Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: orderNchaos on 26-11-2014, 19:59:47</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>26-11-2014, 19:59:47</strong>
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				<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;" class="bbc_size">Dark Sun Rising: Rise From the Ashes</span></strong></div><div align="center">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/MechwarriorOnline_zpse8f593c9.jpg)</div><br><br>The plan had been simple.&nbsp; Land on the planet of Wrociaw with two other Merc companies and support the local Lyran military units against an impending incursion by the Jade Falcons.&nbsp; The focus had been to secure the two main cities against assault and attempt to split the two Falcon Clusters among the different objectives and fight them to a standstill.&nbsp; By the intelligence estimation the Mech forces along with the planets fielded forces should have been more than enough to push back two Falcon Clusters.&nbsp; <br><br>As usual......Intelligence was wrong!!!<br><br>What no one bothered to recognize was that the leader of the Falcons was Malvina Hazen.&nbsp; A lunatic with an itchy trigger finger and the troops to use it.&nbsp; No one expected bombardment of troop positions from space as the Falcon units were landing.&nbsp; No one expected to be overrun before they ever landed planetside.&nbsp; When the Falcon troops did eventually land, it didn't take them long to tear through the battered and shell shocked units on the ground.&nbsp; All remaining units had been called to protect the Aerospace base in Wrociaw's main city for an all out retaliation.&nbsp; Of course when you're a Merc company, and you see C-bills eaten away with each mech and warrior that's torn down by the Falcons, you tend to forget about orders.&nbsp; <br><br>The Black Suns commander Carlos Moreno called the retreat, pulling his assault units to cover the retreat as their drops ship the Dark Star attempted to fight off fighter attacks while taking on what was left of the company.&nbsp; The pitched running battle through a portion of Wrociaw's more densly wooded areas was the only thing between the slowly dying units salvation and their destruction at the hands of the Falcons. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>27-11-2014, 04:00:50</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>The cockpit of the <em>Black Knight</em> was always hot. Not just the usual heat that came from a BattleMech, but because the <em>Knight</em> tended to run hot, a side-effect of its all-energy armament. However, now it was beyond that; it was an oven, a baking, oppressive heat that smothered the lone occupant.<br><br>Inside the ‘Mech, Kari Moreno was sweating, her brightly-decorated skin glistening as she frantically fought the sluggish controls of the overheating machine. It wasn’t the heat itself that had her sweating so profusely, however. Rather, it was the situation she and the rest of the unit faced, one that had bought them to the very edge of death already, and yet showed no signs of letting up. The pressure of the situation manifested itself in many ways, not the least of which was the numerous warnings coming from her ‘Mech. Battered already, the war machine was running perilously close to collapse. <em>Much like we are,</em> she grimly realized.<br><br>Carlos Moreno, the unit’s commander – and their father – had tried to salvage what was an obviously untenable situation, pulling the unit back through dense woodlands to cover their retreat. On paper it made sense, allowing them to break contact and seek shelter while reducing the advantage of the longer-ranged Clan weapons. Of course, that presumed that the Falcons didn’t simply decide to blast the forests apart from orbit in the same manner they had opened the planetary campaign.<br><br>“Bravo Lance, form up on me,” she called out over the command channel, trying to bring together the battered remains of her force. “Keep it tight and don’t wander off! Report anything at all that you see” They’d only just managed to break contact with the Falcons, and she knew that the Clanners would be hot in pursuit. Her tac display gave the positions of her lance and the other Black Suns, but there was also a worrying lack of information on their enemies.<br><br>And then it all went straight back to hell. One moment, Muriel Berk’s <em>Hercules</em> had been backing up along with her, a hundred meters from her own ‘Mech. The next both it and its MechWarrior were simply gone, torn apart from within by the fireball of a raging ammunition explosion.&nbsp; “Bravo Three is down!” She called out, quickly snapping back into focus. “Look out for-“<br><br>A warning cut her off, but told her all she needed to know as a new player entered the fray. A <em>Shadow Cat II</em>, painted bright green and with an obvious bird of prey crest splashed on its torso stepped forwards, its weapons eager for further prey. “They’re on us!”<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>27-11-2014, 06:03:47</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/Ghost_zpsc7908c1a.jpg)</div><br>"Get the fuck off of me!!!"&nbsp; Allia screamed as she slammed the shoulder of Ghost into a large rock outcropping.&nbsp; Pinning the toad to the wall, she reached her right arm over with her ER Medium laser, blasting the Falcon Elemental at point blank range in the torso.&nbsp; The lasers continuous azure beam of light concentrated on the large soldiers torso until the light burned away armor and flesh.&nbsp; Pushing harder with her shoulder, the plates of armor on her shoulder and the hundreds of thousands of pounds of pressure Ghost could produce finally popped the Frogs head with a red spray.&nbsp; Pulling back, she let the last of the soldiers she'd been fighting fall to the ground, broken.<br><br><strong>"Stri.....ance.....ch....in!</strong>&nbsp; As the communication came in, she sighed in frustration as she realized the Frogs had seriously damaged her comm system.&nbsp; Allia had hoped she'd have a moment to breath after this last fight but it seemed the only relief she would get was flashing crimson wire diagram of Ghosts body, her ability to move was still intact....for now!!&nbsp; "FUUUCCKKK!!!!"&nbsp; She screamed to no one in particular as her console display began flickering on and off along with all of the systems and lights.&nbsp; "Fucking Frogs must've hit my command relays or my power distribution nodes."&nbsp; Allia took a second to wipe the sweat from her head as she surveyed the situation.&nbsp; What little she could see of the company on her sensors showed they had finally broken the inner edge of the forest and were moving back, the assaults and heavies providing cover.&nbsp; <strong>"Gh....w..f.....P...pers...s..tus?</strong>&nbsp; The crackling broken calls did little to calm her mind and even less to wipe away the image of her partner Chiles' Battlemaster exploding in a flash of sun light.&nbsp; This had really been the first chance she'd had to mourn Chiles since the Gryfalcons and Elementals jumped them.&nbsp; <br><br><strong>...ll ...uns....fa...ack to posit.....scar.</strong>&nbsp; The call pulled Allia back to reality as she pushed Ghost forward through the dense trees, keeping her shoulder to the rock formations that bracketed their southern route.&nbsp; She couldn't help but shake her head as she continuously tried to activate the comm systems and respond.&nbsp; The Frogs had made quick work of her comm suite removing her ability to call out.&nbsp; <br><br><strong>" “Br..o...ree ....down!&nbsp; .....ok...t for......ey’re on us!”</strong>&nbsp; Slamming her hand down on the command console, the lights to flickered for a moment then switched on.&nbsp; Surveying her damage she knew a headlong run into the flank of the Clan mechs attacking the retreating company wasn't likely going to do much good with one ER PPC and a ER Medium Laser and an almost broken leg not to mention the reason they had picked this extract point in the first place, a headlong run through the dense forest would severely hamper movement and long range strike.<br><br>A feeling of loneliness and despair fell over Allia as she started moving towards the rendezvous point, cut off from her unit and lance, all she could hope was that she met them before she met the Falcons. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>28-11-2014, 12:47:38</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/1/13/Ha_Otoko_color.jpg)</div><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Wrociaw - Dense Forest</strong><br><br>It was complete chaos. Carefully laid plans had been torn asunder by misinformation. Not an uncommon event, but even the meticulously outlines backup strategy the company had decided upon had been rendered utterly useless by a bombardment they had been assured was impossible to occur. In the first few moments of the fighting, the mercenaries had already lost half their 'Mechs and support units, with quite a few steel-nerved veterans among the death toll. That left them outgunned and relying mostly on relative newbies to keep a level-head. The result of that was plain to see. Destroyed 'Mechs littered the battlefield, but the fighting was nowhere near done. Smoke billowed from wrecks and impact sites alike, creating a path of destruction all the way to the forest the company was hoping to retreat into. Moreno had made the right call, the thick growth would protect them, but the ever-cynical clanner highly doubted it would prove enough.<br><br>Charybdis was battered and in bad shape. Because nothing seemed to shake Damian as long as he remained focused on the fight, he had managed to preserve an admirable amount of ammunition, but damage continued to pile up. With one leg on the verge of ceasing up and becoming a crutch to limp on, and its left arm blown clean off by a PPC shot from an emerald Assault 'Mech, alert signals were flashing all across the board and the clanner was convinced the only reason his Ha Otoko was holding up was out of sheer dedication to bringing its pilot back safely. No one trashed his beloved machine; no one. However, revenge was going to have to wait, as he refused to let anger guide his actions. That would only result in a worse situation than they already were in.<br><br>Clad in his usual pilot gear, unlike many of the others in the company, the heat wasn't getting to him, not yet. Sweat colored his focused brow, and his eyes seemed to flick from one part of his field of vision to the next, trying to take in as much information as humanly possible. At this rate, he was going to burn out. He refused to leave anyone behind, however. The initial bombardment had obliterated his Lance, leaving only himself and a limping, battered Hatchetman to try and catch up to their commander and the rest.<br><br>Having just caused an enemy Heavy to topple over from the direct impact of a near-suicidal short-range mortar shell, Damian took the opportunity to bring one of his feet down onto the cockpit, the weight alone sufficient to crush it as the pilot was simply too dazed to respond. He felt a tinge of satisfaction which hinted at a growing bloodlust that should have caused aversion in the man. But, blood demanded blood in his mind, and it was a small victory he could lash onto. With his limping comrade saved, for now, he opened a comm channel to.<br><strong>"Cleaver, Charybis. Move it. You are in line of fire of that Shadow Cat's Gauss Rifle,"</strong> Damian urged as he continued to back away, only to find a shell tear through the center of the Hatchetman, which promptly exploded in a ball of flame. The clanner's fist met an arm of his command chair loudly in pure frustration, but a few deep breaths restored his concentration and he about-faced to run into the forest at full speed; or at least whatever top speed his 'Mech could still handle.<br><br>Within the relative darkness of the dense woods, he soon came across the commander's 'Mech, which had slowly came to a full stop not too far from the forest's edge.<br><strong>"Commander, this is Charybdis; status report,"</strong> Damian's voice did a poor job hiding his worry over his superior, and friend. He continued to approach the battered machine, which was in worse shape than even the blue Ha Otoko. <strong>"Commander? Status report!"</strong> he repeated.<br><strong>"That you, Harper?"</strong> the voice that answered was feint, almost a whisper that was barely audible over the sound of massive explosions that wracked the environment close enough to no longer be banned from the cockpit's isolation properly.<br><strong>"We need to keep moving, come on! Your 'Mech is still able to walk,"</strong> Damian urged as he circled around the imposing machine, only to find significant damage had been done to its chest and head. The scarring indicated a plethora of impacts from energy weapons, enough to melt away armor and expose the frame underneath.<br><br>A bloody cough sounded from the other end of the line, which helped the clanner to draw his conclusions. <strong>"I've got room for one more if you're injured. Open up the cockpit, commander,"</strong> even though he was hoping otherwise, the merchant-turned-warrior knew better than to expect Carlos Moreno to go out without a fight. He wasn't going to open up that cockpit, even if he could. Years spent on the field of battle together gave a lot of insight into how a man thought, and acted.<br><strong>"My guts are all over the floor, Harper... Shrapnel. I'm not going to make it."</strong><br><strong>"You have had wo-"</strong><br><strong>"No, I haven't... Go. I'm trying to set the fusion reactor to blow... If I'm going down, I'm going to take someone with me. I'll be... damned if they get my... 'Mech,"</strong> the more he spoke, the more feint his voice became. It was clearly a direct order, but still Charybdis did not move from the spot, even as the sounds of discharging energy weapons crept ever-closer. <strong>"That was a direct order, Harper!"</strong> more coughs followed after the outburst and after a few more heartbeats, Damian could only utter a long sigh and begin to turn his machine around.<br><strong>"It has been an honor, sir,"</strong> seconds later, Charybdis was set to its top speed again, each step causing the communication between the two to distort further.<br><strong>"Carlos..."</strong> the clanner was corrected, but before communications cut off entirely, a few more words were spoken. <strong>"Watch... Kari's back... Don't let her die like this."</strong><br><br>Damian took his promises very seriously. Before that moment, and since, he has never taken one with the conviction he had then.</div>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>29-11-2014, 15:08:31</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div> Kari’s ‘Mech was heavier then the <em>Shadow Cat II</em>, but it was half again as fast and, thanks to its jets, far more mobile in this dense forest. More to the point, it was near-fresh, while her <em>Black Knight</em> was battered and worn already. She also couldn’t let it pass, as the fleet-footed Clan ‘Mech could easily harry and savage their retreat, and was likely one of many more to come. Ignoring the heat, she opened up on the <em>Shadow Cat II</em> as it stepped forwards, determined as much to stop it as she was to avenge her fallen compatriot.<br><br>Another wave of heat hit her with almost physical force as her lasers rippled off, brilliant, scorching red beams leaping out to strike at the Jade Falcon ‘Mech. Several of them did hit home, slicing armour off its flanks and limbs, an impressive show but not enough to stop or even wound it by any means. It did do enough to throw the MechWarrior within off, however, their return fire proving far less accurate. A smattering of missiles and metal shards from its HAG peppered the <em>Knight’s</em> body, with most of the rest serving to do little but devastate the surrounding forest, reducing trees to splinters.<br><br>Doing her best to focus on the enemy and not the heat, Kari continued to backpedal into the forest, glancing around as she did for either more of the enemy or the rest of her unit. One was becoming more and more evident as she could see traces of other shapes moving deeper in the forest as the <em>Shadow Cat II</em> continued to advance. The other was worryingly lacking in evidence. “This is Bravo Lead to Black Sun Actual,” she began over the command channel as she let loose another volley at the Falcon ‘Mech, this one far more restrained. “Bravo Lance is pulling back. Requesting rendezvous location”<br><br>The result was silence, punctuated for a moment by the rattle of more HAG rounds peppering the ‘Mech. “Repeat, requesting rendezvous location,” was all Kari could think to add to the empty air on the command channel. <em>We have to be jammed,</em> she told herself. <em>That’s why I can’t get through</em>. It was what she wanted to believe, and what she wanted to be the truth. The simple alternative, why she couldn’t read her commanding officer and father, was just too horrible to consider.<br><br>“Repeat, this is Bravo lead-“<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>29-11-2014, 16:12:26</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/Ghost_zpsc7908c1a.jpg)</div><br>Allia continued to slowly move through the forest, the only indication of life still around her was the occasional crackle of static and garbled voices tearing across the Black Sun's chaotic comm network.&nbsp; The smoke and flashes of light that broke through the thick tree line only served to remind her that she was merely inches from the fight and in her state, more likely a good thing she was hidden.&nbsp; Thankful that Gheistwulf was still showing the rendezvous location on the flashing and flickering command console. Allia moved closer, slowly working her way through the trees, knowing any second a Clan mech could break through and tear her to shreds.&nbsp; <br><br><em> “Th is B..vo Le.... Bla ..n A...l,&nbsp; ..avo Lan...s pu...g ba... R....sting r...zvous ...ation........R...at, re...ting re...ous loca...,”</em>&nbsp; Allia perked up as it seemed like the signals were getting stronger yet more broken.&nbsp; It wasn't until the trees nearby exploded in a shatter of fire that could only have been errant missiles crashing into the trees turned Allia's attention.&nbsp; Her beagle probe flickered to life momentarily showing two mechs close by.&nbsp; One moving slowly towards the rendezvous, the second following close behind.&nbsp; <br><br>Checking the status of her stealth armor, she sighed.&nbsp; Still active, yet she wasn't sure how many of the plates were still working as she moved closer to the two mechs, her ER PPC and ER Medium Laser poised to strike.&nbsp; The familiar putter of a HAG turned her attention towards the trailing mech.&nbsp; She knew very well that no one in the Suns had a working HAG.&nbsp; She crept closer until the outline of the Shadowcat II broke through the smoke and fog.&nbsp; Without thinking, Allia's finger squeezed both triggers.&nbsp; The ER PPC and laser shot through the smoke, scoring direct hits on the back of the mechs right hip.&nbsp; Not concerned with heat as she hadn't fired her weapons in a while, she let the two beams concentrate until the system auto-cycled them.&nbsp; Using what speed she had left, Allia moved off, pulling back towards the rendezvous, cycling her PPC and Laser at the Shadow Cat.<br><br>"I'm not sure if I just screwed myself, but I hope that pulled enough of his attention away so that one of the heavier mechs can finish him.&nbsp; Not completely sure why she had stung the angry cat, she now realized Gheistwulf would need to hold together just a little longer till she they could pepper away at the Shadow Cat and get to the dropship.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>30-11-2014, 13:30:09</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div> Just as the <em>Shadow Cat II</em> was lining up its next volley, it was unexpectedly pummeled by a burst of energy fire from its flank. PPC and laser weapons scored its hip, wounding the Clan ‘Mech, making it turn its attention from her, even momentarily. That was enough to give Kari a chance, letting lose another volley of laser fire that savaged the Falcon ‘Mech’s side, slicing through its already damaged armour. She could see one of the LRM launchers erupt, its systems devoured by the angry intensity of the lasers.<br><br>That seemed to be enough to discourage the Clan warrior for the moment, the <em>Shadow Cat II</em> firing its jump jets and boosting away, disappearing back into the trees. <em>Probably ran off to grab his mates,</em> Kari grimly assessed, sweating as she quickly glanced across displays. <em>Best to get while I have the chance</em>. She continued to backpedal, looking around to take in the situation as the hulking BattleMech pulled further back. It was only then that she noticed her savior, a camoflauged <em>Ghost</em> just across the clearing from her, looking about as battered as her own ‘Mech was.<br><br><em>Allia, recon commander,</em> she quickly told herself, identifying the machine. <em>Good to know there’s at least a few more of us out there</em>. Keeping her eyes open for the enemy, she opened a tight channel to the other ‘Mech. “This is Bravo lead to Charlie lead,” she began. “Pulling back to rendezvous point. I haven’t been able to reach Black Sun Actual or any other members of the unit so far. Requesting status updates, if possible.” A part of her wanted any news at all, no matter what, just to simply break the pall of uncertainly hanging over her. And another part just wanted to hear a friendly voice.<br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>02-12-2014, 11:59:11</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/1/13/Ha_Otoko_color.jpg)</div><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Wrociaw - Dense Forest</strong><br><br>Damian had to push Charybdis as far as he could feasible have it take just to keep up a steady pace through the woods. So far, he had managed to shake direct pursuit, but what little of his sensors were still operating indicated plenty of enemy activity all around him. They were on the hunt and since Damian was riding clan tech, he would make for a very juicy target. The Ha Otoko wasn't exactly the greatest piece of equipment ever to come from Clan Sea Fox', then Diamond Shark's, many research projects but it was valuable nonetheless. While the damage to the machine was considerable, it could still be patched up, or stripped for valuable parts.<br><br>He had left his commanding officer behind, that was a thought he found difficult to shake. There were few things that could damage his calm and collected nature, but abandoning a comrade was definitely one of them. Carlos had had no chance of making it out of there alive, at least if the account of his injuries was to be believed. He hadn't heard an explosion behind him, so that either meant he bled out before he could set his machine to blow, or it had been just another blast among the countless others spreading flame and debris all over the place. He had seen a lot of battles over the years, and many of them had been bloody, destructive, chaotic and almost apocalyptic affairs. But, this one took the cake. He knew the Jade Falcon were brutal, but it was still something else to be slapped in the face with it.<br><br>He felt anger rising again, but instead of acting out on it, he pushed it down, as deep as he could. There would be time to break his fists against a boxing bag later. As he pushed on, it didn't take long for him to catch some familiar sights. The discharge of weapons reached him as well, and a Jade Falcon 'Mech attempted to get away by taking to the skies. Judging by the chatter on the comm, one of them had to be Kari, though the nature of her words escaped his comprehension at the moment. He knew that Shadow Cat was only going to be a problem later on, and he had plenty of ammo left to shoot the bird out of the sky.<br><br>Fortunately, he found himself in a clearing of some sort. From that vantage point, it was easy for him to get a lock on the 'Mech as it took off. A single pull of the trigger unleashed a full volley of missiles up at the Shadow Cat II. Direct hits piled up, the explosions taking any semblance of balance the machine had with it and sending it crashing down against several trees before it was reduced to a smoking wreck. With the coast somewhat clear for the time being, he decided to try and get word out to the two 'Mechs up ahead. The last thing he needed was to be mistaken for an enemy and get ripped to shreds by friendly fire.<br><br><strong>"This is Charybdis. Identify yourselves,"</strong> he began repeating the line as much as necessary, while continuing to close the distance between him and the other two. Smoke, debris and a veritable wall of trees made visual confirmation difficult at best.</div>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>02-12-2014, 21:17:26</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/Ghost_zpsc7908c1a.jpg)</div><br>Allia's charge backwards through the treeline in an attempt to put as much distance and foliage between her and the now presumably pissed off Shadow Cat came to an abrupt halt as a heavy flash of lasers tore through the trees, striking the Cat hard in the side, setting off a number of smaller explosions.&nbsp; The Cat's LRM launcher and right hip sparked as armored plates blew off or melted under the onslaught.&nbsp; Allia cycled another round of her PPC and Laser as the Cat foiled her plans, launching skyward on his jumpjets.&nbsp; The trees soured her shot as the PPC ripped through a nearby tree and the laser harmlessly tore at the already savaged LRM launcher.&nbsp; To Allias surprise the Shadow Cat's attempted escape also came to an abrupt halt as a flight of missiles tore through the Jade Mech's already weakened defenses and exposed position.&nbsp; In a smoking ball of flame and metal, the Shadow Cat fell uncontrollably towards the ground, his descent ending with a firey impact.&nbsp; <br><br>Unable to suppress a grin over the Clanner's unexpected demise, she couldn't help but hope that others on the field were having as good of luck.&nbsp; She turned to continue her push towards the Rendezvous point, coming up along side the Bravo Lance Leader's recognizable Black Knight.&nbsp; <em>This is Bra... lead... C....lie lead, pul..... back.... ren.....ous...oint. I h...n’t ..... able....reach Bla.... Sun Act.... or..... other.....bers of.... unit so.... Re......sting stat.........ates.......sible.”</em>&nbsp; The static and crackle of the comms hadn't become any better even though she was right next to the mech making the call.&nbsp; Thankful Gheistwulf had hands, Allia was quick to use the large hand to make a cutting sign along the kneck of Gheistwulf.&nbsp; She figured it would be pretty obvious from this position that her beloved Mech was in bad shape, but hoped that the cut sign would indicate to the Commander's daughter that she couldn't talk.&nbsp; <br><br><em>"Th.... Char....is. Id.....ify ....urselv....</em>&nbsp; The second call was a surprise that made Allia jump.&nbsp; She knew there had been another mech out there, the one that killed the Shadow Cat with missiles, but hadn't been expecting the call.&nbsp; From the sound of the voice, it sounded like the units perpetually angry Clan transplant Damian.&nbsp; Allia let a small twirl punctuate the edge of her grin as she though about the man, glad he was still with them.&nbsp; His icy demeanor and quiet professionalism had been both strange and comforting to Allia since she arrived to the unit.&nbsp; Her position in the Guards and her background with Nagelring had propelled her into a position of leadership in the unit, putting her in direct contact with Damian, Kari, her father and the rest of the old heads of the unit.&nbsp; While the relative freshness of her time in the unit hadn't given her much chance to get to know anyone but her Recon lance, but from what she had seen so far, Damian had been the only other one she'd had much chance to relate to since her arrival, making her desire for them all to escape alive that much more pressing.&nbsp; <br><br>From the look of her sensors, she could see the outline of the clearing inside of a rocky ringed valley where the Dark Star was hidden,&nbsp; It was only a matter of time till they were on board, assuming they didn't meet any further resistance.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
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				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>03-12-2014, 13:26:54</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div> Kari caught bits and pieces of what was going on over the channel, recognizing people more from snatches of voice then anything else. She’d already IDed Allia, and the second voice was almost certainly Damien. <em>Good to know he’s still here,</em> she quickly assessed, mentally improving their chances just that extra little bit. <em>Damien’s dad’s right hand. He’s the man who does the hard work in keeping this boat afloat. And if he’s alive…</em> Maybe it was wishful thinking, but the hope that her father was alive was enough to boost her spirits just a little bit.<br><br>The <em>Shadow Cat II’s</em> Starmates were still out there, however, and she still had no idea what sort of numbers they were facing. These Falcons were dangerous and driven, not taking any prisoners and not even pretending to adhere to Clan honour. She’d already seen them cut down survivors of other units that had tried to surrender without a second thought, and knew that it was not going to be an option. It also meant that any of the Black Suns that didn’t get away were dead, no matter what. <em>Not going to let that happen,</em> she told herself. <em>We will survive this.</em><br><br>“Charybdis, this is Bravo Lead,” She replied over the command channel. “Lay down smoke rounds north-west of your position.” She was assuming that his Mortars still were working and still had ammunition, but it was at least a fragment of a plan. At the very least, the combination of smoke and the woods would even further hamper the Falcon’s targeting. And right now, every little bit helped. “Keep pulling back to rendezvous.”<br><br><em>We’re nearly there,</em> Kari told herself, less reporting the situation as she was trying to reassure herself that they had a chance. <em>Not too much longer now. Come on, dad. Where are you?</em><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>06-12-2014, 00:25:37</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/1/13/Ha_Otoko_color.jpg)</div><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Wrociaw - Dense Forest</strong><br><br>Damian was not an excitable man by any stretch of the imagination. Even for a clanner he was strict, ruthless, stiff and far more than his peers, incapable of having the same fun most others did. Even though he had not held a particularly high rank upon first joining the company years prior to the disaster that plagued them now, he had always forced a form of obedience from his peers through presence, grit and the sheer fact that he -did- have the skill to back up the bark. He was an excellent Mechwarrior; there were plenty in the company who were better, but that didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. He saw the bigger picture, and once he had been promoted into a place of greater responsibility, the company's finances had never run more smoothly. Of course, behind the scenes, countless sleepless days went into making sure things progressed with a hitch, but few people were aware of his workoholism. Mistaken for anti-social and shunned for the way he behaved, he was anything but popular. There were a few exceptions. Carlos, Kari and Allia being the foremost, with the latter quickly gaining his respect through the way she led the warriors under her command. But he remained a very cold man to be around. Carlos had long since realized he never allowed himself to smile for a very simple reason. If he was the one to constantly crack the whip, he would be the one hated by the crewmembers. Carlos could show a strict hand, but allow himself to loosen the leash for the sake of loyalty and morale. Any flack would be directed at the clanner who would already be hated for his origins, by many, to begin with. It was an easy sacrifice to make for someone who gave him a better home than his superiors in Clan Sea Fox ever did. If only Damian hadn't failed so miserably in returning that favor...<br><br>The communique allowed him to properly recognize the two warriors before him. Kari Moreno, and Allia Rowe. Both sights for sore eyes. Had they been standing before him, that would have been applicable in more ways than one, he wasn't blind to the beauties, after all. But in that instant, the relief came more from the fact that they packed a far more efficient punch in the tight cluster of trees they found themselves in than he ever would. Provided they had not been torn to shreds as well.<br><br>Despite the pure chaos and the confused chatter across all channels, Damian was as ice-cold and collected as ever. He was cracking under the strain like everyone else, but it simply did not show outwardly.<br><strong>"Neg, ma'am. Only have a few regular mortars left and the weapon may break before I even go through those. Need to keep them on hand for suppressive fire if need be. We're going to have to make a mad dash,"</strong> Damian responded over the line, hopefully clearly enough for Allia to hear as well. Charybdis was in somewhat of a better shape than the other two machines, as he always preferred to have entire limbs blown clean off than have damage spread across the entire body and have everything set to collapse. It showed when the distance between them all was closed and they were granted a brief reprieve and a moment to think.<br><br>Damian finally had the time to bring up a map and he began to study the terrain as best he could, on the fly. <strong>"Making a beeline will get us killed. It might be risky, but I suggest we head due north and circle around the cliffs there. It will add another five to ten minutes to our retreat, but we will have greater cover and the enemy will not be expecting us to move like that,"</strong> the clanner fully realized the terrain there was far more difficult to traverse. He knew Charybdis could handle it; he had faith in the machine. But Kari and Allia knew their 'Mechs better than he did, which is why the final call was Kari's. The short and dangerous route, or the long one with more stringent pre-conditions.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>06-12-2014, 19:36:55</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/Ghost_zpsc7908c1a.jpg)</div><br>Seeing Charybdis break through the trees was a warming sight, forcing Allia to smile a bit.&nbsp; After watching lance mates and other members of the Company torn down by the Jade Falcon's relentless onslaught, to know some of the people she'd grown to like among the company were still alive.&nbsp; She scanned the field looking for the route to the drop ship.&nbsp; The ring of craggy hills had served as a valuable operational point of defense for the unit.&nbsp; The high rocks made assaulting the Dropship from its flanks unlikely and created a single avenue of fire for any incoming hostiles.&nbsp; It also kept aerospace attack down due to the reduced radar signature and high attack angle they would need to use.&nbsp; Allia felt quite proud it had been her team that had found the landing sight, she just wished they were here to see the plan unfold.&nbsp; The fact that the escape plan had to unfold this way was not lost on her.&nbsp; <br><br>Knowing she had Damian and Kari along her flanks, Allia turned back towards the hills. Pushing Gheistwulf towards the valley she hoped the extensive damage would hold on long enough to make it.&nbsp; <strong><em>"Mak... a beeline w......s killed. I....igh..e ri..., b... ...ggest .....head ...e ....th .....circl.....und ....clif......ere. It ...l a....ano.... fi....ten min.... our retr...., .... we....ll h....e gre...r cov..... d th...ene... ....ll .... be expe.... us ....mo...li... ...at,"</em></strong>&nbsp; Allia growled to herself as she realized the comms were getting worse as they moved.&nbsp; She didn't know if the Falcons were jamming them or if her systems were drastically getting worse.&nbsp; Unable to truly make out what Damian was suggesting, Allia stuck with the plan, driving the point of their small group, hoping to hook up with other units on the way back.&nbsp; The dense forest would break slightly at the opening to the valley, but Allia figured she had enough power left to make a dash between the rocks if there was any threat.&nbsp; The flicker of her command controls and her sensors drove her frustration higher and higher, being unable to distinguish sensor ghosts from actual mechs.&nbsp; Her HUD indicated that her stealth armor was still active, albeit degraded, she hoped any surprise she had in that arena would give her the chance to reach the treeline accosted.&nbsp; <br><br>Allia had a feeling that Damian wanted to take another route, to give them cover.&nbsp; Recalling the route in her head, she knew Gheistwulf would never survive the heavy terrain regardless of the advantage, and the priority was getting everyone they could off the planet.&nbsp; She moved slowly, PPC and Laser ready and cycled, looking for that Jade Green paint job breaking through the trees.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>07-12-2014, 14:18:15</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div> The interference seemed to be getting worse now, with Kari barely able to make out anything that was going on. At a guess, however, she figured that Damien was unable to follow through her request, either because he was out of smoke or his mortars were out of action. <em>Hope it’s the former,</em> she considered as she glanced over the display. <em>Because we’re going to need every gun we&nbsp; can get if we want to make it out alive</em>.<br><br>She could see that Allia was headed off towards the hills, the damaged <em>Ghost</em> clearly limping but still mobile enough. Even if she couldn’t entirely make out the lieutenant’s words, Kari was getting the idea of where she was headed and what she was trying to do. Keeping the <em>Black Knight</em> in a cautious reverse, she closed ranks with the lieutenant, trying to keep their makeshift formation together and something that resembled functional, while also striving to protect each other. Right now, her goal was survival; not just her own, but for as many of her people as possible.<br><br>For whole moments, it seemed to be working.<br><br>Maybe the death of their comrade had enraged the Falcons, maybe they felt like they had an opening or maybe they just were out for blood. Either way, a brief alarm was all Kari got before the bird-like form of a <em>Vulture Mk IV</em> stepped out of the woods, its PPC belching electric fire at her ‘Mech. The beam flayed the <em>Knight’s</em> weakened left arm, devouring both armour and structure in an instant, slicing into the bones and muscle of the mechanical limb. The beam simply sawed the arm off at the shoulder, the <em>Black Knight</em> shuddering under the impact and the loss of the limb.<br><br>“More of them!” Kari called out, firing back with her PPC and twin large lasers at the Clan ‘Mech that had assaulted her. For whatever reason, the shots went wide, savaging nearby trees and touching off several fires. An idea formed in her head, one that could almost work. “Shoot for the trees!” She called out, hoping that the jamming wasn’t too bad as to completely disrupt her message. “Maybe we can get some smoke up or at least a long enough line of fire to slow them.” Right now, however, she’d take anything that wiorked<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>10-12-2014, 22:24:49</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/1/13/Ha_Otoko_color.jpg)</div><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Wrociaw - Dense Forest</strong><br><br>Damian noticed how Allia pulled away from the conversation, without offering input, and seemed to be taking the straightforward route to the dropship. It was trivial for the man to deduce the issue, based on her professional conduct in the past. Her communications were likely even more shot than his and Kari's, and judging by the impaired mobility of her 'Mech, she likely would not be able to make the precarious trek through the hills. It was a pity, for it would have been the somewhat safer option for he and Kari. But, just like his commander's daughter, he was not about to leave anyone behind. He wasn't emotionally attached to most of them, though the two in his current company could be exceptions there. No, it was a matter of duty and loyalty. He could not expect people to watch his back, if he did not do the same for them. As such, he voiced no objection to the decision, and swiftly followed suit. He did not struggle to keep up, for Charybdis seemed to be in relatively better shape than his allies. This was not a testament to his skill as a warrior, but rather a fortunate side-effect of his focus on long-range combat. If left unambushed, he was more likely to steer clear from the brunt of incoming fire than front-liners such as the Black Knight and the Ghost.<br><br>Sadly, they did not get very far before they were subjected to more incoming fire. They had dallied for too long, but they were still not under attack by the brunt of the pursuing forces, so they still had a running chance.<br><strong>"I will hang back slightly and try to slow them down. Charybdis' mobility is less compromised than your two 'Mechs, so I should be able to keep up,"</strong> the decision was not a request on his part. It made sense for them to press on while he used what ammo he had left to cause some flames to break out. If he was in luck, an alpha strike on a damaged Falcon could even cause an ammo explosion; which definitely heightened the chance for fire to make life for the pursuers very hard indeed.<br><br>He slowed his pace, and torso twisted enough to get some of the enemies in his sights. Locking on was pointless, given the wealth of bark that was standing between him and potential targets. Instead, he decided to rely on his gut instinct, and manually aim for specific areas. Both LRM-20's installed on his 'Mechs frame flared violently as a large payload was forced from the containers as a single volley. The explosions were powerful and while he was unable to take down any of the targets, several trees were toppled and began to form obstructions, while smoke began to billow from impacts sites as fires spread tremendously quickly through the dry woods. As a final effort he turned his remaining arm towards the nearest Falcon and fired the last three shells he had left in quick succession. A grin colored his lips as two struck the confused, medium 'Mech, crippling it and causing it to explode from internal damage. Needless to say, that explosion fanned the considerable flames.<br><br>Despite that success, Charybdis was now spent. Beyond a few more missiles, he had no ammo left and he did not trust the 'Mech to handle the recoil even if he did. If any more fighting was to be done, it was going to be up to his two compatriots.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>11-12-2014, 04:40:17</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/Ghost_zpsc7908c1a.jpg)</div><br><em>“Mo... of ...em!&nbsp; ...be we ....get so...smo....p .....least ....ng enou.... of fire ....ow them.” </em><br><br>Allia gritted her teeth hard as she broke through the last bit of treeline only to see the red of an enemy radar contact break through the line to her flank.&nbsp; The range at which he broke through the trees was close enough he could have reached out and touched her, part of the reason she gritted her teeth; expecting the final shot to tear Gheistwulf's head or legs off.&nbsp; A split second of nothing surprised Allia as she turned to see the Vulture's PPC tear through the Blackknights arm, severing the heavy metal limb from the shoulder.&nbsp; Somehow the Falcon hadn't even registered her proximity to him.&nbsp; She found this odd, but didn't take long to cherish the thought.&nbsp; At this range she didn't even need to aim.&nbsp; Lifting her arm and turning her torso, she volleyed off an alpha strike of her PPC and Medium Laser.&nbsp; The streak of charged electricity and the green beam of death couldn't have missed if had been the side of a barn.&nbsp; The point that brought a grin wicked grin to Allia's face was the fact that the salvo connected with the Vulture directly behind the armor shielding the rear of the cockpit.&nbsp; The Falcon pilot had turned slightly to meet the threat of Charybdis and turned directly into the path of Allia's shots.&nbsp; <br><br>The more impressive part was that mere seconds after the cockpit of the Vulture exploded in a flash of blue lighting, the whole Mech shuddered and shook as Charybdis unleashed it's heavy artillery.&nbsp; The mech broke open like and egg and ruptured into a ball of scorching fire.&nbsp; "YEAH!!!&nbsp; Take that you fuck!!!!"&nbsp; Allia found it hard to restrain herself at this point, taking as many of them as possible to match the butcher bill for all of the men and women they had already killed.&nbsp; She was thankful that the Vulture's explosion had forced any of his mates to retreat away from the now raging forest fire.&nbsp; Allia continued her turn back towards the entrance to the ridge line.&nbsp; <br><br>Running as gingerly as she could to keep Gheistwulf moving while keeping it in one piece, she scrambled across the open zone between the trees and the rock.&nbsp; As she cleared the edge of the ridge line, she smiled as the Dark Star's signature filled her tactical display.&nbsp; The open cargo bay doors and the large assortment of defensive cannons on placed along the circular hull brought a sigh of relief to her.&nbsp; <em>They made it</em>&nbsp; She thought to herself, but the nagging question in the back of her mind, was how many had made it.&nbsp; &nbsp;
