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 Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:57 pm
The Captain watched the surface of Portia grow ever closer and wished that he was just coming here for a vacation. Portia was a tropical world with a single continent that stretched around the moon's equator and some of the western hemisphere. The northern sea was filled with small islands and a few submarine volcanoes. The northern polar region had cooler waters but very little ice. The South pole had a large ice cap that extended into the south-eastern hemisphere. The southern sea had several prominent archipelagos that were visible from space, the largest of which was connected via man-made structures to the mainland. This was the moon's major spaceport and the location of its only space elevator. The Longshore Space Tether allowed for quick and easy transport of civilians to and from the cruise liners that were too large to land. There were multiple carbon-nanofiber strands that ran from the surface to the orbital station at the top of the elevator. The Longshore Station was not as large as New Harmony's Oasis station and was closer in appearance to an airport or a sea-port. The non-civilian areas were less furnished and more industrial. Originally the Space Tether had been used to transport the raw materials used to build most of the structures on the moon's surface, now however, its heavy freight lifting days were over. The two UNSC ships passed by the Tether on their approach path and silently entered the outer atmosphere. There was a large storm front moving across the southernmost archipelago and scattered cloud cover across the rest of the moon. A latticework of bridges and artificial structures spanned the closely grouped islands at the base of the Longshore Space Tether providing a solid base for the carbon-nanofiber strands and the duracrete anchors. The Armored Prayer and the Ready Made dropped through the upper atmosphere and entered the stratosphere. Now the evidence of human habitation was clearly visible. The urban sprawl around the moon's capitol, Sanctuary was tightly contained within gleaming skyscrapers. A vertical paradise. The reinforced transparent plastic walls allowed for mostly natural lighting and impressive views. But that was the civilian side of Portia.
The UNSC garrison on the moon was far smaller than the one on New Harmony had been, and only a possessed a fraction of the facilities. As a result, several of the local hotels and resorts had turned over their facilities to the UNSC. It was a generous gesture in a frightening time. The largest of the resort facilities that had been turned over to the Marines was the Regency hotel and resort. The Regency was composed of a series of large, three story complexes that were filled with five-star accommodations. The grounds were sufficient to house all of the air units currently aboard the two frigates as well as providing ample parade grounds. The UNSC garrison, Fort Deen, would be used to house the armor and ground vehicles. The Beaver Creek hospital was closest to the requisitioned hotels and had been vacated for use by the UNSC. The Armored Prayer and the Ready Made settled into holding positions above the several resorts and the hospital and began to offload troops and supplies. The highest priority was getting all of the wounded men and women to medical facilities as soon as possible. Jacobs left the bridge for his personal quarters. He needed to prepare a report for the days events. The Captain entered his Cabin and tossed his duty cap onto his bunk. He ran a hand through his close-cut hair and sighed deeply. Several moments later he was seated at his desk and reviewing the after action reports of every unit evacuated from the surface of New Harmony. He was so very tired and there was so much left to do.
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Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:43 pm
Andrew sat atop one of the many bunks in the Regency Hotel's suite on the 47th floor, their new barracks, with his Battle Rifle in his gloved hands. Slowly he cleaned the rifle, making sure that every nook and cranny was brushed, scrubbed, and oiled up to prevent any jams during combat. The brush worked it's way in and out of the chamber towards the rear of the rifle for a moment. When he pulled it out he peered in and nodded his head to himself, satisfied with the work. With one snap of his wrist he popped the bolt out of it's locked place. Andrew took a deep breath and rested the rifle on his chest as he laid in his bunk. The silver faceplate of his ODST Helmet stared at him from it's perch on top of a small crate next to his bunk. When O'Connol stole a glance at it he caught a good look of his own face. Quickly he diverted his eyes.
His hazel eyes closed their lids and embraced the darkness, listening to the groaning of the Marines and the gripes of the soldier down the way losing in a game of poker. It all seemed so serene to him. Space travel wasn't particularly his thing, either. He really did prefer being off the Armored Prayer and somewhere that had natural gravity, with solid ground beneath his feet. It was in an environment like that that he fought his best and wasn't useless. The Private's index finger played with the safety of the rifle, clicking it on and then off, on and then off, on and then off, until that also lost any entertainment value. Andrew grumbled under his breath something about the Corps and Regulations before rolling onto his side with his Battle Rifle cradled in his arms like a child. With a deep breath, he fell into a somber slumber.
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Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:56 pm
After checking into the hotel, Alexander got into the elevator and pressed the button of what level he was assigned too and dropped his back on the floor. Room 4b, alright.. He stared at the transfer card with all the details he needed to know.
