Ch. 7 When are we getting out of here?

[Takota]

Takota turns in his seat to watch the show that Tori starts to put on. He's never really had too many problems with dogboys but then again he was usually out in the field rather than on a base where they would cross paths. Even when there was a confrontation there was rarely ever a serious fight. With the taunting Tori throws at them though he is almost certain that will cause a ruckus.

The nip to his neck is a bit of a surprise and Takota gives the big jag-lion a playful push as she stands up next to Tori to add in her own comments. He knows he shouldn't get involved in this and just let the matter drop. It is his first day here after all and it would look quite bad if in less than two hours off the flight he was to be involved in a chow-hall brawl but he can already feel his natural competitiveness with the canines working at full throttle. He definitely takes no action to stop Janxi and Tori from taunting the dogboys.

His mind was working on a plan that might just have instigated the dogboys into action rather than just words but the appearance of the psi-stalker ruined any such thoughts. He sits back and listens to Shep berate the sergeant then as the psi-stalker walks away he states in none too quiet of a voice, "Too bad. It would have been fun to send them to the infirmary with their tails between their legs."

[dakota]

" And the works of you get split up and shipped to who knows where, oh yeah, like the Captain would let me hear the end of that one. Besides, all three of you know the way to beat these dogs is to show them up in the field." He finished off the rib. " Besides, I'm getting used to having you fuzzballs around. Think I'm gonna grab some more ribs, even if the cooks buggered up Abe's sauce." Picking up his plate, Shep headed for the chow line.

[Janxi]

"Ooh-rah, Shep," giving her own battle cry. Apparently, dogs didn't approve of such. "Semper-fi!" she added just to add another taunt.

Janxi sat down to finish her ribs. Hers was gone. She looked to Tori, busy with her wing. She looked at Takota, but no sauce. Then she looked at Shep. Rib plus sauce. Her ears flattened against her skull, and she locked her eyes on his, but she blinked twice, and broke the stare. "Guess I gotsta get some more. Anyone else need some?"

She rose, and looked over at Shep. "Thought you might be full with a bigger share, but I guess ya ain't. More for you. Tori? Tiger Wood?" She followed Shep to the chow line.

She looked back to the table and winked at Takota still full of hormones. Then her gaze fell on the psi stalker. The wolfhound was big, and maybe tough, but the psi-stalker just rubbed her the wrong way. Everything about him screamed the type that would steal a kill. Psi stalkers loved all animals and they loved in return, save cats. A feline and a psi-stalker were even bigger rivals than dogs and cats. Her ears flattened, and her tail rose straight up toward her head, and swung forward in a sudden jabbing-pointing motion. If he watched, she mate sport of yawning wide enough to consume a man's head. The jaglion turned to get more ribs for herself, Takota, and another wing for Tori.

"Shep? Bout that lass mission? Ain't no one shippin us out. We're a scary good team. I reckon we showed up everyone an' their mothers wif dat bodycount. We're lifetakers and heartbreakers an' a hell of a lot better than tha kennel over dere.

"But we also gotta remember Fangs and Sneaker. That's one dog girl we gotta remember, and a fine injun, too. Dogs ain't all bad if they's female and tha wild sort most 'specially, so kin we get to the class VI store fer sumptin fer a proper toast? Then we git our drink on?"

[Takota]

Takota remains sitting backward in his seat but he completely forgets about the dogboys. Turning his head to face the jag-lion he smiles and nods in response to Janxi's question about more ribs thinking that the plateful he had were not enough then turns around in his seat once again.

After a moment he looks up at Tori and chuckles. "Come on. Sit down and wait for more ribs. If you keep staring at them they will think they have won by pissing you off. Brush 'em off like they were not even there. Show 'em that we don't give a damn about them." Of course he is certain that Tori knows this already but the small cat seems quite agitated.

"I was not allowed to bring a weapon with me when they transferred me here. What kind of rifles are the standard fare around here for missions?" Takota asks trying to distract Tori from the dogboys.

[Mierin]

Sam sighs and shakes her head, "Where should I start exactly? How about you explain to me what the hell is going on?"

[dakota]

[Sam]

" which, the fact that I layed it on thick about how I had no psychics so I didn't know the indigenous were psy and magic users or that I convinced the General that the rats are a bigger threat and the barbarian camps are better ally then none?" Tim replied. " Sis, I'm sorry I dragged your crew into that mess, but I really am glad to see you and Carson. rumor has it your crew is going back in after the rats?"

