anywhere but that isn't' covered by the other threads.

——> Hangar Dec

Tarja would sit in silence at the back of the BU with her legs either side of her pack, her eyes closed and wearing a set of ear buds as she tried to block out her thoughts and the other people in the transport with her music. Needless to say she wasn’t really in the mood for small talk with her just wanting to get down to the moon so she could start her shore leave.

Once the BU had landed and the ramp had dropped, she would gather her things and disembark with everyone else, with her making a B-line to the cab stand and climb into the first unoccupied vehicle and give the driver the exact location location she wanted dropping off in the same way she would deliver the co-ordinates for an air strike. If the driver was surprised by the out of the way location she wished to travel he didn’t show it as he turned the sleek air car round and headed out into the countryside.

Sitting in the back of the air car Tarja would watch as the scenery rolled by, with her passing through a small village before going into the open countryside which would transition from fields to woodland around about the same time that the road transitioned from glassy smooth resin bonded macadam to dusty gravel, before finally running out entirely.

It was as the road came to an end that what appeared to be a timber blockhouse would appear in amongst the trees. Next to it there was what looked to be a grassed picnic area and a fairly rugged looking all terrain vehicle that had obviously seen some heavy use. Gathering her things Tarja would thank the driver before hopping out and walking towards the building, with the cab turning around and driving off before she’d even opened the door.

Despite its outward appearance the interior of the building was modern looking with a large map and a couple of displays on the walls and a U shape of desks with monitors on it, manned by a youngish looking Angel in a knaki uniform, with an older looking Angel in the same uniform sorting through some boxes ”Can I help you with anything?” the older Angel asked as he got up to approach Tarja before giving the rifle case slung over her shoulder a suspicious look as he added ”…you are aware that hunting is strictly prohibited here, right?”
”Oh…um…yeah this is my first time here and I wasn’t sure how dangerous the local wildlife was” Tarja replied, with the ranger giving her an understanding, if slightly dubious, nod before walking over to the map on the wall ”Well…we have a couple of packs of Fenrix in the area, but they shouldn’t cause you any problems, and the larger Angors may charge, but only if you get too close to their young, to be honest you’re still too close to civilisation for the larger predators…now there’s a camping spot about a click north of here, it’s nothing fancy, just a clearing with a composting toilet and a water point, but from there you can reach the Abaxi cairns located to the east, and Steel Crag which has some amazing views especially at sunrise and sunset…” the ranger explained as he pointed out the separate points on the map, with Tarja taking careful note of each one as he does so ”…it’s a hard climb, but well worth it, though something tells me it won’t cause you any problems…are you with the fleet perchance?” he asked eyeing her muscular physique, with Tarja wondering not for the first time whether she had the word Soldier branded onto her forehead ”I am, First Armoured Infantry”
”93rd Infantry…though that was back when we thought Paradise was on our side” he replied with a note of disgust entering his voice at the mention of Paradise ”well I’ll let you enjoy your RnR, if you need anything give us a call, there’s always someone on duty here” he said before leaving Tarja to study the map awhile longer before she finally departed.

After leaving the ranger’s station Tarja would follow a narrow dirt track into the trees where it would steadily rise before eventually plateauing out. It was after walking slightly more than a mile that Tarja would find the clearing that the ranger had mentioned; surrounded on three sides by coniferous trees, the third dropped away down a steep, rocky escarpment to offer a view across the wooded valley beyond.

After taking the time to enjoy the view before her, Tarja would set about setting up the small one man tent she’d brought with her so she could make the most of the slowly dying light and get some sketching done.

<  Comm Call Request From: Nate "Rip" Charles. To: Tarja Vanska >


Rip sat on his bunk aboard the Hermès, eyes narrowed; his K-bar still in hand, tapping against his battered chin.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:05, Sun 06 Aug 2023.

Tarja hadn’t long  started putting up her tent when her comms unit started to chime within her pocket, causing her to mutter a few choice words as she fished it out. Although she didn’t recognise the number it did have a military code at the beginning, meaning that it would probably be ill advised to ignore it.

Hitting the Accept button she would sit back on the grass as she said ”This is Corporal Vanska, who is speaking please?” in heavily accented English.

< Comm Call from Hermes >

Rip eyes widen when he heard the voice on the other end.  He had never heard an accent like that.  Not on his colony.  Before he spoke he remembered he should show respect instead of being his usual self.

"Rip.  Errr.  Trooper Nate Charles, Ma'am."  Rip screwed up his face.  Were non-coms called ma'am?  He should have listened closer in training.  "I be meaning Corporal."  His accent is slow, drawn out, and not from Earth.  His voice was heavy, but hopefully seen as an attempt to be respectful.

