Blackwatch: First Assignment, First Failure

[Lord Bromosalino]

SPOILER: Click to show

This thread takes place directly after this thread

Things were finally starting to look up. Sure Isaac had just fallen into another "mini-trance" (though medically it was probably something more along the lines of a coma), but besides that, the usually reserved Marine Captain was all smiles. Pulling on a freshly washed and ironed black tee-shirt, Isaac Saifer seemed to be a completely different person in light of what had transpired over the last few hours. Through one of the multiple Den Den Mushis that littered the giant mahogany desk of the Captain's office, he could hear his Second-in-Command Lieutenant Caroline Amyot speaking, her voice carried via Den Den Mushi throughout the giant hulking galleon known as the "Black Guard". "All hands on the upper deck immediately. Special announcement from the Captain in five minutes!"

Special might not have been the right word. After all, Isaac was only going out there to inform the crew of their mission and to assure them that he himself was going to lead his crew from the front, not his office. Though, considering how much time the 'elusive' Isaac had spent in his office, it might have been a special announcement for the sole reason that the Captain himself was making it, rather than his Second-in-Command. For years, Isaac refused to build many bonds, especially with his crew. It had been nearly six years since the now disbanded Marine crew known as S.H.I.E.L.D. had been torn apart from war and from the death of their commanding officer. Isaac Saifer wasn't able to save Commodore Thor back then, and even now he feared that he wouldn't be able to save his new crew. He couldn't take anymore loss, and so he kept his feelings hidden away and had taken his heart off of his sleeve. Only Caroline knew his heart. But, since "speaking" (and based on whatever had happened in the last few hours and not really knowing what to call it, speaking might be a loose term) with Commodore Thor, Isaac wasn't necessarily afraid anymore. Sure, fear existed in his heart. War and battle was not something to be taken lightly. Instead, Isaac was more afraid of leading strangers into battle and not being there for his crew. Not just physically, but in all of the ways a leader was needed to. The Commodore had reminded Isaac exactly who he was; a man of valor, passion, trained to be among the very best (and trained by Commodore Thor himself from a young age), and most importantly a Marine Captain. And it was time for the rest of his newly founded crew to discover what kind of man they were following was.

The tee-shirt was tucked into a pair of dark, combat jeans, with an equally dark, green bomber jacket going on top. Lacing up a pair of desert tan, combat boots, Captain Isaac was ready to make his appearance. Leaving his room, which is situated at the end of the Captain's cabin, Saifer stepped into the main room of the cabin which served as his office space. Behind the heavy desk, a matching mahogany chair with maroon plush was tucked in. A Captain's coat provided by the Marine's laid draped over the chair, while the Marine cap was pushed towards the corner of the desk, while the rest of the desk was littered with files and papers ranging from his personal notebook to the "Blackwatch's" first mission to standard procedures and protocols. Atop the mess, one thin file was opened, containing the contents of their mission. Grabbing it, Isaac Saifer zipped his jacket up to his chin, bracing himself for the cold that would greet him the moment he opened the heavy metal door. Even Thor the "Hellhound", a large black Doberman that served as Isaac's partner, had his head lowered in order to shield himself from the cold found in the North Blue.

Struggling with the door for a moment due to the fast and fierce wind opposite the door, the Captain finally stepped out of his cabin. With clouds covering the sun and sky, his eyes adjusted immediately. Overlooking the top deck, Isaac leaned over the rails, his eyes observing the two-hundred plus Marines that helped run the behemoth known as the "Blackwatch". In front of the soldiers, his five senior staff stood in a line, taking their place in front of the regular 'grunts'. At the left most position, the Second-in-Command Lieutenant Caroline Amyot stood relaxed, a smile on her face. From there, the oldest of the staff stood, as relaxed as Amyot, though he still stood ready at attention. His many years as head adviser and head-gunnar, Simon Dupont was clearly at ease when it came to his Captain. From there, Head-Engineer Junior Lieutenant Ralph Rogers stood, his face and hands covered in oil and soot as he had been called from the bottom most deck where he was hard at work on the boiler system. Next to him was the prettiest of all the Marines aboard the "Blackwatch" (or so most of the Marines said), Head Medic Amy Mitchell; she too was beaming. She always enjoyed seeing the Captain; though when she did, she became a flirt, always throwing herself at him. And lastly, the smallest of the advisers, Head Chef Albert Morgans. Like Junior Lieutenant Rogers, he too was a mess and hard at work, as tomato sauce covered his apron from preparing today's lunch.

As soon as the Captain came into view, a resounding click was heard as nearly two-hundred Marines clicked their heels together, their hands moving into a position of salute. "GOOD MORNING CAPTAIN SAIFER! Though there was very little interaction between Captain and crew, there was no miss-step in their salute to attention. Such was the order and hierarchy of the Marine Organization. Throwing back a lazy salute of himself, Isaac took a moment to simply look over what was his. A giant ship that had rarely been seen (especially for someone of his rank), two-hundred plus Marines under his command, and more importantly the trust that these soldiers had placed in him. "As you were." Again, as one body and as one unit, the soldiers moved to a position of "at ease", ready to hear whatever announcement the Captain had for them. After all, with a ship large enough to be a small base, stopping all work from deck-hands to cooks to medics was no small thing.

"As many of you are aware, we are mere moments from reaching Ice Nine. Since leaving the B1 base, I have yet to reveal our first assignment as a new Marine Division. In fact, none of you know why we were created in the first place. Before we make port, I'd like to catch you all up." Now leaning over the rail with his elbows, legs crossed over behind him, the once reserved Captain tried to open up to his crew, as difficult as it might be. "Many of you have heard of my time in the now defunct S.H.I.E.L.D. division. For those of you who don't already know, that division was disbanded when our commanding officer, Commodore Thor, was killed in battle. Many of you have, though, heard that during this time I was injured quite badly and was forced out of the Marines to allow my body to heal." Those words came out slowly, but the next ones would actually be painful to say. "The truth is, I lost many friends during my time with S.H.I.E.L.D. and I wasn't well enough...mentally to continue my service. A lot has happened since my return to the Marines, including the creation of this crew. I'd like to let you all know, we have a lot of eyes on us and how we perform. That being said, it's time we function as a real crew. You all have gotten to know your five supervising commanders (depending on your work station of course) especially Lieutenant Amyot, but not me. If this crew is to function," here Isaac drew in a deep breath, ready to make the commitment he was scared to death to make in the first place. "This crew is going to need to function as one unit, with trust on my part as well as yours. Can I count on you Marines to follow me and will you trust me enough to lead you?"

"SIR YES SIR!"

Really, did they have any choice but to follow wherever their commanding officer led them? That didn't really matter though. Captain Saifer made a commitment to them, and he was going to keep it, just like Commodore Thor did for his crew. "Good, I'm glad to hear that. In that case, I'll keep this short and we'll move out. The 15th Marine Division was created as a counter-terrorism unit, and this, (here, Isaac lifted the file he brought with him up into the air, a picture of a woman clipped to the front of the file) "is our first assignment. Angela Belmonte, an extremist revolutionary hiding out on Ice Nine. We'll go in as a small group to catch them. Make contact with the Marine Base on Ice Nine and let them know we'll need one or two local Marines to act as guides. In fact, ask for an engineer of sorts and a doctor; we're not used to the colds of the North Blue and I don't want our equipment failing out here in this frozen tundra. Miss Mitchell, report to my office for a final sign off. Lieutenant Amyot, gather an expeditionary group and be prepared to embark in ten minutes. While we're gone, you're in charge Mr. Dupont. Dismissed!"

And with that, the group of Marines dispersed. Half of the crew rushed back to their cabins for some precious sleep (as the ship operated with four divisions, two working and two sleeping and switching off every six hours), while others went back to their individual workstations (whether that was the kitchen, engineering room, or one of the many other tasks that were usually done on a ship). Lieutenant Amyot herself immediately was swarmed by twenty or so Marines ready to embark on their first assignment. The Captain himself was already back in his office waiting for the Head Medic to make her way up for a final medical check up following Isaac's unconsciousness. A hand on the head of Thor (the canine), Isaac waited patiently. Soon they would make port in Ice Nine, and from there, everything would finally come to a start.

"Yea, I'm a bit nervous too Thor.

SPOILER: Click to show

Meet the Crew

From here, you two can start from the Marine base located on Ice Nine. In my next post, Captain Saifer will pick you two up and we'll move out!

[Peacock]

Engage Nana!

