XCAS Roleplay 2

[Ghost]

<<Previous roleplay thread - DH, 12 Dec 2003>>

 

<<Starting a new XCAS roleplay thread on DHs request, sorry Snake but unfortunately the setting is a little different from your post, as you're not on NAO The original thread (XCAS Roleplay) will be locked when DH gets back on, so it would be best to resume your roleplay here>>

 

The transport carrying the X-Com troops doesn't leave the planet to take them back to NAO as they had expected, in stead it flies over the city and lands at a tall office building. A small group of Ascidian escorts is waiting as the transports touch down, as well as a tall human. As the transport landed and the hatch opened, Lieutenant Dmitri Schmerjchanikov stepped forward from the Ascidian escorts to meet the X-Com troops as they disembark.

"Greetings everyone, and welcome to your new home for a little while. While you succeeded in fighting off the aliens attacking the area you were in, there are quite some more threats in the city," gesturing with his hand to distant smoke plumes, and an occasional explosion, "And the Ascidian High Council ordered to station you here, as it would take far too long to have you fly in from NAO all the time. So you will be staying in the base we've been staying in for the past time, welcome to what is known as 'Strike Base 1'."

Noticing the somewhat awkward glances at the building, as well as the armed Ascidian escorts.

"Oh the base is below the city if you were wondering about that, it is underground, hidden from general sight, as it is a base for the Ascidian Spec Ops division, so you understand they'd rather not have people find this place, wouldn't want..." Ghost gets interrupted by the transport taking off as soon as all X-Com troopers are outside.

"Wouldn't want the hostiles to find and attack our base of operations I was going to say. As for our friends here," gesturing at the Ascidians. "The one on your left would be Ambassador Vash'uda'rus, who has been coordinating our missions and commands the group of Spec Ops teams among which Kappa Team is operating. On his right would be Squad Command Gra'lin'tus, he is the team leader of the Ascidian squad we often work with. Now let's get inside and down to the base, it's getting rather windy up here, and we wouldn't want to get hit by any stray bombs now would we?" Ghost grins slightly and gestures towards the elevator, after which the team and the Ascidians move over to the large elevator, which can easily accomodate the entire team at once.

 

The doors close, and the elevator starts to move down to Strike Base 1.

[DragonHawk]

Strike Base 1, 24 June 2067

 

"AAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

 

Ko's yell of frustration filled the hospital ward. Rage was the only thing in his mind now. "F***ing chrysalid," he muttered.

 

The three other occupants in the room watched him. The Ascidian doctor was quite impassive... He had seen the scene before, all too often, almost months ago. Ong, on the other hand, had seen it before, but still found it amusing. In fact, he was on the verge of breaking out into a fit of laughter. Stone though, was between the two extremes, looking torn between offering support, telling Ko to shut up, and whacking Ong on the head.

 

"Out of bloody no-where... the bastard"

 

"Come now, it wasn't that bad," Stone murmurred. "Don't worry, with Alpha coming here, they'll be able to keep the pressure on the API... We know they're close to collapsing, they must be."

 

"Yeah, besides, we'll take care of things... we'll take care of you, little boy..." Ong howled with laughter. Enraged curses started to flow from Ko's mouth.

 

"Geez, Kevin" Stone delivered a swift kick towards Ong's thigh, but Ong was more than prepared and blocked it easily. "Will you shut up?" Stone was grinning still though, even as she pushed Kevin and the doctor out of the room. "He needs his peace and quiet, so you bugger off. Later Derrick"

 

With noone to yell at, Ko slumped back in the bed. The medical ward of the base was very clean, of course, but it was a bloody prison. It was disturbing. Kappa Team was going to spend a few days recuprating before heading off to Yurilis... If they could get the authorization. That was going to be the tricky part.

 

Even trickier, they would be leaving without him! Ridiculous! He would be sitting back, nice and safe, on Ascidia while his teammates did the real work. What was this world coming to?

 

Resigning himself to his fate, Ko leaned back and stared at the ceiling. Short of that, there wasn't anything else to do.

[Ghost]

Having kicked Ong out of the sickbay where Ko was sitting, Kaitlinn decided to go see how the others were doing, it had after all been almost a month since she'd seen all of them, and Ghost had informed her they would be staying in the Strike Base, so she decided to go look them up. Inquiring with a few Ascidians she came across while wandering around the base, she eventually found them just as Ghost and Vash'uda'rus were showing them their rooms. As the Strike Base wasn't that large, and Ascidians weren't really familiar with the male/female concept yet, they had arranged for all terrans to have bunk beds (fortunately built in terran size) in one large room.

She quietly moved to join in at the back of the group as they entered the room, trying to see if she can make one or some of them jump by suddenly appearing in their midst. Ghost, who spotted her joining the group as he was facing them while they got in, grinned barely visibly, at her.

 

Vash'uda'rus was talking to the team about their assigned quarters and the missions they were to undertake.

"... and while the Starspawn are attacking the capital, this will be your sleeping quarters. This area of the base is heavily protected against collapse and destruction from outside attacks. Also it's communications are shielded from people trying to eavesdrop, and the exact location from the base is only known to a select few people. You have clearance to move around all over the base, except the CCC, the Command and Communications Center. This area is restricted except if I grant you the clearance to do so. Your stay here will be until we manage to root out the source of the attacks on our city here, so hopefully your stay here will be short but fruitful."

 

With those words Vash'uda'rus bowed slightly at the team and left, to let the team get their rest, and chat up a bit with their friends, or to wander about the base if they want to.

[ShadowBlade]

(30 minutes before departing to the mission, the sim of September 14th)

 

Jonathan was reading in his bedroom. He eventually got thirsty, so he programmed the drinks dispenser to produce a nice terran Coke. After drinking and reading for a couple of minutes, he felt a strong stomach ache. Jon immediately raced to the bathroom, where he quickly slammed the door once he was inside and relieved himself on the toilet.

 

Once he finished, he walked up to the lavatory, and when he wanted to use it to wash his hands, found out that it mysteriously wasn't working. Then he heard a *click* coming from the bathroom's door. Jonathan quickly run up to it and realized it was now locked.

 

"Damn it! Who's the smartie behind this prank?! Open the door, NOW" -Jon shouted angrily, slamming the door.

 

After banging the locked door for some time, he heard the Avenger's thrusters' sound coming from the hangar. Jonathan resumed slamming the door, now even harder.

 

"NO! Lemme out! I don't wanna miss the fun! GUYS"

[Strong Bob]

Xiggores was sitting down in a wheelchair in the lab at NAO. Things were pretty quiet in the past few days since Commander Weindhoven took a team over to Ascidia. He was alone at the moment, the rest of the science staff was off doing something else leaving him behind to hold down the fort. A mess of papers were strewn about on the table in front of him, the most notable ones were two of them, right up front. One was an unfinished sketch of the Avenger Laser Aft Mounted Gun placements, the other was a picture of an old Sci Fi spaceship that seemed to have a similar design for it's weapons as the LAG. Xiggores was jotting down notes and scribbling out others on the LAG paper, he was a bit anxious after having his whole foot bitten off by a Dinosaur and miraculously reattached by Doctor Yorke not long afterwards, and he nearly ripped the paper from the pressure of his pen.

 

Xiggores: *Sigh* (Muttering to himself) If the targeting computer could compensate for the gun angles... It could solve the problem of shooting horizontally where the gunner can't see, saving ammo and nullifying the possibility of hitting something they don't want to. (Crosses out something on the paper and adds a firing arc on the two laser guns) If that's done like that, then an arc where both guns fire is needed. Can't have a blind spot in the dead rear...

 

After a few minutes of jotting down notes and scribbling little sketches, Xiggores suddenly stopped and looked down at the paper. It looked like a complete mess, but Xiggores had an excited look on his face.

 

Xiggores: Finished... Haha! I've done it and finished what the rest of the science team couldn't do in the course of a month! (Picks up the sketch paper looking at it admiringly.) I just need to get this to Rallwell and McBannok and we're good to go! Heh heh...

 

Xiggores wheeled himself away from the table, carrying the paper with him, and was about to leave for Engineering when suddenly the door opened and Joseph Scott walked in. Xiggores was surpised at first as the Corporal came in and threw a backpack at his feet.

 

Scott: Pack bags, go out door. Kacur's just ordered a bunch of us to regroup with the team on Ascidia. Apparently they stayed behind and are in need of reinforcements down there. Atzel and I will be taking everyone out of here with the Avenger.

 

Scott stood there a moment to make sure Xiggores followed his orders. But instead of obeying the command, Xiggores wheeled a few feet back in shock.

 

Xiggores: Wha... What!? Another mission? Oh no... The last time I went on one of your damn missions I nearly lost my foot forever! I was brought into the X-COM science division for research and development, not combat! Find someone else!

 

Scott: No can do nerd. Kacur made the order for everyone to go. He says not all of us will likely be put on the front, but everyone still must go. Now pack up!

 

Scott placed his hands on his hips, a little amused at Xiggores resistance.

 

Xiggores: Never! The Commander said the same thing about the mining mission, and we were attacked by bloody DINOSAURS! Besides, I need to uh... Finish the designs on the LAG for the Avenger! Yeah, it will take at least another couple of days before I can even finish these blueprints! (Points at the clutter of papers on the table.)

 

Scott gave Xiggores a suspicious eye and moved over to the table. He picked up the picture of the Sci Fi vehicle and gave it a serious, yet somewhat humorous, stare.

 

Scott: Xiggy, this doesn't look like the Avenger. It's a freakin' fancy looking 'C' with a cockpit on the side.

