Messages

1

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: May 06, 2021, 09:01:23 AM »

Nanako

Nanako canted her head curiously as one of the two girl looked rather nervous while the other watched with clear excitement. Still, it didn't look like she had time to ask with the barkeep headed their way. The squirrel girl's attention was brought back to the man, apparently Johnny, by his offer.

"Hm? Yeah sure, why not," Nanako shrugged, "Got anywhere specific in mind?"

She glanced back over to Miho, then reached out to pat the girl reassuringly on the back.

"You okay?" she asked, fluffy tail swishing slowly behind her.

Miho and Yukari

Miho internally cursed when Yukari invited Johnny along with them - the man exuded bad vibes to her. His supernatural strength and somewhat ominous way of speaking set her on edge. But if it means that they can make their exit now, to escape from this crowd and angry barkeep, well, she'll put up with him for awhile longer. She'll just have to have twice the gumption to make up for Yukari dropping her guard.

A pat on the back and an empathetic question from the squirrel girl put an end to her internal monologue. "Ye-yeah," Miho affirmed, taking a few steps towards the door, "Let's, uh, head out."

The aurburn-haired captain internally cringed at her stuttering. She never outgrew her nerves, it seems. Sure, she can be in crowded places and be just fine, but once everybody's attentions are directed at her (or a small group she happens to be a part of), she now realizes she still gets flustered. And she finds this embarrassing. And that embarrassment stacks onto her nerves...

Mho just wants to get out before a verbal confrontation occurs, an ordeal she's sure would cause her even more internal grief. "C-c'mon, I-I think I know another place."

2

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: April 30, 2021, 11:05:18 PM »

Nanako

Nanako repressed a quiet shudder as the man pressed a bloody palm against the wall, the familiar chill of a blade setting her heart beating just a little faster. Her large, fluffy tail swished back and forth absentmindedly as she watched the wall reassemble itself. That presence deeper inside started pushing more insistently against Nanako's mind too, the squirrel girl frowning for a moment as she watched the man curiously.

"Huh. Neat trick," Nanako remarked, tossing the cueball back onto the table, "You must be great at parties."

Miho and Yukari

Yukari eyes glittered with admiration, but Miho was becoming flustered by all the attention they were getting. The two ladies were drawing attention just by being within close proximity of Johnny when he launched the cue ball, and the Captain's old nervous personality was being triggered by the crowd surrounding them.

The owner of the pub, a bear of a cyclops, was giving the now four of them such a stink eye now, and was making his way towards them. "Uh, Yukari?" Miho whispered to her friend, "I think it's about time for us to head somewhere else."

Yukari looked disappointed and a little confused, not really being one to read the atmosphere. "Hey, Johnny," she called out to her new acquaintance, "I guess we're going somewhere else. Wanna come with?"

3

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: April 27, 2021, 06:37:16 PM »

Nanako

A few weeks had passed since the unmitigated disaster of a date with that cute angel. Nanako had considered calling her up a few times, but trying to figure out what was going on with her had taken priority. Zeke never got back to her, and the district she'd found him had seemingly been laid to waste. Frustrated in her search and unsure of what to do about the new presence in her head, Nanako found herself wandering through Columbia, one long leap at a time.

Out of nowhere, a sharp whistle registered to the squirrel girl, one of her ears swiveling before she caught something in her peripheral vision. With squirrelly instincts, a hand shot up into its path and snatched it out of the air, Nanako turning an instant later to see that it was a cue ball. One with a clear dent on one side and spiderweb cracks along the other. Looking up, she saw a sizable hole torn into the wall of a nearby bar, frowned, and promptly zipped into the bar through that hole.

"Hey, careful with that," she called out, "This could've hurt someone slower than me!"

Miho and Yukari

If it wasn't for her mother's brutal training, Miho would have been a dead woman right now.

The ball launched at such a high velocity it had a distinct whistle as it broke the sound barrier. Her mind, for the split moment it had happened, mistook it for a vanquisher cannon shell and she instinctively shaped her body into a "C" to dodge it. Meanwhile, Yukari's already messy hair was made even wilder from the sonic boom rippling through the room.