He got out of the elevator and walked down the hall level 47, hearing marines shouting and hooting at each other over something. After looking at for a while, he found room 4b, he knocked and as Alexander entered the room, he placed his pack beside the bed. He looked up on the top bunk to see a soldier sleeping so he kept quiet. Seeing the chocolate on the pillow of the bottom bunk, he grabbed it and got some papers from his pocket and sat at the desk. After signing countless amount of pages, he ate the chocolate.
Alexander got up and walked back over to his pack and got a large black case from it. Opening it, he took the scope of his disassembled sniper rifle and walked up to the window. With it he scoped out the city of Sanctuary.
He took a another look at the soldier on the top bunk and then saw his ODST helmet, "Oh, it's one of them suicidal people." He sat down on the bottom bunk and read the report of what had happened on Harmony.
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Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:14 pm
Amelia rode the elevator through Regency Hotel, heading for the suite on the 47th floor. With her ditty bag on her back, she stood erect in anticipation of exiting the elevator. The door finally opened and she knew instantly she was on the right floor. A Marine, a Private by the looks of him, stopped in his tracks to salute Amelia. She promptly returned the salute with a warm smile and the Marine went on his way. She turned a sharp left, following the long line of bunks that lined the walls. She nodded to Lance Corporal Kirkham as she passed him on her way to finding an empty bunk. Amelia found an empty bunk across from...someone. She took a look at his face, peacefully sleeping, trying to think of his name, his position. She landed on the bunk with a quiet thud, swinging her legs, boots and all, onto the mattress. She took her hat off before resting it on the pillow. Amelia figured she get some rest, so after a few seconds she closed her eyes, concentrating on the coming slumber.
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Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:15 pm
R.A.G.D.O.L.L UNIT X.2- SERIES 001
LOCATION:
PORTIA
Portia...Dee had never visited the place but she had heard about it from the old doctor and how beautiful it was. Well, now she got a front row seat to its beauty and splendor, of course she wasn't here for a relaxing vacation so her enjoyment of this tropic would not be as enjoyable as she would have hoped, but she would make the best of it. If there was one thing Nathaniel had taught her it was to keep pressing forward and never look back. She took this to heart but still found herself silently hoping that he had made it even now as she strode down the hallway lined with elegant rooms, at least from her POV, on the 47th floor.
"Where or where could 11b be?....."
Her mind elsewhere, Dee had walked past the room she had been assigned to only to discover this after walking down to the end of the hall. This aggrivated her. She wasn't thinking straight. If only the stupid doctor would just answer her, but he wouldn't. Probably would never again and this is what put Dee into choked up tears. How pathetic she found herself acting! Only a kid and probably the youngest of the UNSC as far as she knew, Dee should be stronger, but instead of strength she found herself crying despite her efforts to stop. Thankfully only the luggage of her roommates were inside the suite and not any marines or she would probably just shoot herself. The crying teenager looked about the room, scanning for any open beds not tagged already, and found one near the corner of the room with a rather nice view of the scenery as a smaller window was located next to it. Here she would set down her assault rifle, shotgun, and any other supplies she had been carrying while her other free hand yanked off her boots and helmet. Dee outstretched her arms, getting the feel for the cool air without her armor and slowly curled up into a ball on her bed as she began to fall into a much needed rest.
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Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:52 pm
Orbit of New Harmony
Portia
Aboard the UNSC Armored Prayer
The dark corridors and eerie lighting of the UNSC Armored Prayer after it was docked and being repaired were more than disturbing to Compton. The ship was entirely different when nothing was online and the lighting was more than unsettling. Thankfully he had served aboard the beauty for more than his fair share of tours and he knew the lay out like the back of his hand. Each and every level had it's own distinct features. The hangar, where he currently resided waiting for his just punishment by his superiors. Most of his comrades were either already in their rooms or were out searching for them. Nate however was forced to hang back, something that while he did not enjoy, he did not regret earning it. Pretty soon afterward he would be cleaning latrines or standing guard, some pointless, remedial task that would keep him out of their hair for a while. Sure he wouldn't get to enjoy the luxuries that his friends were, but he was satisfied with his actions up to this point. He didn't mind the demotion or the labor as it proved a point that he thought didn't need to be established.
