his consciousness unbidden. All at once he felt horror, exhilaration, anxiety, elation, rage, ecstasy, and dozens of others too abstract to fathom. Somehow amidst this consuming turmoil, his system miraculously managed to endure and stay functional. But his mind was in no shape to appreciate that fact.

Everything about him - the sense of stability with which he associated his physical form, the psychic makeup of his thoughts and feelings, the self-contained cognizance from which he derived his identity - was coming undone, facet by facet, and transforming into something strange and new on every conceivable level. It was incomprehensible and yet strangely compelling. It was both nightmarish and terrifying, and thrilling on some extra-sensory level of which he was only now acquiring the slightest tenuous awareness. He was on the verge of something new and fascinating, calling him onward. Like being mere inches away from awakening from a lifelong dream to something greater than anything he knew. He didn't even seem to fully care about the Avestite who was now taking aim at him with his flamegun, about to pull the trigger. An epiphany was building to a climax.

And then it dissolved. Gone like a whimsical thought leaving the mind, a dream fading from memory. His natural senses returned. His body felt like his own again, stable and constant. The tumultuous sensations assaulting his system ceased. His emotions felt familiar once more. He was himself. He was Private Ivan Darian, the best physick in the Darmak forces, and Engineer destined for League-wide acclaim. Everything was back to the way it should be. And yet...he couldn't help feeling the slightest pang of loss somewhere on the edge of his consciousness. Something beautiful and enlightening that had been so close, now gone forever. But that was a small and insignificant thought right now.

"It is done." said Sister Yesrina with an exhaled breath.

"Pancreator's mercy..." uttered Sister Theafana softly.

The Avestite, eyes wide with a mixture of amazement and relief, finally lowered his weapon. The troops released their hold on Darian, and he realized how much he had been depending on their support. His legs felt shaky and he began to topple sideways, but one of the tall soldiers gripped his arm and held him up until he could stand on his own. All seemed awed as they looked upon him.

"Are you all right, Private?" asked Theafana sternly, the usual clipped edge returning to her voice.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:46, Thu 13 Mar 2008.

Darian took in a quick breath as his senses returned to him.

self diagnosis:  elevated adrenalin levels, heart rate high, elevated body temperature, stress-related fatigue.  Rest suggested.  Prognosis:  excellent.

The faintest hint of a smile curled the corner of his lips.  He stood up straight, and dusted off his chest with his good arm, while his tentacle did an optical scan of the rest of him.  Survived! he thought to himself, Survived exposure to spore!  His lips curled slightly more.

"The operation appears to have been a success.  Congratulations, Sister.  I thank you for your assistance." he answered formally to the inquiries.  If anyone was expecting gushes of thanks from the odd doctor, they were quite disappointed.  "Now, I believe there are more wounded that need tending.  If you'll excuse me."  He turned away without another word, and headed towards the soldier from whom he had extracted the spore.

function TRIAGE rebooting...
function TRIAGE returns:  patient 3...

This message was last edited by the GM at 21:25, Wed 19 Mar 2008.

She gave the commander an appropriate salute before she spoke, "Master Claudius, Symbiot troops are moving eastward past the city. I mean to intercept them, if I may have loan of some of your men?" Best not sound too arrogant, but equally hold strength behind the plan. She was confident that at the least they could disrupt the creatures' scheme if they acted quickly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:23, Fri 21 Mar 2008.

"Very good." replied Sister Theafana with an approving nod as Darian resumed his work. She signaled her small entourage and they followed her away.

Meanwhile, the spore-bomb victim was slowly returning to consciousness. He opened his eyes blearily at Darian as the medic tended to his wounds, and a weak smile of gratitude graced his face. Darian's tentacle performed a thorough X-Ray scan of the man's body and detected no additional spores. Amazingly, he would recover, thanks to Darian's bold actions. The soldier recovering from acid burns and a few others nearby regarded Darian silently, as the medic went about his work as if nothing had ever happened.

