>>33281120
>Other
"Stay near the surface, but if the banshee's start getting too close for comfort dive until they finish their passes."

wheres all the other anons?

>>33281120
>"Stay near the surface, we don't want anyone drowning."
Soldiers drowning is always an issue in beach landings.

>>33281330
I agree with this

>>33281120
>"Stay near the surface, we don't want anyone drowning."
Losses are inevitable in shit like this.

Writing

"Stay near the surface, we don't want anyone drowning."
You hear Penny and the spartan respond, but not the other two, though it's understandable.

You see two arrow shaped shadows flash across the surface as the banshees fly over your position. The darting silhouettes are quickly followed by an explosion, as what's left of your dinghy is annihilated by a fuel rod shell loosed by the passing banshees.
"They're coming round for another pass," Matilda says, floating in the water beside you.
You see the double line of water splashes tracing their path through the water as one of the banshees strafes you. With horror, you see the line of plasma is about to intersect with the area where Erika and Jacobson are swimming, just under the surface.

Before you can do anything to react, the tracers stop short, cut off as the source is destroyed. The burning wreckage of the banshees crashes into the water, skipping once before stopping, and sinking to the depths.
"That was a laser," Penny says.
You surface, along with the others.
"Hey," yells a voice from above you. Standing on the shore is an ODST holding a spartan laser. "What the fuck do you ballsy fuckers think you're fuckin' doin'? Get the fuck out of the water before more fuckin' banshees show up!"

The ODST pulls you up last, soaking wet and breathless from the adrenaline rush and the physical effort. The word "Lancer" is written in white across the top of his helmet.
"What the fuck did you idiots hope to accomplish out there?" he asks you.
"We're looking for someone," you reply.
"Seems like he's pretty fuckin' important, then."

>"We need to see your CO."
>"You seen a Levern Kendrick around?"
>Other

>>33282513
>>"We need to see your CO."
>>"You seen a Levern Kendrick around?"

>>33282513
>http://pastebin.com/dcTmEV8t
I think you forgot to type in the spartan's rank

>>33282513
>"We need to see your CO."
>"You seen a Levern Kendrick around?"

>>33282513
>"You seen a Levern Kendrick around?"
Let's finish up here and find the other guy, maybe find a ride.

>>33282582
this

Rolled 9

>>33282582
Thirding...

Where arte thou OP

"We need to see your CO," you tell "Lancer".
"A Spartan, an ODST, a pilot and a couple of marines. This already stinks of spooky shit. Yeah, I'll take you to him."
"Thanks," you say to him.
He begins to lead you around to the city side of the island, past marines with all kinds of heavy weapons and defenses.
"What's this about, anyway?" Lancer asks.
"You heard of a Lance Corporal Levern Kendrick?" asks Jacobson.
"Oh shit," says the ODST.
"What? You know him? What happened to him?"
"That's me," says Lancer, with a tone of resignation.

"Yo, Captain!"
The ODST captain turns to face you Kendrick. "Lancer! What's my favourite Lance Corporal need?"
"Captain you say that about all the Lance Corporals."
"Yeah, but with you, I mean it." He notices you and the others. "A Spartan? To what do I owe the honour?"
"Yeah, Cap, these guys say they've been lookin' for me."
"Oh," says the Captain, and then recognition seems to dawn on him. "Oh! I know what this is about. ACRE team, right?"
"That's right, we're ACRE," says Matilda. "We're here to pick up one of our assigned squad members, Lance Corporal Levern Kendrick."
"And why should I let you?" asks the Captain.

1/2

"I'm... sorry?" Matilda says, bewildered.
"Why should I give up one of my best heavy weapons operators, leaving my company at depleted ability to fight?
"We have direct orders from a Rear Admiral-"
"To take him on a rescue mission? When he can be of much more use here, at the front? This space tether is a vital part of the New Alexandria evacuation effort, and I'm not going to leave myself defenseless-"
"Defenceless?" Penny interrupts. "I see a hundred ODSTs here all hefting some sort of launcher. You're saying that you'll be defenseless if we take one guy?"
The captain lowers his voice to icy levels. "Quantity does not make for quality. This man, Lancer. He's called that because he wields his laser like some sort of Lance from God. He once shot down three banshees with a single shot."
"Come on, Cap, I got lucky," Kendrick says, rubbing his head.
"If that's 'luck', you sure do have a lot of it. Our infantry company resisted the full brunt of a Covenant ghost cavalry charge, and guess who got sixty percent of the kills? You, Levern. I'm not going to see such talent wasted."

