Aug 29 107 PA - Western Ambush

From Chronicles

To the group chosen to continue with the first recon mission to Quebec a message was sent. Be at the landing strip by 9am today, your ride will be waiting. Arriving thev ride as it were looks to be a recrafted 21st century helicopter. Quite the unit really, tons of carrying capacity and clearly obvious range. A pilot and gunner wait inside for the time of departure and their cargo.

Erica is lounging against her hovercycle while she does some casual work on some of her weapons. She is wearing Triax armor painted with a grey camo motif. Her helmet is off and is laying on the seat of her cycle. She is humming softly to herself while she cleans and maintains her particle beam weapon.

Clop clop clop clop. Sara appears from the gates, with an oversized rider on her back. Sebastien appears to be in a light powered armor suit, carrying a polearm with a rifle stock where the handle ought be. A bear walks beside the Clydesdale, nearly as large as the horse itself, and about Sebastien's waist a pair of leather-wrapped arms hold on tight. "Look at that," the knight muses from under his three-eyed helmet. "She looks so happy with her portable cannon."

Whether she intends to come along or not, Sage appears to be prepared for a trip outside the city since she has armor and weaponry on her person. Although, there is one thing at odds with what people would suspect about her and what she carries. Slung to her shoulders there is a jetpack. She seems to be looking for someone as her gaze drifts over the area.

Erica looks up from where she is working on her weapon. She looks up at Sebastien as he rides up. "Hello Sebastien. Looks like you have a new toy." She says while gesturing vaguely to his armor. She then turns her attention back to finishing up working on her weapon. She quickly and expertly puts the weapon back together before slinging it across her pack. She looks up at Sage and offers the other woman a smile. "Hello Sage. Are you coming along as well? That is a nice jetpack you have." She says with a slightly bemused smirk.

Sebastien smirks invisibly at the comment, and heels Sara up the ramp into the Chinook. Waiting patiently for Monique to dismount, the would-be knight lifts his helmet free and wonders at the dark Inuit behind him, "Parchance she spoke of the armor, or is it that you think she referred to you?"

Settled with some degree of comfort behind Sebastien, the small Inuit woman leans a little to one side to look around him. Keeping one arm quite firmly around him, she retreats her other hand to lift it and push some of her hair from her face. Her arm returns to where it was within only a moment. The great white bear rumbles and pauses briefly to shake himself off before yawning widely, sharp teeth readily displayed. He follows the lead of the knight and his mount, however, entering the helicopter with apprehension. Looking to Sebastien, Monique lifts one of her shoulders in a mild shrug. "I not know. Not know her. Could mean many things," she says thoughtfully, her brow furrowing a little. Shifting a little, she eases her way off the horse to land lightly on her feet. She eyes the belly of the beast she is within, and she looks to Sebastien again. "Is what, this?" she asks, gesturing to the helicopter around them.

Once something familiar is noticed, Sage makes her way over towards Erica. "Hey..." She greets back with a small smile, before letting amusement creep into her features. "And, yes, it is rather nice... and when I heard there was an group heading out on a special mission, I figured I'd see if there were any takers." She gives a mock furtive look around, "Think anyone would be interested in a special offer of twenty night thousand credits?" She asks softly before looking back to the other woman with a raised brow and a bit of a grin on her lips. "As for going... I was considering a visit to Vadania, but... do you guys need any help?"

Erica laughs softly at Sage as she shakes her head in an amused manner. "Well as a matter of fact I am in the market for a good jet pack." She digs out a credit chip from her utility belt and flips it over to Sage. "That should cover it." Her head turns to the helicopter and she shrugs her shoulders up and down. "Well more help is always welcome. Nice to have someone around to save me from Sebastien's heroics, but if you are off to get your nature fix then I don't want to interupt you. How is Vadania? I haven't seen her in a while."

"It is a helicopter," Sebastien replies. "It travels through the air like a ... like a dragonfly." Has she ever seen one? Maybe, in Missouri, but certainly not where she's from! "It can hover, fly side to side, up and down, and carry a giant robot or tank underneath!" He chuckles, softly, and peers up. "Assuming it has been well-maintained. This model looks to be about five hundred years old." He blinks, and looks back at Monique with apprehension. "Do you think it has mice living in it?"

"Oh? The market is better than I thought... perhaps I should consider other bids." Sage replies in a teasing tone as she glances at the credit chip. Then, she shifts to take the jetpack off her back. She sets it down on the ground beside Erica before she reaches out to take the credit chip for herself. She purses her lips, "Well, I am not sure whether Vadania is truly at her campsite... but she is well as far as I know." She comments before glancing towards the helicopter. "Is it a scouting mission of some sort?"

Monique blinks at Sebastien to the information she's given, and then she looks to the helicopter around them. Tornaq gives a rumble and lowers his head to touch her shoulder in an effort to be reassuring. Lifting her left hand, Monique lightly touches his nose, a hint of a smile touching her lips. Her attention returns to Sebastien at his mention of mice, and her smile quirks a little more. "Tornaq not say if has mice. What... dragonfly?" she asks, puzzled. Something she's likely seen but never known the name for.

Erica picks up the jetpack and snaps it into place on the back of her Triax armor. She looks at the helicopter for a moment before locking up her hovercycle. "Yes it is a scounting mission looking for intel againt the Coalition. Working for Free Quebec. Don't paticularly like it but sometimes you have to work with people you don't get along with. Like good ol Seb." She gives Sage a quick wink before picking up her helmet and placing it over her head, careful not to trap any of her long hair. "We are leaving soon though. Want to come with?" She says as she finishes collecting her belongings to get on the copter.

