Post by Terminally Chill on Aug 17, 2011 16:38:30 GMT -5
Two pairs of boots crunched against the newly fallen snow of Yetine Island, marking the arrival of Ensign Dice Bando and Ensign Li Shengshun to the harbor of the frigid city. There was a lot to take in when first gazing upon the Longarm Tribe's settlement, but any desire for sight seeing was interrupted by a loud splash in the chilly waters behind them. The marine ship that had ferried them to the island had dropped a rowboat, one that could fit maybe two or three people, into the water from the deck. Dice turned to the rippling water, looking to the small boat bob as a sweat drop rolled down the side of his face. Blinking a few times to confirm exactly what he was seeing, the young marine's dark eyes turned to the captain stationed on the vessel standing on deck as the boarding ramp was retracted.
“Um... Sir? Is this really what we're using to get around...?”
“Does it look like we can fit anything larger on this ship?”
“Well... No sir, I suppose not. I just thought the ship would stay somewhat close to Yetine Island, considering this mission may require traveling to Micqueot as well.”
“You thought wrong, ensign. Don't contact us until you've resolved the issue.”
After that blunt statement, the captain turned away from the two ensigns and called out to the crew to cast out to the sea once again. As the ship departed from the harbor, Dice was left standing there with his hand dangling in the air, the result of a salute he wasn't even able to complete before the captain walked into his quarters. His arm fell limply down his side, the befuddled soldier simply staring at the fading silhouette of the ship in the distance. Dice looked to the shabby rowboat once more and let out a sigh. Scratching the back of his head, the blond officer turned to Li and flashed a smile that came along with a nervous laugh.
“I guess that's that,” the soldier said cheerfully... Perhaps a bit too cheerfully considering that the Navy had just left them high and dry on a foreign island until they completed their task. No use dwelling on it now, though... They just needed to complete the mission and leave. With that in mind, Dice looked to the city that was before him. The pair of marines were garnering a few suspicious looks from the Longarm residents, probably because Dice could not help but stare at them in amazement. He wasn't trying to be rude but... He had never seen a human with two joints in their arms. Realizing that he could very well be offending the residents before their mission even started, Dice broke his stare with a shake of his head. Instead his eyes now wandered to the short buildings that dotted the snowy slopes. A particular sight was the main draw of Dice's sight: hills sparkling as though they were embedded with thousands of precious jewels. To the Longarms, these little lights were indeed precious.
Bringing his hands together, Dice blew into them and rubbed his palms together to get some warmth into them. He drew his flowing overcoat further up around his shoulders; no matter how much cold weather training a Marine received, one could never be completely immune to the lower end of the thermometer and the shivers that came with it. Taking a few crunchy steps through the snow, Dice stepped onto the large street that was before them and looked up the steep slope it cut through.
“So, guess we should figure out what's going on here. Any ideas, sir – I mean, Li?”
“Um... Sir? Is this really what we're using to get around...?”
“Does it look like we can fit anything larger on this ship?”
“Well... No sir, I suppose not. I just thought the ship would stay somewhat close to Yetine Island, considering this mission may require traveling to Micqueot as well.”
“You thought wrong, ensign. Don't contact us until you've resolved the issue.”
After that blunt statement, the captain turned away from the two ensigns and called out to the crew to cast out to the sea once again. As the ship departed from the harbor, Dice was left standing there with his hand dangling in the air, the result of a salute he wasn't even able to complete before the captain walked into his quarters. His arm fell limply down his side, the befuddled soldier simply staring at the fading silhouette of the ship in the distance. Dice looked to the shabby rowboat once more and let out a sigh. Scratching the back of his head, the blond officer turned to Li and flashed a smile that came along with a nervous laugh.
“I guess that's that,” the soldier said cheerfully... Perhaps a bit too cheerfully considering that the Navy had just left them high and dry on a foreign island until they completed their task. No use dwelling on it now, though... They just needed to complete the mission and leave. With that in mind, Dice looked to the city that was before him. The pair of marines were garnering a few suspicious looks from the Longarm residents, probably because Dice could not help but stare at them in amazement. He wasn't trying to be rude but... He had never seen a human with two joints in their arms. Realizing that he could very well be offending the residents before their mission even started, Dice broke his stare with a shake of his head. Instead his eyes now wandered to the short buildings that dotted the snowy slopes. A particular sight was the main draw of Dice's sight: hills sparkling as though they were embedded with thousands of precious jewels. To the Longarms, these little lights were indeed precious.
Bringing his hands together, Dice blew into them and rubbed his palms together to get some warmth into them. He drew his flowing overcoat further up around his shoulders; no matter how much cold weather training a Marine received, one could never be completely immune to the lower end of the thermometer and the shivers that came with it. Taking a few crunchy steps through the snow, Dice stepped onto the large street that was before them and looked up the steep slope it cut through.
“So, guess we should figure out what's going on here. Any ideas, sir – I mean, Li?”