Foreboding Skies In The North (Mature)

[Jonathan Winters *Deceased*]

Slash right, dodge left, re-sheath. Unsling, aim, fire, close range rifle-butt swing. Panting, sweating, Jonathan backed up for a moment, as he looked at the results of the body-target. It was slashed up.. but, some of the cuts weren't that close to the vital parts, as he would've liked. .. Hesitation. Dammit, he hated killing. But.. he had to. Had to for the D-13. Had to for Arcane Academy. Had to, to stay alive.. for Madelyn. His left leg pivoted, and he span back, at the target, landing on his right foot, his knive swivelling into the target's face, as he all but lunged at it, with his right swing, quickly bringing it back up to cover himself, his left hand rushing at it, as he took a left step at it, to grapple the target's 'neck', stabbing it in the side several times. Each stab... with a newfound fire in it. Survival. His guard was down. Bringing up his right elbow, he slammed it into the 'chest', dragging it out, bringing it across, his left hand travelling with it, as he quickly switched hands, and brought a stab into the 'neck' area, his right hand diving for his beretta, sticking it into the side.. once.. twice... three times.. a whole clip into it, backing up with every step, checking for his accuracy. Still there. He had no problem with strength. His speed was.. slightly improved. Training. But, he couldn't take too many hits, regardless. His body's structure couldn't allow it.. not just yet. He needed to continue being stealthy.. that was his talent. And to be truly sneaky, you have to work on your speed.. his left hand, went back, his eyes never leaving the dummy, about eight steps back, nine steps back.. suddenly, throwing it, watching as it flew past its head, part of the distraction, as he ducked down, left hand quickly going to his backside, pulling out yet another clip of rubber bullets, quickly firing it, letting the beretta falling to the ground, as he unslung his sniper rifle, standing up, pivoted onto his side to make him look smaller, aimed.. a breath of air taken in.

*BANG*

Looking in the scope, watching the huge hole, just from a rubber bullet, he fired several more times, until the clip slid out on its own, casting out shell after shell. His left hand automatically, like a machine born out of habit, quickly began to reach behind his back where he placed another clip of rubber bullets for his M82A1, but.. ".. All volunteers, please head off to the launch pads in back Babylos. This is not a drill. This is not a drill." .. What? That voice... it sounded familiar. A voice he knew, but was unfamiliar with, personally. He froze. That.. that was Captain Bardy. Captain Bardy. What was he doing here? E-Killers were active.. so, he couldn't feel much excitement, although, he attempted to imagine such a feeling. But the wailing continued. ".. I repeat, all volunteers, please head to the heavy blimp launch pads. This is not a drill. Briefing will start in thirty minutes." Thirty minutes. Time to go. Quickly, dropping down, picking up his beretta, he reholstered it, rushing past his knife, resheathign it, as he ran to his dormitory. Time was urgent. And there was not enough of it. He'd volunteer. That was the only thing to do. For the D-13.. his brothers.. his family. Who taught him everything he knew, whether he wanted that or not.. he had yet a debt to pay. Had to show them how much stronger he had gotten. He finally learned how to activate.. 'Snow'. Able to develop a shielding that lowered his temperature down.. thereby allowing him to even surpass thermal-goggles. His ability to stay invisible had also increased, even while attacking. It'd taken a while.. a lot of 'meditating'.. or more rather... 'praying'. His feet never making a sound, even as he ran. His speed had increased, thankfully, so.. for some reason, his dormitory seemed to approach much more quickly to him. Training. His payoff for training.. but, he had yet to become faster. And with 'snow', he'd deplete his energy much more quickly, in combination with his other stealth-tactics.

His hands gingerly slipping onto the knob, turning it, he threw all his gear onto the kitchen counter, too much in a haste to close the door. Dropping off his shirt, his boxers, he took a dash into the shower. He needed to take care of this, now. He could get there, in maybe... fifteen minutes. So, he had about twelve minutes left. His hands were quick, rushing into his hair, grabbing the shampoo bottle, as he memorized, feeling for everything, in the cold shower, washing his hair through, putting his fingers through it, getting out the soap, thoroughly cleaning it through, as he put away the shampoo to get the soap bar.. quickly lathering it in his hands, standing resolutely straight, eyes closed, not wanting to waste a second. quickly going over his face, he stepped out of the water's way, as he began scrubbing him self throughly, every nook and cranny, down from his neck and chin, to his shoulders, onto his biceps, reaching for his back, a good back stretch, and then, going down to his lower exterior, washing himself, as he scrubbed away. Pushing in the water knob with a loud squeak, stopping it, he went for his towel.. estimated three minutes used up, nine minutes to go. Drying himself as quickly as he could, his right hand going for his brush, he began to brush quickly, getting his hair straightened out, not wanting to leave it wet, as he dried off his lower posterior. He didn't know what he was going to face... so he was going to use his special-ops suit. That ment.. His hair, satisfactory, he knotted it up, until it was just a pony-tail, bundled it up in half-foots, until it reached his head, achieving a very Japanese style of hair; he put down the brush, slipping on toothpaste onto his toothbrush in a hurried manner, his eyes flicking to-and-fro, as he looked at every step as every little automatic step as a miniature objective, his hands quick, brushing vigoriously, spitting out, washing, gargling, putting away the toothbrush, and then.. his grabbed for the electric shaver. He made it quick, feeling around his face for any little hair, disposing of them, and in four-precise sweeps, cut off all his pubic hair. He'd have to clean it up later.

He dashed into his living room, naked, as he went to pick up his thinly-woven polyster socks, that went up beyond the knee. Insulants. Need to keep warm, but not to the point of sweatiness. Jumping into a rather uncomfortably tight pair of boxers, he opened up his bags to find his Special-Ops suit. Gah. Unzipping it, he began to squeeze his left leg through the left pant-hole, trying to get it in as quickly as possible, struggling at first, but then, finally getting it in. Hopping, and balancing onto the foot, he then slammed his right foot into the arm pant hole, quickly bringing it in tightly. Putting on a wifebeater, he slipped his arms into the less uncomfortable arm sleeves, his eyes closing, as he did this in about thirty seconds. Damn... slowed down by ten seconds. No time to lose, had to keep on pressing forward.. quickly going by his revealed stash of weaponry and ammo... quickly, he went through a weapon's check, attaching the scope, putting on the silencer, checking his knife... no dents. Holstering everything up, with a full ammo clip in both his weaponry, he knew that he wouldn't be using the canister rifle this time.. too unwieldly. Slipping into his back all four of his newly given armor-piercing sniper bullets, four packs of standard pistol bullets... and one clip of rubber sniper bullets and two of pistol. Never knew when he could save a bullet or two, maybe save himself from taking a life. Snapping them into their holsters, he then turned to look at the counter.. quickly popping open the pill bottle, popping in six E-Killers all at once. The feeling was tremendous, fairly instant, an instant drain of what he was feeling for concern replaced with a thinking of what to do next. Shaking his head, he looked at the mask, with no hesitation, putting it on, feeling the 'gasping' sound as it secured the air around him, the silent filter taking into place. Fitting on his equipment onto his back, of his various goggles, his mics, his 'CD' player used for distraction ploys, among everything else, he finalized a check, and grabbed his journal, in his left hand, putting it in his 'backpack' of sorts, strapping on his Special-Ops boots.