"You know?" Sebastien speaks, peering as best he can over his shoulder. Looking at Monique is hard on Sara! He raises an oversized gauntlet, and wiggles his fingers. "Six wings, looks like three. Flies through the air like 'Szzz---zoop!" He sways his hand sideways. "Zoop! Zoop!" The hand sways forward, and back, drifting slightly as dragonflies do. "You'll like it there. Colder. Closer to where you came from. You get to spy on a bunch of gun-toting Canadians, eh?"

The pilot of the helicopter steps out to look over the groub assembled with a degree of scrituny. Especially at the polar bear. He makes no remoark though, but gestures for all to gather round. "Well come intrepid adventurers. As the correspondence detailed we need you to do some recon about the borders of Free Quebec for us. Each location has some specific details the bosses in Tolkeen want to know about. Todays Location will be the west border with Ironheart."

Taking a breath and letting out as the pilot makes a call, Sage glances towards the stables before looking to the hielicopter. "Give the luck we generally have... it might be best to see what I can do to help before I go bug Vadania... I think she might be on some sort of spirit quest right now anyway." She decides before she begins to jog towards the helicopter to climb on board.

Erica follows Sage over to the helicopter and quickly gets in. She takes a seat while looking out the open door. He hands rest on the butt of her rifle while she waits for the copter to take off for the mission.

Nemain fights with a last fastening to her armor as she listens. A small almost-smile playing over her lips before she picks up her helmet and rifle. "Well, it should be more interesting than crossing the umpteenth set of wires." Head ducking almost reflexively as she crosses upnder the circle of the rotating blades.

The small Inuit woman raises an eyebrow slightly as she looks to Sebastien, and she blinks a little. Something is lost in the translation, and she gives a little shake of her head. "Show, later, what dragonfly is," Monique says, quirking a smile. Lifting a hand to stroke his soft fur, leaning slightly against the great white bear. "Colder is better," she comments, her dark eyes showing a sparkle to them. When the pilot enters, she looks to him, listening, and keeps a hand upon the bear standing so close to her.

"Off you go!" Sebastien declares, and ejects Monique from Sara before jumping down as well. The young man powers down his armor, shedding the heavier chest and back plates before walking down to sit in a jump seat with his polearm propped beside him. "Sara!" Sebastien calls. "Lay down. Transport." The horse obligingly buckles at the knees, laying down in full armor with a clatter.

The pilot nods as everyone files on board and helps themselse to a seat. He takes a moment to help everyone get settled, giving extra attention ton anyone unfamiliar with seat belts. "The trip will take us about 6 hours putting us down on the western border at 3 pm. The bathroom is in the back should you need it, but try not to fall down the hole." He jokes making his was to the cockpit with everyone settled.

Having her pick of seats, Sage picks out one where she can be reasonable comfortable for the duration if there are rows with different amounts of foot room. Once fastened in, she listens to the coments made by the crew of the helicopter. "6 hours... any ideas for how to pass the time?" She asks simply, disregarding the joke for the time being.

Erica takes off her helmet once she is settled in a seat. She sets her helmet in her lap. Opening up a pocket on her utility belt she takes out a pack of cards. "We could play go fish." She says while shuffling the deck of cards. "Who is in?"

Nemain's lips quirk as she settles herself more comfortably into her seat. "Peeking at ironheart, hmm? Wonder if there could be some salvage to play with afterwards?" Her eyes shifting to Erica and the cards. "Not sure I know that game. I'm more of a chess girl anyway."

Six hours in the belly of a metal beast that will fly. Monique shifts her weight slightly and lifts a hand to rub Tornaq's nose. The bear rumbles, then flicks an ear at the mention of fish. She glances briefly towards the settling horse, then returns her attention to the bear in front of her. She speaks in a quiet whisper, in her native tongue. A few sentences is all she says, and the bear lightly shoves her with his nose. Tornaq settles himself down somewhat near to Sara, crossing his front paws and keeping his head up. Monique reaches out to rub his nose again, and she settles to sit in front of him, cross-legged, close enough to be in contact with him.

Sebastien eyes Monique with a light in his eyes and a little mischievous grin on hs face, but whatever comment sits on the tip of his tongue stays there. The young would-be knight muses, "Ironheart's an old name. Quebec before she was free. I have family there." He raises his voice to call out, "For what is it that we will be looking? I imagine something that hides well from helicopters? Or some new weapon you would not want to discover while in the air?"

"I am not sure about salvaging... but, let's hope the way back doesn't involve too much running or praying." Sage replies with a hint of humour on the last part to keep the tone light. then she glances back towards Erica. "Would that be the game where the cards say how long one gets dangled out of the helicopter?" She asks with a teasing tone and a raised brow.

The pilot takes his seat and the blackhawk helicopter fires up to lift up into the air. Interesting to note thoug it does so comepltely silently. The rotors make no noise at all as the ascened and begin the treck north east. "When we get closer we'll do a fly by and debrief via this view screen. The basic infor is There is a column of ground forces coming from Ironheart to breath the border through a canyon that will save them some weeks through the mountains. Apparently Quebec has a welcome part ready. Tolkeen wants you guys to watch the battle discreetly and give them a review of the tactics on both side." The pilot explains ofver the intercom.

Erica rolls her eyes as she shakes her head. "Fine then go ahead and don't play. Have a fun six hours." She says with obvious sarcasm as she starts dealing herself a hand of solitare on a nearby vacant seat. "Never run a scouting mission Sebastien?" She asks as she moves a card from one row of cards to the other. "Well lets try to stay undetected that would be great."

Nemain hmms softly as she glances up towards the pilot's seat. Then grins as Sage wise cracks about 'Go Fish' being a dangle and tease game. "What sort of weather conditions are we headed into? Snow, rock, grass? What sort of cover do we get to play with?"

Monique raises an eyebrow slightly as she looks to Sebastien, studying him for a lingering moment. Curiosity reflects in her eyes when he mentions having family, but for the time being, she stays quiet. Shifting a little, she leans against the great white bear, listening as further instructions are given. When weather is mentioned, her attention perks a little towards Nemain, her curiosity drawn.

