FourtyTwo

Military RPs- a Cause for Debate

The problem is, it's still too detailed, and it's a Nation RP. I mean, it is a good idea- I'll check it out, but it isn't in the realms of Casual, more on a squad-based level. It's on a tactical, widespread level, too high up and really, it doesn't portray the real grit of the infantryman, rather that or generals. It'd be interesting, so to speak, but it a craving of war within a nation RP, not just solely the former. It is worth a proposition though- I don't blame you, but I, or the Guild will one day truly figure out how to get military RPs back to their status.

Military RPs- a Cause for Debate

http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/62012/posts/ooc

I hate advertising. But this is a schematic for a new military RP I'm making, named "The Devil's Brigade" (actually the nickname for a joint US-Canadian force in WW2, but adapted for modern times). Call it a Product Improvement- I'm glad I managed to get some feedback here, since it's helped me to determine a lot of stuff. Precisely why they aren't popular, why they don't work as well as they can, and in all, what people want. Trying to find that regularly is hard- so this is an RP that has been created from a lot of those ideas, to make something that could work as a unique RP in it's own right, while having a lot of nice features.

Devil's Brigade (Modern Military RP)

Hello there, and as I begin writing this, I must say- this isn't a die-hard RP with stats, figures and ridiculous levels of detail (I just like fleshing this out quite a lot for the universe's sake). It's not an arcadey and Call-of-Duty esque RP. It's between. If that interests you, read on.

Sit Rep

Afghanistan, April 2011

Stationed in Camp Spear, roughly fifty miles north of Kandahar City, Afghanistan, lays the composite forces of two battalions- the Canadian 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, and the US 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment- very different in their creation, and...well, disagreeing on certain matters, yet friendly enough. They form what is unofficially known as the "Devil's Brigade"- a harkening back to the days of WW2, when Canadian and US forces fought side by side in the US. Army's First Special Service Force- as a grouping comparable to the Rangers of the time. While their operations today are very different, that is where the similarity ends- the men and women of the "Brigade" forming a formidable anvil indeed against enemy forces, with both new recruits and veterans aware of the threats they face.

The troop surge by the US seen a year before has seen a wide ripple of effects turn Kandahar Province from a resurgent area of the country, with patrols getting hairy on more than one occasion, despite multiple IED factories and weapons caches being destroyed. It doesn't stand for much it seems- because it hasn't put the Taliban off, and an above-average harvest of Opium has bought them more than enough resources to pool into local recruitment process, buying AKs, explosive materials and other equipment required to fight a guerrilla war- and fight it well. Canadian and US Marines forces are becoming slowly withered, and are being pushed from the areas they had liberated weeks earlier, in the troop surge. They are seeing the Taliban risk attacking Camp Spear, a relatively isolated fortification compared to Camp Bastion and other significant outposts in the area.

So the unexpected is counted on. The Canadians and US Marines at Camp Spear are rallied to join the operation to take the Maz-i-Afar Valley, in the southern Hindu Kush, to the north of the province. The mission is known as Operation Talon's Claw, the purge that despite reduced troop numbers, and capability, proves itself to be the one timed when the Taliban least wanted it, and yet the one that proves Afghanistan's merciless brutality once more. The last operation, before they leave- the last purge to at least make the situation clearer to the Taliban that the ANA and ISAF forces can indeed push and hold their ground when asked. Yet for the next two weeks, the soldiers are to be pushed into a fight that will suddenly become one of the most ferocious conflicts of recent times in Afghanistan, with the soldiers of both battalions pushed far beyond what is asked of them.

Our story focuses on Charlie Squad, 1st Platoon, 3rd Battalion (Canada). However, due to an organizational shift, they have been pitched in their platoon as half-American, half-Canadian, as a troop exchange between the two battalions, that has been seen to be quite successful. As tactics and equipment is fairly similar between the two units, this non-standard pairing has been seen to work, and hence, the squad is half filled with Canadians, and the other half with Americans. They've been working in the area with a Canadian Provsional Reconstruction Team (PRT), so this is a big jump up for them- rather than protecting Engineers, they're on the vanguard of the offensive.

---

3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment- Light Infantry

-By Standard, armed with a Colt C7A2 Rifle, or Colt C8A1 Carbine. Automatic Riflemen use the C9 LMG (FN Minimi) OR the C6 GPMG (FN MAG), and Marksmen either use the C14 Timberwolf, or Parker-Hale M82. Grenadiers add a M203 GL to their rifles/carbines. Usually use C79 Combat Optics, or soldiers privately buy EOTech Holographic Weapon Sights, or Aimpoint Red Dot Sights. The Carl Gustav M3 is used by the Anti-Tank/Anti-Fortification man. The Pointman of the team will use a rifle/carbine, and a shotgun- namely the 870 Tactical.
-They wear CADPAT Arid Fatigues.
-As light infantry, they use lighter vehicles. Normally, they used G-Wagens for rapid transport, but increased IED threats have restricted the use of this to mere corresponding work. They use the LAV III, the older AVGP vehicle, the recently acquired Cougar for patrol and assault work, with support from Canadian Chinooks and the US Marines' gunship support.
-By standard, tend to be busy being Canadian. Couldn't research that one.