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>11-12-2014, 13:29:19</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div> The <em>Vulture’s</em> sudden demise bought Kari some relief, but seeing the <em>Black Sun</em> was infinitely more so. The massive Dropship’s cannons were already firing, serving to keep the Falcon forces at bay, their ferocity and bloodthirst tempered by the sheer firepower they would be walking into. The <em>Trutzburg</em> was designed to be a mobile fortress, and right now their ship was doing just that. <em>And as long as the damned Clanners don’t call in any more orbital fire, we’re in here with a chance</em><br><br>It was a thought that helped buoy her and keep her going, knowing that refuge was so very close. Her <em>Black Knight</em> had been pushed to the point of mechanical failure, and Kari was both physically and emotionally drained. Between how long she’d been in battle and the devastation she’d witnessed, she felt barely alive. And yet, the presence of the ship helped her so much. She kept backing up, the remnants of her weaponry trained on the distant Falcon force, as if daring them to come forward. So far, there were no takers. Allia and Damien were with her, which definitely helped her mood.<br><br>“This is Bravo Lead to <em>Black Sun</em>,” she sent. “We are coming on board. Requesting status of other units, over.” Kari was hoping that the three of them were the last, that they were the final stragglers of the formation. She knew there had been losses, and she’d seen many of them herself, but she also wanted there to be more of the unit, more of her comrades, her allies, her friends and, above all else, her family to be alive, to have made it to the ship and be able to live on to fight another day.<br><br>And there was also a certain tactical assessment that was guiding her hopes. Any other survivors would need to punch their way through the Falcon line in order to escape. Not only that, but the simple fact was that the longer the ship remained on the ground, the slimmer their window of escape was. “Repeat, this is Bravo Lead to <em>Black Sun</em>.“We are coming on board. Requesting status of other units, over.” Kari anxiously awaited a reply.<br><br>“This is <em>Black Sun</em> to Bravo Lead,” the reply came, crackly and broken, but legible enough. “You are the first we’ve seen so far”<br>&nbsp;<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>15-12-2014, 20:36:11</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/1/13/Ha_Otoko_color.jpg)</div><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Wrociaw - Dense Forest</strong><br><br>Damian kept up the pace, quickly gaining on the minor lead Kari and Allia had on him. He kept Charybdis torso twisted in the direction of the pursuing Falcon 'Mechs, behaving as if he was still fully capable of opening fire. The observant among their enemies would likely be able to tell that he wasn't firing a single projectile, and that his other arm's mortar had been broken by the earlier volley. However, the former Sea Fox clanner hoped they weren't going to call his bluff and continued to keep up appearances. Given the poor state of communications within the dense forest, Damian simply gave up attempting to discuss matters with his teammates. It would be wasted breath and might cause more confusion than it would lift. Better to trust Kari to make the right call when the time came. No one else seemed to know what had happened to her father and he was already trying to figure out how he was going to tell her about the loss of their commander. He had died a warrior's death, there was no shame in that, but he had been in contact with non-clanners all his life in some capacity. He knew they were not raised to see it that way, not usually.<br><br>He pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind when a Medium Laser discharge ripped its way through some armor on his 'Mech's shoulder. No permanent harm was caused, but it once again forced Damian to concentrate on how dire the situation was. A few more direct hits like that and odds were likely he was done for. When the forest finally gave way to the scorched and battered plains leading to their dropship, Damian felt as though he had gotten his second wind. There was hope for survival. If he was going to go out, it would be in a blaze of glory in a battle that meant something, not an operation gone awry and turned into a veritable slaughter.<br><br><strong>"Ma'am, we cannot wait for other survivors. The Falcons are almost on top of us. The dropship will deter their advance some, but it will not take them long to completely overwhelm us. I am the only survivor of Command Lance,"</strong> his voice was calm as ever, even though, for once, he found himself in a battlefield situation where some empathy and emotion could have gone a long way to convince Kari that leaving while they still could was the best course of action. He had been one of the last to actually enter the forest in retreat, and no one else had been on the other side of the natural barrier alive. If anyone else made it through, or was going to, they would have by now. Leaving people behind was not very high on his list of favorite activities, of course, but in his pragmatic eyes, they were doomed if they did not.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>16-12-2014, 05:02:16</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/Ghost_zpsc7908c1a.jpg)</div><br><em>Th.....Bravo...ad to.....ck Sun,&nbsp; .....re com.....n ...ard. Re.....ting ......tus......ther un.....,....er.” </em><br><br>Allia heard Kari's request to the Dropship for an update.&nbsp; It was broken, but she could hear through the static, the concern in Kari's voice at the prospect that anyone else had survived.&nbsp; Allia knew that recon was gone.&nbsp; Each of her Lance mates torn down with little regard for laws of combat of any form of respect.&nbsp; They were torn down like antelop being overwhelmed by a pack of vultures.&nbsp; Tears slowly filled her eyes as the rush of adrenaline from the running fight started to subside and the pain of their loss started to fill her.<br><br>As Gheistwulf cleared the threshold of the Dark Star's cargo bay and the red night combat tactial lights gave the cargo hold a dull red hue she turned quickly, bringing her PPC and Laser to bear in case someone got through the defensive line.&nbsp; Her back squarely against the inside of the dropship, she slammed her emergency escape button, forcing the hatch to pop open.&nbsp; She pulled a radio from her hip pocket, keying the mike.&nbsp; Bravo Lead, this is Gheistwulf,&nbsp; Recon's been destroyed.&nbsp; The fraking Falcon's tore them down without any regard for surrender.&nbsp; Tears filled her eyes now, as she added her PPC to the volley of beams tearing through the dark towards the shadows of Falcon mechs trying to break through the small chokepoint they had as an entrance to the landing zone.&nbsp; "We need to run.&nbsp; There's a whole Trinary trying to punch through that hole.&nbsp; We need to get out of here before their Destroyer targets us like the rest of the dropships."<br><br>She hated to admit it, but anyone who wasn't on the ship at this point, wasn't going to make it.&nbsp; Damian and Kari were running up behind her, but there were only Falcon's behind them, the door was closed.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>16-12-2014, 14:43:10</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div> The closed door was some sort of finality, a sign that there was nobody out there. And as much as Kari wanted to see more of the Suns make their way to the ship and escape with them, she knew that there would be no more. All she could do was hope that there were others who had made their way back already, one way or another. Or that Allia or Damien had bought more with them…<br><br>Allia’s words had already told her that was not the case. She could hear the tears in her words, the anguish of watching the rest of her lance die in front of her. Even if she hadn’t seen their actual deaths, watching the BattleMechs alone fall was painful enough when you knew about the fragile lives inside of them. Kari had seen Muriel’s <em>Hercules</em> torn apart and knew that there had been no chance for her to have survived. Josh Laney’s ‘Mech had been decapitated by a Falcon early in the fight, and she’d lost track of Erik during the retreat to the forest. She’d hoped that he at least had made it back, but that was diminishing.<br><br>Technicians quickly secured the battered husk of the <em>Black Knight,</em> powering down the battered ‘Mech and especially it’s damaged and potentially dangerous systems. She could hear warnings of an eminent launch, but as she did, something else caught Kari’s eye. Another ‘Mech in the bay, Damien’s battered <em>Ha Otoko</em>. The ‘Mech had been a part of the command lance, which meant that it had been alongside her father during the battle. <em>Which means-</em><br><br>It was a desperate, grasping thought, but one she <strong>needed</strong> to be correct, something that had to be right even if only because the alternative was too horrible to contemplate. All but ripping out her connections and tossing aside the Neurohelmet, Kari clambered out of the cockpit, stumbling down the gantry before running across the bay, her long hair streaming behind her in a tangled mess. She was half-naked, sweaty and worn, but right now she didn’t care. All that mattered was that ‘Mech, and what was in it.<br><br>“Damien!” She shouted out at the <em>Ha Otoko’s</em> feet, glaring up at the battered war machine. “Where’s my father?”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>19-12-2014, 22:56:44</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/1/13/Ha_Otoko_color.jpg)</div><br><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship - Hangar Bay</strong><br><br>Damian knew they were finished. Maybe it was cynicism and the doom of the moment that was clouding his vision with negativity, but in his eyes, there was no coming back from that defeat. The Jade Falcon had torn apart most of their 'Mechs, severely damaged their dropship, and cost the lives of nearly all of their warriors. What few were left were rookies, new sign-ons that were barely proven. The veterans, barring Kari, Allia and himself, were all burning out in the fields that he could still regard as the hangar bay door slowly slipped shut and the massive vessel took flight. They were leaving everything and everyone behind, but he highly doubted there was anyone left to save. There had only been an advancing wall of Jade Falcon behind them. Anyone caught behind that line, was not going to make it. As much as he had advised Kari to shut the door, take off and not slow down until they left the battlefield far behind them, it still did not sit well with him. While sorrow filled Allia's mind, he only felt anger, and he knew exactly who to blame for the fiasco, and who to take it out on. Finally, he brought his Ha Otoko back to motion, and about-faced to almost limp his way towards his station, where the valuable 'Mech could be properly secured for transit, but also cooldown. While all of his ammo had been spent, there was still more than enough gear strapped on and installed in the machine to blow up the hangar bay if heat levels continued to rise.<br><br>The moment the cockpit opened up, Damian pushed the engineer aside, almost causing the man to fall from the rickety scaffolding they were surrounding the battered Battlemech with. From there, he slipped down the ladder that extended from the floor of the bay to the cockpit height. Two thuds of his boots told him he had hit solid ground and immediately, his eyes began to search the surrounding chaos and commotion for a familiar face that had a lot to answer for. They had had a liaison with the local employer, the one that had been feeding them the intel gathered. It wasn't the man's fault, what had happened out there, for he was just the messenger. But, for once, Damian was all impulse, and he needed a scapegoat to ground himself again. Rage colored his expression, and everyone he passed by gave him the space he needed. A pissed-off clanner was not someone you generally wanted to get in front of and tell to calm down.<br><br><strong>"What of the main army? Has anyone heard of them? Please, I've got to get down there,"</strong> the young man had been trying to get answers, floaying from one person to the next, hoping someone from down below had returned alive. Instead of answers, he found himself face-to-face with a man whose palms began to squeeze his throat shut. He cried out in pain as he was lifted up and violently pressed down onto the nearest worktop, where he was held down and struggled for air.<br><strong>"You incompetent bastards! I will make you pay for this!"</strong> the former Sea Fox warrior-merchant shouted with a roar from the top of his lungs. It wasn't until two of the engineers wrapped their arms around his that they were able to rip him away from the liaison and attempt to calm him down. The young man gasped for breath as he had been moments away from asphyxiation. He found no support among the others of the company however.<br><br>When he heard his commanding officer's daughter call out to him, though, Damian remembered his position. He was an officer, he of all people should be keeping a level head. A shrug of his shoulders and a long exhale was enough for him to be released.<br><strong>"Get that useless waste of space out of my sight. If I see him again, I am tossing him out the nearest airlock. Kick him off the ship the moment we land or dock -anywhere-!"</strong> he ordered, his voice cold enough to freeze hell and containing more than enough authority to have the terrified informant dragged out of the bay.<br><br>He knew what he had to do now though, but the hangar bay was not the place to do it. He didn't know if Kari would be able to keep her composure and in front of all the people populating the bay, it would only hurt morale more to have her break down.<br>Like the rest of them, he looked a complete mess. Despite the heat, he was still donning his jacket. Sweat coated his face, leaving his hair to clump together in untidy locks, which in turn clung to his forehead unappealingly. Fatigue, hurt and anger reigned across his visage, with those wrinkles on his brow indicating its furrowed nature as they often did. There was some compassion in his normally steely expression. His clothes were not doing much better, as some internal damage in the cockpit had seared parts of his pants, and his neurohelmet, which still rested in his seat in Charybdis' cockpit, was in need of repair. One bare hand motioned in the direction of one of the exits of the bay. <strong>"Come with me, ma'am..."</strong> he urged, his voice a softer tone that would already more than imply what kind of news he was preparing her for. He wasn't good at this kind of thing. He was going to be too blunt; too direct. Or maybe that was how it should be done. Her father was dead. Probably bled dry in his cockpit. A painful, lonely, slow death. Not at all how it was supposed to be.</div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>20-12-2014, 05:50:40</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/Ghost_zpsc7908c1a.jpg)</div><br>Allia fought hard to keep her composure at this point as Kari's Black Knight and Damian's Ha Otoko pressed past her coming up the ramp.&nbsp; She continued to add her firepower to that of the Dark Star's at the few Falcon mechs who attempted to fire pot shots at the retreating unit.&nbsp; As the door to the hangar bay closed, she felt a pang of fear, the draw of remorse finally broke through the hard mission first demeanor she had thrown up.&nbsp; It was finally over, the last of the unit had escaped the hell of the Falcon assault.&nbsp; <br><br>A loud clang of weapons fire on the hull of the dropship and a sudden lurch in position told her that the Falcon's were still doing everything they could to bring them down.&nbsp; They didn't want anyone escaping off planet to speak of the complete disregard for decorum and the usual Clan style of battle.&nbsp; The Dark Star lurched again, forcing Allia to make Gheistwulf grab onto the mech bay's structural beams to keep from falling on the swarm of technicians who had come to secure the last of the companies mechs for the flight out.&nbsp; Combat assents were never easy, and crews were never ready for the time they didn't have to secure everything.<br><br>Carefully backing her Stealth back into its holding bay, the clamps latching down on the shoulders and waist, Allia felt the vibration pulse through the mech, the finality of the fight broke the last vestiges of strength.&nbsp; The tears&nbsp; swelled up in her eyes like some dam that couldn't hold back the flood any further.&nbsp; There was nothing else she could do but grieve for her friends, people who had become a new family, were gone.&nbsp; The technician's must have sensed something was off, since they waited to enter the cockpit and run the shut down sequences.&nbsp; Allia was thankful for the closed visor helmet she wore as a neurohelmet, it hid the suffering in her eyes.&nbsp; <strong>"Ma'am, we need to finish securing Gheistwulf before we mate with the jump ship."</strong>&nbsp; The technician said, barely sticking his head in through the small metal hole the mech had for an escape hatch.&nbsp; <br>&nbsp;<br>"Of course." She said through tears and sobs as she shut down the computer and logged off from the command controls.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Give me a minute."&nbsp; Pulling the helmet from her shoulders and settling it in the shelf next to her console, she carefully wiped her eyes, sniffles following quickly behind.&nbsp; Taking a deep breath, she pulled herself up from the console and moved towards the hatch.&nbsp; <strong>"I'm sorry ma'am.&nbsp; I wish more had returned."</strong>&nbsp; Allia simply nodded with a weak smile as she slid out the hatch, past the technicians.&nbsp; The yelling in the hangar bay did little to pull her attention from her own pain.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>21-12-2014, 14:09:48</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div> Kari had seen the brawl between Damien and the other man, and had been shocked by it. She knew of Damien’s past, but she’d never seen him so violently angry like this before. And even after they’d separated, apparently only when she’d shouted out to him, she was still taken aback by the raw fury in his voice, the sheer burning rage that was bubbling within him. She wanted to step back, to leave him be for fear of aggravating the situation even worse, but that would get her nowhere.<br><br>And this was something she needed to know right now.<br><br>He instead told her to come with him, the tone in his voice suddenly softening in a way that sent a chill through her body. The sudden switch from hard rage to a soft approach told her that he had bad news, and it was obvious what that news was. However, she still couldn’t bring herself to accept the fact until it was spelt out to her, made as clear as possible. Until then, there was always that combination of uncertainty and hope, the desire that a positive outcome was the case, no matter how insanely unlikely it was.<br><br>“Of course,” was all she could manage, her voice calm and steady despite how much she knew she was terrified of what would happen next. But the need for answers outweighed all else, and so she followed Damien out of the bay, even if it felt very much like she was headed to an execution. <em>The man does not truly die until I get there,</em> she told herself. <em>But he cannot live forever in uncertainty either</em>. She shot a quick glace to Allia, giving the woman a small nod as she walked past.<br><br><em>At least she’s alive,</em> Kari considered. She’d come to see the young lieutenant as something of a friend in the short time they’d been with the unit. It helped that they were about the same age and the same rank, which gave them a common ground. Her being alive helped Kari so much right now.<br><br>They stepped into a side office, the door sealed shut behind them. “Okay Damien,” Kari began, doing her best to sound calm. “Tell me what happened.”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>26-12-2014, 13:22:27</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>A million thoughts were going through Damian's mind. He still felt like wanting to grab onto the nearest throat and squeeze the life out of it, or at least grab hold of a desk and make it intimately acquainted with the floor, wrong side up. But he swallowed it all, barely, and kept his composure. He was an officer of a mercenary company, what little there was left of it. Together with Allia and Kari, he was one of the highest ranking survivors. Logically, it would either be him or Kari to take over from her father, but he squashed those thoughts along with his aggression. It was not respectful to speak of promotions when the memory of a friend was still fresh in his mind. His pace was confident, as always, but those who knew him well enough would see cracks in the usual mask of cold indifference. It took a lot to shake up a seasoned clanner, that much was well known, and he was shaken up by what had happened. It wasn't the first time he lost allies and even friends, and they had not even been the bloodiest of defeats he had encountered. But never before had he seen a company bested so thoroughly. There was nearly nothing left of them, people or gear.<br><br>From the corner of his eyes, he caught sight of Allia, and just like Kari, some relief as to her survival reached him. Familiar faces were important in a time like that. He knew the young lieutenant got along well with Kari, and she was likely a hell of a lot better at cheering people up than he was. Damian had known Moreno's daughter for quite a few years now, and while he counted her among the few he trusted with his life, he could still not reliably be given the empathic duty of comforting her after a profound loss.<br><br>Despite his attention being miles away, trying to formulate a best way to bring the news to Kari's attention, he still sent a calm nod in Allia's direction. If not for her fire support, he was skeptical any of them would have made it out alive. She stayed cool enough to function under extreme emotional and physical pressure. He was not going to forget that anytime soon. And he also repaid his debts where due.<br><br>As the two entered the side office, he slowly shut the door, and waited a few moments for Kari to sit down, should she choose to. He highly doubted she was going to have the patience for a lengthy tale leading up to her father's sacrifice, so he decided to be as blunt as he always was. He had no idea whether the short pain being preferable over a lengthy one applied to something like this, but what other options did he have. He still remember when the news came to him that his wife would die on that hospital bed. The doctor had been straightforward and brief. He despised them for it at the time, but that had vanished over the following months. He hoped she was going to follow the same train of thought.<br><br>He turned walked over to the wall furthest from the door, behind the desk in the office. Hands clasped behind his back, while he took a deep breath. Finally, he turned to face her, doing so only halfway so she saw his profile, rather than front.<br><strong>"As I was falling back, I encountered your father in the woods. He had been mortally wounded and chose to stay behind,"</strong> he explained. But, the brevity did not feel right. So he continued to speak.<br><strong>"His cockpit had been damaged, with the internal structure bulging inward and, by his account, having injured him to the point where he could no longer move,"</strong> his eyes averted from the woman opposite the administrative furniture between them and came to rest on a non-specific point on the floor before him. <strong>"I attempted to convince him to open the cockpit so I could take him along. He refused. He ordered me to continue on and leave him behind. He was going to self-destruct his 'Mech, hopefully taking a few Falcons with him. I do not know if he succeeded,"</strong> the strict clanner continued, sorrow barely evident in his voice, even though it was in his eyes.<br><br><strong>"Your father died a hero in battle, ma'am,"</strong> he did not know if she valued such a thing, but among his own, that was considered an honor.<br><strong>"My condolences,"</strong> Damian concluded with a slow exhale. He had lost a dear friend that day, and the galaxy felt a little emptier from then onward.</div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>29-12-2014, 18:16:32</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia caught Kari's eye as she walked past.&nbsp; Her weak smile faltered when she saw the daughter of the companies commander walking away with Damian.&nbsp; She had a feeling she knew what it was about, and Damian wasn't the type to share this type of information in public, not that it would make the news any less painful.&nbsp; It was hard for Allia to keep the tears from her eyes or the pain from her face.&nbsp; She took a bit of sollace in the fact that the sweat and dirt on her face likely covered her emotions.&nbsp; <br><br>Moving through the ladders and corridors of the Dark Star, Allia's mind was in a fog.&nbsp; The occasional lurch of the ship one way or another as they attempted to evade Falcon pursuit, the random thumps of rounds hitting the hull, did little to pull Allia from her thoughts.&nbsp; If the Falcon's succeeded in destroying the Dark Star before she was able to hook up with the jumpship and run, then they would all die in the vacuum of space, or in a fiery blast and it wouldn't matter anymore.&nbsp; <br><br>She finally found herself standing in the entrance to the crew showers.&nbsp; Uncertain why or how she'd ended up here, with a sigh, she walked into the showers, slowly unzipping the pink and black body suit that covered her body.&nbsp; An advanced form of cooling vest she'd been given as part of Gheistwulf's upgrade a few years before as a retirement gift from Defiance industries to her family for so many years of service.&nbsp; She pulled the form fitting elastic fabric from her arms and chest as the hot water filled the shower with steam.&nbsp; Her naked skin tingled at the change in temperature from inside her suit to the humid shower.&nbsp; Finally kicking the last of the jumpsuit from her feet, Allia stepped under the hot water.&nbsp; The cleansing liquid washed away the dirt and sweat, but couldn't do anything for the images in her mind of the Falcon's tearing apart her lance.&nbsp; Tears swelled in her eyes, as sobs quickly overtook her.&nbsp; The first time she'd really had a chance to lose control, she crumbled under the weight of her grief, collapsing to the wet tiled floor.&nbsp; Without a care for who might find her, Allia sat against the cool tile wall, letting the water pour down on her as she cried quietly to herself. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>30-12-2014, 13:50:09</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div> To Kari, Carlos Monero had been like Shcrodinger’s cat; he was alive until she knew he was dead. And now Damien had opened the lid of the box, and there was no denying the truth.<br><br>For a moment, or an eternity, there was nothing but a shocked silence in the room. The distant rumble of the engines was there, but strangely muted despite their power. There was also the sounds of weapons fire, and the odd impact on the hull, but those seemed just as remote, as of occurring in some strange world that Kari was not a part of, yet was ever so slightly aware of.<br><br>Inside, she was lost. She had no idea what to do or say; it was a situation that she had never prepared for, never once considered. And every reaction that came to her mind was just wrong. A huge part of her wanted to shout at Damien, to accuse him of abandoning her father or leaving him to die, or not having done enough to save him. He should have rescued Carlos, doing everything&nbsp; to get him back to the ship alive. That part of her mind told her that he should have been the one protecting her father, that he should have died in his place.<br><br>But she also knew that such accusations were unfair, her expectations unrealistic and likely clouded by her own greif. Lashing out now wouldn’t bring her father black, neither would assigning blame or accusations of leaving him to die. Instead, all it would do is hurt one of the few people she had left. As remote and cold as he seemed, Damien had still been a constant part of her life for so long. And now he was becoming her rock, a bastion of stability that she needed right now.<br><br>“thank… thank you,” she managed, her voice wavering but not yet breaking. “He died a hero, and we’re probably only here to talk about it because of what he did. Carlos would have done that, he… he would have wanted ads many of us to get away as we could, and he knew that his life was secondary to that.” Her mind told her that this was right, that this would have been her father’s wish. <em>The unit and its people survive. His life was insignificant next to that</em>.<br><br>“I’m glad you were there for him,” she continued. “I mean, well, you’ve been here for so long, and you were his closest confident and friend… I… I know it’s not easy to say, but he’d have wanted you to tell me this, and to be there, for me. For the unit.”<br><br>Kari swallowed hard, knowing how much the answer to this next question would hurt, no matter what it was. “How much is left? You, me, Allia… was there anyone else?”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>01-01-2015, 22:57:15</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>The silence was agony, pure and simple. Damian was not the most compassionate of men, but where those few close to him were concerned, he had more than enough empathy to give. Even though she was holding it together, at least at first, he knew Kari was devastated inside. The company had been demolished, and her father was among the victims. He had no idea who her mother was, but he was going to make the safe bet that she, and any other family, were not exactly in her life. That meant she was alone, at least on the level of bloodline. He knew how important family was to those from the Inner Sphere, so he could imagine what she was going through. Respectful as ever, he did not add anything else to what he had said, and did not intercept the silence. He let it run its course, until she pierced it herself.<br><br>He kept his gaze averted as she spoke, offering him a form of praise and gratitude he found he had not earned. After a while, he walked over to one of the viewports again, to look out it into the blackness outside. They had largely broken free from pursuit. At least they had made it out in one piece. It wasn't exactly the best of consolation, but it was something. His palms flattened themselves on the surface of a sideboard in front of him as he leaned over a little. <strong>"No. I failed him and I failed the company. I do not need gratitude or praise. I should have had a plan B; a plan C, even. Sloppy work,"</strong> he responded, even though he was nowhere near the only person who had had a say in the tactics and strategy applied in that battle. But as far as he knew, he was the only survivor of those that had made some of the final calls. He thought he had covered all the angles. All but one: the intel being incorrect. He should have double-checked what they had been given; run it through his paranoid scrutiny like he usually did. But it would have cost him days; probably also nights of rest. It would have had him tired on the day of the operation itself. He hadn't thought it worth the trouble.<br><br>He sighed slowly, letting the subject slide for Kari's sake. He was not being morose; merely factual as ever. She thanked him, but there was no cause to. He had been unable to save her father. That was a failure, plain and simple.<br><strong>"Two others. I do not know their condition. Maybe more, but I have not had the chance to read over any reports. If we even have any,"</strong> he responded, unsure the two he mentioned would even survive their injuries. There was so much to do; he felt lost for a few moments. The humanity in him was urging him to clean himself, find the nearest bottle of hardest alcohol, and drink until he passed out. But, he was still an officer of the company, he had work to do. Things to organize, costs to calculate... Families to inform, since the lack of any kind of surviving chain of command meant it likely fell within his duties to do so.<br><strong>"I will get you the reports as soon as I can. Expect a preliminary one in an hour,"</strong> he responded, not looking at Kari as he very clearly pushed everything down and, as usual, focused entirely on the job instead of himself.</div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>02-01-2015, 14:29:10</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>&nbsp; <em>Five of us. Maybe more.</em> The harsh realities of the numbers were sobering, and as much as Damien’s words had left open a window of hope, she knew that it was likely that there would only be a small number of survivors. Even then, she knew that there would be those who didn’t want to go on after such a crushing defeat. Reality told her that at best they could guarantee two; herself and Damien. Anything after that would be a bonus.<br><br>“Thank you,” she managed, her voice calm but with that ever so slight waver that made her emotions clear. Kari was putting on a brave face; she was the commander’s daughter and heir and would be their leader now, and as such had to look strong. But she was also very much still human, and right now was a human who was reeling from incredible losses. The two sides of her were in conflict, and it was hard to say which was winning. “Keep me informed if the situation changes any.” It was the best she could manage, more excuse then anything else as she left the room.<br><br>She headed back through the ship, doing her best to keep an impassive face, lest some of the crew or another survivor see her. <em>Get yourself in order, Kari</em> she told herself, taking a deep breath. <em>First thing, clean yourself up. You stink. Once you’re refreshed, then you can face whatever else that happens.</em> It was a critical and truthful self-assessment, but something that gave her a hint of breathing room. <em>Clean yourself up. Look good for everyone else, and give yourself a couple of private minutes to not think about what will happen next</em>.<br><br>Kari stepped into the shower room, pulling off her cooling vest, shorts and boots, each coming off with an audible peel from where the sweat had glued them to her body. She was about to start on her bra and (embarrassingly immodest, especially under the circumstances) briefs, when she heard something from inside the shower proper. Pausing, Kari hazarded a glance inside, really not sure what to expect given what had happened.<br><br>There was someone in the shower, curled up in a ball against the wall, features obscured save for a shock of light coloured hair that made them instantly recongiseable. “Allia?” Kari asked as she stepped into the shower proper, more concerned for her lieutenant and friend then anything else.<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>03-01-2015, 03:10:40</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___lightning_pin_up____by_vincentxyooj-d57yr3c_zps75e2c067.png)</div><br>Allia wasn't sure how long she'd been sitting in the shower, but she knew the tears hadn't stopped streaming down her face in all that time.&nbsp; She had pulled her legs up into her chest, her head resting on her knees, strangely enough all she could feel was the warm water running down between her legs.&nbsp; She knew there was nothing she could do about what had happened, but guilt and remorse haunted her thoughts.&nbsp; Why had she survived and the others had lost.&nbsp; They were much more capable pilots than she was, but they had been torn down and she hadn't.&nbsp; There wasn't any rhyme or reason to it, except either the Falcon's hadn't seen her or hadn't seen her as a threat.&nbsp; Either way, Allia was having trouble coming to terms with the final outcome.&nbsp; <br><br><em> “Allia?”</em><br><br>Deep in her own thoughts and her own remorse, she hadn't heard the slow thump of footfalls on tile moving through the showers.&nbsp; It wasn't until Kari's voice had pulled her out of her own thoughts that she realized she was no longer alone.&nbsp; Allia looked up through the steam, mist and tears disrupting her vision, it was hard to focus on the attractive redhead standing before her.&nbsp; The fiery red hair was obvious, but the intricate tattoo canvas that covered the majority of her body was a surprise even to Allia.&nbsp; It'd dawned on Allia in that moment that she'd rarely seen Kari without a jacket or some sort of shirt on.&nbsp; She'd know the woman had tattoos, but not this extensive.&nbsp; The fact that she was standing over her in a bra and panties barely registered in Allia's mind which was usually fairly sensitive to attractive women half naked in her presence.&nbsp; <br><br>She wiped away the water and tears from her eyes.&nbsp; With a soft sniffle, she gave Kari a weak smile.&nbsp; "Ma'am.&nbsp; I'm sorry.&nbsp; This isn't the kind of response you need from one of your officers, but under the circumstances, I hope you understand."&nbsp; Her eyes seemed to glaze over as she stared off into the mist for a moment.&nbsp; Tears started to swell in her eyes again.&nbsp; "There.....there was nothing I could do.....*sniff*....I mean, those fraking Falcon's came out of nowhere.&nbsp; No one stood a chance."&nbsp; The fear and sadness carried in her voice even with the sound of spraying water in the background.&nbsp; "Wh......why....&nbsp; Her voice faltered as the tears over took her thoughts.&nbsp; All she could do was lay her head back on her knees and sob softly.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>03-01-2015, 14:56:07</strong>
			</dt>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div> Kari could hear the pain in Allia’s words, and could tell just how much her fellow officer was hurting. <em>As bad as me,</em> Kari told herself, almost grimacing at the assessment. <em>Which is not what either of us, or the unit needs right now.</em> There was a part of Kari that wanted to do the same thing that Allia was, to curl up in a tiny ball and cry herself to sleep. But right now, that wouldn’t help. What the unit needed was a leader, and she was it.<br><br>And she couldn’t desert her friend either, no matter what.<br><br>Kari crouched down in front of Allia, a smile on her face. It didn’t come easy, and it was hard to stop it from being overwhelmed by what she was really feeling, but right now, that wasn’t a luxury she could afford. “Hey there,” Kari began, her voice a lot softer then it had been moments before, and very different from her usual, far more boisterous tone. “Allia, I understand fully, and I’m going to say that you have nothing to apologise for. You have just been through hell, and seen a lot of good people die. That’s going to hurt, no matter who you are”<br><br>She reached a hand out, gently caressing one of Allia’s as her eyes remained fixed on her face. She was soaking wet, both body and clothes, but right now that didn’t matter at all. “Don’t blame yourself for what happened. None of us could do anything, not you, not me...” she trailed off a moment as the image of her father came to mind. “What you did instead was try to save as many people as you could. You kept it together and lead us back to the ship through all that, saving my life and giving us a chance.”<br><br>Kari gave Allia’s hand a gentle squeeze. “You’re an incredibly brave woman, Allia. If not for you, none of us would be here now. And that’s the sort of person I need”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>03-01-2015, 17:10:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___lightning_pin_up____by_vincentxyooj-d57yr3c_zps75e2c067.png)</div><br><em>“Hey there......Allia, I understand fully, and I’m going to say that you have nothing to apologize for. You have just been through hell, and seen a lot of good people die. That’s going to hurt, no matter who you are.&nbsp; Don’t blame yourself for what happened. None of us could do anything, not you, not me...What you did instead was try to save as many people as you could. You kept it together and lead us back to the ship through all that, saving my life and giving us a chance.&nbsp; You’re an incredibly brave woman, Allia. If not for you, none of us would be here now. And that’s the sort of person I need”</em><br><br>Allia hated feeling this broken and vulnerable around anyone, especially around Kari.&nbsp; She'd had trouble connecting with anyone in the unit since her arrival.&nbsp; Having been thrown into a position of leadership because of her background had done little to endear herself to the rest of the crew who had been here longer, but she did her best.&nbsp; She and Kari had certainly not become close, but they had become friendly.&nbsp; Now Karis' friendly demeanor, the side of her that most people didn't get to see was a welcome change for Allia.&nbsp; She looked down at the firm hand caressing hers.&nbsp; The feeling was tender and soft, a feeling Allia had been missing for a while now.&nbsp; <br><br>Listening to Kari's words, Allia could tell that the young woman was holding something back.&nbsp; She could see the pain in Kari's eyes, and she could hear the fight in her voice as Kari tried to be strong in the face of so much destruction.&nbsp; Allia could only guess what the final total had been in terms of losses, but the pain behind Kari's eyes told her the toll was much worse than she knew.&nbsp; Kari's words had weight, and deep down Allia couldn't argue with the logic, but it was hard to not feel pain for what had happened.&nbsp; <br><br>A heavy thud reverberated through the shell of the ship followed quickly by a klaxon and announcement.&nbsp; <strong>"Prepare for emergency jump.&nbsp; Repeat prepare for emergency jump"</strong>&nbsp; Allia braced herself for what she knew was coming next.&nbsp; Suddenly the world around them froze.&nbsp; Drops of water from the shower hung in mid air without moving.&nbsp; Suddenly the crew shower grew longer and thinner until it seemed only paper thin in front of her.&nbsp; In the blink of an eye and a sudden lurch of her stomach the world reverted back to reality.&nbsp; A quick wash of nausea ripped through Allia as her perception of reality returned.&nbsp; <em>why had they jumped so quickly.&nbsp; Were the Falcons pursuing them all the way to the jumpship?</em><br><br>The return to reality pushed Allia's pain away for a moment as she stared across at Kari's lovely deep blue eyes.&nbsp; She watched mesmerized as water streamed down her colorful skin, along the curves of her cleavage and down into her water soaked bra.&nbsp; She managed a momentarily soft smile as another wave of tears threatened to push her back to sobbing.&nbsp; "UUuuggghhhh!!!&nbsp; Allia groaned past the pain as she reached up to rub her face.&nbsp; Her hands pushed past her face into her wet matted pink hair, arms over her head exposing her full naked breasts and torso.&nbsp; Her naked skin drenched in water as she stared up at the ceiling, trying to push away the tears.&nbsp; "Need for what?"&nbsp; She asked, fighting the uneasiness in her voice to try and rebuild her composure. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>04-01-2015, 02:19:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian was largely unresponsive to the parting words of his commander's daughter. She persisted in thanking him, and it only served to anger him more. But, he continued to bottle it up, letting it stew beneath the surface. Unhealthy and foolish, of course, as it was only a matter of time before it all came erupting outward. However, as always, the clanner expected there to be a new fight on the horizon that he could pour all that violence into. A constructive outlet; of sorts. Denial was a better word for it.<br><strong>"Aff,"</strong> he responded with tremendous brevity to her request. Like her, he needed to be alone, or at least he assumed that privacy was what was going to help her deal with the loss, instead of an understanding ear, comforting shoulder and a bottle of the stiffest drink they had on board. No sooner had she left the office, and a very long, very fatigued sigh passed beyond his lips. The office was not his, and none of his gear was there. So why was he lingering there longer than he needed to? The reason was simple. He still remembered the furniture well.<br><br>Years in the past, Kari's father had received him in it to see if the fugitive of clan Sea Fox was worth the risk of adding to the roster. Not only could news reach his clan's ears that they were harboring him, but adding clanners to a predominantly Inner Sphere company was never without significant risk to the cohesion of any lance he was inserted into. But, Carlos had given him a chance, when most would turn their back. After a few operations with the company, Damian had silently promised he was not going to betray that trust, or spit in the face of the given opportunity. He was no rookie at the time, and had had significant battles under his belt, but that did not exempt him from having to prove himself. Damian respected Carlos for realizing that starting from the bottom, and working his way up, was the proper path to take. And that had been the road Damian had been traveling for all those years. But now, in that singular moment, he realized he had failed. Of all the people that could have survived, many of whom had families, it was Damian that hadn't drawn the shortest straw. All things considered, he had even managed to get off easy. At first glance, while expensive, Charybdis could be repaired, and injuries to his body were superficial, and largely limited to some bruising and overall fatigue.<br><br>As his thoughts continued to spiral down memory lane, whipping up images of his interactions with the deceased commander, his knuckles whitened under the iron grip of his palms on the shelf-turned-windowsill beneath the viewport he stood by. His vision had blurred by that point, and he was no longer really paying any attention to the scenery that colored the distance. Even when they made the jump, likely to get away from Falcon pursuers, he barely registered a change in his surroundings. It wasn't until he reached the memory of his last drink with the man, a toast to Damian's favorite Clan Lacrosse team winning an important match, that he chastised himself for the distraction. He had work to do. Mourning the dead was for those who had time.<br><br>With nothing more to say or think, he left the office behind him, but he had not yet gained even a semblance of closure. His thoughts stayed behind, thinking back to the times Carlos managed to pry more and more personal information from Damian, despite the clanner's notorious, tight-lipped policy on private matters. Of everyone on board, Carlos was the only one who knew the reasons why he was there, and what had happened in the intervening time to get him in the company.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>04-01-2015, 13:48:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>&nbsp; Kari had been about to explain herself further when the warning had driven any other thoughts from her mind. Instead all she could do was brace herself as best she could and prepare for what was about to happen. The ship seemed to simply collapse around her, all reality compressed into a single point containing everything and nothing at the same time. And then in a gut-wrenching moment, it exploded back into existence, pushing outwards as reality reasserted itself and forced itself back into it’s proper shape.<br><br>She staggered under a wave of dizziness for a moment, almost losing her footing in the shower before she remembered where she was and what was going on. Allia seemed to be focused on her, maybe for just the instant of the jump, maybe for some long eternity. Either way, their eyes met for a moment, only for Allia to rip herself away with a cry of pain, staring up at the ceiling instead while doing nothing to hide her nakedness. That didn’t really bother Kari; growing up in a mercenary unit and living on a dropship for much of her life had meant that privacy was usually more a luxury then anything else.<br><br>What instead worried her was her friend’s clear distress; that guilt that came knowing that you had lived when so many others had fallen while wanting to have done more for them. <em>It’s something we’re all going to have a lot of,</em> she told herself, again gently reaching out to caress Allia’s hand, offering a hint of comfort to her. “Allia, I am going to rebuild the unit,” Kari finally stated, her tone clear and almost forceful in its determination. “We are going to survive this, and come back.” Even if she knew she was saying this for her own benefit as much as Allia’s now.<br><br>“But to make that happen, I’ll need good people,” She continued. “You’re a fantastic pilot and a great officer. You’re brave, loyal and determined. And I could not ask for anyone better” Her voice cracked ever so slightly at the end, Kari willing herself to keep it together just a little longer<br>&nbsp;
