The Remnant Wars's: Part two~IC

"Blood, hatchling. Blood. You should want BLOOD!" the voice in Sylondra's dream screamed at her. She was terrified. Her pleasant dream of dragonflies and water had turned into a nightmare of blood and fear. The voice of a large, angry dragon was yelling at her. "Your sister is killing! You hear me? Killing! You should want to kill!"

In the real world, she sprang up to her feet, screaming and eyes wide. All of her mood scales were on end (a bit like a wolf raising it's hackles), her ears were up, and her wings were flared. She whirled around, terrified that the red creature would be behind her, wanting her to kill.

Sharptalon wakes with a start, eyes wide as she lunges at the baby dragon....

But not in anger or bloodlust, or even fear. She wraps her forelegs around the child and pulls it close to her chest and lays her head upon that of Sylondra. She closes her eyes and hums quietly a little almost-growl deep in her throat, vibrating her crippled vocal chords rhythmically.

Hush now little one, it was just a bad dream, she thinks quietly.

Her ability to sense the emotions and thoughts of others give her an advantage in many things, though it has it's limitations....

Sylondra realized that it hadn't been real, and calmed down right away. She whimpered quietly. She let her back spines and scales lie flat again, making her smaller and a lot less pointy. She didn't go back to sleep, though. She lay with her eyes open, afraid of what she might see if she drifted back to the dreamworld again.

As the sky slowly turn a bright beautiful pink with crisp orang swirls; Sara realized just how long it had been. She was ready to head back home and just sleep for the rest of the day, but just then she remembered the call she had gotten and sighed.
“I forgot about that,” She muttered to herself “C’mon Kemp we still have another ‘mission’ to do.” She said to Kemp waving with her hand for him to follow as she headed down the hall with no more explanation. They exited the building into another building
“They made this place like a maze.” Sara complained “Wait..” She stopped suddenly “Ah here it is, weirdest briefing room I’ve ever known” She said opening a door across from them. As she stepped into the room an officer was there, computers filled some of the walls to their left and right. The center of the Room had a metal table with some maps and papers scattered on it. A Small screen was at the end behind the Officer. The Man had blond golden hair like that of the late sun, Hazel gray eyes and was fairly tall.
Sara saluted “Good morning si-“ She halted.
“Victor…” She said her voice a low growl almost “What do you want?!” She said.
“Now, Sara that’s no way to speak to your command is it? I have a mission for you and your team.” He glanced at Kemp “I had hoped you’d do it alone.”
“No, he comes.” Sara said it looked like she had to force her voice to not sound hateful.
“Very well, and its ‘sir’ if they didn’t teach you that yet.” The man known as Victor said looking at one of the maps he pushed at forward on the table.
“Now.” He went on “This here” He pointed to a spot on the map near to large rocks. “Is the border to the safe zone from the base. Patrols have been disappearing across here; there is a Remnant factor near there.”
“How do you know?” Sara questioned.
“Because” Victor said “They have taken prisoners.” He paused knowing the next question Sara would ask he went on pointed at the screen that came to life with a flash of blue light he said “The Remnants have been getting very strange, and yes we had plenty of signs that they were not yet gone thank you. They have been torturing people, watching them bleed to death because they decide to go for a shot they will make them die the longest instead of the usual head shot.”
Sara nodded, “Okay, what do you want us to do sir?” She asked him her voice was deeper that gave away the fact she was hiding her anger.
“I want you to take the factory out, we have located it here” he pointed to a low dip in the ground a few miles from the safe zone border. “You have four hours to train your team in CQB.”
“What?!” Sara said “With due respect ‘sir’ my team is for field operations for something this big we need a lot more time to train then that!” Sara said outraged and struggle to hold it down. Victor answered her with an almost happy voice “Well Sara that’s all you have sadly, But I will give you some extra men to help if you wish.”
“Yes!” Sara replied
“Well then, you can have the specialist Yuri Romanov, a sniper mind you don’t watch him eat. And Sargent Saunders. “
“How the heck is a sniper, no offence sir help with CQB?” Sara asked confused and for some unknown resend angry.
“Trust me Sara, your’ll be glad he came along.”
“What about Sargent Jake sir?” Sara ask
Victor frown “Jake will…Not be going on any more missions.” Victor paused “his patrol was found dead on the same border you’re going through. He wasn’t found dead though, we believe the Remnants capture him. But your main goal is to destroy this factory NOT to rescues a lost cause and a man that will probably be tortured to death and of no more use to us.” Victor finished with a firm tone.
“What?! Why didn’t you tell us? We can’t leave him there! You were just going to let me go in there and blow the thing up with him in it! Weren’t you Victor?!” Sara said slamming her clenched hands on the table it stung a lot but she didn’t notice the pain full of rage as she was.
“Sara, calm done. And I’m your officer now remember? It’s not like before.” Victor said smiling.
“Don’t blame me! Just stay out of my life after this! C’mon Kemp lets go.” Sara said storming out of the room and slamming the door behind her with a sound that echoed loudly. Victor called after her
“Yuri Romanov and Sargent Saunders Will meet you at the CQB training base!”