"So that's it then? You're going to straight up refuse?" Matilda asks.
"The mission you want to go on is a load of shit anyway," says the Captain. "Take a bunch of very good soldiers and fly them far behind enemy lines? To do what? Recon and rescue? It's a waste of soldiers and a waste of a Spartan. I'm sure the ONI spooks could send some of their own spies instead of taking good, needed troops off the line on a fucking search for unicorns."

>"We have our orders, Captain, and we're going to follow them. Do you really want to go up against a Rear Admiral of ONI?"
>"This isn't worth our time. We have other people to find, so let's go find them."
>Other

>>33284005
Sorry for the wait! Long post.

>>33284077
>"We have our orders, Captain, and we're going to follow them. Do you really want to go up against a Rear Admiral of ONI?"

What's the bet that shadowruns are going on here.

>>33284077
>>"We have our orders, Captain, and we're going to follow them. Do you really want to go up against a Rear Admiral of ONI?"

>>33284077
>>"We have our orders, Captain, and we're going to follow them. Do you really want to go up against a Rear Admiral of ONI?"

>>33284077
>>"We have our orders, Captain, and we're going to follow them. Do you really want to go up against a Rear Admiral of ONI?"

>>33284077
>Other
He can keep the laser, but not the trooper.
>>33284102
No problem F_F, considering the size of the post.

"We have our orders, Captain, and we're going to follow them," you say, looking the Captain right in the eye. "Do you really want to go up against a Rear Admiral?"
"Depends on whether the Rear Admiral values his place in the Navy," the Captain replies.
There's a pregnant pause.
"This is bollocks!" shouts Matilda. "You, Lancer, you got any objections to coming with us?"
"Uh, yeah I do actually-"
"I'll drag you kicking and screaming."
The Lance Corporal raises his palms. "Alright, alright."

"You can't do this," says the Captain.
"Why, I do believe I can, Captain... Rowland," Matilda replies.
"Troops! Arrest these soldiers!" Some of the nearby ODSTs look on in confusion, and a few begin to approach.
"Un-uh-uh" tuts Matilda. "Anyone who tries anything on me or my squad is gonna be in a world of hurt."
"This Spartan is a rogue-"
"I could kill this entire company in my sleep." She steps right up into the Captain's face, and stands there, faceplate to faceplate. In a whisper, she says "And I've done exactly that before. Don't be next, Rowland."

"Lancer!"
"Ma'am!" Lancer stands up straighter.
"You're coming with us, trooper, on a grand ol' adventure. Get your shit ready to move."
"Yes Ma'am!"
"Don't call me ma'am either."
Kendrick rushes off to get his gear, leaving your group and Captain Rowland standing around with the ODST company watching on.
"This isn't the last you've seen of me," says Rowland.
"I hope not," says Matilda. "It's been a while since something so interesting has happened."
Kendrick comes back, laser hefted along with a pack full of gear. "Ready to go."
"Alright, we're leaving."

1/2

>>33284835
You and the rest of the group move off along the road bridge linking the space tether to the mainland. The ODSTs silently watch you go.
"That was pretty fuckin' intense," Erika says. "What's that guy's deal, anyway? Fucking trying to bullshit to us."
"Guy had a real big stick up his ass," Penny says. "We're ONI now, though, which means we can get away with a little bit of that. Oh, by the way," Penny turns to your new addition. "Welcome to Acre team, Kendrick. Lieutenant Penny MacDaniel, Pilot."
"PFC Erika Lund. Uhh, FNG I guess."
"Sergeant Maverick Jacobson. Also new to this ONI bullshit."
"Corporal Daniel Churchill," you say. "Welcome to the team."
"Chief Petty Officer Sierra G303 Matilda, but just call me Matilda or Spartan."