Getting a sticky note, he went to his door, slapping it onto his front door, getting out his silver pen, writing, "I'm going on the volunteer-mission. I'll see you there, or see you when I get back. I'll see you soon." Recapping the pen, he began to slide it back inside his backpack.. but.. took it out, adding to the bottom. "I love you." and put away his pen. If.. the worse did happen.. and she wasn't there.. at least she'd know his last thoughts. Quickly hurrying up, he burst into a sprint, feeling the suit tighten his running, going as fast as he could, his equipment strapped down, his sniper rifle even at his backpack's built in 'holder'. Not much jostling either, which helped increase his speed, going down the hallways, looking straight ahead, dodging through people, as he ran.. ran.. down the steps of Arcane Academy, quickly rushing through the city of Babylos, where Phae and him had made a little stop by to get 'the ring'. He was running, running, running, never stopping, wanting to make it in on time. The edge of the city seemed closer. People went to the sides, seeing him in such a haste, his heels always connecting to the ground first, travelling up to his soldier's boot, with the designed hump to help with the arch in his feet, down to his toes, giving him an extra kick, his hands slicing through the air, elbows in perfect fourty-five degree angles, hands straight, making for the least amount of wind resistence. Finally rushing in, finally arriving.. he could see the aircraft in the distance.. blimps? Jets? .. This was starting to look more serious. Quickly filing in, following after a armored character, as he saluted before the commanding officer. Pulling out his dog tag for him to read... it read simply:

Name: Winters, Jonathan
Bloodtype: AB
Occupation: Sniper, D-13

Looked like he was back. At least for now, then.. Captain Bardy? He'd never seen him this up-close, except for the ocassional announcement's he'd made in person. How serious was this..? At any rate.. Ex-Corporal Jonathan Winters hoped he could still be of service. There was a job to do.

[Lienn~]

Lienn nearly fell out of her chair as the siren went off in the school. She didn't think the school even had a siren, which in retrospect was an obsurd notion, of course they must have one, what if there was a fire or something? But it wasn't a fire they were alarming the students about. The voice (a gruff male one at that) was telling them to get to the helipad. The school has a helipad? What else was she missing? Regaining her balance, she got up and changed into her field clothes (tan capris, white beater, shoes not sandals.) True, it was a little blah compared to her normal clothing, but she wasn't trying to be glamorous. Pulling her long pale hair back in a ribbon, she checked that her dagger was at her shin before slinging a small bag (containing the basic first aid essentials and other survival things) over her shoulder and leaving her room (making sure to lock it behind her) and beginning her trek to the helipad.

It wasn't quite hard to find where she was going, she simply followed the stream of students. She made her way to the commanding officer person, where everyone seemed to be reporting. Straightening her shoulders, she approached the throng of students getting ready to go. There seemed to be only two other females volunteering for this mission. Was it a mission? Maybe 'emergency' was a more correct term. Anyway, she approached them all, casting a quick glance around before facing the individual taking role, her gaze blank, pale eyes narrowed slightly in determination.

"Lienn Deveraux, reporting."

[madelyn]

It was yet another beautiful day. In fact all days had now turned into utter beauty through the eyes of one young blonde girl. The same girl who sat silently in her room in the window seat smiling gently as she cleaned her flute. The parts to her flute in her lap as she polished the shining metal with the utmost care. Even though she hadn't felt well lately her stomach seeming to become upset rather easily these days especially in the mornings she had never been happier.

There was love. And that was all she needed. Never in eleven years had she felt the love she did now. It was like the sun itself had come into her life and began to warm the parts of her heart and soul once thought dead. Frozen forever the sun had come and melted her fears and began to chase the darkness and the pain out of her life. Her angel, sent by God alone had come with that sun.. he had created that sun and now she was warm and happy living in the world of the light for the first time since she could remember.

She had also been even more tired lately than ever before and with a yawn she finished polishing the mouthpiece of her flute. The only thing that truly mattered besides him..her angel. Placing her flute back into its velvet covered case she curled up in the warm sunlight of her window as the small canary above her head in it's beautiful cage began to sing. Sleep.. yet again she was sleeping.

Startled awake. Suddenly so suddenly she sat up right rubbing her eyes sleepily. Listening carefully to the voice. Something happened. She was needed? She would go. Standing up and being a little woozy she clutched her flat stomach for a moment before gaining her bearings once more. Had she eaten? No. That was a quick answer. Somehow when your stomach threatened to lose everything you gave it eating lost it's luster. However, she knew that she would need to. Thirty minutes the voice had said.

She stepped into the small kitchenette that her room had and opened the cupboard. Soup. That was all she ate anymore to keep her healthy and to hopefully settle her stomach. She had a doctors appointment soon and hopefully it wouldn't be anything too serious. Yawning again she popped the soup in the microwave and while it cooked she changed. Three minutes later dressed in a pair of jeans and a collared button down blue shirt she pulled her hair up into a pony tail and sat on her counter eating her soup.

She looked at the clock. Great, fifteen minutes left. She could get there by then. She hoped. She stood up after throwing away the container and she grabbed her flute securing it to her belt and she stepped out. Seeing the note on Jonathan's door she smiled and touched it for a moment. Taking out her green pen and beneath his note.. knowing he wouldn't see it until after they got back but still..

I love you too.

She unclicked her pen and shoved it back in the bag that was always on her hip and she began to run. She ran as fast as she could trying to get there in time. Running through the city and all the way to the landing site. She smiled brightly as she say Jonathan just as her stomach kicked in again but she ran anyway too happy to see him to care.

Running.. closer and closer and into his arms knowing he would catch her. She hugged him tightly now suspended above the ground in his arms as she hugged him. She kissed his neck since his face was covered in his mask. It wasn't a passionte kiss just more a soft peck to tell him she loved him and that she was happy to see him. Her angel.

"Be careful. Be safe. I love you." she whispered in his ear.

She slid down his arms her feet once more setting on the ground and turning she leaned against him slightly her back to his chest gently. She opened her notebook and showed the man in charge her name artistically written on it. She nodded and one hand over her stomach in an effort to calm it. She was ready to support the other students.

[Excel Esprit]

Excel stood on her bed, her eyes lowered to a focus as she glared into her mirror. Her eyes were serious and fierce, staring and staring at her reflection perhaps? No…no she hadn’t a bone to pick with herself. No it was what was ON the mirror that bugged her. Literally.
Sitting on the polished reflective glass was one heck of a spider. And Excel would accept NO freeloaders in her room so long as they were bugs. Or anything tiny with many many legs.

Her dresser supported the mirror, sitting about a meter and a half in front of her bed. The distance was not all too great, and this was sufficient battle space. For sure. Her eyes lowered even more, squinting somewhat and her body tensing, preparing for the perfect moment to erm…strike? In her left hand, nothing, merely balled into a fist. In her right? A tissue. A tissue that would ensure the gross little spider’s demise.

It seemed far too long before Excel finally made her move. She jumped! Straight through the air, her bed having allowed extra leverage. “Yaaa!” she called out, as her own personal battle cry, ramming right into the mirror, her hand swiping out to grab and squish the spider.

BOOM!

Everything fell, mirror and all. Her drawer was on it’s back and Excel lay beside the broken glass of her mirror. Her eyes slowly fluttered open, looking up at her hand and slowly opening the tissue. DRAT! She had missed. Bu what of the spider? Surely it would have gotten squished by now? Oh my no. She lifted herself up, using her elbows for support before looking at her leg. Many little Goosebumps travelled ALL the way up until it reached her neck. There it was, on her leg. She gave a loud screech and kicked her leg up, sending the bloody thing into the air before she picked herself up and ran after it.

“Attend que je t’attrape petite bestiole! Je vais te tuer!!!” (Wait until I catch you, you little pest! I’ll kill you!) she yelled, shooting her hand down to catch it with the tissue but each time missing the target. “Arrête de boujer!!” (Stop moving!) she ordered, biting her lower lip and trying over and over. Until she heard the siren. Her eyes shot wide and she yelped in surprise, grasping her shirt and feeling the beating of her heart.

