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Post by benbarrow on May 9, 2009 7:18:53 GMT -5
Ben had checked the entire boat to make sure everything was secure and everyone was where they were supposed to be. He also checked the gear they were going to use on the job, to make sure the weapons were well oiled so they wouldn't jam. Ben had all bases covered and if everything went to plan, nothing could go wrong.
Ben walked over to the cockpit and entered it. Roxanne was sitting behind the controls, right where she was supposed to be. Ben hoped she was up to the challenge that lay before her. If she couldn't fly the Orlando in undetected, the job would definately be FUBAR and they'd have to run for their lives. Also, it was important for her to be able to glide the boat in and not plant it against a rock wall somewhere. If she couldn't, then everything was over for everyone, before it even had a chance to begin.
Robin was sitting in the other seat and Ben gestured that she could stay seated. He was tall enough to reach for the big bar that was attached to the ceiling of the cockpit, so he'd try to keep his balance with that.
Ben took a look out the window. The skies around St. Alban's were clear, not a single Alliance cruiser or any other ship for that matter in sight.
St. Alban's itself looked kind of depressing. The planet was just a mixture of black, white and gray. Ben hoped the job wouldn't take too long so they didn't have to spent more time there than they needed to.
Ben then turned to Roxanne, hoping she could give him the all clear so the job could finally commence.
"So, we good to go?"
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Post by roxanne on May 17, 2009 11:35:25 GMT -5
Roxanne had been unable to tap into any frequencies to figure out the weather. Whatever storm was brewing was blocking anything and she wasn’t going to push twice in case the Alliance picked up on it. Though she was having a silent and withdraw day, this was the perfect time to be doing a job such as this. She could concentrate on the bumpy ride before her. She checked a few electrical and life support things before Ben arrived. Cutting everything off, even when breaching atmo, would be dangerous for them. Roxanne was 110% that she could do it, but it was always the right thing to do to double check everything.
With a nod at Robin she thanked her for the help softly. ”I’m going to concentrate on gliding in. What I needed your help for is talking to Lily to make sure everything is working between here and there. Timings and whatnot. Makes it smoother all around.” They were gliding not far over St. Albans. She had located the canyon in which they would land and it was a matter of going through that storm forming across the surface. She could tell it was gloomy and probably winds upwards of 30km an hour form what she could guess.
She heard Ben walk in faintly. She was going over things in her head. Go through the atmo and then cut everything off. Glide in nice and smooth-ok more like rough and bumpy. Land her after under radar and power’s back on. The wait. Then bring her to Ben. Then get the heck outta there. Simple enough she supposed as long as all went well.
”Ready whenever you are Ben.” She began to get ready for the dive into the atmo. With a quick press of the com to speak to the whole ship, she spoke as clearly as possible. ”Hold on nice and tight everyone. It’s going to get interesting.” She switched it back so Robin could control to speak to Lily. Roxanne found the perfect storm brewing, but it was off form the canyons. It would be fine though. Roxanne took a deep breath before she started the decent down.
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Post by benbarrow on May 18, 2009 8:08:45 GMT -5
"Okay then. Let's go!" Ben said.
The smile on Ben's face widened. It had been from the war since he had some real adventure and now he was once again sailing for it, with his own ship and his own crew at his disposal. Ben just hoped that when the going would get tough, his crew would get going. There were definately some firefights up ahead, and people were going to get killed. But not his crew. Not if he could help it.
Only thing that he didn't have a solution to was to tell the crew that none of the purple bellies stationed in the armory were allowed to survive. He'd have to execute them all, preferably when no one was watching. Of course it would be more easy if there weren't any prisoners at all.
Ben walked over the intercom and picked up the horn. It was time to warn the crew they were starting their descend to the planet.
"Attention crew, this is the captain." Ben said. "We're starting our descend, so hang on to your lunches. It's gonna get rocky."
Ben put the intercom back and grabbed hold of the bar on the ceiling. He then braced himself and waited for Roxanne, Robin and Lily to their jobs, hoping they wouldn't park the Orlando against a gletsjer wall.
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Post by parkesy on May 18, 2009 13:25:01 GMT -5
JD was sat in the cargo hold checking the ammo clips for his pistols and rifle were full. He had his shotgun on him too, but he had just finished loading that so he knew for sure it was ok.
He and Robin had made sure that everything that loose, was secure and wouldn't fly about the place when the ship breached atmo.
