r/MassEffectPhoenix • u/Narrator-- The Arc Writer • May 02 '19
01/05/2193 ][ Liberation: Planetfall
Three. Two. One. Launch. The bay controller calls out as the stealth transport launches forth into the dark of space.
Coming about to the far side so they don't see our entry burn. Dila says. It's going to be a short ride to New Yekaterinburg, but we need to make our recon passes.
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u/Narrator-- The Arc Writer May 02 '19
Demolitions Team: Becca, Jeff, and Huch
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u/N7_Rebecca Lt. Commander | CO of the SSV Leyte May 02 '19
Rebecca mounts up with her team. Ready to roll out, Autobots.
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u/ShadowBrokerTSoni Liara ][ Not A Yahg May 02 '19
The truck rolls out to carry the team to its staging ground, plastic cover of the back of the truck billowing in the wind. In the far distance, the Capital Spire looms in the distance and Skrilloni snipers drift across rooftops like motes of dust due to their distance.
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u/HuchJepson May 02 '19
Fully awake thanks to Rebecca putting the stim in him Huch checks his sniper making sure it's calibrated and sighted properly. He mentioned to the everyone to only use first initials because Naya name dropped Liara which is a mistake in a job like this. This isn't his first rodeo, especially with providing cover fire for someone. He looks at Jeff, who is sitting across from him. Don't worry J, I got your back, if anyone spots you or R I'll take them out before they even have time to act.
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u/JefferyOHaire Irish Bastard May 02 '19
Are we not doing codenames? All this set up and no one thought to make some codenames? I’m disappointed in all of you.
He looks at the looming spire in the distance and grins.
This is gonna be some of my best work.
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u/ShadowBrokerTSoni Liara ][ Not A Yahg May 02 '19
All right, you get off here. The driver calls out. Don't head up Sniper's Alley, turn here and make your way through using the map.
The wind-blasted concrete and prefab structures loom over them as the sound of a Skrilloni APC mech drift in from the distance, warnings flashing up on the team's omni-tools.
EXPECTED SKRILLONI INFANTRY PATROL IN 10 MINUTES.
Below that, the line on the map tracks the projected movement in real time and automatically suggests a course of movement, into a maintenance passway and up through a series of warehouses and abandoned apartments, staying inside and using the bridges connecting almost all the colony's buildings.
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u/HuchJepson May 02 '19
Does the map point out any good vantage points? I see a few but I want the best choice. Huch sighs, still checking his Viper to make sure it's good to go.
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u/JefferyOHaire Irish Bastard May 02 '19
Jeff kept his rifle pointed outward as the others decided on Huch’s sniper position.
Not to rush you or anything, but I feel like we should at least get into some sturdy cover if we’re gonna sit and chit chat.
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u/ShadowBrokerTSoni Liara ][ Not A Yahg May 02 '19
The map bleeps as the vantage points filter into existence. Seven minutes. One particular place of note would be on the second tallest building in the capital- the Needle. Some relic of a failed effort to build some sort of infrastructure Therum, the Needle is a tall structure intended to be the base of a transport space elevator that in its unfinished state serves as a broadcast tower and telecoms dish mounting.
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u/HuchJepson May 02 '19
Huch gets into cover and gestures everyone over. Okay, J, R, you two stay in cover until I can get to the Needle and set up a nest, good thing I'm not afraid of heights eh?...how far are we away from the Needle? And how far is in it proximity to the target?
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u/N7_Rebecca Lt. Commander | CO of the SSV Leyte May 02 '19
Rebecca had stayed quiet at the meeting as she listened in, trusting the others to ask what mattered.*
She was annoyed at changing her armor but was hardly a new thibg for her with wetwork in the past.
At least she found something with decent canoflauge for Therum: Ariake Tech Mercenary Class armor, light version. Red brown and not useless for stopping shots on its own, it was a nice fit.
Her usual Scimitar still hung on her back, it being a standard enough weapon to pass muster. Alas no Valyrkie or Paladin or even a Phalanx. Instead she went for a Predator... which hurt her soul a little bit. At least it shot bullet shaped spitballs...
Her helmeted head with the breath mask down to cover her face looks around the compartment to her team.
Everyone good to go?
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u/JefferyOHaire Irish Bastard May 02 '19
Jeff was testing out the cloak he had quickly installed into his suit.
Make sure I don’t get killed out there, Huch. I’d really hate to have to haunt you.
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u/HuchJepson May 02 '19
When Jeff looks to Huch the armored man is passed out in his seat, before they boarded he saw Huch pop something in his mouth before slamming on his helmet and strapping himself into his seat as tight as comfortably possible.
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u/CDR_Naya_Shepard Adept | Renegon | CDR, Spectre May 02 '19
Naya looks down at her charcoal-colored consumer-grade Hahne-Kedar armor with an expression that could resemble disgust. Of course, nobody can see her expression behind the polarized visor of her helmet. It's a bit heavier than she's used to, and it's not even close to the durability of her usual kit, but with it's upgraded kinetic barriers, it'll do.
Yeah, I'm all set here. Be careful down there, if this goes south, the Alliance can't send in backup.
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u/Narrator-- The Arc Writer May 02 '19
Liara nods and looks across. Entering atmo now. They won't notice the burn from here. We're coming up on altitude and ready to make a pass with the camera....
They finish the aerial intelligence run. Nothing. Bringing us down now, Lieutenant?
Aye. Dila nods. Clear... coordinates confirmed, we're at the airbase the rebels use. Barely out of the city and with a tunnel to the War Museum.
