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ActRaiserTheReturned,
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What did Hale just say to her?..Had she done what the infantry had done so long ago? She had made the UNF into faceless enemies, she had done the same thing her fellow soldiers did to stay sane. Aura shook her head and picked up Hale's pistol, one not dissimilar to Aura's own, and thumbed the magazine release, the mag hitting the table below with a dull thud. Aura now thumbed the safety, clicking it into place as she walked up to Hale and presented it to her, grip first, the only round in the weapon being the one in the chamber. Aura kept an iron grip on the barrel however, cautioning ""I'll go on your mission, Commander, but remember this. Those UNF soldiers pulling security? The ones we're supposed to kill to a man, to put down the screaming wounded? They're just like me, and each soldier in this bay. We've shot the ones they call family too, Commander, and you know what? I've got two bullet scars, one treated by one of our men, and another by a UNF medic." Aura noted, with no small amount of pride in her fellow infantry around the bay, that they'd thumbed their safeties and brought their weapons to bear. With her free hand, Aura gestured at them all, saying "I can't speak for the weapons scientists, I'm not one, but I AM a soldier, an infantrywoman at heart. Most of those troopers aren't in there to oppress the poor, they're only soldiers because they wanted to help, to do what they thought was right. They're eighteen and twenty year old kids, Commander, and now all they want to do is protect their comrades. If you think of them as monsters and not humans, just something to destroy for victory, then what makes us better than them? I joined the OS because we're the good guys, ma'am, let's keep it that way."
If Hale hadn't taken her gun by now, Aura set it back on the table and walked back to where she'd stood, adding "So you know Commander, if one of them drops their weapon and surrenders I don't think I can pull the trigger. If that's a problem, I don't need to be on this operation." Her anger clearing and her philosophical rant over, Aura honestly felt better. It was good to know these things still bothered her, that she was still human, an affirmation that war hadn't eliminated her moral code just yet. Aura the person was satisfied, so it was time for Aura the captain to have her go. Clearing her throat, Aura added "Presuming my little caveat hasn't put you off sending me on this operation, ma'am, I need to know what the package is. Are we trying to exfil with their entire project, just the data, something else? Also do we have any actual estimates on enemy security? Infantry, armor, valks, air support, the works."
If Hale hadn't taken her gun by now, Aura set it back on the table and walked back to where she'd stood, adding "So you know Commander, if one of them drops their weapon and surrenders I don't think I can pull the trigger. If that's a problem, I don't need to be on this operation." Her anger clearing and her philosophical rant over, Aura honestly felt better. It was good to know these things still bothered her, that she was still human, an affirmation that war hadn't eliminated her moral code just yet. Aura the person was satisfied, so it was time for Aura the captain to have her go. Clearing her throat, Aura added "Presuming my little caveat hasn't put you off sending me on this operation, ma'am, I need to know what the package is. Are we trying to exfil with their entire project, just the data, something else? Also do we have any actual estimates on enemy security? Infantry, armor, valks, air support, the works."
Merry Christmas to all (though mine was yesterday), and here's to year three!
No Survivors.
That phrase brought Aura to a screeching halt as memories flashed through the veteran's mind. Countless times, UNF and OS infantry had spared the wounded and infirm, avoided chases into civilian areas, refused to raid military parades where civilians would definitely be caught in the crossfire, and never once intentionally assaulted anywhere serving as a medbay. There was a certain respect expected in war, a respect the Commander was asking her to forego. Aura felt the urge to grab her gun, to eliminate the evil words she'd just heard with a bullet, but that wasn't an option both for her own survival or to salvage how she'd felt about this op mere seconds earlier. Aware she may very well be visibly distraught, as she was boiling with anger on the inside, Aura carefully responded "Commander, I don't believe I heard you right. I believe you just ordered me to eliminate wounded and unarmed UNF personnel, in the event either should cross my gun lines. If that is the case, ma'am, then I'm sure you know that I want nothing to do with it. You're asking me to go out and gun down kids, when they're shooting at me that's fine, but anywhere the UNF is developing a weapon there WILL be unarmed, possibly civilian, personnel as well as armed guards. What the hell can we be doing thats worth stooping that low, Hale?"