"How large is their force?" answered Claudius quickly with evident concern. "Have you a projection of their destination?" Both Majors stopped their study of the holo-grid and turned to regard the Lieutenant.

Perhaps she should have been a bit less hasty, but the longer they left it the more units might gather to the column and the closer the Symbiots got to whatever they were aiming for.

"They are three hundred upon beast mounts, sir. They are traveling from the south toward the coast northeast of their current position." She gave no opinion of their ultimate destination.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:21, Fri 21 Mar 2008.

Claudius frowned in contemplation, idly scratching his chin as he stared at the holo-grid in front of him. "They're trying to bypass our perimeter..." he said softly, almost to himself. He remained silent in his thoughts for a moment more.

"Major Terias." he said finally without taking his eyes off the grid.

"Yes, General." answered one of the officers.

"What is the latest report on the status of your Battalion?"

"One hundred ninety seven able men, two hundred one wounded, fifty two casualties, sir."

Claudius nodded slightly. "Major Maradus, what of yours?"

"We have taken no losses, sir." replied the other officer.

Claudius stared intently at the holo-grid for a long moment. Then he turned to address Maradus. "Major, instruct your captains to assemble a detachment of two hundred fifty men and prepare them for an immediate intercept."

"Yes, sir." replied Maradus with a quick salute, before briskly exiting the room.

"Lieutenant," Claudius continued, looking to Alejandra, "radio your scouts to track the enemy's movements and coordinate an advance strike to cut them off. Gather a platoon of your best men to supplement the Major's force, then report back to me."

"Yes General." She gave him another salute and a bow and took her leave to make the arrangements. She had already sent for her men to be gathered so all she need do from there was select the more proficient soldiers and contact the scouts. So the orders went out.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:12, Sun 05 Apr 2009.

Continuing his menial tasks amongst the conscripts and enlisted, Randwulfe was content to be doing something. Even in times of peace there were preparations to be made. Chatting as he did so with the other men and women, he did his best to encourage them and help their morale; words from the Omega Gospels, parables of Zebulon and the Saints and more personal praise and kind words.

He routinely every few minutes quickly scanned the sky in all directions. It was a habit he'd formed after seeing airborne Symbiot troops previously. The ravaging horde didn't just run on all fours but often descended on the unwary like carrion crows and harpies of ancient Urth legend.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:21, Fri 28 Mar 2008.

The sky was clear for now. The half-sun on the horizon lit the dusk well enough to see into the distance, but only just.

One of the Brothers at Randwulfe's side helped him lift a heavy turret support into place as they set up batteries. Nearby Engineers worked to repair damaged artillery and support personnel assisted with salvaging parts. A ways off, Randwulfe spotted his young Apprentice friend Theodore tending to the injured with his healing rites.

With a final heave, the two Brothers hoisted up the turret mount and secured the gun. The Engineers would have to handle things from there. The two had a moment to catch their breaths and take stock of the field around them. As they stood, something caught the other Brother's attention and he motioned for Randwulfe to look.

Around the cathedral's outer grounds, a commotion had begun stirring. Brother Battle sergeants could be seen rounding up troops and reassigning posts. Fire-teams hurriedly left their positions to reform squads and assemble into platoons. Large groups formed up and stood at attention while officers briefed them.

"They're forming a detachment." observed the other Brother pensively. "That's half the First Battalion's forces. Something special must be going on..."

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Eduardo de Aragon's first sergeant hurried to meet her as she returned to the grounds. He saluted her quickly as he stopped in front of her. "The men are assembled and awaiting your orders, sir."

Past the sergeant, the Lieutenant saw her first platoon formed and ready. Her second platoon was still divided around the cathedral's perimeter supplementing the Brother Battle defense units. She had ordered her other sergeant to reallocate fire-teams to compensate for the withdrawal of the first platoon's troops. From her area, she could see one of the Brother Battle captains addressing a full company of troops and issuing orders to his lieutenants.