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Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:48 pm
O'Connol hadn't been sleeping that soundly, and when the Marine made the snide comment about him being suicidal he found himself boiling with anger deep in his heart, unlike ever before. The very mention of suicide brought back the painful memories of his former life, and the death of his father when they couldn't survive financially. He had hung himself with his own tie. The memory haunted him. It hurt him. He would make this man hurt. It was on. O'Connol rolled over, grabbed his helmet, and flung it at the Marine with a look of pure hatred on his face. He screamed, bellowing from the depths of his being.
"Shut the ******** up!"
He kicked his legs off the the edge of the bed and stood at his full height. His boots made him a towering 6 foot, one inch, and every bit of him menacing and threatening. His eyes burned with the flames of over nine thousand suns, and his teeth were bared like a beast of pure rage. The Private could have been described as nearly foaming at the mouth with pure hatred. Really, he was starting to gray out the area between this man and the Innies. Oh, what a pleasure it would be to rid the universe of his pathetic existence.
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Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:29 pm
Mitchell, Scott P. | UNSC MARINES E-9
Sergeant Major Mitchell pushed open the bathroom door and pushed a hand through his wet hair. He had taken the liberty to dress in the bathroom, and wore khaki shorts and an olive t-shirt. His toothbrush was sticking out of his mouth and he had a small towel about his shoulders. The Sergeant Major's eyes were tired and slightly puffy. He smelled like shampoo and coconut. All of the dirt and grime that had been accumulated on New Harmony had been rinsed away in a blissful shower that hadn't lasted nearly as long as he would have liked. He flexed his bare toes in the soft carpet and his jaw dropped when he saw O'Connol hurled his helmet at the other Marine.
"Wha-the-fug?"
Mitchell took the toothbrush out of his mouth and reached for the unopened bar of scented soap. He hurled the lavender scented bar at the back of O'Connol's head. The toss was deftly aimed and the projectile found its mark. Mitchell was surprised that O'Connol wasn't being his usual distant self and that he hadn't missed with the bar of soap. He quickly overcame his momentary stupor and assumed command of the situation, despite having been given leave when the Prayer arrived.
"Both of you Stand Down!"
He walked over to the fuming ODST and delivered a state that could freeze plasma. O'Connol's boots allowed the bare-footed Sergeant Major to see eye to eye.
"O'Connol, what the hell? I turn my back on you for ten minutes and you explode! God Dammit Rook do I have to make you retake the psych tests? You were promoted to Corporal for your actions on New Harmony but I'm beginning to think that was a mistake. I don't have to bust your a** back down to buck private do I? You are supposed to set an example for the other Marines, not bolster the claim that ODSTs are all psychotic. Do you get me Marine?"
He turned to the other Marine and spoke clearly.
"And just who in the hell are you?"
____________________________________________
Jacobs, Omar C. | UNSC NAVY O-6
Jacob's progression through the reports had been going smoothly until he hit an incident report for an altercation that had taken place aboard the Prayer. Apparently one of the ODSTs who had been evacuated from the surface had assaulted an officer. His stomach knotted in disapproval. He stood up and stretched to relieve himself of the pain. Jacobs was tired. He was tired of Insurrectionists, he was tired of fighting, and he had no patience for insubordination. The Captain stood, sent a brief message to Baldur asking him to have a Pelican prepared. When he arrived in the prepared bay, he was wearing full emergency vacuum gear. This specialized equipment could withstand the heat of reentry and was a fully functional pressure suit. Its helmet had a clear visor and his face was fully visible. The Captain and two Marines loaded the surprised Lance Corporal Compton aboard the Pelican and strapped him down to one of the seats. The Marines disembarked and Jacobs braced himself as the Drop ship took off. His boots were magnetized and clamped down onto the hard-steel plating of the Pelican's troop bay. The cockpit door was shut and locked. The rear hatch was completely open as the Pelican nosed up and began a slow ascent. Jacobs hooked the Marine's harness to a safety tether attached to the inside of the Pelican and kicked Compton out of the troop bay. The line snapped taught as the Lance Corporal was kicked about by the thrashing wind. The Captain held onto the top handhold and shouted above the roar of the engines.
"I RUN A VERY TIGHT SHIP COMPTON! THE EFFICIENCY OF MY MEN DEPENDS ON THEIR ADHERENCE TO A CERTAIN SET OF RULES. WHEN SOMEONE BREAKS THOSE RULES, IT ISN'T ONLY AN INSULT TO THE CREW, BUT AN INSULT TO ME! YOU HAVE INSULTED ME ABOARD MY OWN SHIP! IF YOU EVER DISRESPECT A SUPERIOR OFFICER, NO MATTER HOW MUCH OF A CHICKENSHIT HE MAY BE, I WILL PERSONALLY HUNT YOU DOWN AND THROW YOU OUT OF AN AIRLOCK! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR LANCE CORPORAL?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:49 pm
To busy rubbing his head, he took a while to realize a superior speaking to him. He looked up and saw the Sergeant Major in front of him. "Sergeant Major sir!" He saluted, "I am Corporal Alexander Carlson, and I got transferred from UNSC Titan," he handed over his transfer details, "I must of said something wrong to this ODST."