"Captain Morris be giving me your comm, see't if you'p be needing a warm body for the Armoured Infantry."  He Got out staring at his Commd display in disgust at how he was handling this so far.

The voice that greeted her on the other end of the comms call was gruff and had an unfamiliar accent, something offworld perhaps? but was clearly trying to be polite and make a good impression as he asked if there was an opening in her unit "Please, do not call me ma'am I work for living..." she casually replied, hoping to put the guy at ease with the bad joke before continuing "...Corporal Vanska, or Tarja will do and yes, I may have opening in unit but we would need to have talk in person before I make any promises" she continued, pronouncing the J in her name like a I.

Nate's request to join her unit wasn't the best timed in the world with herself and everyone else on RnR, but then again Brian had made his request in the middle of a planetary assault so nothing was new there "Where on moon are you? perhaps we can meet for drink and chat?" she suggested figuring that they could always get the ball rolling and see where it went from there.

< Comm Call from Hermès >


Rip knew his people communications skills were lacking, but the tone of Tarja's joke was needed.  He smirked a toothy grin.

"That be fair, Corporal Vanska."  He grunted as he sheathed his blade into its his belt.  "Need to know if my my metal meet the snuff.  Be testing any grub that need be join me gang as't well."  Though, he doubted she would beat him to a bloody pulp in the process.

Or she might.  Why he needed to get this started, and know where he stood.  He wouldn't sit on his hands here.

He grimaced.  He stood up and looked around.  He was on the ship, and she must be at the Ball.  "I be up'n ship.  Not much for Ritz'n Glitter."

He walked over to the locker that held his pristine issued uniform.  "Not been Angel world before.  But, best start now.  Be riding down the BU ASAP."  The venomous in the way he said Angel was clear he had an issue with them.

”Nor am I Trooper Charles, which is why I’m at a nature reserve” Tarja replied, sensing the man’s reluctance over what she assumed to be the ball. She also heard a familiar tone in his voice when he said the word Angel. A similar tone to the one she used when she spoke about Russians ”…the ball is mainly for cake eaters, most of team are in local bars getting drunk…you should come down, it’s not often you get chance of fresh air and sunshine” she said hinting very strongly that he needed to get his ass off of the ship and start enjoying his RnR whilst he could.

< Comm Call from Hermès >

Rip smirked at the thought that this Tarja wasn't for rich shiny things.  She was a Trooper, and a good one if the "news reports" meant anything.  His thoughts were fuzzy about what those were.  Maybe he could ask her about her actions.

"Albright.  Be taking dee next BUs downward."  Rip's lips twitched in amusement at her comment about them cake eaters.  "Beam me cords for where we meet, Corporal, if you be kind.  Be there ASAP."  The if you be kind was an afterthought and an attempt to be respectful.  Something he would have to get used too.

”Ok I will see you when you arrive” Tarja replied before ending the call, with her drumming her fingers on her leg as she tried to decide where they should meet.

She initially considered going to the village she’d passed through on the way here before discarding the idea, not knowing if it actually had a bar they could meet in. Not to mention the fact that she didn’t fancy the idea of walking back to her tent in the dark. So instead she would send him the co-ordinates for the rangers station followed by a set of instructions on how to reach the campsite deciding that it would make for a good initial test of trooper Charles’ abilities. If he arrived totally exhausted and out of breath or got completely lost then he probably wasn’t cut out for her unit.

Having sent her message to Rip, she would get back to setting up her tent.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:38, Tue 08 Aug 2023.

< Aboard the BU >

Rip sat alone.  The semi-permanent scowl etched on his face might have been the reason.  Or his tattoos and scars might have given an aura of danger, saying "Stay Away."  Or the fact he claimed two seats, his legs spread open, elbows resting on his knees as he held his chin in one hand, leaning forward more like a marble stature from older times, portraying man in thought, or something to thst affect.

Rip didn't glare eyes of death at all the Angel envoys and dignitaries shuttling back and forth from the Hermès.  Though he wouldn't blame them if they did.  But he was too lost in thought to pay much attention to them.

He almost missed the fact that the BU landed at the spaceport.  He also missed the stares from the Angel Customs officials when they saw the scars and tattos that covered his visible skin.  The K-Bar knife strapped to his right calf muscle, didn't seem to draw any attention.
 He didn't need it, but he was sure as hell not going to part with it.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:23, Mon 07 Aug 2023.