Squad

Shep returned with a plate loaded up nearly as full as Janxi's, which he slid towards the middle after taking a rib for himself. " I'll see what I can do, Janxi. First thing we have to get Takota geared up. We'll stop there before you two head off for your naps now that your belly's are full."

[Tori]

Tori settled with her hissing and returned to her meal. She took another few bites and looked up at Takota. "Ohh, they pissed me off awrite, but they're far from winnin. When they try jumpin' me later, then they'll see juss how true dat is." She grinned a rather mirthful grin and watched Janxi return with more food.

"Thanks, Jay-Cat. This stuff's right good today." She strips the bone clear pretty quickly and looks over to Takota and his question.

"Me? I use a commando version of a TX-42. The clip's been pointed down, so ya can put an M26 or an M320 on tha front. Some guys like breech loading grenade launchers rather than pump action so you can fire special purpose grenades. Janxi likes her own stuff, but mostly, it's juss CS Deadboy issue. Some Triax stuff maybe, and I think some NG, too. Maybe Wellington. The bad guys generally swing Kittani knockoffs of Triax gear.

"Me myself? I like pulse lasers because they got great range, nearly as much punch as a rail gun and are as loud as a flashlight. Both of us carry bows, too. We had them rats thinkin' they was gittin' schwacked with artillery wif 'em. When we ain't at war, Janx uses hers to hunt deer, and me? I'm a bow-fisherman.""

She finished her meal, and had that sleepy cat look on her face already. "Good point, Janx. We gotta remember them dat didn't come back. First Tacky's gear, then Class VI, then nappin'."

[Janxi]

Janxi yawned a huge yawn, showing massive white teeth that seemed to glow compared to her dark fur. "Don't wanna go. Lemmie sleep on tha table!"

She reluctantly got up and policed her tray. Then she heard Tori's nickname for the new cat. "Tacky! I like it!"

She followed the other cats and Shep listening. "Maself, I use a lot of juicer gear, just cuz dope apes killed mah pop and aunts. JA-13's got good pop and range, and you seen this here hogleg." She slapped a NG long pistol riding on her hip.I also like CA-5, with the CAJ-5 weapon arm. No juice boxes out here, but I think it'd be right funny to kill 'em wif their own gear. Whaddya like?"

[Takota]

As soon as the new plate of ribs hits the table Takota is digging in and happily stripping off a few more down to the bone. Though it may look like he is ignoring the conversation his ears pivot and swivel remaining quite attentive to everything that is being said. Only when Janxi addresses him directly does he stop chowing down the ribs.

"I am not too sure I have a favorite or not. I didn't get to choose which weapons I was allowed to carry. At least not by the paper-pushers on base. Out in the field the lieutenant let us use whatever we could get our paws on. Usually I was assigned a CP-40 unless the mission had a likely hood of seeing heavy action then the lieutenant was able to get some other things as well." He responds then sits back in his chair, tail twitching idly behind him as he thinks. "Purely for intimidation factor I personally like most anything that kicks hard and reports louder than a drill sergeant's scolding yell. I was lucky enough to relieve someone of his JA-12 and just loved it but other than that I'm not really too thrilled with lasers too much unless I'm going for stealth."

Takota grins as a few memories come to mind. "Rail guns are fun too but unfortunately are not very easy to lug around. I had fun with a C-40R one time. Surprised the hell out of a mixed group of Dee-Bees that took out a Samas with long range fire. My squad arrived to find the pilot on the brink of death and I had picked the weapon up to find it still functional just before they showed up to loot their kill. Between emptying the entire belt from that and the fire from the rest of the squad there was not much left that could be picked up without the use of a mop." The leopard shows a toothy grin as he remembers that day.

"Sometimes I was carrying a C-29 among other things. Lots of bang but somewhat power hungry in my opinion. Of course we got to play with anything we captured out in the field until we returned to base and had to turn it all in."

Takota is quiet for a moment as if thinking about something but then lets out a quick huff of breath and looks up. "You two use a bow huh? I've always wanted to learn how to use one of those. They don't really put that in the standard training I got though."

[Janxi]

"I'll school ya on my bow. It's reinforced for retard strength. You'll be fine wif it. And uhh, we'll get you set up wif whatcha need, but I got a toy back at the squadbay I think you might like. Range on it ain't great, but it's accurate and has some pain potential."