The voice of Ben sounded out from the comm systems, and JD's head perked up as he listened to what he had to say.
JD quickly put his two pistols in their hip holsters, his rifle and shotgun crossed over his back.
He started to feel the adrenaline rush, even though his first job isn't too thrilling, he was still looking forward to it.
He walked over to the stairs to the walkway and stood next to them, holding onto the poles that held them up.
A broad smile came to his face as he said "This should be fun.", referring to the up and coming ride in.
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Post by roxanne on May 24, 2009 10:22:31 GMT -5
Roxanne took a breath and let a silent prayer escape her lips. She turned to Robin. "As soon as we breach atmo let Lily know to cut the power please. It won't be more then a minute until we get through. I'll tell you when we've breached." Roxanne found the area to enter. Not that there was a specific place, but mentally she found the perfect place above the storm. She just hope her systems were right and there was no high, jetting mountains right where they would glide in.
And then....
The decent.
Roxanne pointed her at an angel with a furrowed brow of intense concentration. Her hands gripped at the controls, with one occasionally traveling to check the pressure and make sure all was going well within and around the ship. She could feel the pressure of the layers of the atmosphere surrounding St. Albans pressing around the Orlando. It was something subtle, but she could feel it deep down in her bones. Not much longer before they pulled through. She could make out the clouds and even start to feel the winds.
They were out of atmo.
"Cut it now!" Her hands gripped the controls in preparation for the sudden loss of power that would come any moment now....
[[OOC: Waiting for something from either Robin or Lily? Tell me if I should continue without them....]]
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Post by havenoplace on May 24, 2009 11:11:59 GMT -5
"As soon as we breach atmo let Lily know to cut the power please. It won't be more then a minute until we get through. I'll tell you when we've breached."
Robin was taking in everything Roxanne was telling her, but there was an undeniable tremble that made it's way through her body. The shiver seemed to be focused on her hands. She gave a nod to show her she understood.
She breathed slowly and calmly as she watched Roxanne cooly make the descent. She seemed to have a good handle on the situation. That helped put Robin at ease. This crew were one hundred percent dedicated and determined. This was kinda new to her. It was pretty much her first day and at first this responsibility seemed like a great thing. In practice it was terrifying. She exhaled again, letting go into the mission completely.
"Cut it now!"
Robin hit the com button and spoke to Lily in the engine room. She aimed for cool but it came out a little more frantic.
"Lily, cut the power!"
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Post by roxanne on May 27, 2009 20:38:31 GMT -5
Roxanne could feel the power being cut before she heard and saw everything go out. The lights all around her began to disappear as she held steady on the controls. They started to descend way too fast so she pulled up. Even without the power, the controls worked on pulling on the ship. That didn’t need the main power at all. Her heart was racing a little too fast for her liking and her breathing was shallow. She could barely see as they pushed through the clouds and she saw the snow flurrying around. She began to block everyone and everything else out. She was completely tunneled in on what she had to do.
The ship was rocking but she couldn’t let that get to her. It’s why she was buckled in. it kept her from being launched around the cockpit. She didn’t even see how Robin nor Ben were handling the ride. All she knew is she was doing her damnest to keep the ship flying. Especially since hail was now flying everywhere. Great. They hadn’t expected hail bits. Or at least she hadn’t. As long as they didn’t crack anything they were all good. That’s all she was trying to avoid. That and the mountains she could barely make out in the distance. They still had about another minute before they could turn the power on. Just another minute…
They were reaching the altitude that they could get power back on faster then she thought. Though these winds kept pulling at the ship too much. The winds worried her more then anything. She took a deep breath. With no power she could only guess they were under radar. ”Captain, your call about when to turn power back on. Feels good to me.” There was an edge of ‘I-need-an-answer-now-to-have-Robin-tell-Lily” tone as she spoke to him. This was his genius idea to move in with no power.
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Post by benbarrow on May 28, 2009 4:37:37 GMT -5
Ben kept his balance as the ship started rocking. This was an all too familiar feeling for him. It was just like entering a planet in a landingcraft during the war, although now no one was shooting at them.
But that didn't make it any less dangerous. Ben paid attention to what Roxanne and Robin were doing and was ready to intervene just in case one of them should freeze up on him.
Yet, that wasn't the case. The two women were more than up to the task, and it seemed that Ben was right by hiring them.
As they passed through the clouds, it starting hailing. That was to be expected after all. And the worse the weather was, the less chance of the Alliance seeing them come in.