 

Xiggores: (Wheeling himself back to the table.) That, my friend! (Takes the paper away from Scott.) Is the Millenium Falcon! It's a spaceship from an excellent and very classic movie from the late 20th century, and if it wasn't for the inspiration from that, I wouldn't have finished the LAG... so... soon... D'oh!

 

Scott: Oh! So it IS finished then! (Moves behind Xiggores and grabs the handles to his wheelchair, turning him around for the door.) Now let's get us to the armory so we can get you suited up for departure.

 

Xiggores: No! I refuse! Let me go!

 

Xiggores struggled a bit and fell out of his wheelchair, but still hung onto the side with his left hand. Scott continued pulling the chair towards the door bringing the screaming and yelling Private with it. He was only a few feet from the door when it opened again and Sergeant Howardson came walking in.

 

Howardson: What the hell is going on in here!?

 

Xiggores: This savage wants me to get killed!

 

Scott: Ugh... Lieutenant Kacur ordered me to take him with us to Ascidia. I was merely enforcing that order, sir.

 

Howardson: Yeah? Well you need to work on your command strategy a bit more Corporal. Dragging the Privates around is not how we do things here.

 

Howardson looked back to Xiggores, as the young Private moved himself back into the wheelchair and wheeled himself the hell away from Scott.

 

Howardson: Private, is there something you need to do here?

 

Xiggores: (Thinking quickly, blurts out the first project he could think of.) The enhanced Heavy Weapon Artificial Intelligence sir! We will really need it if there are more missions like the last one.

 

Howardson: Fine then, you're staying here today to start that project.

 

Xiggores: Yes sir!

 

Xiggores smirked with glee and wheeled himself over to pick up the LAG sketch he dropped when he fell.

 

Howardson: Scott, get prepped up and get in the Avenger at 13.00. We'll leave then. And please leave the scientists and engineers alone from now on...

 

Scott: (Lying.) Aye sir.

 

Howardson left, but Scott stayed behind a little longer and turned to Xiggores to speak.

 

Scott: Sorry about that Xig. I've been a little on edge lately, especially with Kacur's naive command of late. But really, you need to expect to be assigned to unexpected missions at times like this. We don't have much resources readily available and you may get called to duty in the most unfavorable circumstance...

 

Without saying a word, nor allowing one from Xiggores, Scott turned back and started out of the Lab.

 

Scott: Now, I've gotta find Private Goorit. I haven't seen the guy since Dick Weindhoven left for Ascidia. He's probably just slacking off in his quarters though.

 

Xiggores made a big smile at Scott's last comment just as he left the Lab.

 

Xiggores: (Speaking to himself.) Really Scott? I had no idea he hasn't been around!

 

Xiggores glanced over at his personal work desk in the corner. On it was a tool kit and a bottle of laxative.

 

Xiggores: Call me a wuss will you Shadow? Heh heh.

 

He folded up the plans for the LAG and wheeled himself out of the Lab for Engineering, hoping Rallwell was still there so he could give her the blueprints.

[Loonie]

<<Okay. As Kacur is returning along with the ones not present last Sunday I am therefore going to make the post as to how all of us arrive to the base on Ascadia. >>

 

Martin idly swung his legs whilst sitting on the co-pilot seat of an Ascadian shuttle that was just now heading towards the homeworld. One nice things about ascadian seats was that they were much bigger than human size and therefore one could swing his legs in mid air very pleasantly.

 

It was quite relaxing for Martin considering that he had been just taken out of his vacation time prematurely due to the Commander apparently ending up in a bad situation, not to mention Ascadia itself coming under attack from the API. Usually he wasn't like this. Usually he'd think of other people before himself, how they must be doing and how they must be feeling. But this time he felt very angry for being called out of his vacation time just like this and having to deal with his squad again.

 

"Then again what is this squad of mine anyway? The only ones I can really rely on happen to be the 3 other people with which I've made friends during the months when I was still a Private. Atzel and Ilyuschenko seem to be on and off ocassionally and are having a leave of absence themselves, Fleche is as she is - and unfortunately I can't really deal with her at this moment. And then there's Scott of course...GOD"

 

Usually Martin would try and find some kind of higher meaning for fate having delivered such a piss-pot like Scott into his path but this time he didn't feel like searching for one. "Naive Lieutenant my ass" he thought to himself. "You want to be a goddamn cutthroat who likes killing then go ahead and be a machine that doesn't care about life at all. But not as long as you're under my command. Never..."

 

He noticed as the planet of Ascadia was coming into view and also noticed that the shuttle was following behind quite a familiar ship by now. The X-Com Avenger. Aboard it was his 'squad' and he reluctantly contemplated how it'd handle this time...what stupidity will it preform this time to outdo its last...he wasn't thinking exactly positive about things but then again he didn't really feel like it at the time...

 

As the shuttle followed behind the Avenger to the docking bay of X-Com's new base and set down on the tarmac the Ascadian pilot nudged Martin slightly: "Uh...Lieutenant. We be here."

 

"Hmph? Oh...thanks..." said Martin in reply and left out of the back together with his gear being held over his shoulder. He then turned over to the Avenger's landing ramp which began descending slowly and awaited to greet the soldiers on board, though cringing quite a bit at the prospect of having to deal with them yet again.

 

<<Heheh, well now you know what kind of mood Martin is in. Note: This thing takes place BEFORE the sim that took place this Saturday. Meaning that after your responses I will post another thing here that will take place AFTER the Saturday mission. Right now just post about how you met Martin Kacur and got settled down in this new base, yadda yadda. After that I'll make another post about the results of the mission on Saturday >>

[DragonHawk]

JOINT POST - Cpl. SCOTT and L.Cpl. KO

 

VTOL Transport 3, in orbit above API Base, 28 June 2067

 

Lance Corporal Derrick Ko was in a fairly surly mood that day. The day before, Kappa and Rho Teams had departed for Yurilis V to rescue Colonel Cyriacus and retrieve the UGS Patton. Ko thought the whole mission was unfortunate - not that he had anything against the Colonel or the Patton, but in that he wasn't going. Selfish, selfish, the intellectual part of himself thought. Stuff it, thought the emotional one.

 

Fu'nik'a, a military investigator, was watching the scene with him. "Incoming in thirty seconds," Fu'nik'a yelled over the roar of the lateral and vertical VTOL thrusters. Ko nodded back easily, and looked down. Fu'nik'a had been an interesting conversationalist, and a good person to practice Ascidian with.

 

Thirty seconds later, the barrage hit. A wave of explosions hit the front wall as the 15th's artillery fire rained down, easily toppling the wall. With a surge, the 15th's infantry battalions rushed forward, covered by four armoured companies, into the base. It was a huge expense of ammunition, but the green 15th needed some experience, and this was readily available.

 

"15th Commander, area is secure."

 

"This is 10th Bomber Wing. We are returning to base."

 

Ko's commlink was tuned to a number of channels - the Ascidian command channel and the X-Com channel amongst them. The X-Com channel had been somewhat depressing, if it weren't already so predictable. Lieutenant Kacur and Corporal Scott had been at it again. Both were at least pseudo-functional soldiers, if it weren't for the fact that they both were ego-cases. Then again, thought Ko, I should hardly be the one to be talking about THAT.

 

"Congratulations, Colonel. Wire a message down to the commander of the 8th Royal, if he's still alive. Let him know that his options are surrender or the gassing of the cavern system. If he does not issue a surrender order in two hours, eliminate the cavern." Ko spoke quietly into the communicator, with Fu'nik'a looking over in some concern.

 

"Who is this? I am not authorized to do anything of the sort." The Colonel's confused voice came over the commnet.

 

"I am Derrick Ko, envoy of Sub-Director Vash'uda'rus of Special Operations. I am authorized to order such a bargain to be made, and for such an attack to progress. We cannot allow these transgressors to escape."

 

A pause was heard over the line, as the Colonel conferred with his subordinates. "Very well, Envoy. We shall do such. Praise to the Emperor."

 

"Praise to the Emperor, Colonel. Report back to me, on surrender or in two hours, whichever is first." Ko looked at Fu'nik'a, but made no comment.

 

Kacur was doing something down there... Scott was under arrest. Ko shook his head and stood, walking up to the cockpit of the VTOL. There, both the pilot and the co-pilot were wearing their in-flight comm headsets. Cursing mildly, Ko reached out and took a pair of them from the rack at the front of the ship.

 

"Bring this bird down please," Ko said.

 

"Acknowledged, Warrior." The pilot affirmed the order and started to angle the craft in for grounding.

 

"Come, we are tking you to our VTOL fortransport back. You will accompany our advisor and wounded back to base." The voice of one of the special ops team commanders floated through Team 1's battle comm.

 

"Squad commander, this is Lance Corporal Ko. I'm coming down to take possession of Corporal Joseph Scott. Keep him in the courtyard until my arrival. And good work, as well."

 

"My thanks, Lance Corporal. I saw that Lieutenant Unpronouncible and his team have left... are you no longer on it? Have they decided that you must be taken care of, safe at base, while real warriors fight?" Loud laughter broke through the channel as the various operatives guffawed.

 

Ko grinned slightly and looked ruefully at Fu'nik'a, who looked amused by the banter. "Unfortunately yes, Squad Commander. I'm unfit for real duty, so instead command has graciously allowed me to perform some minor, feeble duty... like overseeing your squad." As curses started to come over the battle frequency, Ko switched out to another one. "Our races are not so different," he said to Fu'nik'a.

