Eternity RPC Board
06-28-2018, 02:36 PM
Ishnalli airspace
Near the Zealmarkian border
0251 hours
A pair of cargo aircraft registered to Skathia Air, SA1550 and SA1551, made the silent trek across the width of Ishnalli territory following their long overseas flight. Soon they strayed into the border sector, one which only hours ago was swarming with Ishnalli aircraft. The fact that no entity known as Skathia Air had filed a flight plan for this region was not lost on the attentive Ishnalli air traffic controller who, upon failing to raise the craft, promptly called the defense forces. After a series of escalations, the order came down to ignore the strange planes as they wheeled toward the Zealmarkian border.
"I sure hope Humblos knows what he's doing," mumbled MT5 Bogand as he lit a cigarette in the expansive cargo area of SA1550, briefing in his lap. "Linear accelerator technology exchanged for a simple airspace crossing! Penal brigadier operations are supposed to be cheap."
3rd Penal Brigade
Drassari Airbase
0415 hours
The 'Skathia Air' planes landed smoothly at Drassari after jockeying around Soyabar and Ishnalli conflict zones for the better part of an hour.
MT5 Bogand was the first on the tarmac, greeted by a pair of haggard looking Disciples. He introduced himself to them, asked for a briefing in a few minutes, and excused himself to perform the Ritual of Redemption for his men. With a motion of his hand they came to attention, clicking heels against the tarmac in a roar of precise movement. He lit a cigarette from his breast pocket, took a long drag, and began to speak.
"Men of Vestor and Chiri, MT13s, those who have murdered through action and those who have murdered through inaction, you of the Third Penal Brigade - hear me, and well. Your crimes deserve death, but you will be given a second chance. Your victims cry out from the grave, but you will not join them just yet. We have accepted your applications for penal service, and your one-year term starts today. Survivors at the end of that year will be uptiered back to MT9 and their records sealed. Those who die will die in glory, and your next of kin will be uptiered to honor your death. Consequently, deserters will be shot and those who surrender will be left to robber-baron tortures - and your next of kin will be downtiered for your dishonor. Do not fail them. Do not fail me."
Bogand found that his cigarette was spent. He retrieved another coffin nail from his breast pocket and lit it, puffing as he spoke. The glowing ember of the cigarette wagged in emphasis as his lips moved.
"Our employer has brought us here to redeem this nation from foreign colonizers and degeneracy, but I have brought you here to redeem yourselves. You will fight men better equipped, better supplied, better reinforced - that is by design. There is no sacrifice without struggle. Where the foe will be savage, we will be swift. Where he is brutal, we will be cunning. Your only reinforcement will be your own mind, so use it well. Follow your commanders without hesitation or question, for it will save your life. I, too, will be with you. Not only advising your commanders with the same cunning of Hill 450 and Caladria, but alongside you with rifle butt and bayonet should the need arise. As you will give your lives to our people, I will give my life to you."
He paused his well-rehearsed speech for a moment, looking at the fresh faces that had committed to penal brigadier service. Many had the telltale scars and tics of Fuel Duty survivors, or the blank haggard stares of those who had endured the tortures of the processing center handlers for years to avoid MT13 service. His escapades on Caladria, he was told, had brought these dregs out from the shadows of Vestian society to be redeemed either by their deeds or by their death. He took no small amount of pride in that.
"Now, you six hundred, go and fight as true citizens would. Live or die, I will see you redeemed this day. Dismissed."
MT5 Bogand watched silently as the company commanders marshalled the brigadiers off to their assignments. He took a long final drag on his cigarette and flicked it onto the cracked runway. Finally, he turned to the Disciple representatives.
"Now," he said, "let's talk business. You have the momentum at the moment while Ishnalli forces stream in behind us, but we can only count on that support for as long as they find this enterprise amusing. Where are your most vicious stalemates occurring? We will break them."
Near the Zealmarkian border
0251 hours
A pair of cargo aircraft registered to Skathia Air, SA1550 and SA1551, made the silent trek across the width of Ishnalli territory following their long overseas flight. Soon they strayed into the border sector, one which only hours ago was swarming with Ishnalli aircraft. The fact that no entity known as Skathia Air had filed a flight plan for this region was not lost on the attentive Ishnalli air traffic controller who, upon failing to raise the craft, promptly called the defense forces. After a series of escalations, the order came down to ignore the strange planes as they wheeled toward the Zealmarkian border.
"I sure hope Humblos knows what he's doing," mumbled MT5 Bogand as he lit a cigarette in the expansive cargo area of SA1550, briefing in his lap. "Linear accelerator technology exchanged for a simple airspace crossing! Penal brigadier operations are supposed to be cheap."
3rd Penal Brigade
Drassari Airbase
0415 hours
The 'Skathia Air' planes landed smoothly at Drassari after jockeying around Soyabar and Ishnalli conflict zones for the better part of an hour.
MT5 Bogand was the first on the tarmac, greeted by a pair of haggard looking Disciples. He introduced himself to them, asked for a briefing in a few minutes, and excused himself to perform the Ritual of Redemption for his men. With a motion of his hand they came to attention, clicking heels against the tarmac in a roar of precise movement. He lit a cigarette from his breast pocket, took a long drag, and began to speak.
"Men of Vestor and Chiri, MT13s, those who have murdered through action and those who have murdered through inaction, you of the Third Penal Brigade - hear me, and well. Your crimes deserve death, but you will be given a second chance. Your victims cry out from the grave, but you will not join them just yet. We have accepted your applications for penal service, and your one-year term starts today. Survivors at the end of that year will be uptiered back to MT9 and their records sealed. Those who die will die in glory, and your next of kin will be uptiered to honor your death. Consequently, deserters will be shot and those who surrender will be left to robber-baron tortures - and your next of kin will be downtiered for your dishonor. Do not fail them. Do not fail me."
Bogand found that his cigarette was spent. He retrieved another coffin nail from his breast pocket and lit it, puffing as he spoke. The glowing ember of the cigarette wagged in emphasis as his lips moved.
"Our employer has brought us here to redeem this nation from foreign colonizers and degeneracy, but I have brought you here to redeem yourselves. You will fight men better equipped, better supplied, better reinforced - that is by design. There is no sacrifice without struggle. Where the foe will be savage, we will be swift. Where he is brutal, we will be cunning. Your only reinforcement will be your own mind, so use it well. Follow your commanders without hesitation or question, for it will save your life. I, too, will be with you. Not only advising your commanders with the same cunning of Hill 450 and Caladria, but alongside you with rifle butt and bayonet should the need arise. As you will give your lives to our people, I will give my life to you."
He paused his well-rehearsed speech for a moment, looking at the fresh faces that had committed to penal brigadier service. Many had the telltale scars and tics of Fuel Duty survivors, or the blank haggard stares of those who had endured the tortures of the processing center handlers for years to avoid MT13 service. His escapades on Caladria, he was told, had brought these dregs out from the shadows of Vestian society to be redeemed either by their deeds or by their death. He took no small amount of pride in that.
"Now, you six hundred, go and fight as true citizens would. Live or die, I will see you redeemed this day. Dismissed."
MT5 Bogand watched silently as the company commanders marshalled the brigadiers off to their assignments. He took a long final drag on his cigarette and flicked it onto the cracked runway. Finally, he turned to the Disciple representatives.
"Now," he said, "let's talk business. You have the momentum at the moment while Ishnalli forces stream in behind us, but we can only count on that support for as long as they find this enterprise amusing. Where are your most vicious stalemates occurring? We will break them."