Coalition Operations III: Deception of the Iron Bear

[XIII]

Ori' reflexes were fast but not enough - once she spotted a couple of shot flying into the APCs hangar, she performed a powerful dash into the air. It has changed the bolts vector slightly with the airflow she created. Unfortunately, one of them had hit a ground next to large Rokhah, and another one hit a space next to the armored vehicle, creating hearth of fire and a hole in a wall. Instead of flying into the spot where the shot had come from, the UNSC' operative decided to put the fire down. There was also a crate with ammo for the APC, creating another possible danger. Luckily, with Sohdakin' assistance and her fire manipulating skills, the fire' source was shut, and the fire' spread is stopped. Sure thing, retire from the POC now was the wisest choice, and so she headed into the APC as well. Afterward, she had taken a gunner seat since the APC is equipped with dual-barrel machine-gun (.50 cal, explosive rounds). However, with her abilities, it would be better if she could cover the vehicle from the air.

"Hurry up, people. The faster we leave this place, the better for us.". Ori said, staying on overwatch for enemy presence. The only person she was still worried about is Lithian because he didn't react to her speech. She was afraid that after the operation concludes, the Gargoyle may turn against the UNSC and start making problems for the agency. And eventually, the agency will ask someone to deal with Lithian, meaning to make him disappear. One way to achieve this was to let Lithian die. But since John-117 will question Ori and Viktor for survivors, casualties aren't allowed. So once Viktor was inside the APC, the female Orokin added. "We need to save Lithian somehow. UNSC won't be too pleased with the death of survivors.".
- Prince' P.O.W.-

Prince wasn't satisfied with the result, but at least his preys are aware of him. The Predator considered it's a good start, so once there he had got incoming fire, the Yautja quickly retired in order to avoid any injury. Hence, he resolved to hide between cliffs as he was visible now because of Sohdakin' actions. Now, Prince needs to lose heat and watch where the ground team will go further.

[Weaver]

What was going on? It sounded like someone called an artillery strike on the area. Despite all the noise, Lithian managed to patch up some of the damage of the generator. He flicked the switch and the generator roared to life. Perhaps with more power, more tactical options would be available in the future. Still, there was the pressing issue of potentially being left behind. The team wasn't going to rescue him. That was a fact. The gargoyle would need some kind of insurance. From his position, he could modify the power flow from the main generator to other parts of the facility. The first step was to close off power to the beacon. The backup generator was still supplying it, but he'd fix that in a moment. Next, he set it so when the beacon was restarted, it would draw from the main generator, but at a highly dangerous level.

The plan was this: the beacon would shut off after he broke the backup generator. If it was restarted before the sabotage was discovered, the beacon would be destroyed. This didn't matter if the ship didn't need the beacon of course. If the plan worked, the group wouldn't be able to leave without telling Lithian first, and getting him to undo his rigging. If he died or they abandoned him, then at least they would share his grave.

Completely ignoring Viktor's orders, Lithian set off towards the backup generator. He chose to walk, as with all of the explosives flying everywhere, he was bound to be shot. A flying target is easier to see, and there are many weapons dedicated towards taking out fliers. His mind was still flooded. He still couldn't think straight. Maybe this was all a bad idea, but did he care? Maybe all he cared was getting back at the world which did him such a disservice. He needed something or someone to take it out on.

He had a crowbar with him this time. With it, he'd make sure to slug every droid he came across with it as he headed towards his final destination. Maybe they would register him as a threat and fight back. Maybe it was better that way.

[Alessia Starfurr]

An LAAT Gunship landed near the APCs unloading a few more droids and Krystel herself ,who hurried to an APC "Well I'm pleased to see you haven't killed youselfs." She mummured upon entering the APC, If it wasn't clear at this point , socilizing wasn't her strong suite....

[Sohdakin]

A deep growl slipped from the Rohkah's throat as he continued to scan the rafters for signs of the Yautja.  He figured the Predator had vacated the area once the flare went off but still kept his eyes peeled just in case the flare did not chase the Yautja away.

