Ease of mind (Shield)

[thormundsson]

Thor was sitting calmly at the stern of the Orca, watching the sun fade slowly behind the clouds and past the horizon. The ship was calm, there was minimal activity on it as most of the crew were under medical care or taking care of some minor duties. The loss of the other soldiers had been bad and the ship was in very little shape to take action against anyone.

The newspaper in his hand was fluttering about as he was reading through it. Already there was some article about the battle they had just been a part of. It seemed that news traveled faster than any warship or assistance. It was slightly annoying but Thor didn't much pay attention to it. There just weren't enough marines, enough strong marines, that is, to keep all the main bases fully stocked with hard fighters to keep them all safe and there was always going to be a lapse in security. Fortunately these things were not too frequent in the blues. The safeness of travel there made it easy for Marine HQ to respond to threats.

This was all just boiling at the back of Thor's head as he sat quietly at the front. There was a smouldering hot cup of coffee sitting on a small table to his right and he winced every time he reached for it. The cuts and bruises he had sustained in the fight were nagging him like a bunch of rodents were chewing on him. What was on his mind however was the fact that they had been redirected to Rogue Town to pick up more reserves and Isabelle again. Seemed like she had not been pulled away for too long and was now joining Shield again.

"That sounds just fine...." Thor said, a quaint smile on his face as he kept on reading.

(OOC: just go with anything, romo, it's a free ranging thread so make up your own little plot of you want.)

[Lord Bromosalino]

[style=text-align:center; font-family: arial narrow; font-size:25px; margin-bottom:-5px; color:A60A17; letter-spacing:5px; text-shadow:1px 1px 0px 660000]GET READY TO IGNITE![/style]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; background-image: url(http://colourlovers.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/patterns/2221/2221010.png); background-repeat: repeat; border-left: 5px solid D91438; border-radius: 0 20 20 0; opacity:0.8;] [style=float: left; margin-left: 35px; margin-top: 20px; width: 100px; height: 100px; background-image: url(http://forum.onemanga.com/image.php?u=105620&dateline=1322688013&type=thumb); border: 5px solid D91438; -webkit-border-radius: 55px; -moz-border-radius: 55px; border-radius: 55px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 20px][/style][style=float: left; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 20px; width: 100px; height: 100px; background-image: url(http://forum.onemanga.com/image.php?u=105620&dateline=1322688013&type=thumb); border: 5px solid D91438; -webkit-border-radius: 55px; -moz-border-radius: 55px; border-radius: 55px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 20px][/style][style=float: left; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 20px; width: 100px; height: 100px; background-image: url(http://forum.onemanga.com/image.php?u=105620&dateline=1322688013&type=thumb); border: 5px solid D91438; -webkit-border-radius: 55px; -moz-border-radius: 55px; border-radius: 55px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 20px][/style] [/style][style=float: left; margin-top: 20px; margin-left: 20px; width: 460px; height:200px; overflow:auto; background-color: 000000; color: 037F8C; opacity: 0.9; margin-bottom: 20px; border-radius: 10px][style=padding: 10px; text-align: justify; opacity: 1.0; font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px]Quietness. There was a familiar stillness as Isaac stood on the edge of his bedroom. It seemed as if he had just been in that room not so long ago before the madness of the night had begun. So much had happened and Isaac was having trouble resting. Someone had thoughtfully placed a heaping plate of food in his room, but though the aroma had filled the room, Isaac could hardly look at it, much less eat it. He was still a bit shaken up by the simple fact of what he had just taken a part of. Pushing his long, black hair back from his face, Isaac let out a deep sigh. For the most part, he was ok. Just a few nicks, bruises, and cuts. Nothing that wouldn’t heal given a little time. Cerberus was doing good too, just tired. In fact, since they had gotten back onto The Orca, Cerberus had been slumped at the foot of Isaac’s bed. Taking another look at the plate of food, Isaac decided he would need to keep up his strength. He had heard from a few of the others that had stayed with the ship that they had been given new directions; they were to head to Rougetown and that some person named Isabelle would be picked up. He heard that she had been with SHIELD before and apparently left for a little bit. But, regardless of the news of a new assignment or of the new recruit, Isaac was thrilled to hear that he would finally go back to Rougetown. Born in the Goa Kingdom, Isaac and the rest of the Saifer family lived in Rougetown where the Saifer Family Trade Business was. His father, an ex Rear Admiral, had retired and taken over when his father had passed away. It would be good to see them. “Oh, whats this? A newspaper?” Isaac had hardly even noticed the newspaper that had been folded neatly under the plate. What was going on with the rest of the world was certainly important. And there, in bold letters on the front page, was news of their attack on Winchester Island! Already the World Government had documented this important event. No doubt it was to display their power to the world. If only they knew of the sacrifice of the men, if only. Wait, what about Captain Thor? Had he seen the paper? What was he thinking? No, Isaac knew the answer to that question; Udyr. Without a shadow of a doubt, Captain Thor would go looking for him. All the same though, Isaac would join. Justice must prevail. [/style][/style][/style]

