[h1][center]I couldn’t Think of a Title vol. 1[/center][/h1]


Yanagita Shunji knew that defending the hostage was going to difficult since the room didn’t often them much protection from the attacking team. He looked at the hostage and spoke in a strict tone, “We need to move our ‘hostage’ to the room that’s closest to the stairs. If things get too heated, then we can drag her up to the second floor and hold out. Until then, we need to find things to barricade the room and possibly the hallway.” 

“Any questions or suggestions of their own?” he asked while checking on his omni-tool, making sure that the thing was working. Shunji’s helmet was on a box that was next to him.

“I think it'd be best to move the ‘hostage’ to the second floor from the get go.” Spoke Khosin in response to Yanagita’s suggestion “That way we’d have more time of reaction when the assault teams enters. Furthermore, if we base ourselves on the second floor from the get go we can use the stairs as a place where we could easily dispatch quite a few of them if we are smart about what we are doing.” Spoke the Batarian.

“Hmmmm, it'd also be beneficial to put someone as a sentry. Is there anyone in this group that has a tactical cloak?” He asked to the team in general, turning to look at the rest of the defense group “If there is someone with a cloak, we could place them in the first floor to watch for the advance of the assault team.” He added, thinking of the best way to monitor the assault teams entrance.

Ryria silently had moved toward the collection of others, but held herself slight apart and in the background. She was still adjusting to the fact she had to literally shake off her rusty teamwork skills once again. Her eyes darted through the tinted visor to each speaker, absorbing their tactics. Without a full idea of their defensive position, things would go from bad worst predictably fast as their attackers could easily find gaps fitting their strengths. Like animals on the hunt. 

[color=#A5F2F3]“Not me. My skills are field medic, hostile environment survival and protection, fine biotics practice and sniper sharp shooting. The medic part useless for this exercise,”[/color] Ryria shared as she crossed her arms over her middle. She took a moment to casually glance over the terrain to see if she could spot some nearby rock formation within the training grounds, something ideal for a sniper control outside the would be hot zone.

[color=#A5F2F3]“The first thing should've been a quick rundown of skills. The more we know of each other’s abilities and the layout of the defense position, better chance we have to limit easy access points and use our strengths to cover each other's weaknesses. Especially since they will be optimizing theirs to the fullest.”[/color] 

[color=FFDEAD]"Defense isn't something we Angara particularly specialize in."[/color] Anjor answered Ryria with something of a shrug, [color=FFDEAD]"We do more of what you call "Hit-and-Run" yes? Only way to keep Kett on defensive and away from our homes. So my skills follow those ideals: mid to close-quarter combat, explosives, and taking down targets quick before reinforcements come."[/color]

[color=FFDEAD]"Though.... we often set up explosives around the perimeter of our camps. An extra blanket of security when we rest."[/color] Anjor explained as he brought out the non-lethal charges which he had pulled from the armory. [color=FFDEAD]"I and those with experience in explosives could set these up at major entrances and choke points. So we know where they are coming in from, even if some are using tactical cloaks."[/color] He offered with a smile.

Clyff placed his hands behind his back when he was told to be dismissed. Really, they weren’t going by rank? Well, why the hell did he earn it? He didn’t say anything, but his brows lowered. After that they [i]jogged[/i]to a testing ground. He hated it as he was out of breath. He quickly regained it as they were divided into teams.
 
[color=#B77600] “In all honestly, most of my experience is breaching [i]into[/i] these situations. So, I can give you pointers for shit I fucked up on. We need to ruin as many doors as we can to present a chokehold. We need to place proximity mines on the ceiling, because no one ever checks those. Someone needs to be with the hostage at all time, using them as a meat shield. If we were given proper supplies I would say would should collapse certain areas. Otherwise just trash them up and make them look non-breach-able.”[/color] He sighed. [color=#B77600]“I’m Clyff Ward from Alliance Military and my specialty is breaching and riot suppression. Also, a lot of my abilities,”[/color] he shook his basically plastic gun, [color=#B77600]“are taken away because we’re playing with goddamn Play-Doh.”[/color]
 
[color=#B77600]”Another good idea is creating an [i]obvious[/i] choke hold, but giving our enemies a way out, and having someone there to pick them off on that way out.”[/color] He sighed. [color=#B77600]”And not given an obvious extraction point, I’m sure we need to move our hostage up. Make sure that all windows are blacked out or are too dark to see.”[/color]

Firuzeh nodded, “Same here. Almost all of my experience is on the offensive, and I don’t have fond memories of the few defensive ones. I’m not certain how we want me deployed here.” She carried both a shotgun and an assault rifle, having forgone a pistol in favor of more firepower - she was limited in the application of her own abilities, and thus she needed to compensate in some way. Seizing onto Clyff’s suggestion, “If we want someone on ambush duty, I volunteer myself. That, or we draw them in, create a ‘safe’ corridor with fewer explosives, and have myself and you, Clyff, waiting in the wings to hit them from behind.” She surveyed the group again, “Not many of us are really suited to defense, so I say the best way to go about it is take the fight back to them, instead of attempting to perform a role in which we would underperform.”