 

Fu'nik'a nodded. "Not much, in the grand sense of things. Methods may differ slightly, perhaps, but that is really all."

 

The Transport touched down easily in the courtyard. None of the Alpha Squad members could be seen, except for the somewhat irritated looking Corporal Scott. Strike Team 1 brought the Corporal over.

 

Frustratedly, Scott moves away from the Strike team members. "I can move on my own! Thank you very much..." Scott sees Ko aboard the VTOL. "Ko? What the hell are you doing here?"

 

"Welcome to my ride for the day, Corporal." Ko called for the VTOL to lift again, and the pilots complied. "Rough day?"

 

Scott gives Ko a disgusted look. "I've had significantly better..."

 

"Don't look so dour. You know what you did, you know the implications it carries. If you get off with time in the brig, then you'll be supremely lucky, because the Commander could have you shot, and it would be his right. Now, tell me, why?"

 

"Would you like to know why? Kacur felt it was a good idea to clock me one in face after beating a downed API. I can see how he'd be bothered by that, but his brutal attack was unneseccary and I reacted accordingly... Unfortunatly I lost my temper and pulled a gun on him..." Scott looks away with a slight look of regret. "But the lieutenant threw the first punch, he therefore started the controversy and is responsible"

 

Ko looked rather impassively at Scott. "It's not the best defence, maybe you'll get off with being re-frozen." The craft flew south towards the airport. "You've got some issues, Scott. Whether they are personal, discipline, or whatever is not the issue. I expect better from you." That he expected better from Kacur too was probably not something he should say at the moment, thought Ko briefly. "Are we soldiers, Corporal?"

 

"Soldiers... Sometimes I wonder. For a while there, Alpha team was a group of miners." Scott smiles to self briefly. "Sometimes I even wonder what the hell happened to the squad since I got here. It's as if things just progressively got worse in command. Weindhoven is practically senile, Kacur's either irrational or naive... Are we soldiers Ko?"

 

"Good reply, but it lacks... pep, for lack of a better word. Or maybe something else. I'm not here to see insubordination marks on your record, I didn't sign up for this crap. Why are you here?"

 

Ko sat back to listen, as the VTOL flew into the brightening morning.

[knight_of_the_ravens]

Cal was pretty tired....the excitement of being on his first mission had left him. He has been meditating for an hour now (or at least trying to) but the thoughts of the day's incident were still freshly burned into his head...

 

"Why did'nt i see it coming? Why?"he said to himself..."dammit....if i'd have paid attention to Scott's brainwaves...i probably could've stopped him...now the bastard is in trouble...why the hell did I not pull his ass outta this?"

 

Scott had been arrested for the charge of striking a superior officer, Cal had to pull him off of Kacur before he could try to do more damage, but Scott still managed to pull a trigger a couple of times at the Lt...."Damn....they're probably gonna hang his ass for this."

 

"C'mon...you should be satisfied for today...it was your first mission, and you lived, and probably killed a few of those bastards...and look at you now...pissing and moaning because you could'nt help out a fellow comrad from making a big mistake" He thought.

 

"Well....the Cpl. was right in a way....i mean....those bastards don't deserve any mercy....just cause he kicked one while it was down....and Kacur should'nt have gone as far as striking him for it...now THAT was uncalled for...hell...if it was me...I'd have probably reacted the same way the Cpl. did....screw it...i'm not taking sides in this."

 

He was sitting on his knees, still trying to just let it go and meditate...but the thoughts just kept distracting him..."But the Cpl. should'nt have shot at him...I mean, that is a pretty severe sentence right there if Kacur pushes on it....could mean death....I dunno.....I've heard rumors of them getting at eachother before....mabey the Lt. will let him go again.." He opened his eyes, stood up and began pacing back and forth, deep in thought."Scott said that they were one of the main problems for much of the suffering...I did'nt agree at first...but it is starting to make good sence"

 

Cal's childhood had been pretty screwed....lived as an orphan while he was 14, but because he was known for some weird type of "demon possession" so they called it, he was adopted into a convent where they tried to excorsize the "demon" out...stupid nuns...they did'nt understand that he was just another kid with the ability to feel and study brainwaves...it's what got him so interested in becoming a psionisist when he first applied to X-COM...now at the age of twenty one, he was finally thawed and is on active duty...the second war had ended when he was still young, but he wanted to join anyway to help in what they called the mop up...he did'nt realiize that the mop up was already near its completion...so he volenteered for cryogenic freezing...hell...he already had a hard time getting in because of the organization hardly even being needed anymore....so he figured he'd wait till next time....but even after being thawed, he was still green as hell...

 

"Dad....I'm doing it now are'nt I?...Am I making you proud? Would Mom like this?" His dad was in the organization when AW-II was going on...A high ranking aquanaut...and his mother was a scientist who worked in the underwater labs....but a base invasion happened and his dad was injured...and his mother's evac ship was destroyed on it's way out of the base, for all noncombat personel were to be out when an extermination team was to "clean" the invaders out...when his father found out of this...it broke him....he was crushed....he wanted vengance,

and they had recently discovered T'Leth...but his injuries kept him from going on the final mission. Angry because he could not avenge his wife...he killed himself...and he did it with his own side arm.

 

His father had always told him, "Dont ever let somebody back you into a corner...and don't ever take shit from anybody, even your superiors."

Cal used to love hearing the stories of his grandparents....though he never met them,or does'nt remember if he did, he was always interested in their lives...

They were in the first war....his grandfather was a highly decorated officer, and his grandmother, an expert in psionics....but one mission ended badly. An alien craft had been shot down, and they were sent into the recovery mission...it was a large supply ship full of what they called "floaters"....Cal had seen pictures...but never saw one up close....the crash happened in the desert and the sun was out to it's fullest extent...Cal's grandfather had led a team of six men to raid the UFO, while his grandmother stayed in the ship with two other soldiers to provide psionic assistance...

 

The mission came to a bad turn as the seven "raiders" were ambushed while crossing a dune...and three men were shot dead before they new what hit them...

Cal's grandfather called for a retreat back to the sky ranger...but when they returned, they saw four "floaters" firing at the ship from over twenty meters away...they took out the "floaters" with upclose rifle fire and ran to the sky ranger...only to find his wife shot to death by pistol plasma...only one of her protectors had lived also, but was badly injured with a severed leg from a direct hit with a plasma rifle...5 out of 10 men died within a matter of ten minutes...

 

They decided to leave the area and had an air strike team bomb the supply ship

and napalm a perimeter around it to prevent escape...they did'nt care for its resources at that point....a month after the incident, Cal's grandfather went nuts and exploded himself "accidently so they say" with a grenade in his own bunk....nobody was there to see it happen....

 

Cal sat down with a worried look on his face...he was worried about what was going to happen to Cpl. Scott...still kicking himself for not paying attention to Scott's brainwaves..."God...I so could've prevented it" he decided to let it go for now and laid down....dosing off into sleep....though he could feel the brainwaves of the people walking around...he did'nt care to listen to them this time......he finally felt exausted from the day's operation...

[Ghost]

<<moving the time ahead for a few hours, at least until the morning of the day after the mission, possibly later on the day, depending on how long after Alpha squad, Kappa team returns from it's mission. DH, any comments? Anyway, feel free to rewind to join in with Raven's post or other things happening right after your return to Strike Base 1, or of course to join up on my post>>

 

Corporal Kaitlin Stone exited the briefing room, where she'd just finished debriefing the mission with Sergeant Ong while Ghost was off helping out with getting Brain to sickbay and everything arranged regarding the Patton which was now orbiting Ascidia. Strike Base 1 didn't have a large enough hangar to be able to house a ship of that size.

 

As usual, Ong had been somewhat of a clown during the debrief, which irritated her greatly. Doesn't that guy ever learn? She headed for the Base's training facilities, as she just had to get her irritation out of her system, but first she went to the personnel quarters. As she entered the room where all of the X-Com troopers were residing, she moved over to her bunk. Taking off her combat clothes, she got into something a little more comfortable and suitable for training or working out. After she finished changing, she grabbed her bo <<2 handed martial arts staff weapon (no that isn't me on the pic, just a random one found with Google )for those unfamiliar with it>>, she noticed one of the new privates sitting on his bed, looking rather lost in thought. 'He must've been defrosted while we were here on Ascidia', she thought. With her staff still in hand she moved over towards him, and extended her hand at him.

 

"Hey there, I don't believe we've met yet. I'm Kaitlin Stone, or Fox, whichever you prefer."

 

He looked up at her, a little surprised as he hadn't heard her entry, and he had been too lost in thought to sense her. He accepted the extended hand and shook it.

 

"Oh hi there. I'm Calvin Chavez, or Raven. Yes, I suppose we haven't met yet, I'm new to the team. Well newly defrosted actually."

 

Faintly smiling Stone nodded, "Yes, I figured as much. Not that many humans around in this part of the galaxy. Say, you looked rather lost in thought there. I'm about to go do some training." At the mention of the word training, she spins her bo around in her hand once. The balance of it is still good. Not that she doesn't believe the Ascidian training equipment would be less, but she just prefers to use her own. "That usually helps clear up my mind when something is bothering me. You should give it a shot. It looked like you might be able to use it."

[Loonie]

<<You guys managed to rescue Brain?! Oh you dimwits!! Now it'll be barf bags for everyone again as a standard issue when flying. But seriously I thought it was agreed on something else about him...but then again it could still be implemented. Meh...what do I care. Just poking my nose as usual.