[style=font-size: 9px; font-family:georgia;]made by cirrus of CNT[/style]

[thormundsson]

It was always amusing how things changed as you changed your perspective on them. Looking at the sky was a perfect example of that. The clouds were moving lazily across the heavens, flowing in the slow but steady wind that moved the ship. They formed into as many shapes as a man could imagine, only limited by the imagination and the perspective by which a man viewed them. A big cloud that looked like a warship from one side became a large mountain if you turned your head just a bit to the right.

Thor had always felt that he would have no problem sacrificing me in the line of duty just to advance himself but the past few days had made him realize that it wasn't all about the promotions. The foundation on which a marine stands was as important as how high he got. A marine with little or no respect from his underlings might be despised and in the thick of fighting it was a horrid thing to order those who did not trust you to do your work. Udyr had missed that all together. He was so choked up on gaining strength and glory that he forgot that the men you climb over to get there will always be around to haunt you.

He took another sip of his coffee, letting the hot liquid roll around in his mouth before swallowing. It felt good and the caffeine refreshed him somewhat. He kept reading the newspaper, noting the small events around the world. Searching for anything that might pique his interest. Mostly it was just small stuff, like a rebellion there and a marine victory here. The growing number of reports on revolutionary activities was unnerving but the higher ups must have those things under control if they let the reports go down to captain level.

"Just another calm day as always...." Thor sighed slightly as he kept reading, his eyes focused on the paper.

[Lord Bromosalino]

[style=text-align:center; font-family: arial narrow; font-size:25px; margin-bottom:-5px; color:A60A17; letter-spacing:5px; text-shadow:1px 1px 0px 660000]GET READY TO IGNITE![/style]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; background-image: url(http://colourlovers.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/patterns/2221/2221010.png); background-repeat: repeat; border-left: 5px solid D91438; border-radius: 0 20 20 0; opacity:0.8;] [style=float: left; margin-left: 35px; margin-top: 20px; width: 100px; height: 100px; background-image: url(http://forum.onemanga.com/image.php?u=105620&dateline=1322688013&type=thumb); border: 5px solid D91438; -webkit-border-radius: 55px; -moz-border-radius: 55px; border-radius: 55px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 20px][/style][style=float: left; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 20px; width: 100px; height: 100px; background-image: url(http://forum.onemanga.com/image.php?u=105620&dateline=1322688013&type=thumb); border: 5px solid D91438; -webkit-border-radius: 55px; -moz-border-radius: 55px; border-radius: 55px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 20px][/style][style=float: left; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 20px; width: 100px; height: 100px; background-image: url(http://forum.onemanga.com/image.php?u=105620&dateline=1322688013&type=thumb); border: 5px solid D91438; -webkit-border-radius: 55px; -moz-border-radius: 55px; border-radius: 55px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 20px][/style] [/style][style=float: left; margin-top: 20px; margin-left: 20px; width: 460px; height:200px; overflow:auto; background-color: 000000; color: 037F8C; opacity: 0.9; margin-bottom: 20px; border-radius: 10px][style=padding: 10px; text-align: justify; opacity: 1.0; font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px]“Ahhaaaaaaaaa!” Isaac had hardly noticed it, but here stretching out on his bed he finally noticed his body telling him to sit still for a moment and let it recuperate. As a yawn of exasperation found itself out of Isaac’s mouth, Isaac decided to listen to his body for once and get some shuteye. He had hardly slept the night he had come aboard The Orca out of sheer excitement, he was far to giddy to get a good nap in the hour before the attack, and only now he finally had a chance to. Things were done, actions and parts played out, and in the aftermath that would follow…well that was still yet to come. No need in worrying over things that have not yet come to pass. Right now, there was much bigger news. Home! He had gotten the latest letter from his parents in response to the one that he had written and sent off before the fighting had begun. As always, his parents wrote back in earnest, always asking far too many questions. How was he (as if much had changed, but as a parent, they would always ask this question regardless), how was Cerberus, how was the ship and its Captain, and (from the writing, Isaac knew it to be his mother) was he still eating healthy? Though tempted, Isaac decided to hold off on writing back. Though every bone and cell in his body was fighting the urge, he knew that they were only a few days away from home. Then he could tell them everything, and in person too! His mother would enjoy hearing how Cerberus was, as she was the one who gave Cerberus as a present to Isaac, and his father would want to hear everything that had happened. If it was in the newspaper, there was no doubt they would know he participated in the fight. He had mentioned the name of the ship in his letter and The Orca’s name had come up in the papers once or twice. “Aren’t mom and pops gonna be proud Cerberus? Oh, sorry.” Looking down at the foot of his bed, Isaac forgot he was asleep. Well maybe he should get some shuteye too. [/style][/style][/style]