"Non," Sebastien replies. "Generally I am in on the front line. 'Scouting' is code for finding the enemy. Then you stick holes in him." The young man eases himself from his slouch, stretching as best he can in what amounts to the majority of his un-powered armor, and he fights his way unsteadily to his feet.

"Should be a sunny summer after noon in low mountain forests when we arrive. Early evening when the quebec forces arive to set up the ambush and about dusk when the ironheart colum starts crossing." The pilot explains casually as the stealthy helicopter makes its way to Quebec very high in the sky.

A rueful chuckle comes to Erica's response to her tease, but other comments draw Sage's attention away from responding. "I certainly hope you're well away from me if you start trying to poke holes in either army, Sebastien." Sage comments as she picks up a bit of the conversation. But, her own attention is draw to the first hints at the situation they will be facing even if its weather and timing that are involved. "Not sure its much of an ambush if we know about it." She comments quietly as she doesn't wish her voice to carry to the pilot. Then glances over to Nemain, "Perhaps we can talk a little potential business while we wait... assuming we've been black listed from card games..." She pauses to glance towards Erica with a faintly amused look before looking back to Nemain, "I've been thinking of getting a light armor that can be worn under clothing... and I was wondering what kind of things you might suggest if I wanted to ... add features to it. Just for personal protection sake."

Erica shakes her head as she eyes Sebastien for a moment. "That is just dumb Sebastien." She keeps playing solitare as she looks up at Sage. "You are the one that didn't want to play. Don't blame me." She says before returning her attention to her card game. She seems fairly comfortable in the helicopter while she waits for the trip to finish up.

Nemain glances between the conversations herself. A glint of white might be caught as she worries at her lower lip in thought. "Yeah, poking holes into folk you're only supposted to be watching tends to be bad." Then at Sage's question she blinks, "We could go over the designs that might work when we get back. I've been thinking of confining the wiring and gems into something similar to jewelry on the edge of a piece. That might work for under clothing."

Sebastien grins at that. "No plan ever survives contact with the enemy. You all brought weapons. Did any of you bring a camera?" He peers from one person to the next, smirking at the lot of them, and muses, "I think our northern friends are not idiots. Look down. There is one obvious way up. It is a trap. We know it. Quebec knows it. Even the idiots in Ironheart know it. Take a good look at the terrain! A glitter boy can put accurate fire on target at two miles, give or take some deflection from trees. From elevated positions along the ridge, even a few marksmen could pin down hundreds. Yes, we should watch the column, but any respectable commander will send ironheart forces about to flank. Advance troops are probably already dug in. And that, my friends, is where our 'scouting' mission becomes interesting." He reaches for his polearm, tapping the buttstock against the deck. "Will we land amongst them? Wander into them? Time will tell."

To hearing what the weather likely will be, Monique breathes a soft sigh. She had hoped for snow, however unlikely. Rubbing her fingers over the bear's soft fur, she stays leaning against him, trying not to think too much about flying. She turns her attention to Sebastien, listening, and she softly shakes her head. She doesn't even know what a camera is let alone have one to bring.

After 5 and a half hours the helicopter nears the landing are and things get rougher as they descend over the area. The view screen and the intercom come on with a flick of the pliot's switch, showing the canyon below. "There it is folks, the porverbial western gate to Free Quebec. This is the largest gab in the mountain short of going south to the St. lawrence or North to the tundra plains. Really offering no feasible alternative for the ironheart column. As your friend said everyone is aware of the state of affairs and will prepare accordingly. But we are the first ones here for the moment, I suggest you pick your positions to oberve well in the time given." The pilot explains as the chopper lands in a clearning north of the canyon to let everone disembark. "We'll be back to pick everyone up about midnight, provided you all dont get youselves killed."

Sage will try to pass the time with talk, reflective thought as she stares out a window and possibly coaxing Erica into letting others join in card-play. On the whole, its not too hard for her to pass the time. When the briefing finally comes, she will give it her full attention. She purses her lips as she considers the options available. "Might be a good idea to split into two teams... each finding a good vantage point and hopefully not too far away from the other team in case trouble breaks out." She comments before pursing her lips, "And, I imagine Sebastien can be our calvary... figuratively and literally."

Erica tugs her helmet on as the helicopter lands. She hops out of the copter with her rifle held against her shoulder. She looks around the surronding area as she nods her head. "That might work Sage. I am pretty good at making camo that should help us." She mentions while walking over to a bush and looking over the leaves.

Nemain hmms softly as she studies the briefing shots. Then nods after tucking her helmet on. "Two teams might be smart. That way if things go south, half might be around to report at midnight." She glances around the debarking group and ponders who is going where.

Monique raises an eyebrow slightly as she looks to Sage, considering the strategy offered. If she has an opinion on it, she keeps it to herself, though. And when the helicopter lands, she pushes herself to her feet, taking a moment to stretch before her attention turns to the bear. He grumbles softly, a slightly inquisitive note to his voice. Monique says something quietly to him in her native tongue, and the great white bear rises to his paws, lowering his head to nudge Monique's shoulder softly. Her dark-eyed gaze turns to Sebastien, a smile touching her lips, and then both she and Tornaq make their way off the helicopter.

