From his stretcher Daniel's only comment is a long drawn out groan

"You know, I cant believe you're wussing out this mission just cause you got a little boo~boo.  Seriously you came out here for street cred and you're skipping a mission off a bump on the head?  Really?"

"Hey, nuff from the cameraman who films it all from a safe distance.  This bump on the head hurts plenty, and if i get hurt again it could be a concussion and then were would you be?", Penny quips back to her girl Friday.

"Me?  Probably on the first transport back to Solaris and away from this.  I'll drop a flower at your funeral and make sure they do a special with your best stuff for the life and times memorial episode."

"Lillian Perolli, you're all heart, you inspire me to play it safe."

Lily could only grin at the comment, since the Pussycats were coming in for her parting words.

"Morning troops.  I'm going to be sitting out the march to the Omni safe zone.  Lollipop and me will be rolling in with the rest of the Freelancer support units, behind the big distraction that the Freelancer Fighting units will be making by screening ahead through the city should make it a breeze to sneak in.", Penny made an effort to look suitably injured while sounding up beat.  Not for the Pussycats, but for the camera Lily was rolling from the sidelines.

"Hi guys.  Am i late?", Regina waves as she breezes in for the meeting.  As far as Penny was concerned, Regina was perfect.  She was almost everything she needed in a mechwarrior.  Competent, Deadly, Sexy as all hell, with little shame about flashing a bit of flesh for the camera... or not the camera but in general.

"Not at all Siren, I was just giving the troops the news that you were filling in as the fourth for the Pussycat's Lance."

"Oki~Dookie.  What's the mission this time.", there were only two problems with using Regina for Penny's show.  Despite battlefield performance, she came off as a space case, and she was a Blake~ist... or what ever they called themselves.  Religious nuts could be poison, and maybe a little serious for a light show like the Pussycat Brigade.

"Nothing too harsh, just a 2 klick march through Eden.  Just a walk in the park guys.  You'll have the Iron Swords west of your position and the Light Lancers East of your position.", Penny summerizes the units of the mission.

"Burner and Traxxx.  Cool beans, one big happy family.", Regina was good about large unit actions, it meant there would be more people exposed to the will of Blake, a good thing.

"Well... their units at any rate.  Burner and Traxxx are both on the injured list and taking the mission off too.  So the XO's are all being given a chance to run the missions.  Berserker... and Lucky i think?  Pussycat's Top Cat for this mission will be Rixx."

"Rixx?  The new guy?", Penny gives Reyvak a blank look, she barely knew him, and only fought with him briefly, "Hi?"

He was sorta cute... Regina had a brief flashback of Lucius screaming at her over Morgan, and she remembers she was suppose to avoid mangling the Freelancer leadership.

"Objective is to march across the city and keep casualties to a minimum.  The longer youre in the city, the longer you'll be in combat, the more likely someone will go down.  We shouldnt throw anyone under the bus on our march to the Omni Safe zone.  That said, i dont want to see you guys get run over by the bus for anyone either.  Primary objective as far as i'm concerned is to get each other all to the Omni Safe Zone.  I'll see you there."

"So we shouldnt blow stuff up?", Regina sounded a little disappointed.

"Hell no.  Blow as much stuff up as you go, just dont get bogged down, and remember the objective is to get across the zone.  Anyone too slow to keep up with the pack, by virtue of position will be volunteering to be the rearguard for the rest of the unit."

"Sorta like in that movie when they ask for volunteers and everyone but one person takes a step back to volunteer the sap."

"Exactly."


This message was last edited by the player at 15:44, Sun 01 Feb 2015.

David smiles on hearing the banter between the two.  "Regina will do just fine, no need to worry yourself.  We would hate for you to further injure yourself on the battlefield, fearless leader." His face breaks into a broad grin to let Penny know he's teasing.

He then focuses on the map while listening to the plan.  Everyone certainly had their hands full on this mission.  It was supposed to be, quite literally, a walk in the park but he knew that things rarely went so smoothly.  He studies avenues of approach as best he can and notes potential dead ends to avoid.

   Teri looked at the members of her lance.  She still wore her tool belt from performing some last minute maintenance on Bad Kitty.  "What?  I know my Panther is the slowest one here, but this dustup isn't just about speed.  We still have to take care of whatever the enemy throws at us.  That is something we're good at doing and we just have to keep doing it."