Somewhere in the back of Aura's mind, she could feel herself running the numbers. The PHP-21 Heavy Pistol contains twelve .44 Magnum steel-tipped rounds, rated as armor piercing. Aura could empty that magazine in four seconds with acceptable accuracy, each shot hitting its mark most likely. Commander Hale was an easy shot, the guards would be expecting this from Yaz more than Aura so they would likely go down before they could kill her. Once they were down, it was elementary to get to Longshot and scramble. The issue became, of course, then what? The Ordo would be on the lookout for her and it was even money whether or not the UNF knew her face. Her home would be the first place the guerrillas would search, they'd ride her family to try and get intel out of them, maybe kill them though Aura still wanted to expect better of the others. It was then that a stray thought struck Aura, why hadn't she included Neil and Yaz in those very calculations? The answer was easy, obvious even, they were HER pilots, and she was their squadron leader. That was a sacred trust, one she couldn't betray, not even if it meant risking her life.
She shook herself loose of those thoughts, but now she could never escape the cold awareness that seeped into her mind. She could get out of this, kill the one in charge of this even, and get away alive, of that Aura was sure. Hale maybe didn't deserve it, she took care of her own after all, but giving that order made her a target if Aura were to snap her weapon up. This meant that, if Aura went along with this, she had no excuses to make. Of course, every life she took on every mission she'd ever been on weighed on her, but it was easier to accept what had happened when they were shooting at you. She may not be able to divorce the UNF into that vacuous category of 'enemy', inhuman and monstrous, that the rest of the infantry had but she still slept at night, honestly easier than the rest of them. However, this mission, this time, Aura couldn't help but wish she had done just that, turn the enemy into an inhuman monster, then this mission wouldn't have raised the red lights it did.
However, Aura never had, and she knew if she had to kill some wounded, terrified trooper crying for his mother, she'd never live it down. If she had to gun down some unarmed scientist running for cover, she'd see his face every night. Two things kept Aura's hands where they were, however. First, she could swear she distantly heard the sound of her dead comrades urging her forward, to win the fight at all costs, and let them rest in peace. Second, she was becoming acutely aware of what would happen to her pilots if she left. For sure they'd have to take the field without her, and if they died without her to protect them then it was on her. Out of combat, Neil would be fine without her, scatterbrained as ever no doubt but he'd live, probably move on before the day was out. What about Yazmin, however, Aura couldn't help but wonder. Sure, the younger pilot would doubtless be emotionally unhampered by Aura's leaving, after all they hadn't known each other long, but what about the men at the base? Would they leave her be, accept her? Or, without Aura to protect her, would they go after and eliminate the former-UNF pilot? Would they pursue her even more determinedly, perhaps to spite the Captain after she deserted, or perhaps they would believe the pilot had corrupted the Captain, killing her in revenge? Aura had no way of knowing, and that got to her more than she thought it would.
All this happened in Aura's mind alone, while on the outside she fixed Hale with a dead stare. Everyone who knew Aura would know the look currently fixed on Hale's eyes was Aura's war face. She was told she had a certain face on when she went into battle, when she was about to fight and take another's life. Cool, calculating, yet completely free of tension, the veteran's cold eyes and steely expression were fixed on the Commander, awaiting an answer.