 

Angst ensues. Angst! Angst! ANGST!!! :o >>

 

Martin took a look at the whole scene inside the main hallway of the API base before he would leave it forever. He had been here all day long overseeing the recovery operations whilst the others could already go home a long long time ago and right now it wasn't really helping his temper. He was now more irritated than ever. The mission went very well actually were it not for the 'incident' that occured. Now he would have to give a pep talk to that arrogant prick of a scout soon and it would most CERTAINLY hurt him just as much as it'll hurt Scott. One thing was for sure though - Scott was out of the team - at the very LEAST until this operation is over. First on the recon mission and now here...and before piloting the Avenger not according to mission plans always...and before about rushing ahead of the team...and before about another completely unwarranted assault on Kacur yet again. The only time that Scott assaulted Kacur and he couldn't really blame him was when Martin deliberately provoked him in the API dream machine, thus preparing him for when they would escape.

 

Other than that however Scott has been a nuisance since day 1 when he got defrosted. Occasionally he'd shine but ultimately that would be so rare and seldom that he'd always screw things over more than he'd fix them. And now he would have to deal with him on this. Martin thought about just putting a bullet through his head so that he'd just get some freaking peace, but he dismissed that thought quickly. He might not have been in a good mood, but by gum he decided he would get Scott straight even if it got Martin killed in the process. Never had he failed with a person he really cared about before in his life and he sure as hell wasn't going to give up on Scott.

 

********Later that day*********

 

Martin walked past some of the X-Com troops, all of which gave him strange looks again. It's not like he wasn't used to them. He got them when his "third eye" was uncovered and also later on too when it began glowing as he used psionics. But now it didn't bother him one bit at all. He just didn't care about the others that much anymore. All he cared about was Scott really.

 

"You really are a total idiot you know? Ignoring all the other good people and focusing your care on a self-centered spoiled buffoon instead." told him his logical side. The emotional side quickly responded: "Yeah...but they'll understand. The others are good enough people to understand if I cut off my care for them momentarily. Just long enough so as to help out Scott..."

 

Of course Martin himself as a person didn't really feel like he wanted to help Scott, but he knew that ultimately he did desire it. He saw something in Scott, but he didn't know what. In any event it was enough for him to do the utmost to break Scott into the team and get his rebellious nature straightened out. Not "corrected" but guided so that it wouldn't screw other people and Ascidians over.

 

He noticed the detention room as he passed it. For a moment he considered if he should go sit down in his room and relax a bit so that he'd be more rational and that he could be more focused when dealing with Scott...

 

"No! That would NOT help him! You tried it the soft way before time and TIME again but he just won't listen. So now you might as well give him the hard way and it sure as HECK won't be hard if you're rational. You're too nice then. Go in now when you're pissed off! If you don't you might hate yourself later over it one day that you didn't take advantage of your feelings right now. Enter the room now and give him a peice of your mind the way YOU want it for just once, instead of the way that others want it. Go in and straighten him out once and for all so you can finnaly get some peace."

 

And so he did...

 

<<and more angst is yet to follow >>

[Strong Bob]

<<Sorry I'm late with this, little too much happening in the world of "Personal Life".>>

 

JOINT POST - Cpl. SCOTT and L.Cpl. KO

 

As Ko asked his question, Scott turned away a moment and sat down in the back of the VTOL. Removing his helmet, still stained with Ascadian feces, he looked back up at Ko with doubt in his eyes.

 

Scott: Why I'm here Ko... Actually the reasons have changed since I've been unfrozen. The first few days I spent out here, I wouldn't have hesitated if the opportunity arose to go back home. I saw no point in staying here, until my fourth melee... Aboard the Alien Mothership. Seeing the Alien strength in bulk like that, how they destroyed an entire Trafalgar cruiser in a single shot... I realized what they were, and I had a patriotic sense to stop them. After all, once they're done with Ascidia, it won't be long until they're back on Earth.

 

Ko looked out the window a moment and sat down across from Scott, looking back at him again.

 

Scott: But since then... There's only been one mission I attended that had anything to do with them. Ever since it's been nothing but the Black Spear or API Ascadians. And the war with them isn't limited to shooting and fighting, they've violated my mind... My body. (Strokes chest, feeling the XJB scars from beneath the armor.) So far, I think I've seen more evil in them than I have in the aliens... I-I've lost all ambition to help the Ascadians in this war.

 

Ko: If you hate the Gits so much, I ask again. Why are you here, Corporal?

 

Scott wiped some sweat off his forehead and chuckled. Somehow he couldn't let go of the depth of crap he was in now, and beheld the irony of what his armor was covered in.

 

Scott: I don't... I don't think I know anymore...

 

Ko smiled, the emotions warring between grim reality and trying to offer support. "Maybe it's better for you to go back into cryo, Corporal. You obviously don't want to be here. I'd rather not see you go; you're a fine technical soldier, but you're here too much for yourself. It's starting to hurt the team, from what I can see, and here, the team MUST come first. This racism is becoming dangerous for all parties involved. But you want to kill an Ascidian Warrior? Really? You want to kill an ally, someone on whom our existance depends? I'll give you an opportunity. You can kill me."

 

Ko pulled his automatic .45 out of his holster and proffered it to Scott. "An excellent opportunity. You can take out all your rage, all your frustration, on one who's dedicated to the Ascidian military. But, when you pull the trigger, remember that this Ascidian is fighting not only for them, but for you and others like you, people who would rather expend their energy on hate, without wanting or receiving any thanks. Being a soldier is about serving, and I am here to serve the team in any way I can, dead or alive. So, you want to collapse to selfishness? Go ahead." Ko looked down at the gun and back up at Scott.

 

Scott stared dumbfoundedly at the heavy automatic pistol. "Don't be ridiculous. You're human."

 

"Am I?" Ko's eyes turned cold. "You should ask Kevin or Kacur. They might tell you otherwise. We volunteered our freedom to buy everyone time, but remember that Ghost, Saber, Fox, and myself are NOT X-Com now. You're only getting this offer one more time."

 

"I'm not taking it." Scott's face was defiant, but his eyes spoke of an inner-tiredness that no sleep could expunge. "I'm not going to shoot you or anyone in cold blood."

 

Ko leaned forward as he put his pistol away. The VTOL was descending to the airport now, and Ko could see the intercontinental jets waiting. "You think you don't have a choice. You do. You can choose to run away. If you think you can't handle it, I want you to go to Weindhoven's office and ask to be returned to cryo. If you're still in, then you will serve, as is your duty to your teammates."

 

The VTOL touched down gently and Fu'nik'a hopped out immediately. Ko stood and looked at Scott. "I'm sure I can trust you to stay put until the rest of the team arrive. Remember what I said. We're not here to be heroes, we're here to serve the interests of our team. If you can't handle it, get out while you and others are still alive. Don't wait until someone dies." Ko nodded to Scott and followed Fu'nik'a to the nearest jet.

 

***Several Hours Later, Strike Base One***

 

Necro and Scott moved down the hallway of the base' Detention Area. Necro was escorting him, but had his rifle relaxed on his side, not expecting to need it in the least. Scott had been in these circumstances thousands of times before, only before it was him escorting the prisoner to it's cell. It was a strange feeling being on the other side of the fence, now he almost felt bad for what the criminals back on Earth must have thought while walking down this corridor.

 

Scott knew the ropes, Necro didn't have to utter a single word of instruction, as he had clad himself in the standard X-COM fatigues without it's normally issued knife and pistol, and walked on a few feet ahead to his cell. It looked like Necro was only there for show. Scott knew what would happen if he tried to escape, not that it would help, and he knew there would be no way he could do it. Having been witness to countless escape attempts himself, he's never seen a single success.

 

Necro: Here you go Scott. (Pointing to an open cell in the hall.) This is it.

 

Scott moved in and turned around to Necro as he slowly closed the bars on him.

 

Necro: (As the door locks shut.) Why did you do it Scott? You should've known what was going to happen to you.

 

Scott: (Giving Necro a mild chuckle with a raised eyebrow.) I did nothing Necro... At least nothing to start anything. Private Stax and Private Chavez were present at either occasion, unless Kacur has somehow convinced them to lie they will testify that he had started the conflict both times. I fought back in mere retaliation. Which should be expected.

 

Necro: You should've controlled yourself then. That way once we were back at NAO, Commander Weindhoven would've punished him accordingly, now you'll be the one taking the fall.

 

Scott: True, I lost my temper but what would expect me to have done instead? *Sigh* His command has been naïve from the day I was thawed, and according to the past couple of missions, it's worsened to being downright pathetic. Besides, if Weindhoven has half the sense I've estimated him to have, he'll at the very least give Kacur's command a review anyway. It's close to treason what he did.

 

Necro: It's close to treason what YOU did! You pulled a damn gun on him!

 

Scott: Exactly! This little 'feud' between he and I has gone too far. I thought I would be the one to be pushed off the end first, but it looks like it was him after all.

 

There was a brief pause between the two X-COM soldiers.

 

Necro: You know he's going to be here soon to... Talk to you.

 

Scott: No, he's going to be here to claim that he's been helping me after all this time. And of course gloat as to who'll be court marshaled for this. But it's alright... There's something very big I need to ask him. And if he refuses it'll truly show how willing he is to keep this squad together.

 

Without saying a word, Necro walked off, leaving Scott alone in the brig. Scott didn't know where he went though, he didn't have much of a field of vision outside of the cell and didn't care all that much anyway.

 

Scott: I was hoping I wouldn't be forced to ask for this, Kacur. Least of all from you... But you're my only chance now...

