Ch. 7 When are we getting out of here?

[Janxi]

"And how, Smurfette." She took her cat milk and sipped. "That AA capability is scary, and I ain't real sure how y'all got in when rescue expeditions got shot down. Strength in numbers? Moving their asset to other parts of the swamp? Y'all got in. Howdja do it?"

Janx drained the juice box in three long sips and tossed it into the wastebasket. "That's a two-pointer."

[dakota]

The general shook his head," It can only be in one place at a time. We lost a pair of Shrikes fifteen miles to the east. To be honest we got lucky, but at least we have an idea what we're looking for. I'm sure you are familiar with our trade agreement with the NGR? Classified document show they lost a transport headed for LoneStar in this region about three months ago. The manifest shows that onboard were 2 super transports they use with massive cannons on them capable of knocking almost anything out of the air. We think that's what they have. How they got it working, I don't know, so all teams are on the lookout for them and any rat nests. We'll get the Navy to Tomahawk them if we can pinpoint them, but it has to be done from the ground. As for training indigineous forces, Captain Fraser, your brother seems to have that down pat and I'm going to leave him to it, provided they keep professional and personal business seperate. I want to reassign your team here for the time being. Your hands on experience and proven track record show you are more than capable. for now, you are off the roster so enjoy some downtime. anything else? Oh Trassk, that hot sauce recipe you slipped in the mess hall is good by the way, the cooks whipped up a batch strong enough to peel the paint off the walls. Now we need to move the latrines."

Shep laughed and looked at the cats," should make you two happy."

[Tori]

"So how these guns travel? Hover platforms? Tracks? Barge? It's all a swamp out there. Anything dat big's gonna disturb some veggy-tation. We find a track, follow it, and either call in the missile strike or sabotage it our own bad selves, sir. I mean either that, er ya get us lurpin' round for tha nest. Yer're right, General, we're capable of housin' some rats, and this here team got a swamp full of carcasses to testify to dat, hooya?"

Tori heard the bit about being reassigned to Florida. She missed Edgar, and would love to be with him again, but a week-long mission was hardly a hardship. It was the nature of the beast when you were in Special Warfare. She fumbled in her pocket and found the odd credit chips she yanked off the rat sappers she greased at Tim's camp. "Whaddya y'all make of these?"

Tori's little black and white ears perked at Shep's announcement "Is that Abe's hot sauce?" Her stomach rumbled loudly at that point.

[Mierin]

Sam nods at the announcement that they were going to be reassigned. While there were people she would miss back at the old base, she knew the reassignment wasn't forever, so she would be fine. She is glad for the opportunity for downtime, and planned to enjoy it.

[Janxi]

"We also gotta mention some contact with the Horune on the way in. Juss passed under a capital ship, and they deployed some pursuit fish 'bots that we naturally surpressed. Some contact with locals leads us to believe they could be operating in the area also, General."

Tori's body language was to be expected. She missed her fella, but was taking the assignment pretty well. She put an arm around her friend in support. "At least the chow here's good."

[dakota]

Shep smiled and nodded to Tori" The very same."

Gen. Sykes shrugged before he left. " The Horune is to be expected, and those look like Splugorth cred coins, but they would have to be checked by someone who'd know better. Consider yourselves lucky, those from the base you were on that aren't on there way here are packing to relocate operations north. Been getting some strange reports up across the old Canadian border. There are four more teams transferring here and the rest are drawing cold weather gear. Unless you would prefer that?"

Shep shook his head quickly," Nothing wrong with the swamp, sir."

[Tori]

"I worked out of Sault Ste. Marie, and I'll tell ya now, swamp's fine by me. Are the frogs gettin' pissy wif our people? No, sir. Swamp's good."

Tori's stomach rumbled louder, and the thought of dino-wings with hot sauce was almost too much to take.

"Uh, sir. Please keep that scrip and run it by the intel guys. I suspect yer right and it is is Splooge issue. Permission to fall out for chow?"

[Janxi]

"Speakin' of scrip, Shep... Can I get some to go to the Class VI store to get something so we can toast them souls we leff bahind? Ya know, Sneaker and Fangs? They was both good soldiers."