    In a big white puffy winter coat with MARINE on the back, mittens that matched the coat in size, oddly with grey shorts that tightened against the person's leg, with grey leg warmers and black winter boots, a red winter cap that didn't really go with the rest of her outfit and hid all of her hair, the only thing you could really see of her body was her eyes, her pink dimples and her little nose. Nana stood in attire she would never usually EVER wear, but weather was an exception. She swayed her head left to right, humming a song under the coat that covered her mouth, but even her breath was still able to be seen in a cold white mist.

The girl stood infront of the docks of the island, seemingly waiting for someone. Nana held a rope in her hand that seemed to be attached to something under a dim red cover, two square shaped lumps could be seen through the cover and at the very bottom you could see the wheels in the general region of each lump. Nana looked down to the cover remembering why she was standing out in the dreadful weather.
Earlier that day...In a marine base on Ice nine....
"Nana! are you listening?" A marine captain called out the name, he wore his marine cap proudly and had his marine coat shrugged over his shoulders. The man stood in front of the room where Nana sat her little tush, a wrench in her hand and some contraption on the table, instead of oil she seemed to be stained in lemon juice? a certainly different smell that you'd usually think you'd get from a mechanic obviously. the girl stopped tweaking the screw on the device she was working on to look back at the man with a wide smile.

"Yes! Papaaa~!" She shouted obnoxiously with a hand raised in the air, as well as drawing out the word /papa/. The man cringed at her shouting and looked to her with a serious expression, although she kept her smile
"Nana, I told you...it's Captain Manado while on the job!" He knew she would never listen, it was futile and a waste of time to even try and convince her, but that was the bond they had. As he expected she kept her wide smile on her face looking to him, but the smile lowered to a confused expression after realizing he said 'job'
"Mmmm? I'm on a mission papa?" She placed a finger on her lower lip with a raised eyebrow looking to the ceiling.
He shook his head as if he had already told her that she was on a mission
"Why else would I bring you to such a cold place knowing your...prefered attire."

He said lowering his voice as he neared the end of his sentence. Nana then looked directly at him, this time with a surprised expression rather than confused "Oh yeah...this place is far too cool for me papa...so why am I here in such a hurry anyway?" She asked.
Ignoring her ignorance he pushed himself to just explain the situation to her "I'm sure you want to advance your skills in your engineering work...So I have found the perfect opportunity for you...Nana"
Nana smiled at the marine, right before she could yell hooray he cut her off.
"Don't cheer just yet, you'll be joining a team a-" before he could finish she leaped into his arms, swinging herself around while holding onto him "That's the greatest Papa! hahahaha!"
"..But Nana you need to kn-" Interrupted by the girl
"I'm going to be one step closer to creating a robot better than the marine's pacifista'!"
Pushing Nana back slightly he tries to get his words out.
"Nana! you aren't going to be the captain of the crew! so your captain may not like how you dress!" He shouted.
"That doesn't matter! who judges books by the cover in this day and age anyway!" She attempted to run out of the room straight out into the cold. Monado grabbed onto the color of her top before she could even reach the door.
"..Where do you think you're going dressed like that? out in the cold? not a chance...And you don't even know where to go yet!" pulling her along he took her to a suitcase with the attire she would be wearing on the cold as hell island. Upon opening the suitcase she saw the coat and what she thought to be 'totally uncool!' she gasped "Gaaahhhh!" She looked to the outfit in terror, a bob sweat going down the side of her face, and even one of her eyes twitched, she didn't believe she'd be caught dead in such a hideous outfit.
"You are not leaving until you put it on Nana!" The marine captain shouted. Nana looked back down to the outfit and shook her head "NOOOOOOO!"

Which brings us to present time...
Nana sighed, her breath once again being turned into mist from the cold weather, she continued to stand before the docks of the island, awaiting her assigned crew that she would be joining.

[Vio]

I can't believe the people here can tolerate the cold so easily. It's really impressive... Thinking to himself about the goings on around him, Seaman Verdelet Greene advanced steadily towards the port at which he had been scheduled to be picked up by what was likely to be his first official unit. Older than most recruits by a year or two, yet apparently quite a bit shorter despite that, he had been sent all the way to the farther reaches of the North Blue for the sake of duty. Considered one of the harshest seas, bested only by the turmoils of the Grand Line itself, the North was most certainly an unforgiving land that had had its fair share of troubles. Between gelid climes and fearsome pirates, it had certainly earned its reputation, which was likely one of the reasons why the young man had been sent here in the first place. Considered a veteran by his peers, despite his actual lack of combat experience, the mild mannered medic had already earned himself a great deal of respect among the Marines stationed on Ice Nine. Few saw him as just another recruit, though he was yet to accomplish anything worthy promotion. All in due time.

And here's me freezing my butt off... His destination a few hundred yards ahead, Verdelet lumbered forth, struggling to keep his gait even and light. The reason for his difficulties? Well, this particular Marine had been through a lot in his life, but his willingness to serve had appealed to a more recent project of the World Government. Taken from his homeland of Verdenstein in the warmest regions West Blue, he had been given the privilege of a life-changed operation unlike anything he could ever have expected. Left arm and right leg having been amputated due to severe injury and irreversible damages, this boy's body was now a good thirty to fourty percent mechanical, transforming him into the miracle of medicine and engineering that was a cybernetic organism - a cyborg. Still, despite the length of time that had passed since the augmentations, he struggled somewhat. Walking and running was alright, his metal leg more than capable of matching the rhythm of his steps, but he was currently contending with another downside of his design.

I shouldn't be picky at all, but they could have at least stationed me somewhere with good weather... Deep green eyes looking to the heavens above, the prevalent cloud cover obscuring the golden sun with a sea of light grey, Seaman Recruit Greene let out a soft sigh of disappointment. The cold and bitter winds were no issue, his body wrapped in an assortment of protective layers that kept his olive-brown flesh warm, even protecting the metal of his mechanical parts enough to prevent frostbite where they connected. Thick navy blue trousers protected his legs - both natural and prosthetic - while heavy fur-lined black boots covered his feet, stopping the chill from creeping up beneath the hems. A white long-sleeved vest covered his upper body, tucked neatly into his belt, and over that he wore a white woolen jumper of Navy origin. After all, the Marines certainly knew how to look after their troops. Similarly, black winter gloves and blue scarf adorned his hands and neck to offer further protection, his typical baseball cap instead replaced by a white bomber hat marked with the blue seagull motif and the word 'MARINE'.

Such attire concealed his dark green hair, as well as his cybernetic adaptations, but not all of Mister Greene's form. Indeed, the thickly padded and lined white winter coat he wore over all this possessed a distinctive bump at the upper back, concealing a peculiar part of his synthetic anatomy. An onion-shaped protrusion consisting of several small panels that absorbed the rays of the sun to generate electrical power, this device was essentially what made him tick. However, as advanced a device as it may have seemed, it served no use to him at present. Sure, he could still move, but it made his mechanical limbs feel a lot heavier without the supporting power of his cybernetic systems. This was a challenge he would have to overcome, that much was certain.

Is that the ship...? Spying the wide open sails of a Marine vessel approaching the island, the cyborg seaman soon found himself upon the docks, awaiting the arrival of what was to be his new unit. Whether it was to be a temporary assignment or a permanent one had yet to be decided, the men of Ice Nine welcoming field medics such as himself quite warmly, but the final decision was up to the commanding officers in charge of the operations. Often, he found himself comparing the workings of the World Navy to that of the human body, each part playing a particular role. The commanding officers were akin to the brain and, in the end, it was their decisions that affected the rest of the troops. Yes, units could react independently, but all information eventually found its way back to headquarters.

Looks like I'm not the only one here, Verdelet told himself as his eyes set upon another heavily clothed figure waiting at the docks. Admittedly, the attire was a little different from his own, but there was little doubt in his mind that they were another recruit assigned to this approaching unit...

[Lord Bromosalino]

"Alright, say ahh!" Flashlight in hand and standing over the seated Marine Captain, the Head Medic of the "Blackwatch", Amy Mitchell, was running one last routine check up. As far as she could see, Captain Saifer was in tip top shape. All of his vitals were reading normal, his vision hadn't been impaired, and there was no muscle atrophy. Whatever mini-coma he was in, his body didn't seem to have noticed. "Well sweetie, you're good to go! But you know, just in case, maybe I should come with you?" "You? Come with the expeditionary team? You know you're not a field medic Amy. I appreciate the gesture, but I'll be fine. I promise. You just take care of things here". With a pout on her face, the "Isaac Saifer-stricken" medic knew he was right. She was never one for real combat. It never suited her, never would. But the thought of seeing her precious Isaac get hurt again was something she couldn't stomach. "Well, you better be damn sure that you bring a field medic with you, honey." Sigh, did she even listen to his announcement, or was she just there to see him? "I will. And Amy. Thanks"

---

A few moments later.