 

***A half hour later***

 

Scott: (Doing sit-ups to pass the time.) ... Seven... Eight... Nine...

 

Scott heard the door open from outside his cell, the sound of footsteps came close. A humanoid figure came to the entrance to his cell, he knew it was Kacur just by the hair on the back of his neck.

 

Scott: (Finishing his sit-ups.) ... Ninety eight... Ninety nine... One hundred.

 

He stood up from his bench, which he was excercising on, and looked through the bars at the man standing in front of him.

[DragonHawk]

*EDIT* Right, Bob's post, above mine, is now a joint post.

 

Strike Base 1, 2 July 2067

 

Operations had gone well. The rebel Ascidian regiment, the 8th Royal Combat Regiment, had held out for almost the two hour time limit before surrendering. Surrender they did, eventually, and the entire regiment was kept under guard in the caverns while they were being interrogated. Nothing interesting had come out of that though...

 

The important prisoners were brought back to Strike Base 1. Fu'nik'a and other interrogators were having a field day with them. They were adept at pointing out other sleeper agents... Every hour brought another one to the attention of Special Operations, and hits were being planned around the clock. There would be no mercy. Almost sad to be the last man standing, when your enemies know that you don't actually know anything...

 

Ko flipped through the sheaf of papers on his desk. Some interesting little tidbits here... Grenade launcher was almost done, very damn close, in fact. Testing and certification were left. The other weaponry projects were not too close, though. All the gear (and spares) that Ko asked for was ready though, including Fox's customized armour. Spares, everything.

 

Spec Ops' last meeting, including Director Xel'kil'ga, Sub-Director Vash'uda'rus, both the Army and Navy advisors, every Strike Team leader and department head, and X-Com officers Commander Weindhoven, Colonel Cyriacus, and Lieutenant Kacur, had brought to their attention the perceived situation on Yurilis. It was bleak, to say the least, and Ko was gearing up for a long campaign. He was planning on staying on the planet as long as possible, reaching as far back through their lines as was feasible. Everything was getting stockpiled, from the standard 4.17 Ascidian caseless ammo to extra sets of combat gear to mitigate the effects of equipment breakage. He had driven the Quartermaster crazy with his demands, but Ko had won in the end.

 

Ko tossed the military preparations report onto his desk. The next one in the pile was a medical report... Yes, all injuries were minor. Yes, a cure was being sought for Richmond, and it's always close at hand. Bah, BS reports.

 

The next report in the pile was a briefing... apparently there was an API naval ship inbound. It was not maneuvering, and it seemed that it might enter the atmosphere and hit the ground somewhere. An unhealthy prospect, at worst. Ko wondered briefly whether he should accompany the team up. It had only really been just over a week since he was injured... Ko felt fine, but that didn't mean the local Doctor or Yorke was willing to let him go.

 

Ko looked again at the pile of papers and sighed. Bloody paperwork.

[knight_of_the_ravens]

<<this is the one i told u about DH>>

 

 

 

It was pitch black, all around him, Cal could hear the storm, the rain falling,slapping at the ground and at him at the same time,its runny cold senstation.

It felt good,he felt good,until he opened his eyes.Then in the lightning flashes,he could see the bodies,hundreds of them.Sectoids,snakemen,Ascidians,and worst of all,humans.He looked closer and saw that they were his comrads.His eyes widened in terror,both Alpha and Kappa....dead.

 

He looked around more,this did'nt look like some ordinary mission,it looked as if a war had taken place."But wait a minute,I've only been on one mission,what is this?"he thought,"I don't remember a briefing...and why are we here?a war?

we're special forces,we'd never be ordered to participate in an all out war like this"The questions began to flood his head..."I don't even remember flying here..."

 

Out of the storm,he heard running steps coming from behind him.Cal instinctivly drew his pistol and aimed at the being,who had immediatly stopped.A feeling of relief came over him as he lowered his weapon and holstered it.It was Stone...He tried to ask her what was going on but the sudden adrenaline and flooding questions stopped him...he did'nt know what to say.

 

She was about to say something,but then her eyes widened in terror,he noticed that she was looking at something behind him.The waves finally hit him...and he knew what it was.He turned around as she moved to his right,pointing her rifle out,

and then he saw them...he had known for the strong amount of waves they gave of....it was like an odor.When he looked at the figures,their brainwaves grew stronger,he could feel it as if impact waves were passing right through his head.

To Stone,it was their reddish cloaks that gave them away.There were two of them,over 15 meters away.

 

The four of them all stood still,staring at eachother.Stone and Cal staring at them,and they,who stared right back...when looking at an Ethereal who just stared right back at you,it was like you were staring at death himself right in the face,and now this time there were two of him.

 

All of a sudden,Stone shouted at Cal,"TAKE THEM!!!...TAKE THEM OR ELSE THEY'LL TAKE YOU!"She immediatly began firing upon them,but then Cal started to notice that in his mind,time began to slow down,it began to stop.He slowly saw Stone's bullets tear through the Ethereal on the right,then the bullets stopped in place.The Ethereal who had taken the hits had stopped two feet from hitting the ground dead.Stone also in the "stasis",her rifle frozen and the flash of the round coming out....frozen in time.

 

But the Ethereal who was still standing began to move its arm.It began to point at Cal,who watched its thin boney hand point a single finger at him.Cal then unholstered his pistol and began to raise it.But it was'nt by instinct,it was'nt even intentional.This weird state of mind hit him before he even had a chance to react to what Stone had ordered him to do.He was'nt even trying to raise it.His hand slowly took it and raised it by itself.

 

Then it hit Cal,he knew what was happening as the Ethereal pointed at him."NOOO! GET OUT OF ME YOU BASTARD!...NOT NOW!...NOT NOW!" he said in his thoughts.The Ethereal had him,and there was nothing he could do about it.He was'nt yet strong enough to mentally resist against their control.Cal's hand slowly raised the pistol towards his right....and started to aim at Stone."NO...NOO...NOOOO!"

 

He tried with all of his will power to fight against it and move the gun away,drop it,or even turn it on himself,but it was useless...The Ethereal was just too strong.The pistol came to a stop...pointing directly at Stone's head,a few inches from the temple...his finger began to depress the trigger.

"NNNOOOOOOOO!"

 

The instant the hammer hit the back of the bullet...Calvin snapped awake in his bunk.A cold sweat soaked his shirt,and he was shivvering in coldness and fright.

"Oh my god"he said to himself as he laid back down.He tried his best to slow down his breathing while he regained awarness of where he was.He sat back up to check the time...and noticed that he had been asleep for only thirty minutes...

"What the hell?"he said to himself,"what does it mean?...does it have a meaning?"

 

He stood up and took off his cold wet shirt.He decided that he would once again go back into the psionic gym and meditate.As he began walking,he remembered the sound of the rain...the falling water slapping the ground.He turned round and began walking back towards the base's head..."God,I really gotta piss"

[Strong Bob]

<<Alrighty, since Scott obviously won't be joining us this sunday... Here comes Xiggores to save the day! >>

 

It's been a couple days since the majority of Alpha squad left for Ascidia, Xiggores had been working with Chung and Rallwell with the designs for the Motion Scanner Mk II with priority towards the new Heavy Weapon AI system. Xiggores had become a bit nervous in that time, there hasn't been word from the team on Ascidia in a long time. Rallwell assured him that it was common for there to be little communication to teams spending prolonged missions off world. But ol' Xiggores couldn't ignore the cold uncomfortable feeling that something bad was going to happen.

 

He sat down next to Rallwell in Engineering, Chung was across the room doing his own thing for the HWP AI. A Motion Scanner lay on the table in front of them, Rallwell poked and prodded it with a micro welding tool, attaching a minor upgrade Chung designed for testing. Xiggores stood by jotting down notes on a paper notebook, thinking aloud.

 

Xiggores: Hmm... Rallwell, once you've finished installing Chung's movement upgrade... What would you think about installing the "Friend or Foe" guidance system from the current Heavy Weapon AI?

 

Rallwell: (Continues with welding the motion scanner.) What do you mean?

 

Xiggores: Well, you see, the current model of the Heavy Weapon AI uses a sensor system that determines the difference between a human and a Sectoid by analysing their shape, movement, and size. If this same system were installed into the new Mk II motion scanner, my theory is that it could be capable of doing quite the same. And be able to tell whoever's using the scanner exactly what the contacts he's reading are. That way, it will make it easier for the strength of the enemy to be judged before an attack is made.

 

Rallwell stopped welding for a moment and looked up at Xiggores, she seemed to have been paying more attention to the disected scanner than him at the time, but she got the point he was making.

 

Rallwell: Xiggy, do you know how bulky the current AI system for the Tank is? Even if that small portion of the AI chipset was removed, it would still be a little large for something that needs to be as portable as this.

 

Xiggores: (Sighs in disappointment.) Well, as we progress on the new AI upgrade for it... We could work on making the chipset smaller, more compressed... Yeah, and we'd kill two birds with one stone! A more advanced motion scanner and more space inside the Tank for other systems!

 

Before Rallwell or Chung could make a comment to Xiggores idea, the Engineering bay doors slid open, a pair of Ascadians in Royal Military garb walked in and approached Xiggores.

 

Chung: Uh, sirs... Is there something you need?

 

One of the Ascadians looked to Chung with a facial expression of regret. It sighed and began speaking in Ascadian, they clearly did not know any english. The other came right up to Xiggores with a letter in it's hand. It's face had a stern and serious expression on it as though it meant business and nothing else.

 

Xiggores: (Shaking a bit from nervousness.) Wha.. What do want?