[style=font-size: 9px; font-family:georgia;]made by cirrus of CNT[/style]

[thormundsson]

Standing up, Thor let the paper rest on the chair he had been sitting on. He had read through the thing twice and there was nothing of real interest in it, save for the few bits of information of pirate activity. He stretched his limbs, his joints aching a bit as he hadn't moved for almost an hour. the fight had left him a bit sore alongside the scars and wounds he had received. It was like going through a workout for hours and never stopping. The left side of his face twitched into a small smile before he fought it back down again. He had no idea why he was smiling, he was angry at himself and the higher ups but somehow he had purpose.

He distracted himself from that thought as he gazed off to the left of the ship. He felt his mind might have been teasing him. He was sure he had seen a short ripple of some sort in the ocean, like something was moving out there. He signaled for an aide to come, his senses now back to their usual heightened state as he realized that they were not completely safe out here.

"Get the men that can fight to their battlestations, something is lurking around and I'd hate for use to be caught unaware" He said firmly and looked the man straight in the eyes. There was a moment of doubt on the man's face, the clear day being too good for some sort of dark incident. After a seconds hesitation he turned to follow the orders.

That's when the roar came, a shattering sound like thunder as something massive rose above the waves a mile or so off to their starboard side. It's scales glistened and shimmered in the flowing waters and every man on the ship gulped as it turned it's gaze upon them, razor sharp teeth protruding from it's mouth.

"And wake up Isaac, he'll need to see this"

[Lord Bromosalino]

[style=text-align:center; font-family: arial narrow; font-size:25px; margin-bottom:-5px; color:A60A17; letter-spacing:5px; text-shadow:1px 1px 0px 660000]GET READY TO IGNITE![/style]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; background-image: url(http://colourlovers.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/patterns/2221/2221010.png); background-repeat: repeat; border-left: 5px solid D91438; border-radius: 0 20 20 0; opacity:0.8;] [style=float: left; margin-left: 35px; margin-top: 20px; width: 100px; height: 100px; background-image: url(http://forum.onemanga.com/image.php?u=105620&dateline=1322688013&type=thumb); border: 5px solid D91438; -webkit-border-radius: 55px; -moz-border-radius: 55px; border-radius: 55px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 20px][/style][style=float: left; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 20px; width: 100px; height: 100px; background-image: url(http://forum.onemanga.com/image.php?u=105620&dateline=1322688013&type=thumb); border: 5px solid D91438; -webkit-border-radius: 55px; -moz-border-radius: 55px; border-radius: 55px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 20px][/style][style=float: left; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 20px; width: 100px; height: 100px; background-image: url(http://forum.onemanga.com/image.php?u=105620&dateline=1322688013&type=thumb); border: 5px solid D91438; -webkit-border-radius: 55px; -moz-border-radius: 55px; border-radius: 55px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 20px][/style] [/style][style=float: left; margin-top: 20px; margin-left: 20px; width: 460px; height:200px; overflow:auto; background-color: 000000; color: 037F8C; opacity: 0.9; margin-bottom: 20px; border-radius: 10px][style=padding: 10px; text-align: justify; opacity: 1.0; font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px] For the last hour, Isaac had drifted from sleep to sleep. Never really falling asleep, he tossed and turned in the security of the sheets, but sleep had eluded him. It had been like trying to catch smoke in his hands. Just when he thought he had finally caught it, it slipped away once more. It wasn’t that he had been haunted by images of fallen comrades, as was the case many times in situations like this. Rather, his body was too exhausted for even sleep. Ironic, isn’t it. Eventually, Isaac grew wearing of trying to force his body to obey him. Isaac decided to take a walk, namely to the infirmary. His bandages could use a good changing. None of his wounds were too serious, and there was only one small wound that was deep enough to be of real concern. Fortunately, the blow that had caused that had glanced off as Cerberus had attacked the man just as he had launched the attack upon Isaac. The attack had still found its mark, Isaac’s shoulder, but the power had been drastically reduced. The doctors and the nurses in the Marines were exceptionally trained and they had patched Isaac right up. More than anything, he was just sore. His muscles had been pushed to the uttermost limit and then some. It was a wonder that he could still move easily, with the exceptions of a few strains on his shoulder. Hobbling in a manner much like an older gentleman might, Isaac found his way towards the infirmary. Luckily, his room was not too far from the infirmary. As he expected, there were a few other Marines there as well. There where people who had been hurt physically and quite a few who had been scarred mentally. Mostly, everyone that Isaac saw had a blank expression. There were very few who had not lost a friend. It would be hard for some to recover from this. After a few moments of waiting, Isaac headed back to his room. Some light stretching and a few minutes later, Isaac had dozed off once again. Much like his previous attempts, sleep mocked him once more and fled from his grasp. Without warning, a large booming sound reminiscent of a roar could be heard, even through the steel and doors. Shouting could be heard from the Marines atop on the decks and the hurried, heavy steps of shoes could be heard, and once again the unearthly sound of a roar was heard. Struggling to get changed, Isaac was just throwing his shoes into a corner after unsuccessfully trying to put them on, when one of Captain Thor’s aide had burst into his room. “Captain Thor wants you up on decks, there is something you need to see!” Grasping the aides shoulder, the two made there way up to the decks. But whatever was up there was causing quite a stir in the seas. What was frightening was the thought that it was large enough to cause waves that could shake even The Orca. A gleaming light struck Isaac and he knew it to be midday. Shielding his eyes, Isaac tried to adjust his eyes to the bright light. When they finally did, he saw the reason for the whole commotion. A Sea King! He had heard that they were the top of the food chain in the ocean, apex predators, and that all feared them. But what he saw was beyond anything he had ever imagined them to be. Though they were in a dangerous position, Isaac couldn't help but feel awe at this magnificent creature. [/style][/style][/style]

