FourtyTwo

GEARs: Silent Line [Anthro, Sci-Fi Mecha Roleplay]

"Hey, you sound like you're pretty experienced yourself. You been in on a few missions before? This is actually my first deployment and I'm still a little surprised I've been selected for this. I hope I live up to your standards," she said with a little smile.

@redbaron1234

Max's ears pricked up, seeing the spotted deer look to Max as he turned his maned head, looking back. First time? Well....Max was gonna push it down inside of him. He could say something bad....no doubt Leslie knew how to make shit go boom or repair things, but this was the job of doing primarily the former to people who didn't think they were gonna get turned into mush that morning. Nonetheless, Max pushed that inner bastard of his down, knowing for now, he had to at least keep himself open before he found everyone saw him as too cynical.

"A few. Not as many as our chief. But I've seen my fair share...you never know what you're going into. I imagine you'll be fine but just remember....you're in the business of making things go boom. A lot. Live up to what you've been trained in and we'll be fine, Leslie." He replied with a warn undertone, looking at her surname on her fatigues, raising his eyebrows.
"Lemme think...Sobero, right? I think I know your parents. I can't remember meeting you, we must have been really young. Engineering firm, right? Mine were more old money, well, if you ask my siblings, sort of everything....I didn't really fit that. I suppose we have that in commmon." He said, before Silverwind came back over, leading the way towards the helicopter that was thudding on the open apron.

Stepping in, the lion looked around at the others, the matt-black darkness filling the sky beyond the glow of LED and various other lights on each of the vessels, the helicopter noisy and shuddering it's way to the amphibious assault ship. The GEARS followed, picking up the GEARS with a chugging groan, yet getting the job done as they were pulled upward into the obsidian abyss and disappearing almost if it wasn't for the flickering of lights from the helicopters, the clouds covering any moonlight from breaching the sky and spilling in something to see. A sight to behold, but not one to think on long, as the helicopter ride was almost over as soon as it began, back to shaky tar on the allied amphibious assault ship.

Another briefing later, and Max had already begun whirring through the opitions. Mostly forest made it hard to breach with a GEAR, but same time, offered protection and break-off points from bigger kettles of fish if they ran into IFVs and the likes. A break for UAV, maybe even missile locks if done correctly, given line of sight could be broken but that worked both ways. It was going to be a fun time to use his thermal imagery, he mused to himself, listening to the rest that there was. A simple forward advance operation, to take down weapons stations, and secure main structures on the site. This was more need-to-know than the last one it seemed- and while Max did wonder why an awful lot more people now knew about what they were assaulting, they probably didn't know the more nitty-gritty details of Silent Line. He made a mental note not to talk to any of these other soldiers in the briefing, beyond the Ghost Hunter team that is, of anything to do with the body-snatchers taking Solernian society's best.

The counter-measures would be good, as would the UAV on standby- but something about it seemed too straightforward. Considering they were assaulting a relatively unknown force, even bombing the shit out of the target with a few Cruise Missiles felt like it would be risky, it was a giant "fuck you" telegraphing that an assault was coming to sweep-up the remmenants. Even if the tech they were up against was less advanced, they could be going into anything- and that was worrying. And a bombing site never a nice aftermath to go through, Max reminiced. Still, so long as the team remained vigilant and he did his job, they would be one step ahead of the things that might be watching them through the trees, as he took in the rest of it. A few hours to mull things over, ponder life's deeper questions probably, then gear up and get ready to really mess some people's lives up so others didn't have to even contemplate such miseries.

-------

Max walked wtih a certain strut in his pace on the deck, wearing his reconaissance armour and fatigues with his M23 ISS pushed against his left shoulder, his helm in his right gloved hand. There was a certain change to the oddball lion's demeanour. Everything was much more fierce, his game face, his hunter's mind on and bullshit gone. His mane blew in the harsh sea spray, his plate carrier loaded up wtih his usual setup and his specialist M8 silenced pistol and K8 SOF knife on his person. He didn't look like someone you would fuck with, then again, walking alongside Fionn put that into perspective rather quickly. The feline watched as Silverwind turned, before the noise of several Cruise Missiles roared into the sky, the orange streaks of the missiles erupting into the sky and propelling at several times the speed of sound towards the island that was visible in the very far distance. There was no telling how they would react to it...best case scenario, this mission was battle damage assessment or being effectively a paid cleaner with a GEAR on the site, worst case, the bunkers and hangars they had were now hardened and had maybe not been blown to bits. He only nodded to Silverwind, following on his mark.