"Ha! It will take more than a few Xenos and Yautja to kill this dragon!" he chuckled darkly as he hoped that were true.  While he was confident in his skills, his equipment and the rest of the team he was with, he was not stupid enough to discount the unknown and that bravado and ego can easily get him killed.  Still, he put on a strong front for the team.  "Yautja opened fire on the APC as Valantine was getting inside.  It tried to ignite the weapon and ammo stores I had pulled out. Looks like he was chased off.  I will feel better when your Spartan ass is on the ground with me"

Sohdakin kept his poistion when he heard Viktor call in for the Draconis to fire on the last known location of the Yautja. He would make sure that his suit's data was fed to the Draconis's fire control systems so it could update and adjust fire as needed. "Val, you ok in there?" he asked then thought back to her question before the Yautja had opened fire on them "He is in pain and needs to grieve for his lost comrades.  As right as I feel I am on the subject.....I could have handled that better....a lot better." he gruffed and looked up as Ori landed near the APC before taking a position on one of the APC's weapons. "I will load as soon as Krystel gets her armored tail on the APC, Ori.  That Yautja could still decided to ambush us while we load up." His thoughts soon went back to his argument with the Gargoyle, a deep sigh hissed through his ventelation systems as he felt like such an idiot for how things went down with Lithian.  "He has survived this long without us, he has a radio and knows how to get in contact if he needs our help.  All we can do is follow Viktor's orders and just let him be"

As the LAAT Gunship decended down near the hangar  the APC was stored in, the Rohkah would make his way to the hangar door, all the while keeping an ever watchful eye on their surroundings "Happy to see you too Spartan, now get in the APC so we can get the heck out of here."

Once everyone else was loaded, Sohdakin would be the last to enter and take his seat near the door, shutting it firmly before slapping the door loudly "We are in, lets get this mobile buffett on the move"

[Romulan_Furry]

"Alright, we're moving out - Lithian, I hope to god you're still here and can hear me; we're gonna head for the Forward Observation Pods," Viktor said over the radio. "If you can here me, get your *** in the air and provide Arial overwatch; I'll scramble a squadron of TIE Defenders to escort you. You spot anything, you radio this channel. Again, we're headed for the Forward Observation Pods. The Defenders will circle the facility until they spot you in the air. Finish whatever you need to do here at the POC and we'll rendezvous at the Pods. And Lithian... given how we found you, I would strongly advise you keep away from any command staff that might still be alive at the Pods. Stay in the air or near the APC and let me do the talking. Good luck... godspeed. Captain Horgus out."

Shortly after, the APC and its escorts - two M12 LRVs equipped with M41 LAAGs, and two Spectre Light Attack Hovercraft - set off for the canyon leading up to the Pods. Almost immediately after departure, the roar of Twin Ion Engines could be heard as a squadron of TIE Defenders were launched from the Draconis Furiam, just as Viktor had said. The Defenders circled the facility, evidently waiting for something.

[Rayleonarde]

Valentine watched the Defenders circle the facility, trying to focus. She desperately wanted to see what would come. A fight, to be sure, but with what or who. And with Lithian’s departure, it only complicated the matter. She wondered what his plan was. To swoop in at the last minute, or doom the the team’s mission?

[XIII]

Ori was silent until Sohdakin didn't refer to Krystel as a Spartan. She didn't mind Lithian to having fun alone even though she assumed, that it may end badly. Her point was is that once the Gargoyle would need help, he will crawl up to the UNSC team by himself. And Ori was pretty confident with it. However, Krystel' affiliation has raised a suspicious from the Orokin' side. The galaxy-skinned was a UNSC operative for thirty years and has been familiar with most of the agency' management. That and high-ranked agents like Viktor, so eventually Ori would know about Krystel, provided the she-wolf was in the UNSC' lines.

"Krystel is a Spartan? Since when? Wearing Spartan' armor doesn't mean being a Spartan. It's a state of mind, you know. Besides, Krystel, where did you got your armor? I doubt John-117 has issued it for you by himself.". Ori asked, resting' on the gunner seat and watching for the security convoy. The female Orokin did not doubt that the Yautja would dare to attack such an army. Maybe Xenomorphs can try, but TIE Defenders will surely annihilate them. Hence the team has a little time where they can discuss the plans.

[Alessia Starfurr]

Krystel climbed deeper into the APC hearing Ori she responded "Who? I bought it from some odd Tiger woman  awhile back, it's served me well enough so i never really changed too much of it, Mjolnir style armor isn't that hard to come by." She turned to Sodakin. "I'm not a Spartan..."

[Weaver]

Upon approaching the backup generator, Lithian raised the crowbar up over his head. More thoughts were flowing through his mind, but this time, more concrete. He slowly lowered the tool, beginning to back away before sprinting back to the main generator to undo his mistakes. The sabotage was removed, and the generator was restored back to full working power. Lithian felt hollow inside. He didn't really know how else to describe how he felt. His emotions had rammed him, and then left him empty inside.

