Ch 2 headed to Dinosaur Swamp

[Tori]

Tori purrs loudly, her tail's tip swishing back and forth in a happy way. She gave her larger partner a nuzzle and winked over to her human. "That's just what we are Richardson, two screeching cats!" She bounded over to him and gave him a nuzzle as well.

[Dome]

"Really? I thought you were just a couple of groundpounders. Do me a favor though, none of that out in the jungle, You'll have every single creature and hostile coming right down our throats."

He smiles and pats the cat on the back, kind of getting used to the whole situation.

[Tori]

Tori purred louder, her eyes narrowing in contentment. It was good to have a human. "Rest assured, Richardson, when we're out in the swamp, the last thing they'll hear or see is me and Cpl. Janxi. And I do mean the very last."

Tori began to lick her paws absent-mindely, then slicked the sides of her face, before pulling on her gloves. "I'd almost feel bad for our enemy, if they knew we was comin' for them."

[Dome]

"If they knew, it wouldn't be much fun for us, you could be sure."

[dakota]

[ooc - tarmac , as in landing pad]

" Last time I heard a cat sing like that was when it's tail got caught under my uncle's rocking chair." Shep added flatly.

Ahead, a single Demon Locust helicopter with crossed sabers acrossed the nose sat on the pad, it's blades whirling slowly. The pilot looked at the squad approaching, sunglasses on despite it was clouded over with the coming storm. He used the PA," Saddle up boys and girls. Last boarding for Air Suicide now calling." The pilot grinned and started through his checklist.

Shep scoffed," Are all chopper jock nuts?"

[Renekin Skywalker]

"Only the ones that fly you, sir." Socrates answered, as he hopped on.

[Tori]

"Hooya!" Shouted Tori, ignoring Shep's remark. It was a time honored tradition for servicemen to sing in victors or when moving out. She even saw some pre-Rifts movie about Marines around the world in some forgotten war. After half of them were bombed, shot up, or came to terms with a very ugly war, they humped out of the town singing some song about a rodent. She wondered where the mouse was, and why there were not cats or dogs in the platoon to shoot what was surely a lowdown member of their team. Probably hiding in a hole somewhere, like every other rat.

She pulled out her media player and activated the external speaker on loud volume, audible over the helo's rotor, which set to neutral pitch, was none too loud. She hit the play button, and the media player sounded the "charge" bugle call four times. Her tail swished with joy.

"I don't care if the beach is hairy. We're takin' it from Charlie, cuz Charlie don't surf!"

Tori stowed the cats' gear quickly in the relatively spacious helo and took a seat near the door. She left room for Janxi and smiled what might pass for a feline smile to Shep to others unfamiliar with battle cats, it could easily be confused for a snarl. She found the man amusing. He did not answer questions and considered it to be a chore when forced to do so. He was some sort of special forces and a veteran infantry man. Still he feared submarines and helos. Silently, she wondered if he got his warrant bars just because he outlasted his contemporaries. Tori still worried about his injuries from his last hump, and whatever pills he was taking. Hopefully, he was squared away.

She helped the Doctor onto the helo, and showed her how to stow her gear under the canvas bench they sat on. Though engine noise was loud, she directed her attention to one of the hand-hold straps beside her and buckled her seat belts securely.

"Grab that in case the ride gets bumpy or we go evasive. The seatbelts have quick releases, so we can jump out in a hurry. These things can take a lot of damage, but if he goes down, he'll try to auto-rotate. As soon as we're on the ground, get out as quick as possible. Look out for fire, blades and debris, and hit the ground running. Make sure you have your weapon. Helos will float a second if we go down in water. Grab a vest under your seat, jump out. Swim away from the helo then put your vest on. If we land safely at our LZ, look out the door to make sure it's clear, crouch low to avoid rotor wash, and walk directly away from the helo 20 feet before you stop. Don't never walk behind or in front of the helo! They kick up a lot of dust when he lifts off, so cover your eyes from the bird or you'll be wipin' dust out all week.

"By the way, how'd yer shootin' go? What weapon did you decide on?" Seeing the doctor square, Tori gives her a thumbs up and straps herself in. "Express elevator to Hell! Goin' down!"

[sasqaricious]

Autumn instead of being forced on waits for the others to get on first and when half of the group is on she hops on herself. Using visual cues she stows her gear like the rest of the team and even lets the cat secure her and listens to the advice. When the cat asks the question about weaponry she was about to answer when cut off by the end part.

[Dome]

Richardson pulls out his rail gun before getting on. He stows the rest of his gear. 'I really hate these flying machines,' he thinks before climbing on board. He sits at the door and trains the rail gun outside, 'if this bird goes down I want to be the first one off.'

He says, "I'll cover the door," as he straps himself in closing his eyes for a second before opening them again and preparing to sweep the area as they fly. 'That way I can be the first one off when we land,' he thinks. To anyone that looks at him he looks tense and nervous, and almost as if he is ready to jump out of the helo.

[Janxi]

Janxi boards the helicopter as well, taking a seat between Tori and Autumn. She looked over and gave her human two fairly hard nuzzles as Tori bolted her down. If she hadn't been strapped and seated, Jan might have knocked her over. An aggressive cat made it clear when she expected a scratch.

"Richardson, you hate heights more than any other human I've ever met," Janxi said with a laugh.

Still, she grabbed her long juicer rifle between both paws and closed her eyes. She began to recite something she learned when she first enlisted. It was her mantra, to be recited before every mission.

"This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me my rifle is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than the enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will. My rifle and I know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, or the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit.

My rifle is living, even as I am living, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other.

Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and I are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life.

So be it, until victory is the Coalition's and there is no enemy but peace."

Only Tori, Autumn, and possibly Socrates could hear her prayer. Her radiant green eyes roll open and she exhales softly.

"Don't mind my little friend's moto b.s., how did your shooting go, doctor?" Janxi had a rich voice, deeper than Tori's but still tinged with a deep Lone Star accent. Prayer said, and rifle in hand, it was the hunter's eve.

[Renekin Skywalker]

Socrates sat closer to the middle of the craft. His eyes stayed open, but the look showed he wasn't just seeing with his eyes.

He stretched out with his psychic abilities, looking to see things the sensors won't.

[Mierin]

Sam follows the others onto the helo, stashing her gear before finding a seat near She so they can confer if necessary. Once she's buckled herself in, she looks around to make sure everyone else on the team has stowed their gear and is ready to go.

[dakota]

Shep was the last to board, giving Richardson a pat on the shoulder as he passed," Don't worry kiddo, if you fall out, I'll be the first one there to pick up the peices," he chuckled then plopped on the floor between the rows of seats against the far wall.. He still had alot of his gear in two duffles, and as he sat, he started to pull items out and pack them into either utility pouches or his back pack. As he did, he said loud enough to be heard by those with superior hearing " So Charlie don't surf, huh? Well,napalm in the morning sure as hell doesn't smell like victory." He looked up at Tori and winked while passing a vibro saber and sheath to Socrates.

[Renekin Skywalker]

Socrates took the vibro blade and attached it to a clip on his armour. "Thanks." he says. "Are you planning on bringing the supplies of the whole army on your back?" he asks.

[sasqaricious]

Autumn just leans back prepared for whatever is coming. Having no fear of flying she kinda muses mildly behind her helmet before she makes a mental note to maybe put Richardson on a couch to discuss these issues.