   Teri looked at Penny.  "Just make sure you get it all recorded.  Word had gotten back to my family of what I actually do for a living.  Noblesse oblige and stuff like that is big in my family."

Reyvak looked at himself, "What? How did I draw the short straw? I literally just got here."

In reply to Reyvak Kellosti (msg # 61):

   Teri laughs, "We all took one step backward."

"Exactly, stand there while everyone takes a step back and you volunteer."

Lucius sat with his ribs bound up, smoking a cigar with cards in one hand and a glass of Johnnie Walker in the other.  He rolled the cigar around as he narrowed his eyes at his opponent on the other side of the table...eyes flicking down to read his straight flush.

"You know you can't beat me Adam.  I'm going to raise with my ER PPC and the BAES that I've got in storage."

His voice was confidant since he knew the likelihood of him having a Royal Flush was so minuscule that it was practically impossible.

-


Adam didn't look happy.  He'd bet and bet and bet and lost all night.  He looked nervously at Lucius, "You know I already have tossed in my BAES, Ammo, Armour...I don't have anything else to match..."

Luc grinned at him and shrugged with little help.

"My Hatchetman.  I'm all in." he muttered even more nervous.

-

Lucius chewed his cigar again...What was this Solaris pilot up to? He knew his own Power Loader wasn't worth as much as the Hatchetman.  He did have something else that would let him call but even with a straight flush he was apprehensive about it.  Licking a tooth he looked at the man again for his tells, the ones he had had all night long that had let him take virtually every last thing off of him...there it was that tick.

"Alright I call...ownership of the Ironswords." he grimly responded.  Course the pilots could leave if they wanted to not work for him but it came with the impeccable quartermaster and his crew as well as 'Big Mac' the massive Tractor Trailer.  With it he could haul away some serious salvage and would be worth his Hatchetman.

-

Adam nodded wordlessly accepting the match knowing it was well worth the risk.  It had been a long time since he had played for stakes like this.  Looking back to his cards again his brow was sweating.  Looking back to Luc he slowly put down his cards on the table...

A Royal Flush.

-

The cigar that was in Lucius' mouth fell out and onto the table as he looked at the spread of cards that Adam had just shown and then back at his own.  He'd been played.  All night he'd been played for just this moment.  A rumble came from Luc that was part anger and part incredulity that he had the wool pulled over his eyes.  His eyes narrowed wondering if it was that or if he had cheated somehow, "You played me all night...didn't you?  That tick...it's fake, isn't it Carlyle?"

-

Adam shrugged his shoulders in the same way that Luc had done just a little ago that gave him his answer without even answering even though he did reply, "Let your boys know that I'm not looking to get rid of them yet.  They wanna stick around though they are going to have to show their worth."

The march from Eden's spaceport to the Omni 'safezone' went about as well as expected.  The sudden arrival of the Freelancers were a surprise to both sides, allowing them to roll through the city with only token resistance.  As the Freelancer's Mechs spearhead through the Conventional resistance offered by the Concordat their 'walking wounded' and conventional support quickly follow in behind them.  With the help of the Omni resistance at the safezone, they manage to all fall into line in good order at the Eden Sports Arena.

---

The place was a massive stadium, and large enough to host commercial conventions, and the occasional solaris style matches.  When not in use, the Eden Academy booked the Arena, for wargames for their cadets.  The most important feature of the arena at the moment, were the repair bays used to maintain and support mechs that were used in the arena.  They were a logistical godsend for the hard pressed Omni garrison.

While the Concordat's obviously wanted the sports arena, they were not willing to pay the steep cost it would entail to take it.  Triple the cost now that the Freelancers were in residence.

The Freelancers would not be sitting on defense for long though.  A few hours to feed and mend the fleshy needs of the body while the omni crack technicians went to work on their mechs.  Good as they were, the omni technicans were kept busy at the moment with the constant stream of damaged machines cycling in and out of the area.  The Freelancers were going to stress their ability to perform repairs, but were deemed a fair price tag to pay.  They were going to need to be in tip top condition if they were going to march out to relieve the cadets at the Eden Academy come morning.

---

Consider the Sports arena roughly the size and shape you might expect to find in use for your local sports team.  Large, with lots of seats, and underground bays currently in use for repairs.  In and around the sports arena are the Omni power loaders, mostly X-3s, but here and there you might find a few A-3s and even a rare X-5 Lumbering through the bay to be reloaded and repaired.

