Welcome to Gaia! ::

The Story So Far: The year is 2550, the Human-Covenant War has been going on for many years and billions of lives have been lost. The destroyer, "Liberty Evermore" has recently docked at the REACH Shipyards with a complement of Marines. The troops are Squad Delphi of the 16th Infantry Division, 173rd Armored Battalion, Bravo Company, and this will be their first combat experience. Shortly, they will be departing for Babylon V, and replace the company already on duty there.

Running on a parallel, Covenant researchers have recently discovered the location of a highly prized artifact, one which would greatly boost esteem, religious strength, and zealotry among their ranks. The coordinates coincide with the planet REACH, a human defense installment. Ships are now en route to REACH, prepared to retrieve this artifact, and then melt REACH till its surface is naught but glass.

Bravo Company is about to endure a life-altering situation which will thrust them into the heart of the Human-Covenant conflict. These soldiers, fresh and green, will experience perhaps the most grueling battlefield initiation thinkable....

Characters:

Profiles will be PMed to me. All posted will be ignored. Please request, if you wish to be something aside from a marine. Any information you may need, regarding the Marines and all other individuals within the UNSC (United Nations Space Command) can be found here.

Profiles are required in this format:
Username:
Name: (First and Last)
Age: (From Eighteen to Forty Years Old)
Gender: (Male or Female)
Rank: (List can be found here)
Position: (Team Leader, Heavy Weapons Specialist, Rifleman, Sniper, Tech, Medic, Pilot, and Armor.)
Height: Simple
Weight: Simple
Hair Color: Simple
Eye Color: Simple
Appearance: (A detailed description or a very good image. Make sure they don't stretch the page. Description is preferred.)
Bio: (A paragraph, at least.)
Weaponry: (See the list below. Only human weapons to start. Maximum of two weapons. Decisions should largely be centered around your position. Max of four grenades.)

Positions-

Team Leader- First in command, provides tactical leadership. Minimum age: Twenty-One. Minimum Rank: Sergeant
Heavy Weapons Specialist- Operates heavy weaponry, usually second in command. Minimum Age: Nineteen. Minimum Rank- Corporal
Rifleman- Carries Extra Ammo, most likely the lowest ranking member of the team. Often put on point. Minimum Rank- Private. Minimum Age- Eighteen
Sniper- Typically part of a partnership, these soldiers are rarely positioned within a squad. They are highly skilled in long-range battle, stealth movement, and reconnaissance. Minimum Age- Twenty. Minimum Rank- Lance Corporal
Tech- A professional hacker, can access most information including Covenant information, has translators, information, and radio gear. Minimum Age- Eighteen. Minimum Rank- Private First Class
Medic- Provides the "Health Insurance" For the team. Third highest ranking member. Minimum Age- Nineteen. Minimum Rank- Private
Pilot- The operator of airborne vehicles, such as the Pelican. Major focus of skills is with their equipment. Minor training with small firearms. Minimum Age- Twenty-one. Minimum Rank- Lance Corporal
Armor- The operator of ground-based vehicles, such as the Scorpion and Warthog. Also capable of performing maintenance checks on their equipment in the field. Minor training with small firearms. Minimum Age- Twenty-one. Minimum Rank- Lance Corporal.

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Accepted:
Username: Mr. Blackbird Lore
Name: Gregory "Griggs" Danes
Age: Twenty-two
Gender: Male
Rank: Gunnery Sergeant
Position: Team Leader
Height: 5'10
Weight: 170 lbs.
Hair Color: Dark brown
Eye Color: Green
Appearance: Caucasian skin tone, tinted by the extensive outdoor activity that occurred during his time in the military. He has a lean frame, his strength packed into tightly corded muscle.
Bio: Born and bred American, with a father in the military. By age ten, Gregory had dreams of joining the UNSCDF (UNSC Defense Forces) Marines. His father retired shortly after the beginning of the Human-Covenant War, but greatly encouraged his son. At seventeen, he joined the military with written permission from both parents. Determination and natural-born skill led Gregory through the rigorous training and grueling tests with beautiful marks. With his recent promotion to Gunnery Sergeant, he is now in command of his own squad for the first time, and like all the rest, it will be his first combat experience.
Weaponry: MA5B rifle, M6D pistol, and two standard grenades.
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VEHICLES


