Ch.7 - Just Another Day In Paradise (Everyone)

[Cabal]

hopefully the tk field will slow down or lessen the blast and or protect salinger

[Renekin Skywalker]

*Mariana, in all the commotion starts examining around this Salinger fella, lookin' fer traps. (someone'll have to roll for me, as I've no dice at work, her skill is 43% to detect traps and mines) Figuring, maybe, just maybe, she might figure out who's really in trouble. *

(Tag - Daks/any)

[EDIT] *Which is to say: Mendez yanks Ellie, Mariana, as did Rhys, ducks for cover, though, for Mariana more to avoid not getting run over by Mendez. Then as she's crouching turning to look at Salinger for signs of where the trap might be... and all this, of course, depending on whether or not pulling Ellie from Salinger didn't jostle anything to set off the aforementioned trap.*

[dakota]

A second click comes from beneath Salinger's body as the colonel snatched Ellie away to safety. A brief pause gave a false sense of security that it was a trick, but it was quickly washed away by as the landmine hidden beneath the fallen sergeant's body exploded, dismembering him in a gruesome display as the TK forcefield trapped the force of the blast for what seemed like an eternity before the shield buckled. As the blast cleared, all that remained of Salinger was was a few drops of blood and a smoking crater in the forest floor.

(tag- anyone)

[Renekin Skywalker]

*As the noise settles* "Well, Clearly those soldiers will be safe in our hands when we find them." *Grunts Mariana, wiping guts off herself, and her pack* "Now, can anyone figure out what went wrong, children?" *She says lokoing between Rhys, Mendez, Dyson and Ellie*

(Tag-any)

[Marcethus]

Rhys glares at Mariana, "I suggest you drop your attitude Sergeant Smith." turning to look to Mendez. "Well now that we know that they are trapping the surviving members we are going to have to be double careful. Though it was foolish of you and Ellie to run to him without checking for a trap first"

[Renekin Skywalker]

*Mariana raises her index finger * "That's right, Sargeant, they failed to check. What's number two?"

*Sgt, Smith does not at all seem intimidated by Rhys.* "Suggestion noted, Sargeant."

(Tag-anyone)

[Jon / Bo]

Ellie sits there wit ha horrific look on her face trying to comprehend what just happened. As she begins to reagain her composer she looks to Mendez "Sir, I apologize... and thank you." She sits still for a moment and trys to clear things up in her head.

Tag all

[Cabal]

Mendez stands up and says;" Smith, Rhys, Dyson, scan the perimeter. We might still have company."

Then he helps Ellie up and says;" Salinger was a soldier and he died one. Don’t beat yourself up, just learn from this. The mine would have probably been detonated by remote if we tried to disarm it safely. Right now i need you to get a read on Gantry and Shep. They might be in trouble. So stay focused we are still in the crud and i need you to get back to work."

He then walks over to his pack and takes out his tracking device. Punches in Mikey's code, and then tries to get a fix on him. Once the signal is detected he puts his pack back on.

Finally he looks to Mariana;" sergeant smiths, in the future don’t go running off half-thingyed with out orders. You put soldiers at risk when you do. And i had to split the team up to cover for you. You are here to do two jobs one of them is to scout for the team. You might have been able to detect the trap had you been available when Ellie picked up on Salinger. With the late LT gone, we lack a primary demolitions expert. I do believe that now falls on you. Unless, you are a scout with no demo training. Now even though you have leeway to do your other mission. I expect you to work with the team to help keep them safe. Or maybe you don’t understand what those stripes on your sleeve mean. Now when ellie finishes her read you will take point. Am I clear?" (The last is a rhetorical question)

Finally to Rhys," Sergeant Rhys, when shep is gone you are my second i expect everyone will respect that!" Mendez says this loud enough for everyone to hear.