The cue ball shot through the room, creating its own exit behind the bar. All the chattering, laughing, and joking in the pub quickly came to a halt as all the patrons tried to register what just happened. For a few moments there, the establishment was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop...

Then a squirrel woman burst through the door, admonishment shouting from her lips and a destroyed cue ball in hand.

"You, uh...You wanna call it a tie?" Yukari offered once she found her voice.

4

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: April 22, 2021, 01:30:42 AM »

Costin

Costin raised an eyebrow and scoffed, totally in disbelief. He was totally picking on her for that, and having a blast doing it. "Ha! Don't they teach this stuff in pre-school?"

Amused, quite amused, he rubbed his chin and faked having to think for more than a few seconds, smiling wryly all the same.

"Wait, no, that ain't right. I guess this is a parallel world. Silly me..." He chuckled a bit, a dark glow seeping from his cadaverous vessel. "It was many, many years before what we call World War 2. Man, that takes me back though, those days were a blast. Now that you mention it, I was a mercenary for a while then. They stationed me with my private platoon in Okinawa. Heh heh... man, now that was some of the best amusement I've had since the Ottomans invaded!"

He chuckled to himself when he said that, as if remembering the way those monkeys scrambled once he entered the fray.

"What makes you so curious though? That was a long time ago, you know?"

Miho and Yukari

"Well," Yukari began as she took her shot.

CLACK!

And with that, she was only one ball to go before she can claim the solid black 8.

"Where I'm from, the old wars on Terra are ancient history," the fluffball explained, "And much of it has been forgotten. I only learned about the Two World War and the United States from an old propaganda magazine my uncle collects, and some of the things it brought up has me curious."

5

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: April 13, 2021, 06:43:50 PM »

Costin

Districts? I see, so this is how it's run. He grinned in anticipation, this world was just so exciting! The other one was so small, constricting... but in such wide abundant land... yes, yes! He was free to paint it the way he liked best, in the fires of war and the blood of cattle! Women, children, babes and elders! It'd be an eternal party of destruction for him alone! Kill them! Destroy them all! Ravage them in your hate. Again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again...

Without even realizing, he was frozen there with a massive psychotic grin.

Only when he noticed he was being watched, did he shake his head and calm his urges, ever so softly.

"Phew, haha! I see, I see!" He casually snapped his fingers like nothing happened. "Heh, my bad, it just reminds me of way back when I fought in the American civil war. I fought a man, aye, a true warrior he was. Grandmaster Abraham Lincoln, champion of slaves and the weak, I respected his guts. His ax technique... it was truly something, and the way he fought was simply sublime. He was a real man, yeah."

He crossed his arms, chuckling to himself fondly as he remembered his worthy rival of long times past.  "You've got the same eyes. It's a shame... I'd play with you, but since our final duel, I promised I wouldn't lay a hand on the kin of lady Amerika. It looks like we'll get along nicely, eh?"

He stalled for time and punted a ball, any ball... just killing time while holding off the hunger at bay.

Tankers at the Bar

Miho was all the more warier of Johnny, trying her best to subtly size him up and determine if he was trying to be friendly or if this could be a prelude to something.

Yukari, on the other hand, zeroed in onto the "American Civil War" part of the man's statements. America was a name she was sort of familiar with even before coming to the Nexus - her uncle was a collector of an Imperial Era magazine line meant for the Astra Militarum called The Regimental Standard. One of those issues was about ancient Terran tanks. Now, nobody she inquired to about America understood what she actually was asking about, and she couldn't approach any of the Goddesses to see if they knew anything (let alone it being a major social faux pas to do so). Maybe Johnny knew about them?

"American Civil War, huh?" the brunette tried to steer the conversation her way as she lined up a shot, "Was that before or after the Two World War?"

6

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: April 08, 2021, 06:18:56 PM »

Costin

Costin flinched in surprise, but a stifled chuckle slip past his lips. Then a wheeze, and then a hearty laughter that rang through the bar.

"KHAHAHAHAHAH!! You humans can't stop cracking me up! That's it... good... your accuracy is better than most artillery I've torn to shreds. Yes! This'll make good sport! But don't you think this is over, I'm just getting started kid! Try not to break on me got it?!"