 

The Ascadian held up the letter and began reading it. It wasn't written in english but it sure sounded like it.

 

Ascadian: (It's tone bland and almost robotic, not very well briefed in human sentence structure.) Private Christopher "Bunny" Xiggores there has been a slight delemna regarding another member of Alpha squad and more manpower is required at the time... (Pauses, looking at the letter with a raised eyebrow.) As per request of Lieutenant Kacur I am ordering you to come with these Ascadians to the transport where you will be taken to Ascidia to aid in the... Cam...Pane... Against the AyPiEye I will expect you to arrive within the next two days...

 

The Ascadian turned the letter around to reveal a mess of Ascadian writing all over it, accompanied by some words in English at the bottom saying: Sincerely, Sergeant Howardson.

 

Xiggores: Wh... WHAT!? They said I could stay behind! Why don't you take somebody else? My leg had just healed for crying out loud!

 

The Ascadians clearly didn't understand Xiggores words. They merely looked at him blankly, as though waiting for him to follow them.

 

Xiggores: (Desperately turns to Rallwell.) C'mon, Anne please, you know some Ascadian. Can't you just tell them no?

 

Rallwell looked up at Xiggores with a smile.

 

Rallwell: I'm not too good with it myself. Besides, I'm not about to go disobeying an order like that.

 

Xiggores sighed in disappointment and stumbled over to the Ascadians.

 

Xiggores: Alright... Just let me pack my bags before I go...

 

<<And so, Xiggores comes to Ascidia! Sorry for the bland play here, but I'm not feeling very original at the moment...>>

[Loonie]

<<Rewind all the way back so that we may witness the fateful meeting between Kacur and Scott now, as the joint post of me and Bob has been lying around in my PM box for waaaay too long. >>

 

***Joint post by Loonie and Strong_Bob***

 

As the two looked at each other through the bars Martin surprisingly enough didn't begin talking right away and an uncomfortable silence ensued instead. Even when angry he was apparently still not ready to just begin spurting words before assesing their impact. "I really need to cut down on my niceness..." he thought to himself.

 

But Scott didn't have that much of those reservations and began after a short pause during which both of them looked a bit downwards instead of at each other's eyes:

 

"Alright Martin, we both know that whatever 'pep talk' you give me now is going to be little more than a list of insults followed by 'shape up or ship out.' And that won't do shit. So I'm going to take the initiative today and come straight. I don't like you much, god knows how much I've tried, I just don't and that's something we'd both have to deal with. You've made it apparent you don't like me, that's understandable, cops are never really well loved, I'm quite used to people disliking me for biased reasons. But this just isn't going to work if we continue bitching at one another."

 

Martin now looked towards Scott's face with an astonished look. He couldn't believe it! In all his years he has never EVER seen a person like Scott who had such lousy analitical abilities of his life, who not once went back into the past and remembered the good things that happened as well as the bad. What's more it made Martin angry that Scott would assume him to just give him a traditional pep talk. He might be pissed off, but he sure as hell is more imaginative than this. Not to mention assuming that Martin hated him for, out of all things, biased reasons! As he kept on looking towards Joseph the Corporal's face went a bit puzzled and he asked:

 

"What?"

 

Martin didn't need another word to get him started off, his tone of voice tense and gradually rising until it ended up with the last sentence almost shouting: "Is that how you percieve me Scott? Just like another one of those big shot authoritarians that kept pushing you down throughout your life on the force? Because if that is so then I swear, you've just met the most unique authoritarian ever! One that, if you will recall, did NOT reprimand you for your renegade actions during the Arkunis VI operation and who did NOT hold a grudge against you even after you threw an unauthorized grenade that almost sucked him into the cold vaccum of space! An "authoritarian" who after that spent his own personal time to help you train with the Avenger and one who actually saved your life once if you'll remember from a plasma shot! And yet here you are thinking that I am hating you now because of you being a cop?!" He began shaking his head and paced outside Scott's cell whilst the Corporal continued the speech which he had prepared for this occasion:

 

"Look! The fact is that you pulled something really stupid both of these past couple of missions that really set me off, and what's ironic is it's much worse than anything I've ever done to warrant one of your damn lectures in the past."

 

Martin cut him off at that point: "Oh really?! Well let's take a look! The first one was when I raised my hand to make a squad signal - admittively I knew that I'd hit you in the face, but I ALSO know that you were making fun of me behind my back which DIRECTLY undermines my authority even more in front of that new recruit that was with us. So do NOT play like you're the innocent bystander in THAT case and do NOT tell me that undermining a military officer's authority isn't that big a deal anyway - because how would you know dammit?"

 

Another very short pause ensued as Martin thought about the second incident: "Joseph do you remember what I told you about back then when I called you in with Evander and Goorit?"

 

Scott's reply was quite forceful on that note: "Yeah and it was a bunch of idealistic crap if you ask me."

 

Martin chuckled, though not being really amused, and responded: "Well, you see, that's mainly your problem. You might not agree with me, but well...problem is that you have to do as your superiors tell you. X-Com is not a democracy where your opinion should necessarily be listened to OR carried out. To think like that, heh," Martin paused for a second as he turned towards Scott "is IDEALISTIC and NAIVE of you." The Lieutenant then made his way towards Scott whilst continuing: "The second incident when I punched you I admit I was out of line. To be frank I can't say that it was all your fault, though you yourself should consider if it wasn't your fault for attacking me afterwards and firing off a gun at me. In short we're both pretty much the culprits...and it would've happened sooner or later I guess..."

 

Scott waited at that moment a bit and began again: "Yeah...but...still...my reasons for hating you are magnified, unlike your reasons for hating me. You and I were both in the API Happyland machine, so you have to know the raw emotional pain the Ascadians have caused and can cause. Every day I feel like they are the spawn of a corporeal hell from what I've seen them do. And like just about everyone else here I'm not untouched. The mere memory of all that has hindered my performance on an emotional level. And that's why you must understand as to why I kicked that git on the floor"

 

Martin then looked back at Scott again, anticipating quite a bit that he'd have something like this to retort to: "Yes, I've been there with you. And I'm not untouched by it either. But has it made me into a racist Joseph? Has it made me hate an entire race purely because of several hostile factions in it? And ask yourself this then. If you hate all Ascadians do you hate your dead friend Du'gannon then too? Was HE a "spawn of a corporeal hell" then too?"

 

<<end here. There are quite a lot of factors that I don't think Bob took into account when he first wrote his parts so I'll leave him to roleplay the next part. Including the question he has in store for Kacur. >>

[Strong Bob]

At Kacur's last sentence, Scott slowly walked backwards onto the cell's bench. Looking at the floor a moment before looking back up at him.

 

Scott: Du'Gannon... Yes, that is why I'm even bothering listening to you. I don't want to be sent back into cryo. And I am quite aware that, like any human, not all Ascadians are bad.

 

Scott felt his chest again, Du'Gannon was there for him when he recieved that injury, he was there for him when Scott disobeyed Kacur's orders for the first time and took a Valkyrie ship to help the squad on the mission to an Arkunian moon.

 

Scott: You're probably the best Psionisist in NAO at the moment Kacur. I've spoken to Ilyuschenko a few times about how the stuff works. There's a big favor I need to ask of you... And if calm the f**k down and look at it as a 3rd person, you'll see it'll do us both good...

 

He stood back up again and slowly moved back towards Kacur, they were still separated by the bars, but their presence were no longer even noticed.

 

Scott: I want you to erase my memory, sir. Or at the very least suppress it. Not all of it, just a few select events that happened since I was unfrozen. Granted, it won't eliminate the problem in it's entirety, but it will certainly make it much easier for it to be dealt with... I'm willing to make the sacrifice to do this.

 

Scott looked into Kacur's eyes, whether he would agree to this or not would surely point out to Scott whether Kacur truly had any interest in making this work or not.

[Ghost]

<<rewind slightly, to a little before everyone had gone to sleep, except Kacur and Scott obviously, and a little before Chavez's dream>>

 

Stone was in the base's bathroom, which had been modified for human use, and slightly adjusted to fit their needs in the time Kappa Team and now Alpha Squad were at the Strike Base. She just got out of the shower, and dried herself. While doing so she noticed the couple of bruises she had on her arms. That Chavez guy was maybe not very skilled or trained at fighting with a staff, she had underestimated him at the start, which had cost her dearly.

She grinned faintly at the thought that she did get him back after that though, proving once again that strength doesn't matter so much, as she didn't have that much of that, but her speed and agility more than compensated for that.

She hadn't had a fun sparring match like that for some time.

As she finished drying off and getting into her clothes again, she started walking back to the bunk room where the rest of the team was also getting ready for the night.

 

As she started walking back she spotted Dmitri walking the other way with a datapad in hand and going past the bathroom. The only things that way which were of any interest to the humans would be the armory and the 3C. <<CCC - Command and Communications Center. Also yes the bathroom is a little down the hall from the bunk room, so a little walk through the hallway is needed to get there>> As she spotted him she greeted him.

"Hey there Lieutenant. What're you up to at a time like this?"

As he heard Fox's voice, Ghost stopped and looked up from reading on the datapad, turning to look at her. He looked like he only just now noticed she was there.

"Oh hi there Kaitlin, no need to be formal here, we're not on any mission or anything at the moment. I was just studying the information our Ascidian friends sent us, regarding the situation with the API and the Black Spear, as well as our good friends the Aliens. It seems like they are up to something big at the moment. I'm on my way to discuss some things with Gra'lin'tus and Vash'uda'rus currently."

