Terrans

In The Black (A Clean-Up Crew RP)

Next post I’ll push us to the helo’s enroute unless anyone’s any objections.

After answering the question of course.

In The Black (A Clean-Up Crew RP)

Apologies but IC post is up. Sorry for any typos but this a rush job. Do as ya'll do and thanks for being a part of Acheron.

In The Black (A Clean-Up Crew RP)

Field Contract Advisor Samantha Norr
Acheron Recovery Services Bunker
Briefing Room
Silent Mountain, Montana

Sam sometimes wondered as to the sanity of Acheron's IT services. In that the newly built complex was already undergoing a tech upgrade; one that had apparently started in the briefing room if the hazardous arrays of wires splaying from the normally neat podium was any indication.

"Why do they keep changing the cables?" She muttered to herself as she finally pulled the correct one from the rats nest and plugged it into her tablet. The screens on the wall beside beginning to boot up with the input of the tablet's contents. As it did so; Sam cast her gaze around the room.

For the most part it was the usual mix of Direct Action and Field Research types. New hires that hadn't yet had the chance to build up their dossiers to rate more then a casual scrutiny from her. Though she recognized enough of the Direct Action guys to realize that Danny, 'Daniel' she chided internally, had cherrypicked some of his old team for the new branch. Though the co-manager's might have had a few personal issues; she trusted his judgement at least when it came to the job.

The issues lay more to the Field Research and as usual; the Concealment Teams.

In the corner, somehow in the shadows despite the brightly lit room, was Stephen Stokes. A man who's un-redacted dossier still had blacked out portions. A few favors cashed in had revealed that it had come down from up top; which meant her father. A personal call had been followed by a more personal rebuke from the head of Acheron. The only tidbit she had summarized had been Stokes had been a trade with Excalibur International. Not an uncommon occurrence but never to the level of secrecy that she had encountered. She would have to ask Daniel if he still had contact with that former SBS captain on Excalibur's payroll.

The thump of something beside her had her look up at Daniel's spot and- Holy Hell!!!

That was the only thought Sam had as she looked up at the guy dropping off Daniel's missing electronics. She had thought Daniel tall but this man dwarfed him by half a foot and looked like he could bench press the bunker's doors. Then he introduced himself; the name Enzo Wagner ringing alarm bells in her head. The dossier she had read had painted the picture of an intelligent man that wasn't satisfied with the normal usage of his background. The man looked and acted like one of Daniel's shooters but with a pun T-shirt and a surfer boy attitude. His mention of personally sourced electronics though caused her to bite back a frown. She would make sure the policy would be posted in full later.

'Speaking of personal devices'

Their field PR rep, Imogen Crestworthy, was just putting away her phone. Such objects not being allowed inside sensitive spaces. But, Sam would cut her slack for now, this being her first posting with Acheron on the Damage Control teams themselves. She held out hope that she would adapt fast; because Sam didn't want the disaster of having to deal with a disgruntled PR rep. Especially one that was working on the branch's Concealment Teams.

That last thought bringing Sam to the dark gaze of one Doctor Soraya Mansour. Another fragmented dossier like Stokes. Though, complete enough to form a picture that had Sam simultaneously worried and impressed. A spy that had been burned after working in the cauldron of Nort Africa and the Middle East. Places she had not been but Daniel had painted enough of a picture for her to get the point. A female spy who could survive there was a breed of ruthless. Her mission profile reflected enough peculiarities that no branch office kept her around for long enough. She had been bounced around the transient security units of Acheron before being more or less sent to Silent Mountain. Not so much an exile as the company trying to find the right place for a cog in the machine.

The tablet finished uploading its contents at that point. The screens around the room now displaying the data of the current contract.

A map of Utah on one. Road maps and a satellite image focusing on the southwestern side of the state. The latter displaying a small complex of structures that sat at the end of a single paved road; the sole feature of the surrounding area and its scorching sands.

Floor plans dominated another two screens. Blueprints with information blacked out but keeping the general labels of the layout.

The remainder of the screens held a series of pictures. Photographs that looked like they were being taken for security badges.

Sam, satisfied, picked up the second lapel mic and synced it to the rooms speakers.

"Good Morning Team." She had the tone of voice she had perfected from her HR stint. The happy but not exhaustingly so one. "We have just received the first assignment for the Silent Mount branch of Acheron. A lot of pressure I know but I feel that we will perform as well here as any other of the established locations."

She left out that she had wrangled this contract away from the Salt Lake branch at the last minute.

"The contract is with Obsidian Dynamics. They have recently had a panic button pressed at their research center in Utah." A gesture at the screen with the map. " The company has has no contact with the facility for the last sixteen hours. Their security systems are air gapped so they have no idea what occurred. Obsidian has elected to pay the non-disclosure premium so we have no idea the nature of the complex's research."

A grumbling from the Direct Action section. Most of it from Daniel's handpicked shooters. Sam resisted the urge to send Daniel a reproaching look and instead carried.