US 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment- Marine Infantry
-By Standard, armed with either the M4 Carbine, the M4A1 Carbine, or the M16A4 Rifle. Automatic Rifleman is usually armed with the M27 IAR (Very Recent), M249 LMG, or M240B GPMG. Marksman is usually armed with M39 EBR, or Mk11 Marksman Rifle. Grenadier adds an M203 to their rifle/carbine- with soldiers issued by standard a M68 Collminator Sight, or Aimpoint CompM2. Alternatively, a Trijicon ACOG, or in specialist circumstances, a EOTech Holographic Weapon Sight can be acquired. The SMAW is used as an Anti-Fortfication/Anti-Vehicle weapon- and the Pointman uses either the 870MCS, or the M1014 JSRS shotgun alongside a rifle.
-Wear MARPAT Desert Fatigues
-As a US Marine unit, they can rely on significant USMC firepower. They use Cougars and HMMWV M1151 Vehicles for patrol, while using AAV-7A1 and LAV-25 vehicles for heavier assaults, among others- with the unit being able to call on UH-1Y Venom and Sea Knight transport. AH-1 SuperCobras also stand on support, for any CAS or gun requests.
-OORAH, MAFUCKERS

---

Squad Roles:

Fireteam One:

Squad Leader/Grenadier (Canada): Staff Sergeant James "Chaplain" Bishop
Pointman (Either)
Automatic Rifleman (Canada):
Designated Marksman (Note- NOT a Sniper) (Either)

Fireteam Two:

2IC/Joint Terminal Attack Controller (US):
Corpsman/Medic (Either):
Anti-Tank Rifleman (Either)
Automatic Rifleman (US)

---

CS (Example, mine is to be completed)

Name: James "Chaplain" Bishop
Age: 32
Rank: (Most are likely to be Private/Corporal/Master Corporal, no higher unless 2IC) Staff Sergeant
Appearance James
James stands at about 6"1, being a fairly well rounded man, being seen wearing the standard Canadian BDU in Afghanistan, up to 2011 standards. He usually wears a pair of red Oakley sunglasses, over the yellow tint ballistic goggles, for personal reasons, as well as a pair of Oakley SI tactical gloves, bought personally. He has brown eyes and a dark brown hair, though it is shaved very short, as well as a clean shaven face. He has a particular scar on his left arm, that goes from the wrist to the forearm, from a prior training injury.

Weaponry:
Colt C8A1
-EOTech 552 Holographic Weapon Sight, 3X Magnifier (Privately Bought)
-M203 Grenade Launcher

KA-BAR Becker BK3 Knife
-Cuts through straps, lines and necks (when in extreme CQC).

Equipment:
CADPAT Arid BDU (Helmet, Plate Carrier, Uniform)
10x 5.56 STANAG Magazines (8 Regular, 2 Tracer)
15x 40mm HE Grenades
2x White Smoke
1x Blue Smoke
1x Red Smoke
1x Green Smoke
3x Chem Lights (Blue, Red, Green)
Radio Headset
1L Camelpak (CADPAT Camo)
-Petzl Headtorch
-Night Vision Goggles

Bio: Born in Whitehorse, Yukon Terriotory, James was born to a lumberjack and a schoolteacher, his father and mother respectively. He was a youthful delinquent, in the boring town, but found his place when he left High School for University, in Vancouver, British Columbia. He quit in his first year, disliking the study he undertook, instead taking an alternative route in the Canadian Army. He was involved in the Invasion of Iraq with the 3rd Battalion, rising to the rank of Corporal, and finding his own niche, a tough lifestyle he had taken forwards since he was young. He had always been active and curious about staying in the outdoors, who took him out into the Boreal Forests, and the military felt like it was a perfect way to see a world beyond his cold and wooded home. While Iraq was completely the opposite, another tour later in 2008, the last in Iraq, put him in good stead to become a Sergeant. In 2010, he was deployed to Afghanistan with the Battalion, and ranked up to Staff Sergeant, gaining his own Squad- Charlie, of which was not yet entirely filled with forces. So as a part of a combined-troop sharing deal, James took a set of US Marines from the 5th Marine Battalion into his squad, as some other squads did- recreating the classic "Devil's Brigade" structure of mixed Canadian and American forces in one fighting unit. He visits home sometimes, and seems to have quite a strong Canadian accent, not being a city boy at all. His nickname, "Chaplain", comes from two sources- his Surname being semi-related to the nickhame, as well as the fact that he tends to be rather guiding to new soldiers, and acts as the Squad's Chaplain of sorts, in matters involving anything that troubles them, from moral support to general moaning.