He twirled the puck with the viciousness of a hunter, grinning from ear to ear. They might as well call him the milkman, because he was about to go to town with those maggots.  He slammed the seven in the opposite direction from the hole it was so close to, impacting it against the border before sliding it riiight into the hole, nice and tight.

"This land, you still call it the Nexus right? Heh, sorry if I'm sounding like a dumbass bitch, but I'm new to this world. Hope you don't mind showing me the ropes, you badass kid."

Compliments like that weren't usually his style, but Costin felt awfully nice today. He might as well make her feel a bit better about herself before he mopped the floor with her teeth.

Two Tankers in a Bar

"Ah, a newcommer!" Yukari chirped, leaning forward onto the table as she took aim, "Welcome to the club! Yep, this place is called the Nexus. This is the town of Oakridge, in the Dunham district."

Her cue struck the white ball, which made a resounding 'clack!' when it struck the 2-ball. However, she didn't put enough strength in the motion - the 2-ball stopped just short of the hole. Yukari took on a mildly disheartened look, "That's gonna set me back."

7

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: April 01, 2021, 05:12:10 PM »

Costin

Sheesh, what a pussy. Well, whatever.  He swung the puck on his back and got a good feel of the material, the carvings... every part of it. Like a hunter ever so aware of one's surroundings. "Heh, you can call me 'Johnny'. Remember it, cause I'm about to carve it into your marrow."

And eyes obscured by the darkest of sunglasses, he grinned before taking a stance as low as a beast's, almost beautifully - and struck!

*puck* *puck* *puck* (No, I don't know what sound do pool balls make)

The white-moon orb impacted the 8-ball, which slammed back and forth the table aggressively, unpredictably swaying before ricocheting the balls next to it, getting them aaaaaaall over the table until two came right next to the hole, right about the same time, decelerated, and...

Stopped.

If he used a minuscule amount of extra force, it'd have pushed them in there for sure, he'd have gotten multiple of them in all at once. Did he simply miss the mark? No, no... nothing like that. One of the balls was dangerously close to the hole.

He was giving her those for free.

It was a statement, a power move as if to tell his opponent that he didn't even need to take it seriously, that he might as well hand her this freebie for her to stand a chance. As if this were just sport. He grinned amiably enough though.

"Relax, it's just a game. Still... ready to get wrecked? Or do you think you've got what it takes to take. Me. Down."

The question was... would she take the freebie?

Miho and Yukari

It could not be said that Yukari hadn't grown out of her shell over the last few years. She likes to think she's a fairly well-adjusted adult now, one capable of interacting with the general populace without a pre-existing context of tankery. So she was able to see Johnny's cheeky challenge for what it was without missing a beat. "Better check yourself before you wreck yourself," the fluffball bantered, a grin forming on her face.

There were still four colored balls to her opponent's three striped - she was behind, and it was tempting to go for the freebie. But that would sully her honor! No, no, she will not play into his hands! The 3-ball was fairly close to a hole, but it was further up the table and would require her to bounce the cue-ball against the barrier at an angle. Big risk, but her pride is certainly worth it!

Yukari lined up her shot like a Russ ambushing a looted wagon, then fired! Her cue smashed into the white ball, propelling it into the table's barrier, ricocheting it towards her intended target. It was a direct hit - the momentum transferring to the 3-ball, launching it right into the far left hole. Yukari looked at Johnny, a playful, yet smug, grin plastered on her face.

8

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: March 27, 2021, 01:46:29 AM »

Treadheads' Night Out

"Erm...Thank you?" Miho somewhat nervously said, not being really sure how to take that particular compliment. Yukari, meanwhile, tried to stealthily sniff her own right shoulder, gears working in her brain as to how the smell of shell propellent lingered on her body even after her showering.

The two women then carefully eyed the newcomer, sizing him up and trying to figure his ultimate motive. Yukari's opponent, breaking down from the unintentional pressure this man was giving off, shakily handed him his cue.

9

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: March 25, 2021, 09:59:04 PM »

Oakridge, Northern Dunham
7:15 P.M.

The snow crunched under Miho's boots as she stepped off the bus. The air was cold, with a little wind giving it an extra bite, but it was more than manageable. This was nothing compared to her tankwando match on Valhalla years before.