Lithian received the transmission from Viktor. He didn't really have the heart left to respond. Still, Lithian took to the air and flew towards where he last thought the group was at, following the APC once he had spotted it.

[Sohdakin]

The large Rohkah leaned back in his seat as he felt the APC begin to move and head towards their next destination.  He made a small prayer to the goddess to watch over Lithian and help guide him back to the team.  With a sigh he was about to close his eyes and just relax as they traveled but when he heard Ori ask about Krystel he sat up and looked to the Orokin for a moment. "Spartan is not a state of mind, I am not UNSC but even I know that one can not just will themselves to be a Spartan. You UNSC types do not give out that armor to just anyone so yes, Spartan armor is only worn by a Spartan." he hummed and shrugged his shoulders as he wondered how much Ori knew about the Spartan program...did the Rohkah have better intel than some of UNSC?  When he heard that the UNSC would be a part of this team he figured they would have brought at least one Spartan with them, seeing how they were the best the UNSC had to offer in a fight.

Sohdakin's attention soon turned to Krystel as she moved through the APC and spoke about where her armor came from and that she was, in fact, not a Spartan. To which, he shrugged his shoulders "I have always known you were not a Spartan as you are not on the list.  I just called you that as you wear their type of armor and I had nothing else to which to call you. Other than your name"

[Romulan_Furry]

It was then, halfway to the Forward Observation Pods, that the APC stopped. Viktor growled some curses in his native tongue before saying, "Damned weather anomalies... comm signal's range has been cut in half..." He emerged from the cockpit and went about the APC gathering a few items before opening the door. "Keep an eye on the motion sensors, and alert me if anything comes up; I'll be right back." He then closed the door behind him, walked some distance away, and set to work assembling what appeared to be some sort of makeshift subspace signal relay. This took him at least an hour, before he activated it and hid it near some rocks, then re-entered the APC and resumed course. "... done and done. Now we'll be able to call in support if needed. Did I miss anything?" he asked the crew.

[Weaver]

Lithian set himself on a high distant perch. He wasn't ready yet to fully reunite. His mind was quiet as he focused all of his thoughts to simple observation. He had heard that some people deal with stress by burying themselves in their work. He wasn't too good at keeping a lid on things, but keeping watch was a start. During his vigil, if anyone tried waving at him or other kinds of similar interaction, he would ignore them. As far as he was concerned now, they were just faceless government goons paid to do a job. Once they were done, they could get off this rock, and that would be the end. No need for further interaction other than "Yes sir," and "No sir." It would be like co-workers that he didn't like, perhaps despised, but also knowing he didn't have to deal with them for much longer. For obvious reasons, Lithian wasn't there to respond to Viktor's query.

[XIII]

"So it turns out, that UNSC selling their armor? Woah. I didn't know that the agency has a huge need for money. They never told me at least.". Ori said, and that's all she spoke until the APC stopped. And the female operative would be really surprised if the fact that the UNSC selling their legendary armor is real. Indeed, as Rokhah has noted, Spartans was a special program. The Orokin did somewhat similar back in their days and far beyond of humanitarian principles. Maybe it was a little cruel but Spartans were the best soldiers, that UNSC has now and ever. Course, they can't be compared with guys like Sohdakin, but in order to serve in the agency, the one has to be not as strong as a responsible person. The armor was a tool.

"No, luckily. But if you need to change the weather, just ask me. One of my jobs, after all.". Ori asked upon Viktor question. She knew reasons when radio signals get jammed, and her sensors didn't pick any of the sources. Yes, LV-1201 environment was aggressive, but none of the plants could cause it. Maybe it wasn't an anomaly at all.

[Alessia Starfurr]

"The UNSC does not sell Gen3 armor the Gen3 armor, which i use is only produced by one faction and not the UNSC however the UNSC does use the Gen 3 armor on it's newest batch of Spartan II's and apparently you haven't heard of the  Gen 2 armor that the Sangheili made...." Krystel replied, not really interested in explaining further.

She sat down in a seat on the APC , closing her eyes as she reached out with her mind  just trying to focus "Not sensing anything nearby that'd cause interference, what are you using laser, Microwave?" she asked eyes still closed.

[Rayleonarde]

“Electromagnetic?” Valentine chirped, before returning to her farseeing. Perhaps she over exerted herself at some point. She knew the Hunter wasn’t done, not by a long shot. He would make his appearance soon. “I can see some sort of catastrophe, sir.” She said to Viktor. “The FOPs are most likely trapped. And,” she added with a smirk. “The survivor will make an appearance as well. Perhaps in our hour of need.”