"The trouble with a static emplacement," Sebastien narrates, "Is that Quebec has had all the time in the world to concentrate forces in a very small place. There will be mines. There will be heavy emplaced machine guns. Air superiority will be crucial. I see shelling early on along the route, to try and detonate any pre-placed explosives, and some effort to cause the Quebec forces to reveal their positions. If I were Ironheart, I would bomb the route from above, shell it from miles away, and maybe not move my column closer than six miles for days. Snipers to demoralize the entrenched troops. If they just roll forward, this will be over quickly." The knight keys his armor, seeming to move in fast forward after his sluggish time on the transport and without the heaviest armor plates. He snugs them into place expertly, rattling the chestpiece and checking the seals before making a kissy face at Monique and affixing his helmet to again be a blank wall of armor. "Come on, Sara, time to work!" Sebastien bids, and he leads the horse out at a trot into the day. "I think one group is best," Sebastien disagrees, once boots are on the ground. "Monique has no radio. Moreover, we should not use them. Both sides have sophisticated counterintelligence. And if there is one thing they agree on --" he grins invisibly, the note obvious on his voice as he finishes, "kill the magic users. At least there will not be stalkers or dog boys.

With every off the chopper will set off to get itself well clear of the said munitions scheduled for later this evening. "Good luck." The pilot bids before they're gone

"I never said that we'd have to be static... but, if both sides are doing different things and mostly at ranged, it would seem that we'd need to be able to watch them both. If we are moving around as one... we are more likely to get glimpses of one or the other but probably not both." She comments with a shrug, "And, as long as we're all in a team, it shouldn't matter if one of our members has no radio... unless the others are dead in which case a radio probably wont help too much." She comments before glancing around. "But, I'm open to ideas on where we might be safe from potentially random fire and pre-placed defenses that are likely cleverly hidden."

Erica looks over at Sebastien and chuckles softly. "Thanks for the lecture Sebastien." She looks around and uses her optics to zoom in towards the south. "There looks like there is a good sized fire to the south. We should go investigate it see who is already set up there." She says while she grabs a branch of a nearby tree and starts climbing the sizable tree to get a better look at the smoke and fire. "I am with Sage. Multiple teams to get better intelligence." She calls out while using the exo skeleton's strength to better climb.

Nemain's attention turns to the south as well. "It seems that one of the guests is here already." She checks the pistol holstered at the small of her back, then checks her rifle. Only then does she glance around the group. "Shelling is going to be messy, yes. And small groups tend to get noticed less than a large one tromping around."

Looking back to the helicopter, Monique lifts a hand to press her fingers softly against Tornaq's leg closest to her. When it takes off, the bear flicks his ears and rumbles uncertainly, but both of them at least seem calm enough. She starts to look around, though the smoke to the south gains both her attention and the bear's. "Is likely from cook," Monique says, then lifts one of her shoulders in a faint shrug. She doesn't offer anything about the idea of groups, knowing well enough that whichever group she's in will likely be disadvantaged to some degree simply from the size, and likely visibility, of Tornaq.

"Both sides will be using SAMAS units. The Coalition has millions of them. Two two-man teams is a typical squad." Sebastien waves at the surrounding land. "We need to stay close enough to defend against two SAMAS units. All of us together might survive one contact with that. Apart? We're toast." He waves down at the land, and says, "Whatever we do, we can't stay here. If caught the LZ will be compromised. So, say I take Monique and head to the north side of that ridge." He points at a small outcopping of rock, mostly bare, half a mile from the collumn's likely path. "You could be east of us, above the valley. Perhaps three hundred meters away? We would hear rail gun fire if things go bad, and use radios if under fire. But that puts us several minutes apart by ground."

As the group(s) make their way to their respective overlooks of the canyon something unexpectied is show. A hundred and fifty feet below at the floor of the canyon looks to be a nomad tribe a dbees set to stay the night. It is from there that the smoke has come. To one side is a pile of what looks to be munitions, perhaps they have a way of finding the place mines. Regardless with both forces incomming the question is: Now what?

As she makes her way towards their appointed area, Sage glances around for potential places to hide from incoming fire should it come to that. It isn't until she realizes what the fire is about that she gives pause. "We've got to get those people out of there." She comments, before considering the matter. "Assuming I don't step on something, I can get down there without kicking up any possible wildlife activity... fire's a give-away, though. And, not everyone should be going down there..." She comments, waiting to see if her companions will agree on her assessment.

Erica nods her head. "I have the jet pack I'll stay up here. Try to watch out for danger. If I get in trouble I can head to you fast enough. Get those people out of there before they get caught inbetween the two unstopable forces." She says with concern as she looks around to look for signs of the approaching forces. "They don't have much time." Nemain hmms softly as she studies the group down below. "It would be best for them to move, yes. But do they seem to be from one side or another? And what will their welcome be to a stranger arriving and warning of trouble?"

Monique listens to Sebastien as he mentions different things, and she lifts a hand to rub her fingers over her upper arm. Tornaq rumbles softly and lowers his head to lightly nudge her arm, and then he looks to Sebastien as well. The small Inuit woman gives a small nod, accepting the decision for her to go with him. She rubs her hand over the bear's fur a little, and she remains quiet for the time being.

No, they don't have much time. But neither does the intrepid group! Sebastien pulls from his saddle bags a short shotgun, breaking open the top to load a pair of red shells. "Do you have any way of starting a fire? A big one?" he asks of Monique. "Get on Sara, we're going to need to relocate. This will be seen." He laughs softly, "I never thought we'd be the first to fire in this." Snapping the shotgun closed, he takes aim at a stand of trees off to the west of the camped group. From the other party's position, it's like tracers being fired in the coming night. Glowing green embers taking flight through the forest, lighting trees ablaze before explosing into a pyroclastic eruption near the dbee camp. Not close enough to hit, but the resulting blaze ought prompt a swift exudos. Heeling the horse, Sebastien sets off down a game trail, into the wilderness. Trusting Tornaq to follow.

As the fires go up the certianly do not go without notice, especially dsince the munitions pile lies between it and the village. There is panic from the db tribe as the scury like angered ants below. Quickly a water line is formed from the creek that used to be the great river tha made the canyon. The ignited trees are quickly fells and the dousing starts in a matter of minutes. Meanwhile other members turn their eyes outward to spot the source of the blaze.