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>06-01-2015, 03:11:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___lightning_pin_up____by_vincentxyooj-d57yr3c_zps75e2c067.png)</div><br><em>“Allia, I am going to rebuild the unit.&nbsp; We are going to survive this, and come back.&nbsp; But to make that happen, I’ll need good people.&nbsp; You’re a fantastic pilot and a great officer. You’re brave, loyal and determined. And I could not ask for anyone better”</em><br><br>Allia looked down at Kari's hand, cherishing how warm and comforting it felt caressing hers.&nbsp; Kari had been a fairly friendly, if not busy part of the day to day life in the unit up to this point, so they hadn't really had time to bond, so her soft comforting attitude was a bit disarming to Allia.&nbsp; She found a certain level of comfort being close to Kari, a certain level of safety and security that she'd rarely felt in others whom she wasn't romantically involved with.&nbsp; While the idea wasn't unappealing to Allia, establishing any type of relationship with anyone at the moment was furthest from her mind.&nbsp; <br><br>Her eyes turned up to look Kari in the face.&nbsp; Only a few feet away, the warmth and comfort surrounded her like a warm blanket, regardless of the stream of warm water running down her body.&nbsp; She gave Kari a weak, crooked smile as she thought about the woman's remark.&nbsp; "Are you crazy Kari.&nbsp; How often to merc units get this badly torn up and ever really rebuild."&nbsp; Her eyes broke with Kari long enough to drift along the woman's canvass of tattoos.&nbsp; The intricate patchwork of colors and lines and pictures held Allia's attention longer than she had expected.&nbsp; "I mean, just as a matter of finances, I'm doubting the Lyran's are going compensate us for our losses simply because they gave us fucked up intel."&nbsp; Her eyes drifted back up along Kari's chest and cleavage before returning to her deep blue eyes.&nbsp; "If you're truly serious about this, how can I say no.&nbsp; But we seriously need to think about this once we've taken stock of what we have left.&nbsp; Most units don't take this level of destruction and come back fighting."&nbsp; She rolled her eyes while her grin grew.&nbsp; "Besides, flattery will get you anything you want, and honestly where else do I have to go?&nbsp; Allia let her head rest back against the wall, water spraying down on her hair, letting the pink strands fall along her chest and shoulders, partially covering her full round breasts.&nbsp; "Whatever you need Kari.&nbsp; But i still think you're crazy.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>06-01-2015, 14:07:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div> In amidst her greif and fear, Kari managed to laugh. It wasn’t much, a strange little chuckle that almost turned into a sob for a moment. “Yeah, I’m probably crazy,” She admitted, somewhere between self-depreciating and honest. “I mean, would a sane person cover this much of themselves in ink? Be honest.” That managed to bring out a genuine laugh, something that came from deep within her. “Thanks” That also added a smile to her face, something she really needed.<br><br>“I admit that the plan is crazy,” she agreed, her red hair plastered down to her chest and shoulders, yet still clear of her face if nothing else. “You’re right; the Lyrans won’t cover us for their screw-up. We’ve lost… we’ve lost a lot, yes. There’s very few of us alive, and our finances will be in ruins. We don’t have a single thing we can get from this fiasco, even. No salvage, nothing. But…” she took a deep breath, trembling as she did.<br><br>“I have to do this,” Kari continued. “I can’t just roll over and die, and I can’t let this defeat me. And…” she smiled again at Allia, even if it was losing its strength. “I’m going to need people to make this work. And knowing that you’ll be there means an awful lot to me. I…” she looked down a moment, only to realize that meant Allia’s naked body, which would ad sure-fire awkwardness to all else. “I can’t thank you enough for this. Really”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>07-01-2015, 05:13:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___lightning_pin_up____by_vincentxyooj-d57yr3c_zps75e2c067.png)</div><br>Allia continued staring at Kari for a moment, part of her mind locked on Kari's grand plan, the other part locked on the woman.&nbsp; This had really been the first time she'd had a chance to be alone with Kari, and something about the proximity of her new boss made her feel almost free.&nbsp; There she was, sitting totally naked in a shower, emotional and crazy and Kari only saw the headstrong determined officer they had hired so many months ago to bring some discipline to the recon lance.&nbsp; The lance had lacked true officer leadership for a long time, and just as they had started to come together as a unit, the Falcons had torn them to pieces.&nbsp; But none of that mattered now.&nbsp; Kari needed her to be a friend and a trusted member of her staff, and at the moment there was nothing more that Allia wanted than to be as close to Kari as possible.&nbsp; She couldn't read Kari's reactions to her current situation, but something about the warmth and comfort she felt around Kari made her wonder if there wasn't something there, no matter how deep.<br><br><em>“I have to do this...I can’t just roll over and die, and I can’t let this defeat me. And…I’m going to need people to make this work. And knowing that you’ll be there means an awful lot to me. I…I can’t thank you enough for this. Really”</em><br><br>Pushing the water from her face, her hands trailed back along her head until she pushed the water from her thick pink hair and pulled the long braid over her shoulder in a solid tail.&nbsp; The light hair hung down along her left breast as she pushed herself up off the floor and stood, her back to the tile wall.&nbsp; "You don't have to thank me Kari.&nbsp; You're father had enough faith in me when he hired me that he almost immediately put me in charge of people who'd been in the unit for years."&nbsp; Allia felt no shame or embarrassment standing fully naked in front of Kari, her back against the wall, her full round breasts and closely trimmed crotch dripped with water as she moved to her bodysuit hanging on a hook.&nbsp; "I'm hungry and need some sleep.&nbsp; Will you join me......"&nbsp; She grinned, a bit of a giggle escaping her throat.&nbsp; "....I mean for food of course!&nbsp; Not that I wouldn't mind curling up with you."&nbsp; Uncertain how her inadvertent flirtatious nature had been received by Kari, her eyes dropped to the floor, a little embarrassed before she pulled the bodysuit on and zipped it to just below her breasts.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>07-01-2015, 11:17:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>For a moment, Kari almost lost her composure at the mention of her father. It was something small, something ever so minor, but it was the first time that Allia had mentioned him, and yet served as another stinging reminder of what had happened. She still didn’t know how public the knowledge of his death was, or if Damien had even told anyone else. She had no idea of even how she should announce it for those who had not been there on the battlefield, and could only imagine the effect it would have on morale and her drive to rebuild.<br><br>And then, just as quickly, it was gone. There was something in Allia’s little slip that had her laughing, and Kari had no idea why. The lieutenant’s sexuality was no secret, and Kari had long assumed that Allia found her attractive, but that little moment, as strange as it was, seemed to break the tension. “Food, of course,” Kari shot back, adding a small, menatal note of <em>I know what you’d rather eat</em> to herself that only made her laugh again. And deep down, there was something sweet about Allia’s admission of the desire to share a bed; the thought of affection in among all the death <br><br>“I mean, it’s been… I don’t know long since I had something to eat,” she agreed. “And I know that an empty stomach is probably terrible for what we’re all going through right now. I probably sweated off a few kilos alone and… yeah.” Kari was trying to think of something – anything – that wasn’t what they’d just escaped. It wasn’t easy, but Allia was managing to find a way to bouy her spirits, and every little bit was needed. And even now, sharing a shower while trying not to blather incoherently was helping in a strange way.<br><br>“Let me dry myself off and get dressed, okay, and I’ll meet you soon.” She turned away a second, pausing a moment as she realised that Allia was probably staring at her near-naked rear. <em>Not a good day for sexy panties, Kari. Idiot.</em> “And thanks again. For everything”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>07-01-2015, 17:43:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian had his hands full. His first stop was the hangar bay, where damage reports and other assessments were quickly asked of the crew that was still working around the clock to try and make sense of the matter. Chaos and even some fights had already broken out as the devastated company's discipline had broken without the presence of strong leadership. While Damian lacked the charisma to keep a unit together, he most certainly had the intimidating presence to accomplish the same, if only for a short period of time. A few shows of authority and the incarceration of a troublesome element or two meant order was swiftly restored and the clanner made sure to have people focus on their work first, grieving later. Until they left the Jade Falcon far behind them, and until they knew exactly where they stood, there was not going to be any time for rest.<br><br>Before too long, he had managed to compile the files of the fallen, as well as the injured. The crew on board the dropship itself had actually gotten away fairly unscathed. Barely half a dozen fatalities, with even fewer wounded in the infirmary. The tally was far more grim when it came to the pilots that had been out in the field. Of the seven that had managed to make it back, only he, Kari and Allia were fit to stay out of the emergency room. One of the survivors had died mere minutes before, while two more were in critical condition. Only a single pilot would be back up on his feet in a matter of weeks. Needless to say, they were short on a few lancemates... Where gear and equipment was concerned, again, the dropship had managed to keep damage to a minimum. While it still needed repairs and some refitting, it had held up against the incoming fire and was going to be able to keep them all safe for the time being. The 'Mechs were another matter. Of those that had returned, only five were salvageable, a sixth could be stripped for parts, while the last was fit for recycling. That which actually paid the bills had been taken from them.<br><br>Damian banished grim thoughts as best he could as he continued to work through the numbers and the information that continually flowed into his personal office. Already, there was plenty of talk about how the company was finished, and he couldn't blame them for thinking that. No one was going to take the fall for it, since those responsible were already dead. Without a scapegoat, anger turned even quicker to desperation. As he ran the numbers and came to a fiscal disaster, he leaned back in his seat and brought the palms of his hands across his tired features. Over twenty-four hours had passed since they had returned, and he had not stopped to take a rest for even a second of that. He feared that, if he did, he would find himself honestly considering breaking his promise to Kari's father, and packing up his bags while he still drew breath. But, until Kari decided to leave the business, the former Sea Fox warrior-merchant had a job to do.<br><br>While all the results were preliminary and estimations, he felt he had enough to give his surviving teammates an idea of where they were at. To that end, he sent them both a brief message inviting them up to his office for an impromptu debriefing. He added no details on the results, figuring they could already imagine how bad things were...</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>09-01-2015, 14:28:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari’s brave face lasted long enough for her to get back to her quarters. It was only once she was inside, behind closed doors and away from everyone else that her mask began to falter, her composure weaken as the full weight of what had happened bore down on her. There was nobody around that needed her to be strong for them; no morale to bolster save for her own, and that was one well beyond her own salvation.<br><br>Instead, she simply let the inevitable claim her, not wanting to fight it any further. Kari crawled into her bunk, curled up into a tiny little ball to protect herself from the rest of the universe. And then, with no other recourse, she simply sobbed herself to sleep, grief and loss her only companions.<br><br>And yet, the next morning (or what passed for it), she was up, bright and alert, looking as professional and driven as she could given the circumstances. Simple fatigues made her look more of a soldier while hiding most of her tattoos, while her firey hair was tied back in a ponytail, a rare change to her usual style. She carried herself with an air of driven determination, one that was an effort to tell those who saw her that she would not be defeated, that she would go on, and that she would save this unit, no matter what.<br><br>But when she entered Damien’s office, the look on his face told her all that she needed to know, even before he’d opened his mouth. <em>That bad,</em> she told herself as she took her seat, waiting for him to tell her just how bad it was. A part of her could feel her dream dying here and now, and yet, she wanted to fight that every step of the way. <em>Don’t give in. No matter how bad, we can beat this</em><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>09-01-2015, 23:10:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br><br>Allia quietly walked back to the officers quarters, fighting to keep her thoughts as far away from the days problems and trying to look forward to the future.&nbsp; She wasn't quite sure how Kari planned to make the fixes that would save the company, but that wasn't her job.&nbsp; Her job had never had anything to do with company operations before, but she figured that was going to change rather quickly.&nbsp; Every time her mind started to drift back to the failure of the mission, she forced herself to transition back to the look of Kari's almost naked body in the shower.&nbsp; That was enough to distract her from problems for the time being.&nbsp; <br><br>Reaching her quarters she stripped off her bodysuit, realizing she'd not dried off in the shower prior to putting it back on.&nbsp; Throwing the suit over a chair, she stood naked in front of the mirror in her room, her mind trying to fight the pain in her heart.&nbsp; Slipping on a pair of boyshort underwear and a tshirt, a pair of worn fatigue pants and a pair of boots; she ran a comb through her hair for a few minutes until it was completely dry.&nbsp; It wasn't normal for her to let her hair hang free, she wasn't in the mood to tie it up, so she let it fall down over her back, shoulders and chest.&nbsp; The long flowing locks of pink hair looked rather odd on her from normal.&nbsp; From her point of view, the world was upside down right now so normal was out the window.&nbsp; <br><br>Throwing a worn leather jacket over her shoulders, a jacket that had been handed down through her family from her grandfathers time, she walked out into the corridor, intent on food.&nbsp; She wasn't sure if Kari would actually meet her, but she hoped they would get a chance to talk.&nbsp; She sat quietly in the mess hall while she ate.&nbsp; It was eery how deserted the messhall, an eeryness that only worked to drive home how much they had lost.&nbsp; Quietly walking through the ship didn't help change the heaviness in her heart, and walking into the hangar bay to see how much the techs had torn apart the mechs that still surivived to assess the damage hurt even further.&nbsp; Finally walking back to her quarters, she slipped into bed, sleep and pain dragging her down.&nbsp; <br><br>Waking in the quiet of her room did little to bouy Allia's spirits.&nbsp; She could hear the familiar vibrations of the ships systems which told her they were still alive, so that was something.&nbsp; Crawling out of bed, she slipped out of her room and moved down the corridors, hoping to run into Kari or Damian or anyone who might know how things were going.&nbsp; Picking up a plate of fruit and bread from the messhall, she moved into the administrative areas of the ship, thinking Kari might be working, hoping for a chance to talk more.&nbsp; Walking past Damian's office, she stopped.&nbsp; Kari and Damian were both there, and the look on Damian's face did little to give Allia any hope that there was good news to move on with Kari's plans for the company.&nbsp; Stepping into the office, she smiled.&nbsp; "Should I even ask??
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>14-01-2015, 18:37:21</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian had expected to be left waiting in his office for a good while before his two associates would show up. Not because he believed them not to be punctual, but simply because of how sudden his request had been, and that he couldn't bring himself to blame one or both of them for wanting to stay in bed and force reality to wait at the doorstep of their rooms. Sadly, reality never waited, so his message, if nothing else, would have to drag them from any potential slumber.<br><br>Damian had not had any sleep whatsoever, which showed on his face. He had finally washed up after working a few hours and actually running out of things to do. He knew his constant requests for updates from those working in the hangar bay and across the vessel as a whole was starting to annoy them, and when the night shift began, progress slowed further. But, by the time he had freshened up and changed into clean clothes, work had piled back up again. he was clad in his relatively casual attire of black fatigues, sturdy, dark hued boots, a white shirt and his trademark dark green jacket. The jacket sported a few insignias that indicated his rank, loyalties and responsibilities, but was otherwise fairly unremarkable. It certainly wasn't of any military standard issue.<br><br>Kari arrived first, and found him sitting behind his desk. Despite the veritable monstrous heap of information he had been forced to sift through, both on paper and on his computer, his desk still managed to look obsessively organized. The piles were everywhere, but there was some rhyme or reason to their location and orientation. What he had compiled for them was in a neat folder. While he painstakingly went over every detail, he was still fully capable of distilling the matters of import from all the useless nonsense for others, which is what he had done there again. Despite that, the document was still rather sizable, counting at least a few dozen pages of writing and numbers, with a few more of graphs and scans of reports and photographs.<br><br>He had been looking over the information himself, leaning back in his chair while his elbow rested on the arm of the seat, his index finger pushed against his temple, while his chin was supported by his thumb. His eyes looked up at his former commander's daughter as she entered, and he immediately shoved one of the reports towards her over the expanse of his desk.<br><strong>"Good morning, lieutenant Moreno. I will wait for Lieutenant Rowe before saying anything,"</strong> he stated as he put his own report down. They did not need to wait long before the other survivor joined them. He could tell they had both gotten at least some semblance of sleep, which was good, he needed their head in the game.<br><br><strong>"You should. the question is if you want to,"</strong> Damian responded before rising up from his seat and walking over to a viewscreen he had installed on one of the walls in his office. While he had a relatively poor room when he had first joined, the fact that he never seemed to spend a single credit of the money he made on anything like vacation, and seemed to have Clan Sea Fox' legendary ability to transform money into even more money, he had slowly expanded and renewed the place. Even though he had been nowhere near the highest ranking in the company, the accommodations he had for himself were rather enviable, and almost seemed above his paygrade. Not that there was excess. Everything was functional and practical, but also brand-new and state-of-the-art; insofar as that was possible considering the state of the universe they lived in.<br><br>The viewscreen did not show anything of particular interest, but the clanner clearly felt like walking and talking.<br><strong>"I will start with what little positive news I can give you. As you will be able to tell from the first few pages of the report I made, the dropship itself is in fairly good shape. There weren't too many casualties during the escape where staff is concerned and we have got a few willing converts from other mercenary companies that were obliterated stowing away right now. So, if we have a modicum of luck, we will not have to look for replacements. Equipment was kept fairly intact and armor and armaments do not need too much maintenance to be back to peak performance. If anyone is going to be making any speeches to address the company, I think morale will benefit from pointing out how excellent the ship's crew reacted,"</strong> he explained and, while it seemed like he was being complimentary, his tone of voice lacked all empathy as he obviously cared little if their egos were caressed a little or not, even if there was cause to.<br><br><strong>"Of the lances, there is much less left. The list of casualties is on page eight, with the tiny list of injured on the next page. I will contact next of kin and let them know as soon as things are sorted here. Unless someone here has the stomach for it. I will not lie, I am not suited for something that requires tact like this,"</strong> he continued, barely giving them time to look over the enormous list of lost friends and fellow warriors before moving on. He was rattling it off like it was business, content to hide in a denial focusing on numbers, not people.<br><strong>"Lieutenant Jirani has already informed me she will be leaving the company once her wounds are healed. One of the two in critical condition may never be able to pilot again, and the other is a question mark whether he will see the end of the week. Unless we are lucky, and unless someone can talk miss Jirani into staying, we won't even have enough manpower to fill a single lance,"</strong> he proceeded, turning around to face them by that point. There was more to come, but he was obviously giving them time to respond.</div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>15-01-2015, 13:54:43</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>The fact that there was only the three of them here made things a lot easier for Kari. It wasn’t just that there was less pressure on her; a small group like this was a lot easier to manage then a large crowd, and a lot easier to face down. Beyond that, however, the simple fact of who it was made a world of difference to her.<br><br>Damien had been around for longer then she could think about, and his closeness to her father had made him almost family, which also meant that she could be a lot more relaxed and casual around him then if he were another officer. It also meant that the pair of them could be more open, frank and honest, and didn’t need to pussyfoot around each other. That was what she needed right now.<br><br>And on the other hand there was Allia, with whom she had a weird but yet strangely comforting friendship. Their recent experiences seemed to have only bought them closer together, and there was a strange but also comfortable intimacy between the pair of them. It meant that she could also relax and be herself, rather then the leader she would have to become in order to make this work.<br><br>She listened to what Damien had to say, taking in each and every part of it. The words hit like hammer blows on shattered armour, the losses devastating in their completion. She knew they were bad, and had expected something akin to what she was hearing now. But even then, to have the losses come like this, quantified and stated, made them that much worse. <em>No way to hide from this,</em> Kari told herself. <em>Now we confront it head on</em>.<br><br>“Thanks for that, Damien. It’s bad, and probably worse then I’d hoped for, but we need to know this.” She finally spoke. “You are right; on paper, we’re done for as a fighting force. We’re going to have a hard time attracting new blood when we’re so shattered. Obviously retention would help.” She chewed her lip a moment as she considered their options. “Keeping Jirani would go a long way both towards morale and our overall strength, and will paint a better picture of us when we try to re-float the unit. So what do we need to do to keep her on board?”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>15-01-2015, 17:39:46</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br><em>"You should. the question is if you want to,"</em><br><br>Daimian's comment gave Allia pause, but his tone and the tiredness in his voice gave a more ominous undertone to the meeting.&nbsp; She looked across the desk a the numerous stacks of paperwork and folders.&nbsp; She knew majority of them were maintenance reports they received from the techs in the hangar.&nbsp; She'd seen her share of tthem as a pilot signing off on the repair reports for Gheistwulf.&nbsp; The rest, she could only guess what they were.&nbsp; <br><br>Taking a seat in one of the chairs situated around his room, she settled in for the long haul, taking small bites of the food she brought with her, she slowly leafed through the stack of papers that Damian handed her while he talked.&nbsp; She followed along as Damian covered the good and bad of his assessment.&nbsp; She was glad to see that the ship and crew had fared better than the mechwarriors, but she knew without the mechs and pilots the ship and crew were fairly worthless.&nbsp; <br><br>Allia could see how the news tore away at Kari's resolve.&nbsp; She understood Kari's need for the Company to survive, mainly as testament to her father's memory, but the armor around Kari slowly shattered away with each piece of bad news.&nbsp; Allia hadn't been a mercenary long enough to know how other units dealt with situations like this, but she knew from her family history in the Lyran Military that it usually took a few years to reconstitute regular military units.&nbsp; <br><br><em>Keeping Jirani would go a long way both towards morale and our overall strength, and will paint a better picture of us when we try to re-float the unit. So what do we need to do to keep her on board?”</em><br><br>Thinking through Damian's assessment and knowing what Kari wanted to do with the unit, Allia's mind wandered across what they could do.&nbsp; Putting the report down on her lap Allia slowly munched through an orange slice while she thought.&nbsp; Finally, leaning forward, her elbows on her legs as she looked up to her compatriots.&nbsp; "I can talk to Emily.&nbsp; We have a bit of.....history that I might be able to use."&nbsp; She felt her cheeks grow a bit red as she realized what she just admitted to both Damian and Kari regarding her personal life.&nbsp; While she knew how attracted she was to Kari, she'd tried to keep her attraction as hidden as possible.&nbsp; "As for the unit, is there any way we can force the Lyran's to pay reperations considering they were the source of the fucked up intel?&nbsp; I mean the MRB's gotta have some sort of weight in situations like this.&nbsp; Otherwise, I might be able to pull a favor or two from the Lyrans."&nbsp; She looked down at the floor for a minute to collect her thoughts before looking back up to continue.&nbsp; "Otherwise, I've got no idea how we're going to survive this aside from using the Dark Star and the jumpship to do escort missions until we make enought money to rebuild."<br><br>Her thoughts finally starting to form into a cohesive lack of a plan, she sat back in the chair and continued eating her breakfast.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>18-01-2015, 13:23:50</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari nodded to Allia, trying to remain optimistic looking throughout. “If you think it would work, then go for it. We need people, yes, and keeping Emily would help a lot. We’d retain an experienced officer, which is something that we’re going to have a lot of trouble replacing otherwise. Likewise, we’d be sending a strong signal that we’re still alive and not willing to give in. And… well… from an almost mean-spirited point of view, if she leaves then she may to spread around the news of how badly crushed we were. I mean, I’m not saying she would, but…”<br><br>Kari winced a little, trying to find what she wanted to say. “I don’t mean to say that she would trash us. I more mean to say that it’s just more conducive to our overall health if she’s still with the unit.” Kari blushed a little as she finished. <em>Super-awkward there,</em> she scolded herself. <em>Not helping at all</em><br><br>She nibbled a little on her breakfast, not entirely hungry but also knowing that she needed to eat, all the while listening to Allia and Damien’s discussion. “I’m not sure how much weight the MRBC has these days,” She admitted. “Dad told me a few things about how it’s been run, and how things are going over there.” Kari gave Damien and then Allia both honest looks, ones that didn’t seem encouraging. “The MRBC’s been effectively bankrupt for over a decade. Between the collapse of the HPG net, the fall of the Republic and the near complete devaluation of the C-Bill it’s lost almost all it’s reserve. And along with that, it’s lost its ability to enforce.”<br><br>“I don’t know if he told you any of this, Damien,” She continued. “Apparently, the MRBC has done a good job of hiding this, but…” There was an awkward silence. “We can try going before them, however, and pointing out what went wrong and how the Lyrans screwed us. At the very least, it can’t hurt to try”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>18-01-2015, 22:16:28</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian remained quiet as the two women in his company discussed back and forth. He was very skeptical, obviously, and was considering advising to pack up and give up. They were going to be in for a massive struggle from now on, trying to reorganize into anything even remotely resembling a potent, efficient fighting force. That uphill battle could end up with more bloodshed which would make cutting their losses and relocating entirely impossible. As always, he was being the doomsayer, but also the realist. Best case scenario, and they got some reparations and Jirani stayed on board, they'd still be hardpressed to find tickets they could handle that would pay for the upkeep of the ship alone. He could work his magic, as he had done in the past, and get them good deals wherever they went. But there was only so much he could do, because at the end of the day, he was still only human, and didn't have any political pull to truly go overboard with favors. But still, he didn't want to speak up negatively, at least not yet, not while both women seemed in surprisingly high spirits. Who knows? Maybe they'd come up with something functional?<br><br>As their conversation died down, Damian lowered the digits that were covering his lips and chin in thought, and finally voiced his opinion. <strong>"From my point of view, we would only be delaying the inevitable. Companies that were better of than us have gone under even when in better situations,"</strong> he spoke strictly, as always, but then folded his hands behind his back and released a very slight sigh. <strong>"But. If you two want to try. I will stay and help. I will see what I can do. I know a few people that might put some extra pressure on the Lyrans to provide reparations, but I am skeptical they would be willing to do so, no matter how much weight we put on them,"</strong> his attention turned to Allia, while approaching his desk and taking a seat. Elbows planted themselves firmly on the desk, while his hands clasped together halfway. <strong>"Lieutenant Rowe, speak to lieutenant Jirani. I do not know her full motivations, but I trust she wants to return to her family. If you can convince her to stay, we will have enough active personnel for a lance of four. That is the barest of minima; but it is something."</strong><br><br>His attention then turned back to his report. <strong>"Now, as far as equipment is concerned, we are not in much better shape. Most 'Mechs were lost out on the field of battle. Of the seven that returned with its pilots, only five can be refitted fairly quickly, including ours, Jirani's and another. A sixth will be torn apart for spare parts, some of which can be used to restore the active 'Mechs. The seventh is completely trashed and will be sold for recycling and raw materials. Whether we bother to restore the fifth 'Mech is up to whether we are going to hold out hope that the recovering pilot will wake up, with an inclination to stay with the company. The 'Mech was his, and still is. So, if he departs, he takes it with him,"</strong> he explained, as he finished the report and put the papers down in front of him.<br><br>The clanner leaned back and rested his temple against his thumb and index finger. <strong>"Before we do anything, we need to solve the most pressing issue. The chain of command has been severed completely. commander Moreno died in the line of duty, as did the second-in-command. We have no clear succession right now,"</strong> his steely gaze moved from one of the present individuals to the other. <strong>"I refuse the position preemptively. I am ill-suited for a command post of that nature. That just leaves the two of you. We need a commander. Now. And that commander needs to address the entire ship and assuage their concerns. Everyone is in mourning, confused and frightened. Morale and discipline needs to be restored, and they need to hear at least the basics of a plan,"</strong> the former Sea Fox clanner shifted in his seat a little, one leg rising to cross the other.<br><br><strong>"Once that is done, we can decide on what to do with the 'Mechs and how to approach recruitment and job offers,"</strong> he concluded, wondering what decision the two were going to reach. Personally, Damian had no preference. He would back whatever they went with. Kari had the name and experience, Allia had the bravado that was always good for morale. As for being put in a leadership position, neither had done something of this magnitude yet, so he considered them both unproven.</div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>19-01-2015, 15:12:04</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia smirked when Damian talked of speaking to Emily and trying to understand her motivations for leaving.&nbsp; Theirs had been an interesting history, though rather short in the span of time.&nbsp; A look here, a suspect brush there had been all the interaction they had had for the first couple of months that Allia had been on the ship; then one night after a rather crazy mission the energy pulled them together like electrified magnets.&nbsp; A bottle of wine or three between members of the unit in the observation lounge had ended with Allia and Emily sitting alone together talking.&nbsp; Allia wasn't sure if it had been the comfort of the situation or the warmth of the wine in their blood that had drawn them so close together on that couch surrounded by stars, but something drew them together.&nbsp; The talking and giggling and innocent touches had slowly pulled them closer like a comet that gets pulled too close to a star and begins to flare.&nbsp; Before she knew it, Allia had leaned in and kissed Emily.&nbsp; The embrace seemed to stop time, the way the world folds around the ship during a jump.&nbsp; Emily let the embrace linger for a moment then pulled away.&nbsp; That awkward moment hung in the air as Emily blushed and Allia tried to figure out what had happened.&nbsp; It wasn't until Emily told her of the husband and child she had left behind, that it made sense to Allia.&nbsp; The two women talked into the early morning, realizing a new found friendship that would grow deeper over the next few months.<br><br>Pulling herself back from the memory, Allia's feeling of sadness and remorse poked its head in again.&nbsp; Loosing Emily would be a hard loss, they had become close since that night; but Allia knew where Emily's heart was and understood how a defeat like pulled at the need for safety.&nbsp; "I don't have high hopes for Emily, but I'll do what I can."<br><br>Listening to the the remainder of the butcher's bill Allia's heart sank even more, knowing what Kari's plans were.&nbsp; There wasn't much a company like this could do with three active mechs and a Dropship aside from guard cargo deliveries.&nbsp; Now in today's world, you'd think this would be a fairly necessary job, but it did little for the morale of the mechwarriors as a recruiting tool.&nbsp; Survival and money were the top priorities at the moment, and after the destruction they had just escaped, there was little of both in supply.&nbsp; "If we just repair our three mechs and the damage to the drop ship, how much do we have for operation of the crew and dropship?"&nbsp; Allia looked from Damian to Kari, her brow furled in thought.&nbsp; "If anyone here thinks we are going to get back on our feet the conventional way we're kidding ourselves.&nbsp; We're going to need to look at this from a new perspective if we're going to survive.&nbsp; Damian is great at getting the logistical and financial pieces in place, but getting jobs for big money for raids and garrison duty isn't going to be an option for a while, and no respectable mechwarrior is going to sign on with a unit that can't promise credits.&nbsp; We're going to need to think outside the box on this one.......at least for while."&nbsp; She looked down at her plate for a moment, gathering her thoughts.&nbsp; Damian was right, they were the face of the unit now.&nbsp; The brains, money and morale of the units survival rested on them.<br><br>"Well....."&nbsp; She looked back at Kari, remembering the strong front she had put up in the shower the day before when everyone else was falling apart.&nbsp; "The Suns were your fathers, which means by default they are yours.&nbsp; So you are the only logical choice as the new commander.&nbsp; Between the three of us I think we have what we need to run the unit.&nbsp; That will hopefully be enough for now."<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>20-01-2015, 14:09:52</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Allia’s assessment was cruel but also true. Even if they retained Emily, the unit was going to be in a lot of trouble, and they had no really good way out of it. “I’m going to need both of you,” Kari admitted. “Allia, you’re a great people person. You’re probably going to end up doing a lot of our face time and be essential to any recruitment and contract negotiation. You’ve got a combination of looks, personality, charm and – “ she stopped herself, blushing a little “-stuff that just seems to work fro a lot of people.”<br><br>She turned back to Damien. “And I’m going to need every last bit of management and admin skill that you have,” she continued. “You’re a wizard with numbers. You can track every coin, every nut, every bullet… stuff I could never begin to handle. I don’t want you to hold back and I don’t want you to sugar coat things ever. If you have something to say, no matter how bad it is, then be blunt with me. Hell, if I screw up, then I want both of you to kick my arse over it, because I’m not going to learn otherwise. We can’t afford not to at the moment”<br><br>There was a pause as she looked between the pair of them. “So we are screwed. I accept that. But you’re both right; we need to think outside the box, and we need to come up with ideas that don’t fit traditional moulds, both for getting recruits and landing contracts. And so, if you have anything, please say it.” She nibbled again on her breakfast, an idea wandering across her mind. “One thing occurs to me; when the Wolf Empire took Solaris, a lot of competitors up and left rather then risk the new admin. Most of those have never been Mercs in their lives, and as such, a lot of units might shy off from them. It’s an outside, I know, but it’s something.”<br><br>However, it was Allia’s last comment that really hit home. That was the point that the full weight of what had happened again settled on her, Kari visually slumping as she took it in. “I’d always figured that one day I’d take command of the unit,” she commented, her voice breaking a moment. “Just not like this.” There was another pause as she exhaled. “I’m going to do this. I have to do this. But if I’m going to be the commander, then I’ts going to be because I deserve it, not because of my birth”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>22-01-2015, 10:59:36</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian agreed with Allia, though silently. His arms crossed over his chest and his ever-present furrowed brow adding to his grumpy air. He was as much a man of contemplation as he was of action, and already, he felt as though they were going in circles; stating the obvious. But than again, this was news to his two associates. He had been staring at the numbers for over a day by that point, which actually gave him less perspective than the rest. He didn't know yet what kind of unconventional means of survival they would be able to do. Some guard duty work would be a cakewalk for them, but the pay would barely cover the dropship. Unless, of course, the job had some added danger to it. In that case, though, they'd likely be too undermanned to even be considered by the employer. They were trapped, until something good came along. But, he gave the both of them his support, and he had made a promise to Kari's father to make sure she stayed safe. To that end, he'd put his ear to the ground and see what he could dig up. He wasn't hopeful, however.<br><br>His eyes flashed from one of the women to the other, noting the blush that appeared on Kari's cheeks. He couldn't help but wonder where that sudden bout of shame came from, but he was inclined to agree with lieutenant Moreno's assessment. Allia had the people skills. Damian was good at looking at the profiles and distilling the wheat from the chaff, but only on a technical level. Emotion in their warriors was just as important, if not more, as that dictated how they would fit in with the team, and whether or not they'd perform under pressure. That was something that required empathy, which he sorely lacked. Since he agreed, he added nothing else to Kari's words.<br><br>His amber hues settled on Kari as she turned to him. A simple nod was all she received in response at first, before his lips parted to state the obvious. <strong>"Have I ever sugarcoated anything?"</strong> he commented rhetorically.<br><br>As she brought up Solaris warriors, his furrow increased. <strong>"Arena fighters? We will have a hard time filtering the decent ones from the glory-hogs. But... It is not impossible. They would be hard up for some pay; any pay, which means they would be inclined to accept even a lousy offer from us. The clever ones in particular could see the substantial reward that comes with the substantial risk of signing on with us when we are at our worst. However, if we make it out of this ditch, they would be set in the core of a mercenary company that once again becomes highly profitable,"</strong> Damian theorized, finding some merit in Kari's suggestion. <strong>"I will scour the boards for anything, but if the both of you agree, I will pay close attention to former Solaris members. See what comes up."</strong><br><br>The matter of command was a tricky one, and he couldn't blame Kari for thinking she was being promoted just for her family name alone. As always, he wasn't going to beat around the bush.<br><strong>"You have not proven yourself in a larger scale command position, lieutenant,"</strong> he started, before leaning forward and resting his arms atop his desk again. <strong>"But at the end of the day, your competence only matters halfway. Your family name brings with it trust and some nostalgia. If Allia follows in your father's footsteps, she will come under much more scrutiny than you, irregardless of whether or not she can handle the task. You, on the other hand, will be trusted, whether you deserve it or not. As close as it comes to nepotism, I say we play up your name, and hope you are up for the task,"</strong> as always, Damian was brutally honest and was not pulling any punches. He genuinely had no idea if Kari was going to fill her father's shoes, and he wasn't going to give her reassuring pats on the back just to spare her feelings. However, as always, what he failed to voice, which could have softened the blow, was the fact that, despite his doubts, he still felt she was the best option for more than just her lineage. She had all the makings of a brilliant commander; it was just a matter of bringing it out.</div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>26-01-2015, 16:43:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia found it interesting that Damian even suggested the possibility of Allia taking command of the Suns.&nbsp; She knew it wasn't something that would ever happen, but the simple suggestion of her having to fight harder to make people take the Company seriously was mildly humorous to her.&nbsp; <br><br>She listened to Damian's assessment of their possibilities to pull new mechwarriors from the ranks of arena warriors.&nbsp; A rabble of undisciplined fighters wasn't necessarily what the company needed, but regardless they needed arms to become viable again.&nbsp; The larger issue was going to be training.