She quickly changed her attitude, her eyes blinking gently. ‘Ah non, ça m’as arriver encore? Qu’est-ce-que j’ai fais cette fois?’ (Oh no, it happened to me again? What did I do this time?) she thought. Her eyes travelled towards her fallen dresser and broken mirror, her jaw dropping. Her eyes fell upon a spider, smiling gently and picking it up. “I’m sorry. I must of tried to kill you…” she whispered, her ears perking up at the siren again. “Oh but I have to go. See you later Mr. Spider!”

With that, she let the spider drop and ran off happily. She wasn’t sure what the siren’s meant (Then again, actually listening to the man announcing would of helped), but it was sure to be exciting in SOME way. And she knew she’d LOVE to help in some way, with the best of her abilities. She picked up her long pole and quickly dashed out of her room, heading towards the location.

****

Upon arriving, she blushed softly, seeing as she was perhaps late? So many had gotten here and she was used to always being one of the first. No matter, she was here and that’s what counted. “Excel Esprit, Je suis ici, Sir!” (Excel Esprit, I’m here, Sir!) she said, smiling softly. It sort of felt…strange to say that. And the way she said it, it sounded almost unnatural. Well, she hadn’t grown in the army either…

[Mayon]

"MOVE!”

Mayon yelled as he ran out his door and down the halls. He quickly stuffed a load of papers into his shirt and kept running. His sword by his side, Mayon went down the halls tearing through crowds of people listening to the wailing of the sirens. He kept running and running after hearing the message. To report to the front of the school. “Crap”. That was the word the came to Mayons mind as he thought of what could happen. As he burst through the doors Mayon noticed that there were already people there.

Mayon walked up to them and could see Shea and Darian. Two familiar faces. Mayon looked around some more and did see some faces that he had seen before. There was a little girl and some others. Mayon was sure he had seen them in classes before but that didn’t matter right now. Mayon just wanted to work for his school and gain some skill while he was at it. Mayon cell phone rang.

"Is this Mayon Shimauri?"

“Um. Yes. May I ask who is speaking please.”

“Just someone who has been watching you for a long time and thought it was time you knew about it?”

“O...Okay...”

“Don’t worry. You just get your emergency over with and I will meet you some other day.”

With that the phone hung up and Mayon was a bit freaked out. But he looked over and focused on the blimp. It was time for action. Mayon put his cell phone away.

“Mayon Shimauri. Ready and willing.”

[Phoebe]

Phoebe sat in her room yet again. She rarely left it anymore on fear of seeing Xeryth really. He had asked for 'space' and 'time' and so she was trying to be patient and give it to him. She loved him definatly and just because he had asked for time did not mean that she had suddenly lost those feelings at all. No if anything she felt them even more so now that he was no longer around. That she no longer felt okay with knocking on his door to just see what book he was reading today.

No now days she stayed in her room leaving at irregular times to eat and do other things like visiting Phae. Phaedra and her had gotten closer again and had been talking a lot and working through residual problems Phae still had from when Junpei left her. And Phae was helping her stay here at the academy instead of running of to Italy again after Xeryth had made his decision.

It was in her room working on her telekenesis that she heard the siren and her concentration fell the objects she had been working with clattering to the floor. She sighed and stood up listening and picking up her things. She would go.. what else did she have to do. At least she could help.

She dressed in a short black dress that hugged her body the skirt loose and falling to her lower thighs with golden trim and long sleeves. Over this a silver belt that her sword was attatched to was placed around her hips. On the back of the dress was the emblem of her school broad sword and a rapier crossed inside a diamond. She pulled her shoulder length hair up in a pony tail letting one locke fall to the right side of her face and she was almost ready. Pulling out the knee high black boots with small one inch heels. That done she was ready. Her white gold handled rapier polished and well cared for on her left hip.

She walked out of her room in her uniform of the Rome Academy of Swordsplay. It was made to look good .. very good but the fabric her dress was made out of would allow her to move and would not constrict her in anyway. The tight fabric across the bust would give her support and the shortness of the skirt ensured she would not step on her own dress. A lot of thought went into making the uniforms of the Rome Academy and she wore hers with pride.

She walked through the city as she soft breathable gloves on her hands. Her pale white flesh being covered now by the gloves and now she was in full dress. The emblem of the school in silver thread on the back of both gloves. She didn't look up until she made it to the blimps and then she froze. In all her preperations she had not thought about Xeryth being here. She stared at him for a moment the first time he had seen her in the Rome Academy uniform. She bit her lip nervously and nodded to him and then walked over towards Phae and Junpei.

She didn't want to ignore him. Hence the nod. But she didn't want to make him uncomfortable either and didn't want to pressure him into anything either. He asked for space and she was doing her best to give him as much as possible. She looked to the man in command.

"Phoebe Weiss, reporting." she said in her soft and quiet voice as she placed the toe of one boot behind the other and curtsied softly before standing once again.

[Celeste]

In the room they had given her the thin white haired girl sat in her favorite chair an old tattered yet exceedingly comfortable arm chair that the academy had provided for her. She was reading. Absorbing as much information as she could. The girl loved to learn and one easy way to learn was to read and from the books in the library she could learn so very much.

It was here engrossed in her reading that she heard the sirens and she looked up. It was an odd sound nothing like the alarm that had gone off at Nephilim when she had escaped. She listened carefully to the voice that came on and her eyes widened.

Would they need her though? She wasn't a human she was just a creation.. how could she help? But what if Drake or Seig were there? She would want to help support them right? Yes!

Standing she placed her book carefully on her desk knowing she could pick it up later. She was reading a mechanics manual and looking and learning about how things went together. She wanted to be able to help Seig more and more and so she was diving into the mechanics books in the library getting any info she could.

She slipped off the white dress she wore knowing that this wouldn't be good for flying especially if she had to fight and fly at the same time. She pulled on a pair of white jeans everything in her room donated by the female teachers of the academy as she had gotten here after being rescued and saved from near death. Over the jeans she pulled a lavender tank top with spaghetti straps on over her very slim frame the stretchy fabric clung to her body like it was supposed to and she considered herself ready.

She walked through the halls of the academy and once outside her eyes changed into the red color they did when she called on her wings and thrusting back her shoulders her wings thrust out of her back the beautiful angelic feathered wings seeming to glimmer in the sunlight. Flapping her wings she took off and flew herself to the blimp landing stations.

Once there she backwinged a little and landed right behind Drake. Pulling her wings back into her back her eyes the ice blue color once more she hugged Drake from behind.

"Hey.. Drake." she said softly as she stepped out beside him.

"Celeste Marquis." she said softly and nodded to the man in charge.

[The Helper]

Captain "Strong-Eye"

Twenty-one students! Twenty-one students had answered the call. Writing down their names as each and every one of them reported in, Captain Bardy couldn't help but smile as their numbers grew and grew. Such tenacity these kids had.. to help and volunteer for something that they didn't even know anything about. 'Course, after he briefed them on it, some may leave, some may go.. but.. his hands went over to his hat, readjusting it on his head. With a bit of thoughtfulness in his movement, he rested on the podium on his left arm, Azrael watching him in the back, with an amused smile on his face, for once. The two standing closest to Bardy didn't seem to have any emotions on their faces. The only one smiling was Captain Bardy. A fatherly feel came from him, as he looked at them, through his one eye, stroking his beard, smiling affectionately on them, as if they were his children. "Well, boys and girls.. Phae, Sieg, Robert, Ethan, Junpei, Wolf, Xeryth, Onira, Darian, Drake, Kheldar, Shea," as he paused to take a breath, rather unprofessionally, "Lanji, Jonathan, Lienn, Madelyn, cutey-pie Excel (you remind me of of my granddaughter..), Mayon, Phoebe, and of course, Celeste.." he said, pausing again, taking time to breathe in, as he stretched himself out, a really large smile on his face. Magical students. And so many of them. It was as if a huge burden was lifted off his face, to see so many young folk, willing to help.. if anything, certainly heart-warming. ".. I am Captain Bardy Strongfield. But you can call me Captain "Strong-Eye"."