Personality (Optional): James is fairly well-tempered, calm and speaks decisively when required. He is a trustworthy individual, someone to confide into and even in a world where men are men, James is prepared to listen and hear out any of his fellow soldiers concern, earning him his nickname for giving advice and moral support in the worst of times, from girlfriends to personal problems. He can sometimes perhaps act recklessly on the rare occasion, but doesn't threaten the lives of his own men- usually more himself than anyone. This isn't to say he is the most courageous solider alive- but perhaps moreover, a lucky one. He does have a good intelligence of the situation around him, and his fondness for being outside, as well as his active condition, means he doesn't mind staying in the dirt for long periods of time.

---

Following from a discussion on the Roleplaying Discussion guild, I felt it was time to try something modern, but taking on board a lot of different opinions. I'm always willing to create- and since I found some spare time, I'd be up for creating something afresh. Taking plenty of ideas from previous RPs and crafting something rather interesting. If you have no idea of some of those guns, Google is your friend. And if that doesn't help you, ask me, or a Co-GM, if you want to clarify. Better that than having no idea what is going on and being confident that your character is on a firm basis of ground.

I'd like a strong Co-GM to help me direct everything from the direction of the RP, plot lines, general management and most of all, as a shoulder to kinda keep the RP going- though I would like someone who is prepared to be dedicated here and there.

A word of caution- I would like to see this RP grow and stay at it's pace, and while this is just an interest check, I'd really like people who are willing to get their teeth in, or try at least. If you find that you really want to join, but don't get, or don't understand something, or don't even like something, let me know. This is a collaborative effort.

Military RPs- a Cause for Debate

Hmm..well, I'm making something, that I want to test as an experiment. I will post it up into here soon- but remember that Canadian/American idea I had floating? I have something that satisfies the most vengeful of nerds, and the most unknowing. It is an RP I will need help with- and one that I feel will need a lot of active co-operation to get running. Lots of mouldability, and while I like being an encyclopedia sometimes, I know others don't like researching- so all the shit that is needed is self-contained in the RP, and no more. It's Afghanistan, though a fictional operation, and to say the least, I want to see how it goes- and weapons wise, I've made it quite simple. A CO-GM would be great to help me out in really getting it moving- I would take anyone and anyone that has any idea how they work, and the level that the RP will be pitched at, once you see it.

Military RPs- a Cause for Debate

SyrianHamster said
I like military RPs, but I'm not in the military, and therefore I get easily gobbled up by people who are. OR, I get gobbled up by people who aren't but love to read all about it. I think what makes them unattractive is, they are a very niche market. From what I've seen here, they require players who know their stuff. Not anyone can just pick it up and run with it - no - it has to be a war nerd or someone who's in/was in the military. Seriously, I've seen how these RPs look; I've tried my hand at them too, and you get easily intimidated by the players who spam facts, figures and army lingo at you. I found myself having to google half of some peoples' posts just to so's my reply didn't look incompetent. My two cents? You want a military RP? Then you'll have to make it user-friendly. Which would be amazingly difficult, because it would mean you'd need to strong arm the nerds/vets/current enlisted into making more sense to the average RPer. On the other hand, you'd need to make sure the average joe knows how a gun works and has a vague understanding of what goes down in military ops. A nightmare balancing act.Yeah, no, it's a nightmare. Something I think I (or anyone, really, cus I aint special!) could pull off, but it would take a gigantic amount of effort into producing something that would appeal to both sides of the table.

Perfection. Balancing is horrifying, and I have tried it, and it fails, because the nerds tell you you're too softcore (even if you know what it is), and the...well, unknown run into it and think it's like Call of Duty. I'd say it's a very fine balance- it's meant to vaguely realistic, you're meant to have sanity with all of the elements of an RP. But there is a life-or-death tension, that fuel to the fire that makes it exiting, that gives it that interest. As I've mentioned before, I enjoy a right balance. Influences also come into play. I've played a lot of Wargame: Airland Battle lately, so I could lecture people on Cold-War era equipment now, that I could never do before. Yet at the same time, I'm still quite into a lot of other theaters of war, Zulu being one of them (PS Dutchbag, if you do it again, I have an awesome idea in mind). I wouldn't say that it requires knowledge intensely- being in the military is not a pre-requisite, but research is needed sometimes. Figuring out what is real, what isn't, and what is in the territory of being real is also important. I'd like to really appeal more broadly to the more general player, but at the same time, I want to appeal to those who genuinely would care that say, a character uses a certain type of rifle with specific equipment. And while I can name people who fill that role brilliantly, at the same time, I can't say it's a majority.