"Well it's nice to fuckin' meet you all," Kendrick replies. "Lance Corporal Levern 'Lancer' Kendrick. I prefer Lancer, to be honest. You already know why I got the nickname."
"Welcome to the team."
"Thanks to be fuckin' part of it. That was some real bullshit back there, hey? I have to apologise for the Captain, he usually ain't like that."
You brief Kendrick on Acre's goals, equipment, arrangements, and everything. He catches on quickly, and warms up to the idea soon after.
"To be honest, this sounds a lot better than fighting and dying here on Reach. Sounds like it could make a real difference."

Matilda looks up from her wrist pad. "Not really good news, not really bad news. Our guy Kipling has moved away from the spaceport, to a triage centre at Traxus tower on the other side of the city. We could walk it, but that'll take us until sun-down, and we might not have that much time. How do you guys want to go about this?"

>Find air transport
>Find ground transport

>>33285048
>>Find ground transport
*somewhat* less conspicuous

>>33285048
>>Find air transport

>>33285048
>>Find air transport
Also, I believe Spartans are identified by name then number, i.e. John-117. So Matilda would be Matilda-G303.

>>33285048
Ground transport should be easier, I mean, someone ought to know how to hotwire a car...
>>33285084
>less conspicuous
Will that really matter in a warzone, the covies are gonna shoot anything that isn't an alien or making some variant of "Wort Wort Wort"

>>33285048
>Find air transport
Hijacking a phantom shouldn't be out of the purview of a spartan, right?

>>33285048
>>Find ground transport
won't hurt as bad when it inevitably gets blown up by banshee's

>>33285093
there is no protocol to a spartans name, they use both and its usually dependant on the spartan themselves, for example, Black Team, the only refer to each other by their team names, others only refer to their spartan designation numbers, others their actual names

>>33285048
I'd prefer Air transport, so we don't drive face first into 20 brutes and a scarab.

>>33285174
Better than finding a pelican only to be hunted down by a pair of corvettes and a hoard of banshees.

>>33285232
>>33285174
Well if we're gonna get into some shit regardless we might as well get into some shit faster.

>>33285266
Ground transport is easier to find.

Well this is the first time we've had a tie which wasn't because nobody was voting. You guys want to discuss it more or should I get the die out?

>>33285364
Any further discussion on my part would be samefagging. I have no further opinions.

>>33285364
Looks like air has four votes and ground has three.

>>33285364
No just take a car. It's easier to write and find

>>33285386
Same by my count. Air it is.

Taking a short break for snacks and drink.

>>33285546
Back and writing

>>33285048
Ground

"I think we should find some air transport," you say. "We're going to need a pelican at the end of the day anyway, so we may as well find one now."
"I agree," says Matilda. "Problem being, where do we find one? My VISR doesn't have satellite uplink, so I'm not getting live updates."
"Uh, I might know where we can find some," says Kendrick. "10th Battalion and the 30th Transport Group have been storing all their air transport at the Commonwealth Centre VTOL Hangar. We've got hornets, pelicans, falcons, you name it. If it takes off vertically then it'll be there."
"Then we're going to the Commonwealth Centre," says Matilda. "Penny, you know how to fly a falcon?"
"You've forgotten who you're talking to. I could fly a god damn phantom."
"Right, I did forget."
"10th Battalion ain't gonna be so friendly, after that stunt you pulled with Rowland back there," Lancer says. "Doubt they'll be too happy with us taking on of their transports."
"Then we can just steal one," says Matilda. "We're ONI, we don't need to listen to their shit."
"No need to get so drastic," says Penny. "I think I know some guys in the 30th Transport Group. I can probably talk them out of a pelican, or at least a falcon."

>Agree with Matilda
>Agree with Penny

>>33286211
>>Agree with Penny

>>33286211
>Agree with Penny.
arguing is a waist of time

>>33286211
>>Agree with Penny

We can steal them if they refuse. Or steal a phantom.