That phrase brought Aura to a screeching halt as memories flashed through the veteran's mind. Countless times, UNF and OS infantry had spared the wounded and infirm, avoided chases into civilian areas, refused to raid military parades where civilians would definitely be caught in the crossfire, and never once intentionally assaulted anywhere serving as a medbay. There was a certain respect expected in war, a respect the Commander was asking her to forego. Aura felt the urge to grab her gun, to eliminate the evil words she'd just heard with a bullet, but that wasn't an option both for her own survival or to salvage how she'd felt about this op mere seconds earlier. Aware she may very well be visibly distraught, as she was boiling with anger on the inside, Aura carefully responded "Commander, I don't believe I heard you right. I believe you just ordered me to eliminate wounded and unarmed UNF personnel, in the event either should cross my gun lines. If that is the case, ma'am, then I'm sure you know that I want nothing to do with it. You're asking me to go out and gun down kids, when they're shooting at me that's fine, but anywhere the UNF is developing a weapon there WILL be unarmed, possibly civilian, personnel as well as armed guards. What the hell can we be doing thats worth stooping that low, Hale?"
Somewhere in the back of Aura's mind, she could feel herself running the numbers. The PHP-21 Heavy Pistol contains twelve .44 Magnum steel-tipped rounds, rated as armor piercing. Aura could empty that magazine in four seconds with acceptable accuracy, each shot hitting its mark most likely. Commander Hale was an easy shot, the guards would be expecting this from Yaz more than Aura so they would likely go down before they could kill her. Once they were down, it was elementary to get to Longshot and scramble. The issue became, of course, then what? The Ordo would be on the lookout for her and it was even money whether or not the UNF knew her face. Her home would be the first place the guerrillas would search, they'd ride her family to try and get intel out of them, maybe kill them though Aura still wanted to expect better of the others. It was then that a stray thought struck Aura, why hadn't she included Neil and Yaz in those very calculations? The answer was easy, obvious even, they were HER pilots, and she was their squadron leader. That was a sacred trust, one she couldn't betray, not even if it meant risking her life.
She shook herself loose of those thoughts, but now she could never escape the cold awareness that seeped into her mind. She could get out of this, kill the one in charge of this even, and get away alive, of that Aura was sure. Hale maybe didn't deserve it, she took care of her own after all, but giving that order made her a target if Aura were to snap her weapon up. This meant that, if Aura went along with this, she had no excuses to make. Of course, every life she took on every mission she'd ever been on weighed on her, but it was easier to accept what had happened when they were shooting at you. She may not be able to divorce the UNF into that vacuous category of 'enemy', inhuman and monstrous, that the rest of the infantry had but she still slept at night, honestly easier than the rest of them. However, this mission, this time, Aura couldn't help but wish she had done just that, turn the enemy into an inhuman monster, then this mission wouldn't have raised the red lights it did.
However, Aura never had, and she knew if she had to kill some wounded, terrified trooper crying for his mother, she'd never live it down. If she had to gun down some unarmed scientist running for cover, she'd see his face every night. Two things kept Aura's hands where they were, however. First, she could swear she distantly heard the sound of her dead comrades urging her forward, to win the fight at all costs, and let them rest in peace. Second, she was becoming acutely aware of what would happen to her pilots if she left. For sure they'd have to take the field without her, and if they died without her to protect them then it was on her. Out of combat, Neil would be fine without her, scatterbrained as ever no doubt but he'd live, probably move on before the day was out. What about Yazmin, however, Aura couldn't help but wonder. Sure, the younger pilot would doubtless be emotionally unhampered by Aura's leaving, after all they hadn't known each other long, but what about the men at the base? Would they leave her be, accept her? Or, without Aura to protect her, would they go after and eliminate the former-UNF pilot? Would they pursue her even more determinedly, perhaps to spite the Captain after she deserted, or perhaps they would believe the pilot had corrupted the Captain, killing her in revenge? Aura had no way of knowing, and that got to her more than she thought it would.
All this happened in Aura's mind alone, while on the outside she fixed Hale with a dead stare. Everyone who knew Aura would know the look currently fixed on Hale's eyes was Aura's war face. She was told she had a certain face on when she went into battle, when she was about to fight and take another's life. Cool, calculating, yet completely free of tension, the veteran's cold eyes and steely expression were fixed on the Commander, awaiting an answer.
Got a post up, tried to engage both of my pilots in..