FortunesFaded said
Aye - I remember you being at least a hundred times more knowledgable on the subject than me when Zulu was running. And I think that's a component for a successful military RP, too: having an expert around, especially when you're going for realism. As for that RP specifically, I'd love to restart it at some point in the future, but not now. I simply have too much on my plate.

Likewise, I'm afraid- it was a good RP, I enjoyed it a bit, it wasn't going fast but it was good for the time.

Also, should add- this discussion in itself has made me think of maybe doing another military RP, ANOTHER one no less. Probably same aisle, modern-day stuff. Maybe something a little edgier though, a little more ingrounded in Rangers/Marines, rather than dedicated SF. Though I'll really have to see when, though it could happen.

Military RPs- a Cause for Debate

Ah, Heretic/Fortunes, was going to actually say- I did like that RP, quite a bit actually. I'd be happy as anything if you did one again. And trust me, I'd be more than happy to answer to any of your questions on kit, or just environment research- it was working quite well I recall, just I think a few kinks hadn't been creased out. You are exactly on the money with your response- head above water syndrome is hard, and I experience it with some of my military RPs, the only response being to just have a vague plan in your mind, change it when needed, and kinda direct yourself to an End Goal. Lima is coming closer and closer to it, and at the start of the RP, it is the last thing you think of- but over time, once you have four or so people that stay, you can really get into your own and craft a plot.

Military RPs- a Cause for Debate

TheEvanCat said
Arma 3 is realistic until you get trapped by a vengeful god inside of a rock while the AI all pinpoint you and land headshots from a couple hundred meters away. I've spent a couple hundred hours there, I would know.Also: "And I know more than well enough what conflict is like- I am in a MilSim clan, with many former military members"That's not even true at all, dude. I'm a cadet and I play Arma but I can admit that I know full and well that I have no fucking clue what conflict is like other than what other peoples' experiences have been.

Apologies- that was a rushed post, I take that wholly back. I'll clarify that point- I understand the operational way in which they can work, not the reality. The thing is, nobody wants that, and the banter, does exist even on patrol, sometimes on the quieter points of the frontline. I've never had the misfortune of being shot at or being wounded, and I never want to be- and I genuinely take that point back, though I will have my two cents on how it works from other sources, such as journals, documentaries, and so on. It works as a nice indication however- and playing it with the right set of mods, while it is never real bullets and injuries, is as close as you'll likely want to get (apart from VBS, which is just not a chance).

The Silver Paladin said
I could see a nice World War II D-Day thing where you play as a nation on a beach, and have weapons designated to that nation. Or Heck Look up the Winter war! That would be fun. Playing Finnish, and Russians? I could do a modern one with Israeli, Un, NATO and other nation soldiers (Israeli soldiers are awesome.) So long it was realistic. Like the guy who carries an RPK can only be prone, and he can't run. That seems fun. I like faking it for like City, futuristic, but for military I like realism.

RPKs are SAWs, not LMGs- they are weapons you could fire from standing position if required for close combat, a PKM for example, you could not (you could, but it's inaccurate as fuck). An RPK, with a 45 round mag, you can run with (though I wouldn't recommend it)- it isn't significantly heavier than a AKM, and it's role as a SAW is different to a PKM's as an MMG.

And you have brought up a perfect reason for why I don't like using current conflicts (or at least, frozen conflicts that get warm sometimes, like Israel-Palestine) for good reason. It sets itself within parameters that I can't creatively control because it's a real thing- whereas another RP for example, I can pitch in a creative area (eg. the mountains of Armenia in TF Lima's latest setting, as a case study). Even TF Lima, which is probably quite politicized now (I started it in late 2012, this was before Ukraine arose) still maintains itself as quite a sensible RP that doesn't exactly point fingers at one or the others. Though you mention the Winter War, which is cool- but again, it's hard to introduce smaller wars to audiences who would want to have to research the war to understand the scenario (and this is hard, because I know people are lazy/have better things to do (more of the latter), and would rather that the shit that they were getting into was at least quite understandable. I'd love the concept- but again, I know that I don't have enough of a knowledge to write it up to an acceptable level, that I would feel would be authentic enough (or I could draft some Finns, hey).

Enalais said
I don't really join military rps were everyone is a bad ass, I want to see a rookie freeze up in his first fire fight, not mow down twenty men and not question his morality about it.