Ryria fell silent as the team followed her suggestion, each member began to list their skills and unfortunately bitter complaints. Her frown was hidden under her helmet when she heard the suggestion of taking the fight to the assault team. She had a sharp reply to it but bit her tongue over it. Instead, she moved to relay her observations.

[color=#A5F2F3] “From what I could tell, there are three likely entrances to the ‘killhouse’ grounds. The north, the south, and the west side. This isn't counting the entrances to the upper level which is only two, I assume. Likely an interior and the seen exterior set of stairs I noted while we were grouping up.”[/color] 

Her words were crisp and precise, likely holding back her dislike over Firu’s earlier suggestion. Only pieces of a plan had been put out and not a whole one. With everyone seeming to feel outside of their element, she had a choice. She could step in or let things go as they will. In a training exercise, winning didn't matter to her but improvisation all the way wouldn't be considered teamwork… would it? 

Resigned to what she was about to do, the asari braced herself to begin what might be a lengthy monologue. She had drawn closer by now when her words showed slight strain in the effort. 

[color=#A5F2F3] “The obvious answer is set the defenses to suit the strengths. Traps and controlling where they go is ideal, but also don't forget they will be trying to neutralize our efforts. We have the home area advantage to set up as we chose.”[/color] 

She inhaled then continued.

[color=#A5F2F3] “The main issue is ensuring they use the route or routes we set up for them rather than having them find other, safer paths. We can also use the hostage as bait, with two ways to move her up and down between the two levels. A constantly moving hostage is more difficult to rescue than a stationary one. It might force them to split into more manageable teams.”[/color] 

She then moved toward each role, feeling slightly more in her element for the moment. The asari’s eyes snapped toward Clyff and Anjor. 

[color=#A5F2F3] “Eliminating it down to one or two entrances works, but will it be secure enough to keep them out and without taking up too much time? Explosives in the perimeter and ceiling are good, it also would help us track their progress when they go off. It will delay them if they try to disarm any.”[/color]

Ryria then adjusted from one leg to the other to prevent numbness, her eyes passed between the two, [color=#A5F2F3]Is there any way either of you can monitor your bombs’ status, indicating if they have been tampered with, set off silently, or even remotely set off any single one at any time?[/color]

The Angara chuckled, [color=FFDEAD]"It's always the little ones that are the most like the eirochs."[/color]

He ran his omni-tool over the charges. A solitary beep sounding off as it brought up their schematics. Anjor clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth as he looked them over. Brow furrowed before he finally nodded his head. Another gesture and the schematics vanished, [color=FFDEAD] "We can rig the transceivers to our omni-tools. They'll read out constant information back to our helmet feeds. Only problem is if somebody gets access to them, they have control over the entire grid."[/color]

[color=#A5F2F3] “Is there any way to prevent that? Something you two can work out quickly before the assault team gets here?”[/color] Ryria asked, not really liking the idea of the grid being compromised. 

[color=FFDEAD]”...Don’t let them hack your omni-tool?”[/color] Anjor replied bluntly. 

[color=FFDEAD]"How long we can delay them,"[/color] Anjor pondered. [Color=FFDEAD]"I do not know the standard breaching procedures of your peoples."[/color] He gestured towards Clyff, [Color=FFDEAD]"He'll be able to give you a better estimate."[/color]

[color=#A5F2F3] “That’s why I suggested you two work together. He can cover what information you don’t have as you set things up.”[/color] 

After she received the answers she wanted, she moved onto the next statement. 

[color=#A5F2F3] “You two could also place new explosives to both slow and put the assault team on edge as we go along, wherever possible.”[/color] 

She focused on Anjor more directly with her next statement,[color=#A5F2F3] “Since you prefer the hit and run tactics, I suggest split focus between the explosion setup and providing some complications for their attempts. If you feel it’s doable.”[/color]  

[color=FFDEAD]"It's doable."[/color] Anjor answered with a nod. [color=FFDEAD]"I'll have to provide fire from a distance though. If I get too close, I could get pinned, and if that happens we will start to have holes in our net."[/color]

Ryria then turned to Firu, looking the woman over briefly with a firm look. 

[color=#A5F2F3] “Since you’re confident in your offense, I suggest you're our wall between them and the hostage. Every time they get too close or we need to move her, your task is to either take out a threat or buy time respectively. Then retreat when or if you can in order to repeat the process.”[/color]  

Finished with the woman, she turned to Khosin and Yanagita with a side note. 