Aura dropped her salute at Hale's order and, glancing over to see Yaz approaching as well, gave an easy smile to the two of them. "Punctuality eh Commander? And here I was thinking it was just because I can do the job. Think if I start showing up to briefing an hour early they'll give me your job?" An easy laugh slid out of Aura as she joked with the commander, a woman Aura had worked with so frequently Aura probably knew her as well as Aura knew her own mother. That stray thought briefly sent Aura crashing into the past, memories overtaking the woman's mind for a second. "It's funny, looking back I remember being so worried about things back home that didn't matter. Things like how I was doing in school, or how much I liked Bo Thompson, or how to best surprise Dad with my results from my first race. Now, I'm out there fighting people with and against people half my age with our lives on the line, all for..." She was brought up short by that thought, cutting it off herself and suppressing the frown that threatened to overtake her face. It wouldn't do them any good to realize Aura wasn't an ardent believer in their cause anymore. They'd take her away from her command, from the men and women she could still protect, and if they decided to drum her out then....well, she didn't care to see ghosts of angry comrades, so she'd rather keep fighting.
All those thoughts passed in a few seconds, a passing thought that hit the Captain with disturbing frequency. She shook it off as ever, however, as she had a job to do, for her brothers and sisters who died right next to her. Glancing over at Yazmin sent Aura back to another, more recent memory. Aura reckoned it must have been the very night after Yazmin arrived that those soldiers from base security had approached her. They'd come to get her support to convince the Commander to detain Yazmin, torture her for intelligence then execute her. "A Feddie doesn't belong with us, Cap, and you know it!" Aura was thankful she commanded respect on this base, as all it had taken to dismiss that notion had been sternly warning the men to drop the subject and leave Yaz alone. Aura had known Yazmin would wind up as part of the squadron the moment she'd showed in a Valkinai, after all the Ordo didn't get many of them, and that made her, in Aura's mind, immediately under the veteran captain's protection. Since, Aura had still had to shoot down requests from several groups of personnel to bring their distrust of the woman to the commander, but it grew less and less frequent of late, as men finally warmed up to the girl.
Speaking of Yazmin, Aura turned her head towards the girl and asked "Are you all limbered up Yaz? You may not be as old as me, but stretching before a mission is still essential." This was part joke, but mostly checking the status of the young pilot. "'Young pilot', listen to me, I sound like a 60 year old woman! I'm only 36, not young but not nearly as old as I act." Of course, Aura was uncomfortably aware that before long she couldn't be the field officer she was now. Give a few more years and she'd slow down, too much for stretching and an obsessive workout schedule to compensate for. Then, past her combat prime, they'd sort her to a staff position where she couldn't protect her pilots. Aura dreaded the day that 'Captain Kalstov' become 'Major' or 'Colonel', and she'd be bound to a desk, unable to put herself in the line of fire for the sake of her subordinates. Again, Aura shook her drifting thoughts back to the problem at hand, adding to Yazmin "Your Valk is all taken care of too, right? Techs kept her in good shape? They better have or I'll light a fire under their ass bigger than the Longshot. Nobody makes one of my pilots go outside without the best."
It was true, of course, that Aura didn't expect the techs to have given the Ordine any less than their full attention. It may only be able to work for Yaz, and she may have to be there for maintenance, but it was still a Valkinai. The Ordo never let a suit go to waste, no matter who they put in the pilot seat, and the techs were dedicated to their trade. Finally dragging her mind back to the present, she noted Neil's salute and cracked a grin at his obvious attempt at over-the-top stiffness, she mustered her posh 'officer's meeting' voice and intoned "At ease, Sergeant. You may enter the briefing, but I expect your best behavior." After a straight faced moment of starting intensely at the young man she allowed a full smile to bloom as she chuckled, saying "Get over here Neil and stop bothering the techs for a minute eh? You're a pilot, time to get a briefing for you to pretend to remember! Have you stretched? Got your Valk settled? I don't need you asking me to carry you back to base and bottle feed you because you forgot to do your due diligence Neil!" The young pilot was easy to make fun of and provided plenty of material, though despite Aura's ribbing he pulled through in the field, that more than made up for his eccentricities in Aura's book. After all, they were a loose guerrilla army, not a stiff by-the-book field army like the UNF.