Up to the player character that. They might just get down, target, pull the trigger, gone. Some find it easier than others, to say the least, others might need some pushing, a situation that throws them right into the fray and it is do or die. Morality is a big thing too, but must be handled correctly- different groups of soldiers view this all very differently. Special Forces groups don't think about it at night, but damn, it might haunt them years on, though others could just let it go. A Soviet Conscript in Stalingrad? He's brainwashed with so much propaganda, he'll do anything to murder the Nazi scum in his leader's city. A US Marine in Afghanistan? Could become demoralized and sick of war, and sick of his work. It's variables, differences.

So what I'll say in conclusion is this- it exists, but there is no consensus on how it should work. And that makes me sad- because I could easily, very easily, end up making an RP that could quell all these needs, yet I know that it wouldn't last more than twenty posts (like most Mil RPs), because nobody agrees on shit. This RP shows that while you're all very in favor of realism, and very in favor of a set of pre-determined battlefields, the genre can't exist because a paradox exists with the former. It makes me think about what I write, if I'm honest- and I am beginning to understand in a way, what it means with Military RPs now. I'll still stick to what I write, Because while I know it isn't text Call-of-Duty, sometimes it's just boring and everything dries up- and I've seen this cycle repeat, and repeat again (I've run far too many now). I create stories around groups of soldiers, whether they are Special Forces, of soldiers in the midst of the Second World War- and the fact that it's a warzone, with situations where our characters will inevitably have to kill people, and may risk the chance of getting killed back.

I want someone to set one up, other than me though. That I want to put across- I want that message to be taken back, and I mean, as begging as that sounds, I really have got the ideas but no time to write them out. Thanks for the discussion people- if you have anything to add, just throw it down.

Military RPs- a Cause for Debate

The thing was, I would say this- realism isn't the aim, it's a cited point of reference. Task Force Hephastatus is the perfect example of this. Yes, I stole a lot of inspiration from Arma 3, and I mean, a lot (fuck, it might as well have been called a personal take on it, but hey, I thought I'd add a lot of my original content to create a semi-self created story). But I put in my own timeline, my own way of how things could work- and "Realism" in some cases, doesn't mean historical or exactly even a future path. I don't like going overboard with it- or else you'd never be able to RP it out effectively enough.

And while the modern soldier is perhaps sitting away in peacetime, this is something as a writer, that we can subdivert- we aren't done with Afghanistan, and while the calm and peaceful moments are in there, nobody wants that. They want the moment when things go to shit, is frantic. And I know more than well enough what conflict is like- I am in a MilSim clan, with many former military members. They have banter. You may not understand it, but these are people who laugh in the face of death, they're really funny, they just don't give a shit sometimes about the little things, even in the worst of times. Crazy really.

Military RPs- a Cause for Debate

Suprisingly, I'd say there's a wide spectrum for military RP. There's the plain ridiculous, which I do (but do it correctly and know that it's this category, or else), and then the more authentic, which I also do, and then the realistic stuff, which I've tried (and while it worked fascinatingly well for a while, it staggered a bit). And I do have a lot of ideas in my mind, it's just the simple problem- it takes a lot of effort to control people, physically stop people from going batshit. Also surprisingly, I don't find everyone going "SNIPORZ PLZ", but I find that people don't click with characters into one an other. Like, they are never human beings under all of it. It's a personal complaint of mine, as I fall for it- but it feels as if they live to kill people in certain ways. They don't, they're human underneath, and while some say, SF operators are made of a lot of steel, and are absolutely focused on the task at hand, harder to break in ways, it's still human flesh in them you RP out.

And I agree on that too- about realism/authenticity. I don't always agree with perfection, creative licence can take over when needed, to make sure it has a soul. But the scenario you listed is a perfect example of bullshit, that RPs in this genre can't be (unless you have a goddamn good reason for it and everyone is at least "in" on it), and that stories matter, that some sort of historical context is maintained. I don't mind having an RP where we take the piss and it has a certain direction, and sometimes, it is fun to do, when done correctly (but that's whole different matter altogether that I'll exclude for the reasons that it's a bastard to explain), but at least staying vaguely authentic in gear, actions and individuals is important. Some action keeps things flowing- but you can't have it all the time, there are tense lulls in combat, the feeling of stalking and slowly taking on enemies in systematic function. There are incredible stories of soldiers out in the real conflicts of the world- I would say that beyond a Call of Duty-esq scenario, it's about crafting an original story, that actually has a punch to it, whilst actually making you care for the characters, and bother to go "This is just about plausible- not entirely, but within reason.".