Her own men were alert and healthy. The Manifest Light units often held the advantage of serving support capacities, exposing them less to direct assault. Among her troops were theurgists of various sects, Ukari psychics from the al-Malik forces, and even some of her own Dervishes. She counted forty seven heads. Her sergeant made forty eight, and her two remote scouts completed the platoon. All men were accounted for.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:37, Sat 17 Jan 2009.

Watching the men assemble, Randwulfe nodded in agreement with the other Brother.

"So it would appear. I think our work here is mostly done, the talents and knowledge of the Engineers and technicians are needed now."

Theodore's ministrations to the injured never ceased to astound Randwulfe. Those blessed with the grace of the Pancreator for their faith were to be cherished, powerful flames in the encroaching dark. He was needed here, no need to disturb him.

"The skies are clear, the rest of these men will soon have this place in as good an order as it can get; perhaps we have a new calling. Something ... a little more direct?"

If he'd been of the Muster Guild he would have been grinning at the prospect of a fight. As it was, Randwulfe felt that his immediate future lay with the group being formed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:37, Fri 28 Mar 2008.

"We'd better ask Acolyte Mendias." replied the other Oblate. "It looks like just the First Battalion's forces are grouping."

Randwulfe's company, the Sententia of the regiment's Second Battalion, had been part of the forces most directly hit by the Symbiots' earlier attack. The other two companies of the Battalion, the Tectum and Ferrum, had suffered grievous losses. With over fifty casualties and two hundred wounded, there were less than two hundred able men left in all three companies combined, and of those, many were weary from battle. Randwulfe's tactical knowledge told him their Battalion's forces wouldn't be sent into combat until they'd had a chance to recuperate. But as they watched the other Battalion's forces prepare for deployment, both Brothers seemed to share an unspoken feeling that they belonged there with them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:48, Sat 29 Mar 2008.

"Then we should find Acolyte Mendias and ask for his wisdom. If the Pancreator wills us to go with them we shall, otherwise we will stay here as required."

Dusting his hands off, he picked up his greatsword that he'd laid on the ground whilst hoisting the turret with the other Oblate.

Randwulfe began searching for the Acolyte's command post to ask him for his orders.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:41, Fri 28 Mar 2008.

Darian finished patching up the man who had only moments before had a symbiot spore embedded in his flesh.  "Rest until ordered otherwise.  You are quite lucky." he said without emotion.  If Darian registered the fact that he too was lucky, he didn't express it.  He stood and began to move towards the next patient indicated by his think machine, but then noticed the forces assembling.

They're going into the field! he thought to himself as his cyber eye zoomed in on the group for closer look.  He sent a delay message to his think machine once more, and moved quickly towards the detachment.

He looked for an officer, and quickly approached and saluted.  "I should like to volunteer for this mission, sir." he said eagerly.  Perhaps a bit too eargerly, considering there were still wounded here awaiting treatment.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:43, Fri 28 Mar 2008.

The Brother Battle lieutenant turned to Darian with a frown. "Shouldn't you be tending the wounded, medic? And report to your commanding sergeant for your orders, not our battalion."

Meanwhile, Randwulfe and the other Oblate found Acolyte Mendias overseeing assignments at the control post. Several other Brothers had gathered as well. Mendias turned to Randwulfe as he approached. "Yes, Oblate, what is it?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:52, Thu 26 Feb 2009.

"Acolyte, we noticed the gathering of men and wanted to volunteer for duty...if you think it wise and wish for us to go with them of course."

He waited for the reply, no doubt be it positive or negative it would be quick in coming.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:56, Fri 28 Mar 2008.

Mendias nodded knowingly. "I understand your eagerness to lend yourselves to battle, Oblates. However, you are needed here to assist with repairing defenses and conducting patrols. Our line will be thinner with the retraction of the First Battalion's troops. Only the Telum company will remain with us, and our own numbers are weakened. We must be the Shield, while our Brothers serve as Lance."