"Alright, what do you have?" "Well, we've been cleared to make port. The Marine Captain there says he'll have two new recruits out there for us waiting." "Recruits? I thought as much. Guess people aren't taking the 15th division too seriously. Well, I suppose we'll make do." There goes any chance of having experienced field officers out there with them. Maybe bringing Amy Mitchell and Ralph Rogers (the Head Engineer on board) wouldn't have been such a bad thing. But now that they were already pulling in to port and everyone had their assignment (whether on board or not), it would be too much of a hassle to change the members of their expeditionary group. Seven men. That was it, no bigger, no smaller. Seven men to find some radical terrorist (though I suppose Revolutionary might be the politically correct term) and whatever army was here on Ice Nine. Each of them were garbed in a heavy, white snow jacket and carried nothing more than a rifle. Well, four of them did. The other three members of this reconnaissance group was the Captain himself alongside Thor and Lieutenant Amyot, each dressed up in their normal attire.

"Alright men, locked and loaded?" "SIR!" "Good, good. Remember, we're just here to gather information. Find the terrorists, meet back on board, and then we'll go in with a much larger force to deal with the threat. Understood? Also, (here Isaac grabbed the folder from Miss Caroline regarding the two recruits that would be accompanying them along this trip) the engineer and medic I requested are new recruits. Let's make sure they get back home safely, ok?" "SIR!" "Smith, Akami. You two will protect a Miss...Nana? Toshiro, Stefan. You two will keep an eye out for Mr. Verdelet. Do a final check up and lets move out." "SIR!"

"Captain, here's your Den Den. I've got mine as well." "Good good." Quite absent mindlessly, the Isaac grabbed the red Den Den Mushi. It was always a curious thing to him how each Den Den seemed to take on the appearance of it's owner. For example, his own Den Den had a red shell that was concealed by a dark, green bomber jacket that was identical to the one that Isaac always wore. Funny little things weren't they? "Karambit, check. Boots laced. Watch synchronized. I think we're good to go." Only muttering to himself, the Captain of the "Blackwatch" was doing his own final check out. Though, as he was a master practitioner of Krav Maga and Systema, he carried no weapons aside from his unique knife. Luckily, that made it quite easy for him to get ready and move out. "Alright boys, lets move out!"

---

The port of Ice Nine.

"I'll be assuming you are Mr. Verdelet and Miss Nana, yes? When Caroline Amyot told him that their two guides would be new recruits, this was certainly not what he was expecting. Miss Nana herself seemed to still be in her teen years, just a child. It reminded him of how he joined the Marines at the tender age of sixteen and was thrust straight into a war. Isaac, then, would make sure that she wouldn't suffer down the same path that he was forced into. He would not let her down that path. That, he knew, was absolute. As for Mr. Verdelet, he was...well odd. He looked quite normal. That is, until one saw the odd protruding...bulb, yes bulb was the right word, that seemed to be attached to his back. Was it some kind of unique weapon or was it something else? The Captain decided that it didn't really matter all to much. After all, he had seen fishmen, giants, and had even been in the service of a powerful Marine with a logia fruit unlike one he had ever seen or heard of. An odd shaped backpack (that seemed plausible right?) wouldn't be so surprising would it?

"My name is Captain Isaac Saifer of the 15th Marine Division. We are a counter-terrorist unit. As you may or may not be aware, we believe that there are extremist revolutionaries here on this island. We're here to gather information, and you are here as a field medic and as a field technician. This is Lieutenant Amyot, my Second-in-Command. Follow our orders and this should be over in no time. Any questions?

SPOILER: Click to show

Meet the Crew

Angelina Belmonte

[Peacock]

Nana continually moved her body to keep herself from turning into a statue, moving her head around wasn't enough so she decided to walk in place, for some odd reason she felt like someone was looking at her. She turned her head to another person that seemed to be a hunchback and they looked like they looked strapped for this weather.

From the corner of her eye she could see a ship approaching the island. Her assignment possibly? in the direction it seemed to be headed she decided to move closer to the figure she had caught in her eye and was sooner or later approached by a man from the ship that had finished docking by the time she had made it a few feet closer to the figure with the hunchback.

She didn't immediately greet the hunched figure, as she was distracted by people on the ship that seemed to be coming down from it, a figure approached her and seemed to want confirmation that she was indeed Nana. With a blink Nana slowly raised her palm to the air, her eye sparkled but her smile could not be seen.

"I'm...Nana!" The young girl shouted, she kept her hand in the air until she felt like it was no longer necessary. Nana had tightened the grip on the rope she had been holding, tagging along the two machines hidden under a cover. She let her arm fall back to her side when she heard the second persons name, looking over to the boy a few feet from her, blinking once before going back to listening to what the person talking to the two of them had to say.

Nana was quickly able to admire the man's face, though not even that would be enough to make her blush. In her eye she saw a cute mature man with short hair, his height didn't help either. She wasn't distracted to the point where she couldn't listen though. From what Nana could tell it seemed she'd be on this island for longer than she anticipated, that could explain her foster father's concerns.

Then she thought to herself 'I'm not going to get to my goal staying comfortable' odd wording from her if you knew her long enough. Nana had been disciplining herself more than she'd ever let on. When the captain asked if she had any questions she once again, raised her hand 

"I do! How old are you and are you married?"

She'd ask with a loud volume of voice, an imaginary heart would float above her head and pop after she'd ask her question, she'd probably give off a sense of carelessness unintentionally, but the captain probably didn't know that. Regardless of his answer she'd reply with "mmMMmm!" with a high pitch as she did so.

[Vio]

No sooner had the ship made port than the man in charge had set foot upon Ice Nine, quickly approaching the two recruits who would be tasked with aiding him during his mission. Captain Isaac Saifer, a man substantially taller than the likes of Verdelet Greene, seemed a wisened man hardened by the waters. A dark complexion, almost as rich as the cyborg's own, told of this imposing figure's good health. Vivid blue eyes and short hair the colour of jet, both holding a soft but healthy lustre, defined sharpened facial features. It was easy to tell that this man was of such a high rank as Captain, fortified by the strong stature he possessed. Not an inch of his form was left loose, standing tall and proud, brimming with a subtle confident energy. With him were other members of his unit, a woman whom Verdelet correctly assumed to be the second in command, four men, and a dog. A black doberman of impressive build which only served to make him seem even smaller in comparison to everybody else present. Five and five was hardly an impressive height, most men of his age sitting at an average of six foot.

"Yessir. Seaman Recruit Verdelet Greene, sir." Raising his right arm in a strict salute towards the superior officer, the cyborg Seaman confirmed his identity when it was asked of him, also learning the name of his compatriot. Nana. A strange name, perhaps, but his own forename was hardly a common one. Regardless of names and their origins, the Captain was quick to explain the situation, to which Verdelet listened intently. The fact that Revolutionaries, of all people, could be hiding out on Ice Nine was a worrisome fact. The island was hardly an easy one to live on, the lack of greenery alone enough to prove that fact - the greenest thing visible being his own eyes, but it also made for a good shelter. Aside from the odd trade route and occasional Marine activity, the place was quiet and secluded most of the time. Now that it had been brought up in earnest, Revolutionaries hiding here was not an unusual thought, the only odd fact about the whole ordeal being the stealth and skill possessed by said force.

"Any questions?" Isaac asked, likely hoping for a 'no'. Unfortunately, and awkwardly, that was not what he received. While Mister Greene himself had no qualms in regards to this operation and the struggles that may or may not have been involved, Nana was an entirely different issue, brazenly bringing up what was a pointless - childish even - subject. Had it not been for his lethargy, the likes of which was now starting to make his human arm feel leaden as he allowed it to fall to his flank, he would have likely placed said hand to his face quite forcefully. He did not even know this girl and already she had proven herself something of an idiot, but for that he would not be judgmental. That just wasn't his thing. He really cared little for what you were like, as long as you were in good health, and Nana seemed to be in decent condition. Of course, it was hard to tell through all that excess clothing, but warmth in itself was important.

