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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Oct 21, 2004 9:35:22 GMT -5
As you step into the locker room, your footsteps echo off the tiled floors and walls that run the length of the bay. The crest of the Legionnaires is emblazoned across the floor, and four rows of lockers, the first two marked "First" and "Second" lance, with the remaining two marked "Battle Armor" and "Support" dominate the center of the room, each flanked by a single wooden bench that runs the length of its row.
On either end of the bay are communal showers, accompanied by an ample number of washbasins, commodes, and laundry appliances.
A thin mist shimmers in the rays of artificial light that arc inward from the high, narrow windows running along the tops of the walls.
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Oct 29, 2004 15:39:59 GMT -5
The water exploded forth from the shower head, cascading down upon me like a thunderous waterfall, enveloping me in a muggy warmth that seemed to blot out the trials and tribulations of the world with an impenetrable shield. I knew this mission was going to be anything but ordinary, and far more challenging than anything this company, or any company before it, had ever encountered in the history of our unit. And there would be hell to pay if we didn't accomplish what we were setting out to do.
My contact had labelled it a suicide mission - no small statement coming from a member of an elite unit brainwashed into fearlessness. Though the implications of her statement were very real, and very dire, I was hell-bent on proving her wrong.
The looks of hope and courage that spilled across the faces of the cadre at the climax of the mission briefing haunted my mind, and I couldn't help but be pained at the thought that a few, if not many, of those faces might never be coming back from the war-torn Saffel. As much as I tried to remind myself that such was the cost of war...
The sounds of footsteps and a locker being opened interrupted my reflections. Glancing over the top of the curved divider wall, I squinted through the mist, trying to see who had arrived...
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Post by Captain Adam "Gunman" Wolf on Oct 29, 2004 16:22:36 GMT -5
Walking down the hallway towards the locker room I could hear the faint sounds of one of the showers running, wondering who might be in there at this time of day, I open the door and enter the mist enshrouded room. My footsteps making a slightly hollow sound as they echo through the room, the steady thud of my boots resounding off the tile floor as I head directly for my locker. Quickly punching in the code and ID the lock disengages and I pull open the door.
As I look through my equipment stored in the locker I sigh slightly thinking about back in the breifing room, the enthuisiastic techs, crewman and MechWarriors, both veterans and recruits alike, the courage and bravery of crewman Johnson, and the slight look of worry mixed with deep set determination of Captain Maxwell at the mention of his contact, all of it rushing through my mind as I think about the mission ahead, it seems suicidal, it's never been attempted before and the thought of taking on 2 full Heavy Lances PLUS a dropship, with only a single lance, worried me some, yet at the same time I knew that if anyone could pull it off, it was us.
The Legionnaires have stuck together through thick and thin and we've seen worse, maybe not actual combat situation wise worse, but we survived having our very founder and leader killed right before us in the blink of an eye, yet we held together and now are stronger than ever. We will pull this off, we HAVE to pull this off. We won't fail now, not after we've come this way.
I slam my first into the open locker door causing it to pivot wildly on its hinges and slam into the adjacent locker, the hollow metal sound echoing thoughout the room and realizing that whoever is in the shower was now fully aware of my presence.
I calmed back down and looked over towards the shower, unable to see anything through the heavy mist and fog from the hot showers, I finished my checklist of personal equipment and then proceeded to get ready for a shower myself, heading into the large shower area, I step into an adjacent stall, now close enough to see who it is that is also taking a shower.
Turning on the water and welcoming the hot, relaxing wave of water, I turn to my right and can barely make out the head of someone on the other side of the divider wall.
"Hey Maxwell, is that you over there?"
"Enjoying one of the few luxuries we have before the mission huh?"
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Oct 29, 2004 19:00:44 GMT -5
Through the steam, I could make out the profile of Captain Gunman as he stepped into the adjacent alcove.
"Hey Maxwell, is that you over there?"
"Enjoying one of the few luxuries we have before the mission huh?"
I laughed an acknowledgement. The sonic showers aboard DropShips, though effective in getting one clean, were hardly luxurious.
"I suppose you could say that. Call it an escape, if you will."
I rinsed the balance of the soap from my body and toweled off, then stepped into the warm confines of an officer's robe. I walked over to the bench that stood sentry between the showers and the officers' lockers, and eased down onto it, unlocking my locker as I did so.
"Do you think we're doing the right thing?"
The splashing from the shower faded, and I knew that Gunman had paused.
"Come again?"
I slipped the cargo pants of my battle dress uniform on.
"This mission. Do you think we're doing the smart thing, charging in so badly outgunned and outnumbered, with this much at stake?"
"No."
There was a pronounced silence, interrupted only by the sound of Gunman's idle shower streaming against the alcove's floor. Pulling my undershirt on, I stood up, and tucked it in securely under my belt.
"I think we're doing what's right."
That was what I had hoped to hear.
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Oct 29, 2004 23:17:14 GMT -5
The shower trickled off, and I heard Gunman toweling off. He rounded the corner as I was fastening the clasps on my duty belt. My 9mm felt reassuringly snug against my thigh, and the extra magazines clipped to my belt reminded me that there were 44 extra depleted uranium chances at life within arm's reach. I slipped my plasma pistol into its leg holster, pushing it down until it responded with a distinctive "click" that reassured me it wasn't going anywhere until I needed it to.
Captain Gunman quietly began dressing, an awkward silence filling the room. Something was definitely on his mind - and I had to find out what it was.
"There's something else, isn't there?" I asked, quietly, so as to avert prying ears. "What is it?"