The freelancers are shown to a 'waiting room' that is currently being used as a barracks for most of the Freelancer talent.  Cots have been laid out in rows for them to use, and the locker facilities has been opened up for those that want to use them to clean up.  The concession stands are 'open' and provide a reliable source of meals, though they tend to be on the light junk food sort you might find in a sports stadium.  Things like Hot Dogs, Pretzels, and Nachos are in plentiful supply.

There is a small medical station in the Arena, that is seeing may more use than was ever intended.  The Omni Bio-Techs are the best in the periphery and under their care, the worst of the injuries are tended to.  {Unit commanders, may make an availability check (tn 7+), to pull some strings to get any pilots they deem in need of it, into the medical ward, to heal an extra lethal wound.}

If you need more information regarding the sports arena feel free to ask.

The sports arena were a place that Penny felt at home in.  It had all the amenities of a Solaris sports arena.  Snacking on a pretzel smeared with mustard at the moment, she was reviewing the footage of the battle across Eden to the Omni Sports Arena.  She was pleased, the Pussycats to their credit hard rolled up the middle, and taken the most difficult path, fighting off a Victor no less with no help from the other Freelancers.

"Looks like some good footage there Lily.  Download, edit it, and ship it off to Rick when you have a chance.  Where's Alpha Squad?"


Lily gave the area a look around, "I'm not sure ... Candy, Mandy, Randy, and Sandy I think were off to congratulate Avenger on putting the Victor down."

"Well, he might have had the telling blow, but he had a lot of help taking it down, a 'Unit' Kill i think?"

"I dont think they care, he's sorta cute in a rugged sort of way?", Lily observes.

"Well yeah, i suppose there is that, but still theres work to do, dont let them fawn over him too much, it'll go to his head."

"Lollipop is in good shape, Christine's look her over now, and i was going to join her to back up the footage from the spaceport and drop and the march through Eden."

"Groovy.  I'm suppose to sit in on the mission debriefing.  Seeya later."

The Alpha units of the freelancers, were considered the 'best' that the unit had to offer.  While those units might have cycled and circulated up and down with the rest of the unit, they had to be given their measure of respect for drawing the dirty jobs and getting things done.

She was on her way to a meeting to try and convince them to do it again.  Some she knew, others were new faces.

---

After a fifteen minute summary on the state of Omni, it was clear to the Freelancers, that while the planet was still contested, things were not looking good.  While the garrison had the edge in equipment, and the best logistical support in the fringe, it was clear that they were just totally unprepared for the harsh realities of real combat.

With the Spaceport being contested again, the Concordat reinforcement would stall, at least briefly.  It meant that their was time to try and improve the situation else where.  Most pressing of their concern at the moment was the Eden Military Academy.  As the name suggests it was a institution of education and learning for the military branches of Omni.  What might be suggested but overlooked, was that it was also a test bed for much of the military innovations that have been produced, and storehouse for a significant percentage of the hardware on the planet.  As of yesterday communications have been cut off, which suggests the worse.

The Locale garrison was stretched thing and unable to mount an effective relief effort, so that duty was going to have to fall on the Freelancers.

They were going to have to break out of the City, march to the Academy, and relieve the cadets that were no doubt struggling to hold the Academy.  It was going to be a busy day for them, and repairs was going to be limited to what they could carry.

The news wasnt all bad though.  Omni still held a significant edge in support units, which should help to play a role in assisting the mercs.

---

After Mission 15, were doing a 'mini' downtime.

You've had two missions since the last downtime, so players will be allowed (2) availability rolls.

Units may make an effort to pick up Conventional Unit Fire Support with their availability rolls at this time.  Units that make the effort to roll for Fire Support and fail, will be allowed the option to pick up a {18 ton ~ Striker ~ LRM Variant}

Up to (2) Light TAGs will be made available for purchase by Units, which may sell them to members of their units to use for spotting.  Cost for each Light TAG is 20k cb each.

Light TAG {Heat 0 ~ Damage 0 ~ Range 3/6/9  ~ Weight  0.5tn ~ Critical 1}  (Considered an Energy Weapon)
Requires Technical Skill of one  (Mental One or X-Train Tech One)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:48, Thu 19 Feb 2015.

In reply to Lucius McMurphy (msg # 64):

Olaf eyed the freshly cut cigar he had just been handed with disbelief.  "A card game?!" he said finally looking up to meet Luc's eye.  Less angry than annoyed at the prospect of breaking in a new CO he fought back the urge to kick over a nearby medi-cart.  "You 'lost' us in a card game?  That sounds like back story in a bad Fed-Com sci-fi holo."