&nbsp; Pulling Arena warriors who tended to fight alone was going to make working as a unit worse than difficult especially considering the loss of some of their more veteran warriors.&nbsp; "Of course....." Allia sighed, looking from Damian to Kari and back.&nbsp; "If we pull Arena fighters we're going to need to get them trained for unit combat.&nbsp; Which will require more time and money.&nbsp; We might want to keep our eyes out for any other warriors who might have escaped the bloodbath.&nbsp; There might be parts or pieces of those units who are worse off than we are, who would be willing to consolidate to save their livelihood.&nbsp; <br><br>Shaking her head for a moment, considering Kari's words about her being a people person.&nbsp; A smirk crossed her face at the thought.&nbsp; "You're joking right??&nbsp; How long did it take me to overcome my normal quiet shy nature once I came to the unit?&nbsp; Three, four months?"&nbsp; She couldn't help but smile at Kari knowing their new commander had a bit of a different perspective on who Allia was.&nbsp; "I'm here for you Kari, I told you I was and I'd do anything that needed to be done to get the company back."&nbsp; She stood, walking over to Kari, putting a light hand on her shoulder.&nbsp; "You're the face of the Company Kari.&nbsp; I'm happy to back you up and do whatever you need, but people need to see the fire if your eyes.&nbsp; The drive in your heart to bring the Suns back from the edge is what is going to get people excited."&nbsp; <br><br>With that, and a soft caring smile focused on Kari's uncertain heart, Allia nodded.&nbsp; "I should go talk with Emily, although I'm less and less certain what it's going to accomplish."&nbsp; She looked out the portal at the dark stary backdrop outside the dropship.&nbsp; "Then I think I need to go work out some stress for a bit.&nbsp; Allia waited for a moment to see if Kari or Damian had anything further they needed her for before she headed out of the cabin towards the medical bay.<br>&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>28-01-2015, 13:16:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari nodded to Allia. “I agree there. As ghoulish as it may seem, there will be other survivors who want to go on, and offering them a place will help us and help them. Obviously I don’t want to come off as preying on them at a vulnerable moment or trying to use their misery to our advantage, so we need to be diplomatic about the way we do all this.” She chewed her fingernails a moment in thought as she considered other options.<br><br>“The other thing that comes to mind is scouring Galatea for warriors without units. Obviously we’re going to be sifting in among the bottom-feeders, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a few potential good finds in there. With the current free-fall state of the MRBC, it’s hard to regulate things, but it also means that it’s hard for out of work mercs to get any support in their downtime.” She shrugged a little. “Which also means that they’re less likely to say ‘no’ to a unit that’s in as bad shape as we are”<br><br>“Either way, you’re both right,” she nodded to the pair of them. “It’s going to take a lot to make an effective force out of whatever we hire. We’re going to need a lot of drilling and practice before we get going, and again, that’s going to take experienced people. Even if it’s the three of us.” She smiled to Allia. “Hence anything you say to Emily will help. And let me know if there’s anything else you need as well.” She chewed her lips a little before letting out an almost nervous laugh. “Although to be honest, Allia, ‘shy’ is about the last word I’d associate with you”<br><br>She turned back to Damien, letting out a little puff of air before continuing. “I really appreciate the honesty. I’m going to do my utmost to be the best commander I can, and not just because of my family name. And to do that, I’m going to need you both to be brutally honest with me all the time. If I screw up, I need you to let me know. But at the same time, if there’s anything I can do for you two, then please let me know.”<br><br>There was a final smile to Allia as she left, a small acknowledgment of the woman’s calming presence. “We all need a stress break, really. Take advantage of whatever time you get here, because we’re going to be flat out the instant we touch down on Galatea”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>29-01-2015, 22:01:38</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian agreed with Allia that the arena fighters would take additional resources and funds just to make reliable. But, if they were careful with their selection, they would end up with more money left over than if they started hiring actual mercs. Sometimes, corners would need to be cut and risks taken. He was never a fan of quantity over quality, but right now, they couldn't afford quality. And if even one of those arena dropouts turned out to be a natural, they'd have made significant progress. If nothing else, they often had state-of-the-art machines that had been maintained rigorously.<br>During the lovely lieutenant's pep-talk, though, Damian kept his peace. He didn't see the point of applying pressure to Kari by putting so much faith in her. He believed she could do it, he truly did. She was too much like her father to do anything but excel, but the clanner in him found such encouragements a waste of time and a means to make her conceited and complacent. Whatever the case, he gave the lieutenant a small nod as she left.<br><br>For a few moments, Damian leaned forward on his desk, elbows planting themselves firmly on the top, while his hands rubbed along his face. He was very clearly exhausted, but the moment his eyes fell on the paperwork that was still left to do on his desk, it was obvious he wasn't going to be stopping anytime soon. Palms on his desk, he released a slight sigh before turning his amber eyes to his new commander. <strong>"I have more work to do. Unless you have any other questions or concerns, I should back to it. Details are in the report,"</strong> he explained, motioning for the document on the desk in front of her.As always, he seemed perfectly willing to work himself into an early grave once he got obsessed. But it was also a coping mechanism, one that took him right back to the single greatest tragedy in his life.<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>Emily wasn't hard to find. After having gotten her check-up, she had already packed up a lot of her gear and was in one of the locker rooms, clad in casual wear. She'd likely made plans to get off the ship at the earliest convenience. Allia would know the look on her face well. Emily was not an easy woman to get along with. She was headstrong, very confident and she had this nasty tendency of always being right. Even now, it really was the best choice for her to leave. But she and the company went back quite a way, and her abilities behind the controls of a 'Mech were considerable. She didn't notice Allia's approach at first, as she focused on stuffing what was in her locker into a duffelbag. With strikingly blue eyes and chocolate brown hair, she painted a lovely picture of a mature woman. Age was started to catch up to her, but she had definitely aged gracefully.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>30-01-2015, 00:24:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>The doc had told Allia that Emily had been released with some minor bruises and other issues.&nbsp; She'd been lucky compared to the others still lying in sickbay, teetering on the edge between a normal life and death.&nbsp; She checked the crew quarters to no avail, the quarters were eerily quiet and empty, Allia knew someone was going to have to go through the rooms and collect up the belongings of those they lost.&nbsp; Finally ending up at the locker room near the hangar bay where most of the warriors kept their pilot gear she heard the sounds of someone rummaging through a locker.&nbsp; <br><br>Allia quietly walked into the room, leaning softly against a locker, her arms crossed as she watched Emily fill the duffelbag with her belongings.&nbsp; She'd spent the time searching the ship trying to think of a way to convince Emily to stay.&nbsp; She was an exceptional mechwarrior, her headstrong attitude kept her from reaching the potential of a good officer, but she had always been a good leader among the unit veterans.&nbsp; Now she was alone, all of the people she had spent so many years fighting with were gone and what did she have left but a need to head home and be with her family.&nbsp; <br><br>"Hey."&nbsp; Allia watched, pangs of remorse swelling her heart.&nbsp; She knew the pain that Emily was feeling, being away from her family.&nbsp; Being a mother seperated from her children was a different feeling, but Allia didn't want Emily to go.&nbsp; They had grown close, and if Emily left then the destruction of the Jade Falcon would finally be complete.&nbsp; It would be as if everyone had died back on the planet.&nbsp; "I hear you're leaving.&nbsp; I don't suppose there's anything I can say to change your mind."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>01-02-2015, 14:08:25</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari waited until Allia was gone to turn back to Damien at his desk, her hands casually, almost absent-mindedly running over the reports. “Damien, I…” she began, her voice halting a moment. Taking a deep breath, Kari composed herself before she spoke again. “Thank you.” She managed. “Thank you for deciding to remain here, and for helping us do this. I… I know I couldn’t pull this off without you, and I mean that in a number of ways.”<br><br>She sat back down, her eyes focused on him. “I mean, first there’s your skills with numbers and logistics and finances and all that. It’s stuff that’s all well beyond me, that I couldn’t even hope to manage. Without you, we’d be completely sunk and… yeah. I mean, I should probably learn some of this stuff as well if I’m going to run the unit and not be completely arse-worthless at it, so you’ll definitely need to teach me.” She was babbling, and she knew it, her fight to stave off the inevitable fading fast. Being strong wasn’t easy, especially given the losses she’d suffered being so much more personal.<br><br>“You probably know this, Damien,” She continued. “But… I’m the last of my family. Dad had no other kids, and mom…” she trailed off for a moment before continuing. “Anyway, this is all a part of why I need to do this. I can’t let everybody down.” There was a pause. “My great-grandmother was a survivor of a failed family unit too. It’s strange, but in some ways, our situations are similar. She wound up joining another command, then bouncing through a few more along her career. It was her daughter who became the Suns’ first commander.”<br><br>“So that’s a big part of why.” Kari managed, fumbling with her hands as she did. <em>Okay, stop pussyfooting around the issue. You need to know this. You won’t be able to live without it, and it will eat you up otherwise</em><br><br>“Damien,” she continued. “Tell me... tell me what happened to Dad. Please. Don’t hold back on me. I need to know”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>02-02-2015, 12:56:24</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian leaned back in his seat when Kari began to talk. For a brief instance, there was a flash of annoyance on his gruff features when it was clear he wasn't going to be left alone yet. His hint that he wanted her to leave hadn't been all that subtle. But, he quickly reminded himself there was now a different chain of command, and it was better she spoke her mind now, than bottle it up and get distracted later. His work could wait... for a little while. But it quickly became apparent that the subject was going to be uncomfortably emotional. It wasn't that the clanner was entirely stumped or apathetic; but many times he simply believed that everyone was as pragmatic as he was. Of course, he was human; flesh and blood, and even though he refused to admit it, he needed to talk to someone just as badly.<br><br><strong>"You do not need to thank me. Even if I were to leave, where would I go. Just concentrate on the task at hand. We can pat backs later,"</strong> he explained, his fatigue not helping his grumpy mood. He shifted and crossed his arms over his chest as she began to applaud his skills, but it did not seem to stroke his ego like it would others. To him, he just seemed to hear her underselling herself. <strong>"I will teach you what you need to know. But the important thing is that you lead. By example and by character. The nitty gritty can be left to me,"</strong> he responded.<br><br>Despite everything, Damian was a good listener. When one spoke to him, his eyes were focused on theirs. He listened to every word that passed their lips and he just kept silent until it seemed like they stopped, and needed to hear something; anything to help them focus again. He was no good at pep talks or at making people feel better, another reason why he immediately passed up any chance at replacing Carlos. But he knew how to cut through all the doubts and get to the core of a matter, of what someone -had- to do, as opposed to what they wished they could do. It was akin to a very sober slap to the face, but he found it tended to work oddly well. At first, though, he didn't quite know what she was getting at. He nodded when she mentioned her lack of direct family, but slowly, he began to piece it together.<br><br>Kari would know it was uncomfortable and painful, even for the iron-faced clanner. He would clear his throat, and avert his eyes just enough so he looked at her forehead instead of into hers.<br><strong>"I was not some glorious battle for the ages, ma'am,"</strong> he warned, but he knew resolve when he saw it.<br>He sighed again, before planting his palms onto the arms of his chair and lifting himself up out of it so he could pace to one wall of his office, the one that was covered in the few personal items he had on display outside of his room. They were just general paraphernalia for the only sport he cared about.<br><strong>"I was making my retreat after losing the last of recon lance to a barrage. His 'Mech was standing still in a tiny clearing. The damage didn't seem too bad at first, so I attempted to hail him. When I circled to the front, he finally responded, and I noticed how a direct hit to his cockpit had torn apart the armor and insides,"</strong> he stopped for a moment, actually looking at Kari through the reflection in a framed picture of one of the best players his favorite team had ever had. His hands clasped together behind his back and he exhaled slowly.<br><strong>"He seemed barely awake; barely alive. The hit had shoved shrapnel and debris into the cockpit. Apparently, it had injured his abdomen. His... description was colorful,"</strong> he continued, adding the last bit only because he knew Kari would remember how fond her father was of being blunt with his exclamations; swear words were a favorite. <strong>"He was going to die long before I got him anywhere. I insisted he moved from his 'Mech into Charybdis, but he refused and gave me a direct order. He was going to overload his machine and try and take passing Falcons with him. I do not know if he was successful. But there was no chance for him to make it out of there alive,"</strong> as he finished, he looked at Kari from over his shoulder, a little emotion on his face as he missed his friend, and felt compassion for her.<br><br><strong>"He made me promise something,"</strong> he started, not knowing what compelled him to tell her when he had earlier been resolved to never have her find out. <strong>"I promised I would look after you. I intend on keeping that promise."</strong><br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>Emily did not turn to look at Allia when she heard the soft voice greet her. The stern woman remained silent for a few moments as she shoved a towel unceremoniously into her bag. She had a few bruises, but nothing major, as well as a small, patched-up cut just above her left brow. Eventually, a long sigh passed her lips and she turned around to face the lieutenant.<br><strong>"No, there isn't. The company's dead, Allia. You know it, I know it,"</strong> she admitted, her voice having a husky, deep but still feminine tone to it. <strong>"I had to send my husband a message essentially telling him I almost died out there yesterday. My kids will grow up without their mother. I don't see them often as it is, but at least I still had a paycheck to send home while my husband breaks his body working himself to death in a factory."</strong> With another sigh, the experienced woman sat down on the wooden bench, next to her sports bag. Elbows moved to rest upon her lap as her palms rubbed along her face; a visage that was starting to show wrinkles and age.<br><br><strong>"That clanner sent you didn't he? I'm going to guess that bastard's taken over as commander? Figures,"</strong> she assumed. <strong>"Never liked him. He's always watching us and I can swear he knows everything about us while I don't even know where the fuck he came from. Wouldn't be surprised if he misfed the info. It just turned out a little messier than he had hoped,"</strong> Emily had never gotten along with Damian, though no one did, but it was obvious she was searching for a scapegoat at this point.<br><strong>"I'm not working for a Sea Fox gangster. Carlos' legacy deserves better than to be handed over to his ilk."</strong></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>03-02-2015, 15:21:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia giggled internally at the irony of her comments but couldn't help show a sad smile hearing the anger or fear in Emily's words.&nbsp; She was sure it was more fear than anger, but fear had a tendency to turn into anger and anger generally needed to find an outlet to make sense to the human mind.&nbsp; Maybe that was the difference between Allia and Emily, having grown up in a family of military warriors and mechwarriors, she knew how to channel her fear and her anger into things that were less destructive.&nbsp; <br><br>She walked over to Emily as she sat on the bench.&nbsp; Kneeling before the attractive mature woman, Allia reached a hand up, softly touching the scar above her eye while her other hand softly held the back of Emily's hands.&nbsp; The intimate touch was the closest they'd been in a few weeks, concerns about her family back home and preparations for the mission had pulled their attentions elsewhere, keeping them from talking like the friends they had become.&nbsp; "Actually, Damian tried to warn me off of talking to you, he felt you were resolved in your decision."&nbsp; She couldn't help but give the woman a warm smile, being this close to Emily in any capacity had always been a charge of energy for her.&nbsp; "But Kari is taking command, it's what her father wanted and it's what she wants.&nbsp; She's determined to resurrect the company.&nbsp; And honestly, as much as I may have agreed with you yesterday about the fate of the company, I'm determined to help Kari until we succeed or fail."&nbsp; The hand that caressed Emily's cut dropped to the woman's hands, cupping both of them in hers as Allia's piercing green eyes looked up into Emily's deep blue eyes, trying to read the woman's thoughts.&nbsp; They had become closer over the past few months, and Allia felt she knew Emily well, but reading her thoughts was still something they hadn't reached yet.&nbsp; <br><br>"We're landing in Galatea in a few days, we're going to be out of action for a while.&nbsp; The chances of finding even a low intensity contract that fits our current sitaution is very unlikely.&nbsp; Kari's going to need compentent officers to help just getting back on our feet.&nbsp; She needs you...."&nbsp; Allia looked away for a second, the emotion in her eyes swelling up from inside causing her to look away to compose her thoughts.&nbsp; ".....and I know it's a bit selfish, but I need you.&nbsp; With Chiles, Mandy and Joker gone I couldn't stand losing you too."&nbsp; Allia caught Emily's eyes again, the emotion of everything she'd pushed down was fighting its way back up and she could feel the swell of tears threatening to push out through her eyes as she hoped Emily would change her mind.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>05-02-2015, 13:37:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari nodded as Damien spoke, her eyes focused on him. “Right then,” Kari continued, acutely aware of Damien’s tone, and knowing that she wasn’t helping it at all. “Whenever you want to begin then, I’ll be ready and willing to learn. I know you can do a lot of the work, but I’ll pull my weight too. Last thing I want to be is just some figurehead who’s there for a name and to look good,” she added, somewhat nervously. Deep down, she was kicking herself for just how unprepared she was for this to happen.<br><br><em>No, that’s not true,</em> Kari scolded herself. <em>You didn’t prepare because you didn’t want it to happen, and as such, you didn’t want to think about it. You had hoped that this day would never come, despite the very real dangers of what we do. And it’s happened and you need to grow up and deal with it.</em><br><br>Which made it even more important that she learned the truth of how her father died. Hearing it from Damien, his words raw, blunt and honest, stripped away the last of those illusions, instead making sure that knew every last gory detail of what happened. There was no way that Damien could have saved Carlos, and the simple fact was that his death was anything but a glorious last stand. <em>And that’s the truth of what we do,</em> Kari accepted. <em>And now it’s my job to save us.</em><br><br>She nodded to Damien. “Thank you. I promise, I’ll do the best for all of us. It’s… its what dad would have wanted.” Kari gave a small smile, one that probably didn’t help Damien’s mood any. She awkwardly offered him a hand, an attempt to bridge the gap between the pair of them. “If there’s nothing else, then, I’ll take my leave.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>08-02-2015, 20:07:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian continued to look at Kari, watching the play of emotions on her features. She was a beautiful woman, he'd be blind to not notice that, and as shallow as that was, her looks only made it harder to watch her so saddened by the recent losses. But he could not tear his gaze away, or at least, he refused to out of some form of respect. She took the details better than he thought she would have. This wasn't just a teammate or a friend they were talking about. It was her father. It spoke well of her force of personality, and probably of how well she was going to function at the helm of their company.<br><br>As she rose up to offer him a hand, his eyes descended from hers to linger on the limb for a few moments, after which he turned his vision back to the paraphernalia before him.<br><strong>"I would like to be alone now, ma'am,"</strong> he responded, not accepting the handshake. He did not feel like indulging in any form of camaraderie, even if an extended branch from his new commander was something highly desirable. He needed to focus on his work. There was just too much to do and he was wasting time on what was to him, frivolities. <strong>"I suggest you prepare what you are going to tell the crew. The sooner you address them, the better. If the confusion lasts, our morale will never recover. I hope you know how to work a devastated crowd, ma'am,"</strong> he explained, not wanting to frighten her, but as usual, he believed confidence came from knowing all the facts and the crux of the matter.<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>When Allia reached out for Emily's brow, he hand was quickly intercepted and gently put back down, complete with the slight shaking of the veteran pilot's head. <strong>"Just leave it,"</strong> she urged, before letting go of the lieutenant's wrist. She then proceeded to listen to the case Allia was presenting. She turned her gaze forward, just fixating it on the lockers on the other side of the row they occupied. But, her eyes glazed over as she did not really fixate any attention on it whatsoever. Instead, she released a sigh at hearing about Allia's plans to stay and help Kari. She seemed to have expected as much, but was less than keen on the idea herself. As emotions began to swell up from the young lieutenant, Emily could not help but turn her vision over to her friend to spot the hints of tears. She cursed the fact that Allia was perfectly capable of applying a puppy-dog-eyes tactic. What made it worse was that she never did so to manipulate, it was just how the young woman came across when emotional and sorrowful.<br><br>It caused her to sigh and wrap an arm around Allia's shoulder once; an amicable gesture that ended when she finally rose up and walk over to the other end of the row of lockers.<br><strong>"For you. And for Kari."</strong> a pause ensued for a few moments longer. <strong>"I'll stay until you have someone to fill my shoes. But I'm sorry, I can't stay longer than that. Life's too short to get blown to bits by an insane clanner. Or working alongside one, for that matter,"</strong> she stated, facing the lieutenant with a slight smile.<br><strong>"I always said you were a lunatic, Allia. You're young, you could find some other company. But... At least you know how to stick with your friends. I'd be a poor one if I abandoned you all now,</strong> her expression grew more grim soon after, though. <strong>"But promise me one thing. Keep an eye on Damian. Even if none of this was his doing, I don't trust him. Few of us do, and for good reason. Clanners aren't like us. I've fought enough to know. And Sea Foxes are some of the craftiest bastards among them. He wouldn't stay if there wasn't something in it for him."</strong></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>10-02-2015, 22:59:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br><br>Allia could feel the tension in Emily as she talked.&nbsp; The way the older woman looked through her at the locker behind rather than at her told Allia that Emily was trying very hard to control her emotions.&nbsp; Emily's personality had always been strong and defiant, one of the aspects that drew Allia to the other woman.&nbsp; She knew Emily wasn't much younger than her mother, but something in the woman held Allia's attention.&nbsp; She was glad for their friendship and hoped her words had carried some weight.&nbsp; &nbsp;Of course, the way Emily avoided her gaze gave Allia little hope in her efforts.<br><br><em>"I'll stay until you have someone to fill my shoes. But I'm sorry, I can't stay longer than that. Life's too short to get blown to bits by an insane clanner. Or working alongside one, for that matter..."I always said you were a lunatic, Allia. You're young, you could find some other company. But... At least you know how to stick with your friends. I'd be a poor one if I abandoned you all now,"</em><br><br>The words hung in Allia's ears like some sort of angelic siren song that drew you in.&nbsp; She had began to lose hope, but now the words drew life back into Allia.&nbsp; The way Emily placed her arm over Allia's shoulder before she moved across the room seemed very paternal, Allia knew Emily was struggling with this decision, and Allia knew it was on her to make sure Emily's gesture wasn't wasted.<br><br><em>"But promise me one thing. Keep an eye on Damian. Even if none of this was his doing, I don't trust him. Few of us do, and for good reason. Clanners aren't like us. I've fought enough to know. And Sea Foxes are some of the craftiest bastards among them. He wouldn't stay if there wasn't something in it for him."</em><br><br>Allia considered Emily's warning.&nbsp; Of course her assertion that <em>'few of us do'</em> seemed a little odd considering that there wasn't anyone left.&nbsp; She realized that it was very likely that she was privy to a side of Damian that Emily had never seen considering the circumstances, but as far as Allia was concerned, if Carlos Morena had trusted the man, there wasn't much more reason she needed to trust him.&nbsp; Of course, there was something in it for him, a need for a place to feel welcome and needed.&nbsp; Emily knew the feeling all too well as did Allia, which was the reason she stayed.&nbsp; Of course she could go to another unit, but this unit had made her feel at home, and now it was her need to rebuild that home that kept her.<br><br>"Thank you Emily.&nbsp; You don't know how much it means to me and to Kari that you're going to help."&nbsp; She jumped up, hugging Emily much the way she'd wanted to be close to the woman for so long.&nbsp; The hug was long and full of emotion.&nbsp; They both needed a friend right now and needed to feel appreciated and safe, and Allia hoped this one little gesture might melt Emily's cold emotions, even for a moment.&nbsp; Finally disengaging the embrace, with a rather shy look in regards to her enthusiastic response, Allia backed towards the exit.&nbsp; "I'll let you unpack.&nbsp; Come find me later and we can sit down and talk about what we need to do."&nbsp; <br><br>Full of joy, Allia left the locker room and walked slowly through the hangar bay.&nbsp; Stopping in front of Gheistwulf, she stared up at the stripped skeleton of her mechs frame.&nbsp; It was fortunate that they had restocked the stealth plating a few months ago, hers would be one of the only mechs fully functional when they landed on Galatea.&nbsp; They would need it as a sign of their strength in the aftermath of such devastation.<br><br>She lingered for a long moment before turning towards the crew quarters.&nbsp; She'd need to report to Kari on Emily's status, then she needed to work off some stress.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>15-02-2015, 14:25:35</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Damien’s ‘I would like to be alone now’ was a pretty clear indicator to Kari, one she wasn’t going to argue with. As much as he was the stoic Clan warrior, Kari also knew that he was still a human being, and he needed his time to deal with this whole mess like everyone else. She’d put a lot of pressure on him, and he needed to let it all out. And so, with a respectful nod, she left his quarters, heading back to her own.<br><br><em>I only hope that Allia has some luck with Emily,</em> Kari mentally added as she went. Retaining an experienced officer, even if only for a short period, would be invaluable for the unit’s morale and their chances of hiring again. She could also tell it would be good for Allia’s morale as well; there was definitely something between the pair of them, but what exactly it was Kari had never figured out and had also been discrete enough not to ask. <em>Now there’s a small backhanded upside to this whole mess,</em> she told herself as she entered her quarters.<br><br>Kari had lost her father in the disaster, which had been bad enough. She’d lost friends as well, compounding the grief. But on the upside, she didn’t have a lover among the dead, nor was there someone special for her within the unit proper. <em>Thanks dad,</em> she told herself as she sat at her desk, staring at her data terminal. <em>It seems like your overbearing nature paid off</em>.<br><br>Carlos Montero had made it clear that as much as he was a commander, he was also a father. A part of that had been making sure that members of the unit stayed the hell away from his daughter, especially when she was younger. Right now, she was certainly beginning to understand part of that policy. <em>When something like this happens, it limits the damage and the pain</em>. It was a harsh truth, but she accepted it.<br><br>Sighing to herself, she stared again at the datapad, trying to find the words to say what she had to.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>19-02-2015, 19:58:30</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian remained silent as Kari took her leave. She presumed he was going to do the healthy thing, and attempt to work through his concerns and grief. But, as always, he much rather locked it all away behind a pragmatic demeanor and instead focus on his work. Despite his obvious fatigue, he turned around when she had left, and took the seat at his desk once more. With a discernible lack of energy, he began to sift through the massive heap of paperwork he needed to sort through on his own. There was so much left to do, he hardly knew where to begin. But, once he got the priorities straight again, he began to type away at a terminal by his side. The worst was yet to come. He would have to inform next of kin, and he was all too aware how he was ill-suited for such a sensitive task. But, it was only right in his mind. He had been the one to sort out their paychecks - the whole reason his lancemates had perished - so who better to relay the news?<br><br>Well over five hours later, he only realized he had dozed off on his desk when he shook awake at the sound of very loud banter by people walking by the door of his office. Groggy and not at all well-rested, he grumbled as he allowed the palm of his hand to drag across his face. Despite the nick in the back of his neck from slumbering in such an awkward position, he had to admit he felt somewhat better. But at the same time, he realized he had wasted precious time. Logic won out over his obsessions, however, as it had become all too clear he wasn't going to be doing anything productive until he got himself a proper meal, yet another shower to wash off the stench of defeat, and then a long rest. After that, he'd likely make up for lost time fairly quickly.<br><br>There were a few things he needed to see to first, however, and after printing out some documents, he rose up to try and track down lieutenant Rowe. He needed her input on something and it could not wait. When that was done, he'd be free to get his mind off of things a little, as much as he already felt his subconscious protest against such a frivolity. With the documents in hand, his clothes and hair straightened out, and his eyes roused by some slaps to his cheeks, he headed out to try and find one of the few survivors of the company.<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>Emily had put it off for as long as she could. She had first discussed it with her husband, despite the delays the communication entailed, and the man had been livid. He was worried sick about her, as were her children, who were more than old enough to realize that something was wrong. But in the end, the man had relented. He knew there was nothing he could say or do to change her mind. He could only hope she would last until she could be replaced. The communique had not ended on the best of notes. But she was resolved to make it up to him when she finally got home. Despite that awkward discomfort, though, she needed to report to the new commander. It was odd to her to picture Kari in the position, simply because her father hadn't been anywhere near the age where one would think of seeing them passing the torch. That only seemed to make his death more tragic.<br><br>But, formalities needed to be respected and it would likely be a load off of Kari's mind if she knew what certainty how many warriors she had left, since the others had not been able to return back to active duty yet; and there was no telling when, or if ever, they would. The pressing of a button by the side of Kari's office door heralded Emily's arrival, but she waited patiently for any kind of sign of activity before introducing herself and entering.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>19-02-2015, 20:57:39</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia knew that Kari would be glad to hear that Emily had decided to stay.&nbsp; She wasn't quite sure what the concern over Damian was all about, but in her short time in the unit Damian may have been odd, but he had never been mean.&nbsp; As she was exiting the hangar bay the lead technician was coming out of the crew elevator.&nbsp; <strong>"Lieutenant Rowe, I need your help."</strong>&nbsp; He said walking towards her, the half scowl on his face a bad omen as far as Allia was concerned.&nbsp; "Sure chief, what's up?"&nbsp; Chief Petty Officer Perkins had been one of the lead technicians on the Dark Star for as long as Allia had been and probably as long as Damian had been with the unit.&nbsp; He knew almost every type of mech and how to keep it running, an expertise they needed badly at this moment.&nbsp; <br><br><strong>"Gheistwulf is giving us some issues I hoped you might be able to help us sort out."</strong>&nbsp; He was walking back through the hangar towards her mech.&nbsp; She knew she'd taken some serious damage from the Frogs before she returned to the dropship, but maybe the damage was worse than she had thought.&nbsp; <strong>"We're having trouble with a few of the key gyro actuator systems and the neural interface, and I was hoping we might be able to get a bit more done in active mode and not maintenance mode.&nbsp; I need to to link in and bring the system up for me."</strong><br><br>The fact that Chief Perkins was stumped by a failure in the system surprised Allia; however, she knew that the Stealth was a fairly rare mech to find in the field, so his expertise may not be as deep with these deeper systems.&nbsp; The two of them climbed up the gantry towards Gheistwulf's hatch.<br><br><hr><br>Stretching her back as she pulled herself from Gheistwulf's hatch, Allia groaned.&nbsp; She looked at the large digital clock on the back of the hangar bay, causing her to groan more when she realized how long they'd been working on the problem. Chief Perkins was a veritable wizard, but he was right, the active link was necessary to track the system malfunction.&nbsp; On the bright side, Gheistwulf would be fully functional when they reached Galatea.&nbsp; <br><br>Walking along the gangway, Allia realized if Emily hadn't already gone to speak with Kari, that any news could wait.&nbsp; She needed to stretch and let off some steam.&nbsp; The last couple of days had taken a huge toll on her emotionally and physically, and she needed something to work off steam.<br><br>After changing into a tight pink sports bra and a pair of black hip shorts (http://www.etonline.com/media/photo/2014/12/24121722/425_stacy_keibler_1222214.jpg), Allia walked out of the locker room into the ships small gym.&nbsp; She found it rather odd that it was completely empty until she realized how decimated the crew was.&nbsp; Everyone who should have been up here working out was either dead, or too busy trying to fix the damage that there wasn't anyone left to worry about luxuries like this.&nbsp; As she started warming up on the large punching bag, Allia started to feel guilty, like she should be down there working more and not up here indulging in trivialities like working out.&nbsp; As her hand smashed into the padded bag, the pain reminded her of those she'd never be able to spare with, no more laughing and wrestling, no more challenges of prowess and strength that had been so prevelant in the group.&nbsp; Before she knew it she was grunting loudly, tears streaming down her eyes as she poured every ounce of strength into her arms and legs.&nbsp; Maybe if she destroyed the bag it would make up for not being able to stop the falcons.&nbsp; She didn't realize how hard or how out of control she was becoming as remorse and pain numbed her reality.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>21-02-2015, 14:05:16</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari was glad for the interruption, if only for something that would delay the work that she had to do. <em>Speech isn’t going to write itself,</em> was an easy enough statement to tell yourself, but that still didn’t mean that finding the words were any easier or were going to just magically leap onto the paper at her beck and call. And she also knew that she would be many, many tries in before she got to something she liked. <em>Let’s face it, you just suck at this</em><br><br>It was an odd one; Kari was usually outgoing, vibrant and colourful. One look at her arms would tell anyone that. However, underneath that, she was now surprisingly insecure, the result of the situation she found herself in. Given a crowd and something important like this, and she was deathly afraid that she was going to wilt under pressure. <em>Which would be a great start for a new leader,</em> she ruefully added as she reached the door.<br><br>To her surprise, Emily was waiting on the other side. “e- Lieutenant,” she began, quickly correcting herself to be a little more formal. “Please, come in.” She stepped back, allowing the other woman to enter her quarters while still trying to figure the approach she should be taking here. <em>Familiar or formal?</em> she wondered, then had a small mental shrug. <em>Be yourself, Kari. Make this easier on both of you</em><br><br>“So, what can I do for you?” She asked, defaulting to her usual, more friendly tone. “And want a drink too? I know I could use one”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>23-02-2015, 14:43:24</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian had been forced to ask around to see where Allia had gone. She hadn't been in her quarters, or at least she hadn't been in the mood to talk, and most of her usual hang-outs where devoid of her presence. That wasn't surprising, considering there was now no one left to share the atmosphere of those locales with. But, the advantage of living on a vessel like their's was that it was nearly impossible to not come across someone that knew where someone else was; at any point in time. You were bound to run into someone on your way, and word would irrevocably spread. As a result, Damian knew exactly where to find the lieutenant, but he hadn't expected to see her in the state she was.<br><br>Still with the files under his arm, the clanner turned another corner, skipping the locker rooms to head straight into the gym area. It was completely abandoned, with the only sounds coming from a punching bag more to the back of the chamber. There, a familiar face was striking the training tool with such ferocity that she seemed to be a mix of a lunatic and a berserker. Normally, Damian would know better than the intervene when someone was clearly working off some frustration. Lord knows, he preferred she did so on a punching bag than a member of the crew that accidentally earns her ire. If he tried to stop her, she could turn those fists on him. But the rate at which she was going was going to leave her exhausted, and probably injured. They could not afford to have the warriors they had left at any level but 100%, so his pace quickened and his voice called out to her.<br><br><strong>"Lieutenant Rowe, what are you doing? Calm down, you are going to strip the skin off your hands,"</strong> he stated, his voice holding all the usual hints of authority, grit and grumpiness it usually did. But, his words seemed to fall on deaf ears, prompting him to plant the files on the seat of a weight-lifting rig to his right. Subsequently, strong arms wrapped themselves around hers to stop her from throwing even a single punch still. The grip wasn't iron-tight, but sudden and sturdy enough to hopefully get her to stop.<br><strong>"I said, calm down, Allia,"</strong> he stressed.<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>Emily was surprised to find the door being opened for her. Old habits died hard, as Kari's father seemed perpetually glued to his desk, hunched over whatever work he was mulling through. He would always call out for visitors to enter from there. If she didn't know the man off duty as well as he had on, she would have sworn the reason why he and the clanner got along so well was for their professional attitude. Of course, Carlos hadn't been nearly as stiff, or unpleasant. Still, it was an awkward change of pace, which only made the seasoned lieutenant realize more that there had been a changing of the guard and things were going to be run differently from that day onward.<br><br><strong>"Thank you, lie- commander,"</strong> she corrected herself, already relaying she knew of Kari's rise in authority. She entered and moved to take a seat across from where Kari had been sitting. Fingers laced together and moved to rest atop the commander's desk.<br><strong>"No, that's fine. I'm trying to steer clear from the stuff. I don't think my liver can handle my kind of drinking anymore,"</strong> she semi-joked, before turning a more serious tone when she got down to business.<br><br><strong>"Lieutenant Rowe came to see me, before I had a chance to fully pack and leave. I'm sure Harper had already informed you that I was going to be leaving the company,"</strong> she explained, sitting back to let her hands fall into her lap. <strong>"However, the lieutenant proposed a compromise that I've accepted. I'll stay for as long as it takes to get people hired to fill up the... blank spaces we have now. I can't guarantee that if this takes many months I will stick, but for the foreseeable future, you still have me on board,"</strong> she continued, keeping her eyes glued to Kari's.<br><br>She then sighed, averting those same hues to have them rest on a non-specific spot on the desk in front of her. <strong>"I owe you an explanation, though, about why I am going, and why I wasn't bothering to wait and see who would take over from the commander,"</strong> she admitted.</div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>23-02-2015, 17:40:47</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br><em>Lieutenant Rowe, what are you doing? Calm down, you are going to strip the skin off your hands,&nbsp; I said, calm down, Allia,"</em><br><br>As Damian's arms wrapped around her, Allia's pain and anger turned to fear and anger.&nbsp; "FUUCCKKK...get off me!!"&nbsp; Her senses already overwhelmed, her fight or flight reflex kicking in as he attempted to calm her down.&nbsp; She spun and twisted, trying to kick and punch her way out.&nbsp; The advantage for Allia was that she was small and quick.&nbsp; The disadvantage was that Damian was much stronger than her and he could lift her up off the ground and support her weight a lot longer than she could fight.<br><br>Once the realization that she was at a severe tactical disadvantage sunk in, the pain and anger returned, the realization that everything she'd grown to know and love over the last year was gone.&nbsp; All of the friends but one, all of the jokes and laughter and soft looks had been destroyed in one painful day, and there as nothing she could do to get it back.&nbsp; This was the closest to death she'd been in her entire life and the most she'd ever lost.&nbsp; Her mind was having trouble finding ways to cope.&nbsp; She went limp in Damian's arms, tears still streaming from her eyes, she began sobbing softly.