Myself, I do have a lot of influence from video games, but it's just as bad with films. Zero Dark Thirty is good if you want to gauge how you know, those types of operations work, while something as abhorrent as Behind Enemy Lines III (I had the misfortune of suffering this film, regrettably) or Rambo for that matter does nothing. I like to use some video games, but I tone it back- with real life documentaries made in the current day, complimenting the sane facts that need to be out there, with a pinch of creative license to at least keep it somewhat dynamic. It depends heavily- but that isn't the problem entirely.

To me, it's the point of inexperience, and I believe there are a lot of people, you included, that could pull off a military RP. Don't buzzkill, be too hard-on about facts (boring people kill RPs, it sounds like a lie but I've seen it happen), but don't be a dickhead ultra-killing mad know it all SF unit. If your'e going to be an SF, fuck it, make them good, and justify it. In the end, it doesn't really matter what the game is about- just so long as the human aspect remains in these characters, whether they're Soviet conscripts sent to die, or Navy Seals, on a covert operation. It means that in the end, so long as the people are determined to at least remain vaguely authentic, and the right balance of tension and shit going down, as well as normal, sane RPing.

In terms of ideas, I have mentioned before- I have a lot of ideas. A WW2 RP set in the midst of the chaos of the Warsaw Uprising, from doctors, scouts, soldiers, Jews and so forth- everyday folk in a horrifying situation. A modern-day RP set in Afghanistan, chronicling one last push into a valley by Canadian Rangers and US 1st Force Recon Marines, with everything slowly turning to shit, though the military humor that accompanies soldiering clearly there. An RP set in an alternative world, in which the Suez Crisis of 1956, following Anthony Eden's decision to push on rather than back down, brought about a new world (militarily focused on British troops). There's plenty of ideas that are original, and note how none are related to a video game (apart from the first, by coincidence, and the second by the vaguest of strands)- they are set about by simply an original idea.

So in conclusion, I'd say this- while the genre may be down on it's knees, I just really started this to put across the argument that it's a dried up part of RPG, and it's one that I feel left behind in as a relic. Perhaps it's the polarization of views, and I'm kinda left straddling for now.

Team Scimitar (an Over-the-Top Military RP)

"Nameless. Classic, I guess in time, I'll have a playname for you." Svetlana said, half jokingly, or as best as that came out in her Russian accent, as she looked over the suit, nodding her head.
"The suit is fucked, you are right. And while I'd like to say that anything you need is at your disposal...well, that was unexpected. Or rather, it was. It's in central Mumbai, right by the docks my friend. In a skyscraper, the fucking Spike Building. And yet it is not my decision to do that. We have no mandate against them." She added, as she looked around, exhaling hard, walking around, as she looked at his armor.
"But I guess you'd be lucky to find out that I'm a half decent infiltrator. Don't let these two orbs fool you- I can crawl through my share of vents. And since things look like they're back into a dry spell, I'd be willing to pop to there, for a little business. We will have to be quiet." She said, almost swinging her boobs a little in the mid part of the sentence, as she shook her head.
"Besides, Antoine is probably going to be busy, same with Imran and Howard. They'll want to see you do something small first, and I suppose I can let you in on this. Iceman, how good of a shot are you?" She asked, as she headed over to the opposite side of the hangar, opening a cage, as she clambered out a small box of some sort, walking back as she then opened it up. Inside, a McMillan CS5, packed away neatly into compartments.
"Howard doesn't use this rifle because the caliber isn't suitable for longer range, and he loves his GM6. This fires modified .300 rounds, completely silent, effective to a range of 600m. Will punch through two inches of reinforced skyscraper glass, and happens to have a variable night vision optic. Iceman, you'll need to be in casual clothes for this to work...we cannot talk here. Follow me." She said, putting the rifle back, as she knew what she was doing wasn't going to please Imran, especially if they were called out. But they had work to do, and right now, they had to at least semi-induct this member. Besides, another reserve Heavy was coming, and he'd fill the rest of the team in sooner or later, and Svetlana knew that between then and now, she'd be able to get out for a day to get this little job done.

---

Imran walked out of his office, locking the door with his biometrics- a very tricky print to replicate, due to his genetics and the stringency of the test. Walking back into Bjorn's, he shut the door, as he exhaled hard, almost not wanting to look at the fully naked Viking hanging from the light. It was a dark moment, but Svetlana had a tendency to do this. He was bigger than Imran, a lot bigger, and he occupied almost a quarter of the room from his hanging position. He had a smile on his face, a shit-eating grin. Good for him, Imran thought to himself. No better way to leave this planet. He checked his radio, aware that Antoine would hear, their position slightly on the glacier receivable. Bouvet Island itself was two masses- the airbase, built on flat, artificial land, and the huge glacial sheet that covered the rest, almost clambering to 2,500m at it's highest- the rocky and icy terrain a dramatic backdrop for the airbase, as if the South Atlantic wasn't enough. He exhaled, as he began.
"Antoine, Howard, report back to base, meet me at Bjorn's room. I have some sad news." He said, looking around. He found a huge M134 by his bed, Imran, only wearing his digital uniform and not his exoskeleton, could only barely lift the weapon...but no way, lug this for more than a few feet without his hands giving in. It weighed like a million bricks. Then there was his picture, of him and his unit. Nothing of Scimitar- that was banned for all intents and purposes. But a picture of Svetlana, that he had snapped on his camera phone, in a case. Maybe he had always lusted for her, he thought to himself. And it was one of her Svetlana gym sessions. Classic.