"The contract is simple. Acheron will re-secure the facility for continued research by Obsidian. While safeing the complex; we will have to locate and extract two individuals. Research Director Yosef Vizer and Head of Security Ava Wiberg." She jabbed a button on the tablet and highlighted the photos of the pair. The former a squat looking man with a receding hairline and bushy eyebrows turning gray. A lab coat barely visible in frame. The Head of Security had a piercing gaze of hazel eyes and fair hair pulled into a severe bun. No makeup adorned her in the photo and images of a crisply pressed suit collar blended in with her sharp angular features.

Sam let the team gaze on their photos before carrying on.

"Obsidian has stated all other personal are to be protected at our convenience. They will carry out vetting at their own expense and time." A corporate way of stating Acheron didn't have to protect or clean up the employees this time. The contract holder wanted to figure out their own house. "Though they did elect to pay the wet work fee. Concealment teams..."

Sam highlighted three photos. They looked different from the other photos. Like they had been pulled from a social media page.

"... the company will handle its own data and security drives this time. Your main concern will be these three. The company was touring a news team for a public relations piece when the facility went dark. Your goal will be to find the news team and erase any evidence they may have obtained. If they are still alive; Acheron will allow any option needed for this contract. Our black site in Oregon is still open. A fund of two hundred thousand will be allocated for bribery, blackmail or discrediting as needed...."

Sam cut a subtle glance at Soraya.

"...in case of those options failing or not being feasible. Termination is authorized."

The pictures showed a stereotypical news crew. A photogenic reporter with dark curly hair and a wide smile. A grizzled camera man with a salt and pepper beard. A slight blonde intern with glasses and a stylish short cut the girl must have picked up in college. Sam tried to ignore the faces and instead began to swipe for the deployment plan she had put together.

"Now as for deployment-"

"We will land in two waves." Daniel cut in then. As if she had been leaving him an opening Striding onto to the room's center after clicking something on his new laptop. A new satellite image superimposed er the old. Emblems and scrawled symbols now decorated the area around the complex.

'How did he?'

"First wave will be me, Kilo and Juliet and the Concealment team. We will land here, here and here. Snipers and a machine gun posted here and here. Entry will be through the front door and the loading bay here. As we proof the initial clearings; the second wave will land. This will consist of Lima and the Field Research section. Ms. Norr will be with the second wave so each wave has leadership. I will establish a command post to coordinate the clearing once we have a handle on the situation. We leave for the airfield at 1100. Kit up, full combat loads, dismissed."

Daniel's presentation was curt. Pointing out the appropriate spots with the confidence of someone who was definitely not as asking. His stance the swagger she had called his "Operator Walk" to his face. He gathered up the laptop, outside devices and all, and left the room.

Realization dawning on Sam as the door swung close behind him.

Not only had he undercut her deployment plan before she could even outline it. He did it in a way that had made it seem as if she had introduced it. Now if she was to put hers up it would look like confusion at the top. Confidence in both of them would waver. And he had left her behind to deal with any questions.

'Bastard'

Not that it was obvious as she adopted a slight smile on her face. Internalizing it for now and debating how to get him back for the slight. The office and the cowboy coded computer obviously not being enough.

"Are there any questions?"

In The Black (A Clean-Up Crew RP)

My apologies for my non-yet existent post. Have been buried in unforeseen amounts of work. Should have a post up sometime Thursday or Friday. Until then please do as you do and accept my humblest apologies foe the delay.

Smoke and Steel

Kreznik Broekke

@Dyelli Beybi

A slight snort of amusement.
"Claiming a throne after climbing a mound of corpses just to burn it down for love." The spymaster wore a rare teasing grin. "I'm sure I read about some theatre like that."

Kreznik gave a roll of his shoulders; the uncomfortable shrug of someone readjusting weight. He wore the darkened cloth and leather of his now liquidated order. A calvary uniform having been an unsuitable garment for scaling walls and ledges. Kreznik could recall wearing the uniform had once felt so natural; like a second skin festooned with pouches and sheathes for the tools of his trade. Now it felt unnatural; an artifact of a life that felt like a dream with each passing day.

An occurrence thanks in no part to the woman before him. He shook off the discomfort and odd thoughts and refocused.

"Do you have any more need for your spymaster this evening?" A joking manner in his tone but the words were deadly serious. Though he couldn't fathom what she would need; it never hurt to ask. Especially, if she was up to a scheme.

Or if she wanted to continue her usual nightly "pursuits". Though Kreznik could hardly complain of those.

In The Black (A Clean-Up Crew RP)

Alright. IC is up. its not much but this is just an intro post. Feel free to interact or introduce as need be. Briefing will arrive alongside the deployment post.

Looking forward to RPing with everyone.

In The Black (A Clean-Up Crew RP)

Contract 1: Obsidian Dynamics

Field Commander Daniel Graves
Acheron Recovery Services Bunker
Management Level
Silent Mountain, Montana

Daniel had been around the world countless times. Seen blood, death and misery first as a Delta operator; then as a Direct Action contractor. Watched men and women of experience greater then him turned to bloody confetti in seconds by eldritch abominations or genetically engineered science experiments. Gave a mercy round to a man he had called 'brother' after he had been merged halfway into a wall. Sat through quarterly team building seminars.