She walked out and pulled on her Oakleys. As she was under arms, she never removed her utility cap, even indoors and at chow. It was a marine and navy custom. "Out in the swamp, we need a lotta stealth. Last guy we went out wif was always choppin' away wif a rail gun. The rest of us were quieter than church mice, and even mowin down a raptor pack. You never woulda known. Then there was Richardson who sounded like a jackhammer pounding away on top of an IAR-3. This time out, I'm puttin' mah foot down. No choppers. We kin getcha sumptin that will do comparable damage, and is a whole lot quieter."

She had gone a whole conversation without thought or mention of sex. So maybe the shot was working. Still, she stayed pretty close. "You jump qualified, by the way?"

[dakota]

Shep just grinned at Tori's comment, " Janxi, you putting you foot down doesn't do squat and you know it. But I've got some good news for you, 7th Cav are transferring in as part of the build up for this offensive. no more choppers, we'll be riding Raptor Squadron's Skyhawks they got out of Quebec. course it means putting up with the craziest pilots this south of New Fightertown, but I'll take it. I hear they're nice to ride, but you'll have to ask the Captain, only time I rode one I was on the deck bleeding all over the place after taking a booby trap that nearly got Sam."

As they reached the armory, Shep veered away from the trio, " Gonna take a look at those new rotary lasers."

The Quartermaster looked at the cats and sneered," What diyou want?"

[Tori]

"I think she means no railguns instead of no helicopters, Shep. We's cool wif helicopters. Course, puttin her foot down ain't gonna do much, but she's got a point 'bout bein' quiet... As fer whatever our ride is, I'm good."

Tori watched Shep go and found herself confronted with a bigoted quartermaster. "I want to tell mah team leader, Capt'n Sam Fraser, that I was able to take her newest team member to the armory and get him armed and equipped wifout a hassle. The general hisself assigned this feline to our team, and I think he might juss take exception if tha Capt'n said we was havin' some problems with supply. Its how troopers get assigned to rat hunts instead of a nice, dry supply hut. Ever been out in tha swamp? Rats skin ya alive as they eat yer balls."

Trust/intimidate [dice=100] needs 45[rand=22930027465274228187290855008133724505777257617710022584497186837]

[Janxi]

"What T said... And as an interesting aside, us Naval types gen-rally call helicopters 'helos.' An' c'mon Shep, you know it was right un-tactical for all of us to be blazin 'way with lasers only to have Richardson shout out to tha whole swamp wif dat beast of his."

She watched the human leave the kittens in the fish-market, only to have her grin stifled by a dickhead supply pogue. She was about to call for Shep when she saw her partner take action. Not bad little cat. Appeal to his pogue sensibilities.

"Shit yeah, T-Bone. Don't ferget to tell 'em 'bout tha necklaces they wear wif their kills' ears. Moss horrible trophies I seen. Ain't a safe place fer anyone. Rain all tha time. Sleepin wifout a fire. No showers. Cold chow. Skeeters tha size of chihuahuas. An' oh yeah, dinosaurs." She reached into her pocket to pull out her trophy claws, pulled out her catnip, and slid them back in.

She took a big nip and stashed it under her lip before passing it to Takota. "You 'nip, bah tha way? Careful yer first time cuz it'll knock yew on yer ass. The rest of tha time? It ain't no worse than chewin'."

[Takota]

Takota usually thinks of himself as a patient person. For some reason the sneering face of the quartermaster nearly sets him off. The only thing that gives away the brief flare of temper is his ears laying flat against his head and his eyes opening a bit wider before the rational portion of his mind reminds him that this is his first day on this base. Getting in trouble so quickly would be unacceptable.

Luckily Tori speaks up so Takota just takes a deep breath while she drops ranks and names on the human in front of them. The thought of seeing him out there in the field makes the leopard smile. Many thoughts of just what would happen to him out there makes him wish he had his sketch book with him so he could make a quick drawing of what his mind sees.

His thoughts are interrupted when he realizes Janxi is talking to him. Blinking himself out of his daydream Takota accepts the 'nip and without a thought and uses a pinch. Immediately after that he replies, "Right now I think is just what I need since I'm suddenly finding myself in the mood to rip something ... or someone to shreds."

[dakota]

The quartermaster didn't look impressed by any of the cat's posturing. " them rats ain't nuthin compared to what I saw in Duluth. Ten of your rats wouldn't stand up to one of them Xiticix hunters. Now," The quartermaster moved up the counter, the building's floor vibrating and a deep mechanical sound coming from behind the counter as he moved, " I'll ask again, what diyou want?"