---

Three Hours Later

A few hours later, Svetlana, Iceman and Spectre were inside, dealing with their covert op for Imran's sake to at least deal with this problem, the small wooden raft sat with Bjorn's naked body inside. His waraxe, his M134, and even his armor had been lugged in. The boat could barely hold it, but as Imran, Howard and Antoine stood there in their combat uniforms, looking on, the silence had to be broken. They'd moved his stuff over the last two hours, themselves at the far end of the runway, on the thin gravel beach that formed the coastal defenses. It was a mark of respect, to bury members not wearing casual, but in combat gear. It was a tradition Imran didn't know how it existed, but he wore his exoskeleton, aware that perhaps in death, they'd be watched for how they would remember him.
"A good man. He did a great deal of good, and we must remember him for the good times, not the bad. Let him be remembered for being our Viking, our warrior of the hour, the man who'd take an axe to a gunfight. And in death, let him find what he wants. He might not died like a Viking, but he died happy for us. It's how he wanted to be cremated." Imran said, looking to Howard and Antoine, humming a traditional Sikh funeral song. He hadn't told them how he had died exactly, it would make too many emotions come out raw to Svetlana, too much paperwork. But maybe they vaguely knew, that nobody dies smiling when they hang themselves, and naked in that way. Maybe inside, they'd know, Imran thought to himself, as a quiet Music built up in the air, just an eerie feeling.
"May you rest in peace, friend of ours. Or war, if that is what you prefer. Probably is, actually." Imran said, aware it sort of broke the tension, as he coughed a little, before then looking back at him.
"And let this not be the end. Let us push him to the seas, where he shall remain." He added, looking at the others at the end, as he took his lighter, lighting a wooden stick, before bunging it into the far end of the raft. It only slowly caught light, the petrol in the near end likely to set the raft ablaze once the fire was burning offshore. He walked up and his strength in itself was just able to it, with support in Howard and Antoine, as the raft caught a backwave and was cast out, the flames spreading. The fire suddenly erupted, as it got further, and further on the horizon, the suit probably untouched but scarred by the fire, and Bjorn's body cremated, as he always wished.

Looking at the boat, Imran shook his head, holding back. Antoine couldn't take this well. She always seemed to have a magnetism to his dramatic features. No doubt, he was a serious operator. The sight of a C130 on the horizon could be coming down, for landing, as it barely flew over Imran, Antoine and Howard, as he nodded. The Private Jet followed behind, the white craft landing on the strip a minute later after the C130 taxiied off, the private jet occupying far less of the airfield as it landed. By this point, Imran, Howard and Antoine had made their way to where the Private jet was stopping, Imran's movements amplified in the way he jogged, almost looking poetic as they were fluid, and full of bounding elasticity. The sight of the door opening revealed the Italian, bigger than all three of them, but smaller only by a margin in width than Svetlana, and a little shorter. But he compared to her alright- this was a Heavy.
"Domineco. This is Howard and Antoine, you might remember them, if not, then you can make acquaintances again. I assume that plane there, is containing your supplies? The more...well, suitable storage for your stuff?" Imran said, in his typical posh Oxford accent meeting Lahore Pakistani, it sounding somewhat higher society yet with phrases that an Oxford student like him wouldn't normally have.

---

Bjorn opened his eyes, somewhat pleasured, his lungs filling and his heart pounding hard, like they'd only sprung back into life in just this very moment. Waking up fully, Bjorn felt the feeling of Natalie's warm orbs against his face, as she eased off, a smirk on her face. Everything was white, slowly coming to color.
"Welcome to Valhalla...guess where your axe is?" She said, as Bjorn laughed, grabbing his side by his holster, where he felt it would be. He stood, wearing an enormous suit of chain mail and a Viking Helmet, feeling harder than diamond wearing the stuff by Svetlana's side, in both contexts. Looking around, as the blank white became colored. Fjords, a coastline that looked like Norway's, a thousand years ago. A Viking ship. And a Longhouse. And warriors outside. Svetlana stood almost naked, apart from the thinnest of garments on her trousers. Bjorn looked to her, crying with joy, the Viking's tears passing down his war-scarred face, and onto his chainmail, which seemed like the Viking equivalent of his suit in his moral life- like it would take a million swords to breach.
"Thank you. This is eternal, right?" He asked, wondering to himself, as he smiled, the sudden realization that he was where any Norseman would want to be. A heaven, more perfect than any version he had been sold.
"You live to fight, drink, fuck me and be a Viking, to eternity. You can never die here. Even if those brave warriors do, you wake up, just like you did there." She said, as she wrapped around him, and he looked on, smirking.
"Well isn't that great." He added, as slowly but surely, he made his first steps into what would be the rest of his eternal life, in Valhalla.

