Ch 4. Landfall

[Tori]

"This just ain't my day. Bug guts, and now lead..." She staggered back with the kinetic energy then looked up at the kids before climbing onto the damaged boat. She sat in the coxswain's seat, brushed the pellets off and sighed.

"You're right there, son. We done saved ya from that spider, and it ain't real nice to go shootin' your savior. Who and what I am ain't real important, but I ain't no mutant from no island. You seen I got friends, so looky here, I reckon we saved y'all from that spider, and I wanna swap ya for a boat. Yer gonna have to tow this here boat home, so how 'bout we give y'all some cover on the way back, and make sure you get there real safe like?

"Ya got yer lives saved, your boat salvaged and got a specops team to ride shotgun to get ya home. The least ya can do for us is take us home so yer folks can hear our offer."

She lowered her own weapon to her side, removed her fins, then took off her helmet to reveal her full feline features. The boonie hat replaced the helmet, and she donned her sun-glasses, before taking a pinch of nip for a snuff.

"I'm a fishing cat, Cpl. Janxi is a jaglion and Cpl. Socrates there is a German Shepherd. The rest of our team is men, just like you cubs. I got a doctor, if y'all need. We smoked that spider with no trouble. If we was gonna hurt ya, we'd let ya be spider food and just taken yer boat. That just ain't cool, so how bout it?"

She reached out to Janxi and helped her into the boat, making no sudden moves to spook the kids. "Ya sure all you all are out of the water and no one is hurt?"


MA to trust [dice=100] needs 45[rand=0538954169522974983988996801526749533631759943736034291914752610175]

[dakota]

With Soc's warning, they boy had dropped his shotgun. "I'm sorry. the big one scared me flipping the boat like dat."

The girl, obviously the brightest, spoke up," Tam has his arm banged up, but we're all here." She pointed to the boy hiding behind the others. We'll take you to see the council, they'll be happy you helped."

The first boy spoke up," Only because your dad is one of the elders."



Shep glanced out at soc and the cats with the boats," We better soon do something, the racket we made is soon going to attract more company."

Overhead, birds were starting to circle the carcass

[Janxi]

Janxi climbed aboard the boat with Tori's hand up and though in sealed armor, shook herself dry, as if by instinct. "My name is Janxi, not the Big One."

She took off her helmet and purred softly, but yawned to reveal her teeth that glowed against her black fur. "And it's nice to meet you." She said it friendly, to show no hard feelings, though she hated being just an adjective and a noun when she had a name. Humans were good at that.

"Shep's right. We're attractin' scavengers, and them seagulls are gonna be the least of our problems. Tow us over to grab our team and let's go meet yer council."


Tori was smart with the cubs, so Janxi took off her helmet and replaced it with her utility cap and shooting glasses. "We ain't got much time. Anyhow, what's yer names?"

[Tori]

Tori narrowed her eyes and swished her tail at Janxi for yawning. "Yeah, you make 'Bite the Big One' sound like an execution. Stop scarin' them cubs."

Shortycat grabbed a line on the wrecked boat and lashed it to a chock. "Stand by. I'm comin' over to tie on and take care of your injured man."

At that, she leaped from deck to deck, turning a flip in mid-air just to show off.

Gymnastics/backflip[dice=100] need 70

Landing on the deck, Tori lashed down the line to a cleat on the operational boat. Then she stood up.

"Alright, I need one of you to pilot, NOW. Let's get my team, and let's go see your council."

She approached the wounded boy, in a slightly timid position. Cats were used to approaching and killing wounded prey, not approaching a wounded friend and helping. It was an unfamiliar role.

Tori broke out her first aid kit, and made a sling for the boy's arm, and splinted it, if broken. She used her RMK, if the patient was willing, to stimulate healing at a molecular level. Otherwise, she'd leave him to his injury.

First aid [dice=100] needs 55

"Y'all got anything to eat? I'd love me some ham right now," she said as she worked on the boy's arm. "Y'all move, we got no time to sight-see."


[rand=037058782779250127253184784128929754546456529723235171566920304664]

[Mierin]

Sam nods at Shep, "Agreed. We need to get moving." Turning to Autumn, she says "We don't have time to waste so you're going to have to get your samples another time. Please check out the kid who banged his arm and make sure he is all right" Turning to the rest of the team, she says "Let's move."

[dakota]

Flipping his helmet off, Shep pressed his fingers to his lips and whistled loudly," Tori! let Autumn worry about that. Let's just get moving!"

The wounded boy was hesitant, but let Tori see. It was badly fractured, but he was able to control his pain as Tori tended to it.

The shooter climbed up into the pilot's seat and fired up the incredibly loud fan that drove the boat. As the others sat, he goosed it forward until the slack was taken up, waited for Soc to get aboard, then slid it close to Sam and the rest of the squad. The injured teen and the girl got on the second air boat, with the girl's attention giving away a bond between them before she got into the pilots seat to be out of the way.

[Renekin Skywalker]

Socrates hopped over to the second boat, to help provide cover. In classic CS Infantry style, the dog boy somehow managed a power-pose, even on the boat. He said very little in all of this, not having much to add.

He was, however, concerned that this would compromise their secrecy in this. It's bad enough a CS team is going to be whispered through here - they seem common enough anyways - but if the cats started going on about looking for friends again, they might as well go home, for all the success they'll have.