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>26-02-2015, 14:05:51</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari listened attentively to Emily, not taking her eyes off the woman as she did. She hung on every word, letting the lieutenant have her say without interrupting her, knowing how important it would be for her to get whatever she had out of her system. Every one of the survivors were hurting, each in their own way, and letting them express it was going to be vital to keeping the unit together. <em>If we’re going to make this work, then we need to clear the air. And that means that if someone has a problem, then they need to be clear about it</em><br><br>“Firstly, I want to thank you for staying,” Kari finally spoke up. “And not just because, well, we need your help. Your experience is going to be vital in training up new recruits and getting them to work as a team. And your staying is going to be vital to morale as well, both for those of us from the old unit and showing that we’re still viable to any potential recruits. And in the meantime, if there’s anything you need or anything I can do, then please let me know. After all you’ve done, you deserve it.”<br><br>She absent-mindedly fidgeted with the lid of a bottle for a moment, then continued, even if she wasn’t entirely sure if she was going to like what was going to come next. “Please, I’d like to know.” Kari nodded, giving her the time she needed<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>02-03-2015, 13:42:36</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>At first, Damian had only been holding her shoulder or upper arms, but the moment she responded as aggressively as he had expected, that hold changed to where his arms snaked under her armpits and essentially pinned her against him. He held fast, knowing it would take some time for her to realize what was happening, and that she needed to calm herself. As she grew more limp in his arms, and he could hear the sounds of her sobbing, the stoic clanner released her, but did so gently to make sure she even had the force of will left to stay up on her feet.<br><br>He kept his peace for a few moments, unsure on what to do. He and Allia certainly knew each other, but they weren't exactly to a point where a conversation about her feelings was easy to engage, especially for someone as cold and stilted as the former Sea Fox warrior. Eventually, he bent his knee and crouched by her, one hand moving to rest on her shoulder.<br><strong>"I know how much frustration you are feeling. How helpless you think you are. But you are alive. And you have a chance at revenge. Do not waste your health on a punching bag,"</strong> he voiced, sticking to the practical side of it all, as that was the only thing he really knew how to advise. He had no words for her that would make the pain easier. He remembered his first brush with death all too well. While the operation itself had been successful in that case, he had been injured to the point of being bedridden for weeks, slipping in and out of consciousness. Waking up to find half your friends six feet under was one of the worst things he had ever experienced. There was only so much hearing about how honorable their deaths had been could do to alleviate the pain. And, for most people from the Inner Sphere, those words were completely useless.<br><br><strong>"I can arrange for a councilor. We have one on board,"</strong> he added, unsure what else to add. It was doubly uncomfortable on his end because he had never seen the courageous lieutenant like that before. She always seemed an odd mix of perky positivity and implacable focus. It only served to drive the point home that they were all a long way from being fine.<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>Emily nodded in response to Kari expressing her gratitude for letting the woman stay on, but it was clear that she really did not think there was any thanks due for going around to anyone anytime soon. The company was in shambles and while it wasn't the fault of anyone present in that room, she couldn't help but feel gratitude was completely out of place in any action they took in that desperate situation. She reiterated her previous conclusion once in her mind, though. Kari and Allia were completely mad if they believed they were going to be able to come back from this. But, at the end of the day, Emily liked a challenge, and it didn't get much more difficult than that.<br><br><strong>"I haven't done anything, ma'am. At least not yet. Thank me if me staying here proves to be of any use. Otherwise, I'm afraid we'd be wasting our breaths and time,"</strong> she responded grimly, but pragmatically. She was staying on because she owed them that much, and despite having lost most of them, there were still a few close friends breathing, fighting and on that ship. So, she couldn't bring herself to leave just yet.<br><strong>"I'm sure you're already figured out my reasoning though. But it's only proper I give you them in person,"</strong> she explained, before sighing slightly, and leaning forward onto the desk before her slightly.<br><br><strong>"You know I have two children waiting for me back home, right? A son and a daughter. Not to mention a husband that's breaking his back at work and takes care of kids and household on his own. I... I've been away for too long,"</strong> she cleared her throat, before proceeding. <strong>"I almost died out there too. I would have left them all alone. It was easier when I was younger, more reckless. But now,"</strong> she shook her head before averting his eyes from her new commander somewhat. <strong>"I want them to grow up knowing their mother properly. I'll stick around for as long as is necessary and I can. But consider this my notice, nonetheless,"</strong> she explained.</div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>04-03-2015, 03:51:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br><em>"I know how much frustration you are feeling. How helpless you think you are. But you are alive. And you have a chance at revenge. Do not waste your health on a punching bag,"</em><br><br>"Why the fuck not!!!"&nbsp; Allia screamed as she pulled herself away from Damian, the fire back in her heart where sobs and feelings of listlessness had been only moments before.&nbsp; She was seething,&nbsp; still burning from her anger and her grief.&nbsp; She'd tried her best over the past day to come to terms with what had happened and nothing made sense.&nbsp; And now here was the one man, the only Clanner in their midst, telling her he knows what it's like to have everything she knew and cared about, everything she'd fought for over the last year destroyed everything she had built in a matter of minutes.&nbsp; Her rage grew more intense as she thought about the words that Emily had said.&nbsp; <br><br>"How do you know what I'm feeling?"&nbsp; She yelled.&nbsp; "How do you think <em>you </em>know how this makes me feel?&nbsp; How could I EVER get revenge for what happened yesterday Damian!!"&nbsp; Tears and rage filled her eyes, her heart racing, her chest heaving for breath under her sports bra.&nbsp; Allia yelled her despair and pain at Damian as if the tone and volume would wrench the large ball in her chest out and throw it headlong at Damian.&nbsp; How could he know.&nbsp; They barely knew each other and the only reason they were working so closely together now was because Carlos and his command staff were dead, putting Allia in a position she'd never been before.&nbsp; She seemed to remember something from one of her psychology classes at the academy about the stages of grief, but right now her body and her mind were in a whole other state of existence.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>06-03-2015, 14:36:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Emily’s talking about her family and wanting to be there for them struck Kari like a punch in the gut, one that did manage to nearly line a lot of things up for her just as much as it hurt like hell. “I completely understand your situation, Emily,” She explained as she recovered, hoping that it hadn’t shown too badly or obviously. “You need to be there for your family, and they need you just as much. The last couple of days have made me really appreciate how important that is.”<br><br><em>I’m the only family left,</em> she told herself. <em>After me, there’s nobody else, maybe save for a few distant cousins that I never see. But even that’s just reaching.</em> She swallowed a little as she regained her composure. <em>Unless there’s something dad never told me, and I’m not sure how I’d feel about that.</em><br><br>She nodded to the lieutenant, trying her best to look warm and supportive. “Emily, as much as I want you to stay on as a combatant and officer, I cannot and will not force you to do such. I do appreciate your staying on to help get the unit together no less, and I would very much ask your assistance in both selection and training of the new recruits. And once that’s done, I will not detain you a moment longer.”<br><br>Kari chewed her lip a moment, considering her next words carefully. “I know that I sound mad for what I’m trying to do, but it’s something I feel that I have to do no less,” Kari explained. “And I do not blame you at all for wanting to get off the crazy ride.” She immediately regretted the words, but kept going. “We all need to do what we have to. And if that takes us in different directions, then that’s what will happen. If nothing else, it has been an honour and a privilege to serve alongside you, and I thank you for all you’ve done, both for me and for my father”<br><br>“I don’t think any of us could ask for any more”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>08-03-2015, 18:15:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian had not expected to be the target of such anger from the young lieutenant, but he could not bring himself to respond in kind. Despite what she was shouting at him, he did know exactly what she was going through. He had had major setbacks in the past, and while they had made him more resilient, he still went through the same emotions in his own way. Far more muted, and unhealthily cropped up inside of him, he came across as callously as ever, as if he was above and beyond it all. That was exactly what the clanner liked to think. But he should know better by that point that he was made of flesh and blood, and he had just been made to bury the greater part of all the people he knew in life. While he had not gotten along well with the majority of them, they had still formed a social and professional circle. All of that was gone, leaving only uncertainty, and an utter lack of direction. And to boot, there had been some among the fallen he had reached a fairly decent rapport with, or whom he at the very least respected.<br><br>Her words struck a cord. It was known in the company that it was extremely easy to make Damian cranky, aggravated or annoyed with one's performance and behavior. But to draw genuine anger or rage from him, was difficult at best. That was why the display in the hangar bay, with the Intelligence representative had shaken so many of the technicians. They'd never seen him behave like that before, and a situation looked only as bad as how out-of-the-ordinary those involved were acting. Despite that difficulty, her accusations and words sparked precisely that: anger. Cropped up frustrations and feelings of helplessness. While different from that situation, it did remind him far too much about the last moments he spent with his wife.<br><br>As a response to her seeming aggression, his hands gripped her shoulders firmly.<br><strong>"Need I remind you that I fought in that same battle? That I had to leave my closest friend in years behind to bleed out in an overheating cockpit?! You're not the only one who has suffered, Rowe!"</strong> he shouted angrily.<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>Emily listened closely to Kari's words as she continued to be showed with praise and appreciation. She understood the need to underline these things, but the seasoned warrior clearly wasn't comfortable being the object of attention like that. It prompted her to fidget and shift in her seat slightly, and forget what to do with her hands. The feeling came and went quickly however, as such things had always made her much more awkward in her younger days than they did now. Still, a smile crept upon her features at Kari's admission of her goal to restore the company to its recently lost glory being a crazy one. The undertaking was going to be anything but easy, and probably exactly impossible. But, despite everything she had said, and despite reason dictating she favor life and being there for her children, there was something alluring about the rush of the unknown, and the fact that many battles from now on would be uphill at best. Even though she had lost much of skill with the years, as well as her stomach for pain and loss, she was still a warrior at heart, and the thrill of battle was a difficult drug to kick.<br><br><strong>"I'm just doing what's right. I shouldn't be thanked for that,"</strong> she finally responded pragmatically, before settling back in her seat. <strong>"Let's change the subject, shall we? We've both said what we needed to, I think,"</strong> she suggested, before releasing a long, heavy sigh.<br><strong>"What are your immediate plans for the company? I know you've taken over from your father. Big shoes to fill, and no time to get used to the size. Any ideas?"</strong></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>09-03-2015, 15:10:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br><em>"Need I remind you that I fought in that same battle? That I had to leave my closest friend in years behind to bleed out in an overheating cockpit?! You're not the only one who has suffered, Rowe!</em><br><br>Allia heard the words shoot from Damian's mouth like and alpha strike aimed at her chest.&nbsp; She wasn't sure if it was the anger in his voice, the way he grabbed her shoulders of the fire that burned deep in his eyes; but something drew not only fear but also heat from her.&nbsp; It wasn't the kind of heat that came from anger, but the kind of heat that came from further down.<br><br>Something about what he had said resounded and the chord that she had struck in Damian told her that there was a side to the stern quiet somber man that she didn't know.&nbsp; There was much about the man that she didn't know, but there was something about the strength and unwavering control that drew her in.&nbsp; <br><br>The power of his response shook Allia to the core.&nbsp; She was riding a roller coaster of emotion and just wanted to get off, not feel anything.&nbsp; That was how the strongest warriors made it through.&nbsp; Without warning the anger flooded out of her, only to be replaced by sorrow and emptiness as she collapsed into Damian's chest.&nbsp; "Dammit Damian,"&nbsp; She sobbed tears of pain into his chest.&nbsp; "What are we supposed to do." 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>09-03-2015, 15:36:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>”What are my plans?” Kari asked back as a reply. “That is the big question, isn’t it?” She shrugged a little as she considered the response. All the ideas had sounded good in her head or as she ran through them with Allia and Damien, but now that she was openly discussing it, she felt a lot less certain about her direction. <em>Buckle down and sell this,</em> she told herself. <em>You’re going to be doing a lot of this, and if you can’t do it here, you might as well give up now.</em><br><br>“The first stage is consolidation,” Kari explained. “We take stock of what assets we have left and how we can best use them. Mechwarriors, functional ‘Mechs, technicians, other personnel… whatever we can scrounge up. We keep what we can, but we’re willing to let go of what’s redundant, especially in light of our reduced numbers. That’s going to hurt, true, but it has to be done.”<br><br>“The second step is to rebuild from there, and that’s where you come in,” Kari continued. “We’re not going to be in the best position to hire, but at the same time, there are opportunities. Former Solaris gladiators, survivors of other units, even ones who got out of this mess and so on. I have no illusions about the sort of quality we’re going to be able to snag, which is why we’re going to need experienced officers to whip them into fighting shape and make them function as a unit. You’re going to be key to that.”<br><br>“And once we’ve got a functional unit, then we try to find work,” Kari finished. “That’s going to be relatively easy in this market, although obviously I want to try to avoid the Lyrans.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>10-03-2015, 12:32:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian hadn't known what came over him. He hadn't had outbursts like that in a long time, and he felt... embarrassed. He prided himself on keeping a level-head, on being able to take any punch and keep going. And he was still going, but instead of having an outlet for his frustrations, instead of just pouring himself into his work, he was taking it out on a young woman who was likely struggling with it even more than he. True, he had lost people as well, but he knew lieutenant Rowe well enough to know she likely got along well with nearly everyone in the company. She was a people-person in many ways, and while all of those connections offered strength, they also gave way to weakness when they were severed.<br><br>Damian felt a little awkward when she pushed herself into him, but his arms still wrapped firmly around her out of instinct. He wasn't so socially backward that he didn't know how to respond to an embrace and a want for comfort, but that didn't help the fact that he lacked empathy. The hug wasn't as hollow as he had expected. It felt soothing, for him as well, to have someone that close. His palms planted themselves along her back, tightening the hold while one of them even offered almost caring caresses. It was more than anyone had received from him in a long while, which hinted at his own, carefully hidden state.<br><strong>"Keep going. As planned,"</strong> he responded, offering the young woman only a meager consolation. He pulled back a little, which allowed him to look upon her proper. <strong>"Work off your aggression, or it will eat you up. But the company needs you in peak condition. Gripping the controls of a 'Mech is hard when you shred your fists,"</strong> he reiterated, not having wanted to make it seem as though she needed to be as foolish as he. At least she was venting, if nothing else.<br><br>A slight silence began to linger, as the clanner simply did not seem to know what to do or say to make her feel better, but his usually expressionless eyes really did contain hints that he wanted to, as they looked across her attractive face.<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>It was a big question indeed, as well as an important one. Emily didn't know how much she was privy to, but she was going to take whatever Kari offered. Her experience allowed her to keep a much more level head than most. She was hurting inside, but she had made peace with people dying around her long ago. But that didn't mean she wasn't concerned, confused and anxious for the future. She needed to know, for some reassurance, where the company was headed, how it was going to get there, and what needed to be done. If she had a goal in her head, she could push on. Until then, she would be as adrift as the rest of the crew. It was at that point that Jirani realized she was taking up the commander's time from writing what was undoubtedly going to be her first address to the crew. But since she hadn't been dismissed yet, she was determined to capitalize on the time, regardless.<br><br>She nodded as Kari began to lay out her intentions. <strong>"I'm going to take a wild guess and figure we don't have a whole lot of gear left that'll be useful out in the field,"</strong> she mused.<br>Her eyes narrowed and her brow furrowed a little in that grumpier manner many associated with the strict, mature woman, at the mention of former Solaris-jockeys. She clearly didn't approve of that choice, as per what Kari expected, but she wasn't about to question the call. <strong>"As long as you're aware of how many upstarts are in there. But, we don't exactly have a lot of options. I'll make sure we separate the wheat from the chaff in training. There's bound to be a diamond in the rough among show-offs,"</strong> she explained.<br><br><strong>"As for work, I'm going to guess Harper will handle that?"</strong> she questioned, as always not adding his rank. <strong>"You sure we can trust him with that, ma'am?"</strong></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>10-03-2015, 18:09:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br><em>"Keep going. As planned.&nbsp; Work off your aggression, or it will eat you up. But the company needs you in peak condition. Gripping the controls of a 'Mech is hard when you shred your fists," </em><br><br>There was something surprisingly warm about the way Damian's arms wrapped around her that Allia found comforting.&nbsp; He was tentative, it was obvious that he hadn't expected to be the one giving comfort and moral support.&nbsp; But there he was, his arms wrapped around Allia and something about the closeness stirred a feeling deep inside of her that wasn't pain or sorrow.&nbsp; <br><br>His words struck at that feeling inside and sparked across it like a match, setting off a fire in her belly that began to smolder like her mech's reactor slowly warming.&nbsp; <em>Work off your aggression or it will eat you up.</em>&nbsp; His words echoed in her mind as his scent filled her head.&nbsp; There was something strangely exciting about being this close to Damian that Allia had never felt before.&nbsp; Maybe it was the circumstances, the pain, the need to work off the aggression.&nbsp; There was something hard and unavailable about the mistique behind Damian, but somehow he had let her in past his armor.&nbsp; She saw something that she was sure most didn't.&nbsp; <br><br>"I've never lost anyone like this before." She said looking up at him.&nbsp; Her eyes locked with his.&nbsp; She was tiny compared to Damian's strong muscular frame.&nbsp; The way he looked down at her, the way his hands felt along the sweaty bare skin on her back, the way his scent intruded into her mind, stoked the fire in her belly.&nbsp; "How do you channel....I....I've never lived through something like this before."&nbsp; Her voice was soft, almost a whisper as she looked up with a look of longing at Damian's eyes, her body still pressed firmly against his.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>12-03-2015, 14:18:33</strong>
			</dt>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>”You are right there,” Kari admitted. “Four ‘Mechs that we know are operational, and they’re going to require a lot of work. There are a couple more that might be salvageable, but that’s going to be a lot of work. And even then, we came off that mess with no salvage to speak of. If we get through that, we might even need to use the remnants of our supplies as a down-payment on getting ourselves back in shape.” Her tone was frank, and she knew that Emily expected no less.<br><br>“Trust me, if we can get something good, I’m going to grab a hold of it and not let go,” she continued, her tone a little more on the playfully aggressive side. “I know that’s going to be hard, given our state and all, but you never know what might happen until we give it a shot. I know that Solaris jocks are going to be hard to work with, but I figure that if anyone can break ‘em in and teach them some discipline and turn them into an effective force, it’s you.”&nbsp; She wasn’t going to say that it was because Emily sounded like everybody’s mom, something that she used to great effect.<br><br>However, she also could see that there a certain anger there, one that could still be a problem. Kari didn’t know what it was about Emily and the Clans, but she could tell this wasn’t the time. However, she did want to make her faith in her newfound second known. “I trust Harper, yes.” Kari explained. “I’ve known him for years now. He was my father’s closest friend, and did more to keep the unit running then anyone else. He also…” she took a deep breath.<br><br>“Damien was there for my father at the end. I only know what happened because of him. That’s something you need to know.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>15-03-2015, 15:16:37</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian knew where this was going. He knew the look in her eyes. Several times in the past he had turned someone down based on that look. Sometimes with merit, sometimes because he had misinterpreted intention. But this time around, he was certain that what he could see in her bright hues, was longing for comfort. The kind that could only be gained by something enticingly intimate. Under any other circumstance, he would back away at that point. He was no prude. Sex was useful. It worked off aggression, stress and just caused a deep relaxation of the mind. Or it could useful for procreation. But ever since the greatest loss in his life, he had skirted away from any romp that had any kind of emotional weight to it. He knew those eyes weren't asking for commitment, but she desired a kind of comfort that was nonetheless going to turn something that should be pragmatic, into something personal.<br><br>As he felt her press herself against him, the gentle scent of feminine sweat reaching his nostrils and the outline of her tight, petite body entering his mind's eye, he found her harder and harder to resist. Even as she spoke to him, her words just faded into the background and her panting and the supple waves of her voice garnered far more attention than what she was actually saying. He took in a deep breath, his chest rising noticeably against hers. Hands began to roam subconsciously, hoping to catch a further glimpse of how it feel to have her grind against him.<br><br><strong>"Everyone does in a different way,"</strong> he responded, after a silence had been held for an almost awkward amount of time. He really didn't have an answer for her. He plunged himself headlong into his work, but that obviously didn't apply to anyone looking for a way to deal with loss in a healthy manner. All he did was compound the frustration by ignoring it. The young lieutenant was proving difficult to resist, even more so when the look in her eyes persisted. Every voice of reason he possessed was telling him to back away now, but why? They both needed a distraction; a means to vent. The only risk was if he was completely, incorrectly reading into her actions. But the way she held herself to him... To hell with it.<br><br>Like an explosion for frustration, he threw caution to the wind and drew her up to him. One strong arm snaked around her petite waist, hoping to pin her in place, while the other reached up her back to cup her neck. All the while, his lips claimed hers roughly, passionately. It had been a while since he'd last felt to touch of a woman's lips. Even if a slap was soon to follow, at least there was that...<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>Emily's expression soured as the gravity of the situation was outlined in the same, factual manner Damian had. She could tell Kari had done her research and was being as honest with her as she wanted her to be. But that didn't make the pill easier to swallow. She sat back more, her hands folding and resting in her lap as she listened closely to the rundown of how their 'Mechs were doing. She had gone and inspected her own Thug personally, and had been forced to wince at how much damage was littered across its frame. Fortunately, it was fixable, without any lasting consequences. None of the truly sensitive machinery had been damaged, but that did not shrink the costs to the point of being affordable out of one's own pocket.<br><strong>"I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything better, considering how close we came to all be burning wrecks in those fields,"</strong> she stated in response.<br><br>She then chuckled at seemingly being compared to a no-nonsense drill sergeant. She had to admit, she liked that role, but she wasn't as confident as Kari was. <strong>"Okay, I've whipped some rookies into shape in my day, but I'm no miracle worker. Some of these jocks are going to be a complete waste of time, but we'll only know once we've invested in them,"</strong> she argued, but then quickly shook her head and waved the thoughts. <strong>"No point dwelling on it. I agree; it's our only shot. I'll try my best, but I'm no military academy teacher, so I have my limits,"</strong> she added.<br><br>Emily's expression saddened when commander Moreno's passing was brought up. Kari's trust in Damian did not assuage her concerns about the former Sea Fox clanner's presence and authority in the company. But, given that none of it was her call to make, she decided to let that slide in favor of a much more important subject.<br><strong>"I'm sorry about your father, ma'am. I can scarcely imagine how hard this must be for you. Did he go down swinging? I suspect that's what he would have wanted,"</strong> she questioned.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>16-03-2015, 20:56:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br><em>"Everyone does in a different way,"</em><br><br>Damian's words weren't comforting as he might have imagined they would be.&nbsp; How does someone who's never experienced this type of pain and loss find what <em>their</em> way was without help.&nbsp; She was about to pull away in anger and frustration as she felt it bubbling up inside her, when she noticed the struggle brewing in Damian's eyes.&nbsp; She felt something she had said or done touch him, the look changed from his usual stern thoughful coldness to a powerful uncertainty.&nbsp; Allia could have swore she saw longing flash across his eyes as an undercurrent<br><br>She found the look mixed with the strength of how he held her close stoked the fire, throwing oxygen on the flame, driving it higher and hotter.&nbsp; When the kiss came, heat flooded every pore of her body.&nbsp; He pulled her to him, pulled her up and held her there while his mouth took hers and enjoyed her.&nbsp; Allia sighed at the feeling, the power, the strength that Damian's kiss and mouth breathed into her.&nbsp; She felt her breasts grow firm under the tight elastic sports bra.&nbsp; Her flower spread between her legs as the fire engulfed her.&nbsp; <br><br>Returning his kiss with fervor wasn't hard to do, she wanted it, she just didn't realize how much until it happened.&nbsp; One hand reached up and pulled his head down, closer to hers, pulling him into her.&nbsp; Her other hand hungrily pulled at his shirt, pulling it up enough for her hand to slip under and find the warm taunt skin underneath.&nbsp; She wrapped a hand around his waist as she kissed him harder, her tongue exploring deep into his mouth.&nbsp; Her hand pulling her into him, trying her best to grind her body into his powerful frame. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>18-03-2015, 14:39:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari nodded a little as Emily spoke, knowing that this was going to be painful and not get any easier. Still, even if she wasn’t hiding her feelings about Damian, there was a definite softening in the attitude as they got to the more personal matters of the losses. “He died fighting, yes,” Kari nodded. “He… he gave his life to let others get away. I’m probably only here because of what he did.” She swallowed audibly as she considered all that she’d heard from Damian. Her father’s death had likely been messy and painful, and knowing that would probably not help the unit’s already delicate morale.<br><br>She took a deep breath before continuing. “I mean, if had been anyone else, yes, I’d be hurt… devastated… I don’t know. I saw Muriel’s <em>Herc</em> explode right in front of me and all, but… yeah. My father, my only family. It hurts, and it’s hard to deal with on top of everything else we have to deal with. But I’m going to do this, even if just for him.” She sighed loudly, then realized just how much she’d been digging her fingers into her thigh while she’d been talking.<br><br>There was a pause as Kari composed herself. “Obviously we’re not going to be able to pick and choose our recruits, and it’s going to take some work to weed the bad apples out, but I think you’ll do an awesome job of it. After all, you did brow-beat a certain wet behind the ears Mechwarrior into shape and teach her that she couldn’t just rely on her family name to get by,” Trying to joke about the past might have been an effort to break the tension and her mood. It was hard to tell if it worked. “And by all means, I give you permission to go nuts and do whatever it takes.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>21-03-2015, 14:47:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian had figured it would have been a straight-up coin toss on how Allia would respond to what he did. They did not know each other well, and she was in a vulnerable position, the perfect recipe for her to believe he was merely taking advantage of her. In some ways, maybe he was, but at the same time, he just desired a semblance of closeness to make the concerns go away; at least for a little while. When he felt her lips pressed back to his, as lustful as his, he knew her mind had gone through the same process. It was just something, anything, to take their minds off of it. It was bound to be more productive and effective than letting the young lieutenant injure her fists on a punching bag.<br><br>The sensations the clanner felt were powerful; almost unfamiliar with how long it had been since he had let passion override the rationality he normally wielded when giving into his needs. Other times, all it was was business, entertainment and a distraction. Affection and love still had nothing to do with what suddenly erupted between the two teammates, but there -was- a degree of emotion; far more than he was used to. It made the kiss more powerful, sending ripples of intense desire through his body. He could feel her hands on his flesh, fingertips scraping across toned abs that rested beneath his shirt and jacket. Soon after, the position they were in began to grow uncomfortable, prompting the man to push his weight forward. A probing hand stretched out to make sure there was nothing she could hit, and a split second later, she would be on her back on the rubbery mats of the exercise room.<br><br>Their kiss did not break, with his tongue meeting her in kind, even as his heartrate sped up rapidly, and his breathing grew heavy. All signs of his rising needs. Palms rested on the mats beneath them as he felt her grind. He grew impatient almost immediately, and after parting their lips, he sat up. Words were not necessary. They both knew what they were doing, and she looked ridiculously sexy in that outfit of hers. Roughly and hurriedly, he pulled off his jacket and shirt, and tossed them away in a random arc. He did not care where they landed; he'd track them down later. He didn't bother with his pants yet, instead leaning down to cover her attractively sweaty form with his warm body.<br><br>His build was lean, but not an inch of it was left untrained. He lacked the bulk of some of her other teammates, but made up for it with how rock-solid his muscles felt to the touch. He hid a lot more strength than his appearance implied, and it became all the more obvious as he held her down with his presence. Lips claimed hers again, a teasing bite of her lower tier preempting a descent along her neck. He traced across her collarbone before nipping at the base of her throat.<br><br>There was not a single moment in which he bothered to ask her if this was wise, if this was what they should be doing. He just needed it; badly.<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>Emily nodded slowly. The woman was known for being tough on others and overall being a stern and serious individual. She definitely had a lighter side to her which she did not hesitate to show. But overall, she was not so dissimilar from Damian at times, no matter how much she would loathe to be told that. Despite this strong presence, her eyes still softened visibly as the new commander recounted what she knew about what had happened to her father. She had lost people in her life, both due to war and sickness, and no matter how many times one was reassured that it had just been their time; that they had led good lives, it never got any easier. As a result, she knew exactly what Kari was feeling like, and she also knew that nothing she said or did was going to take the pain away. But the commander would pull through. After all, she had the late commander Moreno's genes and tenacity. She was going to be just fine.<br><br><strong>"Just don't lose yourself in your work. You've got priorities and responsibilities now that you cannot push to the side. But there is no shame in taking a few hours in the day just for yourself. After all, if you don't get the chance to mourn, you're only going to break down,"</strong> Emily argued, a confidant nod adding some force to her conclusion. <strong>"And if you do, we will be all the worse for it. Reassure the company, and then give yourself some time. Everyone else will."</strong><br><br>She then smiled at Kari's words. It was hard to believe how much she had grown over the years. Maybe she could not see it yet. In fact, Emily was certain she, and many others, couldn't. But she had all the makings of a fine commander. If only her first task wasn't a trial by fire that would have her bringing back an entire company from the brink of oblivion. There were usually better ways of introducing a new leader...<br><strong>"Careful what you give me permission for, ma'am,"</strong> she chuckled, before rising up. <strong>"Come on. You need a stiff drink. You can finish this stuff later,"</strong> she suddenly suggested. She could only imagine how many hours straight Kari had spent on the heaps of work she had to wrestle through. A little break never did anyone any harm.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>21-03-2015, 22:45:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>The rush of emotion wasn't coming from her mind, it was something deeper, more primal.&nbsp; As she kissed Damian, felt his skin under her fingernails, breathed in his scent as he pulled her closer; her heart raced and her body bristled.&nbsp; Every inch of her responded, from the knot in her belly, to the way her breasts and nipples grew more stiff, to the way her flower spread it's petals in anticipation.&nbsp; She felt a slight trickle of liquid form at the edge of her folds.&nbsp; Her body yearned for that kind of attention.<br><br>The way her body responded surprised Allia.&nbsp; She'd been prone to strong emotional outbursts and the occasional unexpected sexual advance, but never had she let such a primal urge over power her normal sense of control.&nbsp; There was something either about Damian or the situation that stripped her of all control, and she didn't necessarily mind.&nbsp; All she wanted right now was to find a way to unleash the anxiety and pain that she felt and as Damian reminded her, in a way that wasn't going to hurt in the morning.<br><br>When he moved to the ground she didn't object or complain, she simply held on and let him settle her on the ground.&nbsp; Feeling him between her legs was amazing, her body responded almost immediately with the urgency of an animal in heat.&nbsp; All she wanted was to be mounted and fucked, there weren't any other thoughts in her mind.&nbsp; This was instinct, plain and simple.&nbsp; <br><br>The kiss broke, with a soft moan of objection from Allia, as Damian sat up to remove his shirt and jacket.&nbsp; But realizing he was removing clothes, not changing his mind, she took the cue.&nbsp; Her arms reached across her chest and pulled the pink sports bra off over her head in one smooth motion.&nbsp; Her breasts bounced in response, full and round, her nipples stood at attention as her soft globes rolled slightly to either side of her chest.&nbsp; They were full, but real and jiggled softly as she moved.&nbsp; When he came back down on her, the feel of his warm skin against her breasts and nipples drew a louder moan as she returned to kissing him.&nbsp; Allia's legs wrapped around his waist, pulling her pelvis up into his hips, trying her best to rub against anything that might give her sex the attention it needed.<br><br>More moans escaped her throat as his kisses moved slowly down her neck.&nbsp; She bit her lower lip with a loud moan as she nipped at her throat.&nbsp; His body was hard and strong on top of her, her hands caressed the muscular folds of his back and side, needing more but patient for the buildup she knew was coming.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>22-03-2015, 14:28:15</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>”Thanks,” Kari finished with a nod. “You are right, and I did need to hear that. I haven’t even been thinking about myself in all of this, just what the company needs and what I need to do to get there. Since I came up with this insane plan, that’s all that I’ve even thought of. Hell, I probably haven’t been outside this office since this morning.” She gave a small, self-depreciating laugh at the idea, even knowing how painfully true it was. “All right, Emily, you win this round. Let us go get a drink anywhere but this office.”<br><br>She ran her hand through her hair, being suddenly acutely aware of how knotty and tangled it was and how bad she must look, and then simply accepted it. Grabbing her jacket, she threw it on and followed Emily out of the office. “mmm, and really, as long as we can get some viable recruits out of whatever process we go through, I’m happy for whatever you have to do to them along the way,” Kari laughed. “If they can’t take what you dish out, then they’re in the wrong line of work anyway”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>24-03-2015, 15:40:48</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian could tell how she was gripped in the same throes he was. There was no stopping it anymore, as the flames had been fanned into an inferno. It burned strongly in his guy, urging that familiar sensation upon him. It was a veritable point-of-no-return and he was not going to back away until he had managed to extinguish the fire the only way he could. Much like with the lieutenant, every motion was electrifying and intoxicating. He felt her limbs and heat graze him in as many places as possible - the woman writhing beneath his loose, yet oppressive hold. Every time her core would rush along the trapped silhouette of his hardened manhood, a lot groan would escape him. He felt sensitive, an indication of old desires that were surfacing explosively. He could tell what she wanted. He knew she wanted him to pound her into the gym mats until she screamed his name. He was going to supply just that, if only for the incredibly selfish notion that equal pleasure would experienced by him.<br><br>Her figure was amazing. Supple, nubile curves, accentuating by perked, firm breasts, luscious hips and slender legs. He hadn't been blind in the past. While he actively choose not to get into it, or to even pay it more than passing heed, he had noticed how attractive she was. Who wouldn't, really? It was that same sexual attraction that was fueling his efforts in that moment.<br>Hands reached around to grip her hips and hold her firmly, the feeling her legs wrapping themselves around his waist delicious. His lips, in the meantime, descended further, this time encroaching upon one of her mounds and closing around a hardened nipple. The texture and taste was delightful, and only seduced him further. Teeth nipped at the nub, while his tongue traced sloppy circles along her aureoles. He wanted to watch her body respond further; enticing him to bring himself to bear in full.<br><br>But theirs was not some night of passion between tender lovers. It was the need to get rid of built-up frustration. To that end, thoughts of exploration slowly gave way to thoughts of release. He couldn't resist, not really, nor did he feel the need to. They were of like mind, so why waste time with foreplay that felt out of place? As much as he adored the taste of a woman, the priorities were different.<br>He pulled away and sat up on his knees, pushing her back, despite her legs' lock, enough to be able to reach out and pull her shorts down her legs as quickly as he could. Time was wasting. With the fabric removed, she would be revealed to him in full, his fingers deftly moving to undo a belt, button and zipper that withheld freedom from his throbbing shaft.<br><br>Once the member was given that freedom, though, his iron grip returned. He lifted her hips up off the mats as if she wait nothing to him. He positioned himself between her alluring legs, the length of his heated manhood pressing itself against her beautiful flower. His hips began to grind as he needed nothing more than a single arm around her shapely rump to keep her at just the right height for him to do so. His free palm would explore the sensitive expanse of her belly, pelvis and inner thighs.<br><strong>"Tell me what you want from me,"</strong> he finally broke the silence, his amber eyes trained squarely upon her disks, watching for every hint of arousal and ecstasy that crossed her features. Hips continued to shift and move, running his full length across the definition of her folds, his crown constantly colliding with a hardening bundle of nerves. By that point, he was utterly slick with her natural juices, and more than prepared to slip inside of her.<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>Emily could see the thoughts cross her commander's features, but even though Kari was still summing up how she had been virtually locked into that tiny office, the experienced warrior knew what the decision was going to be. Her smile only broadened, until become complete and genuine when Kari accepted the offer. <strong>"We all need some time for ourselves, and we don't spend that in the company of files, pens and keyboards on this ship. Come on... ma'am,"</strong> she explained, chuckling at seemingly forgetting her place a little. She knew Kari would not mind, considering how casual a situation they found themselves in, really.<br><br>The two women began to make their way through the bowels of the ship, towards the nearest cantina. Naturally, a vessel of that size had more than one to provide necessary services to a substantial crew, and fortunately, the one they were headed to was always comfortably busy that time of day. Others tended to be too cramped or too quiet, but theirs had just the right balance to create a pleasing atmosphere.<br><strong>"I agree. Some will hold promise. I just hope they don't get themselves killed before I can teach them that there are no rules in war; unlike in the arena,"</strong> she explained.<br><strong>"Anyway, enough about work. I'm here to try to get you to unwind a little,"</strong> she teased, with a wry smile, before nodding a greeting to a familiar face in the cantina. They had plenty of options where seats were concerned, so a small table for two was soon theirs.<br><strong>"So tell me, commander, any new hobbies that this ridiculously busy schedule might force you to give up?"</strong> she questioned, clearly wanting to get idle banter going.</div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>24-03-2015, 19:18:01</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia felt the throbbing hardness growing between his legs as he pressed down on top of her again.&nbsp; Her legs pulled at his, pulling her up into his hips, dragging herself against him as much as possible to get his hardness pressed against her.&nbsp; Allia's body yearned for more, she could feel the petals of her flower open further as her moist dew began building along the soft silky folds.&nbsp; <br><br>It dawned on her that she hadn't ever really noticed Damian as a sexual interest.&nbsp; Her attentions had always been to the other officers, the ones that were a bit less tied up into the running of the company.&nbsp; It was amazing to her how such a serious shift in the command staff suddenly put her into a situation where those she hadn't even previously considered were not the only thing she wanted.&nbsp; <br><br>At this point, it didn't matter, her body needed it.&nbsp; She needed to feel him inside her, to feel him behind her, plowing himself deep inside her, the animalistic need was overpowering and she enjoyed it.&nbsp; When his mouth found her breast, it radiated out along her body like someone tossing a stone into a pond.&nbsp; Her skin tingled, as his warmth pressed against her skin, as her hands caressed and explored every curve and valley of his muscular form.&nbsp; The nip of his teeth on her full sensitive nipple brought a gasp and a moan to her throat, she bit her lip as she enjoyed the moist warmth of his tongue across her sensitive skin.&nbsp; <br><br>When he dropped her to the floor again all she could think of was him mounting her.&nbsp; Her eyes didn't lock on his, they were locked on his belly, on his waist, she could see the bulge in his pants and wanted it free for her.&nbsp; With one broad stroke, her tight shorts were gone, up her thighs and off of her legs.&nbsp; She lay there, open and willing for his attention, the only impediment was his pants.&nbsp; She licked her lips as he slowly undid his belt.&nbsp; He seemed to move in slow motion as she watched his hands slowly work the button and zipper, finally pulling his pants down enough to free his member. <br><br>A groan of excitement and hunger rumbled through her as she saw it stand out from his waist, begging her to join it.&nbsp; When he lifted her up with barely a thought, and held her just at the edge of her opening, her hand grabbed along his shoulders and arms as her hips tried their best to guide the throbbing shaft into her canal.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br><em>"Tell me what you want from me,"</em>&nbsp; <br><br>The question seemed to come from some supernatural place outside of reality.&nbsp; Her mind grasped to even translate it, her body and mind so deep into animalistic need that language escaped her momentarily.&nbsp; "I want you to fuck me like a bitch!"&nbsp; She whispered, her words dripping with the very sex she felt dripping from her folds.&nbsp; "I want you to take my body, mount me and fuck me until I forget where I am."&nbsp; She was numb at this point, the feeling of him rubbing along her smoldering dripping folds so close to filling her, all she could think of was the need, the fire in her belly that needed to be quenched.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>01-04-2015, 13:51:05</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>”Hobbies?” Kari asked herself with a laugh. “I seem to collect tattoos, for starters.” She’d long ago abandoned any pretense of hiding her ‘art’, something that was impossible given how extensive it was. If anything, she probably stood out just as much for her ink now as she did for being the commander’s daughter. “This didn’t all happen at once, mind you. Which is probably good, as it would have killed.” She laughed again. “But yeah, they’re from all over the place. Different worlds we went to, different artists…”<br><br>They took a seat in the cantina, Kari quickly noting both the eyes on them and, more nervously, the lack of people otherwise. The number of casualties became more evident each time she looked around, something that struck her even as she tried to avoid it. <em>Focus, Kari. You’re here to relax</em> She smiled at Emily before continuing. “Otherwise, well, I had a taste for exploring the worlds we were on where possible, just to get a look around and discover a little, and see a planet in a way that isn’t just through a heads-up display. You miss the good stuff that way.”<br><br>“Swimming’s another one,” she continued. “Beach time is always fun, though obviously not something you can readily do on Galatea. I mean, there’s indoor pools and such, but it’s just not the same as lying on the sand, soaking up the sun…” She smirked. “Oggling guys in speedos. That sort of thing”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>04-04-2015, 21:07:44</strong>