"I might be...." Sage begins to respond to Nemain until the inexplicable fire suddenly erupts. She makes an choked cry as she thinks they may have overestimated how much time they had until the fighting began. Only to realize that the single salvo would be odd for the beginning of a barrage. Her expression darkens when she realizes where the fire may have come from and casts an angry glance towards where Sebastien's team has disappeared to. "Maniac." She mutters fiercely, "Might be too late to politely approach now." She adds before she begins to wander towards some cover least they be mistaken for the point of firing.

Erica swears loudly as she shakes her head. "God dammit. Well we are completly fucked now. Nice to take away all our options, but I guess he cares about no one but himself." She shoulders her rifle and takes cover herself. "Is there anything you can do about the fire Sage? We have to get them out of here, but now I guess they will guess we did that. Is there a way you can gain their trust?" She says while squating down in the cover.

Nemain winces at the explosions of flames. "Ohh, that's going to be very bad." She glances towards the source of the shot, then back to the tribe. "That is going to be seen as an attack."

Monique raises an eyebrow slightly, and then she softly shakes her head. "Not able make big fire. Can bring fog, not fire," she says softly, her tone holding a thoughtful cast to it. "I sorry," she adds, ducking her chin a little. She steps over to Sara and climbs aboard before looking to Sebastien again. She watches the shots fired off, then glances to Tornaq to give the bear a nod. The great white bear rumbles and offers a nod in return, and after giving himself a brief shake, he's ready to head off in the horse's wake when it takes off down the trail. Sebastien doesn't touch the radio, but instead relocates closer to the second group. Reloading the shotgun with more plasma shells, he walks his horse into a thick stand of trees and goes quiet a moment, eyes up to wait for something to take an interest.

Indeed notice is taken. A polar bear does not encroach on a encampment without it. Guards come forth, wooden spears at hand. To the other side another scout points to Erica and Sage, bows and arrows are brought forth.

As things develop, Sage sighs faintly as she realizes it quickly becomes impossible to keep the brash actions of Sebastien from encompassing them all. She takes off the rifle and places it off to the side. She comes out from behind her cover with her hands held up in a - hopefully - non-threatening gesture. She moves to intercept the incoming d-bees.

Erica takes Sage's lead and slings her rifle over her shoulder. She holds her hands up in the air as she walks out of the cover. She walks up behind Sage as she hopes the other woman knows what she is doing. "I hope we can warn them fast enough

Nemain settles in to watch the pairs backs who are headed down. Her rifle settling in, nestled against her shoulder just incase that someone desides that an attack would be a smart move. Or that the two opposing forces that are being reconed show up to play. Not a good situation at all.

"Spears and arrows," Sebastien mutters, "And when someone starts throwing plasma around they run *towards* the fight. Unarmored. How do you save such people?" The envoys are met with a quick, "Do you speak American? Espaniol? Quebecois? Draco?" If he gets any reply in one of those languages, he calls out, "Coalition. Death coming. Run east, out of the valley." And with that he continues to ride, up and out, away from the nomads and the path of the great war machines ready to collide.

The small Inuit woman looks to Sebastien, studying him for a moment, but then her attention turns to the great white bear. She remains up on Sara's back, though it gives her an interesting viewpoint to things. The weapons brought up against them are noticed and noted, and Monique quirks a hint of a smile. She doesn't try her only language against them, since it's highly unlikely for them to know it. She does give a nod, though, to agree with his words. Tornaq lumbers along behind Sara, easily keeping pace.

There is some specualtion among the nomad dbees as Sebastien attempts to communicate. Though his attempt of draconian is to brief to merit recognition. At the other front Sage's envoy is cautious, keeping the bows leveled at her but seem to understnad the gesture she is trying to convey. Above the sound of aircraft approaching fills the air.

The one thing that Sage didn't consider in her desire to get the D-Bees out of trouble was the matter of their language. She focuses on one of the D-Bees and tries to gleam its surface thoughts, but it is likely enough to tell her that her languages will be useless. She comes to a stop at a respective distance. She takes a moment to think of how to approach this. The sound of the aircraft brings her attention. She points in the direction of the sound, then makes a quick firm gesture trying to indicate 'here'. She waits for a moment then points to the burned tree... and then waves her hand to indicate the valley.

Erica looks up at the sound of aircraft and swears loudly. She makes no motion for her rifle but she takes a step back to get under the leaves of a nearby tree. She makes no gestures herself as she doesn't want to confuse what Sage is doing. She squats down a little as well trying to take cover from the aircraft overhead. "We need to take cover soon." Nemain grumbles darkly to herself as she turns her attention in the direction of the oncoming aircraft. "How many of them are coming now?" No radio turned on, just musing.

Air power. Bombers, likely accompanied by skycycles and SAMAS units. If the tribe is at the bottom of the ravine, next to the river, Sebastien is getting to the place farthest from. He slows as he comes near the crest of the canyon wall, not wanting to be in the open to either side, and eases himself up for a look -- first back at Quebec, through the trees, and then across at Ironheart's aircraft.

From her vantage point, Monique looks towards the aerial sounds, though with being on the game trail she doesn't expect to see much of anything. Her attention turns back to Sebastien, though. "Noises are Coalition coming?" she asks, glancing briefly to Tornaq before looking again to the knight.

Sage makes her own attempt to comunicate with mixed results. Two seem to shrug off the intrusion of Sage's mind whel the other three greeting guards show some confusion and glance around with Sage's gestures in comprehension. One apparently comprehends all too well to result in droping his bow and running off to hide in a hut from the roar of the sky. This only makes the first to more cautious but the others seem to understand and a chatter ensues. And in fact the air craft are from Quebec. The jet streams streak the atmosphere above the canyon as the fly over head to the west.