((Do we need to timeskip or something? Because I am frozen and I can tell that Dino has no idea what to post...))

((I can't, not until next week and I'm waiting on Hollen. But next week if I find time between packing I'll do something. ))

Sergeant Saunders awoke suddenly from his sound sleep; the C5A PAT (Personnel Air Transport) had begun to set down at the airbase. Saunders instinctively went through his pre-mission weapons checks as the PAT lowered onto the Tarmac. Checking his weapons before entering or leaving any craft or facility was an ingrained habit and not one he would ever try to break. However, in this case it was essentially unnecessary since this was only a training facility. But Saunders had learned through painful experience to be ever vigilant, and leave nothing to chance - if the doors of the PAT opened and a squad Remnant Shock Troopers were waiting there to take prisoners, Saunders would be ready to kill them all.

He had seen other men lose their lives to carelessness, comrades, good soldiers, letting their guard down when they thought they were in a "Green Zone", only to have their heads ripped from their bodies by the Remnant who had infiltrated their barracks area. Saunders had barely escaped alive himself from that near massacre, but he had learned from it, hardened, strengthened, like steel in a forge it made him a better weapon.

"Why did the brass call me back to a training base?" he wondered to himself. "They know I don't need to be conducting training for green troops, less experienced soldiers could do that; so this must be another special mission..."

Saunders was not a man of many emotions, hate, love, rage - these few he knew and understood well. He loved his wife and children, all who were ruthlessly "exterminated" by the Remnant. He hated every Remnant that ever existed and that ever would exist. He felt only rage when he stormed into battle with his team "The Squad," as they effectively and efficiently destroyed the Remnant hordes.

There was one principle that characterized Saunders above all others, stoic dedication to mission. If his superiors wanted him at this training base, then he would be here, no complaints, no questions asked, boots on the ground.

As Sergeant Saunders began to gather his gear he couldn't help but observe the other passenger on the flight, a tall, lean, muscular man who smelled like fresh death and had a dark brooding expression...

Yuri didn’t sleep on the PAT (personnel air transport) he never dose. The confined space of if always makes him feel like he is in a soup can, the exacted opposite of what he spends most of his life in. this particular air craft didn’t have windows which bothered him even more, because there was no way to see remnant forces on the ground if there were any, although considering the other option is walking he wouldn’t complain.

He could see the man with sergeant stripes on the other side of the plane looking at him; it was a look Yuri got a lot. Yuri’s appearance made him look very wild to say the least, but he was fine with that, it made people stay away from him. There was something familiar about the sergeant, he reminded him of all the spec ops guys how trained for days to get one tactic right, like his old friends in Russia. He had a feeling he would learn to like him.

Suddenly things started slowing down then the pilot, who had a surprisingly deep voice, announced over the speakers, “we have arrived at HQ”. Yuri grabbed his rifle right as the main door opened, guys around the hanger where already getting the ship ready for another flight, he didn’t take that as a good sign. He and the sergeant from the PAT went to the CQB training area like their orders said to. When they got to the CQB training area he decided to practice his pistol marksmanship since he had to wait here for his next orders.