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				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>A surprisingly devious grin crossed Damian's normally cold features. What few times he had ever considered what kind of woman Allia would be in matters of desire and passion, he had always pictured her as fiery as she was showing herself to be. Hearing her announce those words readily was as erotic as he had hoped, and it was truly impossible for him to deny her demands. He never thought he'd surrender himself to lust so completely ever again; but he needed this. They both did. And with that thought, he gave her an answer in words and in action.<br><strong>"That, I can do, lieutenant,"</strong> he stated, clearly voicing her rank as if it only seemed to make the situation sexier. Truthfully, they were making a mistake. While Allia had been with others in the company, and seemed to be able to keep herself detached, it was still a risk. The more personal a relationship between two colleagues became, the greater the risk for troubles and drama on the battlefield. They could not afford to have their minds clouded. It was sex, and nothing else, but it was still going to be a pleasant memory in their minds, which was going to influence their decisions and behavior, no matter how hard they try to not let it. It was dangerous, but at the same time, stressing the taboo, only made it more arousing. There was no delay between his words and the motion of his hips. He moved his pelvis back one last time, letting his full length slip along lips drenched in feminine nectar. It brought his crown to an opening he knew would bring him nothing but pleasure, and then, he thrust forward, piercing her and embedding his full length and girth between her folds.<br><br>A low groan escaped him, as he wasted no time with making the rhythm fierce and powerful. She wanted to be claimed, like a "bitch", in her own words. He was not going to deny her. One arm kept her hips up off the ground, where their position could be controlled. His motions were strong, with every pounding thrust driving his throbbing member deep within her. Everytime their hips met, the sound of flesh slapping together violently filled the otherwise completely silent gym room. He surrendered to it completely, and gave into the feeling of stretching her labia, and her tightening around him. Every completed push sent rippled through her tight, toned body, which his free hand wasted no time to explore with deep strokes and caresses.<br><strong>"We are alone in here. The shutters are closed. It is soundproof. Scream at the top of your lungs for me,"</strong> the clanner almost ordered her, his voice still level and calm, even if his body felt as if it was on fire. He was not cutting her any slack, as he put nearly everything he had behind every push; at least, everything he had in that moment. An encroaching high had a way of breaking the limits of a man, or a woman for that matter. He wanted to see more of her fire; enticing as it was.<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>It was strange for Emily to see Kari in such a relaxed capacity. For all the time they've spent on the field of battle, they never interacted much beyond that. Being on different lances didn't help, and Emily tended to be the type to make a core group of friends and rarely expand from there. It wasn't out of the desire to leave people out of the loop; not at all. But she was just not someone who needed an expansive list of acquaintances. A few people to trust. That was enough. Of course, the list had become substantially shorter in recent history... Before she would descend into melancholy over lives lost, she mentally picked herself up again and settled in the seat. A throaty chuckle was released as Kari spoke of her hobbies.<br><br><strong>"You sure inherited your father's inner pervert. I always said he was a skirtchaser. Didn't think his daughter would be the speedo-equivalent,"</strong> she teased, before smiling brightly. <strong>"I actually met my husband on a beach. First time in years that friends had dragged me out there. I'd started my military training at the time and an unfortunate accident had left my with a few scars a bathing suit wouldn't hide; so I was embarrassed. He was so nervous around me at first, it was cute,"</strong> she chuckled more, leaning forward to twist her wedding ring with two digits of the opposite hand. <strong>"He isn't normally a nervous person, but he later told me he was afraid I'd kick his ass if he flirted too persistently. Ended up kicking his ass at some point, but that's another story entirely,"</strong> she laughed more.<br><br><strong>"Any stories behind those tattoos anyway? Some that are there to commemorate something?"</strong></div>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>05-04-2015, 04:36:41</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br><em>"That, I can do, lieutenant,"</em><br><br>The feeling of Damien sliding back along her swollen lips drew a moan, but the feeling of him plunging into her drew more than that.&nbsp; It felt like an eternity though she knew full well it was a mere matter of seconds that it took his long hard thick shaft to fill her.&nbsp; It had been such a long time since the last time the'd had something this full inside her, plastic toys had never fulfilled this need the way she wanted it, and this time she needed it.&nbsp; As his bulbous tip pushed aside her lips and dove headlong into her deep canal, her body tensed, her back bowed as a gasp bordering on a scream escaped her throat.&nbsp; The feeling of his shaft spreading her wide, filling her, sent a shudder along her skin from her head to her toes.&nbsp; When his full length finally bottomed out at the back of her, her eyes shot open as she strained between <br><br>The sensations of Damian plowing into her seemed overpowering for the long moment it took him to fill her, but his sudden rhythmic thrusts, like an animal in heat pounding away at her made her body tingle with desire.&nbsp; Very rarely had she ever known anyone who could give her the hard raucous fucking she so often desired.&nbsp; There was something about the way Damian pounded into her that simply felt right.&nbsp; She knew she could never be more than a toy to him, she knew that he could never be anything more than a toy to her, it was connections beyond that which brought them to the point they were at now, fighting to stay on top of the carnage, trying to keep those they care about from leaving.&nbsp; Her mind raced on the subconscious level, thinking about how this was right but wrong in so many ways, but on the conscious level all she could do was moan with each hard violent thrust.&nbsp; <br><br>He held her hips close, keeping her in a position that each thrust ran deeper and deeper.&nbsp; Allia rode the bull between her legs with no regard to how it would effect her, now all she needed was to change the violence she saw and felt with the violence that would make it all better. <br><br><em>"We are alone in here. The shutters are closed. It is soundproof. Scream at the top of your lungs for me," </em>&nbsp; Damian didn't need to order her, or suggest it, she was already there.&nbsp; As each thrust grew deeper and her pleasure built more and more every crash inside of her pushed out louder and louder moans of lust.&nbsp; Her tits bounced, her nipples strained as sweat and cool air teased them.&nbsp; Her mouth hung open, free to let the moans escape as they needed.&nbsp; The world swirled around her as he took her body.&nbsp; Nothing else mattered, nothing else existed but the deep connection they built with each thrust.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>05-04-2015, 17:10:37</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari smiled a little as she heard Emily’s story, definitely enjoying the company of the other woman, and the chance to talk about something other then the current state of the command. “Well, you know my dad. He was… well, he wasn’t subtle, let’s just say. But at the same time, he definitely earned it in my books. He had his hands full not only running this unit, but trying to raise his deranged tearaway daughter who was determined to get herself into as much trouble as she could. Crazy stuff, I know.”<br><br>She didn’t bring up her mother. It was something that was never mentioned, and with good reason. Right now would definitely not be a good time to change that.<br><br>“And your hubby is one lucky man,” Kari continued, changing the subject. “I don’t blame you for wanting to go back to him, especially after this. Trust me, you’ll get a good payout when this is done, even if I need to rob a bank or two in the process.” She laughed it off, especially given the state of the unit’s finances.<br><br>“Now the tats…” She held up one arm, tracing along the patterns on it. “Those aren’t one single thing, thank god. That’d probably have killed me. Instead they’re a collection that’s been put together over many years and many worlds. The first one was an ‘I was young and it seemed like a good idea at the time’ sort of a moment. And, well, it kind of grew out of control from there.”<br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>08-04-2015, 11:18:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian's grip on the young lieutenant's body shifted, his arms changing positions to alter the angle with which he rushed his heated shafted deep between her legs. Wrapping themselves under her thighs, hands resting on her hips, the alteration brought her up slightly higher, while he raised his knees, allowing him to thrust downward. The clanner groaned from the intense fires burning in his gut, each impact resounding even louder through the training hall than before. He could hear his impromptu lover's desires emanate in delectable moans and subtle whimpers. It was music to him; a sweet melody that synced perfectly with the rhythm their hips had built up. Every motion her body made, and every sound she released, urged him to surrender further to what he wanted. His breathing had become wild, uncontrollable, prompting his fit chest to rise and fall as his abdomen flexed to accommodate the powerful thrusts into Allia's core. He could feel it fast approaching. As much as he wanted to try and hold it back, he was not going to last much longer.<br><br>He shifted again, not content with allowing the joining to become stale. He lowered his teammate's legs, releasing her to rest fully on the floor beneath them. Palms planted themselves on either side of her, serving as leverage as he began to give her everything he had left. His amber eyes attempted to lock with hers, the very sight of her pleasure pure eroticism in its own right. As powerfully, and fast, as he could muster, he pounded her, hoping to bring her to a peak he couldn't stop anymore. He wanted to see it, in half-lidded eyes, that pleasure that accompanied a potent orgasm; all because he know how much stronger his own would become because of it.<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>For a brief moment, Emily felt a hint of curiosity, as she didn't know anything about Kari's mother. But, simultaneously, she also realized there was probably a very good reason as to why the woman was never mentioned. Maybe a sore past? Whatever it was, she preferred not to pry, and she could definitely understand family being a joyless subject in their current situation. Mother or no, she seemed to be out of the picture, and to have that brought up together with a deeply missed father? That would be cruel of her. And so, the lieutenant was pleased to find the subject changing smoothly, and remaining on the topic of more lighthearted things.<br><br>Emily proceeded to wave a single hand in a dismissive gesture. <strong>"I don't care about the payout. I'll find some other work back home to help support us. Don't worry about it. I'm sticking around to make sure the company gets back on its feet. I'm pretty sure you'll be needing that severance package to pay some bills backlog,"</strong> she explained as she rose up to fetch them some drinks from a vending machine right behind their table.<br><br>Opening a can of some kind of fizzy drink, Emily watched a number of the tattoos on Kari's body that were visible in her current outfit. Most were beautiful, thought some were a bit odd or seemed to clash in Emily's opinion. When the new commander explained the reasoning behind them, though, it became clear -why- that was so. They all had a meaning of some sort, she was certain, which somehow made them all the more lovely.<br><strong>"Some of them are gorgeous. How often do you get more? Just whenever you feel like it? When there's something to celebrate?"</strong> she questioned, bringing the can to her lips for a few more sips.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>08-04-2015, 18:22:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia's head rolled from side to side as Damian plowed into her.&nbsp; Thrust after thrust after thrust pushed deep into her, touching her in a place that she hadn't felt in a long time.&nbsp; Suddenly the emptiness and loss that she'd felt only a short time before was replaced with something inexplicable.&nbsp; She'd never experienced this level of loss before in her life, but she never once would have thought sex would fill that hole like this was filling her.<br><br>As Damian's body shifted position, Allia pushed her arms up over her head, pushing herself back up into him as she pulled her legs up around his back.&nbsp; The new angle gave her and him what they both needed, the peak of pleasure.&nbsp; The next few thrusts pushed her over the edge.&nbsp; Her body tensed and bucked back against him as the fire in her belly exploded into an blast of fire that threatened to engulf her from the inside out.&nbsp; Her screams of pleasure filled the room as she looked up at Damian, her mouth open panting for air.&nbsp; He would notice a definite increase in lubrication and tightness as her body both clenched down on him and came with him.&nbsp; <br><br>Allia held on for dear life as her body shuddered with wave after wave of fire surging though her body, spreading out fro the piercing tip of Damian's shaft deep inside her belly.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>09-04-2015, 16:00:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Emily was obviously checking out Kari’s tattoos, but she didn’t mind at all. It was a pleasant distraction, and something she enjoyed talking about. “It’s a real mess of styles, subjects and whatever else,” she admitted. “Sort of a collage, just with a rather different medium to what many others would use,” Kari laughed as she continued. “I just started and never really stopped. Maybe sooner or later I’ll run out of skin that I’m willing to use, and then I’ll call it a day on the collection”<br><br>She sipped her drink before continuing. “As for when, it can be several things, really.” Kari explained. “The first is simply when I get time, something I know I’m going to have a lot less of from here on in. Typically, this would come when we’re on world and have downtime where we’re not expected to get in a fight in a hurry. Or, alternatively, it could be when there’s a local artist or style that catches my eye. I collect a rather unusual form of souvenir, shall we say.”<br><br>“So how’s about you, Emily?” She asked. “Ever had the urge to get inked up yourself?”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>11-04-2015, 17:52:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>Damian could feel the young lieutenant's orgasm wave over her body with every thrust he proceeded to deliver. His palms remained pressed to the floor on either side of her as desperation took hold. His body needed release, the same release that was causing Allia to tighten her grip on his heated phallus. Slick from her climax, every pounding push became an effortless act of blissful friction, which fed the flames in his belly until he could not take it any longer. His groans grew louder and more uncontrolled, until he reached his peak and came crashing down harder than he had in years. He was still lucid enough to prevent himself from making one, significant mistake. Having held it back for as long as he could muster, he finally pulled his member free from the velvet embrace of Allia's folds. The instant he did, his back straightened, with fingers clenching the throbbing shaft as it feverishly expelled long ribbons of warm, thick release. The liquid spread along Allia's lower belly; an unavoidable mes amid the passion.<br><br>He rode his high, but disappointment came as the climax came and went far too quickly. However, a calming sense of satisfaction did wash over him, starting from a dull, fuzzy sensation in his mind and descending to his loins as he slowly grew flaccid again. His chest heaved, and he leaned back on his knees slightly.<br><strong>"Apologies... for the mess,"</strong> he muttered, a deep breath breaking the sentence in half as he regained control of his lungs and heart rate. His eyes were not leaving her body; they were glued to the fit physique he had just ravaged. While he found his sexual frustration subsiding, he couldn't help but wish to sample more.<br><br>He didn't know what else to say, not immediately. There was no uncomfortable silence, but at the same time, what words were appropriate after two people who really didn't know each other all that well, were finished pounding each other's frustrations from their bodies?<br><strong>"We should not linger here like this,"</strong> he finally concluded. He really did not feel like having his reputation as a hardass ruined by being discovered having wild sex with fellow officers in the public gym...<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>Emily nodded as she took another sip of her drink, her booted feet lifting themselves onto the edge of the table as she made herself progressively more comfortable. She definitely wasn't the most lady-like of women. Of course, few were in their line of business. She wasn't a tomboy either; she obviously put a lot of time and effort into the long, brunette locks she was proud of, and jewelry wasn't always absent either. But the battlefield was a place of practicality and that didn't always mesh well with the traditional view of a "lady". Posture often reflected that as well.<br><strong>"I don't think you'll stop until maybe just your face and neck are left. You've got it bad,"</strong> she teased with a throaty chuckle.<br><br><strong>"For some reason, I figured it would be more significant than that. But, honestly? I think It's better that way. Souvenirs, instead of joyful or sad mementos. If you're going to slap something permanent on your body, may as well make it something you'll enjoy for the rest of your life, you know?"</strong> she mused, clearly approving of the thought process Kari had behind her collection.<br><br>She then chuckled and shook her head. <strong>"Nah; no ink for me. I once tattooed an ex-boyfriend's name on my ass. Took me forever to save up enough money and courage to get it removed after that crashed and burned,"</strong> she explained. <strong>"Besides. The husband isn't too fond of anything blemishing the soft skin; as he'd proclaim. He doesn't force my hand, but I like to spoil him a little, you know?"</strong> she gave a suggestive wink and another chuckle, before taking a much heartier swig of the can she'd bought.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>16-04-2015, 16:12:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>”Probably, yeah. I’m not going to mess up such a pretty face for anything now,” Kari smirked. “And the neck amounts to how much I think that I can get away with, after all. Again, not gonna infringe on the really good real estate.” Kari knew it sounded vain, but she didn’t care. She was proud of her looks, and didn’t mind saying it either. She knew she was a head-turner, and not just because of the tats, and there had been more then a couple of men with their eyes on her.<br><br><em>And women,</em> she mentally added, thinking about Allia. The lieutenant wasn’t exactly shy about her preferences, and it was clear that she was somewhat attracted to Kari. <em>Because what happened in the shower wasn’t awkward enough,</em> she mentally added.<br><br>Emily, however, managed to shake that out of her mind with all due force. “You a wild child?” She raised a mockingly disbelieving brow. “I would have never guessed. And, believe it or not, I’ve never once stamped anything on my butt. Yes, I know how crazy it sounds, given how much of the rest of my skin I’ve covered.” She glanced around before leaning in a little. “See, much like the face, it’s a case of why mess with perfection”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>16-04-2015, 17:16:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia's body wrenched as her orgasm exploded along her skin.&nbsp; Every muscle tensed and clenched up around Damian.&nbsp; The orgasm was more than she'd felt in a long time as her head swam at the euphoria of finding a release she'd never imagined possible under the circumstances.&nbsp; The fire surged through her body as she gasped for air, fighting through each wave of ecstacy as it filled her.&nbsp; <br><br>A gasped tore through her as Damian slipped out of her canal, brushing across her sensitive lips and clit.&nbsp; The warm spray of his seed on her belly drew a moan from her throat.&nbsp; She hadn't expected him to pull out, and frankly she had been looking forward to feeling him explode inside of her, but she respected him for keeping her operational.&nbsp; <br><br><em>"Apologies... for the mess......We should not linger here like this," he </em><br><br>She looked up to see the look of disappointment on his face which slowly changed to a serene grin.&nbsp; As he sat back on his knees, Allia proped herself up on her arms.&nbsp; Her chest heaved softly, lifting her breasts up and down as beads of sweat ran down between her full round mounds.&nbsp; "Thank you Damian.... I needed that."&nbsp; She looked down to see the puddle of white liquid on her belly, running slowly down her side.&nbsp; Smiling she looked back up to Damian.&nbsp; "Next time I'd really like to feel you cum inside me."&nbsp; She figured the comment in of itself would be enough for Damian to realize there would be a chance again to enjoy each others company.<br><br>After a long moment, she finally stood, pulling her sports bra on, along with her shorts.&nbsp; Before she heads back towards the showers she stops to place a soft hand on Damian's shoulder.&nbsp; "Don't worry, I won't let anyone know you have a soft sensual side."&nbsp; The grin on her face was soft as she looked down at him, her long pink hair hanging down the side of her head along her chest over her breast.&nbsp; She let her hand for a long moment before walking softly out of the gym into the bathrooms.<br><br>She felt renewed and fresh after the shower.&nbsp; There was new purpose and the deep emptiness in her gut was gone.&nbsp; She smiled at the irony of the situation.&nbsp; It was time for them to get back on the horse and find a solution to this problem and worrying about what was lost wasn't helping them.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>19-04-2015, 20:53:14</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>His hands lingered on her skin. How could they not? There was a heat lingering between them. The feint scent of sweat and sex, mixed with warm breaths and a deep sense of satisfaction. It was an afterglow Damian had missed, in all honesty. But one he will miss again soon enough. He was a workaholic; and their little escapade had not managed to alter that at all. Already, he was starting to chastise himself mentally for leaving his work for as long as he did. On top of that, he would definitely need a shower and a long night's rest now, which did not help his privates' defense of his carnal actions either. Still, slowly, his body relaxed, palms caressing her hips as he did not try to hide his admiration of her body at all. Why both with shame when he could instead enjoy what was offered before him? The sight of the beads traveling between the mounds of her chest were not lost on him, and had he the physical and mental fortitude at that time, it may have been enough to spur on another session in a different venue instantly. But no, he quite honestly was exhausted. The effects of what had happened before finally began to catch up to him, all adrenaline drained.<br><br>He released her when it became clear she wanted to rise, though he settled back on his knees a little at first. The same beads covered his form as they did hers, though he seemed the type to perspire less easily. Not unsurprising, given how he often managed to step out of the cockpit of Charybdis with just some moist along his brow and little else. While his machine's lack of energy weapons definitely had something to do with that, it was still a feat. His current posture left little to the imagination, allowing the light to catch his musculature just right to form highlight along his chest, shoulders and abs.<br><br>He did not respond to her offer for a next time, at least not in words. Instead, he gained the slightest hint of a smirk - which was more than most ever got from him.<br><strong>"Cannot have people thinking I can be anything but harsh and judgmental. They might relax when I come through a door, given the chance,"</strong> he responded, his attempt at humor falling flat because of how monotonely he delivered it. However, if deadpan was Allia's thing, it might work better than expected after all.<br><br>He had begun donning his own clothes again after she had started making her way to the showers. There was no point in keeping his current attire clean. He needed to freshen up completely, so he may as well include laundry with that. His eyes didn't leave her form as she walked away, however, his mind giving him the odd impression that she was... sauntering. Did she always do that? Whatever the case, it was a pleasant way to end a horrible twenty-four hours, that was certain.<br><br>He would sleep like a log that night, even if dreams were still prevalent in his mind...<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>Emily didn't mind Kari's confidence in her appearance at all. If a woman looked good, and she knew it, why hide it? There was a respect for others involved, as well as not becoming conceited or arrogant, of course. But at the end of the day, if one wasn't allowed to be proud of their own merits - physical and mental - what was the point of having any kind of pride at all? Naturally, the choice of words still prompted a genuine chuckle from the veteran, who could only nod in agreement. Despite it all being entirely unrelated to her position at the helm of the entire company, the conversation was still telling to Emily. Her new commander was confident, and not lacking in common sense at all. They were elements she had not really picked up on half as well before. Where the division of the company as a whole was concerned, there used to be a lot of people in between them. There wasn't much direct communication. But those traits were valuable in making the seasoned warrior feel some comfort knowing they might be in good hands, after all. If nothing else, Kari's old man had obviously raised her well.<br><br>Emily laughed at the next quip to come from Kari's lips, displaying the deeper, but still feminine tone of her voice once more. <strong>"Yes, well, let's just say I didn't have half the brains you had when I was young; and twice as much alcohol running through my system,"</strong> she shook her head. <strong>"Not a good combination that. Shit, I'm lucky that one tattoo was the only one I ended up getting by mistake. I remember, for a time, thinking it had been the greatest idea ever. Plans were in the work to get the name on the other cheek too,"</strong> she winced in mockery of herself before downing her drink to drawn the well-intentioned shame.<br><br><strong>"Which one's your favorite? And why?"</strong> she asked next, genuinely curious given the collection was already quite sizable. She figured it might not be easy for Kari to choose at all.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>21-04-2015, 17:07:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>”My favourite?” Kari considered a moment. “It’s a hard call. I love them all. They’re like my children.” She laughed at that before continuing, stretching out one arm towards the Lieutenant.&nbsp; Her other hand traced up the arm, stopping at a single image in among the riot of colour. “So see this little ol’ butterfly here?” She asked with an exaggerated drawl. “That’s probably the closest there is to being the favored child. That was my first, you see. And without it, the rest probably wouldn’t have happened.”<br><br>She smiled back at Emily. “So there you go. Clearly Tats were a better idea for me then you,” She finished with a smile before taking another swig of her drink.<br><br>Deep down, she could feel a growing confidence, one that had been sorely lacking since the near-destruction of the unit. Emily might only be staying on for as long as it took to rebuild, but Kari knew she was the right choice regardless. <em>Thanks so much,</em> she mentally noted. <em>You’ve done more for the unit – and for me – then I could have hoped for</em><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>23-04-2015, 16:52:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>The next couple of days were spent putting the relative bulk of their resources to work getting back into the swing of replenishing their unit and their stocks.&nbsp; Allia had left the numbers and resources to Damian, that was his strength, hers was thinking outside the box and finding solutions where none appeared to be.&nbsp; <br><br>As soon as they hit the Galatea Nadir point she'd linked into the local satelite network hoping to find some sort of idea on where to start looking for new blood.&nbsp; Between her and Emily they would need to find, and train whoever was going to replace the units lost souls.&nbsp; The easy part was that there was almost never a shortage of needy souls looking to join up with a unit.&nbsp; The hard part was that bad news tended to travel faster than jumpships, so beating the news of their relative devastation to Galatea was not very likely.&nbsp; <br><br>On the positive side of that news as she found out as soon as they hit Galatea's system, news of the Jade Falcon push and the capture of Wrociaw along with many of the other planets was being blacked out.&nbsp; While returning from the front&nbsp; limping on a wing and a prayer may not look good for them, arriving at all might garner them so street credit among other units that had been through similar.&nbsp; <br><br>It didn't surprise Allia at all that there weren't any names from the other units that had joined them on Wrociaw on the hiring list.&nbsp; <em>If</em> any had survived, it was very unlikely they were in any shape to be looking for new work.&nbsp; <br><br>She'd sent a message to Emily to join her in the officers lounge at some point after they arrived to go through the list.&nbsp; She'd been avoiding Allia since their talk in the locker room a few days before.&nbsp; Allia wondered if she was upset at her for talking her into staying or if she just wasn't ready to face Allia yet.&nbsp; Either way, they needed to work together if she and Emily were going to be getting what new recruits they could find ready.<br><br>Thinking about it for a minute, Allia pressed the comm button that went to Kari's room.&nbsp; She knew that as she pressed the comm button, it would buzz in Kari's room.&nbsp; She just hoped Kari was there to get it.&nbsp; "M'am, if you have a minute, can I talk to you in the officers lounge."&nbsp; It had dawned on her that they had never discussed how to structure the new unit.&nbsp; Allia had some new ideas, but needed to bounce them off Kari first. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>26-04-2015, 18:17:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/ba/Emily_Jirani.jpg)</div><br><br>Emily leaned over the table a little as Kari stretched out her arm in illustration. A slight smirk colored the woman's lips; for no specific reason. She was just enjoying herself, for the first time in a while. It was easy to get homesick, even for a seasoned veteran like Jirani. She would never complain about it, nor would she ever confide anyone either; not now, not ever. But, that didn't take away that she still had a family waiting for her. Idle banter was perfect to put her mind on other matters, even if they lacked all gravitas... Especially when they lacked that. She chuckled as Kari described one of the smallest, least conspicuous tattoos of the bunch.<br><strong>"Started humbly, I see?"</strong> she smiled. <strong>"I suppose they don't all need some kind of deep meaning behind them. So long as they make you happy. Right?"</strong> she suggested.<br><br>Setting the drink she had finished aside, her eyes turned to the watch that adorned the bottom of her wrist. Suddenly, she rose up. <strong>"Well, I better get back to work. There's a lot more than needs to be done before we're back in the saddle properly, ma'am,"</strong> she smiled and gave Kari a friendly nod.<br><strong>"Remember, commander. We all need a break sometime. Or we'll end up grumpy like that clanner. We don't want that, now do we?"</strong> and with that, she bid her leave. She liked that drink; realizing she'd needed to have her mind on other matters just as much as she suspected Kari had. They needed to do that again sometime.<br><br><hr><br><strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br>The sheer bulk of what needed to be done only really dawned on Damian after he awoke the following day, as well as over the course of the days of the trek to Galatea. So many people dead. So much priceless gear lost. And so few reserves to fill the gaps. But, sleepless nights had paid off. Thanking his days with clan Sea Fox for the results, Damian had managed to free up a modest sum of money for Kari and Allia to use in their recruitment drive. It wasn't going to net them any kind of established quality. But, than again, they weren't looking for that. They were looking for hopeful youngsters, freshly kicked out of the arena and desperate for an excuse to shoot at moving targets again. It would afford them enough souls to fill at least a lance or two. But the machines and the people involved were not going to be anything worth writing home about. In the end, he had no preference in the matter, and his enclosed recommendations only called for at least one higher-end candidate to be included, with the rest being cannon fodder or the greenest of recruits depending on Kari and Allia's discretion.<br><br>He was not hopeful, but he kept his pessimistic nature to himself, as usual. He did not behave differently towards the crew, even if those that had seen it hadn't forgotten his earlier outburst. He did not see success on the horizon, but he refused to let that affect his performance, or crew morale. Spirits were terrible enough as it was without a clanner pointing out they were done for. He made a promise, and he would see it through.<br>For the first time in all of those days, he had taken up a comfortable position on one of the view decks. There were only two or three other people, alone at their respective tables, enjoying the atmosphere of what amounted to a lounge with a view of space outside. Boots propped up on the small, round table, and a full glass of some local drink resting by his legs, it looked as if he was actually relaxing. That was definitely not true. As always, there was more to be done, and that time around, it was inventory of their essentials. There was staff that could do it for him, but then more than ever, he needed to make sure it was done properly. He had hammered his way through all the critical tasks at hand, so he could afford being a little anally retentive.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>27-04-2015, 15:13:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Talking with Emily had helped Kari a lot. It was good to have a conversation that wasn’t full of impending doom or with the knowledge of what had happened hanging over their heads. Instead, it had just been two friends shooting the breeze, relaxing and catching up after what had seemed like forever without actually having anything to say – or, at least, anything that wasn’t about whatever contract they were currently on.<br><br>She’d spent the next few days working through ideas and plans for the rest of the unit, cycling between Emily, Damien and several members of the unit’s support staff. This was just as much planning as it was getting her acquainted with the nuts and bolts of running the unit and it’s functions, the administrivia that she’d never thought about when her father ran the unit. The biggest lesson she’d taken away from it was just how much work he’d done.<br><br>Allia’s message came through as she was in the middle of reviewing documentation, and was eagerly received. Within moments she was halfway across the ship in the officer’s lounge, glad to be out of there and engaging in conversation with one of her friends. She nodded to the pink-haired lieutenant as she entered. “So what’s up?” Kari asked as she took a seat in the lounge.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>27-04-2015, 17:45:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br><em>“So what’s up?”</em><br><br>Allia smiled as Kari walked into the officers lounge.&nbsp; It hadn't even dawned on her how many days it had been since the last time she's actually seen Kari in any capacity other than simply passing her in the hall.&nbsp; They'd all been so busy with their own forms of healing and coming to terms with what had happened that she'd left caring for her friends off of the list of priorities.&nbsp; <br><br>Allia quietly admonished herself for being so self absorbed.&nbsp; She'd have to make up for that.&nbsp; Allia watched as Kari sat next to her.&nbsp; The woman's scent was the same, but her energy had changed.&nbsp; She was full of vigor which was nice to see.&nbsp; The energy splashed over onto Allia sending a wave of tingles along her skin.&nbsp; It was nice to see how intoxicating Kari just being near her could make Allia feel better.&nbsp; She only hoped she could do the same for the other woman.<br><br>"Ok, so good news and bad news.....!"&nbsp; She wasn't sure how to start, but she figured right off the top was the best way to hit his.&nbsp; "The Falcon's are tearing shit up all over the front, so as a result the Lyran's are blacking out a lot of the traffic coming back through.&nbsp; This is good for us, because there's not a lot of news about units from Wrociaw."&nbsp; She scrolled through some information she had on the situation.&nbsp; "The bad news is that with the Falcon's tearing everything up, demand for Mercs is going to be high."&nbsp; Her eyes watched Kari for her response.&nbsp; She knew they were walking a tight rope right now with supply and demand both in the realm of personnel, but also in morale.<br><br>"The real reason I brought you down here, was I want to see you."&nbsp; She said with a grin and a wink.&nbsp; "Aaannndd.....I wanted to discuss with you my idea for changing up the company structure to better keep what happened from happening again."&nbsp; Allia pulled out an organizational chart of how the company was divided up, she'd scratched a few things out and penciled some things in.&nbsp; "This is all dependant on the type and number of people we get.&nbsp; But I think our recon was too heavy and our Bravo Lance was too slow to do the type of action we needed.&nbsp; If we're looking at former arena fighters who are either going to rely a&nbsp; lot on maneuverability or firepower, we may need to adjust the company to match."&nbsp; <br><br>Allia sat back in the chair and let Kari absorb what was being discussed.&nbsp; "Considering we're dealing with a completely new unit, now is the time to address new combat styles.&nbsp; I think a small light recon team that can harass and pass back info without heavy engagement combined with a Strike Lance that is fast and can pack a punch.&nbsp; Last we can either have a Fire Support Lance and a Command Lance, or a combined firesupport and command lance."&nbsp; <br><br>She'd always been uncomfortable with the way that the unit was developed, too focused on heavy hitting and standard power fighting, a luxury they couldn't afford anymore.&nbsp; With a need to rebuild, they would need to be able to limit the contact time and shut down fights before they started.&nbsp; Gone were the days of being able to stand in a field and slug it out with another unit.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>29-04-2015, 14:00:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Allia’s ‘I wanted to see you’ could have been taken in any number of ways, which actually made Kari smile. It was clear that whatever she’d been through in the last couple of days (and Kari wasn’t going to pry, for the lieutenant’s business was her own) had helped her mood and her morale, taking her along way from the wet, sobbing mess she’d been in the shower. Regardless, the lieutenant was back to something closer to her more playful normal self, which was a welcome sign.<br><br>Kari took a seat, listening to the news. “Well, we’re going to be in a pretty crazy market, I know that much,” She started with. “As soon as any news gets out, there will be vultures descending on us faster then you can think, trying to scoop up anything they can get. We obviously don’t want that, so we need to hit the ground running on the recruitment. You, me, Emily… anyone else, really will need to be out there, pressing the flesh and trying to grab any potential recruits before anyone realizes just how screwed we are.”<br><br>She tilted her head a little at Allia. “So be your usual charming, witty, sexy self. Maybe show some cleavage if it helps win them over.” She added with a laugh.<br><br>Regaining her composure, she listened further to the lieutenant’s ideas for the new structure of the unit. “I like what you have there, and it’s along the same lines as I was thinking. Keep it small, focused and straightforward, and try to avoid growing too big. I figure we go for the combined command/fire/assault lance idea myself, concentrating the big guns and slow movers. Given your ‘Mech, I figure you’re going to be taking the Strike or Recon lances, just depending on the composition we end up with and what you’re more comfortable handling, of course.”