The rest of the Ironswords were still attending to refit in the warrens below the stadium that had become a makeshift staging base.  Meanwhile the XO had had to force their now former commander to report to the over-run clinic for one last check-up before he was cleared for combat.  The hot-blooded Rasalhauger was receiving the news regarding change of management about as well as anyone would have expected.

While a pretty thirty-something Omni med-tech gave Luc his final once over, Olaf continued: "He's a washed up gladiator, not a combat leader.  Besides that he can't seem to hit the broadside of a barn."  Lightening up a bit he put the cigar to his mouth and started patting down his jacket looking for a light.  Teeth clenched around the yet unlit smoke he added: "Ya know, about the only thing he's got going for him is at least he's piloting a real mech, not like that kid's toy you've been taking into combat."

Luc chewed irritatingly on his own cigar, "A straight flush Olaf.  The odds that he had a royal flush were astronomical and had I won I would have taken that Hatchetman from him."

He grumbled but added, "He's got something else going for him too..." looking back and forth to make sure only Olaf would be able to hear him, "He may be washed up but he's got silent backers funding him.  I had pull cause of working so long for these Omni girls.  Him?  He practically was able to get what I fought tooth and nail for with an off-handed comment."

He shrugged his shoulders, "Even was talking to someone in the middle of this mess about a Hunchback.  We're in the middle of a full blown assault on a planet and he's talking about popping into a mech with a gun that can shatter just about anythings armour in one shot.  Means he's got money too."

Keeping the low conspiratorial tone Olaf replied, "Sounds suspicious.  Why would he be out here with the rest of us mutts if he's got that kind of backing."  Thinking on it barely a moment more he continued, "Course, we're probably all hiding something.  But I'll give it to you, Luc, that kind of scratch and those connections would make life easer if we ever got off this rock." he grudgingly agreed.  "And a Hunchback would be pretty good in a fire-fight." he trailed off as the nurse finished her examination and provided a small bottle of pain-killers and anti-inflammatory capsules.

Brushing off the withering glare the nurse gave them as he lit the cigar before walking out of the small clinic, he said: "Well, I guess it'll be hardest for you.  Your gonna have to adjust to taking orders from the guy."  Struck by a sudden thought, Olaf handed the lighter over to Luc and asked: "You are sticking around right?  With the 'swords I mean.  You're not thinking of moving to another company are ya?"

"I even heard that he was able to re-negotiate the contract for the 'swords logistics.  Halved the cost of the transport costs...that alone is a gem." he shook his head.

"No I've got no interest in the Lancers.  Pax is solid but him and me don't see eye to eye.  Pussycats have plenty of the juicy fruit but too much estrogen there...but from what I hear the Omni girls want to use me too and I don't think I'd mind that..." he gave Olaf a conspiratorial laugh, "I'll be close at hand but I imagine Adam will want to put his imprint on you guys in some fashion."

He shook his head, "Plus Reggie has been harassing me about some sort of Will of Blake commentary on that book I bought.  Something about He" he put in quotations, "left it behind for the faithful to reclaim...whatever that means.  I love her like a sister but sometimes I loose her...which reminds me I've got to lay into her about what she did to yet another one of my XO's...well when I was still in charge that is"

Penny made a face coming out of the mission debriefing.

We're all mission suppose to be life and death situation?  Drama was good for rating but bad for life expectancy.  As she enters the Main Hanger, she could see Pepper and a few of the top cats working on Lollipop.  She also notices Reyvak who she waves a greeting to.

"I heard you rounded up some talent to form up a new lance.  Next mission should be independent operations, so you'll get to break them in then.  Good luck with that, and try not to break too much stuff, were on a tight budget.", Penny grins before drifting off to see how her Raven was doing.

In reply to Lucius McMurphy (msg # 71):

"Makes sense.  Got to give the new guy some breathing room." Olaf replied half-heartedly, then added with a mischievous grin remembering how Alexi was transferred to headquarters and Morgan had left the unit after their respective trysts with Reggie.  "Ya know, if you arranged for Reggie to pay Adam a nocturnal visit you'd probably find yourself back in command in no time."