Watching the reaction to her attempt at communication, Sage doesn't glance towards Erica. "That is wise, Erica... make sure that everyone else gets under cover if I don't get them to understand in time." She comments, leaving the implication of her words unsaid. As they begin to seem to understand, she makes a gestures intended to encompass them before making a two handed directional motion in the only safe way for the tribe to run. She once again tries to user her telepathy to convey them moving in that direction.

Erica watches the jet streams for a moment before turning back to Sage. "We need to get ourselves under cover. We still need to collect as much intel as we can. If they run out they should be left alone. I don't think either the Coalition or Quebec will much care about them."

Nemain sighs softly as she looks around at the availible cover. Her eyes flicking towards the contrails for a moment, then back to the situation below. "The munitions would be very, very messy to set off. Though if one of the mines still in place were to go off, that might start them moving."

Monique looking up and seeing some of the jet trails, she has no way of knowing what sort of technological creation of warfare could have made them. Lifting a hand, she hastily brushes a bit of hair from her face, then looks to Sebastien again. "Where we go?" she asks, keeping her voice soft. Turning, she looks to Tornaq, watching him pacing steadily behind them. Sebastien pauses there, on the ridge, and hefts his polearm. The flyover catches his attention, and he watches for the configuration of aircraft before looking down into the valley with his multioptics helmet to watch for the group's progress. "Come on, come on, get out of there," he mutters. "We're wwatching the battle," he utters. "And the slaughter below. That place is a powder keg, the locals do not speak my language, and they don't understand enough to be afraid."

Sage seems to be getting through to all of them now and a consensus looks to be reached. With the aircraft passing a leader looks to emerge from the main tent to be met with the guard that was with Sage. Some more conversing before echoes of many hundereds of explosions to the west startle most everone. A nod is given to the guard and the tribe starts to pack up. The chieftan then approaches Sage. Now might be a good time to note the description of these odd primitive people they are very thin and spindly, looking much like humans but very dark with very large eyes and slit irises. "Hello new meet. Grate for alarm from you. Us go, some fight?" He tries to convery with very broken english.

Sage bows her head slightly to the one that approaches her in a gesture that means to be respectful. "Hello." She replies, "Yes, big fight. Be safe." She lets out a breath, before she turns back to the others. "Alright, let's find some place to ride this out and keep your eyes open. Some of us should watch the air and others keep an eye on the ground." She comments before she begins to move away from the doomed valley in search of a place to watch and hope is safe enough.

"Yes go quickly. Much death is coming. Go now." Erica offers to the chieftan before she turns herself to move up the walls of the valley. She keeps low and under cover as she moves. Her armor helps her move fast as she looks for a good zone of cover to hide in before the battle gets properly underway.

Nemain sighs softly as she watches the talking below. Unable to hear a word of what's being said she keeps track of the aircraft for the moment.

Monique raises an eyebrow slightly as she looks to Sebastien, and she gives a small nod to his answer. She looks down towards the valley as well, relying on her own sight. "What mean, powder keg?" she asks quietly, studying him for a long moment. She easily dismounts from Sara, giving the horse a pat before stepping around her to Tornaq, lifting a hand to touch him briefly. Stepping up to be next to Sebastien, she looks down to the valley again.

"It is ready to explode," Sebastien notes, and grins. "It worked. One of them was able to communicate." Though his eyes cast up, watching the sky, wary for threats. Just because the bombing started in the distance, doesn't mean it won't end closer to home. The young man touches his visor and eyes the time, then makes a note in a small pad -- the time, and the first bombs being Quebec's to the West.

The nomads know how to break camp, it only takes them a matter of minutes to take everything apart to set out on their way. Their way though is a bit odd. Supplies in hand the line up single file at a fissure into the canyon wall. Then like walking through a door the walk into the paper thin crack. A dozeon os so work on the mines, taking them up and retreation to other cracks about the canyon walls.

With that little helping hand out of the way, Sage can shed one worry from her mind as there is little she can do to speed the D-Bees away from harm. As she works back the way she comes, she takes note of Sebastien's location and decides to give it a wide berth. She looks for a subtle rock formation to lay down amongst in hopes they'll make it difficult for her to see... yet not box her in if she should need to move. She'll keep low, not wanting to draw any more attention than they already have to themselves.

Erica finds a good grouping of bushes and trees and quickly starts arranging branches and leaves to better hide. "Over here. We can use this as Camo to hide." She calls out to Sage and Nemain. "It should help a bit at least." Her hands work quickly as she tries to make a nice spot to hide and observe. She hums softly to herself under her breath as she works.

Nemain glances over to Erica from where she's been the whole time. A slight shift over, further into the shadows. "I'm still waiting on the scouts to start showing up. That bombing sounded too close for them not to be here soon."

Monique tilts her head slightly to one side as she comes up beside Sebastien, and a smile tugs at the corners of her lips. She lifts her left hand, lightly touching the front of his shoulder, and she gives a small nod. "Need stay still, or if move, do very slowly. Will last little while. Hope long enough," she says softly, her tone holding a thoughtful cast to it. She uses the same spell on Sebastien, Sara, Tornaq, then lastly, herself. A chameleon spell to make them blend into their surroundings, to hopefully make them not a target.

Sebastien is ... green! Brown? Black? He lifts a handand stares at its shifting colors, slowly waving it about in front of his face to watch the skin shift before his eyes. Some scout he is! For the moment, he's mesmerized by the incredible disappearing Sebastien.

There is a glittering among the trees all about the canyon as the quebec forces move into place. At the conyon floor the artillery starts coming in from the encrouching Ironheart column, decimating the no longer present munitions. This continues until the entire canyon has be wiped so to speak and the column neas the entrance. Among the trees skirmishes break out as the Colaition glitter boy killers engage the qubec glitter girls. The sounds of weapon fire is quite deafening.

Expecting any attention drawn will lead to a very unpleasant reaction, Sage tries to keep her motions slow when she has to move to look around. She tries to make quiet note of the activities. Quebec bombing first... glitter-robots being countered by a particular kind of vehicle...