Sara made her way to the CQB Area Kemp soon came running after her she ignored him though. Victor had really messed up her day, and Jake he was captured? Did Ethera know? What was she going to do? How would they get inside the Remnant base? She pushed the thoughts aside as they came up on the building. Sara entered the room, a neutral look in her face not smiling but not frowning , strands of her dark brown hair in her face and messed up here and there. She barley even had time to change after their last mission but she pushed the strands of her hair out of her face and Look into the room to see the Men that would be joining them on this mission.

“Whoa, whoa what is that smell?!” She said which was not how she planned on starting out but a smell like death back on legs wafted in the room. Trying to ignore the smell she went on “I’m glad you two can join us on this mission, Victor seemed to think we could do it alone. I wish I had his confidence but I don’t so we’ll have to go for training and man power.”

Slightly unsure of what to do Sara step forward towards The Sargent “Its Sargent Saunders right?” She asked stretching out her hand for him to shake. “It’s good you’re here, I’m Lieutenant Mason but you might as well just call me Sara. I don’t much care for ‘fancy’ titles we’re all in this together after all.”

Sylondra was still awake. She was afraid to sleep. "C...S...Ch...Sh..Shar...Sharp....Sharpie?" she tried. Her stomach rumbled. "Fooooooood...."

((Not much to say...I posted again to give Dino something to do))

Oldrak meanwhile sat on the bridge of his downed cruiser waiting for the human bombing force he was sure would soon arrive. He waited and waited. Mechs had been stationed on patrol a kilometer away for the ship to act as an early warning system. Finally one of the Mechs reported in. "Vilmat, hostile enemy bombers detected on visual scanners." Oldrak's Heart rate increased with excitement. "You are clear to engage! Tendraak prepare a siege force for deployment, and reactivate the reconisance satellite!" (The satellite Oldrak refers to is the one that announced the arrival of the Remnant many years earlier, it arrived and identified Earth as new land to assimilate.) "Yes sir." Tendraak said activating the satellite. They would use it to mark warp target where siege forces would jump to.

"This is Falcon Echo 4, we have contact repeat we have conta-" The radio changed to static. Within minutes the bombers as well as their freighters escort were taken down by overwhelming odds that had not been seen since the very begging of the war. Oldrak would supervise one of the siege invasions himself, he suited up and climbed into his mech which had been fitted with a warp module. Tendraak meanwhile used compiled observation data to pin point key invasion location at highly populated areas with the recon satellite. One of these places happened to be the city of Newtek. A siege force was deployed to take out New Orlando.

"Okay Navigator.." Dane knew something was wrong, but just decided to stay quiet about it. Someday, maybe, she would open up more to him. But for now, she maybe just needed some time. So he just followed her, not saying a word either. Silently thinking, watching the area for Remnants.

((Sorry for short post after so long, was not sure what to post.))

((EDIT:This is in response to Prime's post above ^ btw))

Xend pushed her emotions aside, dragging them down inside her until all she felt was numb.

They walked on.

Navigator. Was she really a Navigator? Xend wondered. Yes he was alway asking her were to go, but she didn't think she was good at it. Maybe, maybe not. It didn't seem to matter, Xend walked lost in her thoughts some of them she pushed aside not willing to think about. But when she focussed on the here and now there were tree's around them thin deathly ones though but tree's neither the less. She kept walking, what was she saying? She didn't know where they were going, she only used what logic she had.
If I even have any sanity left she thought bitterly.

Silence, all was silent.

She suddenly wished Dane would speak, say one of his trying-to-joke's. Or make a comment about the tree's, or asked how she slept. Or something, anything, anything to give her less time to think. Anything to stop the wave of loneliness that engulfed her.

((I wouldn't worry about it Prime. :) its fine.))

"Please to meet your Lieutenant," Saunders replied with a salute. Saunders ignored the Lieutenant's offer to call her "Sara" and her outstretched hand. Saunders was all by the book no exception, officers were officers and enlisted men were enlisted men, and familiarity would only make their jobs harder.

“As you know I have been ordered to report to the CQB training area, but that’s all I know. Maybe you could fill me in on the mission details.”