[style=font-size: 9px; font-family:georgia;]made by cirrus of CNT[/style]

[thormundsson]

The ship moved in the waves that the creature was creating by simply swimming around. It wasn't the biggest Sea-King that Thor had ever seen but it was most certainly the one he had been closest to. It was waddling around just a few hundred meters off the side of the ship but it's massive jaws were distended and half opened as it viewed the ship with one gleaming eye.

The deck was a sea of chaos and most of the marines were scrambling to find their place and get to their positions. Cannons were loaded and rifles past from man to man. The fighting they had just emerged from had left them dangerously undermanned and, whilst looking around the deck, Thor could see that they were barely capable of manning the cannons, much less the whole of the warship.

The thing moved a little closer, it's huge body sliding effortlessly through the murky waves, inching it's way towards the ship. The men were obviously scared. If the thing managed to capsize them here it would mean the death of each and every one of them. "Stay calm and do not fire until my command!" Thor shouted as he noticed that some of the men had begun to light their firing fuses. "There is no point in firing upon it unless it means to attack us" He continued and many a number of them seemed to calm down a little.

For a few moments there was dead silence as the creature swam up close, now only a few dozen meters from the ship. It seemed to watch them with an alien eye, like no other creature on the planet. Thor himself seemed to feel as if the massive beast was not even watching them as a form of life but something that was to be rushed out of the side and devoured. He almost dropped his arm which would have given the order to fire upon it but something in the back of his mind decided against it. He could feel no hostility from the Sea-King, it wasn't hungry nor did it look like it wanted to destroy them. It was as curious as any other beast.

After a few heartbeats the thing dived in the water again, emerging further away and slithering off in the distance, roaring as it went. It's curiosity had been sated for now. Thor sighed heavily as he let his body relax, tensing up like this had not helped with his wounds.

"Alright, get me to Roguetown before we get eaten by something bigger than this!" He bellowed with a commanding voice, the men rushing to fulfill the order, most of them seeming to be of the same mind.