[Tori]

"Aye aye, sir. Leavin' the patient to the doc."

Tori assumed Shep wanted her riding shotgun rather than playing nurse. With a pilot that knew the waters and their destination, she wasn't needed to drive. She broke out a chemical ice pack and gave it a punch to blend the chemicals that turned it cold in a hurry. Then, she placed it on the boy's fracture. She decided to let Autumn handle setting, splinting and the pain management.

"You don't know it yet, but you're actually kinda lucky. For one, I've seen a lot worse. But even more than that, you get the Doc treatin' ya. She's right good at mendin' busted arms. It's her specialty." She opened her canteen and let the boy drink his fill as she held it for him, then finished the rest so the water wouldn't slosh.

Once Autumn was on she said, "Santiago, he got a compound fracture of the (insert left or right radius, ulna or humerus-or combination of) communited fracture. I've given no pain-killers and only treated with ice. His pain tolerance is good. Lemmie know if you need another set of hands.

Tori shot the wounded boy's mate a friendly "Miaow" and took up station beside her, cradling her rifle. "We'll have him fixed up quick, and better than new in a jiffy. But in the mean time, I want you to tell me and Janxi about boatin' in this here swamp. We need to know where to go, what to watch out for and such. Does this fan boat work diff'rent from an outboard, when it comes to drivin?"

She watched the waters ahead, and the shore on her side of the boat for trouble. Life afloat was Navy life. And Tori seemed happy to have the wind in her face.

Sense psychic and magic energy [dice=100]needs 30
Sense supernatural [dice=100]needs 54
Locate sound [dice=100]80 needed
Identify sound [dice=100]72 needed

Skills:
Detect ambush [dice=100]45 needed
Detect concealment [dice=100]35 needed
Detect mines/traps [dice=100]35 needed


[rand=83849276097221373634642728947987778265269792197525088264269466646]

[Janxi]

Janxi grabbed the seat and listened to the girl's observations. She hoped the doctor kept her helmet on. The last thing the team needed was some boy cub getting smitten with the doc and making the grand poobah's daughter jealous. She cradled her rifle, ready to fire on trouble ahead or along the bank. She noted any dangers, like logs or animals, and listened to what the girl said to avoid. Plus she noted their path, closely.

"So what are your names? Smurfette over there is Tori, by the way. How old are you cubs?"

As she spoke, she then took a whiff of Shep, just to make sure he wasn't smelling like an easy lunch again, but made little show of it.

Search for Tracks [dice=100]/50
Sense psychic and magic [dice=100]/30
Sense supernatural [dice=100]/54
locate sounds [dice=100]/80
identify sounds [dice=100]/72
Land nav [dice=100/]51[rand=6345223400183765968923265007644731446564053827913819660737205671]

[Dome]

Richardson climbs onto the first boat and holds his weapon at the ready as they prepare to get underway.

[sasqaricious]

The doctor moves in to look at the boy, pulling off her helmet and gloves so that the child can see that he is dealing with a human and hoping her appearance would offset any fear the child is having.

Charm/Impress - [dice=100]/60%
Trust/Intimidate - [dice=100]/40%

Flashing a smile to put the patient at ease, "Do not worry I will aid you!" She states as she starts.

Medical Doctor: [dice=100]90/[dice=100]80%[rand=4055700363790662005201574553019506357705618433816419523640545118]

[Tori]

"Do not worry! I will aid you! Heeeere I come to save the day!" Tori had a quick giggle at the doctor's expense.

Tori knew Autumn had assets, and this time around, wished she kept them to herself. Janxi was right. Earning the affections of the boy courting the chief's daughter was unwise.

"Hey cub?" She asks to the female man-cub in the pilot's seat to distract her from the hottie aiding her boyfriend. "How come y'all are out here throttlin' your boats, and got nothin' but shabby armor between you and that spider? That squirrel gun didn't do nothin' to a good kitty like me, and it woulda jus pisd dat spider off. Ain't you got nothin' more substantial?"

MA roll to trust/distract [dice=100] needs 45[rand=26903685692158974710258499825126946214780140320328539956530593447]

[dakota]

While the rest of the team was able to board the air boats, Autumn's patient relaxed a bit to let her tend to his nasty break. "It really hurts." He finally said, breaking his tought guy visage.

Under tow and heavily weighted down, the air boat began to move slowly despite the roar of the fan, being overworked. the girl spoke up so she could be heard. " I'm Nala. and thiats Shan( working on damaged boat), Tam (wounded) and Nik (shooter). We always come out on the boats like this. That bug wasn't here before. It only takes ten minutes to get home normally"

when Tori asked, Nala laughed," No not like an outboard. They steer more like a drunken Tritops. but fun when you learn. Tam and Nik have been using their fathers boats since they were old enough to sit in the pilot seat."

[Tori]

"You need a laser rifle out in this swamp." Tori purred loudly enough, and deeply enough that she knew Nala could feel her. The girl cub was brave, and she respected that. "Y'all part of a tribe?" Tori knew about Indians and their tribes. The cubs made her sort of think they might have their own tribe. She envied them, and their ability and willingness to live off the land.

[Dome]

Richardson keeps an eye our for any more trouble. His eyes still drifting towards the good doctor more often then he probably should.

[dice=20]Perc as he looks around[rand=603915961631496763798773632034570322914850273047223115399633401323]