(TAG EVERYONE)

[Renekin Skywalker]

"Your expectations are unfounded, Col. You are nothing but an advisor, as much a commander as I am a demo person. My training just happens to include ID-ing of mines and traps. In any event, my running off half-thingyed has nothing compared to you flying off half-thingyed. If you hadn't yanked Ellie the way you did, you wouldn't have jostled Salinger, finally trigering the mine. If you had, instead, patiently assinged one of us to actually look at Salinger - hell, even Ellie or Rhys here could have noticed it was a landmine, and that moving Salinger in the slightest was a death sentence - he might still be alive. As to my running off, I was imitating the only person in this group that actually has the balls to affect any kind of intelligent defense. And, as a reward for that, I can honestly and truthfully bear witness to the fact we were set up. Someone gave those troops - most likely Sprite's men, they weren't wearing CS armour like Sung's would - our location, and Shep's MO. Had I stayed with you, and been 'predictable' as the unfriendlies called it, we would all be just as dead. I will only respect Rhys' rank in the hierarchy if he is second to Shep. Otherwise, you're all a mess, and would be more helpful to your rescue goal, if you all just went home and let someone else do it. Salinger's death clearly evinces that. So, Mendez, you'll forgive me if I don't respect your orders, or your command, because neither seem to be doing much good."

*Without waiting for a response:* "Shep, Gantry, Mikey, check in. Found one. Trapped. *she looks clear at Mendez* "Sat on a mine, got knocked off it." *Turns off the radio* "And, as for the radio, screw it, they already know where we are."

(Tag-anyone)

[Cabal]

Mendez wonders how the coalition has gotten so far, then says;" sergeant smith you insubordination will not be tolerated. You will maintain radio silence unless told to do otherwise. When we move are position, we can be triangulated from our radio use, and if you where a scout worth your salt you'd know that. Your opinion and dissention is also noted. Disobey a direct command i will have you court martialed. Your attitude and posturing is helping the enemy, not us. As for your accusation, your attempt to waiver the team’s loyalty will be met with no success. You’ve lost your way sergeant. Now fall in, that’s an order."

to ellie;" Ellie, you got a fix yet?"

(Tag everybody)

[Cabal]

(helpful tip, for those of you who dont carry dice with you. may i suggest logging on to the palladium books web site and using there dice bot. thats what i do and it's very helpful. if anyone knows of other sites with a automatic roller, let us know.)

[Renekin Skywalker]

"Col. I will not fall in, as your authority is your own making. If you were a field commander worth your salt, (*Starts checking off fingers*) you would not have allowed Ellie to approach Salinger before either the assassin or techie in your group checked him out. You would have already reigned both myself and Shep under you. You would already know that, given what I have just told you, triangulating radio signals is an unnecessary exercise, especially after that mine blew. Quite honestly, Col., you are one of the worse field commanders I've met unless, perhaps Salinger's death was deliberate, in which case you might just have my respect. In any event, I am under no obligation to report to you, or fall in under you."

*Mariana leaves her radio to receive signals, and starts walking in larger circles around the blast site, igoring Mendez - and everyone, really - focusing on the ground around her. (37/55 to track humanoids, to find the path of the people that left Salinger there)*

(tag-anyone)

[Marcethus]

As he heads to scan the perimeter he whispers to Mendez. "Sir the penalty for disobeying an order in the field is death, just so you know" As he moves out to scan the perimeter staying alert with all his senses.

[Jon / Bo]

Ellie looks to Mendez "Yes, Sir. Getting a fix now"

OOC Remote Viewing x2 (20isp) Shep 15sec, Gantry 7Sec. They in good condition? Running from anyone? Anything?

Tag Dak/Any

[Renekin Skywalker]

*At one point, Rhys, in his patrol, and Mariana cross paths, causing Smith to stand upright, annoyed* "Could you please either stay within the circle or walk behind me? The forest floor is hard enough to track on... And if there are more mines..." *And she steps around him, continuing her search, reminded to look for both footprints and landmines.*
(Tag- Daks/Rhys/any)