An Ominous Briefing

He chuckled a little, holding up his right hand to his right-eye. ".. Obviously, an old joke, or 'nickname', I've adopted, through the years." Yet, even as he spoke, in all it's warmth, and fatherly, if not grandfatherly-feel, one may not help but think that perhaps.. and just perhaps, it was too warm. Almost inspiring, lifting.. something in his voice, something about his presence, like, a magical aura. As hard as he may try to hide it, he was definitely not a common man. Grinning appreciatively, he held up some files, and put them back down, the smile wavering just a little. "As a sign of good will, Headmaster Rommel Maedalus has offered Arcane Academy's services to aid us. But.. let me begin." he said, pausing for a moment, his right hand digging into his coat pocket, perhaps grasping something. He almost pulled it out, a purplish shine barely sparkling out, before he quickly put it back, as he eyed a certain girl with black hair, suddenly taking interest in her, looking back at his pocket, and then, back to everyone else, the smile disappearing down to a grin, at best. "As I said.. to begin.."

"..Three weeks ago, we lost communications with a northern D-13 base, up in the Arctic, at Ostrove Vrangel'A, surrounded by the frozen Chukchi Sea. Specifically, about (72, 180) longitude, lattitude style. No matter what, communications had ceased completely, as if they were cut off. Even more strangely, satellites have showed us things as though the base had never existed, as if it were just a plain of ice and snow." His eyes furrowed slightly at this, obvious concern beginning to filter into his voice. "Obviously, we sent investigation groups, thinking perhaps they'd just run into some problems, but armed the men sent in the jet in case the worst-case scenario happened. They did not come back. There was no signal sent back. Concern grew, as we began to assume that perhaps an unspecificed, unknown enemy had attacked it. Helicopters were sent from more nearby bases, but still to no avail, and even further disappearances. Desperation grew, and we asked for Arcane Academy to aid us. Your kind headmaster gladly obliged with us, and sent a teleporter there, to check in and out. He did not come back. A second one was sent.. he, for the first among over a hundred, did come back, but, had nothing to report."

".. And thus, we have sent for you, combined with our own forces. Our mission is this:

1.) Discover what has befallen the base.

2.) Attempt to rescue any survivors (yes, we're assuming the worse, now).

3.) Liberate the base, if it has fallen.

Fingering out each mission objective with his left hand, he lowered it down. His face had finally become very grave, some sort of.. 'wanting' in his eye. Perhaps he truly felt as though he were a father among his men, being their captain, leading them, crying over their losses, but, having the strength to still lead on. There was a reason why he was a captain of the D-13. "Mission objectives may be updated at any time, so stay frosty." and with that, he rested his arms in on himself, as stairs led up to the rather large blimp, on the right, which seemed closer. Azrael had a wicked look in his eye. The twelve soldiers saluted, and began to march, double-file, into the closest-opened blimp. "Should you choose to accept this mission, please follow us in. We're going in blimps, because they possess the most armor, suprisingly, outfitted specifically for this mission, and to catch anyone trying to catch us in the air by suprise, considering the weaponry on these things. There are three-levels to each of them, hence their 'larger-then-normal' size. There are more features, but, we don't have much time to waste on that. It's time to go" he paused, and began to walk away, a fierce look in his eye. Whether or not they would come, he had to go.. for his men's sake. But, he paused again. Swiveling around, he stood, saluting. "Students of Arcane Academy.. I salute you for your honor!"

That said.. he walked away, down the podium, Azrael also leaving the podium, an amused smirk on his face, as he walked away from the area in general. The Captain looked up at the blimps. The blimp part of it.. was made to float by filling in pure helium to compressed segments throughout the interior of the blimp. In that way, if the blimp's five-feet of armor was somehow sliced up.. the blimp would remain floating. There was even a platform on top of it, so that jets or helicopters could refuel themselves, with the gas in its own chamber, so that it would not affect the other parts of the blimp. The compartment beneath it was fused with the blimps, all three stories worth of it.. hence the excessively, almost unrealistic blimp size used. It was filled with so many of the helium-expanders.. it could actually lift that thing off the ground. Walking up the stairs, he walked straight away, as door after door unlocked before him, leading all the way to the front compartment, where all the navigation devices were. Fourty-eight men, aside from the captain were all battle-ready, in each blimp, four F-22 jets ready to escort them. Lift-off was immininent. The turbines in all aircraft began warming up. When the final Arcane Academy student got on.. it would launch.

Ruin Of Ice, Strike Against Hope

Mamolian was displeased. The D-13's base stood standing, still--- at his own choice of mercy. Such a pitiful amount of resistence, they simply were not equipped for such an intense battle. His ghouls walked away, watching in displeasure as the survivors dragged away their injured and dead, hungry for flesh as they were. About thirteen ghouls had fallen, and one abomination died, due to the suprise defensive, but, it was no match for their overwhelming forces. But they were easily raised back up. Nothing a necromancer couldn't take care of. But.. he'd given them mercy. Damned honor. He walked away... displeased, very displeased. But, there was excitement in his deep eyes.. ".. Perhaps my Lords were right... I see the wisdom in their plan. When they come.. or at least, of those that survive the Mercenary..."

An evil smile came onto his face.

Orders Cast

"It is time."

Armor and helm was donned. Sword sharpened and sheathed. And away, he walked, the monks bowing to him, as he passed by the rows and rows of chairs. A priest nodded to him again. ".. Paladin Saint John.. destroy this evil that God hath spoken unto us. With Holy scripcture, belief in the divine.. thou shalt suceed." "Amen." As the man walked away.. through the doors of the church of the Order. Foul magicks.. blasphemy upon their God! Whatever was emenating this foul aura.. it would be sliced down, with the Holy word and sword, armor blessed, to protect him from evil.

"Though battles await, and blood is to be shed, though curses be thrown and blasphemies assumed, forgive me, oh God, as I use thine blessed blade to cast them.. into the pits of Hell, where thine forsaken flames that you created for such sinners may lick their unworthy feet, and crush them in agony in a world without you, Amen."

A common prayer, but.. there was some hesitation, even as he spoke it. One that he quickly shrugged off.. The paladin known as John walked and disappeared, fading into light, as he travelled north.

WILL YOU GIVE THE ESKIMOS A REST ALREADY!?

[glow=red,2,300]"... GOD, FINE! I WILL, HAPPY!?"[/glow] said the dark figure, as he stood up from his collection of Eskimo porn magazines, zipping up his pants, giving his sticky hands a flick, and drying them off on the snowy ground. [glow=red,2,300]"Not as happy as we could've been.. for the love of God, why are you even PART of our group, you filthy pervert!?"[/glow] said another, as he leaned against a wooden wall of the cabin that they had.. 'borrowed'. More for the fact that the previous owners now lay dead, around them, their limbs sliced up fairly well, the blood seeping into the snow. [glow=red,2,300]"Now, now.. let's not get into an argument.. the Mercenary 'Donar' has probably made it half-way there to intercept them already.."[/glow] said a more omnious voice then the two, unseen, sitting behind the chair, his hands stroking the decapitated head of what was once a rather lovely woman, that he threw into the fireplace, to burn with her husband's head. [glow=red,2,300]"... Let's just watch, for now."[/glow]

Objectives:
-Board the blimp for take off.
Optional Objectives:
-Get to know the Captain.

[Sieg]

Sieg looked around in awe to see how many students from the Academy. He felt so powerless, he was more than sure that most of these students were more experienced in dealing with magic if not more powerful than him. Sieg leaned against Atticus, folding his arms over his chest as he listened to Captain "Strong-Eye" as he started to brief them on what exactly they would be doing.