Janxi's stomach rumbled too, and she looked up, nodding at Tori's request. "I'm wif my CO and mah partner. Gimmie a swamp over Canada any day. I known too many Marines dat got tha frostbite up there."

[dakota]

(Takoda)

As the transport landed, the other troops started to disembark. They had taken time, especially the Luietenant in command, to explain about CSOG and how it was the an elite force. At the foot of the ramp, a corporal was waiting," You must be Takoda? Welcome to Coalition Special Operations Group Fort Machais. Your former CO must have really praised you to get you shipped directly to a firebase like this. Come with me, General Sykes is conducting a breifing with your new squad so you can catch them before they go to chow." He turned and began to double time across the tarmac towards a cluster of buildings. Though he called it a fort, it reminded Takoda of an oversized firebase as they approached one of the buildings.

[All]

"I'll let you head to chow in just a moment." The General said as a knock came at the door. He turned," Enter and two soldiers walked in," Good timing Corporal. Captain Fraser, this is Corporal Takoda, I think he'll fit in nicely with your squad. I'll leave you to do your own introductions, I have paperwork to attend to," he scowled, and with a salute, was out the door.

Shep shook his head as he looked at Lakoda," Good lord, another fuzzy britches. Grab a rack to dump your junk on," he said to the new arrival," but I guess that's all right. Cat or not, it's good to not be the only one that pees standing up again." He patted the snow leopard battlcecat on the shoulder and headed for the door.

[ooc- now everyone play nice with Latrans and welcome him to the game]

[Takota]

Watching through one of the small windows as the scenery flowed by below them Takoda's attention was torn away from the landscape and focused back on the dreary interior of the transport when the lieutenant began to tell him about his new assignment. He took in the information but the whole time, whether looking out the window or listening to the lieutenant, Takoda was constantly grooming the exposed silver-gray fur his service uniform was not covering to keep it gleaming and clean.

When he meets the corporal upon exiting the transport the leopard salutes out of politeness. He remains quiet though just nodding in response to the question and he feels a pang of loneliness as soon as the corporal mentions his last CO. The name of the general is mentally filed away so he does not forget it but that thought is quickly put from his mind when the corporal mentions something about food. Takoda feels as if he has not eaten in days even though he had a huge dinner the night before.

Slinging the duffel bag carrying his few belongings over one shoulder Takoda follows the corporal to the building and upon entering immediately salutes noticing a general and captain within the room. Another name, that of the captain, is heard and remembered for later use. His nose picks up the scent of two more cats in there before he actually sees them as he keeps eyes front for the salute. That fact alone eases his apprehensions a little bit but when he hears that comment about 'another fuzzy britches' his heart sinks a notch until he realizes it was not meant in a bad way. With a smile and a nod after being given leave to to do so Takoda finds an unused bunk to set his duffel on before turning to face the others, and following protocol, waits for one of the humans to speak first.

[Tori]

Tori spotted Takota enter. A new cat! They must be serious about killing rats, so they sent a male. Good thing he was a leopard and neither fishing cat, jaguar or lion, otherwise pheromones might get the best of her and her partner. Still, she would make sure to draw extra shots for herself and Janxi before deployment and for emergency out in the field.

She was little, barely 4'5", and possessed a gymnast's physique. All muscle. Her legs and arms were slightly short, and she had a spotted tabby coat. If Takoda knew about exotic wild cats, he would recognize her as a fishing cat. Their unevolved form looked like a pet tabby on steroids. To date, there were only four evolved fishing cats in CS Navy or Marine uniform. All were her "sisters." She had a cuteness to her, like a sassy teen girl, and kind of an infectious personality, even if standoffish in the beginning. Her ears were more round and less pointy, and had a white "follow me" spot on the back of each one. Her unevolved kind hailed from South East Asia. She certainly had an Azn physique, but the accent was all wrong.

She snapped to attention, calling "Attention on Deck!" as the general departed, then went to at ease, when he left the room.