The off-duty captain walked the streets of the town of Oakridge - the town nearest to Fort Teagan, her new post after her division's foray into Columbia a few months prior. After that particular incident, and the shitshow that followed it, High Command rewarded them for salvaging the ad hoc operation by...posting them in the middle of nowhere to "re-evaluate the current state of the northern wall." Some reward, right?

After a few minutes of walking, Miho finally arrived at her destination: Cunningham's Bar and Grill. A favored establishment for the younger demographic, though older members of the population often visit it as well. It also became the unofficial spot for members of the Black Forest Armored Division when they go on leave. Like Miho and her tank crew right now.

The off-duty captain was greeted with a warm, happy, if not a little crowded scene when she walked through the front entrance. People were merrymaking, drinking and eating to their hearts content, chatting the night away in their own social circles. Miho had to weave through the crowds, trying to find her crew (and friends). It took a few moments before she caught a glimpse of fluffy, chestnut colored hair near the back where multiple large green tables reside- looks like Yukari was partaking in pool! Miho had to squeeze through a pair of people before finally reaching her long time friend.

"Ah, Nishizumi-dono!" her loader happily chirped, hitting the cue ball into a solid 3, "We were thinking you were gonna spend the night at the base!"

"Aheheh," Miho nervously chuckled, "Officers get the privilege of staying late, you know. Paperwork takes longer for us. You winning?"

"It's pretty close!" Yukari affirmed, aiming her cue stick before lashing forward with it.

However, the brunette's aim was a little off. The cue ball instead did a glancing hit of the colored 7 ball, changing its trajectory and causing it to go right into a corner pocket. A Scratch. Yukari groaned and allowed her opponent - some person Miho didn't recognize - to take her place at the table. Looking around, Miho realized that Aoi, Guso, and Emily were no longer around. "Say, Yukari, where are the others?"

"Oh, they decided to go see a movie," Yukari explained, "I think it was Cheerleader Samurai vs Megaton Shark or something. I decided to stick around here, though."

10

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: December 22, 2020, 05:20:34 AM »

Roadrunner, Pegasus Scout Vehicle of 5th Company
South of Phillipsburgh

The wind whipped around Sergeant Emily McKinsey's face as the Roadrunner tore down the highway. It was a simple joy for her, to have everything from the shoulders up sticking out of her armored steed's cupola. This feeling reminds her of when her father took her out around Dunham with his motorbike.

"Auspex is picking up contacts1 Three, maybe four footmobiles at ten o'clock, two hundred meters out!" Speer's voice over the comms broke her reverie.

McKinsey looked in that direction, but could only see woods. Time for a closer look, then. She pressed the communication device's button and barked "Pierre! Bank left! Head into the treeline!"

The scout commander glanced at the sister-Pegasus, the Raptor, as the Roadrunner made its way towards the forest. "Pegasus-2, hold back! Cover our escape path!"

Aye aye, ma'am!" her counterpart, Sergeant Bethany Schmidt, affirmed. Though they shared rank, McKinsey held seniority and thus called the shots.

Emily ducked back down into the scout vehicle's hull, locking the hatch as she did so. "Park up ahead and kill the engine, Pierre." she ordered, "Can you get any better readings, Speer?"

"No, ma'am. The trees are mucking up any clearer Auspex readings. I'll take a look around with the thermo."

"Do that. I don't want to accidently shoot up some hunters. Tanaka?" McKensey turned to the gunner sitting in the turret, "I want you to also switch to thermo."

"Y-yes ma'am!" squeaked the rather mousy specialist.

"Ma'am, I think this is them!" Speer turned to her commander, "I-I mean, it's not a hundred percent clear but-Oh, damn! The camera's going haywire!"

"M-mine, t-too!" Tanaka added.

"I thought I told you two to make sure everything was up to task this morning!" bellowed Emily as she once again rose up behind Tanaka's seat, magnoculars in hand.

"I did! I did!" Speer called back as the sergeant flipped open the cupola's hatch.