[color=#A5F2F3] “Someone will need to keep the hostage in control, determine when to move her and help coordinate our efforts in the heat of the moment. The other should be supporting the ‘wall’ to prevent her from being overwhelmed and ensure if they cut off the exit, there's a new one ready to use.”[/color] 

Now all that was left was her own position in all this as she began to wrap up the proposed plan. She still wasn’t sure they would accept it for a sound one but it at least it highlighted what they each did best and better than half-assing it.   

[color=#A5F2F3] “I’m the last one left and I do have some necessary sniper skills. I’ll set up on the roof in the start and try to direct them to where we want them to go. When they make it inside, I’ll pull back to help with those in charge with the hostage or drawing fire.”[/color] 

In a closing statement, she stepped back then added,[color=#A5F2F3] “It’s at least one plan option. I’m certain there are additional things to cover or adjust accordingly, but I do know no plan ever runs smoothly. Adaptation is an essential thing to keep in mind throughout this all.”[/color] 

Clyff nodded. The asari knew her business. Then again, those warrior ladies had been alive longer than most of his ancestors. He looked over to the angaran. It was an odd feeling working alongside someone so different and yet with traces of familiarity etched in their eyes and mouths. They’d also known war unwinnable. It was good that he was on their team.

[color=#B77600]“That is a worry,”[/color] he said, realizing that he needed to clarify, [color=#B77600]“ “that they could get into our network. If all else fails, a solid disconnect could work. We could track by sound. Above and below are easy, and I’ve heard enough explosions in my lifetime to gauge a good distance. Torfan taught me that. As long as we don’t cluster ‘em, we should be good.”[/color] He realized belatedly that the batarian was amongst him. He didn’t harbor any grudges. Sure, he might try to fight the guy if he got drunk, but right now was business. [color=#B77600]“Also, I wonder if we have time to tamper with the proximity. Make it a bit overlong. Have it explode behind them. Make them shit their britches. The stink of ass is a sure give away.”[/color] He chuckled at his own joke, realizing that others might find it so amusing. [color=#B77600]“I can work on getting at least one of those rigged. Delicate process, and as my mother used to say ‘you make squids flopping around a piano look like Mozart.’ I’m not fast—is what I’m trying to say.”[/color]

He turned his attention to Anjor. [color=#B77600]“I’m good in a close pinch. We could have each other’s backs there, Blue.”[/color] He winked. [color=#B77600]“All in all sounds like a solid plan. Collapse an entrance, bottle them in, and set explosions to rattle them and let us know where they are. Keep the hostage moving. Just got to worry about picking ‘em off.”[/color]


Khosin stayed silent as Ryria explained her plan, nodding his agreement alongside Clyfford. He let the human speak his mind, electing to not make a comment about the fact that he had been part of the Torfan massacre to avoid making the situation awkward, before he spoke his mind. “I'll support Firu if that's ok, I have tech armor which should help me soaks more bullets before my shields go down than the rest of you.” He said, thinking for a second “I also have a drone which should help us a bit. It's no game changer, that's for sure, but it can serve as a small force multiplier, even if only slightly.” Said the Batarian, bringing up his omni-tool interface and setting the drone to non-lethal mode “There, all done, the drone is set to its non-lethal mode, so I'm good to go.” Finished speaking Khosin.

“Anyone else got anything to add? Firu? Yanagita?” He asked after a few moments of silence “Otherwise I'd say we are pretty much good to go, like Clyff said the plan seems solid and I'd say it plays up to our strengths so it's the best choice for us.” 

Shunji grabbed his helmet and put it on. After a bit of adjustment, he responded to Clyff’s question. “I am all good. I could also use my flamethrower to cause the enemy to hide in terror. And before you say anything, I am not going to burn them.”

“On purpose.” he snickered the last sentence.

Firuzeh’s stomach rumbled, and she sighed, “I confess, nothing else comes to mind. Though I do have some objections to the idea of intentionally destroying parts of the building. That seems a little excessive, and I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not spend two weeks peeling potatoes and clearing the rubble just because someone got overzealous with the explosives.” She frowned, “Otherwise, it sounds solid enough. Try and pin them in and turn our disadvantage back into an advantage.” 

Khosin nodded at Firu and Yanagita’s words “Alright, then it's settled.” Said the Batarian, turns to look at the rest of the team “Firu made a good point with what she said about destroying the building, so let's try to see if we can block off parts of it without resorting to demolition work unless it's our last recourse. Otherwise, let's get to work gents.” Spoke Khosin, grabbing his helmet and putting it on before he headed inside of the prefab building to start with the preparations they had agreed to.