So many men, armed to the teeth, dispatched that easily?! Sieg wondered how much of a chance a group of Academy students had against whatever enemy this was. It had to be powerful to dispatch so many D-13 squads apparently so easily. Sieg trembled inwardly as he imagined what such a terrible enemy it could be that they were going up against.

The mission objectives weren't exactly anything special, but what they entailed made Sieg shiver inwardly. He pulled out his PDS switching it on. A faint clacking sound could be heard as he entered the mission objectives as Strong-Eye announced them.

1. Discover what has befallen the base (God only knew what could dispatch a D-13 base and the subsequent investigation squads so easily)

2. Attempt to rescue any survivors (Sieg could only pray that if they found any bodies at all that they would at least be in one piece)

3. Liberate the base, if it has fallen (If something could dispatch the former residents of the base so easily, taking it back would certainly be a harrowing task).

Sieg sighed as he noticed Celeste was among the ranks of those who had answered the alarm. He only hoped he could protect her if any danger befell her. He could also only hope that Drake would try his damn hardest to look out for her. Sieg would be damned if he was going to let his adopted little sister die in some frozen wasteland.

Sieg patted Atticus' leg slightly as he leaned against him. This was going to be a challenge of both their abilities. Sieg hoped the work he had done on Atticus would make him a valued addition to this rag-tag team. Because now he wasn't the only one that could possibly be depending on Atticus to function properly. There was no way in hell that Sieg was going to have the blood of one of his new teammates on his hands.

The last step to be taken was to board the blimp. Sieg marvelled at the technological superiority of the blimp. He wished he could have been apart of a project like that, the experience, the knowledge, there would be much of both to gain working on something as magnificent as that.

"Well let's go buddy," he said, knocking on Atticus' leg twice as he moved forward. He tightened his goggles against his forehead as a symbol of his determination and started for the blimp. Atticus stomped along behind him obediently, his optical sensor was already scanning the blimp and compiling a blueprint for future reference so that Sieg could possibly adapt it's technology for his own uses.

Once inside the blimp Sieg wandered around like a wide-eyed child. He inspected every inch of the blimp that he could, making assumptions as to how things worked and what did what. He mumbled to himself as he made notes on his PDS while inspecting the blimp from the inside. It was indeed a thing of technological beauty.

[Junpei]

ooc: Please ignore spelling and grammar errors, it was 12 AM adn I had to rush to bed... yay my longest post ever. ^^

"Heh, just don't forget that yourself, Wolf."

Junpei said as a man he had never seen before addressed him, in a slightly unfriendly tone, more like he was joking with Junpei than anything, but at this academy one could not be to sure. He looked to be a bit older than Junpei, maybe just a bit older in the grand scheme of things but he was most definitely experienced, he carried that sort of an air about him. One thing Junpei did not like was his dress, to stealthy, to much unrevealed. Of course the element of surprise, especially in combat, would be one of the best aids any combatant would ask for.

Xeryth arson, Junpei's best friend at the academy. They hadn't talked or seen much of each other in months. Xeryth had been with Phoebe, although Junpei wasn't sure if that was still going or not, he hadn't heard Phaedra squealing at all about their relationship. Junpei could only hope the best for the timid D-13 boy who had been their idea of an experiment. It had been a factor that now led Junpei to believe that D-13 was a horrid group hat was just more evidence that magic could be used for all the wrong reasons.

Riekana Onira, a man Junpei had only weeks before wanted to strangle and kill. For one he had kissed his fiance' and thrown Junpei's mind into a sudden lurch that had resulted in him seriously hurting Phaedra, but that was old news now, although Junpei still felt serious guilt over the whole ordeal. What surprised him the most was what Onira came in on, a giant white mosse... a moose?! What the fuck was a moose doing in a place like this? What kind of a question was that?! This academy was seriously starting to shock him, not from the fact that he had seen this, but because he had seen something like this and not even been surprised.

This academy is going to do one of two things to me. A- It'll kill me. B- It'll lead to me being killed and/or maimed... why does the latter sound more appealing?

Darian Dumonte, the rich boy from his summoning and dark arts class. He was a very excellent gun mage and had shown great prowlers with his field of magic. Junpei personally liked the boy, he was certainly a hard worker and persistent. He had tried multiple times on each spell he was given and though only able to achieve a slight level of proficiency he had potential. AT his side was that same huge black cat. It reminded Junpei of a panther or Jaguar, and for all he knew it could be.

Drake Sevnik, Junpei knew nothing of him. For the impression Junpei got he could be useful, at least as cannon fodder or a shield, but Junpei didn't like to think like that. Personally he would like to come back from this with every single student and other intact. Why you may ask? Because Junpei was a student teacher, he was training to become a regular teacher here at Arcane Academy. That would entail him protecting each and every one of these students. They were his responsibility if he went along with this, if he decided to go he would make sure that each and every one of these students came back alive. It may seem naive and may seem unnecessary, but to Junpei it was a mater of his duty, of his personal views.

Kheldar, the only way Junpei knew this kid was because he had read his file while browsing for classes to teach. He was kind of limited in his potential class list, mostly dark arts and summoning, maybe a bit of healing if he allowed Zandra to come out for long periods and relay instructions threw him, that wasn't a half bad idea. Of course this Kheldar kid was going to be a problem. Big, heavy, noisy armor following them around everywhere, it was a stealth entry's worst nightmare.

Just what we need, a god damned tank rolling in with us to go the D-13 route and overwhelm the base with firepower. I swear that has to be the worst way to approach this.

Shea Donnovan, another who had attended his class and had shown off a very promising future as a jewel mage. Se had excellent control and had even discovered th focus of one of her jewels in his class. He had been elated when she had managed to actually use Nether Fire by the simple touch of her jewelry. She and Darian seemed to be... close from what he had seen in class. Not only by the way they acted but by the way he had caught Darian looking her over now and then. His personal opinion of her was that she could be useful, with multiple areas of magic and easy access to said fields, she would be very useful in this endeavor.

Lanjo Romano, religious freak. Junpei was an atheist, a pure and unbridled atheist. Meaning A he believed in no higher power, God, Buddha, Satan, whatever you wanted to call it he called it non-existent. Junpei had never gotten along particularly well with anyone who was very religious, although there were exceptions. People like this however, Junpei would not be enjoying this boys company at all, not from the first impression he got. Oh yes, this was going to be very interesting.

Jonathan Winters, now this was someone Junpei still needed to personally thank for not only looking after Phaedra but for personally making sure she got some sleep in her week long ordeal. He had actually taken the time to get to know her and help her in her time of need, had been there for her when Junpei could not, had actually been a kind and gentle soul and shown his true colors even as a D-13 operative. Junpei owed him alot, and if he could he would repay him on this mission. Not only that, but from what Junpei had heard this man was a crack shot with a sniper rifle and a stealth expert, going so far as to almost disappear in his environment. D-13 had it's ups, but they were small and came very so often, Jonathan and Xeryth were the top of D-13 in Junpei's mind.

Lienn Deveraux, telepath, excellent close in fighter, rough and tumble, could take a hit, was able to match Junpei blow for blow... yes she was another welcome addition to this troupe. Junpei had fought her, well sparred really, once... he had come to decide it was a tie. She was gritty and determined, ready to go and always on her toes. Junpei had broken her nose and she still kept coming, with a ferocity that was so uncanny Junpei was sure she was above and beyond what the human spirit needed. Yes chalk another one up to the 'excellents' he was putting together in his mind, the people he would personally get to on the transport and talk to about something he had up his sleeve already.