Max settled his thoughts, following Silverwind as he moved across the deck, now clear to do so as there were no other aircraft or vehicles on it. He slid his helmet onto his head, pulling the strap tight as he ficked the visor down, faceplate removed for the moment being. Max didn't follow Silverwind, instead picking the other helo where his GEAR was stowed away. The three GEARS were tighter inside the heavy lifter's cabin than sardines in a tin can, but he knew they weren't spending long, and getting out fast. Stowing his rifle in the leg of the Lion Rampant, barely accessible from this angle, he managed to just about scoop himself inside, the GEAR closest to the door. Bringing the door shut on his GEAR, he exhaled, the lion in the darkness as he secured himself tight within. The noise of the helicopter was even more noisy for some reason, even inside the GEAR. Perhaps the heavy lift helos had less sound protection to carry more equipment? He didn't think about it, it wasn't on his mind. Just what was to come was, the lion oddly quiet and aloof of it all. His HMD flicked on, as he checked his controls, static in the GEAR's crouched position but a simple electronic check. Before he could even think, the helo was up, thudding against the weight of gravity and carrying them to Isenor.

Silverwind was back on comms as Max heard him pitch in, the channel clear even in spite of the deafening noise from the helicopter. Despite wearing a helmet wtih intergrated sound protection, even Max's ears were gonna ring a little for a few minutes after he got out of his things, perhaps down to his oversensitive ears or something else. Nonetheless, the Captain had a bit more to add, more tactical-level intel for them to take on.

"We'll be dropping into the shallows and wading ashore. Sprinsteam, Bastion; you two stick together. Bastion, I want you focusing on anything pumping out counter-jamming, or trying to break through the comm blackout. Sprinsteam, you keep any word from getting out, and fuzz their comms. Target the antenna farms and communications systems in the north-west corner of the island".

"We'll split up as we head up the beach. There's a Big Eye drone holding above the island at seventy-thousand feet, it'll be acting as a relay for our comms."

@Silverwind Blade

Max internally nodded, externally still a little blank to it all and taking on board what was to come. They had recon cover, and from the sounds of it, the teams were dividing and conquering. Well, WO Bastion had a target to go for, and so long as Rishun could negate whatever signals those comms systems they had, they'd be free to move up with the enemy's ears and tongue taken out. The hard option was limpet mining the lot and making more boom.
"Solid copy, Blade. See you on the floor." Max replied, the fact that Max was first out emerging quickly. Activating the motors, the GEAR whirred a bit more lively than it did in it's dormancy, the ramp's dropped away slant revealing a black abyss below that shimmered, oddly enough. And while it wasn't a crazy height, it wasn't the sort of thing anyone would want to do without a reinforced skeleton of metal and composites. Knowing that full well, Max was already prepared as the rollers pushed his GEAR forward, and out the ramp...

Dropping down, the Lion Rampant thumped into the sand and came in with a splash, sinking a little into the ground as Max quickly recovered and his GEAR stood tall. Pulling the 30mm rifle off the rear hardpoint and using the GEAR's right hand to flick the bolt forward again, Max took readiness of his GEAR, his HND and controls exactly as he wanted, the machine in harmony and running a charm. Raised high, the 30mm rifle was pointed forward and up the beach, as Max kept a 360 scan and took heavy steps on the sand, night vision on and looking into the bleak darkness that was the forested part beyond the beach.
"Clear left." Max called out, pushing forward to give the GEARs behind him a clear drop zone, heading slowly but steadily out of the water. While his rifle wouldn't provide rapid fire, a 30mm round in the right place would scare an infantry soldier, or blast them apart. It was better than nothing, he thought to himself, his GEAR primed and ready as he sat in control of the machine, the pilot of his own armoured fist among six.
"Blade, I'm ready to move. Got eyes on a bit of elevation towards our right, there's a ridge I can follow to the north-west and give you guys overwatch from while we move on the comms positions. Rishun, if you're ready, we can push up to there on my lead."