Randwulfe nodded and bowed slightly, showing submission to the Acolyte's wisdom.

"Understood Acolyte, thank you for considering the request, we'll return to assisting those to remain here."

Taking a step back he turned, no doubt the Acolyte would have little time for further pleasentries, so Oblate Randwulfe moved to leave and return to the preparations.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:32, Fri 28 Mar 2008.

Darian frowned at the lieutenant's reply. "Yes, sir." he said curtly, and returned to tending the wounded.  The fools! he thought as he stitched up a shrapnel wound.  My skills are wasted here!  There are plenty of medics without my specialization who could attend to these patients!
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:12, Sat 29 Mar 2008.

The reality, of course, was that the Darmak defenses were short on medics, and there were two hundred men wounded. But Darian was not altogether concerned with reality at times. In the hours since the attack, he had managed to aid nearly four fifths of the wounded in his platoon. Theirs was the hardest hit of the three platoons of the Tectum company, with nineteen dead, twenty seven wounded, and only four able men remaining - himself included in that number.

Of the twenty one men he'd tended thus far, eight could perhaps resume their duties. The rest would need medical leave. Things were never this bad back in the last year, before the invasion. And Darmak wasn't even the main front. Darian could only imagine what things were like for the Sylan garrison presently.

Lieutenant Eduardo de Aragon nodded to her sergeant, looking over the platoon. They were ready. "Radio our scouts and inform them we will be deploying to intercept the enemy's unit." she instructed her sergeant. "We will be supplementing a detachment of the First Battalion's forces. Coordinate a course for advancement with our scouts and brief the men."

"Yes, sir." answered the sergeant, saluting her sharply before hurrying off to carry out his orders. He brought a squawker to his mouth and began relaying commands as he headed back toward the platoon.

Lieutenant Eduardo turned and strode back to the cathedral, taking her own squawker and issuing instructions to her other sergeant. She hurried inside the cathedral's entrance and headed back to the rectory to report to Claudius.

Shortly after her, the Brother Battle detachment's captain and his three lieutenants could be seen leaving their gathered troops and heading inside the cathedral as well. The assembled strike unit waited in formation, stoic and silent.

Meanwhile Private Darian's sergeant approached him as he tended the shrapnel victim, making his regular rounds. "Private, report."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:53, Thu 26 Feb 2009.

Ivan straightened as the sergeant asked for his report. "Sergeant, our platoon has lost nineteen men. There are twenty seven wounded. We have four able men. Eight of the men I've tended to should be able to return to duty shortly. Thirteen more will require medical leave." The report was given matter-of-factly, despite the grim nature of the numbers. "I can also report a successful operation to remove a Symbiot spore, Sergeant!" Ivan added with a hint of pride. He didn't feel it necessary to elaborate on the fact that he nearly got himself converted in the process. "Still some problems with post-removal containment, but the technique shows promise." Darian paused slightly before changing topics. "Sergeant, I noticed that a detachment is being formed. I would like to volunteer for duty. They will need a decent medic, no doubt."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:06, Thu 26 Feb 2009.

The Brother Battle sergeant considered Darian's casualty report with a solemn frown, though not directed at him. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment of the grim numbers. Only four able men - Private Darian and himself included. His troubled gaze traveled down to the wounded Brother Darian had been tending. He needed no report to tell him the soldier would bring the count to thirteen in need of medical leave. His eyes moved on to the other six wounded men nearby who had yet to receive aid. Perhaps, if things had been different, he might have commended Darian on successfully bringing over a third of the wounded he'd tended to recovery. But the bleakness of their platoon's losses so overshadowed that accomplishment that the Sergeant merely looked on without reply.