Her attention returned to Takoda, her ears flattening slightly in caution, and she seemed to creep just a little with a strange feline in the group. Back home, the Shagcat Clowder was all female, save for male cubs. The army's program preferred females as they were the hunters in lion prides, and more likely to collaborate. Males too often saw each other as competition, and females as mates. Hence the all-female Shagcat Clowder. It was sort of like a hippie commune full of commando-trained cats. For most Tomcats, it was the door to heaven, and of course, strictly off limits. Other than meeting Edgar on team business, she hadn't the foggiest what to think of a male.

"SO-3 Tori, hooya!" she said in a slightly aloof voice with a thick Lonestar cowboy accent. "CS Navy, I'm tha team corpsman. I'm strikin' for my E-5 rating as a corpsman instead of the operator. I also do point, most of the time. Yew Army or Corps, an' what kinda trainin' yew got?

"After we gots rid of tha' leghumper, this here detail got pretty good. Capt'n Sam's a straight shooter an' we're her cats." Cats tended to adopt humans, other cats, or even dogs of THEIR choice. Nobody owned a cat, just got selected by a cat as an acquaintance, friend or associate. For Tori, Sam was a true friend.

"...and Mr. Shep over there? As long as you put out, you'll be awrite by him. You'll end up savin his ass regularly if you ain't careful.

"This here's mah partner, Cpl. Janxi. She's Marines first and Shagcat next. Been mah partner for a bit now. Mostly lurpin' as a pair back at tha Star bafore this here swamp. Don't git too fresh wif her cuz she gots retard strength. She's pretty much mah sister at this point, and pardner in crime. Hey Janx, Semper fi...

"And fer that matter, semper hungry? Can we fall out for chow yet?"

[Janxi]

"Oooh-rah, Tori... Settle down, T! I saw him first."

Janxi was two feet taller than her partner, and if Tori was all muscle, Janxi was exaggerated muscle, plus some serious curves. Unfortunately on the last mission, her estrus shot had worn off, and the best she could do was to hold off a heat cycle with birth-control pills. Tori might could get her a shot, but there was now a male present. She was just on the brink of rut. She gave Takota two nuzzles that nearly knocked him down, then began a long purr. A male was almost too much.

"T-bag? He's real handsome... So ya best give me a shot, otherwise he's gonna join the unit the hard way!

"An seriously Takota? You ain't gotta look so good, do ya? All tall an' strong and handsome!" The massive jaglion had dark chocolate fur, with a few tawny flecks, punctuated with nearly black rosettes. Like some lionesses, she had a ruff that was nothing but soft and warm. If Takota knew a she-cat in the mood, he might realize he was in a certain amount of danger. She smelled like a cat that was almost ready, willing and able. It wasn't personal. It was just hormones.

"Uh, there's chow?"

(PB 17)

[Takota]

-With the general gone Takota relaxes a little bit though his stance still borders on readiness to spring into action at any moment. As he glances over the people in the room he feels a bit out of place being in a pressed service uniform with the other cats apparently fresh out of the shower. In truth, being a heavy furred cat, he'd much rather be wearing shorts enjoying the feel of the sun and breezes on his fur but his former CO reminded him before he was shipped off that another CO might not be as understanding when it came to the dress code.

-What can be seen that is not hidden under the uniform, meaning the fur that is not covered, mostly on his head and hands, is a shining silvery gray with bright white showing on his chin and throat. There are symmetrical black markings spotting his face and head with larger spots visible on his arms and tail. Just like Tori he has rounded black-backed ears with the white spots on top. As usual with his species Takota's tail is longer than most other felines and very thick with lush, soft fur.

-The first to speak, a small cat that he would have placed as an ocelot or some similar breed, was just that ... small. He can't remember seeing any cats in training that were not at least as tall as an average human. There was no way Takota could doubt her abilities though since she was out there in the swamp-base. If he would have known Tori's thoughts he would have reminded her that leopard, tiger, lion and jaguar all are of the same genus so in theory they are all ... compatible. The accent she speaks with is a bit hard for him to pick up at first but within moments he is able to work the words through his mind until he understands well enough. He listens to her question and comments nodding politely during the introductions, saluting when and if necessary.