Regardless, Verdelet soon turned to examine the rest of the small landing party. More particularly, he had yet to get a good look at the Lieutenant, Amyot. She could not have been any older than himself, standing about the same height as he did, and that alone spoke volumes about her level of skill in command. Slender, but not unhealthily so, first glance told him that she looked after herself very well. Either that, or the crew had very good doctors and cooks, meal and medicine both being vital to health and ability. It could have been either - or both. Still, rich pink locks seemed to shine in what little good light there was about the place, eyes of similar hue shadowed beneath a cleanly cut fringe, but vivid enough. Always did the field medic look to the eyes first, their condition so telling of how a person was in terms of feeling healthy, both physically and mentally...

[Lord Bromosalino]

"I do! How old are you and are you married?"

...

......

.........

Of all things, this is the question she had? She wasn't serious, was she? It didn't matter if she was serious or not; who the hell asks that kind of a question upon meeting their supervising officer? "That does not concern.." "Who the hell do you think you are, asking the Captain a question like that!?" "Easy Lieutenant." Whatever warning Isaac could have given Caroline would be useless at this point. Though Captain Saifer himself was a true military man and had a strong belief in order and procedure, his right hand woman was even more so dedicated to those same procedures and protocols. "I asked you a question Recruit! Who. Do. You. Think. That. You. Are? Captain?" Outstretching an arm to keep Lieutenant Amyot back, Isaac could already see that this confrontation wasn't going to get anyone anywhere. "It's fine Lieutenant. As I was saying, Miss Nana. That does not concern you. Lets remember why we're here, shall we?" Not only was this absurd and already annoying the Captain, but the silliness of this situation had already taken up precious minutes from their assignment. After all, a vessel as large as the "Black Guard" would not go by unnoticed for very long. If these revolutionaries were indeed on the island, then word would not tarry in being passed along. "Now, if there are no questions from your side Mr. Verdelet? Good. Shall we begin?"

With that settled, the four Marines that had accompanied Captain Saifer, Thor, and Lieutenant Amyot from the "Black Guard" took their positions as rearguard to the reconnaissance group. Positioning himself at the front, the Captain was ready to make way. "We'll proceed in echelon formation. Give each other ten feet in spacing as we move out. I'll assume the lead. From what my superiors tell me, the revolutionary group isn't in the town itself but somewhere past the town in the tundra itself. The trek may prove to be a long one. We move at my speed, and stop when I say we stop. Understood?" From the map of Ice Nine that was provided in his assignment, the approximation of where the Marines believed the terrorists to have made their hideout was nearly two hours by foot. And they would be trekking through the frozen tundra of one of the most brutal islands in the entirety of the North Blue. And though the senses of his canine partner were virtually unmatched in tracking and locating, Saifer wasn't sure that they would find the enemy post so easily. They had no scent to go off of; and though visibility was holding up for now, there was no guarantee that it would remain this way for long. Even know clouds were beginning to form, threatening to envelop the sun at any moment. And to make matters worse, they would not be going through the town of Ice Nine itself. The element of surprise was the only thing that they had at the moment and being spotted by someone in the town was the last thing that Isaac wanted to risk. Instead, they would be hugging the outskirts of the town, moving along the shore line. Thus, it would be imperative that they kept the ocean on their left at all times. Getting lost out here was no small thing.

"Alright, lets move out. We'll be taking the outskirts of the town. Keep the chatter and unnecessary actions to a minimum to conserve energy. We've got about two hours of treading ahead of us, so lets find a good pace and lets keep it. We'll stop about half way in for ten minutes and then pick back up. We don't stop unless we need to otherwise." And with that, the crew made out. Heading left from the port, the contrast of where civilization started and ended on Ice Nine was clear within just a few moments. In only a short matter of time, the clanking of boots on cobblestone became a silent slush as snow and ice became the new road for the nine members of this voyage.

Blue and white. There was nothing but blue and white out here. An endless blue sky (though quickly darkening as clouds slowly rolled in) and monotonous white tundra was the only thing that Isaac could see, regardless of how far he strained his eyes. The small town of Ice Nine was slowly shrinking and even the ocean seemed to wave goodbye as the Marine Captain led them further and further inland. Turning his head, he could see the vivid pink hair of Lieutenant Amyot behind him. Behind her was the equally pink haired Nana; though she seemed to blend in with the snow around her as she trudged on, bundled in her white coat. And then there was still the interesting boxes that were covered that she continuously pulled behind her. Hopefully the wheels would be suitable for this kind of journey. Behind her, Isaac could only faintly see Mr. Verdelet; the hump (that Isaac assumed to be a backpack) being the only distinguishing profile that made him recognizable. The four men (Smith, Akami, Toshiro, Stefan) were all but invisible. Their heavy white coats (like Miss Nana) made them blend all too seamlessly with their surroundings. They were moving at a brisk speed, set by the Captain himself. Checking his watch (only after wiping the snow away as it laid on the glass covering), Isaac decided that they were making good time, given the rough footing of this tundra. They were already halfway into the first half of their journey.

Thirty Minutes Later

Man, this is becoming difficult, was the only thing that Isaac could think. Though he was in excellent physical condition, the snow had become increasingly deeper. More than just a few times, Isaac had fallen waist deep and had to pull himself out. Though his pants were combat approved (rip resistant and water resistant), snow had gotten in through his boots and shirt. Though it hadn't been enough to make him worry about hypothermia, the snow that had gotten in along with the sweat he had built up was starting to take its toll. It was time to stop. Finding a clearing with a decent footing, Isaac held up a fist, signaling that it was time to take a break. "Everyone doing ok?"

[Peacock]

    "I'm Nana!" she shouted to answer the woman's question. Nana was too determined to make friends on this crew, the thought of enemies being made wasn't even slightly relevant nor crossing her mind, so the woman's tone with Nana would be the same if she said it normally or happily, it just didn't matter. Though Nana still found herself disappointed with her captains answer, it seemed she wouldn't get the answer to her question any time soon.
Upon disappointment Nana would hold that expression to her face.

"Mmmn so you're not going to answer it?" she said with a pout. It seemed like that as well since he didn't answer her and just went on to explain the plan. Dealing with her disappointment she listened to the plan at hand soaking up the information like some pink sponge. If this were the first part of the plan it got straight to the point, not even a clumsy Nana could screw this up, Follow his lead and move at his pace and stop when he said to, Chatting and unnecessary actions on the down low.

"AAAAAYE!" Nana shouted with a salute to her forehead in an obnoxious manner, whether it was intentional or not didn't truly matter, Nana /was/ Nana of course. 
Nana followed suit with the mission,though she did have a few calms she refused to announce, that would of course be the whole 'minimum on the chatter' aspect. All she had to keep herself occupied was to march like a nutcracker toy that had come to life. Holding firmly onto the tether that was connected to the three machines that were covered by a cloth. She did a fairly good job at keeping snow from making its way into her boots once they made it to that part of this little movement they had been taking, of course this could be due to them reaching almost past the top of her calves.

she pursed her lips under the coat that covered her mouth, looking to the sky as she marched in a traditional like fashion, still bummed out about her question not getting an answer. Putting her disappointment aside she focused on what was ahead of her, the pink haired lieutenant...that had a problem with Nana. Though Nana had her hair covered by the winter cap she wore hiding almost all of her hair she could still admire a person with a similar gene in hair, though the captain's words rung through her ears 'chatter...to a minimum...' of course. Nana regretfully refrained from complimenting the woman in front of her.

One thing Nana did notice was the captain looking back at his recruits and crew, including her and the lieutenant, Nana winked when she caught his eye on her own before returning her focus to carrying her weight and marching as best as she could. She didn't look back to see the man she had assumed to be a hunchback, most likely due to the small amount of discipline she applies to herself, keeping her eyes front but her attitude free.

It probably wouldn't be too hard to notice that Nana wasn't your average marine...in the slightest. It wasn't that she didn't take her job seriously it's the simple fact that she refuses to let the discipline aspect of her career make her dull or strict, really at all, she intended to share her true self even in battle, this was the girl that planned on surpassing Vega punk, but as far as she was concerned she was just going to make a better robot to aid her personally, rather than a pacifista.
Three.Minutes.Later...
 They had been walking for some time now, and Nana had been dragging these machines to where others might have given up and asked for help. It was apparent that Nana wasn't too phased surprisingly, perhaps her preoccupying method worked after all. If she was tired from all the walking or perhaps pulling three machines with one arm then she certainly didn't notice it.