As they found their way back to the team dressing room that had been pressed into service as the Ironswords office and ready room, Olaf made a point of checking on the progress of pre-mission resupply and maintenance.  Noting the change in command structure and his move from holding his own command in Longsword lance to return to being the CO's wingman in Broadsword, he noted: "Not entirely sure how to take this, though I suppose it's for the best.  Euclid is a solid choice to lead Longsword and Adam is going to need all the help he can get if things are as bad as intel seems to think they are."

Luc let out a laugh and caught the falling cigar with his hand to put it back in his mouth, "Yeah Reggie told me that she owed me but I'm not going to whore her out to regain control of the Ironswords even if it would work.  Plus man...did I just not say I love her like a sister?  What sick frakker pimps out his sister?" he added at the end with a grin.

Luc looked it over and nodded, "Looks like he wants ringers for a core and putting Akarian, Joaquin and Damien in Longsword gives him a pair of possible spotters for Damien's missiles."

Akarian slowly sipped on an aging scotch, and simply shock his head slowly while looking over Phoenix. Jake had really done a number of her. Oh the armor was easy enough to patch back into place, but the endo internals? Well guess it was a good thing he had paid Reggie's extortion level prices for another half ton of those.

Still there was yet another shakeup of command structure going on, Adam having gained control of the Iron Swords, and further re-organization of the lancers, he liked Pax, but things were happening, and it was time to move on.

It was time to talk to Adam.

"Congratulations on winning control of the Iron Swords, the story behind that has been spreading, hell of a play, if I've ever heard of one. Have a drink with me? I've got a proposal I think you'll be interested in."

Adam smiled noncommittally, "The hand could have gone either way."

He nodded his head though at the offer of a drink and a possible proposal, "I'm listening..."

In reply to Lucius McMurphy (msg # 74):

Holding two hands up in front of him in mock submission and sharing in the laughter Olaf said, "Just a thought, boss.  Just a thought.  You'll do fine with her as your wingman. Wherever you end up run cool and shoot straight.  At least with Reggie you'll have a solid warrior watching your back.  I'll tough it out with the 'swords for now and see how the new boss works out."

Seeing that the work was progressing on schedule and everyone was almost ready to get back into the fight he gestured toward the stairs leading out to the playing field.  "It's been a helluva ride fighting with you Luc.  C'mon, let me buy you a drink.  Might be the last if the Bulls have anything to say about it."

"Please.  Those Bulls have rings in the noses.  You just have to yank them and they go down crying." he grinned.

"Still by the time we're done there may not be much good liquor left in any bottles so I'll take that drink and know if you're in my zone I'm not gonna let you die out there.  It's hard to come by good drinking buddies out here."

Akarian set down a set of tumbler glasses he had inherited along with Phoenix. They were simple but well made, with a spiral of half worn away text saying Star League, Better Days wrapping around them. He proceeded to pour scotch to the half way mark of each glass.

"You've got a good group, I was in the Swords for a while, certainly the heaviest lance we have around these parts. Problem is, its all hammer. Ask them to do recon or have to be in and out of an area, and things start going south quick."

Pausing he breathed in the aroma of the scotch and took a small sip.

"I'm offering to change that, I'd like to offer to put together a recon and special forces type lance for you. Two high speed light mechs, myself and perhaps Joaquin if I can get him on board, and a heavier unit armed up with some LRMs. Throw in some hawk eye munitions, and a tag laser or two, and we could push quick and hard into areas, scout them, and light up targets for our fire support. In and out, surgical."

Adam made a hmming sound as he picked up the scotch and took a slow inhale over it, "Mongoose, Spider, Whitworth."

He thought about the possibilities, "TAG isn't too hard to come by, but on your small rides space is a precious commodity.  Still I like the thought of a faster recon element cause my ringers aren't going anywhere fast and my plans of increasing the cred of the Ironswords in a larger ride won't make me any faster or notably so at least."

Tilting his head he asked the important question, "Why the Ironswords?"

Taking another sip of his scotch, he sat the tumbler back down.

"Space is tight indeed, but its hard to argue against the advantages of indirect fire, and the missile boat not needing to move far into the engagement. As to why the Ironswords? Theres a number of reasons, but overall I'm a practical man. I can lead a small group of mercs, but I don't have a royal heritage, nor funding to start up my own independent unit."

"The Pussy Cats, are after video and ratings, quick hit and run, surgical type missions don't bring in the viewers. The lancers seem to be changing shape once again, which seems to constantly happen, plus the recent events with Jake.. I don't see it as much of a viable option. Besides, the Ironswords actually have the ringers to come in afterwards if need be, none of the others can really say that."