<strong>Tag</strong>:Ashitaka<br/><br/>Xorians, hordes of the terrible insectoirs clattering and claking, dust shooting up behind them and fanning all but the frontmost ranks, trees falling and ground cracking as shallow burrowers prepared the way under the first wave of shock troopers for those expected to survive first contact with the enemy, came crashing towards him.  It was an addition of deep green chitin and purple ooze amidst the light green and rich browns of the jungle, a smattering of heavy coloured in contrast with the specks of warmth amidst the warmth of the jungle.<br/><br/>To the north, a small group of elves not much caring if they were seen stood.  They considered the field of battle and confered with a woman holding her temple.  It was readily evident to Ashitaka she was a telepath of some sort, and the group seemed to respond to an order to pull back in the face of the advancing horde.  This particular bit of dirt didn't seem important enough to spend any men, much less Mer, holding for any amount of time.<br/><br/>Silvery cloaks and gold-lined boots clattered as they receded into the jungle towards the deep obsidian walls of the fortress.  For all their garish regalia they slunk off quietly from sight, seeming to naturally melt into the woods--a gift of their ancestors, perhaps, when they were one with nature and not too busy realizing their pride.<br/><br/>Unchallenged, the Xorians seem likely to overtake the neutral position if no party acts to retard their progress.  Otherwise the horde, urged on by a Scabber Lieutenant hulking in the bank of the advance, would merely press on to the walls.<br/><br/>Suddenly, hundreds of meters from Ashitaka, a huge pillar of dirt, debris, and bloody bits of Xorian came flying up.  Deafening explosions and the putrid stench of man-made combustion accompanied it, immediately recognizable in all its deadly revels as it flew torsos miles from their owners and left most of those caught in its impact torn to shreds.  The Deathkorps shells had a shrapnel component, as well, though the explosion was just far enough away to have been of no risk to Ashitaka.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><strong>Tag</strong>:  Pierce Callow<br/><br/><strong>"Don't get lippy with me, slut." </strong>A firm hand smacked Pierce's taut ass, hand squeezing tightly.<strong>"Lieutenant's too busy rigging up her surprise to keep us in line."</strong>It was true.  The average T-Trooper was a very efficient soldier, but they needed orders and direction--but they weren't inclined to go charging into battle or take any enjoyment out of it, nor to discern too closely the odds.  Such traits tended to have unpredictable repercussions in the heat of battle.<br/><br/>Tau Ceti Limited had little use for the unpredictable.<br/><br/>A few horny men with heavier pulse rifles than her own and affixed vibayonets (http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/honorverse/images/3/32/Vibroknife.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130314050102) stood with general disinterest observing the field of battle taking shape below, the untested Boolarian Regulars getting pumped up for their first bloodbath against the insectoid menace.<br/><br/><strong>"I'd take a straight fight over a bug hunt any day."</strong>The T-Trooper, Charles, who'd activated her anklets spit.  There was only a squad up here, the TCLLC (CaTCaLL) HQ deeper within the bulwark of obsidian and metal.<br/><br/>Deathkorps artillery to their east loosed a deafening salvo of shells into the jungle where the teeming swarms were indistinguishable as a unit, just a whole wedge of swarming<em>ness </em>amidst the lively chirps and twists of the jungle.  Tree, dirt, and<em>ness</em>were blown wide in kind as the shells tore through their ranks.<br/><br/>Another hard slap, this time with Charles' other hand on her other cheek.<br/><br/><strong>"We don't care about whether they win or lose here, you've done what they sent you to do and the lieutenant will as well."</strong>Pierce became quite aware that Charles had un-affixed his codpiece as he pressed his own tightly suited groin against her supple, vulnerable ass.<br/><br/><strong>"Look alive, mercenary scum!"</strong>a nearby speaker crackled.<strong>"That's really riled the bastards up!"</strong>A huge, cacophonous screech went up, unified, from the masses that came swarming across the newly minted craters.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Xorian Casualties</div><div class="spoiler_body">At 2016-04-01 02:24:38, Deathkorps Artil (uid: 40688) rolls: 5d100 Result: 240 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=87162)<br/><strong>-240 Xorians from Artillery Barrage</strong></div></div>