Sergeant Saunders knew the brass had chosen him for a special mission, and he knew that mission would entail fighting in some environment that was close quarters. But that knowledge alone was not enough to plan the training and mission preparation; he needed to know much more. What about the facilities, were they large, dark and empty concrete warehouses, or well lighted and carpeted residences? Would the enemy be Remnant Grunts, Shock Troopers, both or more? Were they well dug on the front lines and expecting an attack any moment, or in a rear area where they felt safe and secure? The more details Saunders knew the better the training and mission prep he could provide, and he was hoping this young, friendly and attractive Lieutenant would have all the answers…

Sara returned his salute quickly, accepting the fact he wanted to call her Lieutenant; if that was what he wished then it was fine with her. “C’mon I’ll tell you the details of the mission as we go to the CQB barracks. This is just the PAT landing room or whatever they call it.” She said turning towards the hallway, but then paused to look over her shoulder. “Yuri, Your’ll need CQB training the most.” She waved for him to follow, as they walked down the hall way she began to speak again. “Victor, the officer that gave me the mission. Wants us to cross the safe zone, or green zone if you will; border on the eastern side of the base. And then we will infiltrate a Remnant base, what it is used for he either does not know or will not tell me. But the Remnants will not be expecting an attack from us, it has a wire build fence with basic remnant patrolling it by two’s. We believe there might be a Fighter Class Worker Remnant’s ( http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/360/d/5/remnant_worker_by_dragkon-d4kb4x7.jpg ) there as well. Otherwise the inside is all unknown.” She said glancing back at him, she pause before going on “There is… A man captured there. Called sergeant Jake, we will recuse him form the Remnants. And then blow up the main part of the factory. Any questions?”

Yuri could see the lieutenant come in a moment ago through the corner of his eye, he just concentrated on his targets, he learned a long time ago to zone things out. As a sniper any distraction could mess up a shot, of cores if that distraction is bullets flying over your head, then that complicates things a little. He emptied his mag into the man size target, they where all head shots except one that looked like it almost fell out of the barrel. That worried him because that means he might have defective ammo and this particular ammo was hared enough to get as is, seeing as he can’t just walk over to Russia and pick some up and it took days to make it himself.

Before he could worry about it too much he heard the lieutenant calling him over so he got his rifle and followed. Not wanting to be unprepared he paid attention to the mission details, he already know that there would be a CQB involved so he would have to make shore to fix his ammo problem before they leave, somehow. He wasn’t shore why they needed a sniper on a CQB mission, he’s had training for CQB before but he had all the wrong equipment and wasn’t going to leave his things in the hands of someone he has never met. The only reason he was here was because it was a personal request of victor. Victor was an old friend from before the remnant war had started, but Yuri hasn’t talked to him in three years, so any number of things could have changed. He decided he would know soon enough why he was here and finished listing to the mission briefing.

Kemp was in and out thinking about something then asked. "What the hell do they need a pilot for on this mission?"

"Just a few more questions ma'am," Sergeant Saunders replied to Sara. "Am I correct in assuming the sniper is attached to the team to initially help provide recon and then on the assault to provide over watch?"

"Also", Saunders continued, "how green is this team you’re sending me with? The reason I ask ima'am s I'm used to working with a very highly trained, experienced, and motivated team, and given the mission you just described, if your team is anything less than that it could easily mean disaster."

Saunders had been on other rescue missions before, he knew this kind of mission demanded discipline, team work, and above all else, the ability to adapt quickly to the situation on the ground, which was exactly what worried him about the LT's choice of sniper, to Saunders, Yuri seemed like a loose cannon....

“Yes, you are corrected to assume that, he will train in CQB with us. But as far as I am concerned I think Yuri would be best as an over watch when we infiltrate the Remnant base.” Sara paused and went on after a moment “Besides your team, the only other team coming along with us would be my own. I will be honest, they’re not the best at CQB. But, they try their best, and we’ve done a lot of missions behind ‘enemy’ lines.” Sara glanced at Kemp,

“If you don’t know the answer to why I want you to come then you’re more tired than I thought.” She sighed, she knew he probably was just worked up from the last mission. The whole ‘theres a huge remnant army out there thing’.

“Look Kemp, if you want to sit in the base all day until I get back and ‘if’ I get back then fine. But otherwise I think you much rather coming along. In fact, I want you to come. Polite or not, I don’t care.” She said slowing her walk to walk beside Kemp. She smiled putting her hand on his shoulder, “C’mon, you have to come. I wouldn’t do it without you.”