>>33286211
>>Agree with Penny
We may be ONI, but that doesn't give us a free "be a cunt" card. Besides, it's not stealing, its commandeering for a secret ONI black ops mission which is also a great waste of resources.

>>33286278
this

>>33286278
Tuning forks are better.

"Let's not go around stirring up trouble. We should see if we can just ask for a pelican."
"And if they say no?" Matilda asks.
"/Then/ we can steal it. Sounds fair?"
"No problem with me," says Penny. "Some of us can get real attached to our birds, though."
"Alright, well let's start moving then," says Jacobson. "No use standing around burning daylight."
Matilda finds the location of the Commonwealth Centre on her wrist computer, and points you in the right direction. The six of you move off in the direction she points out.

"What's with the 'Squidslayer'?" Kendrick asks you.
"You mean what's written on the side of my rifle?" you reply.
"Yeah, that. And 'Property of Jeff'?"
"I found this thing at a training outpost south of here. Everyone there was dead, and it looked like someone took very good care of this gun. Wouldn't want to leave it there to rust."
"Neat. Looks like one of the new ones, too."
"New ones?"
"Yeah, they made a new version of the BR55, the... fuckin', it's got a lot more letters than it used to. It's like, a BR55 SR or something. Better recoil control, higher power ammunition. Apparently good at penetrating shields, too. You've got yourself a powerful weapon there."
"Same to you," you reply, admiring his laser.
"Aw, she ain't nothin'. Just really good piece of human engineering."

It's only a couple of blocks to the Commonwealth Centre. The sounds of battle could still be heard, but apparently this part of the city was free of Covenant incursion. A pair of guards are posted at the doors to the Commonwealth Centre, but at the sight of the Spartan they let you pass. It's a short ride up the elevator to the top floor, which was roughly level with the rest of the skyline of New Alexandria. Above the northern quarter of the city you could see the corvette looming.
"We can get past that, right?" Erika asks.
Penny replies, "Sure, as long as we stay below the rooftop levels of these buildings, it shouldn't bother us."

1/2

You find your way to the hangar. Commonwealth was a manufacturer of civilian VTOL aircraft, so it made sense that their headquarters on Reach had several floors devoted to storing VTOL aircraft.

A pilot in his pilot gear, sans helmet, stops you as you try to walk into the hangar. "Who are you, and where do you think you're going?"

> Direct Approach ("We're on an ONI black ops mission, we need transport." etc.)
> Neutral Approach ("We're going to go get a pelican." etc.)
> Subtle Approach ("We're looking for people in the 30th Transport Group." etc.)

>>33286870
>> Subtle Approach ("We're looking for people in the 30th Transport Group." etc.)

>>33286870
>> Subtle Approach ("We're looking for people in the 30th Transport Group." etc.)
We have a Spartan.

"We're looking for some members of the 30th Transport Group."
"Yeah, who?"
"Uh, Penny?" you ask, turning towards her.
"Lieutenants Amando Gibson and Ella Ayton. Either is fine."
"Well I'm sorry to say Ella Ayton went down on Sigma Octanus IV. Didn't survive."
"Did she really? Shit, I went to flight school with her."
"Sorry to hear that. What was your name again?"
"Lieutenant Penny MacDaniel."
"Yeah, I've heard of you, Penny. I'll go get Amando then, you can sort out your business with him."
"Thanks a bunch."
The pilot walks off, calling out to his compatriots.
"This doesn't seem to be going so bad," says Erika.
"We'll see," says Matilda, nodding towards another pilot who was walking your way with a scowl. "This'll be interesting."

- - - - - -

Bit of a shitty end, I know, but it's getting late and I'm running out of steam. Dunno if I can do a thread on the weekend, going to DnD, but keep an eye on my twitter anyway.

Now, I'm off to have a nap. Pertinent links are in the OP.

>>33287129
So, the thread's over?

>>33287150
>Bit of a shitty end, I know, but it's getting late and I'm running out of steam.
Gee...