”Captain, your call about when to turn power back on. Feels good to me.”
Ben could hear in Roxanne's voice that she was anxious for a response. Ben kept watching through the window and waiting for the clouds to pass.
"Wait for it!" Ben said. "Hang on..."
Ben waited for the clouds to pass, and then there was the moment he had been waiting on. Now the mountains were becoming visible.
"Now!" Ben shouted. "Do it!"
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Post by roxanne on May 28, 2009 12:51:17 GMT -5
Was he insane? Seriously? Roxanne never questioned a captain but too long without power made for a jumpy recovery. Too jumpy and they may alert someone. Plus those mountains didn't look too kind. As soon as he said now and Robin told Lily she prepared herself for the lurch of power. A sigh of relief went through her body as she pulled at the ship. As they shook a large lurch went through it, causing the whole cockpit to shake. Roxanne pulled up and to the side, to avoid going straight into the mountain. They were low enough that they could see all the valleys and crevices. She could hear the hail above them and something was beeping. Roxanne turned her head and simply checked the oxygen levels. After being cut from power then back on in an improper way, it was a bit difficult. That was what she had been worried about.
Roxanne looked around. There was a couple places she could place the Orlando. There was the perfect place that she recalled Ben pointing out. Surrounded by mountains, but there was an opening where she could glide through to get to them. She could swear she could see where the crew was headed off to. Roxanne hovered over the valley and as it shook side to side, brought her down. It took a bit longer then normal because of the winds. One wrong move and they'd be swept into the side of a mountain. It took all of a little under five minutes. As the soft 'pow' of the Orlando setting down onto the snowy ground, she began to check everything from the sudden restart in the air. Nothing seemed to be on the fritz on her end. She unbuckled and began to chat with Lily, oblivious to anyone else.
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Post by benbarrow on May 29, 2009 4:55:52 GMT -5
So far the plan went well. The Orlando had glided in and it seemed like no one noticed saw them coming.
Ben gave Roxanne a tap on the shoulder, to congratulate her on a difficult job well done.
"Well done Roxanne!" Ben said. "Real nice work. Now keep monitoring the cortex waves, and be ready to fly her in when we call you. We'll see you in a bit."
Ben then gestured at Robin to follow him, so they could go to the cargohold and get geared up for the job.
"Come on Robin!" Ben said. "We've got a job to do!"
Ben then left the cockpit with Robin following him, and walked in a fast pace toward the cargohold, where George and JD were already waiting. He walked down the stairs toward the gear he had prepared for himself and the crew.
"Come on guys! Let's get geared up!"
Ben started with closing his browncoat, and then wrapped his red Independent scarf around his neck. He then put on a beanie before putting on the harnas that held his ammo clips, flashbangs and grenades. Normally the harnas was to be worn under a browncoat, but given the cold on St. Alban's he wore it over it.
"Alright. George, Robin, the two of you will be providing a base of fire, so each of you take a rifle for outside, and a submachinegun for when we enter the compound." Ben ordered. "I'll be doing the flanking so I'll take a machinegun myself. As for you JD, I know you got your own stash but I suggest something suitable to shoot inside of the compound besides the sniper rifle."
Ben then put a pair of black gloves on and started to check his weapons. He was going to carry to kinds of weapons on this job: a machinegun to shoot the Alliance soldiers outside, and a shotgun for when they entered the compound.
Ben then opened the cargobay doors and waited for Robin, George and JD to get geared up as well.
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Post by parkesy on May 29, 2009 5:47:29 GMT -5
JD was sat on a crate when Ben and Robin came into the cargo hold.
He slid off of his perch when he seen them coming, and waited for what Ben had to say.
"Come on guys! Let's get geared up!" He started with.
JD looked down at the equipment he had on him. He had already geared up.
He did all that before they had even breached atmo.
He was wearing his trench coat, with his ballistic vest underneath.
He doesn't wear the vest all too much, but he decided to for this job.
Not for the protection it offers, but purely to try and keep him as warm as possible.
His dreads where tied back, held up by using one of the dreads itself. He couldn't be doing with them dangling about, and getting in the way at a time like this.
"I'll be doing the flanking so I'll take a machinegun myself. As for you JD, I know you got your own stash but I suggest something suitable to shoot inside of the compound besides the sniper rifle."
JD smiled and patted his shotgun, which was rested at his side with the shoulder strap.