-He quickly picks out the two species making up genetics of the second cat. Takota can't help the smile that appears on his muzzle when he sees her. Finally someone that he does not have to look down to see. In fact she is a bit taller than he is. Caught a bit off guard by her rather forward display of greeting Takota gets that wide-eyed 'first kiss' kind of look on his face for a moment. It only lasts for a fraction of a second though before he regains his composure reminding himself that she is part lion and lions are more used to such close contact unlike his species. At the same time his senses pick up the jag-lions condition but he is able to overcome that for the time being.

-Thinking that if this is what it was going to be like when they were off duty then he might have a lot of fun with his new assignment. Speaking to Janxi first, "I'm sorry. I usually try to keep up with my personal hygiene and vanity. I'll make sure to let those slide from now on. Or is it just the uniform?" he replies, obviously joking, to her last comment to him. His voice is rough though not unpleasant sounding almost like a soft growl formed into words. "Not much I can do about the strong part though."

-Takota then turns his attention back to Tori. "I'm afraid my training consisted only of the standard battle cat program though halfway through I was given the opportunity to learn a few other skills. Mainly sniping and advanced hand-to-hand abilities. I also was was able to hone the psychic ability to mentally enter computer systems." His ears fold back briefly when speaks of his training hinting at something that obviously is annoying to him. Takota knows his background is not much compared the specialize training she has received but it is all he had to work with.

[dakota]

"Who are you calling Mister?" Shep growled at Tori, shaking his head. "Janxi, you might want to see the Doc before you start drooling over our poor newbie. And the last thing we need with the rat problem is you off to nurse kittens, either of you for that matter." Being closer to Tori, she got the chin rub from him with the back of his knuckles. " My hearing might be messed up, but my stomach is working fine. Let's go see if they made that recipe right. Takota, dump your junk and lighten up, you're one of the Shag cats now." He chuckled.

A knock came at the back door, and Sam could see Tim standing there, " Permission to enter and get chewed out, Captain?"

Shep looked at the cats, and then Sam," Come on, let's clear out so the officers can talk."

[Tori]

Tori checked her side arm, slapping in a fresh clip and leaving the dead one on her rack. It went back to her hip holster. If Takota inspected, he would see that all her gear look well-used after their last mission. Her CNA-2 armor had several dents from railgun and laser fire. Now she was in BDU's and leaned into Shep's scratch with a purr. "Just bein' official wif mah intra-ductions."

Tori shook her head at Janxi's antics and pulled on her boonie and some Oakleys. "Damn, Janx. For tha sake of our new guy, I'd best stop at tha infirmary and get you that shot!"

She hurried to the infirmary and got four shots, one for now and one for later, for herself and Janxi. It was very similar to birth-control shots for humans, and made a heat cycle stay away for a good 3 months. Shep was right, the less reproduction, the better. She wasn't even sure if Janxi could have cubs being a hybrid, but distraction could kill.

"Alright Funbags. Roll up yer sleeve!" Assuming Janxi complied, she gave the injection, and repeated on herself. "Hope that stifles yer pornstar-ness." She was about two weeks from needing hers, but the duration of the mission was uncertain. Better now than later, especially if Janxi's cycle was about to trigger her own. A second shot went into her arm that Takota could see would be more powerful than a very strong human's. Empty syringes went back to the infirmary's sharps box.

She listened to Takota as they continued toward the chowhall. "Typical military. Sendin' a computer-hackin' snow leopard to tha dinosaur swamp to fight low-tech rodents. We'll probably go in this hump wif snow shoes instead of swim-fins. Battle cat training's like ninja school. You'll be bad enough for them rats. Me, like I said, I'm point and the hospital corpsman, and am pretty stealthy. I'm also a naval commando, so diving and EOD is my bag. Jump qualified, too."

She sniffed the air as they approached the D-Fac and her nose twitched at the aromas of grilled meat and hot sauce. Her tail twitched, and her head seemed to stand a bit taller on her neck. The cat was about to be extremely happy.