GEARs: Silent Line [Anthro, Sci-Fi Mecha Roleplay]

Boomshakalaka. This is getting real :)

GEARs: Silent Line [Anthro, Sci-Fi Mecha Roleplay]

@Silverwind Blade@Esailia

I think that makes sense. From what I can tell- we don't seem to have a specialist in close-quarters from what I can tell? While GEARS and our operators are quite general purpose (Max even has some anti-infantry for a GEAR like his, there's AA, AT and AP scattered throughout the team), we don't have someone who can bring the boom up close.

Maybe a rifle-type GEAR, come breacher- something designed to bring scalpel-like force in close quarters and apply a hammer to it rather than just suppress the enemy or pick it off from afar. That said, I don't know how much a GEAR can get in close- I think something quite generic/broad would probably work too, specialising to support the team where needed.

GEARs: Silent Line [Anthro, Sci-Fi Mecha Roleplay]

@KaiserElectric

Max sort of has that covered I would have thought? Depends what you define Recon/Marksman as mind you...

GEARs: Silent Line [Anthro, Sci-Fi Mecha Roleplay]

@Esailia

Preeeeciely. I like to write characters who can outwardly appear like total bastards at times, but are human (err or just lionhearted...) underneath that. I've met lots of people similar to him who you just get after you get to spend a bit of time with them- you realise they are just a bit wonky yet aren't fundamentally bad people nor mean badly to others out of spite, even if they're absolutely capable of it. Think more Chaotic Good- yeah, a bit mad and willing to bend the rules fully yet ultimately coming towards a moral good.

He certainly has seen a lot- but I think he can be patronising at times, overprotecting maybe too much and not realising he needs to just let his team carry the roles of his work. I think it's him going from a very solitary operations style, giving him his individuality to fitting it back into a team- and it'll come with postives and negatives.

So far I've found Rishun's character quite amusing! I reckon Max will definitely get softer with her- he's already fascinated by her tech as to him it's basically wizardry. He's stubborn but capable of changing his opinion- and I have a feeling he very likely will...

GEARs: Silent Line [Anthro, Sci-Fi Mecha Roleplay]

@Silverwind Blade

Woop woop :)

Will be good to see it get moving- I'm enjoying writing and getting involved in this so far.

I think I've pulled off Max low-key the way I wanted to- he's aloof and a little too presumptious so at times I think that has come out well :P I'm really enjoying seeing him bounce off other characters- I think certainly it has been good getting into writing a char like his again!

GEARs: Silent Line [Anthro, Sci-Fi Mecha Roleplay]

@Esailia

The lion could only chuckle as the otter ran exitedly, before being told to get back on the yellow walkways. As someone who had often been on board these ships and in airbases, the yellow line was there for good reason. And well, maybe it was exitement overcoming inexperience. Still, Rishun was exited, and her GEAR was certainly capable. Almost SOF-spec for naval wetwork with the aquatic rifle, and while it had a greater number of sensors, it was tailored to a different kind of observation than Max's GEAR would have. More strategic recon, rather than Max's tactical search-and-destroy capabilities. The aquatic rifle was unsuprising, given Max knew the otter's water capabilities far surpassed that of Max's own. And he surfed, for goodness sake- felines and water just didn't seem to blend in nature. Rishun no doubt was exceptionally capable, as her type seemed to be. Still, as the otter fell in, she looked up to Max's tall stature, exitable yet now dialed down a volume. He gave a wry smirk, looking back as she spoke to him. He was already aware of her exitable nature, as he thought of something to reply, knowing maybe now he could get it off his mind before they were a bit more formal and assembled.

"Well especially that we're now a Hunter-Killer team that you and me seem to be in, Rishun. We'll make a good little partnership." Max said, aware the others were coming in, off his formal rest until the others were here.