She kept her mind on the sub actions she  had created for herself such as the marching although she stopped. Though that could mostly be due to the waist high snow, which was annoying, even for Nana. She just moved like a penguin through that part of the walk, doing her best to keep snow from sneaking into her coat. Of course she did her best but this snow was just too much to deal with, It was a good thing they made it to flat footing or even Nana may have shown some literal weakness to everyone.
Coming to a bland stop she simply stopped moving "Aye captain!" she shouted to reassure him of her condition. Nana then looked to the pink haired woman who had been in front of her "And you lieutenant?" she said kindly.

[Vio]

"We'll proceed in echelon formation," Captain Saifer announced, information the new recruits of their responsibilities as they prepared the move out. The echelon was hardly a complex formation, easily regarded as a very loose but strategic choice both on land and at sea. The simple manner of arranged units so that they lined up diagonally had numerous benefits and few weaknesses when on the move, the spacing between units giving them more than enough time to react should things go awry. This was not the first time that Verdelet Greene had seen this formation, and definitely not the first time he had experienced being a part of it, but it was definitely a unique experience. Under new command, strange faces all around him and an otherwise difficult clime embracing him, the cybernetic seaman was perhaps not as prepared as he would have liked to be. Still, now was not the time to complain, especially when his objective was to assist a unit that was perhaps less experienced than they seemed.

"Understood, Captain!" Offering a quick formal salute to affirm his awareness of the situation, Verdelet assumed an appropriate position among the ranks, abiding by the law laid down as best as his body would allow. A part of him was fearful that he was going to slow them down, well aware of the lethargy that currently afflicted him, but first he needed to understand his limits. Up until now, he had had little experience in regards to the negatives of being a man intertwined with steel, the mysterious bulb upon his back soaking the energies of the sun whenever he was at rest and thus providing strength. But the general weather and climate had so far prevented him from recharging his batteries, so to speak. While that did not immobilise him, it most definitely hindered him, though not quite to the same extreme that he would have imagined. Perhaps, he told himself, his physical strength was improving?

Conservation of energy is good. I just wish I had the energy to conserve... There was no denying that Mister Greene was still a little bitter about his shortcomings, his own steady march barely able to keep up with the chosen pace of the man in charge. Across the cobbles he was steady, but the moment they entered the thick and squelching slush, things started to become more difficult. Slush turned almost immediately to snow and permafrost, gaining depth and losing hardness, every other step the mechanical medic took requiring a little more effort than the last. His right leg no longer felt like lead in comparison to his left, that phantasmal feeling still persisting long since the original limb had been severed - a phenomenon which he had developed a deep interest in. Allowing his mind to wander a little turned out to be a good thing, however, for it pulled his attentions from the heaviness he felt in his body.

Ahead of him, Captain Isaac Saifer, Lieutenant Amyot and Nana trekked on. Behind him? The four other men who had accompanied them moved as silently as serenely as their strength would allow them. Every few minutes, Verdelet found himself lagging behind by about a yard or two due to the increasingly thick layers of snow and treacherous blockades of ice that formed beneath the sparkling surface. Bashing one's foot off one of those was hardly a pleasant experience, that much was certain, and even the clunk of an ironclad extremity upon one send an uncomfortable shiver through his skeleton...

-~-

"Everyone doing okay?" The signal to take a break given in the form of a raised fist, Seaman Recruit Greene let out a steady sigh of relief as he found his was to more comfortable ground. Here, the snow had turned almost entirely to ice, capped nicely with thick permafrost to provide traction and a steady foothold. An ideal spot to take a break, perhaps, even more so as the sun managed to find its way through the thick grey clouds above. Hardly enough for him to regain some much needed power, but at least the rays were a little warming upon his face. So far, Ice Nine had proven itself to be one of the worst places for a cyborg to live, the bitter cold threatening to afflict the connections between steel and skin with frostbite were they not protected sufficiently.

"Don't worry about me, Captain," the solar-powered cyborg stated as he halted within the clearing. Turning to the rest of the unit, he voiced his concerns. As a field medic, his whole job revolved around the well being of those he worked with, something he prioritised above any other order. He could not find it within himself to rest unless he knew others were in good health. "How're you doing? Is everyone coping with the cold?"

[Lord Bromosalino]

And though the cold wasn't bothering him as much as it might have been to the others, even Isaac couldn't help but let a shiver run through his body. The cold was the same cold that he had experienced here nearly ten years ago. Though so much had happened throughout the years, this had, at least, stayed constant and unchanging. "Well Mr. Verdelet, it looks like everyone's getting along just alright." Though trudging through snow and ice in this extreme temperature was not an easy task in the slightest, the entirety of the expeditionary crew seemed to be coping well with the conditions. Luckily, the sun was peaking through ever so slightly. Though not warm enough to take one's jacket off, it did bring a small amount of warmth and heat on ones face. It felt good. The ground beneath seemed to harden as well. The slush and snow was slowly becoming more and more solid, whether it was ice or actual rock and dirt. That, then, would make the trek much more manageable. And that was good. Though it seemed as if the crew was enjoying their rest, it wouldn't last long. Ten minutes rest, and they would be back up on their feet. "Work on getting your heart rates back down. We move out in seven minutes. That goes for you as well Mr. Verdelet." Just like Amy, he values others well-being over his own. Admirable quality.

Though...

"Miss Nana, I'll have to ask you to keep your voice down from here on out. We don't know what else is out here. There's no point risking being spotted. Indoor voices, shall we?" Her enthusiasm was well appreciated by the Marine Captain to be sure. Her lack of seriousness was, however, becoming quite an issue. Captain Saifer couldn't stay too mad at her however; after all, she was just a child really. And to be fair, not everyone had the military experience growing up that he himself had. "You didn't see anything out there did you Captain?" Having finished her own conversation with the four men that had accompanied them from the "Black Guard", Caroline Amyot was making her way towards Isaac now, indicating that she wanted to speak to him in private. "Nothing yet Caroline. But if we're on the right track, we should see some activity soon enough. How's everything going on your end?" "Smith says he could feel something behind him the whole time, but never caught a glimpse of anything. Could just be the shifting snow." "I hope so. Lets keep an eye on it though."

From hushed whispers, Saifer switched to his usual voice; authoritative and stoic. "Alright, lets move out. Keep your eyes peeled and your pace up."

---

45 Minutes Later

So much whiteness. Though their footing had certainly improved, their environment stayed consistent. It was almost as if they had stepped onto a blank canvas. A blank canvas that seemed destined to never be painted on, never to change. After all, who would venture out here, to build, to innovate, to cultivate? And so, this canvas would remain blank. The monotonousness of it all was quite straining really. The sun was no longer peaking through; the clouds almost completely making their adieu, allowing the sun to fully break through. Yet (as Isaac's mother would say on less than pleasant days such as this), the sun was baring its teeth today; in reference to the fact that though the sun seemed to be out in full force, the wind and air continued to nip at the faces and any other exposed body parts of those daring to traverse the tundra. Though he enjoyed the warmth that the sun was radiating onto them, the glare caused by the sun and the whiteness that it was bouncing off of was straining to his eyes, forcing Isaac to look at his own two feet rather than keeping his eyes peeled on the horizon in front of him.

Out ahead, Thor, who was about five feet to the left of Isaac, himself was keeping not his eyes but his nose glued to the ground in front of him. Having a nose many times sharper than his human counterpart, the large doberman was searching for any scent; whether that be the scent of boots, food, or even one of a human lying down. Anything to help...but wait, what was this? Ears now perked up, Thor had finally caught scent of something. In fact, it was a smell he was quite familiar with. Stopping to glance back at Isaac to grab his attention, he let out a hushed Woof!, as he too understood the importance of silence. Letting out a smile for perhaps the first time today, "Finally." Holding up a fist once more and beckoning for the crew to come forward, Isaac too ventured to where his canine partner was. A trail, faint as it might be, of blackish-gray substance was left on the ground, its trail stopping and starting every few feet. Stopping down, the experienced Marine pinched the substance between his thumb and middle finger, rubbing it and smelling it. Though the residue that was left on his fingers was sufficient enough for Isaac to make a fairly educated guess, he still tasted the substance (though ever so slightly). "Gunpowder." They were close, he could tell. "Alright. Everyone check your equipment, we could be in for an engagement soon." "Sir? I thought we were just gathering information." "We are Stefan, but from the amount of gunpowder trail here, they could be stockpiling up quite a bit. They may have more members than we could have anticipated. I'd rather have us ready in case we need it rather than not. Got it? Miss Nana, you're up. As the field engineer we requested, I want you to look over all the equipment and make sure we're ready to go. Also I have to ask out of curiosity; what are you two carrying? A toolbox and a backpack?"