---

Inside, back on Bouvet Island, Svetlana, Iceman and Spectre sat in what was a secondary briefing room, the door sealed shut for now. Equipment was laid out, as she looked over.
"Imran said it was good. Just us three. Those other four are doing something else, I hear, and we're cleared for tomorrow of any tasks- so anything that helps us, but done quietly. The plan is simple. That C130 is going to take us to Mumbai, and since myself and Spectre look anything but like tourists, we'll need an alternative route in." She added, sitting up on the table, clad in her infiltration gear. She lay her OTS-14 Groza, chambered in 5.45 Russian, with a large silencer on the end and a Holographic sight on the rail, as well as a CS Gas launcher on the underbarrel on her legs, as the table beneath her creaked, the wooden structure not used to the weight of a 7"5 Russian, with at least 10kg of kevlar armor and equipment on, over her tight infiltrator gear. Her breasts and her rear poked out like nothing, and it was not unnoticeable, even with the kevlar that an operator like Antoine would never need.
"Myself and Spectre will use a Zodiac, dropped from the C130 at low altitude, to reach the coast, while Iceman goes in normally. At the Airport. Me and Spectre will get to the docks, sneak to the building...and since getting inside is hard, we will need to go to more extreme measures. We need Iceman to disable their generators in the basement with a EMP device, or this," She said, picking up a small slab, as she then put it back down, continuing.
"And then their CCTV and security will be bewildered. We'll get into the lift shaft and crawl up the lift cable, and get to the 65th floor, using vents to put ourselves right into a position before we strike. Iceman, you make your way opposite the building, to another adjacent skyscraper, and set up a sniper overwatch, so that you can shoot anything that's too problematic. From there, it's Spectre's call on what he finds. Parts, predominantly, but we'll need to figure a way out from there. And by this point, down is not an option. Parachutes are too slow, and wingsuits would just be too dangerous, not enough time to actually fly. So we need...well, something a little more soft." She said, as she shook her head, just knowing this had to work.
"We'll jump out of the 65th floor onto an inflated crash mat, roughly 20x20 meters, that Iceman will have set up. It's suicidal enough to work. We'll all extract in the Zodiac, leaving no loose ends, and before you know it, C130's going to line us in out of the Arabian Sea." She said, as she looked over at a pair of compressed air tanks, and a small package, that seemed like it'd be enough, only just, to really stop two people falling out of a building.
"If you have any problems with that crash mat idea by the way, tell us how we're going to deal with about fifty security details. Even I wouldn't bother in this piece right now. Security will be lax- we're doing this at 2200 Hours, everyone is sleepy and the night shift is beginning. It's going to be down to the details, and we have no time to fuck this up. Iceman, keep your SCAR on hand, if things go hairy. No civilians. And remember, BALACLAVAS. We want ABSOLUTELY NO FUCKING TRACE, that we did this. Understood!?" Svetlana reminded everyone, as she took her MP443's, screwing on silencers on both the pistols.
"And while my pretty face will have to go, so will yours too, Spectre. It's a team thing. This facility is good, security is tight, but it is nowhere near good enough. If the shit works on you, then make sure that you are confident with it. Don't be crazy, and keep in mind you won't be invincible. Just because your blood might be close, I've never seen anyone jump out of a 65th floor window and survive when they hit concrete. I don't want you joining it, even though you're a good contender to break that trend." She said, chuckling, as she looked to Iceman, aware the attention hadn't been on him.
"And what about you? I mean, you're tasked as a Medium. On this op, just casual clothes, but have a feeling that if things go south, take that full body armor, and bolster it with as much kevlar all over as possible, so that at least of you hobble in it, you'll be able to hobble to the extract without having to have to take leave for six months to have the bullets pulled out. Just leave it somewhere secure if you don't use it." She added, as she then took a GPS on her left arm, before taking her NVGs, an almost Splinter-Cell like tri-goggle pair, the lenses blue tinted in color, and checking they worked in general, as she knew that the other two would be going over equipment, and their way in.