Madelyn Moore, Junpei had only read and heard rumors of her. He couldn't judge her, couldn't make any kind of assumption about her. No this girl would be judged, like many others, later on. From the impression he got from her right off she seemed nice enough, and it seemed that now Jonathan too had found a companion. Seemed like everyone had someone now, everyone had someone special in their lives sure, but maybe this academy had been serving a much more important purpose these last hundreds of years. Not only did students learn their magic here at Arcane, they also found love, understanding love that was supposed to be found. If you thought about it what were the odds of running into another mage in the natural world? You may run into one every few years? Maybe once a month in heavily populated areas but other than that... very unlikely. SO the academy served as a sort of place for magical couples to meet as well, damn smart of them in Junpei's eyes.

Excel Esprit, another one Junpei knew absolutely nothing about and seemed to be rather shy. She was French... or so he thought by the sound of her voice. That accent, well the whole language she spoke in really, just screamed French to him. Hell if he didn't no better he would say she didn't know English.. dis she know English?!?!

Mayon Shimauri, seemed to be another one of those who was either spacey or out of place. Junpei guessed the latter as the boy hung up a cell phone before he addressed their new commander. Hell the kid was talking on a cell phone here at the academy? Junpei didn't even have phone anymore, if you wanted to get a hold of someone he figured walking was best... then again he always was a bit of a low tech guy.

Phoebe Weiss, the second Weiss twin, sister to Junpei's fiance' and the girl he assumed Xeryth as still seeing. That was until they never he spoke to each other as they met today. Phoebe even seemed timid around the telepath, only nodding and then moving on to move closer to Junpei and Phaedra. She was actually standing near him?! Something had to be way out of place for Phoebe to be like this, way out of place. That wasn't good, there would have to be solid communication here if they wanted to make it out in good condition. Awww hell if they were arguing as welll... damn-it.

Celeste Marquis, another Junpei knew nothing about, but her entrance was enough to spark his interest. She had wings, just like his that grew out of her back as well. Maybe she was a bonder as well? Of course she could always be an actual angel, freed from her dimension bya rift and choosing to come here to train her powers and her mind... or maybe she wasn't. Either way Junpei wanted to get to know this girl more, that was for sure.

Finally it seemed all were gathered for the briefing, to hear what would shape up to probably be extremely difficult if it required this many. Hell there were... Twenty-one students here in all? Maybe more maybe less but Junpei's initial count couldn't be that far off, after all he was within the first five here, and from then on he had slowly been counting off the students as they came. All in all he figured at best it was going to turn out to be either very offensive, or very offensive. Either way working with D-13 it should prove interesting at the least.

Now the man who was in charge spoke, in a very warm and charismatic voice. Their was a reason this man was the leader of this little run, he had experience with this sort of thing. He was probably a seasoned veteran of shooting the bull and telling people what they NEEDED to hear. Junpei could only smirk as the man spoke, his arms crossed over his chest, his feet slightly parted to balance his weight. Yes Junpei was read to go, ready to make quick work of whatever was keeping him from planning out more classes, getting dinner out with Phaedra, working on new spells, or even just taking a good hard three hour nap.

As the speech continued Junpei absorbed it like a sponge on water. All the knowledge was grabbed up and stored away to be accessed later or immediately, neurons fired and synapses connected in the mind. His inner workings were reconfigured to store and process this new information, all of it, making sure no detail was dropped or forgotten. No he absorbed it all and could only smirk even more at the objectives. They were going to go check out something that only 1 in 100 had come back from. They were going somewhere that only one high level transporter had walked away from. They were academy students, and not a single one, NOT A SINGLE ONE, had been there when they brought down the dragon in the beast war. None of them had seen combat on this kind of scale. Sure you could train, and go on academy missions, and do whatever you wanted to 'prepare' fro this sort of an event, no a full scale battle, but in the end, only being there would save you.

"Lets go watch them screw us over shall we?"

Junpei whispered to Phaedra as he headed off for the blimps, taking the exact same one the commander and Azreal had. It wasn't hard to figure out what would be going on here, they would all be either talked to or examined to find out what exactly they could do and how D-13 could use them. Last time D-13 hadn't had a say, they had been only a branch of a massive assault force tree. Last time they had lost groves of men to peons. If this was the doing of a complex and intelligent assault force or some super powerful being... they may win with sheer numbers but injuries and even casualties would be taken. Yes they would not come back from this one unharmed, Junpei didn't expect them to. He expected the majority in this group would be coming home with more than one knew scar. Junpei himself had come home with three new lines across his forearm from that damned dragon.

Stepping into the blimp Junpei already felt out of place. He had wings, he wanted to use them, he wanted to be in control here. Yes in the sky he could gain control, the control that he always sought. He didn't like being forced around or told what to do, he was a leader at heart. Sure he may not have the qualities or the 'mind set' to be a great leader, but he had been madea teacher right? That took a degree of leadership and know how. You couldn't teach a class that was out of control and not following you could you? Hell no you couldn't, you would be in trouble from the get go. Junpei would have to gain back some control, talking to this new commander would do it.

Proceeding straight to the front of the blimp Junpei passed door after thick plated door, made his way past D-13 dogs, and finally arrived on what appeared to be the massive air ship's 'bridge'. Although on a typical blimp it would be the pilot house, here it would be a bridge. This thing was massive enough to take down almost anything else in the air... hell it could probably take on a dragon and be fine.

"Captain Bardy Strongfield."

Junpei said as he stepped farther in, past two control men who shot him a look of surprise. He had sought out the head honcho from the get go, he wanted to get the full details, to know exactly what he was walking into and why for the love of god 21 students were needed to investigate a base. This was D-13s problem, they were just using the academy as fodder, and Junpei knew it.

"It seems I'm to report to you know. Allow me t formally introduce myself. Junpei Taltos, Student Teacher at Arcane Academy. I understand fully the weight of this situation and I hope you know, I will be watching over each and every one of those students myself. I will tell you know that I don't care for D-13, nor do I care for the majority of the people within it, although recent experiences have told me otherwise. Please sir, I have to know, what do you personally think the chances of all those students walking away from this are?"

His eyes were filled with honesty, showing that yes, he DID want to know how those students would urn out, how his Fiance' would turn out, how his friends, family, and personal students would turn out. e was worried, worried for them and worried for him, he was not a natural born leader, or he didn't assume he was, he just cared for those around him, and cared about those he didn't even know. He wasn't a bad person, he wasn't someone who lied to get what he wanted. All his life he had been told that honesty was his greatest gift, Junpei treasured it, it was something his Mother had told him.

[Phae]

Phae Weiss stood to the side. Watching all the other students comeing to help the academy. It was interesting all the people she did and didn't know comeing to the aid of the school they were all so passionate about. Granted she couldn't speak for the people around her but she was definatly in love with the school and was willing to do her very best to get this thing going. She could only assume that the others had that same love for the school that same pride in her campus that allowed them all to come and willingly fight for not only the safety of the school itself but the safety of people and students everywhere. It was her pride in her school and her innate good nature that had brought her out here today. Here to help in anyway she could.

Her blue eyes, the color of deep sapphire opened wide at the sight of the second arrival. A boy with goggles around him that seemed to fly on a .. robot? How cool was that! She would definatly have to atleast get to meet the boy either during the fight by fighting beside him as was likely since she was a melee fighter or by after the whole thing was over she would have to make some inquiries and find out what was up with Robot Boy. Whose apparent name was Seig. Note to self: Must meet Seig. Soon a young boy joined them. She smiled for some reason looking at this boy reminded her of Xeryth. Though there was probably a few years difference her heart immediatly went out to the boy and she gave him a smile and a wave because though he looked depressed and withdrawn sometimes a friendly smile was all you really needed to get through those rough patches. She had been through enough rough patches in her life and now she was sailing relatively smoothely. So the chance to offer someone a kind smile that just might get one in return was well worth it.