He took a deep breathe. "Fine...But only for you." He said crossing his arms.

Saunders was satisfied. The LT seemed like she knew what she was doing, and she had a plan that made sense. Now Saunders had to turn his mind to his portion of the mission, and preparing his team, “the Squad”.

Sergeant Saunders had been told that PFC Kirby and the rest of the Squad would be arriving soon, and so now that he knew the mission needed to go back to CP (Command Post) to meet his team and take them to their bivouac area.

Saunders knew he had a lot of planning and training to do with the Squad. As always this highly experienced team leader could never be satisfied until his team trained, retrained, and then trained some more. Saunders would go over gear, tactics, and drills endlessly. Every time the squad thought they had it right and they were done Saunders would change the scenario slightly, or count one of the men out, or switch weapons and kits, and then do it all over again. In spite of this grilling the team never complained because they knew all Saunders hard work would have two positive results, it would ensure that the mission was completed successfully, and it would ensure the team would stay alive.

“Ma’am with your permission I’d like to be dismissed to go check on my Squad, they are due to arrive at the CP in about 30 minutes,” Saunders said with a salute…

"Oh yes of course sergeant,” Sara said sounded distracted by something else “When you meet them get them ready for the mission and I will see you in three four days when it’s time to start the misstion. We have short time to train but, we will make due with what we have.” She said still sounding distracted.

“I, should go check on my own team anyways… Kemp how about you come with me? Since your so stubborn today.” She said jokingly. She kissed him on the cheek “Seriously, loosen up, c’mon so maybe you had a bad day? Make the most of it! At least your with me, instead of a lot of worse things you could be. Like dead for Example.” She added.

Saunders made his way to the CP (Command Post) just in time to see the PAT land. "This should be the flight the Squad is coming in on," he thought to himself.

The huge PAT landed slowly, its giant jets rotating from a horizontal to a vertical position until it slowly began to hover over the tarmac. Watching the jets gradually slow Saunders could see the searing blue and red heat waves pluming out from underneath the craft. Once the PAT was down the maintenance crew moved forward to chock its wheels and inspect for any landing damage which was unlikely given how smoothly she had landed.

The large clam shell cargo door in the back of the aircraft lowered slowly and the Crew Chief stepped out first. With just a quick thumbs up he motioned to the passengers to come forward. Of course, the PAT was a multi-purpose military aircraft so the passengers were not exactly riding in the lap of luxury. There was no beverage service, no in-flight movie, and no pretty stewardesses, in fact there was nothing but two rows of web seats along the inside walls of the aircraft, several vomit bag dispensers, and the huge cargo pallets that were firmly strapped to the center of the aircraft.

Saunders saw the Squad emerge from the back of the aircraft. The first to de-plane was PFC Kirby, the Squads gunner and all around wise guy…

Kirby walked of the PAT and looked around, it was the first time in in a while that he’s been this far back in the safe zone, normally the Squad would go to a smaller base closer to frontline. Kirby said to no one in particular “it smells like an engine in here, when was the last time you guys opened a window”. He looked around and he could see Saunders by the main door, Saunders may be his superior in battle and training but he is also one of his oldest friends. On the other hand Saunders would be the first one to set Kirby strait when he does something that will come back to bite him in the butt. Kirby said “hey Sarge” he walked closer “What’s going on, did they finally give you a promotion or am I getting that Court Marshal for knocking that CO’s lights out?”

"Hey Kirby," Saunders replied, "Yep, I finally made Staff Sergeant - a little more pay, but same basic job. As for that CO, I told him that if he promised not to press charges, I would promise to volunteer you for his next suicide mission. He agreed to that and he also told me to tell you to expect to hear from him soon, very soon."

Saunders knew Kirby was a great soldier and warrior, in fact he was one of the best Saunders had ever worked with, and Saunders also knew that Kirby often could not contain the aggression that made him a great soldier and warrior, even when he was off duty and supposed to be relaxing.

"Well", Saunders said, "let's gather up the rest of the Squad, get to the bivouac area, and get ready to start training first thing tomorrow morning."