But this by far was his personal hell.

Paperwork. Reams of it as rising to his chest from the cheap IKEA desk he had wrestled into the small office. The grandiose branch manager's office having been claimed by his fellow co-manager before his arrival. This office having been already allocated to him by the time of his arrival. A move that he was sure his fellow co-manager had done out of pure practicality; and not the fact he had missed their last counseling session to deal with a security breach.

So here he was. Filling out requisitions and transfers by hand because his network secured computer had been delayed in IT for unknown reasons. Not a problem. Even if his hand was cramping up after literally hundr-

"Attention. Attention. Damage Control teams to briefing room. Damage Control teams to briefing room." The overhead speaker blared in the same tone one would use for announcing in an airport. Bland, monotone, professional. Belying the fact that something had gone horribly wrong somewhere and Acheron would soon be inbound to fix it.

Daniel rose with a sigh and shrugged on his combat jacket. The paperwork could wait. He shuffled around his cluttered furniture and had exited the room in time to nearly run into his fellow co-manager. Field Contract Advisor Samantha Norr was attired similarly to him; gray cargoes and matching combat jacket. Though her boots were some highly polished leather product while his were weather beaten combat boots more spite then leather.

In her grip was a glowing tablet; the familiar scroll of an Acheron contract displayed brightly.

"Daniel" Sam gave a nod. Relatively civil but he would take it. The pair falling in step with each other as they made their way to the elevator. Her gaze buried in the tablet. His watching the flow of Acheron personnel that had begun to stream out with the announcement. People heading for their stations as those on the teams made their way for the briefing room on the top level.

The elevator was a cramped affair; though the personnel within made a respectful distance for the pair of managers. The pair eventually making their way into the briefing room; half full by the rosters standards. Daniel taking his position by the screen and clipping on the small microphone that sat on an unused podium.

"Alright. Briefing in ten minutes. Get settled." He had no idea what the briefing actually was as Sam had the contract information but he was sure she could handle it. At least he hoped.

Lancer [Mechs, Magic, and Intrigue]

Commander Stader Volger
89th LSC CO
Aside With Mika Ganishka

The smaller space of the atrium Captain Ganishka had chosen was more private then the briefing room. Volger would have preferred a ready room or one of the compartments in the infantry section that he had swept regularly; but compromise was important for leadership. Well that and the former-pirate's shoulders were tense enough; Volger was sure she was convinced that this might be the prelude to a change of leadership.

At least he had left his PDW in the armory. He opened his mouth to begin the usual 'I respect your authority' that was the usual of new Imperial command but the words died on his lips. She wasn't Imperial; at least not like Volger was. She was a pirate that the Prince had swept up into his retinue.

So Volger dropped tact and went for blunt.

"You're a pirate. I know that. You see wealth and riches. But they will not come at the cost of my troopers." He jabbed an armored finger into her chest with that last part. "You want a prize ship? Deploy you're band of savages first. I lost three troopers holding the fire control center when all that was needed was a quick sabotage job."

He was aware somewhere in his tirade he had closed the distance between them until he was nose to nose. Icy blue eyes dueling with predatory steely gray stare. Despite his size and armor; Volger was aware that the pair of commanders stood on even ground in the small atrium.

Lancer [Mechs, Magic, and Intrigue]

<Snipped quote by Terrans>

I'd say after the time skip while on the Indomitus, timeline wise before or after the debrief but we'd run in concert for the sake of keeping things moving?

Also, with or without Tarsis present?

@Wernher

I’d say without Tarsus. Also your serve now.

Lancer [Mechs, Magic, and Intrigue]

Commander Stader Volger
89th LSC CO

Volger had arrived to the debriefing late. An unfortunate matter of coordinating two battle torn ships full of his troopers, the degenerate boarders and their collective casualties. So he was still in his armor when he slipped through the door a few seconds ahead of the Prince’s arrival.

His helmet was off, carried in the crook of his off arm per regulation, so he kept his features schooled. His gaze now and then sneaking towards the “Captain” of this so called vessel.

Some would notice the similarities between the two commanders. Pale skin endemic to habitual spacers. Steely gazes common among veterans. The hardness of features that usually came with hard decisions and harder consequences.

All Volger could see was the artfully constructed chaos of a uniform Captain Ganishka had chosen to don. A lax, easygoing stance as if throwing around the might of an Imperial Lance and its support company were standard occurrences. As if she had a place in their chain of command because the Prince brought her and her crew along for some void-forsaken reason.

It was when the debriefing died down and the side conversations inevitably began that he made his move. A graceful sidestep, for being encumbered in armor and assault frame at least, and he was in front of Captain Ganishka.

“Captain.” His voice was tight. The sarcasm evident even if the respect was somewhat there. “I want to have a conversation offside.”