Another arrival. Phae stood silently just watching the myriad of new student realizing now she really needed to get out more. Her life centered around Junpei mostly but she had really missed out on meeting some of the new students and that was something she was notorious for. So again. Note to self: Get out more. This man, yes man for he was older than any of the students she had met or currently knew. He seemed so regal and refined. Royalty came to mind when she looked at the man with the robes on. And then there was Junpei. Phae of course offered him a smile as he walked straight for her and kissed her. It was just a gentle peck but they were about to go off to battle she assumed that it was probably not best to be all over each other. Besides she really wasn't in the mood at the moment. She was concentrating on keeping herself calm. Ready for what lie ahead. Rumors of the Beast Revolution had indeed reached her ears so she was not thinking this would be a trip completed lightly. Oh no, it would be hard. And many would be injured. She just had to be ready to do her best. Rookies!! She recalled the words that Junpei had spoken and she glared up at him. Rookies indeed. What had he fought in.. the Second Beast Revolution and suddenly he was a veteren.

"Rookies? Way to boost the moral, Jun." she said looking up at him and then looking away as the next person came into the area.

A man came into the area next. She smiled more like a smirk as he commented at Jun's statement. Way to go..Wolf..yes that was his name she heard as he introduced himself. She didn't know him had never seen him but already he had a check mark in her book for knocking Jun back a peg for his arrogance when everyone here needed to be at the top of their game. A bigger smile on her face as none other than her little brother came onto the scene. Not related by blood but by a bond they shared through friendship Phae looked to Xeryth like her little brother and she waved at him happily. Thought he and Phoebe had hit a hard time.. mainly him if Phoebe was right but that didn't mean that she would support and love her little brother anyway. But this was not the place for such thoughts. She was ready to fight and along side her friends and fellow students. There was much to do. Her other brother, however this time her older brother still not related. Onira came onto the scene riding... a what?? It looked like an Elk if she remembered correctly. Now Onira had always been a little odd and she wasn't going to dig up her horrible past with him suffice to say it wasn't pretty. However he too got a wave. He had been there in the Der Crazermeister's class and he was a perfect brother.

A new boy. Yet another one. Man she needed to get around more. She watched.. such beautiful red eyes and the cat that was with him moved with feline grace that was beautiful. She smiled slightly as she noticed all the guns on the boy. Well .. looks like he could shoot. She hoped so anyway. For from the class she had taken on summoning and dark magic he was apparently a gun mage. And then yet another new boy young with a Russian accent. She had been to Russia a few times and could pick an Russian accented English out of anywhere. Ahh and then Kheldar. Another friend. They had gone off to Italy together and she had a wonderful time. Definatly someone she put in the category of her friends for he was nice and straightforward. She liked it though. His blatant honesty was refreshing and she felt that he hid nothing from her and that was refreshing.

A girl!!!! Finally a blessed girl!! Here she thought she was going to be the only one the way it was going. Male male male.. yeah finally another female. And this one she knew. From Junpei's class. She was the jewel mage. They had never gotten introduced but that didn't mean she didn't remember her. Decked out with all her jewels on it looked like she had an aresenal that could definatly kill. Way to go! Girl power! Though it seemed that they were destined to be outnumbered by the men as yet another showed up. Dressed in finery that reminded her of the Knights of old. She smiled it was straight out of a fairy tale. This was all so very interesting and Phae despite trying to stay calm felt herself getting excited. For she was in love with magic and she was curious to see what everyone's talents were. Ahh bring on her very best friend. Jonathan Winters walked onto the scene and she might be the only one here that had ever seen the white haired boy with his mask on as she had met him in it on their very first day. She smiled at him and gave him a wave a very happy wave as she knew that he would see her. He always did. That was one thing about her best friend. He would listen. No matter what.

One more for Team Girl as a blonde walked onto the scene dressed rather cutely in Phae's mind. She remembered seeing her in the class with Der Crazimeister. French. she thought for a moment and that was all as Madelyn coming into the area took her attention. The young girl she had only seen once ran towards Jonathan and threw herself into his arms. Phae smiled. It was cute. The way he loved her and she loved him. It was beautiful. And it seemed the girl team would not be taken over as the cutest girl she had ever seen in her life came into the area. She just had that huggability. Like Xeryth... she too was huggable.

One last male came on the seen by the name of Mayon apparently. He receieved a phone call which was a bit .. weird to say the least but her eyes shifted wtih a big smile as her twin walked onto the scene. Phae was taken back for a moment as she looked at Phoebe. The girl was hot and she knew it. The dress and the boots even down to the black gloves on her hands everything from her academy in Rome the official uniform but damn.. it looked good on her sister. Take that Xeryth! Thought Phae as she chuckled and hugged her sister tightly in greeting. The secret handshake commenced as it always did before a battle together and Phae smiled at her twin for a moment before looking up again as an angel flew..WAIT.. ANGEL?? She looked up in the sky and her eyes drifted down watching her land gracefully but she didn't miss one thing..

JUNPEI WAS CHECKING HER OUT!!!

Jealously as well as rage filled up Phae. Lovely. A real angel comes onto the scene and now his attention was gawking at her. How lovely. She wanted to hit him. Damn straight she did. Whallop him upside his damn silver headed self and tell him to go talk to her if he thought she was so damn good looking. ERRRRRR!!! She looked down at the ring on her left hand muttering something about .. wings and damn it.. under her breath. Luckily the man in charge began to speak. Saved by the bell.. you gawking bastard.

Hey eyes widened a little as the man the Captain began to speak. A whole base disappeared as if it had never been there!? She knew this was bad and now a foreboding came over her. She knew that nothing just disappeared. Off the radar. Off the charts. Things as big bases didn't come and go suddenly they took years to build and years to tear down. There was something much bigger going on and now she was scared. Not that she would leave. Oh no she was in. She wanted to help. She knew she could help and she was definatly ready. Just scared. Again she was even more scared as her heart began to race in her chest as the Captain began speaking more and more. Full regiments of men gone.. lost never heard from.. no contact what so ever. That was a very bad sign. People along with bases didn't just disappear. This was getting worse by the moment and the weight on her chest seemed to be getting even heavier. Then the objectives were laid out for her and she listened carefully. She didn't want to be unprepared and knowledge would only help her now. They would be accomplished if it was feasable she knew that the 21 mages that were here were here because they were talented and they could do it. Working together she knew they could. She had faith. And right now it was helping to keep her going. She was ready to do her best.

"Lets go watch them screw us over." Jun whispered down at her and she glared at him giving him a look that could kill as she spun on her heal.

"Why don't you talk it over with Angel Girl. You seem so innately interested in HER." she said as she walked past him. She had no time for this crap but damnit she was mad. He shouldn't stare at another girl IN FRONT of his fiance' and expect no retribution. Hmph.

Phae stepped onto the blimp pissed. She crossed to the other side of the main room and leaned against the wall not wanting to sit feeling rather fidgity. Her foot tapped on the floor as she stared at it. Yeah she was pissed and had every reason to be. She placed her left hand on the hilt of her sword and waited for the blimp to take off. She was ready to get this show on the road.

[Kheldar]

Geek, geek, twerp, pain, girl, girl, twerp, annoyance...

These were Kheldar's thoughts as he was exiting his armor. He shook his head for a moment as he sighed and ran his fingers through his hair and wanted to shoot something. There was just no end to the annoyance of people now was there? He shook his head for a moment even as he heard the names rattle through the communications headset. He had been issued a communication headset so that way he could stay in touch with Captain Dork-Eye. Strong-Eye his ass man what an ego.

Prick has a bullet lodged in his brain...

Kheldar sighed as he flipped the page in his book.