Erica takes out a notebook from her utility belt and a pencil. She starts taking notes of what is happening when. At least as best as she can tell. She uses the optics of her helmet to zoom in on parts of the fight, so she can better tell how the giant battle is progressing.

Nemain eyes the fighting and makes mental notes about the compisition of the forces. She settles in and sends a prayer or three to the dieties that they not get stumbled upon.

Monique can't help but to give a quiet little giggle at Sebastien's reaction, and she gives a small nod. She steps slowly to a nearby tree and leans against the trunk of it, watching the battle as it unfolds. Tornaq remains still as well, watching and waiting.

It's like a checklist. Sebastien barely pays attention to the shelling, but watches closely the position of the artilary. With a puff of air through his lips, the young man keys infrared and peers out at war machines stalking through the trees. Reaching for Monique's hand he looms silently, watching to the north, still as a mouse.

As the battle continues the column encroaches on the canyon and starts to progress. Not unabbted though. It looks like Quebec has a much greater glitter force than expected. The coalition coutners are effective, but greatly out numbered. Not to mention the artilier version setting up at the other end of the canyon. That may all escape notice for some though as a squad from quebec lowers their barrels at Nemain, her foot exposed to them..

Having decided to keep her position away from where Erica had declared, Sage simply tries to estimate numbers and comes to notice the disparity. She isn't all that surprised considering its the home field advantage for Quebec.

Erica looks around at the column. She tries to count numbers of troops and writes as much down as she can. She hopes that her cover is good enough so that she isn't noticed. Her hand sticks close to her energy rifle, just in case. Erica swears softly as she notices the squad lower their rifles at Nemain and she quickly puts away her notebook and shoulders her laser rifle.

Nemain is still oblivious as no-one has informed her of impending danger. She glances towards the soft swearing. Her own rifle shifting slightly as she does. From afar, Nemain grrrrrs softly as this puts her in debt to someone she really doesn't care for.

Sebastien is also, typically, blissfully unaware of the impending danger to his compatriot. He's watching infrared strobes and markers fly across the battlefield, launched by brave scouts. A marker will pop out into the night, laser fire chasing its source, and the target scurries from its position shortly before a hail of boomgun fire chases it through the trees. "Nothing will grow straight after this," the young knight murmurs, "with all that uranium in the soil." A thought strikes him, and the young man notes, "You see the flashes below? Laser strikes. If we're attacked, use your fog. It may do some good against the lasers."

A smile touches at the corners of her lips, and she reaches to take Sebastien's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. She gives a small nod, then turns her attention back to the battle, watching it continue to unfold. Monique doesn't necessarily understand the tactics used, but she watches all the same. Raising an eyebrow slightly, she gives a small nod. "Yes. See them. Will use fog, if attacked," she affirms, a smile touching her lips.

Counting things off on her head, Sage has a grasp on the sequence of the battle. The Quebec forces used their range and numbers to pummel their enemies while the Coalition tried to counter with their vehicles seemingly built to attack the glitter robots... but not being able to match the numbers. Her gaze strays towards where the others are, a startled cry comes from her as she begins to take note of the danger building. There is little she can do but cry at the last moment over the radio, "Look out!"

Erica's eyes widen at the sight of magnetic mines incoming. She turns around and leaps behind a large rock outcropping. She lays down for more cover as she hopes to dodge the incoming explosion. Nemain follows Erica's glance and dives for cover as well. Salvage doesn't mean her in this case, she hopes. A small push of energies and she has at least a little more in hte ways of protection.

The resulting blast from the mines obliterates the power armor squad that spotted Nemain quite thoroughly. Luckily Sage's cry gave them notice to take cover behind a large rock. For several hours the battle rages in text boot fashion. Quebec's forces hold strategy and versatility. The Coalition holds numbers and firepower over all. In the end the quebec border force gives way to the relentless march of the column but not lightly. Even long after its mass has passed tha canyon they continue to bite at its heels. Losses for the coalition were about twenty five percent over all, quebec lost seventy five percent. If such is going to be the way of the war over all it doesn't look good for Quebec.

Motion! Off in the direction of the group. Sebastien gives Monique's arm a squeeze and utters quietly, "Ready your shields, your fog. I think it's become a shooting war." He hooks his arm into the polearm, readying it, and ducks a touch on Sara. The explosion lights the ground below, and Sebastien rides in in its wake, polearm held high as he searches for survivors.

Reflexively ducking back away from the explosion, Sage can do little but hope the movement she caught before the blinding flash was her friends getting out the way. She nearly breaks her cover to rush to find out. Instead she manages to restrain herself to just a peek, "You guys okay?" She asks simply over the radio. She shifts a little uncomfortably now, but simply keeps an eye out. As the battle progresses, she begins to realize that what seemed like a good fight by Quebec quickly turns into a war of attrition they can't win as the Coalition just keeps coming like a trail of ants towards a pile of food.

"Yah I am ok it looks like." Erica calls out over the radio to Sage. She takes a moment to calm down and slow her breathing before looking over towards Nemain. "You are ok right?" She asks the other woman before moving back into cover to watch the remainder of the battle. She continues to take notes as best she can on the fighting.

Nemain dusts herself off as she grumbles, "I'm fine. I think I need to work on camoflague as my next addition." She settles better and goes back to noting the tactics.

Monique tilts her head slightly to one side and she steps forward to mount up on Sara again, settling in behind Sebastien again. She slips her arms around him, then gives a small nod. "Am ready," she says softly. She leans into him, holding on as Sara starts to move, and she knows that Tornaq follows them.

"All of that, a viable choke point, and they're folding?" Sebastien wonders, and he arrives on horseback a little late. "Be wary. The Quebecois are better than this. Look at the funnel as the column approaches the East side. If they mined below, what on earth do you think they put up there? Nukes?"