[Peacock]

"Mmmm aye aye." Nana said with a more..tame volume, this time not shouting as she was before. Nana kept it moving as they advanced, she listened in closely on the conversation her captain and lieutenant Caroline. This 'Smith' said he could feel something behind him, but would see nothing, This would make Nana feel a bit weary. She looked upwards before turning her head and looking behind her.

She grabbed the collar of her big coat and pulled it down so that she could let her mouth be less muffled from this point on, though it wasn't a problem till now since she was shouting before. Her mouth was now visible and more people would be able to see the sheepish frown on her face, her brow curled, giving a worried expression. For some reason she felt the need to look behind her and beyond, though it was apparent that she couldn't see much past Verdelet and the other soldiers behind him.

'it's no use...' Nana thought to herself as she returned to facing forward, she couldn't do anything right now and as Caroline said it could have just been the snow shifting...but Nana kept a good head on her shoulders, things always came to not be that simple. The captain had told everyone to keep their eyes peeled, if only he knew Nana was already steps ahead of him on that command.

The only think Nana was worried about was actually being able to see anything...no one was dumb enough not to wear something to blend in with an area like this...so much snow...Nana sure would get comfortable the minute they get to a warmer island, perhaps a bit too comfortable for a marine to try and pull off, the girl was beyond the discipline of uniform for the most part.

Post 45 minutes...

Nana looked to her feet to see this black canvas of a landscape. "mmm?" she said taking note of her surroundings. What ever this flooring was it made moving a lot more comfortable compared to the slushy snow they had been moving through. Nana saw the fist of her captain rise and the beckoning motion he made. Moving at a faster pace, Nana made her way to where Isaac was. 'Gunpowder' Isaac stated. Nana's brow raised up as she looked down at his hand. Gunpowder...here? They had been marching in snow for as long as she could remember, yet she hadn't seen any gunpowder until now...on a canvas like landscape where they would almost not be able to see it.
"Here of all places..?" she let out. looking down at the ground, her eyes adjusted to her surroundings and it was much easier to distinguish the gunpowder from the ground, and she could see how it was placed. Placed indeed there were many scenarios she played out through her mind, Something was just off here. Then her name was called by Isaac himself "...Aye captain"

Nana dragged her contraption by the tether that of which held it to a few meters away from Isaac, trying to get everyone to start a line for her to check the weapons and equipment..but something bugged her about this.... Nana wasn't too distracted to not hear her captain ask what exactly it was she and Verdelet were hauling , though Nana herself just assumed verdelet was a hunchback.

Nana smiled for this brief moment "Oh these?" pulling the cover from atop of her contraption revealed two Turrets that looked similar to trashcans but they seemed to be polished and clean, besides a few yellow stains here and there. "These are my turrets! ready for battle as always!" Nothing about her wording seemed to be suspicious but for Nana, the one eager to always talk didn't seem to tell all that much about her invention...Nana seemed to be purposely holding back a matter of information such as what the turrets do and what not as she still believes they are being watched. The smile on her face falls to a soft frown and she walks over to Isaac with a very concerned look. Poking her index fingers together and looking down at her feet.

"Oi captain...something's been bugging me about this situation that we are in..." She quickly brings her eyes up to look at Isaac. "If this stuff is really gunpowder...isn't it odd to just now be seeing it?" She turned around and kneeled down to differ the landscape from the powder.
 
"I mean, I don't think they would have been dumb enough to let it leak on the white snow in the first place..so it could just be a coincidence that they happen to let it drop here and thought maybe we'd be too dumb to notice it but..." She bit her thumb through her mitten.

"Isn't it odd how it's spread? almost as if they didn't want to make it obvious by purposely making it in this formation...every few feet, see?" She said looking back at him before looking back down at the powder.

"Could it be possible that they want us to follow them? no..thats too cliche...I think we might already be in a trap...but I'm not sure. It's of course, your call captain something is just very off about this and I would like to check everyone's equipment somewhat away from this gunpowder, maybe a few meters to our left assuming this gunpowder was placed in a straight line, and if it is..that just raises my suspicion..."

Nana seemed to take an entirely different turn on her approach for this situation, before she displayed her self as the loud, young and clumsy even, but now it seemed she was really taking this situation seriously, especially with this island being very popular for marines, how easy would it be to pull a trap using stealth such as this? Why would they not be more careful to make sure they didn't leak any information or leads?

They might very well see the group coming...and Nana being a recruit only made her feel much more worried, as Isaac was probably expecting some more experienced people. Nana only came to his hypothesis due to Isaacs explanation of the mission, these were revolutionaries, terrorists not just pirates seeking gold or a path to everlasting power.
With that Nana stood up and faced her captain, awaiting his next command with a tilt to her head she awaited him to speak and point her in what to do next and to see if he would consider her investigation plausible. 

[Vio]

I guess I shouldn't expect any less from trained soldiers, Verdelet Greene noted to himself at the words of Captain Saifer. All of the men and women seemed to be in good health and, while the trek to this point had been anything but easy, not a one had suffered much as a direct result. Mild exhaustion was easy enough to overcome, hence the CO's decision to take a much needed break from the march, allowing each one of them to catch their breath and calm their bodies. The cyborg's own heart was beating a tad faster than he would have liked, the slight rush of adrenaline brought about from uncertainty and excitement. This was, after all, his first actual mission as a part of the World Navy. Training regimes and classes provided, as thorough as they were, could not truly prepare a man for the struggles of field operations as intricate and as complex as this. Were it not for Nana's overflowing energy and confidence, he would likely have worried more about her; while the shared the same rank, it was clear who was the veteran of the two.

Might as well take the chance to do a check-up... Not one to dawdle without good reason, the solar-powered cyborg siezed the opportunity to test the overall mobility of his mechanical arm, stretching it outwards and folding it back in again in slow but graceful movements. An observant eye might have spotted the odd clunkiness of his motions compared to that of the average human arm, but the fact of the matter was that this artificial extremity was extremely well crafted, a work of engineering that he was rapidly getting better with using. No longer did he feel the connections tug at the muscle of his shoulder and pectorals, nor the ghostly feeling that his arm was moving in two completely different directions. Rather, all he contended with now was it being heavier and somewhat cumbersome, the same applying to his right leg.

-~-

More than forty minutes later, and the group was once more trudging along through the frozen tundra of Ice Nine, this time hardly impeded by snow and slush. Indeed, the trek was a lot more manageable, provided you watched your footing and avoided patches of ice. Normally, it would not have been much of an issue, the climes cold enough to keep any layers of frost firm and 'dry'. But now? Now, the sun was blazing in the frozen skies, reaching down with invisible tendrils of warmth that turned to glaring white as they struck the icy earth. Melting was the surface ice, creating slick layers of cold, wet film that glistened in the light. And yet it was still bitterly cold, the golden sphere in the sky above taunting Mister Greene with gentle heat upon his face. If only he could lay down and soak up the rays, but the frigid atmosphere was preventing him from doing such a thing.

Huh? Another break, or...? Deep jade eyes catching the hazy shadow of the Captain raising a fist into the air, the field medic proceeded to halt for a moment, taking in a deep but bitter breath of cold air before closing in upon Isaac and congregating with the others in the unit.

"Gunpowder," Saifer stated as he sniffed and licked at a dark substance. "Alright. Everyone check your equipment, we could be in for an engagement soon."

Tch! I was hoping we wouldn't have to worry about combat yet. Wishful thinking gets you nowhere... Aware of his own limitations and lethargy, it was becoming a struggle for Verdelet just to keep pace with the rest of the unit, but battle itself? As a marine, it was only proper that he had been trained in how to fight efficiently against the enemy, but being capable of doing something was only half of the calculation. The other half was about readiness. Sure, they had now received an obvious sign that the enemy could be nearby and well equipped, but that did not make it any easier for the small soldier should an altercation occur. It was hard enough dealing with the finer aspects of medicine when one arm was a machine, let along using a rifle. Of course, he could still pack a punch in close-quarters combat if needed, and was well aware of how to break the bones of an attacker using simple grappling techniques. But ranged combat? An actual shootout? That was trickier ground.

"Also, I have to ask out of curiosity; what are you two carrying?" Captain Isaac asked, quick to receive a response from the pink-haired engineer, but less so from the other new face. It was not because he did not want to answer, but more the fact that Nana believed something to be off about this whole situation, proceeding to explain her worries. Any person knew that gunpowder was a highly flammable, explosive substance - a mixture of sulfur, charcoal and saltpeter - that was quite powerful in the right amounts. It had its drawbacks, however, but none of them seemed to come to mind. Chemistry was hardly Seaman Recruit Greene's specialty, at least not in the engineering sense. What amazed him, however, was the degree of caution that Miss Nana seemed to express. A stark contrast to how she had been before.