Emily grumbled a response back to her subordinate. Whelp, nothing to do now except to take a look with her own eyes. She barely brought the magnoculars to her eyes when a sudden blur of movement dashed right by her, startling her. "Shit!" she yelped, almost stumbling back into the wheeled tank as she fumbled for her sidearm.

"Wha-what is i-it?!" Tanaka heard her shriek, looking up to her NCO with a worried look.

"I=I don't know!" McKinsey shouted as she stumbled back into the crew compartment, closing and locking the hatch, once again, above her.

She only got a look at whatever it was for a split second, but her mind was quickly analyzing what she briefly saw - blue and steelcolored outfit, golden hair. Wait, could it be? "I think it was Americana! Pierre! Back up, back up! Take usback tot he highway!"

As Pierre started up the Pegasus, McKinsey tried hailing the other armored scout vehicle "Schmidt! Schmidt! Americana just ran passed us! She probably didn't recognize us, and she's heading your way!"


"Schmi-....-ca jus...recognize...your way!"

Sergeant Bethany Schmidt couldbarely understand anything Emily was saying over the static over the radio. "Say again, Pegasus-1? I didn't read that. Over."

"Ma'am, auspex is picking up a footmobile running our way, ten o'clock! Contact in five seconds!" her assistant driver called back to her.

"Gunner, take aim at the tree line!" Schmidt didn't hesitate, shouting the order as she rose up to her cupola's periscope.

Sure enough, a person emerged from the treeline, a person any Dunham citizen knows all too well. "HOLD FIRE! HOLD FIRE!" Beth frantically yells, stopping her gunner from making the biggest mistake in their unit's history.

11

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: December 17, 2020, 07:25:33 PM »

Roadrunner, Pegasus Scout Vehicle of 5th Company
South of Phillipsburgh

"Pegasus One, two, move ahead of the convoy," Miho's voice came through the comms, "There is no air cover or recon. You are our eyes and ears now, over."

"Wilco, Valkyrie Actual. We'll let you know if we come across anything! Over and out." Sergeant McKinsey responded, "Time to put the metal to the pedal, Beth!"

"Aye aye, ma'am!" McKinsey's counterpart in the sister vehicle Raptor excitedly responded.

Both of the armored scouts zoomed ahead of the makeshift convoy, quickly reaching their maximum speed as they traversed down the highway.


Prodigal Child, Command Tank of Fifth Company
South of Phillipsburgh

Miho watched the two Pegasi roar ahead from her cupola, quickly becoming green dots in the distance. It will be up to them to locate Americana, and to warn them of any danger coming their way. Miho swung around to view the convoy she was now leading, take stock once again to help calm her nerves.

She selected Lieutenant Akaboshi Koume's squadron, three standard 'Russes and an Annihilator. That last tank was the key to her strategy in this operation - the twin-linked lascannons, while be specialized against armor, are also potent for highly durable creatures, like the theoretical one that was used in the kidnapping of her goddess. The primary weapon also has superior elevation to the battlecannon, and, combined with it being a pair of lasers, can be used as  a makeshift anti-air weapon for low altitude aircraft/monsters. The only gap in her defenses, vehicle-wise, would be against fast movers (jetfighters).

Or against superhuman entities. Miho still hasn't figured out what to do  if she were to encounter those outside of an ambush she sets up.

So, Captain Nishizumi is going to have to rely on the infantry being hauled in those box-on-treads Puma Infantry Support Vehicles. A smallish rifle platoon of augmented soldiers consisting of two rifle squads, a heavy weapons squad, and their commander - a Lieutenant Sorenson. She's not all too familiar with these men and women, but it seems that they are just as confused bumrushing Columbia as she was. She's hoping that they'd follow her orders to the letter in this scenario, instead of trying to be heroes like their Major apparently did...

"Keep your eyes peeled, everyone" The brunette spoke over the comms, "This is Charlie's backyard. He's not gonna be happy when he realizes we're here. Eyes to the sky and the trees, but do not fire unless I give the order to. How copy?"

A wave of affirmations graced her ears as she gripped her magnoculars. All that was left was to wait until contact was initiated.