Erica puts away her notebook as she uses her optics to look around at the scene of devastation. Once it has quited down she moves out of her cover and starts looking through the remains of the battle, trying to spot anything salvagable. "We lucked out with those mines though. That group of troops was about to open fire." She offers to Nemain while she looks about carefully.

"I got the sense that some of those nomads were going to stay behind with the mines." Sage comments faintly after Erica comments about being lucky, "One good deed deserves another, perhaps."

Nemain sighs, "Tell me about it." she murmurs as she slips down to at least keep a watch over Erica's back. She glances towards Sage. "Remind me to thank them. And how much salvage do you think we'll be able to scoop and get out of here?"

"The helicopter can carry a lot," Sebastien affirms. "Maybe. They did something to the rotors to quiet it, so who knows? But as you look, do not go above the ridge line. Do not go down to the water. If the trail out is ambushed, up is bad. If the trail up is ambushed, the valley might flood. So get what you can from the scouts on the on the canyon walls. Good luck."

Monique tilts her head slightly to one side as she looks things over, and she lifts one of her shoulders in a faint shrug. "Will take word for it. I not know. Not know war," she says softly, frowning a little. There's no such word for it, in her native tongue. She gives a slight shiver, then looks to Sebastien. "Look for to take something or anything?" she asks, her tone thoughtful.

Erica shrugs her shoulders quickly. "Well I can carry quite a bit. I think we can haul out a pretty good amount." She says as she pushes around a large branch to search underneath to see what is there. "Can you help me with this Nemain?" She calls out as she drags out a piece of large scrap from a destroyed power armor. "Does this look usable? I could use it for a few making patches I guess." She muses as she looks over it. Once it seems to be relatively safe to wander a little from her hiding spot, Sage slips out as she glances around for signs of items to salvage and potential left over trouble. She moves carefully as she makes her way towards where she noted some activity, without straying too far. Erica pages: Nemain shifts over to help Erica shift the piece she's after. "It could work well for patching, yes. Seeing any good weapons in there? I've been watching the area instead of searching."

Weapons," Sebastien replies to Monique. "Any armor you'll find will be compromised. Else you'd find it ... hard to take." The latter comment is met with an invisible smile, behind that armor plate, and he notes, "If you see a downed robot or powered armor, say so. The power supply should have some charge -- some value." Sebastien presses up the ravine, along the wall, ducking low as he flips to infrared and searches for a downed armor suit. Something Sara could drag.

Nemain makes a face inside her helmet. "I'm thinking greedy thoughts. The female looking Quebeckers had an interesting one that might be fun to convert. Like their armor as well." Erica pages: Listening to Sebastien, the small Inuit woman gives a little nod. She leans against him, looking to either side of them in search of anything that might be worth money. "If need help carry, Tornaq help. I help," she offers, giving a small nod. She's not sure what a robot is, and she only knows power armor because it's what Sebastien wears. Erica pages: Erica nods her head as she looks at Nemain. "There are a few around. Both Coalition and some of the Free Quebec issued weapons. Most of them look a little damaged, but I bet they could be fixed up. Can take some e-clips as well I think. What are you looking for?"

"Perhaps we should just collect what we can without too much risk to ourselves... we'll likely have time to sort out what we find before our ride comes." Sage comments as she begins to pick up things she comes across. "We can make a pile near some bare patch to avoid losting bits and pieces in the undergrowth" She comments, selecting things until she has an arm-load enough to take back and begin her suggested pile.

Erica fills her arms with as much slavage as they can find and starts heading back in the direction of the pick up. "We don't want to be late. We should start heading out." She walks through the night using her night vision optics. "That Coalition army looked very impressive." She says while walking.

With her glorious pile of junk assembled, Sage takes a moment to consider it before wryly smiling to herself and shaking her head. Waving a hand dismissively, she turns to look towards where the others are. She'll come over to help with the useful salvage before moving towards the pick-up point to wait for the trip home.

Nemain hmms as she helps gather stuff, not really finding much of anything that really speaks to her. She eyes a bit of the glitter-plate, then sighs. "Perhaps one of hte bigger sheets could worl as a sled to transport stuff?"

Sara ends up dragging the burned-out hull of a Glitter Boy Killer back. Pieces of it are still burning, the metal horribly compromised by depleted uranium and plasma shells. Little bits of it fall off on the trail, likely for the best, and as he reaches the landing zone with a burning arm as long as Sara. The giant gauntlet has long since stopped twitching, the interior completely fused. It grips the pack and uniform of some Quebecois scout, and presumably not *all* of the contents are crushed.

Back at the landing site the chopper lands. Time to take what little spoils were found and go home.

It shouldn't take long to help load their spoils, before Sage can slip into the chopter and find a seat. If they debrief them on the way home, she'll recount as much as she's able with her own impressions of how things went. It likely wont be in classic military terms, though.

Erica writes up a report as she looks through her notes so she can give it to the people that pick it up. After that she takes off her helmet and snoozes a little bit on the trip back.

Sebastien writes as well, his recount a fairly by-the-numbers breakdown. He writes with an obvious background in tactics and military theory, describing the timing of the attack, the numbers used, and some insight into the mindset of the commanders. Some passages are crossed out, some added to, but in a world of limited literacy, he seems remarkably competent. Nemain helps load as well. Then works on her own portion of the report. She will detail a bit out about hte formations and how the lines were set.

Both Tornaq and Monique help in loading the spoils as well, having picked up some odds and ends on the battlefield. Then they get onto the helicopter themselves, Tornaq laying himself down and readying for the trip. Monique, meanwhile, remains near to the great white bear, leaning against him. She stays mostly quiet, unfamiliar with the battle she witnessed or likely with quite how to explain what she saw. Though she notices the others writing, she doesn't do anything similar herself.