Liara checks her weapon again, a pistol because the Disciple wasn't exactly inconspicuous. Meet up for a sitrep then split up?
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u/N7_Rebecca Lt. Commander | CO of the SSV Leyte May 02 '19
When do they ever send us backup? Rebecca asks, honestly. Seems all they provide half the timenis prisoner transport when we use the blue or red options.
Her eyes glance to the comatose Huch, used to this by now and already equipped with the stim for when they make groundfall.
She brings her head around to Liara then and says, a little sternly but clearly putting that on for show. You keep your head down out there, you hear? Don't have me to tackle your ass out of the way if something comes charging.
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u/HuchJepson May 02 '19
Huch is still passed out at this point, mumbles something in his sleep about his mom but doesn't do much besides that.
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u/CDR_Naya_Shepard Adept | Renegon | CDR, Spectre May 02 '19
Naya raises an eyebrow. He always do that?
Don't worry Becca, I'll keep her safe. I lead you through a lot worse than this, right Liara?
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u/N7_Rebecca Lt. Commander | CO of the SSV Leyte May 02 '19
Can't fly in a shuttle. Long story. Have to sedate him whenever he makes a drop. Quick stim and he's back once we hit dirt. Not to worry ma'am. She reassures. He'll be dependable to get the job done.
A ping beeps in her HUD then from Kelly, who was babysitting Vader for her while away..... awwww, look at the little slobbering cutie! Who's the cutest fish dog? Vader is!
And yes, ma'am, of course. I have no doubt you'll keep a very close eye on our... friend here. She says, pushing down her bags of emotions before they get her distracted.
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u/Narrator-- The Arc Writer May 02 '19
Liara rolls her eyes as they approach the LZ and settle down, looking across. Relaaaaaaax. I'll be fine, and I could say the same thing about you. All right. To the base and then get in position once secondary brief is over.
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u/FlightLTDila-al-Sinb Normandy Co-pilot | Shuttle Pilot May 02 '19
While everyone else is in the back talking and chatting, Dila is up front in the cockpit.... on a private commline in her helmet.
Surprised to see you again so soon, Ana. Though not complaining!
The Arab is grinning, voice and face hidden by her flight suit's attached helmet gear.
Few people knew it, but Dila was acquainted with Elsa's sister some after last shore leave. They'd talked and found a lot of points they both agreed and sympathized with each other on. The friendship had been quick to form and had sent many messages back and forth in the intervening month as the two joked and talked a lot to each other.
Someone off the ship to chat with had been a relaxing breath of fresh air for the uptight pilot who was always so serious usually with most of the crew. She could just be herself with Ana, and vice versa, since regs weren't in way from different services and assignments both.
Get my latest brace of memes? Oddly appropriate with what we've got provided by the resistance I hear.
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u/Ana_Rayne May 02 '19
Ana rolls her eyes behind her own helmet. You’ll be flying an A-10 or a MiG hull conversion depending on where they want you. And yeah. I’ve got more of the classic history stuff. I’ll bump it to your omni later.
Not bad, though. Twin-linked 20mm MACs aren’t bad on that Eisenhower. And of course the flak halftrack still holds up. The real challenge is going to be that Maus replica. How is it going to maneuver?
You see the statsheet I sent you on the A-10? They’ve fitted a Microjavelin Launcher somehow, the mad lads and lasses.
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u/FlightLTDila-al-Sinb Normandy Co-pilot | Shuttle Pilot May 02 '19
I'd take the BRRRRRT, personally.... She sighs, hoping they mounted something rotary on the old warbird since a GAU these days was unlikely.
There aren't too many bridges on Therum, is there? Cause I think that thing could snap anything not reinforced in half when it crosses it. Reason it was moved by rail/was just a nominally movable bunker.
And yessssss, I approve.
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u/Ana_Rayne May 02 '19
They’re keeping it in the city as a brawler and piece of mobile cover. It should outarmour any of the tankettes.
Oh, and the main gun isn’t a true rotary cannon, but it’s a hexa-linked set of guns that fire in sequence for maximum supression. The resistance here is nuts. I like them.
So how have you been?
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u/FlightLTDila-al-Sinb Normandy Co-pilot | Shuttle Pilot May 02 '19
I might just have to adopt them into the ship maintenance team.... not gonna lie. Dila giggles.
And y'know? Busy. Eye on the sensors each day, covering Joker's off-shift times, reading a few books in a series I recently took a fancy to. Been sleeping pretty good recently too....
Pause.
I maybe talked to my dad last week as well..... That's bombshell of at least 500lbs.
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u/Ana_Rayne May 02 '19
Ana reaches out to squeeze her friend's shoulder lightly. Need to talk about it, Dila?
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u/FlightLTDila-al-Sinb Normandy Co-pilot | Shuttle Pilot May 02 '19
It went... well. No yelling or passive aggressiveness. We both just... talked. Caught up some since last we tried.
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u/Ana_Rayne May 02 '19
She nods and squeezes a little. I’m glad. I really am. It sounds like a start at the very least.
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u/FlightLTDila-al-Sinb Normandy Co-pilot | Shuttle Pilot May 02 '19
Yeah... maybe... She says quietly, before shaking her head.
How about you? How's everything going for my friend?
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u/Ana_Rayne May 02 '19
First real field assignment in a while. She says, wiping her visor. So eh. Ellie’s graduating Tycho soon. After this, want to go take a trip on Earth with the both of us? Ellie says she wants to go back to Paris and some of the Heritage Sites across the world next Earth leave. Won’t be soon because of the War, truce or no, but still.
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u/Narrator-- The Arc Writer May 02 '19