Ghost gestured with his head down the hall in the direction of the 3C when he mentioned where he was headed.

"Ah, boring command stuff." Fox grinned slightly and then switched the subject again. "How is the Colonel doing? Recovering from his.. injuries well I hope?"

Ghost laughs and shakes his head slowly, "He seems to be recovering quickly enough, assuming you consider him returning to his old self to be recovery."

"Well, let's assume it is then. At least in his eyes. Alright, I'd best not keep you from your meeting too long. Can't have the Ascidians waiting for you. Good night, and do get some sleep. That there are new developments coming up doesn't mean you can sustain being awake 24/7. These Ascidian days are too long as they are already."

"Yes mom, I will." Grinning slightly he quickly backed up to avoid any incoming hits or kicks and quickly moved down the hall again. Kaitlin did raise her hand at him as if to hit him, but never did finish that motion as apparently the threat was sufficient. Mumbling something about men to herself she moved back to the bunk room, where most of the other X-Com troopers were getting ready for the night.

As she walked to her own bunk she spotted Chavez, tending to a few minor bruises himself as well, which made her grin again slightly. Even though she only recently met him, and he was only new from cryo, she liked him. He was a guy, even though he seemed a bit introverted at times, which might be a thing that comes with being a psionist though, as all of the psionists she knew were like that (even though that was a short list).

As everyone finished she got into her bunk, and the lights were switched off to simulate night time (of course underground day and night time are not really present as the sunlight doesn't get there). And she went to sleep.

 

Roughly thirty minutes later she woke up again, by Chavez calling out "Oh my god", and then some softer talking to himself that she couldn't make up. She then noticed him going up and out of the sleeping room. "Probably going for a pee, or one of his nightly training sessions again." She thought to herself as she turned over and fell asleep again.

[Loonie]

Martin shaked his head already halfway through Scott's request:

 

"Corporal you have no idea of what that sacrifice will be. I am well aware that with certain drugs that have been derived from the Utopia Weed coupled with my psionic treatment to solidify this it would be possible to repress these memories...but NEVER erase them. That kind of technology will quite possibly never be achieved since nothing is perfect - including perfect erasure of one's specific memories."

 

He paused for a second whilst looking away once again and continued, having remembered several nasty case studies that his father had shown him in complete trust:

 

"You know, I've done some amateur.....observations of people with repressed memories and I can assure you that every single time the memories ALWAYS resurface at one point in a person's life after they are repressed. And when people remember those memories it hits their psyche like a truckload! Most find it next to impossible to continue with their life, where suicide is quite often their escape or some turn to self-mutilation since they can't live with the actions that they had commited. In short if you take THIS route you will likely end up quite similar to Jackson in many ways and after the last mission when his nerves were strung to the limit coupled with many other incidents where I had to treat him.....I can't help but think that if I allow this I'm going to be treating the both of you on a very similar basis. Yes it will be less work for me and also a lot less grief and hassle for the rest of the squad, but the truth is that YOU will take all of that grief on yourself."

 

He then turned back towards Scott:

 

"You might not feel any serious problems at first since ignorance is indeed bliss. But when you start remembering those repressed memories I promise you one thing...based on how much I've gotten to know you from the objective side as well as the subjective one and speaking with the knowledge of psychology that I have...my guess is that you'll end up either in a mental institution or dead by suicide." he concluded with as serious a tone as could ever be expected from him.

 

"Now...I know about your argument on this matter. And it is summarized in one sentence if I'm not mistaken: 'It's my choice sir.' Am I right Scott? Well you are right on that part indeed, since holding you down on this matter won't cause much good especially since I've had more than my fill of experience when it comes to your unstoppable stubborness."

 

He turned around again and looked at Scott in the eyes:

 

"But before you go down this road I want you to spend a night in this cell and think about the action you are about to undertake. Because if you decide for it then you will make your life HARDER than it already is. You might think that a happy and content life is impossible based on your experiences and that you might as well sacrifice yourself for the happiness of others. But it does NOT have to be this way Joseph. And this isn't idealism and naivety speaking from me. I've also seen people like you recover before joining X-Com and the military and I know from first hand experience that it is most definately not impossible for something to be worked out for you."

 

Martin didn't feel that much like talking anymore so he slowly went towards the door and upon reaching it turned back to the Corporal and continued:

 

"You know...if you made this offer to our Commander Wiendhoven he would have your memory erased in a snap" the Psionisist said whilst snapping his fingers in front of his face "because if there is a problem in the military then the CO will ALWAYS sacrifice a single soldier to save the rest of his troops. I personnaly think that kind of attitude is what degrades us to machines and that is why I'm giving you this chance to think things through. We'll talk in the morning. And if your decision by then stands to have your memory suppressed then I will notify Weindhoven and make the arrangements. But I really hope this won't happen..."

 

<<I can't bloody believe it! A completely selfless sacrifice of Scott over the team! Martin Kacur is indeed impressed, but I already have it envisioned on how things will complicate further.....either way that it might go. >>

[Strong Bob]

<<Heh, the thing is Scott was always more than willing to sacrifice himself for the good of the team, he just never liked how things were run. >>

 

Scott didn't respond to Kacur as he left. He's been thinking about this for a while, he has no wish to remember the API Dream Machine or the Black Spear hostage situation on his third mission.

 

Scott: No you're wrong Kacur... (Chuckles a bit.) If it were Weindhoven he would've just sent me on a f**king mining mission as punishment.

 

He lay down on the bench, looking straight up at the bland gray ceiling before putting his right forearm over his eyes.

 

Scott: You're right about one thing though. This is serious, but I'm too old to have issues like them... Besides, it's very likely we're all going to die out here anyway.

 

"A man named Spiers.. Robert Spiers, I think, once said that the only hope a soldier has is to accept the fact that he is already dead, and only then can he function as a soldier is supposed to."

 

Scott: Atzel said that to me on her first mission here. I'm already dead, so maybe Kacur and I are thinking of it all as too much of the first person? For the good of the team, I don't matter. I mattered once though... Somewhere else... Is that why I'm staying here? To become important again? To become important in a place where I would otherwise not matter?

 

He thought about it for several hours, he soon became a bit fatigued thinking of something so complicated and fell fast asleep.

[DragonHawk]

Ko was having trouble falling asleep. Doh, rough night, he thought as he rolled out of bed and dressed. There's no point sticking around here, tossing and turning. Time for work.

 

He walked down the hallway to the design lab, where he logged onto the network. He opened up a starchart and gazed at it thoughtfully. Yurilis... An alien fleet was stationed there, possibly on a vector to attack the primary inhabited planet there. Large ships too, so they were probably ridiculously slow. Why hadn't the High Council heard of it yet? Something was going wrong...

 

How far could the aliens attack, how far was their reach? The warp tunnel ships had a possibly infinite range so far as they had the power to go, so theoretically they could have come from anywhere. The limiting factors were fuel and their ability to return. According to Ascidian military intelligence, the fleet's likely range was not huge, the strike region then consisting of three-hundred-sixty-odd systems. However, accuracy decreased over distance, because minute differences and calibration resulted in increased spread of ships at the naval rally point. The Ascidian naval analyst mentioned that the spread looked very tight, so they had rallied prior to jumping to Yurilis, perhaps within the ten nearest systems, four of which were not Ascidian-held. However, if they had refueled there, or any prior point, that would through calculations off. It was unlikely that they would run out of fuel right at Yurilis. Unlikely that they burned their bridges that completely. The warp-tunnel lead in a certain direction though, towards the galactic core... By inverting the calculation, it cut down the possibilities to one of two uninhabited systems.

 

The fleet size was also extensive... So many ships in one area was likely to be an indication of full-assault. Yurilis' space defence system might knock out a fair number of the ships, but the remaining forces would be swamped by pure numbers.

 

Ko started to examine the survey data from Ascidian explorations. Which of these were possible alien bases? Not something close, likely. Over the night, he filtered through a tenth of the possibilities. Where the hell is it?

[Ego Terrorist]

“Okay I am now starting to cut through the chest carapace with the laser scalpel.” The laser burnt a bright white and where it made contact wisps of smoke wafted upwards. “The carapace armour seems to me to be easier to penetrate with the high intensity laser beam compared to that of say a Chyrsallid or a Muton.” He drew the scalpel down the chest until he reached the bottom. “I am now beginning to open up the chest.” Yorke placed the medical equivalent of a crow bar into the cut and then started to try and pry it open. He applied pressure and grunted as he pressed down. “Bloody hell.” Yorke let go of the bar. “It looks like I’ll have to completely remove the chest plate, should of thought about that in the first place. Idiot.” After chiding himself he picked up the scalpel and began cutting a rectangle around the chest. Once he’d finished cutting away he lifted the first piece of carapace armour he lifted it and then found that he’d have to cut away some tissue and god-knows what off the carapaces softer interior. The same had to be done with the second piece. “Right well the chest cavity is now exposed and I can now see into the interior. Initial views show a similar arrangement of the respirator system that also doubles as the heart – the cardio vascular system.” Yorke started to whistle something, out of tune, as he worked his way deeper into the creature, he talked through each procedure and what he found. His stomach started to rumble and at that point Yorke put down his tools and removed his surgical gloves.