"If we are working together though...just be careful with that long-range radar set. If we run into anything hostile and it's turned on, your back becomes a giant beacon for anti-radiation missiles. Obvious I know, but the amount of times I nearly got caught out with it when I used one myself to support an AA post....it's a lesson I learned I suppose." Max said, looking on as the others began to slowly come in, before looking back at Rishun. He hated himself sometimes for how he behaved, but well, he was direct. SOF training and his years of service weren't alike Rishun's background no doubt, it made him exitable and passionate but in a very, very different way. More to the point, it made him almost stubborn to a fault, and well, he had to make sure he was on the level with Rishun before they deployed. A personal quirk, given he could have probably done it better, but alas, such was Max.

"I also hear you're incredible with technology and dealing in electronic warfare from your reputation- and I really hope we both get to work together on that. Your mind with drones, my experience in recon....we could be unstoppable. But just keep in mind, don't jump too far ahead with what capabilities you have. Recon isn't about using techology as a crutch, especially if we're the ones holding onto it- when you can't safely deploy a drone or find anything to hack, sometimes you have to play it perhaps....more analogue than digital, if you get my drift. Disembark and get close in if needs be, or do something else to gather information.

"While you might be able to see a wider range of threats, and tamper with them too, you won't have a hard counter to a direct threat if you're an EW specialist. And don't put yourself on the line when it comes to that- it's something I'm happy to do, it takes a lot of experience to get right. That and I've got the 30mm rifle that can hit targets over 2.5km away- so it'll do just that. I imagine you're aware of that fact, if you're getting my gist- but just when we're out there, keep a cool head about you and don't jump ahead when we're looking for intel. Remember, we're both in the business of information, but how we tackle it is very different. I just want to make sure we're on the same level when we're out there. Alright?" Max said, his hushed tones still coming across as heavy, but coming from a good place.

Max knew at the same time, he was trying not to be too far gone right now- he just wanted to make sure Rishun understood. She was a similar age, but he just didn't want her to be too over-enthusiastic in the field and get in over her head when there was something on the other side of the hill that was threatening. At the least, Max knew he could survive a bit longer in a CQB situation and indeed, his rifle was the full-stop to any distant fireworks that might arise.

GEARs: Silent Line [Anthro, Sci-Fi Mecha Roleplay]

@Silverwind Blade

Max could only shake his head, knowing Silverwind very well was a wily fox indeed, just the was he smoothly let it go. Lookig back at the GEAR, he listened to Silver's intial comments, nodding as he commented on the GEAR and anything to do with Max's input.
"Can do. It's nothing an operator like you should have trouble with." Max replied, aware that if a recon operator could take command, the reputable and highly experienced Captain Blade would be fine.

Behind Silverwind, Max could see the deer and bear of the group were alreading begin to already inspect their GEARs over, setting up their arsenals. As a judgy person, Max wanted to see what they had attached, noting that Leslie had taken a focus towards engineering and demolitions, with some AT capability. The ability to fix, as well as blow stuff up to equal measure. Meanwhile, Fionn had gone for a heavy arsenal, a mortar, akin to Silverwind's; but the AA missiles, auto shotgun and 20mm rotary cannon, a weapon that seemed almost impractically large even for the size of a GEAR, made Fionn indeed the boom-boom. In hindsight, perhaps Max could have gone for a slight more anti-armour presence- but no matter, that was what a 30mm rifle did, and with AP rounds, all but the heaviest targets could be breached. An old-school form of anti-tank weaponry, but a relevant one none the less.

His look at the two sterile but well armed GEARS was interrupted however, as the feline saw Silverwind's prosthetic limb come to life, the holographic screen popping up. Looking on, he didn't hear it all, but heard something along the lines that they were going to the amphibious assault craft, and getting taken on board. Silverwind turned back to him, Max attentitive to his comment as he replied.
"Was about to say, it'll be good to find out what the plan is..." The lion looked on as Silverwind gathered the rest of the team, ready to follow the Captain to the incoming helicopter and their final briefing.

GEARs: Silent Line [Anthro, Sci-Fi Mecha Roleplay]

Got it- makes sense. I'll cut it back a little :)

GEARs: Silent Line [Anthro, Sci-Fi Mecha Roleplay]

@Silverwind Blade

Yep, whatever works :P

Glad to hear we're all moving- stuff is getting exiting wtih the other loadouts people have :)

I've only gone and sprained my ankle badly so I'll be cooking up a post today to get my mind off it. I'm writing wtih the intent that our team is all getting in their GEARs and prepping for departure?