12

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: December 14, 2020, 12:57:48 AM »

Prodigal Child, Command Tank of Fifth Company
Phillipsburgh

Phillipsburgh was a moderately-sized town of roughly 23,000 people. It largely owed its existence to the intersecting highways running through the forested south-east of Columbia, being a hub for the various lumber companies operating in the area. Such a hub, in fact, that the northern half is dominated by the industry - saw mills, truck stops, and warehouses line both sides of Highway 44, the northeast-southwest road. Highway 13, the east-west roadway, is the primary boundary between the industrial zone with the rest of the township.

The southeast quarter of Phillipsburgh is known as "The Bricks" or "Old Town," where the small city kept not only the older buildings, but the older brick roads as well. Aside from local governance, it is also the site of many of the shops as well as where the wealthier citizens call home. The southwest quarter of the small city is where the majority of the populace lives, a largely middleclass assortment of small neighborhoods and cul-de-sacs that expands out to the woods. Most of the people living here either work the shops, or, more likely, make their living in the mills and distribution centers to the north.

That was all Miho deigned to read about the town from her data pad. History and local attractions meant little in a combat situation like this one, even if her curiosity is a bit piqued. The 3rd Heavy Armor already encountered elements of the 7th Cavalry, who were in the middle of securing the city hall and the police station (Especially for the armory therein), as well as putting up barricades and checkpoints for the major roads. Maho directed them to aid in these efforts, and so Miho was deploying her company to the southwest half of Highway 44.

Nearing the city limits, she saw a group of 7th infantry men piling sandbags and extending razorwire into makeshift barricades. "Pull over here, Suzuhara," the brunette ordered, "I think these are the guys."

"Yes, ma'am."

Once the tank stopped, Miho opened the command hatch and raised herself halfway out of the cupola. She waved a pair of soldiers over, "You guys Echo Company?"

"Yes, ma'am!" One acknowledged as they both saluted, "Allow me to get Captain Matthews."


Makeshift Forward Operating Base
Parking Lot of Liberty Lumber Mill, Phillipsburgh

Though Maho's face appears to be stoic to the average soldier, those who knew her are able to pick up the minor expressions that indicated the colonel was, in fact, fuming as she climbed down from the Baneblade Indomitable with her staff.

The 7th were building a makeshift base of operations her at this saw mill, more or less due to its centralized location just off from where the two highways meet. And that was where their commanding officer was. Maho entered the command tent, quickly scanning for the highest ranking individual in the room. Her eyes landed on a golden oak leaf insignia - a Major - who was standing over a radio set holding a microphone up. "-I repeat, we are not here as conquerors. Our stay will be temporary. There will be no enforcement of Dunham laws onto your populace, nor will we make any demands of you. We simply ask for you to not interfere with our operations. We will make every consideration for civilians, but we will also defend ourselves if need be - "

Maho could hear what he was saying from the city loudspeakers outside. The 7rth must have hijacked the local radio stations and are trying to pacify the population of Phillipsburgh. Not like it really matters, though - the Columbians will, in the end, be a belligerent population to them. This is all hostile territory for the soldiers of Dunham. The populace will start off by feeding Columbian military their numbers and positions, and, once the military arrives, the civilians will be taking potshots at their backs. This will then only escalate to militias cutting off their escape routes as the Columbian Army closes in for the kill. In the end, Maho knew that this was ultimately territory that neither the 7th Calvary or her own 3rd Heavy Armor could hold.

Once the Major finished, though, that was when the brunette approached him. "Where's Lieutenant Colonel Wright?"

The man, a Major Knights, barely looked at her before leading her to an enlarged map of the surrounding area, "We left him behind in Dunham, ma'am."

"What?" This surprised Maho, shock noticeably showing through her otherwise stern face."

"I know you might have a lot of questions, ma'am, but now is the time for preparing. Just know that this was all my idea and you can line me up against a wall later."

"This was your doing?" Anger started to well up inside her, not just for Knights dismissal of her (despite her being ranking officer now), but now that they basically have a war on their hands that many will see Dunham initiating, "What the He - what were you thinking?!"

Knights turned to face her, his voice low, "I was thinking that Americana has to be returned to us at all costs, that she is more important than anyone of us, and that not acting was a betrayal onto her."

"And so you bucked orders, broke formation, and invaded Columbia?"

"Without Americana, Dunham is nothing."