 

“I think it’s time I found some food.” He looked at his watch. “Bugger me, talk about burning the midnight oil.” The time was midnight, local time, so Yorke quickly reached over the corpse of the Phaser and picked up his half eaten sandwich from diner time and started to eat, while he chewed away at the sandwich he looked at the Phaser and contemplated what he would be doing to it tomorrow. He paused for a moment and put on a glove onto his right hand while he held his sandwich in the other. Then he took another mouthful and placed his right hand inside and peered into the chest. “Hmm.” He said as he chewed on the tuna mayo sandwich, he swallowed and walked over to the recorder that was still recording. “Note: Examine the lower chest in more detail in the morning…after I do some more chemical analysis of the Utopia Weed.”

 

And on that note Yorke made his way to his office. And as per usual each night, he took out his hammock and strung it up between some attached to either side of the walls. He took of his lab coat and changed into his sleeping kit, then he grabbed some sheets from within the second drawer in the filing cabinet and placed them over the hammock. Then getting under the sheet’s he shuffled about until he was comfortable and soon drifted off to sleep.

[Loonie]

<<Okey dokey. This is a little post after the mission that hast just now ended. As it was IonMage nor Mouse were present and I decided to come up and GM an XCAS sim which however was NOT an official mission. To see what it was all about...read on >>

 

Martin thought about the current situation concerning Scott as he walked to the landing pad of Strike Base 1. It was indeed his choice and there was no question about it, but already Kacur began thinking through about how he'd feel if Scott went for it afterwards. He'd most likely guilt trip himself for not stopping Joseph of this...and it would not be pretty afterwards. His commanding days could quite possibly end soon after that since he'd feel the weight of what Scott would do to himself pressing upon him.

 

"In essence, the same thing that happened to Necro would happen to me. He asked demotion from the Sergeant position because of the Kanay V massacre and I'd do it because of my own 'responsibilities' to Scott.......and also O'Connor."

 

His head lowered as he stepped out onto the open tarmac of the landing pad where the raindrops echoed throughout it. Quite a storm was brewing and Martin then looked up quickly as he heard another sound coming from the skies. A VTOL craft was inbound directly towards the landing pad in whose center he was in right now. He immediately moved to the edge of it as the craft first centered itself over the pad and then slowly descended its boxy shape onto the ground, the gangplank quickly descending afterwards.

 

Out of the craft rushed Chavez and Yorke, both of them carrying Shadow as they rushed past Kacur. Martin was startled by their speed and soon afterwards as he looked after the three people, noticing the lack of an arm on Shadow he heard a voice behind him:

 

"Rather lost, aren't we Lieutenant?"

 

Corporal Derrick Ko grinned as he made his way through the rain to Martin at a rapid pace and following quickly behind Yorke and Chavez. Martin tagged along as well, most curious about the situation:

 

"What the hell went wrong with Yorke's unofficial mission? I thought it would just be some climbing and capturing some local fauna?"

 

"It was too until this goddamn storm started brewing! We encountered several...eagle like creatures that did this crap to us, one of which wanted to feed Goorit over there to its chicks."

 

"And they chewed his fecking arm off?"

 

"Nope, actually that was just for starters. The shit really hit the fan when lightning struck near our crevase and disintegrated the arm into nothingness...we've had him on painkillers and stuff till now, though I assume he still needs to be properly stabilised."

 

"Disintegrated?"

 

"Yes sir. The lightning here on Ascadia is not like the one on Earth as it sooner works like a plasma beam. But anyway...we got back no specimens really...we're lucky as it is that we weren't all smashed upon the rocks with the conditions and the fauna crap thrown at us."

 

Martin stopped outside the infirmary as Yorke began working on Shadow quite furiously.

[knight_of_the_ravens]

<<this is a few days after scott and kacur make their full decisions on the bit...feel free to continue with what happens before this roleplay... >>

 

Another evening of Ascadian language training and psionic meditation complete...a slightly tired mind....but active body (bored in other words)....Cal still wondered what the hell was happening with Scott...he had'nt seen him ever since the incident.

He figured that he would see what Kaitlin was up to so he went back towards the physical training gym and grabbed a couple of bos...though he figured that he would get his ass kicked again,it was worth the fun...

 

Calvin walked back to the personel quarters and spotted Stone cleaning her pistol with a brand new bottle of sol.9..."Ugh...i never enjoyed the smell of that stuff"she turned to look at him,"Why...too much kerosien for you?"she said,snickering.He looked at her with joking anger and then tossed a bo in her direction."How about a few rounds?"She caught it and answered,"oh....you just wanna get beaten down again huh?"they began walking towards the gym,"yeah...I like a good ass kicking once in a while."he answered laughing.

 

Five minutes into the spar,Cal already had a swelling cheek....caught one to the face after trying to swipe under her knees.He did manage to to give her a nice "wack" on her ass after she tried to spin swipe at him....nice bruise should appear on the left cheek...while they sparred,they spoke, you're getting better...for a rookie" she said,"it's gonna take alot more training for you to kick my ass though."she finished,chuckling.

 

"You seem to already have a nice one ON YOUR ASS"he said,laughing...with that she faked an overhead swing and made him dodge upwards while she brought it back downand side slamed him in the ribs...dropping him sidways."Whatch your mouth private...you're lucky you even got to hit me THERE..."she said with a smile.

 

Calvin stood up rubbing his side and held the bo up on its point..."Hey Kaitlin...I have a serious question...umm....has anyone from this place ever been....controlled?"he asked,"I'm sure it has happened before...heard some people got shot for it happening to them before they could do something really bad..."she replied..."Was it by Ethereals?"he quickly asked her after her answer."Probably....i dunno...there are many types of aliens that can do it....why...what's up?"she said.

 

"Umm...nothing..."he answered."what's on your mind Raven?"she asked."nothing...don't worry about it."he answered.

 

"Cal...if there is something wrong...you can tell me about it...."she said,with a concerned look on her face,"does this have something to do with the other night....when i heard you yell out?"

 

"No...don't worry about it...it's nothing important...I was just wondering is all."he said....".......Alright..."she said...she wiped the concernment off of her face...but Cal could still feel her waves telling him that she did'nt believe that he was just wondering..."I should'nt have said anything..."he thought to himself.

 

With that he quickly faked a left side swing and brought over an overhead swing...she did'nt fall for the fake and brought her bo up above her head horozontally...dodging his hit she immediatly spun her bo around in her hands and shoved the point of it right into Calvin's stomach...bringing him to his knees in a belly crouch...he held his stomach after the painful hit it had taken.Kaitlin playfully kicked him in the side,C'mon....is that all you got?she said,snickering.

At that instant,Cal swung his bo around and at her feet...taking her feet right out from under her and landing her flat on her back.He then stood right over her shoulders looking down at her snickering back "C'mon....is that all YOU got?"

[ShadowBlade]

Jonathan had quite a day. He fought solo against three young Ascidian Eagles and beat them, though this "heroic" (Jon thought so, even though the rest of the squaddies thought it was pure insanity) deed cost him dearly. He lost his arm, not due to the actual fight, but to an infamous Ascidian lightning, which had no trouble in disintegrating the member that had been seriously injured by the chicks, prior to the bolt.

 

He was now at the infirmary, barely conscious due to the drugs Dr. Yorke used on him to perform the operation, the implantation of a new, mechanical arm, a little more advanced than Cpl. Jacko's leg.

All he could hear at this time was the nano-saws' sound, several medical bots helping the doctor and Yorke's grumbling every now and then. He couldn't see much because he was laying horizontally, on the operation table, facing the blindingly intense lights.

 

After some time, (he couldn't measure time properly during the surgery, due to the drugs) he came back to his senses and noticed the Doc reading a magazine on a chair, a few meters away from the table. Shortly after this, Yorke also noticed Goorit had recovered consciousness.

 

"You're up, at last" -Ned said upon noticing the now awake Corporal.

 

"That's right, doc. How long have I slept?" -Jonathan asked, rather embarrased.

 

"Around three hours, total, including the surgery time." -The doctor replied.

 

Jonathan then realized his brand-new bionic arm was in place. He could accurately move his fingers and lift his entire member, quite a lot easier than he thought. He played around a little, checking the device's strength and speed, punching the air, picturing Xiggy's face on it.

 

"You're as good as new, Goorit. What do you think about your new arm?" -Yorke asked Jon, proud of his skill as a surgeon.

 

"I think I'll get used to it, sarge." -Jonathan replied, anxious to use it in combat for the first time.

[Ego Terrorist]

"Aye, well don't push yourself with the arm for the next few day's the nerves and brain have to re-adjust to your new arm. Other than that you'll be fine, come and see me tommorow so we can check how you're coping." Said Yorke as he admired his handy work. Constructing the arm was the easy bit, and hte bit that done by engineering. However actually contecting the nervous system to the NS-EM system took longer, after all he had to regrow the nerve endings that had been badly toasted, and then he had to make the nerve's actually wire into the nano filament wire's that would connect to the arm's computer which in turn would decode electrical signal's from the brain. At the same time the device would also be providing some feedback, such as touch (pressure sensitive switch's were located all along the arm but his hand was covered in them) temperature was something that would have to be worked on, but for now, touch and actually being able to control the arm would all he'd need for now.

 

Jonathan saluted, Yorke returned the salute, then the young corporal left. A few minute's later Yorke walked voer to his desk and sat down, he pulled open the third from bottom drawer and picked up a flask. He unsrewed the lid off and took a swig, he coughed as the whisky burned down his throat. "Bloody hell." Was all he muttered as he put the flask back. "You, Yorke, screwed up big time." He said as he typed up the medical report. He couldn't believe how badly the mission went, the shit had hit the fan before they'd even started.

 

Yorke looked up as he heard the door open to the medical room. "Sir." Said Yorke when he saw who had came through the door - Kacur.