<br><br>She tapped her chin a moment. “I also want some Battle Armour. Those Falcon Toads screwed us badly, and I don’t want that to happen again. Even if it’s just one platoon, then that will make a lot of difference. Plus the ship’s got room for them already”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>01-05-2015, 16:46:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Damian noticed the arrival of the rest of the remaining command staff. It seemed Kari and Allia had some official business to discuss. It was likely on the subject of the recruitment. He trusted them enough to believe they'd make the right call. Oftentimes he lost track of the bigger picture while focusing so intently on the smaller numbers involved. But, that was not uncommon for a clanner of his background. He kept to himself, having enough work to deal with without having to try and sort through a heap of arena jockeys that were generally not worth their time. He only hoped there were a few gems in there. However, he had already taken the liberty to start freeing up resources to increase the support their lances would be needing. They had been left bare and out in the open back during the Jade Falcon assault. 'Mechs were the heart and soul of any mercenary company, but without the proper backup, they were more vulnerable than they liked to think. Money was scarce, but after assigning the funds needed for essential repairs and basic supplies, he might be able to perform a numerical balancing act to give Kari some more flexibility in what she added to the company's roster. Maybe 'Mechs alone weren't the best answer? Perhaps some tracked vehicles or basic air support was what they needed to fill the gap and make what few warriors they had left competitive on the market?<br><br>The decision was theirs, but once he finished, they'd have a complete picture of what they had to work with. It was going to be an expensive venture, regardless. He had been looking into procuring some work as well, but pickings were slim so far. Most of the fighting going on in the Inner Sphere had suddenly become far above what they could handle. They no longer had the staying power or ordnance required to even come close to meeting demands and walk away with a profit. But, unlike with everything else, Damian was optimistic that he would track down something good enough to attempt, as there was -always- a need for mercs.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>06-05-2015, 19:20:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br><em>Well, we’re going to be in a pretty crazy market, I know that much,&nbsp; As soon as any news gets out, there will be vultures descending on us faster then you can think, trying to scoop up anything they can get. We obviously don’t want that, so we need to hit the ground running on the recruitment. You, me, Emily… anyone else, really will need to be out there, pressing the flesh and trying to grab any potential recruits before anyone realizes just how screwed we are.&nbsp; So be your usual charming, witty, sexy self. Maybe show some cleavage if it helps win them over.”</em><br><br>Allia listened to Kari describe her plans for the coming weeks.&nbsp; She felt the usual sense of uncomfortable anxiety fill her belly at the intention for her to be out being social and political, recruiting new members.&nbsp; "You obviously have forgotten the young pink haired girl who applied for the Company almost a year ago."&nbsp; She looked down at the pile of papers in front of her, Allia bit her lip softly as if embarrassed at something.&nbsp; "You do remember I'm really super shy and quiet unless I'm comfortable in situations right."&nbsp; She looked back up, her hands nervously shifting papers.&nbsp; "I know we're short handed and it's gotta be an all hands effort.&nbsp; I'm just not sure I'm the one you want making initial contact."<br><br><em>“I like what you have there, and it’s along the same lines as I was thinking. Keep it small, focused and straightforward, and try to avoid growing too big. I figure we go for the combined command/fire/assault lance idea myself, concentrating the big guns and slow movers. Given your ‘Mech, I figure you’re going to be taking the Strike or Recon lances, just depending on the composition we end up with and what you’re more comfortable handling, of course.&nbsp; I also want some Battle Armour. Those Falcon Toads screwed us badly, and I don’t want that to happen again. Even if it’s just one platoon, then that will make a lot of difference. Plus the ship’s got room for them already”</em><br><br>"Oh trust me, I remember what they did to us."&nbsp; Allia had vivid memories of the Toads tearing through her lance and almost taking her down before she could get away.&nbsp; She realized how close to dying on that rock she'd come.&nbsp; She shook the brooding memory from her mind.&nbsp; It was time to focus on the way ahead, not on things behind she couldn't change.&nbsp; "Battle Armor may need to be a lesser priority."&nbsp; <br><br>Allia saw Damian walk into the Officers lounge.&nbsp; She couldn't surpress the edge of a smile that curlled her lips.&nbsp; It had really been the first time she'd seen the man since their 'workout' in the gym.&nbsp; She had no illusions of what they did, or what was between them.&nbsp; She didn't want it any other way.&nbsp; It was a nice to think she had an uncomplicated release for her needs.&nbsp; She just hoped he felt the same.<br><br>"Damian!!"&nbsp; She called out to him waving him over to the table where she and Kari sat.&nbsp; "I think a more combined arms unit that's fast and powerful would be a good way to get back on our feet."&nbsp; She said turning back to Kari.&nbsp; "Which may actually mean turning our attention away from mechwarriors and directing more attention to air and land assets.&nbsp; A fast agile strike lance that's partly invisible being able to move fast into enemy lines and cause confusion long enough for the tanks and support mechs to join would be a powerful strength until we an rebuild completely."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>07-05-2015, 14:42:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>It was hard to remember Allia as the shy, awkward one. The last year, especially the last couple of weeks, had forced them all to grow up very fast, and she’d changed more then Kari could honestly remember. Contrasting the Allia she met back then with the one she’d seen the last few days was amazing. “I understand, and I won’t force you into the first contact role. Though I’d definitely appreciate your help with what we get.”<br><br>She smiled at Allia, placing a supportive hand on the lieutenant’s. “That being said, if you do find somebody that you think would be useful to the unit, don’t hesitate to send them our way. You never know what you might find”<br><br>She nodded to Damien as he entered, her tone a lot more composed and professional then Allia’s rather unexpected and excited outburst. <em>Wonder what that’s about,</em> she considered, but chose not to voice her thoughts. <em>Right now, anything that makes one of us happy is good.</em> Instead, she let him take his seat with the pair of them. “We were just discussing options for the unit’s new composition, and I would welcome whatever ideas you had as well”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>11-05-2015, 14:42:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">The calm in the room was shattered when Allia called out to the clanner, who almost visibly jerked at the sound of his name. He looked back at the table the women had occupied with mild annoyance, but figured she would not beckon him over if she did not have something important to relay or discuss. He lingered at his own seat for a few moments longer, enjoying both the view, and the final few paragraphs of a report he definitely wanted to finish reading before turning his attention to anything else. With that out of the way, though, he lifted his drink up off the table and walked over to where Allia and Kari discussed the next step to take in the recruitment and vehicle acquisition road map. Were they going to include him in the decision making? He had already supplied his suggestions for some support troops and to not spread the Warriors out too much. Playing it safe was going to be their best bet, so they needed naturally compatible warriors and 'Mechs that could be combined into as few and as versatile lances as possible. They weren't going to be doing themselves any favors with testing out risky tactics that would barely have worked even with their old crew.<br><br>But, he trusted them on those issues, so he had little input to add, directly. Once he made it over to where they sat, he offered both women a respectful nod of his head in greeting.<br><strong>"Commander Moreno, lieutenant Rowe,"</strong> he stated, as stiff as ever. <strong>"Is there something you need my help with?"</strong> he questioned, not used to having his presence requested for anything but that.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>21-05-2015, 18:59:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br><em>I understand, and I won’t force you into the first contact role. Though I’d definitely appreciate your help with what we get.&nbsp; That being said, if you do find somebody that you think would be useful to the unit, don’t hesitate to send them our way. You never know what you might find”</em><br><br>Allia smiled at the soft touch on her hand.&nbsp; It'd been a few weeks since her breakdown in the showers with Kari.&nbsp; She'd been so soft and gentle and there were things deep in Allia's soul that yearned to explore that tenderness even more.&nbsp; She knew it could never happen, Kari was the commander now, and regardless of how she felt, Allia didn't get the feeling Kari felt the same.<br><br>"I'll do what I can, you know that.&nbsp; I'd probably be better helping Emily train, but I know we're short on staff.&nbsp; It's time to grow up and be a leader right?"&nbsp; She said with a soft smile as Damian walked over to the tables.<br><br><em>"Commander Moreno, lieutenant Rowe, Is there something you need my help with?" </em><br><br>Allia laughed at the way he addressed them.&nbsp; "Always so stiff."&nbsp; She looked to Kari.&nbsp; "He really needs to get laid or something.&nbsp; You think we could find someone on Galatea who can pull that stick out of his ass?"&nbsp; She smiled as she said it, making sure everyone in the group realized she was being jovial and friendly.&nbsp; Surely she wouldn't give anything away regarding the new relationship they had between them.&nbsp; She knew it was only sex, but it was something they shared that was just theirs, and the only way for ether of them to be able to completey be themselves without any walls or facades.&nbsp; She knew neither of them cared about any of that, especially in the throws of their relative heat.<br><br>"We're talking about unit compositions.&nbsp; We realize we won't be able to go back to the previous design.&nbsp; Our size and relative vulnerabilities will make heavy combat ops difficult at best."&nbsp; She sifted through the pages until she found the draft organization plan she had come up with.&nbsp; "I was thinking a combined firesupport and command lance.&nbsp; We can focus on heavies and firepower there."&nbsp; Taking a sip of her coffee, she checked to watch the look on Damian's face.&nbsp; She knew his grasp of their resource and monetary capabilities would drive a lot of this, so getting him to say this was a good plan was key to making it work.<br><br>"Considering the choices of warriors we're likely to get, We focus our recon force on high speed mechs and vehicles.&nbsp; Speed and maneuverability will be our fortay since we can't waste the resources.&nbsp; Then the key piece of our strike capability will be a Strike Lance based on stealth, speed and surprise."&nbsp; Allia looked up at Kari before continuing.&nbsp; "Kari thinks if we do a combined force of Mechs and battle armor, we can augment a Strike lance pretty well to dish out the bulk of the original strike then move back to support Command/Fires once the heavies make contact." <br><br>She looked up again at Damian.&nbsp; "What do you think?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>22-05-2015, 15:52:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>As happy as Kari could see that Allia was, there was that part of her that could see that small hint of regret in her tone and actions. Even though it remained unspoken, Kari had an inkling of how the other woman felt about her. She also knew that there was no good way that she could ever address the issue head on without making things awkward at best, and more importantly, risk jeopardizing her best officer’s feelings and working relationship.<br><br>Damien’s entrance defused the situation through Allia’s comments. She approached his arrival with obvious and open levity, her comment making Kari openly laugh a moment before regaining her composure. Inside she was trying not to laugh again at the mental images it conjured. <em>Yeah, get the stick out of his ass and instead-</em> she mentally cut herself off before she let that go any further, lest it cause an even further breakdown of decorum. <em>Vital meeting now about your family’s legacy and its future, Kari. Naughty thoughts later</em><br><br>She let Allia outline the plan, giving the lieutenant the chance to speak. It was interesting to see how much she had changed recently; here and now, she was professional, honest and forthright, speaking clearly and without hesitation. Allia was definitely a lot better then she had been, and something had changed about her. Whatever it was, Kari was glad for it, and was willing to leave it at that.<br><br>“It’s an early concept, I admit, but I do think the Battle Armour would be an asset,” she added, “and not just because we’re the only Merc unit I know without any. They open up tactical options that we wouldn’t have otherwise while also helping to protect our assets”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>25-05-2015, 14:55:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Damian's eyes narrowed to slits at Allia's quips. It was no different from before. There was no awkwardness between them, nor any expectations. It felt... familiar. It was no different among the clans, where most instances of sex were fun and entertaining, and nothing else, just as marriage was a union intended for ideal procreation. Of course, a long time ago, those notions would have gone against everything the exiled clanner disliked about his own culture. His marriage had been a happy one... a 'right' one. It was only after that tanked in a most horrendous fashion that he made the 180. Still, familiarity was good when one was the only clanner on a massive vessel surrounded by a majority of people who would to see him jettisoned into the void outside the windows. But, despite that levity, he still did not appreciate such comments from anyone. The stick was lodged up there firmly and wasn't going to be budging anytime soon. It caused a grunt to escape his lips, but at least he was quickly informed of the nature of the discussion, and chose to take a seat opposite both women.<br><br>He leaned back in the seat slightly as his eyes focused on Allia first, for she gave him the quick and brief of it all. For a brief moment, he was reminded of what had happened a short time earlier. He wouldn't be inclined to admit it, but that same night had been the first time he had actually slept well. A long shower followed by an equally long night. It had blown off some steam, and he had needed it more than he realized. Of course, the sights she had given him had been committed to memory heartily as well. At the risk of those popping up and distracting him, he quickly suppressed his train of thoughts and went about giving his opinion on what they had decided so far. His annoyance was a little evident, for the man hated repeating himself or wasting time. He wasn't an easy person to speak to, obviously, and that was no more obvious as when his opinion had been given, but was asked again.<br><br>As the document was slipped across the table towards him, he casually planted a few digits atop it to drag it into his view entirely. Blue hues skimmed it in silence, and his stern expression almost made it seem as though he was a strict teacher grading a paper. It was exactly that visage that always made the engineers nervous enough to wet themselves when they came to him with expense and efficiency reports.<br><strong>"Just scratch those hover vehicles off the list. I know they would be ideal to support Recon, but the maintenance on those finicky vehicles will wreck our budget within a month. The slightest speck of dust up the wrong exhaust and they are grounded for a day,"</strong> he explained, before sliding the chart back. <strong>"I approve of it. I will change our recruitment focus; define it so we lure in more decent light and medium warriors,"</strong> he commented, which was about as much praise as either of them could expect from the moody tactician.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>28-05-2015, 20:24:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia glowed internally as she heard Kari support her plans.&nbsp; This had really been the first time since she'd been in the unit where she'd been in a position to really effect change and offer opinions.&nbsp; The fact that both Kari trusted and supported her ideas was rather overwhelming.&nbsp; <br>The fact that she was actively trying to sell it to Damian as he sat to listen to her brief played even more to her ego than she had hoped.&nbsp; <br><br>There was something about the moments that she and Damian had shared.&nbsp; She felt different about their relationship and there was a new found respect for the man that she knew many of the crew didn't have.&nbsp; They had connected on a level she'd never connected with anyone on before and she felt that subconsiously were on the same level. <br><br><em>"Just scratch those hover vehicles off the list. I know they would be ideal to support Recon, but the maintenance on those finicky vehicles will wreck our budget within a month. The slightest speck of dust up the wrong exhaust and they are grounded for a day, I approve of it. I will change our recruitment focus; define it so we lure in more decent light and medium warriors"</em><br><br>Allia watched Damian as he reviewed her plan.&nbsp; She didn't realize it, but she had been sitting on the edge of her seat until he started talking.&nbsp; Once he did speak though, her face lit up with a grin.&nbsp; Her eyes sparkled as he all but signed off on her plan to reorganize the unit.&nbsp; To offer up a new change to the composition of some units was one thing, to approve of a full reorganization of the unit and trust her judgement on a way forward was much more than what she'd expected.<br><br>"The hovers were a suggestion only.&nbsp; We need to look at what we can get, not what we want."&nbsp; She dialed back her enthusiasm as much as she could to keep the professional candor.&nbsp; "If we work this right, it should cut down on our maintenance issues a bit and hopefully highlight our skills for low intensity jobs which should get us back into the game as soon as possible rather than looking for high intensity fights."&nbsp; <br><br>Allia pulled another sheet from her stack of notes and scribbles.&nbsp; "There's one last issue I had and I'm sure Damian has already seen this.&nbsp; Replacing the plates for Gheistwulf is going to cost us a bit.&nbsp; He took a pretty solid beating, much like everyone did.&nbsp; But we all know the stealth armor plates are more expensive."&nbsp; She looked down at the table for a moment before looking back to Damian and Kari.&nbsp; "If we are going to go with this set up, we're going to need the Ghost.&nbsp; I know it seems rather selfish, but I wanted to know how we were going to prioritize our meager budget."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>29-05-2015, 15:10:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Something had definitely changed with Allia; the lieutenant was positively beaming now, clearly happy about something. “Your plan’s solid,” Kari continued, giving her another nod. “Though I agree about the hovers. Besides the maintenance overheads, they also would add to our transport burden. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an interesting idea, and could be good for a future expansion, but for now I think we should focus on the ‘Mechs.”<br><br>“And don’t worry about getting some Stealth Armour either,” Kari added with a reassuring smile. “I’m going to make sure we get your ‘Mech up and running and at full spec as quickly as possible. You’re a vital asset to this team, and as such, I’m going to make sure that you can do the best for it. Added to that, it’s easier to sell the unit if it’s lieutenant has a fully functional ‘Mech.”<br><br>“Besides, sourcing new Stealth Armour’s still gonna be cheaper then that Clantech Hybrid thing that Damian pilots,” Kari added with a smirk. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s an indispensible Clantech Hybrid thing and it certainly saved my tattoed butt during that last fight, but it’s still harder to feed then some ‘Mechs.” She glanced at the former Clanner. “That being said, I know you have the skills to get us what we need. I don’t ask, you do the job”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>01-06-2015, 15:51:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Damian leaned back again as Allia began to discuss the state of her 'Mech. Already, his expression soured some. She made a good point, it was a vital part of her load-out, especially since they no longer had any other 'Mech in any kind of usable state that could fill the gap if Gheistwulf wasn't returned to one-hundred percent operational efficiency. His hand came to rest on the tabletop as Kari glanced at him and began addressing him directly. She had a fair point. On top of that, his presence in a fully functional 'Mech was far less important than Allia's. No one would dispute his skill as a warrior, but at the end of the day, he was a second liner that was more useful for his insight than his aim. Fingers tapped away at the surface as he mulled it over on the spot. Again, he had the air of a strict mentor that was judging the suggestions of others. But, his hands were tied, for his commander had said her piece formulated as a subtle order. Even if he wanted to, there was nothing he could say to change minds.<br><br><strong>"I will see what I can do. But this is going to eat away into the maintenance of Charybdis and getting the few 'Mechs we have left operational,"</strong> he turned his stern gaze to Allia before proceeding, his palm lying flat by that point as the visual tick of the turning gears in his mind dissipated. <strong>"This better be worth the cost, lieutenent Rowe,"</strong> he warned, though it was a hollow threat. It was more an indication that the pressure was on for her to make this a wise investment. Arguments could be made in favor of any decision they made at the time, so it all boiled down to what performance would have the most yield. <strong>"I know someone who might be able to give us a good deal on the plating. She owes me a favor,"</strong> he commented as his arm draped itself around the back of his chair.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>05-06-2015, 15:50:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>&nbsp;<em>"I will see what I can do. But this is going to eat away into the maintenance of Charybdis and getting the few 'Mechs we have left operational.&nbsp; This better be worth the cost, lieutenent Rowe.&nbsp; I know someone who might be able to give us a good deal on the plating. She owes me a favor," </em><br><br>Allia could hear the strain in Damian's voice.&nbsp; He was running the numbers as they spoke, realizing how much of a strain keeping the most high tech piece of equipment they had in the Company fielded.&nbsp; But he like Kari also realized that a restructuring of the unit around speed and stealth was going to require such a piece of equipment as the cornerstone.&nbsp; <br><br>She was just happy that they both were taking her recommendations in stride.&nbsp; "Keep your favor on the vine."&nbsp; Allia responded with a sly grin.&nbsp; "I've got an in with Defiance Industries on Hesperus.&nbsp; I just wanted to make sure there was a chance we'd focus on getting the Ghost back up to speed before I went down that road."&nbsp; It dawned on her that this battle was the most damage that Gheistwulf had taken since her Ghost had been upgraded by Defiance.&nbsp; <br><br>Thinking about her link to Defiance through her family sparked a new direction their planning might need to go depending on how things shook out finding new pilots.&nbsp; "There's another thought I had."&nbsp; Her eyes and her face lighting up as the thought formed quickly in her mind.&nbsp; "Most of the large corporations have their own security forces to defend holdings that planetary militias and planet contracted mercs won't.&nbsp; But smaller corporations don't have the luxury of hiring big merc units or local security forces, either due to cost, proximity or need."&nbsp; <br><br>Allia took a sip of her coffee before continuing.&nbsp; "I know garrison duty isn't sexy or fun, but at this point work is work and money is money."&nbsp; She shrugged realizing that she hadn't fully realized the point of her suggestion before opening her mouth.&nbsp; "We should be on the ground in a few hours.&nbsp; I think Emily was going to start setting up some interviews.&nbsp; I'll go find her and let her know that our search criteria has changed.&nbsp; We'll go together to meet the first batch once we're on the ground.&nbsp; Thanks for listening.&nbsp; I'm really hopefull now.&nbsp; Damian, Commander"&nbsp; She ended with a smile and a nod to each of the other officers as she gathered up her papers and data disks before heading out into the corridor.<br><br>She'd need to find Emily and discuss the plans.&nbsp; Hopefully Emily's mood had changed since the last time she talked, Allia wasn't sure she could deal with the somber woman today.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>07-06-2015, 15:05:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>”Garrison duty is a good idea,” Kari agreed. “Yes, it’s usually only passable pay, terrible salvage rights and often as boring as all get out, but at the same time, it’s often also low-risk and low involvement. A low-key garrison contract would also be good for unit-building, giving us time to train up new recruits and helping them to gel as a team while getting to know each other. Depending on the circumstances, we could run things like war games with other local defence forces that could help us figure out what we can do.”<br><br>“I’d definitely look into it,” she finished. “Obviously we need to examine any offers closely and not just leap at it for the sake of it. I don’t want to get stuck out in the arse-end of nowhere with no backup and no support fighting pirates for little pay.” She looked over at Damien. “Again, your head for numbers is going to be vital to us, but I’ll also take whatever lessons you’re willing to throw my way. I’m not going to learn anything by letting other people do all the work, after all.”<br><br>She stood and nodded to the pair of them. “If there’s nothing else, we’ll get ready for planetfall. We have a lot of work to do if we’re going to make this work, after all. But I have a lot of faith in the pair of you.” Kari flashed her best confident smile, one that she even would have believed herself.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>10-06-2015, 20:46:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Damian remained silent as the two women continued to discuss the options for outfitting Allia's Ghost. He wasn't convinced it was the best move to make, but then again, it wasn't his call. It had the commander's favor and Kari knew what she was doing where the overview was concerned; she had proven as much in how she was handling the hiring and purchasing process. So long as Allia got a better deal than he would have, he cared little how she got the plating. He'd make arrangements to make sure the engineers had what they needed to actually install them properly. He wasn't going to trust the bottom of the barrel with this and was going to put their best people on it. Of course, that would mean some delays on fixing up the other 'Mechs. But such was the nature when one suddenly no longer had the luxury of a surplus of cash, resources and time.<br><br>He did not really respond to Kari's vote of confidence and reminder that he was an important cog in the machine. He had never been the type to need pep-talks of any kind. The clanner mindset had never gone away and morale was raised in a different manner among his peers. Being appreciated or not meant little to him and it showed in his behavior towards his teammates. After all, it wasn't as if he tried being popular. As Kari rounded out the conversation, he rose up and picked up the pad he had been reading through earlier.<br><strong>"I will make sure the funds set aside for each individual purchase are available. I have to make some restructuring to have it all ready for your new plan moving forward, but it should be ready by the time we land and make first contact with some of the manufacturers and dealers. Leave the gear - aside from the stealth plating - to me. It is better that a people person handle personnel,"</strong> he suggested strictly before giving both women a curt nod.<br><br><strong>"Commander Moreno, Lieutenant Rowe,"</strong> with that, he left the small cafeteria for his office, as what he needed was there and not on the pad he had with him.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>02-07-2015, 16:30:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Two weeks had passed since they'd really started their road to recovery. Already, it was a bumpy road. Beyond a slew of unfit applicants to serve among the Mechwarrior's of the company, there were also unforeseen costs and undetected maintenance that sapped away at the reserves Damian had stringently insisted be put aside for just that purpose. It meant there was going to be a little less hardware for them to take to the field, sure, but he so loved to see his prudence proven correct, since the budget set aside for everything the command staff had discussed remained intact. Still, the costs had been more straining than foreseen. As arranged, Damian and Kari had been working closely together to get supplies, gear and new machines onboard the dropship. Damian had been forced to pull in favors he had been hoarding for over a decade in the hopes of never having to use them. But, such was the nature of an emergency. It knocked down prices left and right, but they still barely managed to follow up on Allia's proposition by the end of it. Still, after review, they were left with enough to give the crew a one-time, small bonus and a temporary ration increase. While the former clanner complained about it, he did see the point in it, as it drastically improved morale and gave the somewhat false image that they were already on the up-and-up. True, they weren't reeling, but they hadn't had a single coin roll back into the coffers since the disaster.<br><br>In the meantime, Allia had been working tirelessly with the remaining Mechwarriors that stayed on, such as Jirani, to separate the wheat from the chaff. It had been arduous, but the suitable candidates had been stripped down to the last ten, of which only a handful could conceivably be taken on. If there really was tremendous promise in there somewhere (which came with it's own 'Mech), the budget could be stretched to take on at least one pilot more on than previously agreed upon. But that would make the need to find work even more dire.<br><br>It was time for another meeting. Command staff was going to review the last applicants, the budget, the supplies, and the job options Damian had managed to scrounge up. All of these decisions could be advised upon by him and Allia. But, in the end, the final decision rested squarely on Kari's shoulders. that was a tremendous amount of pressure that would call upon every bit of experience she had, and every ounce of knowledge she had gleaned from her father. If she made the wrong call, they were doomed to obscurity and bankruptcy.<br><br>Damian, as was usually the case, was the first in the meeting room, having already taken a seat. Clad in his usual attire and sporting the familiar leather jacket, he was still reviewing some notes, while a stack of paper work - both physical and digital - was organized in front of him across the large table that once housed eight people to determine company policy. Now? Just three.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>03-07-2015, 11:29:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>If Kari had any remaining illusions about how much work was involved in running the unit, Damien had thoroughly shattered them in the last two weeks. The pair of them had worked hard on the administrative side of the unit, pouring over books until all hours each night while trying to find every last scrap of cash or other resources that they could scrounge up in order to give the unit anything to work with.<br><br>That work had been a part of the whole picture as the pair of them had also worked to purchase supplies and equipment for the unit. And even that was only preliminary, seeing as it was just enough to cover what they had. They’d need to assemble a shopping list based on what they found and who they recruited, which was a risk in and of itself. In the last two weeks, Kari figured that she had learned more through practice then she ever could through theory, and even then there was that feeling of having only started.<br><br>Each days’ work had ended with her simply collapsing, only to be up bright and early the next morning, fresh, clean and ready to go. It was vital for her to do such, to look her best and project that confident, controlled attitude that suggested she knew exactly what she was doing and that the unit could pull through. She was the commander now, and everyone was looking to her. She had to look her best, no matter how she felt.<br><br>In some ways, the meetings with Allia and Damien were a relief, simply because they gave her the liberty to be natural and relax for a moment. That was clear as she entered the room all but slumping into the seat as she did. After a moment she sat up, looking over the pair of them. “So,” she began, forcing a smile for a moment. “How are we going? I’d like to start with the hires if possible, just get an idea of where our final ten are going and how they look”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>03-07-2015, 16:55:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia groaned as she turned in bed, dropping her feet to the floor.&nbsp; This had been one of the reasons she'd always hated being at Nagelring, the daily meetings and drills and classes and sims.&nbsp; The past two weeks hadn't been much better.&nbsp; She and Emily had beaten the bushes pretty hard when they first made landfall, scrounging up anyone that might have made a decent mechwarrior or combat pilot.&nbsp; The initial cut had brought them twenty names, five of whom were so lost or dispossesed they hardly made it through the front door.&nbsp; Allia had been very thankful for Emily's presence and her demeanor, it provided a powerful balance with Allia's quiet attentive personality.&nbsp; <br><br>Initial interviews and reviews of financials had cut another few as most of them were so in debt they'd be more of a drain on the unit than was helpful.&nbsp; A few had still held considerable debts, but their skills or what they brought to the table were enough to make a cut.&nbsp; Emily still voiced her concerns over the plan and wished for the day when her obligation to Kari was finally up and she could return home.&nbsp; She'd kept those concerns between herself and Allia, always the professional soldier.<br><br>A handful of painful simulations and battle drills with what was left had cut the last few they needed to make the cut of ten that Damian and Kari had set.&nbsp; The abject inability of some pilots to hit complex targets let alone work in a team had cleared the last few out.&nbsp; While Allia was sad to see some of the mech capability go, she knew there was a fine line between someone who was trainable and someone who was too set in their ways to change.&nbsp; Another painful lesson from Nagelring.&nbsp; <br><br>As she finished showering and getting dressed, her mind wandered over the report she'd have to give.&nbsp; She wasn't excited about it, but it was better than where they could be.&nbsp; Pulling on a pair of baggy cargo pants and a fairly well fitted tank top, Allia slipped out of her room and down the corridor.&nbsp; She stopped by the mess and picked up a plate of food and a coffee before continuing towards the lounge.&nbsp; As expected Damian was already in place, a veritable city of papers and digital pads situated before him.&nbsp; It'd been more than a few weeks since they had met in the dropships weight room and changed their relationship forever.&nbsp; They'd been going so hard and fast since they made landfall that Allia hadn't had time for carnal maneuvers, neither did Damian.&nbsp; She hoped they'd have a chance soon to try again, the smile on her face when she caught Damian's eyes said as much.<br><br><em>“So, How are we going? I’d like to start with the hires if possible, just get an idea of where our final ten are going and how they look”</em><br><br>Kari stepped into the lounge, pulling Allia's attention from Damian and back to the work at hand.&nbsp; She hoped Kari hadn't noticed the desire in her look to Damian, but in the end it didn't matter.&nbsp; As long as they kept the work and sex separate, no one was going to care.&nbsp; Allia sat across from Damian and off to Kari's left, placing her food and coffee on the table.&nbsp; "Ten possibles.&nbsp; Seven Mechwarriors and three vehicle pilots.&nbsp; Two of the vehicle pilots are rated in both vehicles and aerofighters, so I think they will be a good investment since we have the fighters already and we already budgeted for some vehicles."&nbsp; Allia pulled her data pad from her cargo pant pocket and started sorting through notes.&nbsp; "Three of the <em>'best'</em> pilots we have are well suited for the Strike Lance.&nbsp; They are showing some signs of being able to mesh as a team now that the initial recruiting competition is over."<br><br>Looking up to check for questions or comments Allia continued.&nbsp; "The other four mechwarriors are another question or story depending on how you rate them."&nbsp; Allia said with a sigh.&nbsp; "One is up there with the three for Strike so that's good.&nbsp; The other three are your over confident, egotistical glory hound pit fighters.&nbsp; They have no concept of weapon or power conservation, they only fight as a team because they realize it's better to gang up on a target than it is to go one on one, and the only reason they are applying with us is because they have such mediocre records in the pit they need to money to keep their mechs."&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>06-07-2015, 13:46:18</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Damian was surprised to see Allia arriving before their commander. Not be cause he pegged her for being less than punctual, but because she had been doing more traveling and odd hours than he and Kari had. Companies and suppliers worked by business hours, which was rather useful for keeping a semblance of routine. Late hours had been pulled, most definitely, but they were always the same hours. For Allia? He could imagine setting up meetings and interviews that suited the schedules of dozens of very disparate people - some with egos to boot - was uncomfortably removed from the regularity normally associated to the life of a Mechwarrior. Still, there she was, awake and given the smile she gave him, even a little chipper. He only hoped that meant she had good news.<br><br>As always, he remained sour and gave her a nod to go along with the professional greeting. <strong>"Good morning, lieutenant Rowe,"</strong> he straightened himself a little, an oddly old-fashioned quirk in his upbringing and habits always seeming to reflexively have him adjust his attitude and posture whenever one or more ladies were present. He was not gentlemanly by any means, so it was certainly an odd gesture to be consistently present in his mannerisms. Unlike Allia, he did not have any food with him, and seemed to have exchanged a solid cup of coffee for a bottle of water. Caffeine wasn't his drug, and he tended to avoid it for as long, and much, as he could.<br>He knew what the smile signified, though, even if he did not retaliate with something similar of his own. Business continued, keeping them fully preoccupied with a mix of travel and paperwork. Their initial bout of stress relief therapy had done wonders, to the point where Damian had not felt the need for another. But, there was the pleasurable factor to consider as well. It wouldn't the first time the young lieutenant in shorts and a sports bra entered into his mind - only for that projection to strip for his viewing pleasure.<br><br>Hormones were hormones, clanner or not. But, like the lieutenant, he had more than sufficient professionalism to keep those thoughts clearly separated from what held priority. If they ever decided to have another romp, there would be a time and place for it. If nothing else, the way they treated each other had not changed - as he had hoped. There were just some... benefits to consider now. Before a conversation could be picked up though, Kari entered the meeting room, which prompted Damian to rise up briefly and greet her in his usual manner, before taking his seat again and gathering up the documents that were most pressing. The rest could be regarded as per the ladies' own leisure since they were just massive amounts of numbers and bills that needed to be reported on; but more for completion's sake than for either of them to read through. Besides, given their low batteries, it was likely going to put them to sleep, anyway.<br><br>Damian listened to Allia issue her report, though wasted no time to supply some immediate input once she finished. Amber hues would settle upon Kari with hints of mild annoyance.<br><strong>"Scratch the last three off the list. Better to be understaffed than to have to deal with glory hounds. Supplies that would have been spent on them can instead be used to bring the better recruits up to par,"</strong> the exiled clanner explained, leaning forward a little as his elbows came to rest on the rabletop.<br><strong>"These vehicle pilots, how many operation hours do they have under their belt in the last three years?"</strong> he questioned strictly.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>08-07-2015, 15:14:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>If Kari didn’t know better, she could have sworn that there was something going on between Damian and Allia. Or it could have been the sleep deprivation talking, which was also a possibility. Between that and the stress, she had a lot to distract her. <em>Hell, at this stage I could simply want it to be there so they get a hint of happiness,</em> she mentally added. <em>Somebody has to be, right now</em><br><br>“I think that the vehicle crews should be the first to go,” Kari offered. “We figured that they were the most external to our needs, and adding a vehicle lance is a massive infrastructure increase. We’d need to look at paying, housing and transporting their crews, adding vehicle transport capacity on the ship, adding a supply chain for the vehicles and so on.” She nodded at Allia. “Earnestly, unless we’re that hard up for potential recruits, they feel like they’re more trouble then they’re worth.”<br><br>“Agreeing on scratching the three glory hounds, though,” Kari added. “I don’t want people running off and doing crazy things and getting themselves and others killed, especially not now. No need to be nice to them either.” She nodded to the lieutenant. “Any good points on the list?”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>08-07-2015, 15:53:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia nodded at the agreement among the command staff to cut the three glory hounds.&nbsp; Emily had even suggested that they could do without those three.&nbsp; &nbsp;As much as they might bring a certain jovial morale to the unit that's been lacking since the full weight of the units losses hit them; it wasn't worth the trouble they'd bring.&nbsp; Training would be hard enough with the team they had been able to recruit.&nbsp; <br><br>The disparity in the focus between Kari and Damian on the vehicle pilots surprised Allia.&nbsp; The initial plan had been to allocate resources to either fast ground units or refitting the two broken aerofighters they had.&nbsp; They needed a recon unit and none of the new mechwarriors were rated in Recon mech.&nbsp; <br><br>Allia thumbed through her notes on her pad for a second before answering Damian.&nbsp; "These two were in the Republic Remnants before they were asked to leave Galatea by the League.&nbsp; They saw action last year against the Jade Falcon in support of Tara Campbell's Roughriders.&nbsp; Of the recruits we have, they are the most combat hardened.&nbsp; They just don't have equipment."&nbsp; Setting her pad on the table, Allia took a long sip of her coffee before she continued.&nbsp; "The two broken Aerofighters we have are going to cost less to refit and maintain than a mech.&nbsp; And we don't have a recon lance.&nbsp; The three non-mech recruits may not be as sexy, but they are a good investment.&nbsp; In my experience,&nbsp; a fast surface bound spotter and a pair of fighters will be infinitely more valuable and cheaper than finding a couple of new mechwarriors who are recon rated, <em>with mechs."</em><br><br>Settling back into her seat, Allia huffed quietly to herself.&nbsp; She'd made her case for her recuits.&nbsp; She couldn't admit that she'd started to develop a bit of a friendship with one of the more experienced vehicle pilots.&nbsp; She knew enough to keep her professional and personal lives separate, but she also knew how hard ti was for vehicle pilots to get a chance in this new harder mech centric world.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>11-07-2015, 22:26:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Damian reached for what he correctly assumed were records and reports on the pilots Allia offered more details on. His eyes skimmed the text as she continued to make a case for the lighter support. The former clanner agreed, as he had before, but only really because the recruits they had found did not always fit into the structure they were trying to maintain. They needed to regain some versatility, and these pilots would give them just that. Like a true clanner, he would have preferred to see a Warrior or two take up Recon responsibilities, but he was ready to take whatever they could get, and air support was something that had been sorely lacking in the catastrophe that put them in the situation they now found themselves in. Granted, two fighters would hardly have made a difference in that particular situation, but they needed to take what they could get.