"I suppose your right? But, open tundra doesn't strike me as the best place to set a trap. Most of this place is just packed ice and permafrost, right?" the mechanised marine questioned openly, trying to see it all from a logical perspective in order to take his mind off of his worries. The last thing he wanted to run into was a trap, least of all one that would remind him of Verdenstein's civil war and the monstrous chemical weapons used during it. Compared to those, guns and explosives seemed like petty things, but they were also easily made and produced en mass. At least weapons of a less humane nature were few and far between, requiring adept scientists and months - years even - of research. "Also, Captain Saifer, to answer your earlier question, I'm a cyborg. But I can't really show you guys out here. It's too cold, and I'll risk frostbite if the metal is exposed for too long..."

SPOILER: Click to show

I'm not sure if you're aware or not, but Duff has been banned from the forum due to behaviour issues.

[Lord Bromosalino]

"No, I'd have to agree with Mr. Verdelet here. There's no where to hide out here. Though, I do appreciate your caution Miss Nana." And appreciate he did. Whether her 'silliness' and 'child-like' behavior was just a façade or not, the recruits seriousness was a welcome change. After all, they were diving head first into a potential fire-fight, so a calm and analytical mind was always a welcomed sign. Now if she could only stay that way...

Rubbing away at the powder once more, Saifer noticed something. The recruit did raise a good point. Why, of all places, was the gunpowder out here? There was no sign of conflict in this open tundra, so the need to reload a firearm would have been minimal if not unneeded all together. And once a firearm had been primed with gunpowder, it wouldn't have come back out, and certainly not out here in the open. Strange indeed.

"These are my turrets! Ready for battle as always!"

"Hm, interesting," his mind not at all focused on the question that he had earlier posed to both recruits. "Why is this out here? No mechanical system would allow for gunpowder to get out, not in a quantity like this." "Maybe they were moving gunpowder and not a weapon?," chimed in Lieutenant Amyot as she peered over the Captain's shoulder. If they were moving say a crate or a barrel, it would have been possible for gunpowder to have gotten through a plank in the wooden casing. "You could be right. Well, we won't know by standing around all day." Wiping his hands across the bottom of his jeans, Saifer stood and gave a half-hearted smile to both of the recruits, only now realizing that he hadn't fully paid attention to either of their answers despite being the one who had asked it of them, instead only catching a part of it. "Ah, battle turrets and a cyborg. I can't wait to see you both in action! Hopefully, though, it won't be today. If they weren't mobilizing a force and rather moving stock, we may yet get the drop on them."


The question, then, was what were they doing with all of this gunpowder? The gunpowder that had gotten left behind was a sizeable portion, yet there was no trail. And after the Lieutenant had mentioned the possibility of it coming from a crate or a barrel, Captain Saifer did have to admit that that seemed most plausible. But for what? Future mobilization of an army, or something far more sinister? That thought alone brought a new worry into his mind, and now Isaac was eager to press on and stop 'it' from happening.

"Let's keep moving, we should be close."

---

15 Minutes Later

"Hmph, I guess this is it." No sooner than they had started moving again, it was becoming more and more obvious that there was activity in the area. Though few and far between, the occasional footprint could be seen. Given the conditions, Isaac had speculated that they had been made just a short time ago. And though the landscape hadn't changed too much, it had changed just enough to be in the favor of the expeditionary group. While a layer of snow still blanketed the ground, the heavy snow was gone, only a few inches or so covering the earth and now a substantial amount of rock and dirt was in abundance; making it easy to find ones footing in. The horizon that never seemed to move disappeared as well, as mountains began to form, its peaks stretching for the sky above. The group itself laid crouched behind a fairly large rock that stood no more than twenty feet to the side of the base of the mountain; their eyes all watching the same object, a single door baring the way into what appeared to be a cavern. "So what's our move Captain?" "Well, as far as I can see, there's only one doorway, so we can't charge straight in. For now, we'll wait and watch."

And with that, Isaac pulled a set of binoculars out from within his jacket and began to watch. And watch they did, and watch, and watch, and watch. Twenty or so moments had gone by, and there had been no sign of movement at all. Still, they watched...Until!

A group of thirty or so men and women began to file out of the mountain, along with a number of horses and wagons. The only thing Isaac could think of was What the...? Just how big was this cavern, to hold this many people along with horses and wagons? Looking closely, Isaac could only see ordinary humans among them, each looking like an ordinary civilian. But that's not what he was hoping to see. No where among them did he see the one person they were really here for; their leader, Angelina Belmonte. As some were hitching horses onto the three wagons, others went back into the cavern and began to haul out three fairly massive crates out of the mountain. So, Caroline was right after all.

Three crates, three wagons. Loaded and covered with a heavy tarp, the group of revolutionaries left their work and each went back into the cavern. Not knowing how long they would have before they would return, Isaac made a split moment call, "Each of you, get in those wagons. Whatever they're doing, we're going to stop it." "And you Captain?" "Belmonte must be inside. She's our main priority. I have a bad feeling about those crates though, so you're in charge of stopping them Lieutenant. Now go, before you're spotted, all of you!" Watching as Caroline and the others moved as stealthily as they could towards the wagons, Isaac had to watch, forcing himself not to go with them. While he trusted her to run his ship, Caroline Amyot was not a combatant in the same way that he himself was; and even as Thor mounted on the back of the same wagon as her, Isaac couldn't help but worry for her. But even more so, he worried for the two recruits. While there was no guarantee that there would be any actual combat at all, those chances were slim to begin with. And now he was literally sending them headlong into the fray. He could only hope that the two pairs of Marines he brought along to specifically watch the recruits backs would be able to keep them safe from danger.

---

Meanwhile, Inside the Cavern

"You have your assignments, now go. At last, we will show those military dogs what fear is!

SPOILER: Click to show

I'll continue to rp Duff's OC until we get back on track and I can figure something out.

[Vio]

"Maybe they were moving gunpowder and not a weapon?" Lieutenant Caroline Amyot questioned, demonstrating to the likes of Verdelet Greene that she was well deserving of her rank and status, despite her apparent youth. In all honesty, the field medic himself felt rather old in comparison to the many, but rarely did he let that bother him. Senior recruits were not at all uncommon in the modern era, many being either conscripted or joining voluntarily for varying reasons. In his own case, he owed the World Government's military force greatly for the work they had put into rescuing Verdenstein - his homeland - from the clutches of a destructive civil war. To repay the favour was his duty, willing to try and save the lives of his comrades, even in the harshest of climes with the odds against them. As weighted as his body was feeling, it was but a small burden to bear, the threat of Revolutionary activity lurking in the frozen wastes ahead.

"Let's keep moving, we should be close," Captain Saifer added, signalling for the unit to move out once more. Once more did they find themselves trekking across difficult terrain, compacted ice camouflaging patches of loose snow which could swallow an unfortunate foot that stood upon them. Indeed, once or twice did Verdelet find his mechanised right leg suddenly jerk or lock as the limb's weight pressed down upon cracked up permafrost or loose snow. Easily one of the most annoying parts of this whole expedition, at least a minute was wasted on him trying to pull himself free, a feat not so easily accomplished when you could not actually feel the extremity in question. How on Earth nobody else had fallen prey to this frigid swamp was beyond him, but after around a quarter of an hour, things steadied once more...

-~-

There's only eight of us... Well, nine... And I'm not exactly cut out for combat... Incapable of denying the worries of his mind, Mister Greene could only do as the rest of his unit were doing. Watching and waiting. Sheltered behind a large boulder, likely a former fragment of the mountainous terrain that loomed over them like a Giant, the squadron sat patiently and silently as their leader watched through binoculars. A cavern in the side of the rock face, barricaded by what was clearly a man-made entrance of what could have been an old mine, concealed untold dangers. Usually, such passages were narrow and deep, or wide and shallow, but the medic himself understood that such a place was not easy to judge at first glance. Indeed, his homeland possessed a massive network of underground tunnels, much of which had never been explored even when the mining industry was booming. Was Ice Nine the same? Possibly, but he really did not want to find out for himself.