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Post by Captain Adam "Gunman" Wolf on Oct 30, 2004 3:54:47 GMT -5
As I finished getting dressed after my shower, I sat down heavily on the bench and sighed a bit, looking about to see if anyone else was around I turned to Captain Maxwell and in a low voice responded
"Well as you know this is the biggest mission we've taken on since, well since the Jade Falcon incident, where ...... you know ...." A breif look of pain and agony flashing across my face before regaining my previous sombre yet firm composure "I just don't know if we are up for this yet, many of the men are still rather fresh and this is a big challenge, I have full confidence in them, I just don't want to lose anyone ...." I trail off as though there is still a little more I want to say but not sure if I really should.
Captain Maxwell looks at me for a moment before speaking quietly still in order to continue to avoid any prying ears.
"Yes, I understand. What's the rest of it now? I know there is more."
Again looking about breifly to ensure privacy I continue, "Well there are a couple other things. First, I feel kind of weird about the Pheonix I mean, I've been wanting to get that thing repaired for quite a while, we need the extra fire power and all, yet, having it there was sort of a memorial, a constant reminder of John if you will. Everyone knew the history of that thing, and everyone respected that it was the wishes of those of us that were there to have it stay there unsalvaged. Also it feels weird leaving Chidori in the dropship rather than taking it on the mission, that Cauldron Born was John's and now its been mine for several years. Im gonna miss it."
After another pause I leaned over closer towards Captain Maxwell and lowered my voice even more "The final thing is, well I know you have the utmost confidence in your insider at ComStar, and although I dont know who he or she is, I trust in your judgement and am 100% behind you, yet still, in the back of my mind, I get this feeling that, well I can't quite pin point it, but its just this feeling that I wish there was some way we could guarantee that the HPG will be down, I just prefer to take care of things personally, as in internally within the Legionnaires. I know that we need outside help though, but I just get this ackward feeling about this mission, like it isnt exactly going to go off without a hitch."
Standing up from the bench I stretch a bit and turn to my locker, rumaging through the equipment I place my heirloom Katana across my back and lock the MAG-18 into my vertical hip holster. Although somewhat ackward in appearance it fits very comfortably and doesn't interfere with mobility. Returning my voice to its usual tone I turn towards Captain Maxwell and chuckle.
"Of course that ackward feeling could just be that Mexican I had for lunch not sitting well, I'll have to talk to the Chef about going easy on them spices"
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Oct 30, 2004 12:19:21 GMT -5
I sat in contemplative silence for a few moments, mulling over all the insight that had just been fed my way. Each and every one of Gunman's concerns were valid, and I had been experiencing many of the same nagging questions and doubts myself, and the damndest part was that they were all valid. Not one of them wasn't based in reality - and that was what made this the most difficult. As I finished packing my gear bag, I closed my locker, and turned to face Gunman.
"You're absolutely right. About everything. I can't sugar-coat it. This mission is crazy - in fact, it's beyond crazy - but if we don't do it...realistically...who will? This one isn't about meeting profit margins, or big rewards...this one is the one that's either going to ruin us, or save the Inner Sphere from another hundred years of some godforsaken war and bloodshed. I think the cadre realizes that, and I do think they stand behind us...especially those who served under John - and it's for that reason, as well, that I think the Phoenix will be the most stirring image on this mission - to many of the cadre, I know that it symbolized a slain evil - a reminder that even in defeat, this unit was able to find some small victory - and to have that evil resurrected and serving under the control of the very people it tried to slay - especially on this mission - would be a morale booster that, I think, victory itself would pale in comparison to.
"I can understand your position on it as a memorial, though...and I don't see why it can't remain as such following this mission - called upon in only the most extreme of circumstances, if you like - I definitely don't think the Chidori should be retired, and in fact I would even request that you bring it along as well, if only for moral support to those not wishing to see it left behind. I know it's a burden on the weight limits, but I think we can afford the sacrifice."
I paused, letting it all sink in. Gunman nodded a silent acknowledgement that conveyed a thousand words. I picked up my gear bag, and gripped its straps tightly in front of me.
"As to my contact..." The words trailed off, and I let the silence finish the sentence. "We WILL not fail, Adam. I promise you."
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Post by Captain Adam "Gunman" Wolf on Oct 30, 2004 14:17:08 GMT -5
Standing there slowly rumaging through my equipment I listen to all off Captain Maxwell's words, letting them sink in, at the end turning and nodding towards Maxwell, closing the locker door rather firmly, the metallic echo resounding about the locker room, I turn towards Maxwell, equipment bag in hand and a look of determination in my eyes."I know Maxwell, we WILL not fail, we CAN not fail." Stepping towards the locker exit, I stop and turn back towards Maxwel, firmly placing a hand on his shoulder and saying, "Let's go friend." As we head towards the locker room exit the seriousness faded from my voice as I chuckle a bit saying, "Once more into the breach huh?" "And as far as the Pheonix remaining a memorial piece ..... I guess that'll depend on how well like I her during battle" ;D
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Post by MechWarrior Jak S Wildmen on Nov 24, 2004 6:28:57 GMT -5
Finally i could get a decent shower. With the Op finally over, i began to notice how easily grim could accumilate all over my body. then i began to notice the smell. My smell. Ugrh! what a horrible stench! There was already another shower being used by someone. I really hoped he couldnt smell me from where i was. throwing down my bag, i quickly undressed i turned on the tap. Water gushed down from the shower head giving my some relieve. "Hopefully they can fix the broken arm on my Thor, gonna be ready for the next op"I thought to myself.
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