"Invading Columbia will reduce us to no-" Maho remembered herself then, noticing how the enlisted were paying attention to their squabble. Gritting her teeth, she changed course, "I am now the ranking officer here, and will be taking control of this operation until General Sawyer arrives. Is that understood, Major?"

The older man was silent for a moment, before acknowledging her authority.


Highway 44 South Checkpoint
Phillipsburgh

First Sergeant Aoi approached the officers huddled around a makeshift shack - Captain Miho Nishizumi, First Lieutenant Mutsuki (Miho's XO), and Captain Matthews. "Captain Nishizumi? Colonel Nishizumi is hailing you and Matthews on the vox."

Miho looked up at her, thanked her, and started walking back to the tank with Matthews trailing behind her. Aoi heard him ask "Vox?" as they walked away.

It was a few minutes later when the two officers returned. Miho spoke "Mutsuki, you are going to be under the temporary command Matthews here. Just got new orders - I'm to take one of our squadrons, the two Pegasi, and one of Matthew's platoons down south."

"The colonel is sending you out to rescue Her?" the XO asked, a combination of worry and faint jealousy falling across her face.

"Yes," Miho affirmed.

Over the years, Miho has picked up some of her sister's stoicness - her nervousness about going deeper into enemy territory only being shown by a slight shaking of her left hand. She turned to her 7th counterpart, "Have your selected platoon meet us by the wire in about five minutes. May Americana grace us in our endeavors."

A few minutes later, five tanks, three IFV's and two scout  vehicles left the city limits, heading southwest to where Americana dropped off of RADAR...

13

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: November 29, 2020, 06:39:55 AM »

Roadrunner, Pegasus Scout Vehicle of 5th Company
Lancaster Bridge

"Look, look. I just need to hear this again, to fully understand it, is all!"

Sergeant McKinsey inhaled deeply through her nose as the assistant driver private Speer, in her typical loudmouth fashion, annoys the ever living crap out of her.

"So," the young woman, once again, began her tangent, "Americana gets kidnapped at the capital, not even a day after those attacks, gets flown all the way here, and mysteriously drops off the RADAR within a stone's throw from our position?"

"Yes..." came the jittery voice of gunner specialist Tanaka from her seat within the turret ring.

"And then, some fucktard captain in the 7th Calvary decides he has to be some big hero, drags his unit along with the rest of his battalion across the bridge and invades Columbia?"

"For the last time, yes, Speer." McKinsey's patience was wearing thin, "And watch your language."

"I'm just saying, McKinsey, that this whole thing stinks!" And off goes another Conspeeracy Theory, "We barely even got here, and then all this happens! I just feel we are the designated sacrifice to kick off the firework show!"

"And why would Americana fake her own kidnapping?" Specialist Pierre finally broke her silence from the driver's seat.

"Ah, my good Pierre, that's the thing! I believe that Americana is back in her mansion not even aware that this shit's going down. This is all fake shit cooked up by the shadow government! False flagging us into a war with Columbia, having plants in the 7th to lead the charge - it all makes sense!"

Everyone in the cabin groaned. Everyone except McKinsey, whose frown turned to an outright snarl. "Speer," she hissed, "We are going into battle! I am now ordering you to stow your shit, keep your conspiracies' to yourself, and to conduct yourself in a manner befitting your station!"

"Y-yes ma'am"


Indomitable, Command Super Heavy Tank of the 3rd Heavy Armor Battalion
Lancaster Bridge

"Checkpoint's been destroyed" Miho's soft voice came over Maho's radio headset, "The 7th must have moved on, Godmother. Over"

Maho's eyes darted to the map displaying the localized area. The 7th would have likely followed the highway - the surrounding area was pretty woods-y, limiting movement for those in a hurry. the road branches into two, with one going southward running by the last known place Americana was taken to. However, that branching occurs in the town of Phillipsburgh...

"Godmother copies, Phoenix Actual," Maho replied over the comms, "Attention all callsigns: Godmother, Valkyrie, Maiden, Phoenix, and Lancer will move on to the town of Phillipsburgh. Bulwark, Scylla, Thunder, and Jaeger will remain behind to guard our exit. Lancer Actual, I need you to leave behind two assets to help safeguard the bridge. How copy? Over."