All those thoughts passed in a few seconds, a passing thought that hit the Captain with disturbing frequency. She shook it off as ever, however, as she had a job to do, for her brothers and sisters who died right next to her. Glancing over at Yazmin sent Aura back to another, more recent memory. Aura reckoned it must have been the very night after Yazmin arrived that those soldiers from base security had approached her. They'd come to get her support to convince the Commander to detain Yazmin, torture her for intelligence then execute her. "A Feddie doesn't belong with us, Cap, and you know it!" Aura was thankful she commanded respect on this base, as all it had taken to dismiss that notion had been sternly warning the men to drop the subject and leave Yaz alone. Aura had known Yazmin would wind up as part of the squadron the moment she'd showed in a Valkinai, after all the Ordo didn't get many of them, and that made her, in Aura's mind, immediately under the veteran captain's protection. Since, Aura had still had to shoot down requests from several groups of personnel to bring their distrust of the woman to the commander, but it grew less and less frequent of late, as men finally warmed up to the girl.
Speaking of Yazmin, Aura turned her head towards the girl and asked "Are you all limbered up Yaz? You may not be as old as me, but stretching before a mission is still essential." This was part joke, but mostly checking the status of the young pilot. "'Young pilot', listen to me, I sound like a 60 year old woman! I'm only 36, not young but not nearly as old as I act." Of course, Aura was uncomfortably aware that before long she couldn't be the field officer she was now. Give a few more years and she'd slow down, too much for stretching and an obsessive workout schedule to compensate for. Then, past her combat prime, they'd sort her to a staff position where she couldn't protect her pilots. Aura dreaded the day that 'Captain Kalstov' become 'Major' or 'Colonel', and she'd be bound to a desk, unable to put herself in the line of fire for the sake of her subordinates. Again, Aura shook her drifting thoughts back to the problem at hand, adding to Yazmin "Your Valk is all taken care of too, right? Techs kept her in good shape? They better have or I'll light a fire under their ass bigger than the Longshot. Nobody makes one of my pilots go outside without the best."
It was true, of course, that Aura didn't expect the techs to have given the Ordine any less than their full attention. It may only be able to work for Yaz, and she may have to be there for maintenance, but it was still a Valkinai. The Ordo never let a suit go to waste, no matter who they put in the pilot seat, and the techs were dedicated to their trade. Finally dragging her mind back to the present, she noted Neil's salute and cracked a grin at his obvious attempt at over-the-top stiffness, she mustered her posh 'officer's meeting' voice and intoned "At ease, Sergeant. You may enter the briefing, but I expect your best behavior." After a straight faced moment of starting intensely at the young man she allowed a full smile to bloom as she chuckled, saying "Get over here Neil and stop bothering the techs for a minute eh? You're a pilot, time to get a briefing for you to pretend to remember! Have you stretched? Got your Valk settled? I don't need you asking me to carry you back to base and bottle feed you because you forgot to do your due diligence Neil!" The young pilot was easy to make fun of and provided plenty of material, though despite Aura's ribbing he pulled through in the field, that more than made up for his eccentricities in Aura's book. After all, they were a loose guerrilla army, not a stiff by-the-book field army like the UNF.
@Whoami
Ah it'll be fineeee, after all she's just dragging the squad down anyway!
EDIT: Besides, if cap disagrees she can just deny the transfer! And make Ari very sad, she'd probably need to find some way to make it up to the poor rookie!
Ah it'll be fineeee, after all she's just dragging the squad down anyway!
EDIT: Besides, if cap disagrees she can just deny the transfer! And make Ari very sad, she'd probably need to find some way to make it up to the poor rookie!
@PrincessOfNothing
I feel your pain, and I bid you enjoy your freedom from finals as I have enjoyed mine.
I feel your pain, and I bid you enjoy your freedom from finals as I have enjoyed mine.
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