(OOC: we are finished with this thread, let's join up with the others in Roguetown)

[Lord Bromosalino]

[style=text-align:center; font-family: arial narrow; font-size:25px; margin-bottom:-5px; color:A60A17; letter-spacing:5px; text-shadow:1px 1px 0px 660000]GET READY TO IGNITE![/style]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 500px; background-image: url(http://colourlovers.com.s3.amazonaws.com/images/patterns/2221/2221010.png); background-repeat: repeat; border-left: 5px solid D91438; border-radius: 0 20 20 0; opacity:0.8;] [style=float: left; margin-left: 35px; margin-top: 20px; width: 100px; height: 100px; background-image: url(http://forum.onemanga.com/image.php?u=105620&dateline=1322688013&type=thumb); border: 5px solid D91438; -webkit-border-radius: 55px; -moz-border-radius: 55px; border-radius: 55px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 20px][/style][style=float: left; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 20px; width: 100px; height: 100px; background-image: url(http://forum.onemanga.com/image.php?u=105620&dateline=1322688013&type=thumb); border: 5px solid D91438; -webkit-border-radius: 55px; -moz-border-radius: 55px; border-radius: 55px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 20px][/style][style=float: left; margin-left: 20px; margin-top: 20px; width: 100px; height: 100px; background-image: url(http://forum.onemanga.com/image.php?u=105620&dateline=1322688013&type=thumb); border: 5px solid D91438; -webkit-border-radius: 55px; -moz-border-radius: 55px; border-radius: 55px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 20px][/style] [/style][style=float: left; margin-top: 20px; margin-left: 20px; width: 460px; height:200px; overflow:auto; background-color: 000000; color: 037F8C; opacity: 0.9; margin-bottom: 20px; border-radius: 10px][style=padding: 10px; text-align: justify; opacity: 1.0; font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px] Shock and awe came upon Isaac as he continued to stare at the magnificent creature. This thing was completely superb. It had its jaws open, and Isaac could quite clearly see why this gigantic creature was feared by all. Those long, jagged teeth would easily make mince meat out of anything it could get in there. But more than its gargantuan size, it was this creature’s eyes that had captivated Isaac. There was a deepness to them, something that could not be described. It was as if this thing was outside of both space and time and yet it was just simply “there” as if there was nothing more than this moment. It had hypnotized Isaac. There was quite a bit of commotion though. Marines running to left and right (and many just running this way and that way in fear) continuously bumped into Isaac, yet he had not noticed. Eventually Isaac snapped out of his trance and came to. Marines, in their panic, began to pass rifles to anyone that could still long enough to get into positions. Elsewhere, Marines piled themselves upon the cannons and prepared to defend themselves. Though it pained Isaac to think that they might hurt such a majestic creature, he found himself with a rifle in hand too. It had just been pressed into his hands and he remembered then that his duty was to do his part to protect his fellow Marine brothers and sisters. “Stay calm and do not fire until my command. There is no point in firing upon it unless it means to attack us.” With an inward sigh, Isaac was glad that Captain Thor was also, at least it had sounded as such, captivated by the creature’s beauty. Of course, he was probably thinking of his crew and ship first. If this creature was just passing by, provoking it would certainly prove fatal. The crew was still recovering from their battle wounds and those that remained unscathed had proved to be to little to fully operate The Orca at full capacity. An unnecessary battle with a Sea King would be just that, unnecessary. As graceful as any creature could be, the Sea King slowly moved towards the ship. What were ripples to the Sea King became slow, rolling waves to those on the ship. As the ship rocked ever so slowly back and forth, a quite hush fell over them. Much like the silence before the storm, time itself seemed to stop to watch the scene that would unfold.

[/b]“Steady, steady, steady,”[/b] came the whispered hush of more seasoned veterans. Everywhere else, Isaac could see men gripping rifles hard enough that their knuckles turned white and it seemed that if they held on any tighter, the rifle itself would break and snap in half.

Captain Thor was ready to let his arm drop, yet something seemed to hold him back. But as it was, Isaac was behind the Captain and could not see his expression or any emotion that crossed his face. Many Marines looked anxious to begin the assault, yet the order never came. Good thing too. Within a blink of an eye, the creature slipped back into the waters where it had come from and made its way back to where it had come from.

Relief. Everywhere Isaac looked, he saw relief. For now, the ship and its crew were safe and the creature had not been harmed. With a bellow, Captain Thor issued for The Orca to return on its course to Rougetown. Rougetown! Soon they would finally be home.

Cerberus had made his way up to the decks. He had woken up from the commotion, and as any loyal dog, had went to find Isaac. He had found Isaac leaned over the railings, looking intently into the deep. “Soon boy, very soon. Rougetown isn’t too far now.”


[/style][/style][/style][/td][/tr][/table][style=font-size: 9px; font-family:georgia;]made by cirrus of CNT[/style][/center]