The various company commanders - Erika (Valkyrie Actual, 1st Company), Alexandra (Bulwark Actual, 2nd Company), Ren (Scylla Actual, 3rd Company), Kaguya (Maiden Actual, 4th Company), Miho (Phoenix Actual, 5th Company), Ino (Thunder Actual 6th COmpany), Carter (Jaeger Actual, Tank Hunt Auxiliary), and Saito (Lancer Actual, Anti-Air Auxiliary) - gave their affirmatives over the battalion frequency.

And so, Dunham's tanks invade Columbia.

14

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: November 27, 2020, 02:50:04 AM »

Prodigal Child, Command Tank of Fifth Company
Woods near Lancaster Bridge

The 3rd Heavy Armor Battalion set up shop in these woods late last night as a part of a larger formation, protecting Dunham's side of the Lancaster Bridge in the event of a Columbian invasion. Things were getting too hairy these past few days not to, especially with those two attacks with the major powers Dunham was stuck between. This ultimately meant that First Sergeant Abhuraya Aoi has not gotten anything to eat or sleep for at least twelve hours now.

Captain Nishizumi Miho was currently away at the officers' meeting with command, leaving Aoi and her four crewmates - Privates Guso and Swanson, Corporal Akiyami, and Sergeant Suzuhara - to make a small camp by their tank as they await orders. The camp itself wasn't much, really, just a few folding stools surrounding an electric stove. Aoi herself was sitting on one of those GI Assholders, leaning forward and paying rapped attention to Guso as the private brewed the nectar of the gods on the stove - hard coffee. Bitter, bitter coffee, a drink beloved by every soldier that has the power to uplift even the most weary of hearts. "No matter hard you stare at it, it won't get finished sooner, Ma'am." Guso's trademarked deadpan brought her back down to reality.

"Tch," Abhuraya muttered, shifting her attention to her next need, "Hey, Swanson, Akiyami, you two finding the rations?"

"Got'em right here, Abhuraya-dono!" came Akiyami's cheery voice as the two subordinates crawled out the tank's side hatch, arms filled with MRE packaging, "Breakfast Menu Twelve, coming right up!"

"Coffee almost done?" Swanson's voice wasn't as lively as the Corporal's, looking like she's about ready to collapse from exhaustion herself.

"About another minute."

"Good..." The blonde private dropped her load of MRE's nearby the camping stove collapsed onto her stool as Akiyami started preparing the food.

Aoi could only stare as her subordinate started humming with a smile on her face as she tore into the packaging. "I don't get it," she started, "How are you always so...springy, Yukari?"

"Oh!" Akiyami looked up, "That's because -"

"Pack everything up!" Miho's voice suddenly rung out.

The Auburn-haired captain was practically sprinting up to their camp, a serious look plastered her face, immediately setting everyone on edge. Aoi met her as she entered the camp while the four others started shoving everything into the tank's myriad of crates, storage boxes, and armored containers. "Something happened, ma'am?"

"Americana's been kidnapped about forty minutes ago," Miho started explaining as she started climbing up the tank to the command hatch, earning gasps from her subordinates, "She's been taken somewhere into Columbia near here, and the 7th Calvary broke formation and crossed the bridge about fifteen minutes ago."

As everyone took up their positions inside the tank, Miho continued "High Command is treating this as an attack by Columbia, and we're to follow the 7th across the bridge."

First Sergeant Abhuraya Aoi's day is about to get even worse...

15

Areas / Re: The District of Columbia

« on: April 19, 2020, 04:21:56 PM »

Frank Horrigan:

Frank's eyes lingered on his charge, perhaps a bit longer than he intended to. "Understood, ma'am." He excused himself.


"Check your gear and restock!" The giant's baritone voice boomed in the room the custodians took up, "We are currently on Standby! Keep your things nearby and be ready to redeploy!"

As Frank lumbered in, he only gave his team a cursory glance, trusting in their discipline to heed his orders. The meta human instead made his way to an open space on a counter and detached his minigun, gently placing it. The weapon was fired for an extended period of time, and warping was likely. A light disassembly and rotary testing was needed...