Human


* The M12 light reconnaissance vehicle (LRV), or Warthog, is the standard vehicle of the UEG armed forces. It is fast and maneuverable, but prone to rollovers during hard cornering. A three-barreled M41 machine-gun is mounted in the rear of the vehicle. Armed passengers will significantly increase the unit's anti-infantry capacity. There are several variants of the standard model including a stripped-down variant with extended passenger capacity, a variant that replaces the normal all-terrain wheels with tracks for traveling over snow and ice, one with a mounted gauss cannon instead of the M41, two versions with two different classes of rocket launchers replacing the M41, and a variant which replaces the M41 with an Ardent V missile rack. There is also an unarmed civilian model simply called the "Hog" which is available to civilians in varying color schemes. The M12 and all of it's variants are issued with a variety of features, including four-wheel drive, independent suspension on all wheels, emergency brakes, radio, radar, flood lights, a winch, and transmission which is available in automatic or manual. It is powered by a foward-housed low-profile hydrogen I/C plant. The hydrogen fuel is burned at very high temperature with a synthetic carbon/silicon catalyst to achieve even better fuel consumption.
* D77-TC "Pelican" Troop Carrier. The standard method of deploying troops from orbit to ground is the D77-TC "Pelican" Troop Carrier. The Pelican has a capacity of three crew (pilot, copilot, and flight engineer) and 10 passengers in it's rear bay (though it n accommodate five additional standing passengers in a crisis). It is equipped with electronic systems hardened against EMP; heavy armor; a 70mm "chin gun" controlled by a gunner and an IHADSS (Integrated Helmet and Display Sight System-essentially, wherever the gunner looks, the chin gun follows); rocket pods; jamming and detection gear; an onboard weapons locker (which can hold weapons and ammo for up to 30 troops); and computerized mapping gear.
* The Scorpion Main Battle Tank is primarily an anti-vehicle weapons platform, but it also has very high anti-infantry capabilities. Its ceramic-titanium armor makes it nearly invulnerable to small arms fire, but its deep dead-zone, or the area within which fire from the tank's guns cannot hit targets, puts it at risk from enemy anti-tank infantry. Up to four soldiers may ride on (and fire from) the Scorpion's track pods. Riding on a tank is always hazardous and should be done only when the advantages outweigh the risks. The Scorpion MBT's four track pods operate independently, and have their own range of movement. This helps considerably when crossing uneven terrain, and can even clear most large obstacles.



Covenant


* Ghost is a small, single-seat, ground-attack weapon. It is the Covenant's primary assault vehicle, equipped with dual plasma cannons capable of continuous rapid fire while boost is not engaged. It is typically piloted by an Elite, Brute, or Grunt, but it is also common, in an emergency, to see a Grunt taking control of the vehicle in the heat of battle. Provided the boost is not activated, the Ghost is able to mow down hordes of opponents with its plasma cannons at a high rate of fire. But with the boost activated, and moving at high speeds, it can act as a formidable battering ram, able to take down all but the strongest and most armoured enemies. The vehicle is lightly armed and armoured, but compensates for these shortcomings with increased speed and maneuverability. In addition to its already light armour, it provides no direct protection to the pilot. While this is certainly no problem for pilots possessing personal shielding, those without shields are very vulnerable to accurate assault and sniper rifle fire. Additionally, the same accurate small arms fire is capable of reaching the exposed, unshielded fuel tank. The impact of a handful of rounds directly onto the body of the tank is sufficient to detonate the container, throwing the pilot and wrecking the vehicle.
* Banshee . Acting as the Ghost's airborne companion, the Banshee functions as the primary airborne attack platform for the Covenant. It is also a small, single-seat fighter that is equipped with two primary plasma cannons as well as a fuel rod cannon. These multi-purpose weapons are capable of both engaging air and ground targets with precision and heavy firepower. While similarly armed, this platform is much more maneuverable than the Ghost. Not only can it operate in a third dimension, but it can also execute tactical maneuvers such as barrel rolls and flips allowing it to escape enemy fire, specifically the homing rockets used by UNSC personnel. Its amazing agility is thanks in part to the gravity-manipulation pods mounted on the ends of its rudimentary wings. These gravity pods are what leaves behind the Banshee's signature contrails. Combining the boost with the Banshee's outstanding maneuverability makes it an excellent platform for anti-infantry and anti-armor duty, even in the face of anti-air assets. Unfortunately, just as the Ghost's weapons are disabled while utilizing the boost function, the Banshee is unable to operate any of its weapon system mid-boost.
* Wraith Compensating where the lightly-armed Ghost lacks is the Wraith. The Wraith functions as the Covenant's main battle tank. The tank is a complete opposite of the UNSC Scorpion MBT. While its turret is not engineered to move independently of the base, its method of indirect fire allows the tank to lob highly damaging plasma projectiles very accurately.
While the vehicles slow gait makes it susceptible to enemy fire, its heavy-duty armour plating allows it to withstand multiple rocket launcher attacks. Its slow mobility is supplemented by a short burst of boost. Unfortunately, like many other Covenant vehicles, the weapons systems are deactivated while the boost system is engaged. This boost, while not adequate to avoid locked-on rockets, is more than sufficient to plow through nearly any defense and crush and soldiers or materiel in its path.
* Spirit Serving the Covenant's billet as an armoured personnel carrier, the Spirit is an airborne unit capable of dropping off several squads of Covenant ground forces of various types. Armed with a single defensive plasma cannon to provide cover fire, this vehicle deploys Covenant troops quickly and efficiently to hot-spots throughout a theater. In addition to carrying and deploying troops in the battlefield, the dropship also functions as a vehicle transport, more than capable of carrying Ghosts for heavy-weapons support of troops on the ground.