The wind still chilling, albeit much gentler than before, the seaman recruit counted himself lucky that none of his limbs were exposed to this harsh landscape. The boulder behind which he sheltered was a natural blockade, breaking the flow of cold air that descending from the mountains above and creating a pocket that at least felt milder than the rest of the island's tundra. Still, to expose the iron and steel of his limbs to this? Definitely not a good idea. No less than five minutes into their wait, and he found tiredness trying to take a hold of him, giving himself a firm pat on the cheek in order to wake himself up a little. Hardly was he suffering from the cold, but any doctor should know that to fall asleep in such an exposed area was potentially fatal, and in this situation it was not just the climate that threatened their lives.

"Each of you, get in those wagons." The order came quickly and unexpectedly, emerald eyes widening in response at the prospect of infiltration. All of a sudden, Seaman Greene had a choice to make - a choice that was surprisingly testing of his mentality.

"But, what about my turrets?" Nana questioned, her own eyes assessing the challenge with fearful uncertainty. Truthfully, the two new recruits had not seen hide nor hair of one another until today, neither possessing even the slightest idea of what the other was capable (or incapable) of outside of their duties as field medic and engineer. However, the girl made it painfully obvious that she was rather helpless without her unusual inventions. But to fight was only half of her job. In situations such as these, any soldier was required to be able to give something up for the sake of duty and efficiency. For Verdelet, this challenge was one of the mind as well as the body.

"Sometimes, Miss Nana," he piped up, "we have to make do without. My cybernetics are powered by the sun, and I can't take the time to recharge here. If I do, I risk frostbite from exposure. My arm and leg feel heavy because they don't have the energy to help move themselves, so moving is wearing me out. Leave your turrets here and come back for them after, just do as Captain Saifer says for now. Hurry!"

"But-"

"Come on!" His words spoken from experiences past, the harsh realities of war rooted deeply within his soul, the solar-powered cyborg felt obliged to share his wisdom when needed. If only Nana could understand the burdens he had been forced to bear upon his shoulders during his youth, when he was her age, then maybe the need for her to give up her prized inventions would have been more easily recognised. But he could not bring himself to blame her for that. That was not how he functioned, whatsoever. As quickly and as quietly as he could carry himself, he moved across the rock and ice, closing in upon one of the wagons as two of the other troopers raised the protective hide tarpaulin and began to clamber inside amidst the crates and barrels.

That was a weird experience... Hoisting himself into the back of the wagon as one of the horses eyed him lazily, the diminutive doctor watched cautiously as the younger recruit surpassed her worries and boarded the next cart over, soon disappearing beneath the covering, as did he. The darkness broken only by the subtle trickle of sunlight that reflected from the frosty terrain and in through the slight gives in covering, Verdelet and the two men accompanying him sat huddled up in silence, awaiting the inevitable voyage upon which they were being sent. Soon enough, the sound of a dozen or more footsteps crunching upon stone and frost rang within his ears, the groan and creak of wagon and wheel joining with a cacophony of voices. Gently did their movement begin and, as much as the young man wished he did not have to be on this ride, he hunkered down and waited...

SPOILER: Click to show

The colours I'm using, just for future reference.

Verdelet Greene (33ff33)
Isaac Saifer (ffffff)
Caroline Amyot (ff3399)
Nana (ff77ff)

[Lord Bromosalino]

Well said, well said indeed, thought the Captain to himself. He knew he was asking quite a lot from the two newest members of this little group, he knew that, he understood. This was no easy thing he was asking, and with his request had to come a slew of emotions; excitement, fear, anxiety, worry. And though it seemed initially that out of the two only Nana seemed wary to go along with this order, Verdelet himself expressed his worry. But the one most worried had to have been Isaac Saifer. He knew nothing of the capabilities or talents of the two recruits outside of the file provided to him by the Marine Base here on Ice Nine. He knew nothing of their metal fortitude under great pressure, their ability to think quickly and react to unforeseen situations, or if they could keep their emotions in check. And here he was, their Captain and the one who was supposed to protect them, sending them into what could quite possibly be their own death. Yes, it was suffice to say that he was worried. "Keep your Den Den close Caroline. And all of you, good luck."

And that was that. Saifer was, to say the least, unsure of what to do next. From this point on, there wasn't much that he could do for them. He could only put his hope in his Second-in-Command and his men to do their job (which was still quite a mystery to them all). As for Miss Nana and Mr. Verdelet, Isaac had to put his faith in them as well, as blind as it may be. As for Saifer, he had his own job to do; and if he was going to do anything for his crew, he would have to go into the belly of the cavern. He could only hope that this Belmonte person was actually in there. "I'm doing quite a bit of hoping today, aren't I?"

---

10 Minutes Later

It was now or never. Well, that might not have been quite accurate. Better sooner than later might have been more fitting. Isaac was still outside, crouched behind the boulder, waiting to make his move. It really didn't matter how many times he had been on the precipice of battle. It didn't matter how confident he was in his own abilities. Sure the experience of battles and wars past as well as his own growth was a comforting thought, but it didn't really make a difference. He was plunging into the unknown. There would always be butterflies that would surely come, there would always be discomfort. After all, Isaac wasn't a man who lived for wars and fights and found great excitement in them; he just wanted to protect people. So if that meant that he would have to dive into the lair of the enemy, then that's what he would do. But he didn't like it, not one bit. Strategically speaking, a good rule of engagement is to try and keep home court advantage for yourself, making sure that you controlled where a confrontation would be held. Unfortunately, these were things that the Marine Captain had no control over. Well, better sooner than later.

Slowly peering around the boulder that had served as cover from whatever watchful eye was inside the cavern, Isaac steadily inched from his hiding spot. Stalking the door as a hunter would stalk his prey, Saifer's own anxiety of the possibility of whatever was waiting in there for him had pumped his adrenaline a fair amount. Luckily, this wasn't his first rodeo. Isaac knew how to control that adrenaline, to focus it on his surroundings; this then made him increasingly more and more aware of everything around him, every detail. Placing a hand and an ear on the heavy, wooden door, Isaac waited a moment or two to see if he could hear anything on the inside. But strain as he might, there was nothing. Creak. Isaac froze. Then he waited once more. Still nothing. Pushing against the door once more, Isaac shimmied his way in and quickly closed the door, afraid that it's hinges would signal his entrance again. From the looks of it, Isaac was alone. But then again, the only thing he could see at the moment was a long hallway lit by a few candles. Placing a hand on the wall next to him, he noticed that there wasn't much in the way of support beams. Maybe this place was still in construction or just temporary?

Following the hallway could prove to be dangerous, especially if it opened up into multiple pathways. Getting lost inside of a mountain wasn't something he was particularly keen on. The stone walls would allow him to mark, if even so slightly with his knife, but the lighting was so poor it would be hard to keep track of where he had been. There wasn't much he could do but just keep going forward then. Isaac could only hope that this would be the only hallway; and if it wasn't, he would have to try to keep each twist and turn straight in his head.

Isaac had been walking for a solid five or so minutes now, and he noticed that there was a significantly brighter light just a few hundred meters ahead of him. As he approached it, it looked as if the walls were widening. As he steadily approached the light ever so slowly and cautiously, he could see a figure sitting in a chair, laboring over some piece of work at a desk. The room itself had become much larger, nearly the size of a small home. The person was clearly a woman, and as Isaac stepped into the opening, he knew her immediately; it the Revolutionary known as the "Fallen Angel", Angelina Belmonte! "Angelina Belmonte, you are hereby placed under arrest for acts of terrorism."

Hardly batting an eye much less looking up from her papers, the woman replied as calmly as can be, almost as if she was mentioning the weather, "Oh, is that so?"

---

Meanwhile

Out in the tundra, three wagons sped towards the Ice Nine. As they came into view of the town, they came to a slow and steady trot. As they entered the town itself, they came to a halt. From atop the wagon, the entire Revolutionary group moved by foot into the town. Their job would be to create a diversion while the three wagon drivers and their shotgun rider split up, each heading towards a different destination within Ice Nine. Each wagon held a crate that was still covered by the tarp as well as hiding the three Marine teams. The wagon holding Caroline Amyot and Thor headed towards the Marine base dock. The wagon holding the Marines Toshiro, Stefan, and recruit Verdelet began to head towards the home of the governor of Ice Nine. The last wagon that held Marines Akami, Smith, and Nana began to head towards the downtown square of the town. From here on out, each team would be separated, relying on their own wits to deal with whatever threat was awaiting them. They would need all the luck they could get, the entire team.

SPOILER: Click to show

Isaac Saifer (ffffff)
Verdelet Greene (33ff33)
Caroline Amyot (ff3399)
Nana (ff77ff)
Angelina Belmonte (54435e)