"One step ahead." He said, as he made sure he had the dual pistols clipped into their holsters properly. After all he didn't want to lose one in the snow while he will be lying down in it.
He finished up with putting on a pair of gloves, again to try and keep himself as warm as possible. His trigger finger gets a little sluggish when it is cold.
He stood next to the cargo bay doors as Ben opened them, and lent against the wall next to it as he waited for the others to get ready.
His heart began to race already, just at the thought of the job.
It wasn't out of fear or anxiety, but out of excitement. Not that he takes pleasure out of killing others, just that he'd been waiting to do something for the crew for a while. Plus shooting people can be kinda fun at times.
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Post by roxanne on May 30, 2009 11:25:22 GMT -5
Roxanne turned to look at Ben as he spoke to her about doing a good job. She nodded, without a smile. ”It’s my job sire. Just doing what I was trained to do.” Right now she just wanted to enjoy the silence alone. More so-she felt like a wreck. By the end of the evening or morning, she’d be fine. Back to her regular self. She’d be a happy person once more, all smiles and laughs, always cheery. But for now, she wanted to be her dark side she got to be once in a blue moon. And that side was extremely tunneled in on what she must do when needed-which was usual-and wanted to be silently alone. Today, despite what she had asked, Roxanne really just wanted to be alone and flying in the cockpit.
As soon as everyone left and things were back to normal, she collapsed on the floor. Her eyes kept an absent gaze on the controls for when Ben called to them and the proximity radar. It became hazy in a bit of tears, but otherwise, her mind was set on what was coming next and yester-memories. Roxanne prayed that Ben hailed them soon so she had something to keep her mind on.
[[OOC: Meh, not much for Roxanne for awhile so peering into her blue side for a bit to keep my muse up.]]
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Post by boris on Jun 5, 2009 17:44:09 GMT -5
ooc: this takes place near the beginning of the thread as far as the chronology goes
Boris was working at the communications station...again. He had fixed everything so that it wouldn't break down anymore so for the last year, he had basically bean forced to sit and listen to static for hours on end. He heard someone attempt to listen in to the weather system for a second. It happened all the time. Boris often wondered why they didn't just call in and ask for the weather.
He looked at his watch and saw his shift end. He pushed his chair away from his station and stood up yelling "Done!" He walked over to his superior and said, "My next shift is in two days, I will be back then." He went back to his bunk and grabbed his fur hat and heavy coat as well as his thermal sleeping bag.
He ran over to his bags, conveniently located near the outside door and strapped his sleeping bag to the top of it before pulling it onto his back. He walked out and and headed toward the nearby forest. He grabbed a rifle from the outside rifle rack, that only he knew about. Mostly because he built it in and put a few old rifles inside of it. He didn't know that a firefly was coming into atmo at that very moment.
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Post by georgewest on Jun 19, 2009 23:42:49 GMT -5
George held his rifle. He had been in combat before and he had killed in combat before. This shouldn't be too different, but it was. He was still a good shot by average standards, but he suddenly became unsure of himself. You can do this he said to himself. He knew the plan and he knew it would work.
As Ben opened the door and the blast of cold hit his face, he became ready. It wasn't often that images of his life in the war flashed before him but he remembered vividly the feel of heat as an explosion washed over him, acting as a foil to the cold. He saw some other independents killed on a world that he couldn't remember the name of. He remembered feeling the heat for a moment before being thrown back in to snow. He suddenly snapped out of it and he shook his head slightly as he pulled up his hood.
He reached over and clipped his first aid kit to his side just behind his revolver. "I'm ready as ever Ben...just like old times." He said this with a mock happiness that usually would have been real.
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Post by havenoplace on Jun 25, 2009 6:40:57 GMT -5
Everything had happened so fast. The death defying descent. Being thrown into the middle of everything so early on. Robin didn't cower in a corner. She embraced it all. At her captain's command she rushed from the bridge to get ready for the next part of her mission.
"Alright. George, Robin, the two of you will be providing a base of fire, so each of you take a rifle for outside, and a submachinegun for when we enter the compound."
She did as she was instructed, taking a rifle and a submachinegun from the rack. She secured the latter weapon to herself and held the rifle, ready for taking out some gorram Purple bellies. How could they have stolen the arms of fallen soldiers. Proud Independent men. It made her sick, but mostly it made her angry. But she wouldn't go all gung-ho and lose her head. She would never do such a stupid thing. She kept a cool head, saying a silent prayer for her parents and her uncle.
"I'm ready, Cap'n"
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