REACH. Perhaps humanity's most reliable and prepared defensive station, outfitted with all the latest equipment, and docking station for who knows how many ships. Among those ships was the Halcyon-class cruiser, Liberty Evermore, docking only briefly for a quick restocking of supplies and armaments. Aboard that ship was a company of soldiers, whom were being given free roam of the docking base during the restocking procedures. For Gregory Danes and the rest of his crew, whom were headed to Babylon V as replacements, this would be the first battlefield experience. On top of that, this would be his first time as a commanding officer, the leader of his own squad. He currently sat amongst the many weapons crates near the catwalk that led to his assigned vessel, awaiting the return of his soldiers in the hopes that he might get a chance to meet, greet, and befriend them.

With a cigarette in hand, he eyed the crowds of people steadily moving to and fro. It was so hectic, he often wondered how all these people knew what they were supposed to be doing and where they were supposed to go at all times; how did they all have a specific purpose? And then, of course, he remembered that not all of them did. Like himself, many were surely just on borrowed time, awaiting their next departure or assignment...

Sometimes he wondered why he ever signed up, why he ever agreed to become a Gunny...

How could he be entrusted with the lives of others? With a sigh and swirl of smoke he dismissed such doubts. Doubts only made him hesitant. Decisions required clear thoughts, and purposeful contemplation. He had to be fair-minded and above all, respectful of life. These would be people with families, friends, and admirers. To let them down would be... Well, he should not be given such power. Therefore, it would be best not to abuse such power...

"Why am I meddling with these thoughts?" he wondered aloud to no one. And then he slunk back into silence, a sullen look falling on his features. The line of thought was discontinued, and Danes resorted to playing a guessing game, trying to figure out what various tasks people were attempting to complete.

Danes stood quickly, his dog tags bouncing and jangling. He brought his cigarette toward his face, then paused eying it for a second, and lowered it once more. "Yes, yes I am. Gunnery Sergeant Danes, ma'am." He summed her up quickly, and noticed she had failed to address him properly. "Sergeant's good in enough in passing, but I did fail to hear you address me as sir. Discipline in my squadron will be just as rigorous as any other, and I almost regret having to remind you of your manners, Corporal. Please make sure I don't have to do this in the future." He looked away and took a quick drag, exhaling away from Davis's face. He wasn't an obnoxious man by any means, and was certainly not going to disrespect his own squad mates. "Position, Corporal?"

Danes redirected his gaze now to Isaac. Thank God this man wasn't a ditz. He had heard many a bad rumor about the Heavies from other commanders, and the one in his previous squad had certainly not deviated from them. That this man had heard, and thought it intelligent to add all the information Ms. Davis missed was a sign of a good Heavy. Gregory gave a nod and salute, albeit one lacking most if not all formality. "Good to have you here, Corporal, and it's good to see signs of a competent Heavy. The only ones I've ever seen were, for lack of a better phrase, clumsy orcs." He nodded again and finished off his cigarette, stamping it out with his boot. "Glad to see my team beginning to assemble." He looked around now, curious if any others were nearby, and if they were listening. Many could take note on how Isaac handled himself. It was the proper way to address a squad leader.

((New rule. Twilight, you have been warned. And please do provide a new link. It is not working for me either.))

Danes nodded briefly in acknowledgment to the new arrival, and raised one finger. "Just a moment." Refocusing on Isaac, he issued another nod. "Permission granted, Corporal. Permission to speak freely is granted to everyone, so long as you do not interrupt one another. Interrupting me will put you on my black list." He reached habitually to his back pocket and pulled out the Sergeant cap, and tucked it on his head. It was a comfort to have it back on. "Go on, Corporal." This level of formality was quite nice, and Gregory found himself surprisingly comfortable with it all. There was a good chance, he thought, that this would become normal, if not habitual for him.

Perhaps this won't be so bad...