Crackle...

Why am I in a school for the clinically insane?

Rookies...?

Fuckwad...

Has a sword lodged in his ass.

Crackle...

Again a page turned as Kheldar considered his thoughts for a moment and then glanced at his book again and made his way downstairs. He heard the names rattled off over the comms in a semi-formal manner. Sounded like a nice list of tombstones if you asked Kheldar. But, then he was probably the only realist on the whole freaking ship. Man...what did he do to get himself caught up into these things?

What higher power did I piss off?

So bothersome...

Twenty-one people from the Academy...legal drinking age and body count...

Sure it was negative but, Kheldar wasn't exactly a bright disposition. He heard Strong-Eye start up his rant and his eyebrows shot up. They were going on a suicide mission?!

Lovely...you know it's times like this I consider a career change...or finding a newer and safer hobby at least.

He made his way down the steps and heard Junpei. Instantly Kheldar already summed up this guy as one grade A egotistical prick that needed stabbed a few times. In places that he might need man what a freakin asshole. He heard Phae's voice yelling at him and blinked for a moment. Well correction not yelling but, that cool woman voice that you can't help but, hear as he was now within earshot of all this.

Ok....

Siblings?

Yeah...siblings...

Phae didn't tell me she had a brother-in-law...

He did however, speak in his mic.

"I wonder if those pistols of yours disembowels idiots..."

Kheldar murmured in the comms to Dor...errr....Strong-Eye before he ran his fingers through his hair for a moment. He then approached Phae and gave a smile at her sword. He had predicted what her weapon was beforehand and it was nice to see that his instinct was correct. He looked her over for a moment and then walked over giving Phae a hug.

So...soft....so....firm....so...squishy....the twins are very nice....maybe I can write an erotica book on it.

Kheldar of course thinking about Phae's chest pressed against him. He was two or three inches shorter then Phae but, no matter. He stepped back after a couple minutes and smiled at her.

"I once read that a woman's scorn is more biting then the flames of hell. I'm glad that isn't directed at me."

[Lanji Romano]

With an ease of strength Lanji drew the massive broadsword and reversed it to where the point was facing downwards as he faced this man. This man to be respected for he was going to be there leader. This man was to be respected the word 'rookie' from one man quelled by a comment from another. Junpei the one being quieted. Ah yes the Order frowned on this one. A dark magic user who should be purified for being an abomination in the holy light of God. With a clang his sword point bit into the ground the heavy weight of this elegant weapon suddenly shown that it was no joke to wield. Beautiful latin runes went down both sides of this extradinary crafted weapon. The weapon's edges shimmered with the hint of silver suggesting that this weapon was meant to take on all that was unholy. It was Lanji's creed in life to follow the will of god.

A cruce salus.

He thought to himself as he heard the dire situation of the base of the D-13. They were an American Organization that Lanji had heard rumors of but, had chosen not to investigate. Instead he sent a small tug on the mental link and held out one gauntlented armor. The gentle and silent flap of wings came as Tacet landed on his armor and made the short fluttered hop from his arm to his shoulder. With a dexterous touch his fingers long adapted to the gauntlets he wore he ran his finger down the bird's head and neck for a moment.

Be at ease gentle Tacet.

The Snow White Owl hooted softly as it gazed with a look of contempt at Junpei. That thing reeked of dark magic. Lanji listened to the lecture from Captain 'Strong-Eye' as he proclaimed himself. A most interesting name. He approached the Captain when the briefing was over and heard Junpei ramble on.

"Thou art most discourteous, young Taltos. Thine distaste only matches thine stench of Dark Magic. Thou should be honored to be aiding those who haft requested our aide. It would be suitable penance on thine blackened soul. Or is it that thine magic hast turned your tongue into a curr-like aspect? Or given thee sepertine eyes since while thou art engaged judging from thine ring you stare at another woman who is obviously involved with someone else. Most disgusting."

Lanji still had his sword out his fingers gently tapping the hilt of the weapon as he turned to Captain 'Strong-Eye' and gave a nod.

"I shalt strive with every endeavor to help aide thine cause Captain for this task. For perhaps there shalt be foul evil to banish. A most rewarding cause."

[Alastin]

Drake heard Celeste's voice even as he felt her arms wrap around him from behind and he gave a smile at her. She had really been starting to come out more and he was glad of it, sure it had taken quite a bit of doing and patience but, he made sure to keep her well taken care of. He felt her let get and then stand beside him and he gave a smile as he pulled her into a close-embrace. He tilted her chin up and kissed her forehead gently giving a smile at her as his glasses shimmered in the current light. He finally let her loose but, he still had a warm smile on his face for her as he gently entwined his fingers with her and gazed at the crowd. Quite a large crowd indeed that was for certain but, he made no biggie of it he was just happy that Celeste was coming. Sure it meant he was going to be worried about her but, from what he had learned she was a powerful healer type and they'd need that.

Celeste...

He heard somehow's voice shoot off and another commenting as he turned to look in the direction of Junpei and both he and Dark snorted togeather. There was always a bigshot that had to shoot his mouth off it figures. Then he saw the guy staring at Celeste.

He's staring at Celeste...

Royal ass...

I'm sure an exploding tag on his rear would make him jump...

They heard him shoot off his mouth again after Strong-Eye had finished the speech.

Or his mouth...

He walked with Celeste onto the blimp and gazed outside for a moment. It was going to be big.

[Lienn~]

The captain began talking, signalling that all of the volunteers had arrived, and that they'd be emabrking soon. To the Arctic? Lienn shivered, already imagining the cold. She paid attention, though, as the Captain (who he'd introduced himself as "strong-eye", hmm interesting..) outlined the goals of their mission.

1.) Discover what has befallen the base. (Probably the easiest part of the mission, the hard part will be what they'll have to do to remedy this. Oh boy..)

2.) Attempt to rescue any survivors (that could be tricky, assuming whatever befell the base could be quite formidable indeed.)

3.) Liberate the base, if it has fallen. (Self explanitory, yet promisingly difficult.)

It was all pretty straightforward. Get in, get out. But even this reassurance didn't stop the knot growing in Lienn's stomach. This school seemed to be more deadly that she first thought when she arrived. One wrong move and...well, she didn't really want tot hink about it. Now onto the volunteers. She didn't recognize many of the volunteers, but there were a few faces she did.

Winters, she'd had a few classes with him, and even trained with him once. A bit different, and quiet, but he was strong willed and a good fighter. She had as of yet to figure out he could just seem to disappear into his surroundings, no matter what they were. She had no doubt that would come in handy during this. Junpei, one of the first people she ever battled. Sure, his teleport thing annoyed her a bit, but he was good at it, and a worthy advisary on top of that. He had been the one to make her realize the obsurdity of those discs she used to carry around. Just looking at him made her nose hurt a bit, but it was a good reminder of his strength and determination. Knowing that he'd be here fighting alongside her (instead of against her) made her feel quite better. There was also a few students from the crazy German butcher's class, the red haired girl, Weiss, she hadn't really had a chance to talk to her much, and she didn't know much about her, but if she had been able to withstand that horrible class as well, Lienn was glad to her have her in the group. There was also the very nice silver haired boy with the glowing blade, who'd stood up to the manical ranting of The Butcher, and who'd tried to help calm Excel before all hell broke loose, literally. It was a shame that though all this, she had yet to learn his name. Excel! She was here too! She smiled at her friend, walking over to meet her as they were to board the blimp.

"It's good to see a familiar smile among all these frowns, mon ami. Perhaps we could be of help if any scouting is needed...maybe we should bring that to the Captain's attention.."

She said, meaning their astral projection of course. When they were in their projected states, nothing could harm them or even touch them. The only problem still being the saftey of their bodies while they were gone, but that could always be worried about later.