<br><br><strong>"If lieutenant Rowe vouches for them, I say we give them a chance. The dip in maintenance costs alone will reduce pressure on our engineering crew to juryrig where necessary,"</strong> he put the datapad down and slipped it towards his commander. <strong>"Their supplies are stretched thin with us purchasing only just enough to be able to operate safely. Getting a stockpile on essentials will get some of the chiefs off my back and the engineers doing their jobs,"</strong> he explained as leaned back in his seat again. It was clear he still preferred competence over the promise of a 'Mech, which is why he had immediately turned down the potential recruits Allia had mentioned last. They had no margin for error, so they needed, at the very least, experience. If not that, then they needed to avoid loose cannons and gung-ho specialists like the black plague. The choice was Kari's in the end, though, so it was up to her to make the call.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>13-07-2015, 13:52:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari was surprised by how quickly Alia had offered a defense of the vehicle recruits and, more to the point, listed the positives that Kari herself had overlooked. Damien also seemed to have her back on this point, which also seemed odd. It wasn’t that it was unwanted by any stretch, just not the outcome that she had expected. <em>I must be really out of it,</em> she chided herself.<br><br>“You both make good points,” Kari admitted. “And probably put more thought into it then I had. We’ll give them a shot then, and I’ll defer to your professional opinions. And if it helps ease the financial stress on the unit, then it’s definitely a plus.” She gave a small smile to both of them, a concession that their advice was definitely appreciated.<br><br>“Related to that, how are we looking on the Battle Armour troops? I can’t imagine there’s a short supply of soldiers, but getting together a coherent force of suits is another matter”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>17-07-2015, 01:59:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia couldn't help but smile, although she tried to make sure the smile wasn't obvious.&nbsp; She'd never been in a situation where she had been expected to offer up realistic assessments of unit capabilities that the commander or the leadership would take to heart and use for decisions.&nbsp; Her time at Nagelring had never been much of a lesson in administration and leadership as much as it had been watching how the 'silver spoon' nobles thought leaders should act.&nbsp; <br><br>She knew that Kari was relying heavily on her and Damian as her connection to the rebuilding plan.&nbsp; Kari had asked for time and had asked for faith.&nbsp; Damian had his doubts as did Allia, but so far Damian had been a veritable wizard when it came to finding loopholes in purchase orders and getting the supplies they needed on the cheap.&nbsp; Emily had turned out to be a magnificent eye for talent and Allia had found she had a knack for training she never knew existed.&nbsp; Everyone had given Kari the faith she asked for to try and make things work and so far they were headed in what seemed a good direction.&nbsp; Granted the road was still rather long and hard, but the fact that Kari was putting more and more trust in Allia and Damian to guide her seemed to be giving both of them the confidence she needed to make this work.<br><br>"Battle Armor troops are pretty hard to come by.&nbsp; With the new push by the Clans and all hell breaking loose everywhere, everyone who has some are hoarding them and anyone who can do the job is either under contract already or broken."&nbsp; Allia took the last sip of her coffee before continuing.&nbsp; "Emily wanted to make sure we were done with our mechwarrior search before she turned her attention to battle armor.&nbsp; She's also looking forward to departing soon, so I think I may need to jump into the fray."&nbsp; The idea of first losing Emily as a recruiter and second needing to become the lead recruiter terrified Allia.&nbsp; She was sure the look showed on her face.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>22-07-2015, 00:32:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Damian continued to listen to the conversation between both women in relative silence. It was his norm to only speak when he had something useful to share, or when his opinion was requested. He had known too many people that were blowhards that seemed to want their voice heard in every argument in the known galaxy. Fortunately, neither Kari nor Allia were like that either, making for meetings like the one they were that were genuinely efficient and almost pleasant. That didn't make the subject matter any better though. Some time had passed, but the memories of burying so many people were still fresh in all of their minds. Perhaps the only one at the table, or on the vessel, who had yet to admit to that grief was the clanner. He was stubborn, even though he knew bottling things up was only going to make him sick in the end.<br><br>The mention of Jirani's resigning did catch his attention more than the rest, and he opted to chime in.<br><strong>"Gleam everything you can from her in the coming days. Her resignation papers are all in order. When she decides to leave, it will be a matter of hours before it is all official,"</strong> he had mixed feelings about her departure. On the one hand, she was of proven talent, and had a veritable wealth of experience in subjects where none of those at the table - including his arrogant self - had much in. Her departure would leave a hole that was difficult to fill unless Allia could fill those shoes. Damian wasn't skeptical whether the lieutenant could handle, but rather whether she would pick up on the subtleties of the job quickly enough to make a difference. On the other hand, Emily couldn't stand the sight of the clanner, and the feeling was mutual. So it would at least be one dirty look less being thrown his way. He usually cared little for them, but they remained distracting.<br><br><strong>"As for the battle armor, let's leave them on the backburner for now, if little has been done towards their recruitment. No sense reiterating what we already know,"</strong> as always, he had more work to do than what was recommended for a sane human being, and he wanted to get to it as soon as he could.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>24-07-2015, 15:48:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari’s idea of a Battle Armour platoon was evaporating before her eyes. She was hoping to possibly even settle for a single squad, but even that seemed to be fading fast. However, again, the pair of them were making sense, which softened the blow somewhat and allowed her to get a better idea of what was going on. And she’d rather be told that her ideas were dumb then have yes-men give her answers that she wanted to hear.<br><br>“Battle Armour are out then, but I think we should still investigate the idea in future,” she agreed. “Although Emily’s departure does raise another issue. Without her, we’re going to be completely lacking in officers beyond the three of us, which is definitely a bad thing.” She glanced again between the pair of them before continuing.<br><br>“We’re going to need a commander for the vehicle lance, for starters,” she began. “So I’m going to need to know if there’s anyone in there who’s going to be capable of running that. Both on experience and actual qualifications, and ability to run a team. Likewise, depending on how many MechWarriors we get, we’re going to need a lance commander from in there as well. At present, I’m figuring that Damian will be running command lance directly while I handle the unit as a whole, and Allia in charge of either a recon or strike lance depending on the composition we get.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>24-07-2015, 16:30:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>The discussion of Emily's departure tugged at Allia's insides.&nbsp; She had to look down at her lap for a moment to keep the sight of her sadness in her leaving hidden.&nbsp; She and Emily had grown much closer over the past few weeks.&nbsp; Granted they had always had a close relationship, but working so closely together had solidified a few of their connections.&nbsp; It would be hard to replace her, both as a friend and a colleague.&nbsp; Allia had been paying close attention, knowing her time was short.&nbsp; It would soon come down to whether Allia could put learned experience into practice.<br><br>"I wouldn't say they're out.&nbsp; I agree with Damian, back burner only.&nbsp; We need to get better established.&nbsp; Our eyes can't be bigger than our stomach's on this."&nbsp; <br><br>The questions regarding officers and leadership brought a cringe to Allia's face.&nbsp; Her mouth scrunched up, her lips pursed together as she considered the question.&nbsp; Dell, Kat and Cory would be their Recon lance, that was how Allia saw them forming up.&nbsp; Dell and Kat were the most experienced and senior, but still only NCO's, not officers.&nbsp; "Well until we can establish a proper recon unit, the vehicle unit will need to serve."&nbsp; She pulled up some personnel data on her pad.&nbsp; She knew she didn't need to, the info was in her mind, but she wanted to look like she was being thorough.&nbsp; "Both Dell Samuelson and Kat Stavia were NCO's in the Remnants.&nbsp; So they are the closest thing we have to officers right now."&nbsp; She flipped through the files a bit more.&nbsp; "None of the Mechwarriors have any academy experience, or any experience that would rate them as officers.&nbsp; Three of them will be going to Strike with me and one will go to Command due to the&nbsp; weight of their mech.&nbsp; I say we let the two NCO's use the training cycles to establish their leadership potential."&nbsp; She put down her pad.&nbsp; "I'm hoping the natural leader will emerge."&nbsp; <br><br>While Allia was secretly hoping that they could come up with a plan or accomodation to promote Kat as an officer, she understood the need to let things play out and let the new people in the unit find their place.&nbsp; "Besides, the other reason we can't put any of the new mechwarriors in a Recon lance, they'd never take commands from a vehicle jock."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>27-07-2015, 20:27:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Damian nodded slowly in agreement with Allia. <strong>"We could use those battle armors. We should not give up on them entirely. I will continue to set aside what I can and, in the meantime, I will keep my eye out for good prospects. There is bound to be some talent out there looking for work. They are just in shorter supply than jocks that might be useful after they've proven themselves. No sense spending money hiring inadequate candidates,"</strong> he explained, as he wanted to make sure the commander knew he was still in full support of expanding their unit in such a fashion. But, sometimes it was better to wait for a good opportunity, than to settle for what they'd found so far.<br><br>Was surprised to find himself the target of a promotion. While he had always been a prominent feature in the company's Command Lance, his rank had been no higher than most others. He was first lieutenant. Technically, he still was, but leading the Command Lance added some cachet to it all. He was unsure what prompted it, but he could see the logic behind it. He was one of the few surviving members of the company, and contrary to the new recruits, he had shown himself capable on many occasions. He was not the best when it came to guiding in the heat of battle. He was the type to plan in advance, meticulously so, and subsequently execute the plan with pinpoint precision; most often using terrain to his advantage. But, he was nothing if not confident. He could handle it.<br><strong>"Once I know what I am working with, I will whip the Command Lance into shape. You will have your fire support,"</strong> he stated confidently. For a brief moment, it seemed as though he was almost eager to get back into Charybdis, get out there, and fire some missiles like the good ol' days. He missed Carlos.<br><br><strong>"Next on the agenda is a matter of staff,"</strong> he already knew this was going to be a painful subject for Kari, who had never been put in that position before. He placed a datapad on the table and slowly slid it towards her. It contained a long list of names, complete with links to their files and reports on their most recent evaluations.<br><strong>"Because of the beating we have taken, we are understaffed in certain areas, but overstaffed in others. Our field personnel is stretched thin, but out backup is still more or less manned to handle a full company. This will drain our resources faster than we can keep up with. Under normal circumstances, I would suggest keeping the crew at full capacity for as long as possible, so we keep experience and camaraderie with us, and not potential competition. Replacing someone once we grow again would also mean hiring someone who needs training and time to fit in; contrary to someone who we left on the pay slit for a little longer. But,"</strong> he looked from his commander to Allia, and back again. <strong>"We do not have the funds to sustain that business plan. I have compiled a list of people that can be considered superfluous at this time, as well as a margin per department on the minimum and maximum number of crewmembers we should, or could, let go. There are some basic recommendations in the report as well, but the final decision is yours to make. I advise you look at this in a calm moment,"</strong> Damian explained, as he leaned his chin and cheek against two raised digits in a pensive fashion.<br><br><strong>"I will warn you that this is a delicate matter. Morale is fragile. But it has to be done,"</strong> he finished.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>29-07-2015, 10:47:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari nodded at Allia’s comments, seeing sense in her words. “You’re right on that,” she agreed. “We’re going to probably need to keep the Vees and ‘Mechs separate anyway, as it would be counter-productive to break up a lance when the situation is against it.” She glanced aside a moment. “Remember that time on Blanteff? We lured those pirate ‘Mechs away from their hovertank support and forced them into broken ground where the Hovers couldn’t support them. That’s the sort of situation I want to avoid.”<br><br>“And again, I’ll take your recommendations based on what we get.” She nodded. “I can see a few potentials in that bunch already, but I want to be sure. Last thing we need is putting the wrong person in the wrong place.”<br><br>And as optimistic as she wanted to be about Allia’s comments, Damian’s explanation of the staffing situation was enough to bring her back down to Earth and fast. “I suppose this was inevitable,” she admitted. “Overstaffing was always going to be a problem given our situation, and we cannot afford to keep holding on to people for the sake of morale or hope for the future.” She accepted this with a nod. “Send me the list, Damian, so I can begin to figure it all out and work from there. It’s unpleasant, but it needs to be done.” She could already tell that she would wince the instant she saw the list, but at the same time, there was no sense in avoiding the inevitable.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>29-07-2015, 16:44:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia listened to the cold way that Damian talked about the crew and staff that were left over from the Company before the unfortunate events that brought them to this point.&nbsp; She thought about the sacrifices, the friends they had all lost over the last few months as well as those that would be leaving for other reasons now that they were piecing things back together. <br><br>Maybe it was the difference between Damian and her, he could be cold about the numbers where Allia wore her emotions on her sleeve.&nbsp; She'd never be able to make the decisions that Damian and Kari had to make.&nbsp; &nbsp;This was the reason organizations like this had a mulitude of leadership positions, to act as a sounding board and filter for ideas good and bad.<br><br>"Wait a minute!"&nbsp; She jumped up, the tension of her emotions drifting into her tone.&nbsp; "How's it going to look to our technicians and staff when we tell them they are being let go because we can't afford to keep them, but we're hiring new warriors and combat troops."&nbsp; Allia looked back and forth to Kari and Damian.&nbsp; "Has anyone even talked to the crew yet about what's going on?&nbsp; Have we spelled out the realitiies of what we lost and what we need to rebuild?"&nbsp; <br><br>She could feel the mix of emotions swelling up inside of her as she stared down at the floor for a moment.&nbsp; She knew her eyes were glazing over with the start of possible tears, but she didn't care.&nbsp; She wasn't about to let financial realities tear apart the family she'd come to know over the last year even more.&nbsp; "Why don't we give everyone the option.&nbsp; I for one will take a pay cut if it will help us keep people.&nbsp; These people have fought and bled for this company.&nbsp; They've watched their friends die.&nbsp; Yes I understand that this is a business in some respects.&nbsp; But I think if you give the unit the choice, they many will choose to stay and rebuild a unit that will care for them."&nbsp; <br><br>Allia realized her voice had grow a bit louder than she had hoped.&nbsp; Her emotional response to the issue was hot and she had trouble keeping her voice steady.&nbsp; Finally bringing her emotions under control she continued.&nbsp; "In the final analysis, is it a cost analysis of care and feeding or pay?&nbsp; You keep Ghost running, you can keep my paycheck with the agreement that once we are back on our feet I get some bonus considerations.&nbsp; I think if you present the situation, remove the threat of being fired if we can reach a certain money goal, many of the crew will do the same."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>02-08-2015, 18:51:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Kari's response was exactly what Damian had expected, though he was glad to see she realized it to be the necessity it was. Laying people off was never easy. Well, it was for the clanner, but that was because he had the annoying tendency to be able to look at figures and facts, and completely take people out of the picture. Maybe that was why he, as a clanner, did so well with the bureaucratic side of his work. Most of the people on the list were names that were underperforming to begin with and even if a stern warning might whip them back into shape, the corners still needed cutting. He reached out for the datapad he had already slid towards Kari when she requested he send the information to her. Two digits tapped the surface calmly as he silently implied everything she needed she could find on there. As always, he came prepared. However, one reaction he had not expected was Allia's. But, than again, they were not that well-acquainted, so surprises were bound to follow at every turn.<br><br><strong>"We are hiring new warriors and combat troops to replace a minority of the personnel we lost; which will still leave us with a surplus,"</strong> Damian started, his voice not holding an inkling of compassion towards the situation. He shifted in his seat as his back straightened and his hands clasped to rest on the tabletop in front of him, eyes firmly fixed upon the young lieutenant's as he relayed the reality of the matter.<br><strong>"Commander Moreno informed the crew of the current situation, to the point where it is considered appropriate. There is little else we can do. They are aware of what was lost, and they are aware corners will be cut. It is as simple as that."</strong><br><br>Allia persisted, trying to find solutions to a problem that only had one solution at present time. <strong>"Lieutenant, do you not think I have investigated alternatives? If we cut your pay, we will have to provide you with food and other costs, which would have normally come out of your wages to begin with. That will leave us in no better a position than we are right now. We are talking about a significant number of supporting staff, not just a handful of people. Some of these positions have higher paid wages than you, and I sincerely doubt they will all accept a pay cut on which they can barely support a family back home,"</strong> he continued, as he believed Allia did not seem to realize not everyone was a bachelor and especially among the non-combat staff, there were a lot of people who were working hard to put food on not just their table, but that of family and those close to them. Even if they were willing, they -could- not go along with pay cuts.<br><br>Damian shook his head slowly. <strong>"It will not work,"</strong> he responded resolutely, though he turned his attention to Kari. <strong>"The decision is yours. But the minimum goal of lay-offs I have presented you with is already on the cusp of what we can handle. Furthermore, informing the crew of how bad our financial situation is will not aid morale. You would be surprised how many people value their paycheck more when push comes to shove, and we may lose more valuable members as they jump ship, instead of the bottom of the barrel whose names are on that list,"</strong> it was cruel, yes, but necessary in his eyes. </div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>06-08-2015, 15:47:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari had expected some sort of counter-response from Allia; after all, she and Damian were very different people and had very different approaches in all things. What she hadn’t expected was just how emotional that response would be. There was a clear passion to what she said, one that made Kari cringe a little at her own initial agreement with Damian’s figures. <em>And she’s making a lot of sense there too</em>, Kari had to admit. Allia was very much a people person, as much as she tried to claim otherwise.<br><br>Of course, for all that, Damian’s response was every bit as cold and dispassionate as Allia’s was warm and concerned. Whereas she spoke of people, he spoke of numbers and viability. She was concerned for what effect letting those people go would have on their lives, he spoke of what effect keeping them would have on the unit. Head versus heart. It was amazing how directly opposed the pair of them could be on so many matters and yet work so effectively together.<br><br>And right now, there was a part of Kari that wanted to be anywhere but here, and another part that wanted to tell them that they were both right. And neither was an option at the moment.<br><br>Instead she took a deep breath before continuing. “You both have good points, and I’d love to agree with both of you. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation says otherwise. I’ve been over the books, and they’re grim; as much as I’d like to keep everyone, we just can’t.” She shot Allia a glance, an apologetic look on her face. “I’m sorry. As much as I’d like to scrimp and save on everything, that’s not enough right now.”<br><br>“Our rebuilding plan has us at a target size that’s still smaller then the old unit,” she continued. “That means that we end up with a lot of redundant staff. It simply makes sense to reduce the numbers to fit. However…” she was clutching her hands together, trying not to let her nerves show. “I think we also need to explain the situation to those effected and explain why. Offer some voluntary redundancies for those who want to leave or have other options or the like first. That… I guess softens the blow a bit.”<br><br>With each word, she more and more wanted to be somewhere else. As much as this needed to be done, Kari hated doing it.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>20-08-2015, 03:59:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br><div class="floatright">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia finally sat back in her seat.&nbsp; Her hands and arms were shaking from having become so emotional about the point she had made.&nbsp; Allia didn't want to see the family she had come to know and love torn apart because of what had happened, but it was really the Falcons who had put them in the situation.&nbsp; She realized she had focused her ire towards the Falcons and not the clans.&nbsp; At any other point in her life she would have clumped them all together into a single fiery hatred.&nbsp; But it dawned on her that she was becoming a bit less bias towards <em>all</em> clanners.<br><br>She listened to Damian's points.&nbsp; She knew he had done the math already.&nbsp; She knew he had already run the numbers and weighed the options.&nbsp; There were limited resources and they all knew if they didn't get things straight, they'd never leave the planet in one piece.&nbsp; Kari and Damian had done a lot to keep those who have been with the company the longest and those who had been the most loyal tied to the company.&nbsp; Allia had no reason to believe they wouldn't continue the effort.&nbsp; Kari wasn't her father, but she did things her own way.&nbsp; She listened and took everyone's opinions before making a decision.&nbsp; <br><br>"Well I think we all know that the numbers don't lie.&nbsp; Damian is the one who's good with the numbers.&nbsp; If this is the only way we get off this rock and back into the fight, then we do what we have to do.&nbsp; Just promise me we'll get to return the favor to the Falcons some day."&nbsp; She knew the chances of going up against the Falcons and coming out alive were slim, but it was a dream she had.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>22-08-2015, 21:10:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Damian was pleased to find Kari agreeing with him. It wasn't because there was some competition ongoing in his mind to always be proven right. But, he never made a decision without trying to look at all arguments and angles at hand, so when he finally reached the call he wanted to make, he firmly believed it was the right one. Changing his mind was a difficult feat, indeed, and he was glad that they were not going to make the mistake of trying to think of people first, and their ailing wallets second. Would it be better to keep experience in the fold? Of course. But not if it ended up crashing the entire company and putting even more people on the street.<br><br>He just looked at Allia calmly when she mentioned revenge. A part of him wanted it to. A major part. But it was one he silenced. Revenge wasn't good for business, no matter how badly he wished he could strangle the people who killed one of the few people he'd ever regarded a friend. <strong>"I am certain the Jade Falcon will not suddenly become a rare sight on the field of battle. We will encounter them again. Take your frustration out on them then,"</strong> Damian commented before crossing his arms and leaning forward on the table.<br><strong>"I have nothing more to add,"</strong> he continued, having said all he needed to. If there was anything left to review, he wasn't aware f it. Even though there was always more work to get to, he had to admit he now had a game of Lacrosse waiting for him, and for once he was willing to set aside some work to watch his favorite team hopefully dominate their opponent for the evening. Many would consider it rather sad that he watched those broadcasts perpetually by himself, but he tended to prefer it that way, even if it had been different when he was still a part of a clan; instead of a banished disgrace.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>24-08-2015, 14:40:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Saying that things had gotten emotional would be an understatement, but Kari was also proud of how both Damian and Allia had handled matters as they had unfolded. She didn’t like the idea of letting people go any more then Allia did, and in some ways, it hurt even more. These had been her father’s people, the ones he had worked with and alongside to build up the unit. Each one that she had to let go was severing another little link to him, adding to the stark reality that he was no longer with them.<br><br>But it needed to be done. Sentimentality would not keep them alive. And she would do it, for it was her job.<br><br>Still, she turned and nodded to the pair of them. “Believe me, Allia, I want to get back at the Falcons as much as you do. But, while it would be great to hurt them in the same way that they hurt us, we still need to focus on getting ourselves back into the game. But trust me, I’m not going to forgive or forget any time soon.” Kari lead in and offered the lieutenant a small but determined nod, before turning back to the pair of them.<br><br>“At this point, I think we’ve covered everything that we need to,” Kari continued. “I’d like regular reports on how the recruits do; highlight any problem areas or any who may have useful skills and the like. Ad if you need me for anything, then let me know.” She stood. “And thanks.”<br><br>Kari turned to leave, a lot on her mind. She knew that she had to start the restructuring program immediately, and that would begin with the awkward questions of looking for those who were willing to stand down. What she really wanted to do, however, was be anywhere else. And there was a way out she knew she could take, a small release at the very least. <em>I should focus. I need to do this,</em> she told herself. <em>But…</em><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>09-09-2015, 23:46:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>Allia was happy that she'd said what she needed to say, even if it hadn't created the result she had hoped for.&nbsp; Damian and Kari were much smarter on the interworkings of the company that she was.&nbsp; She'd always been a mech jock, nothing would change that no matter how much of a movement up the ranks she made in her time in the company.&nbsp; She knew the company was in good hands even if she disagreed with some of the ways things were run.&nbsp; She respected the fact that Kari took her input.&nbsp; Allia had never been much of a leader or manager in any sense in the time since she left Nagelring, but now she was getting a pretty hard crash course in what it mean to be one of the key decision makers in a unit.&nbsp; She realized she didn't really like it.<br><br>Her thoughts about the meeting and the status of the unit turned into a winding, unfocused walk around the dropship.&nbsp; Usually in times like these she'd find herself wandering down to Gheistwulf.&nbsp; There was something soothing and relaxing about her mech.&nbsp; It was her silent friend, the one who always seemed to find a way to bring her home.&nbsp; But this time she was surprise to find that she had ended up at the door to Damian's quarters.&nbsp; It dawned on Allia that it had been over a month since their rendezvous in the ships gym.&nbsp; She'd let the images of that afternoon filter into her thoughts over the past month, but she hadn't really thought much about the implications.&nbsp; <br><br>Uncertain as to why, Allia gave the door a quick rasp.&nbsp; Consciously she hoped Damian hadn't come back to his quarters yet, unconsciously she needed to see him, if only for comfort.<br><br><hr><br><div class="floatleft">(http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/ffximage/2009/03/02/yb0303filmbana.jpg)</div><br>Desmond pushed the last of the battle armor power cells into the storage locker.&nbsp; "Crap!&nbsp; Looking at his watch he realized he was late for his meeting.&nbsp; It'd been a few months since the last time they'd met.&nbsp; The last time she had been headed out for some cake walk defense mission.&nbsp; From the reports, that cake walk had turned into a massacre of the highest degree.&nbsp; Falcons had stormed onto the planet with little regard for the defenses in place.&nbsp; Only a handful of ships and crews had been able to escape the Falcons on the ground and the Battleships in orbit.&nbsp; Desmond was glad she'd come back alive, even if the whole of her company had been shattered.&nbsp; <br><br>They'd only shared a couple of short messages since she returned.&nbsp; Taking over the business of running the remnants of the company and trying to put things back in order had been her priority, no matter how much she wanted to see him.&nbsp; He knew the loss of her father and all of her friends had to be hard on her, but he also knew she was strong willed and didn't give up easily.&nbsp; The fact that she was scouring the warrior boards for capable pilots meant she was determined to bring the unit back up.&nbsp; Desmond had suggested they work out a plan to merge the two units, but she'd been adamant about rebuilding, for her father.&nbsp; Desmond couldn't argue with that.<br><br>The ride through the city to their local dive bar wasn't long.&nbsp; Desmond parked his bike outside, hoping he'd beat her to the bar.&nbsp; He sighed softly as he walked in and realized she hadn't arrived yet.&nbsp; Stepping up the bar he ordered a local beer and took a seat.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>11-09-2015, 15:53:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Both fortunately and unfortunately for Allia, Damian had indeed returned to his room shortly after their meeting had concluded. For once, general fatigue had caught up with him. It wasn't that his body was tired, but his mind was in dire need of a break. With the biggest issues settled for now, he staved off the workaholic in him well enough to be able to deem what was left as less that high priority. It didn't need his immediate attention. He didn't know how much of a backlog of recorded games of Clan Lacrosse he had left to watch, but he knew it was bound to be significant. Best thing about being one of the few, if only, clanner in the company: no-one to pester him with spoilers. His tradition of watching these games was just about as sober as you'd expect it to be from the man. Something simple to eat - a kind of potato-based, packaged, crispy snack popular among his former peers in Clan Sea Fox - and something equally simple to drink; water. What a party!<br><br>But, it was the way he liked it. Simple, quiet, easy to ban any and all thoughts from his mind. He'd only just watched the first hour though, when his little routine was interrupted by a knock on the door. A grumble inevitably left his lips, though he could fortunately just pause the game before getting up from his seat. As Allia knew, Damian actually very rarely used the room that had been assigned to him. Having managed to net one of the most spacious areas on the ship short of halls and storage rooms, Damian had managed to refurbish his office over the years to include his bed and the like through a door around the corner, in the back of the room. The alcove that held the viewscreen he was watching his game on also contained a small table and a few enviably comfortable, leather couches. Despite his spendthrift ways, he certainly knew how to make sure he was settled in nicely... Still, the centerpiece of the room remained his large desk and the myriad of filing cabinets surrounding it, which almost blocked off the back of the room visibly, despite there being no wall or door to do so. Him behind a pile of work was the first thing most anyone would see when entering. Fitting.<br><br>Once he reached the door into the office, he waved his hand over a control panel to unlock it and let it slide open.<br><strong>"Lieutenant Rowe?"</strong> he questioned, unsure what she was doing there. Had she forgotten to mention something at the meeting? Whatever the case, he already stepped aside to let her in if she so pleased.</div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>13-09-2015, 15:17:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>When Kari had first messaged Desmond, she’d been unsure of what she was going to say or how to say it. The best she’d managed was a clumsy “Can we meet?” and hoped for the best. He’d come back in the positive, and that had done her a world of good right there and then. It was with that in mind that she’d set out, trying her best to look her usual confident, almost cocky self, and not like she was coming apart at the seams.<br><br>She arrived at the dive bar that the pair of them preferred; a nice neutral ground that was outside where either of their units had normally hung out to drink and, as such, a place where they could get a touch of privacy. In past, Kari had been worried about how it would look to members of her unit that the boss’ daughter was clearly involved with a member of another command, and the gossip that would result.<br><br>Now she was worried as to how it would look in a different way; the commander of a shattered, struggling unit speaking with a member of another, far more intact and viable command made it look like a merger, something that even rumoured at could shatter what passed for their fragile morale.<br><br>And yet, when she saw him, she couldn’t help but smile, even if weakly. Right now, she wasn’t Kari Monero, daughter of Carlos Monero and last in a long line of mercs stretching back god alone knew how many generations. Now she was Kari, a young woman who wanted to enjoy herself and take a little bit of time away from the pressured bearing down on her.<br><br>“Hi,” she managed, a lot more awkwardly then she normally was and definitely a lot more then she was used to. Her hand went out, quietly holding his under the bar, and away from view. “Thanks so much for coming. I know you’ve been insanely busy and…” she paused a moment, an awkward smile that was definitely an effort to put on a brave face. “I just needed to see you so much, especially with all that’s happened. It’s been a bad couple of weeks, to say the least.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>orderNchaos</strong> on <strong>29-09-2015, 15:31:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j77/wulfjaeger/___protector_of_time____by_vincentxyooj-d5lw1gq_zps59496fa9.png)</div><br>If it had been anyone else, Kari might have considered the way that Damian addressed her as a slight or as a frustrated acknowledgement that she was unceremoniously interupting something important.&nbsp; With Damian it was hard for Allia to tell.&nbsp; She'd spent a lot more time with him over the past weeks since their unexpected rendezvous in the gym, but interestingly, she didn't&nbsp; know him any better than she did after they were done.&nbsp; <br><br>When he moved out of the way, Allia took his motion as a silent invitation to enter his room.&nbsp; She was surprised how spartan it was, how efficient it was to provide Damian a place to work and sleep all at the same time.&nbsp; A hook of a smile crept over the corner of her mouth as she looked around.&nbsp; Spying the game on the vid screen, Allia paused for a moment, watching the men move tossing a small ball between them using sticks.&nbsp; It wasn't a sport she'd be familiar with, but it was always fun to learn something new about the man she worked with an occassionally fucked.&nbsp; <br><br>"I'm sorry to interrupt you.&nbsp; I honestly don't know why my legs brought me here...."&nbsp; Allia searched for words, for reasons why she'd interrupted Damian.&nbsp; Subconsciously she must have had a reason, but for the time that reason was lost on her.&nbsp; "....I guess part of me..."&nbsp; She turned to face him, settling her hands on his desk, resting her weight back on her arms.&nbsp; "...just wanted to clear the air with you regarding my outburst at the meeting.&nbsp; I don't know why I didn't believe that you had already calculated the risks and rewards of your plan.&nbsp; You didn't need me throwing my emotions into the mix."&nbsp; Allia looked down, breaking eye contact with Damian for a long moment.&nbsp; "And I think the other part of me wanted to know....."&nbsp; <br><br>Allia paused, not knowing if she should go forward with her question.&nbsp; What had happened between them had been fun, had been amazing, and had been exactly what she needed at the moment.&nbsp; But she wasn't sure what Damian's intentions towards her were, regardless of the signals she'd given him since.&nbsp; "....I want to know why you haven't made any indication of a desire to get together again?&nbsp; There, she'd said it...now the cat was out of the bag.&nbsp; "I know we've been busy, but I believe I was fairly assertive about the interest in doing it again."&nbsp; <br><br><hr><br><div class="floatleft">(http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/ffximage/2009/03/02/yb0303filmbana.jpg)</div><br>When she walked through the door, Desmond could only smile.&nbsp; Her rough, brusk look with the fiery red hair and a body covered in tattoos had been odd for Desmond at first, not sure how to relate to her.&nbsp; But over the short time they'd known each other he'd learned very quickly that much of that outer image was a shield for the soft fragile girl inside.&nbsp; Living in a hardcore merc family had pushed her to show a strong outwardly image, but there was another side that even her father probably didn't know about.&nbsp; <br><br><em>Her father....</em>&nbsp; The though hit him in the back of the head as he chided himself.&nbsp; Desmond watch as she approached, standing to give her a soft hug and a kiss on the cheek.&nbsp; He wanted to respect her concerns about how it would look if someone from her company saw them.&nbsp; Although he knew the early hour of the day attracted none but the most ardent of regulars, he kept things distant until she opened the door.<br><br>The bartender set down a glass half full of clear dark brown liquid.&nbsp; "It's no problem.&nbsp; I wanted to see you.&nbsp; Besides, after what you've been through I'm surprised you didn't want to meet earlier."&nbsp; Desmond watched the spirited woman sitting next to him.&nbsp; The weight of her new responsiblities was weighing heavily on her, it was obvious in the way she held herself up and the slack tiredness in her eyes.&nbsp; "Did those troops I sent your way work out?&nbsp; We're full up on ground pounders, and it was only fair that you got a chance to vet them before one of the other units picked them up."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blobbe</strong> on <strong>01-10-2015, 11:07:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari couldn’t say what it was that had first attracted her to Desmond; the ‘tough but sensitive’ part of him was one of the strongest however, which was what had made her the most comfortable with him. That was a big part of what had allowed her to simply be herself, rather then playing the role. And now that she was a commander, she would have to immerse herself into that role, submerging the real her as much as she could.<br><br>But for now, she could forget that. And that made her smile.<br><br>“Those troops were great, thanks,” She began, her hand quietly on his under the bar. “Right now, while we need bodies we’re not at the desperate level of taking whoever we can find. If they were good enough for you to at least consider them then that’s a definite leg up. Obviously the real test will come when they’re in the field, but at the very least it’s a start.”<br><br>She shrugged a moment. “And your help is a lot better then we’ve gotten from some other units. Colleen Raymond messaged me to offer her condolences and suggesting that merging my unit into hers might be a way to help save the situation. And while I didn’t tell her where to stick her offer, I wanted to.” She shook her head, her firey hair waving around it as she did. “At least she didn’t try to hook me up with her useless son as an incentive”<br><br>“Thanks,” Kari continued. “For that. For everything else. And for being here.” She was playing being confident, and it was almost passable to somebody who didn’t know her. “After all that’s happened, there’s only a handful of people who I can be honest with. And besides, you know stuff about me that nobody else does.”<br><br>She raised a glass. “To Carlos. Dad.”<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dark Suns: Rise from the Ashes</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Renegade Vile</strong> on <strong>03-10-2015, 15:38:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Dark Star Dropship</strong><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/e/ef/Damian_Harper.jpg)</div><br><br><div style="text-align: justify;">Damian didn't really know why she believed her supposed outburst at the meeting had affected him to such a degree. He had long since forgotten about it. It was a normal reaction for someone who was so close to much of the staff and didn't quite have enough experience with separating business from casual yet. She'd served in some kind of command role for quite some time by then, but never one that spanned beyond her teammates. He did not hold it against her, even if he had found it to be counterproductive. She seemed far more affected by it than he, and it showed when he closed the door behind her and casually circled around his desk to reach for the remote control that rested on a small coffe table in front of his couch. He was listening, even if it seemed as though he wasn't. A click of a single button paused the recording and subsequently muted the distracting sound of the game that was on. It wasn't a very good one, so he didn't really care if he missed parts of it, but better safe than sorry.<br><br>He sat back down, resting one leg across the other's thigh while leaning back a little. He did not invite her to sit, but primarily because he assumed it was implied that she could make herself at home. He wouldn't have received her at all if he wanted her to just stand around, say her piece and then leave. As always, though, the clanner didn't really seem to take cultural differences into account as best as he should have, and didn't realize how rude that might come across.<br>His gaze was as stern as ever, fixated on her eyes as she spoke, even as she seemed intent on avoiding eye contact. She did not need to say it for him to know what this was really about, even if she claimed it was a fifty-fifty division.<br><br><strong>"Firstly, I was not offended by your protest,"</strong> he started; short and sweet. <strong>"Secondly, as you said, it has been busy,"</strong> he finally motioned for her to sit, but rose up himself. He walked over to minibar and proceeded to pour her a drink. Nothing fancy and nothing overly strong, but it was only proper he offer her something.<br><strong>"You have made no indications either, though,"</strong> he added, as he stopped in front of her to offer her the drink, before taking a seat again. <strong>"Why has that been bothering you so much?"</strong> he questioned.</div>
			</dd>
		</dl>
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