Darian's reporting of a successful spore-extraction did rouse the Sergeant from his thoughts however. He looked to the medic and gave a solid nod of approval. "Yes, so I've been told. Good work, Private. That was a brave thing you did for Private Dax. Thanks be to the Pancreator you were not converted."

He listened to Darian as the medic went on to volunteer for the detachment, arguing that they'd need a skilled medic on their mission. "Indeed they may." he nodded with both an approving and regretful sentiment. "It is commendable of you to volunteer yourself, Private. However there are many more wounded here, and you are this platoon's only medic. I need you to assist what men you can lest we lose even more than we already have. Our men are depending on your expertise. For many of them, you are their only hope of survival. Do not let them down."

He paused for a moment, and then added, "I will confer with Acolyte Vohlan on our platoon's losses and request a reassignment of troops. Do what you can for these men, Private. You may be needed to assist other platoons' wounded soon."

The Sergeant turned and left him once more to resume his operations.

The sun's light was fading around the battlefield. The sky grew dimmer, and the shadows cast over the grounds, longer. It would be dark soon. Time was of the essence.

Music: http://media.putfile.com/Mission-Briefing-48

Inside the cathedral, Lieutenant Eduardo de Aragon and the Primus company's officers convened in the rectory's War Room. Master Claudius gave the floor over to Major Maradus, who proceeded to address the assembled as he stood by the room's central holo-grid display with a pointer.

"Thank you, General." said the Major. "Brothers, as you may know, a small enemy force of three hundred cavalry has regrouped to the south in the lower Istal Mountains and begun advancing northeast toward the coast along this trajectory." He indicated a rendered trajectory-line on the holo-grid which extended from south of the city to a point southeast at several kilometers' distance.

"We believe they mean to bypass our perimeter," he went on as the plotted line continued to track diagonally up the holo-grid past the city's location, "and continue north along the coast to this point," the line halted at a marked point above and slightly to the right of the city, which flashed upon being reached, "directly northeast of the starport. From there, we anticipate their force will attempt to make a surprise strike at the starport's weaker northeastern perimeter." The line extended diagonally down from the flashing mark on the holo-grid to connect with the starport, which flashed brightly once the line reached it.

The Major paced across to the other side of the grid to switch angles. As he did so, the holo-display zoomed in on the area of the starport and nearby terrain, greatly magnifying the image. "There is a weakness in the enemy's plan, however. In order to reach the starport from the northeast coast, the force will have to turn west through a wide delta," he indicated a river inlet from the Zos Sea which channeled into a long, narrow southwestern chasm extending in the direction of the city, "and proceed down this ravine," a trajectory line followed his statements, "until it opens into the mountains fifteen kilometers northeast of the city."

The image zoomed out slightly to include the cathedral's location in the southwestern tip of the capitol. "The Brother Battle strike unit will move on a direct interception course northeast," he went on as a new trajectory line extended upward from the southwestern tip of the city, "and rendezvous with our scouts at this point." The trajectory line met a point just southwest of the ravine's location, which pulsed faintly upon being reached. "From there," the line continued northeast, "the unit will proceed up this path, enter the ravine, and set up hidden strike teams at this location," another marker flashed, "before the enemy passes through. When the Symbiot force crosses the interception point, the strike unit will execute a surprise attack from forward and rear positions, and destroy the enemy's unit while cutting off their means of escape."

The Major turned from the holo-grid to address those gathered. "The strike unit will have the advantage of higher ground and surprise, while the enemy will be confined within the ravine's choke-point with limited mobility. As such, we expect the battle to be swift and decisive, with minimal casualties. Are there any questions or concerns?" The Major waited for the assembled officers to voice any contingencies.

Ivan's tentacle coiled slightly as his request was denied once more, but the sergeant's praise did much to improve the medic's mood.  "Of course, Sergeant," Darian answered curtly.  He then restarted his triage program, and returned to his task of tending the wounded.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:23, Mon 07 Apr 2008.