Alex sat down and rubbed his head some more.
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:03 pm
It was quite a sight. She nearly fell out of the rack, startled by all the noise. To see an ODST flip out on one of the Marines was certainly something. Amelia quickly rose as the action broke out, helping the Sergeant Major by holding the ODST back: "Sir, calm down. Please." she muttered to him, watching as his cerulean-blue eyes burned with the anger and pain built up over the years. She saw that he had calmed down somewhat, then turned to the idiot Corporal:
"Carlson, get the ******** outta here. I don't want to see your face around here as long as we're on this planet, you understand me?". She took a look back at the ODST, his name still lost to her. Amelia finally turned her sights onto the Sergeant Major. She passed Carlson, stepping in front of him and executing a crisp salute:
"Gunnery Sergeant Falkland, sir. I apologize for this Marine's behavior. It won't happen again."
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:33 pm
R.A.G.D.O.L.L UNIT X.2- SERIES 001
LOCATION:
PORTIA--Regency Hotel 47th floor[11b]
She had almost gotten to sleep...almost, but any chance of this IMPOSSIBLE thing happening on this planet would have been rare. The noise coming from the room down the hall was enough to drive any inexperienced person crazy, and with her senses heightened by the years of medical "treatment" that she had underwent during her cryostasis made everything hell for her. Dee contemplated flinging herself into the room and knocking out whoever started all the racket, but she was stopped by the sound of buzzing noise coming off her goggles; the screens lit up and a familiar face appeared.
"Dee! Are you there?"
It was the aging doctor, but something was wrong. The screen was fuzzy and blood dripped from the top of his wrinkled head to his neck. By now she had grabbed hold of the goggles and threw them over her eyes so that she was staring into the face of Nathaniel and in the background, Scott.
"Thank God you're alright! You two had me worri-"
"If you're watching this message then you know I haven't reached Portia---I'm sorry. T-The Insurrectionists! They overran the base! All the marines...the soldiers...I'm so very sorry.
There was a pause as the recorded image of the doctor turned his head to the side from where a loud banging noise could be heard.
"There isn't much time! I've updated your equipment via the computer and launched the project...I don't know what's going to happen to us now....
Her hands trembled and a few water drops fell from her eye sockets and landed on the screen.
"Please, Dee, just know that I lo-"
Numerous gunshots could be heard and the message ended. This was far too much for her to take in and she found herself slumping to the side of the bed after dropping the goggles solemnly on her pillow. What would she do now? The doctor, despite her better judgment and hopefulness, was dead, along with Scott, and besides those two she had no one. For a few moments she wallowed in self pity, and why wouldn't she? Everyone she had ever cared for was gone and she was alone in the middle of a war. This was a lot for a teenager, even someone such as herself, to carry on her shoulders.
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:20 pm
Alex salutes and walks off to shake the pain off. Yeah, I get in trouble because I get hurt, some people get up in ranks on accident.. As he walks the floor, Alex hears what seems to be a young woman crying for a brief moment and goes to investigate.
He walks around listening carefully and then he heard something from room 11b. He walks up to the door and knocks. "Hello?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:54 pm
R.A.G.D.O.L.L UNIT X.2- SERIES 001
LOCATION:
PORTIA--Regency Hotel 47th floor[11b]
At the first sound of knocking Dee immediately dried her eyes by use of her jacket sleeves and steadily pushed herself off of the ground. She was still in a daze from her grim discovery and was forced to stop just in front of the door, her hand already on the knob, to take a few deep breaths to calm herself. On the outside she was hoping for it to be anyone besides a superior officer for she would be ashamed to have them find her bawling like a baby, but deep down she wanted it to be; if it was and they scolded her for her behavior she would be forced to stop at once and that was exactly what she wanted. She didn't want to feel this anymore so, with high hopes, Dee turned the knob so that a fraction of her body was able to be seen through the entrance with just barely any of the room showing besides perhaps the back window or first few beds.
She peeked her head out and studied the marine that stood before her, a monotone expression played onto her face.
"Yes?"
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