The 20 Kitexian Spec Ops soldiers went to Perth, Promised Land decked out in their new Promised Land military suits, they were stilll getting used to the cameras and trying to aim their M16A2s with it in their way.



They quietly walked over the their Promised Land counterparts and began to talk to them.

"How's it going?"

Major Carter was the first to greet them. His own squad of ten soldiers, along with another squad of nine, stood behind him at attention. They, too, were in full tactical gear. He shook hands with the senior Kitexian soldier.

"Doing just fine. Was the trip all right?"

it was just a few days into summer, and already it was telling,. The day might not have been stiflingly hot yet, but it was obviously getting there, with the humidity from the winter and spring beginning to fade away as well.

Being the middle of the afternoon, however, a sea breeze (locally known as the Fremantle Doctor) was just beginning to pick up, providing some relief from the heat. "As you can probably tell, the Summer months are just beginning here. You've just missed the rainy season."

OOC: Now that's cool. I've gotta make a factbook and put that in it.

"The trip was great," said Capt. Banks. He then guestered over to his comrades, each standing in four-person teams. "The first one, with only 3 people is my team, Alpha, the next one to the left is Psi Team, from the left of them is Theta Team, and the last team is Kappa Team. What would you like to do first?"

OOC: Yeah, the game is sick-nasty.

Carter gestured behind him. "My personal handpicked group of men is Bravo Squad, and the other is Charlie squad."

He turned so that Banks would be seeing only his profile, and gestured to the east. "Our first order of business will be getting you settled at the local Barracks. The training can begin tomorrow."

He turned back to his counterpart with a smile on his face. "We'll be using civilian transportation to get there. We have a whole bus to ourselves. Try not to make the driver nervous, eh?"

As he spoke, the bus in question pulled up to the edge of the road, about twenty yards away. A silent gesture from Carter was all that was needed for his men to begin boarding the bus.

"By the way, when will the rest of the troops begin arriving? I have to admit, I'm rather looking forward to the wargames."

A few uninvolved civilians noticed the troops that were apparently foreigners, but they were with local troops, local soldiers who aparently appeared unconcerned. They let the Kitexians be...

OOC: Bump

"It'll take a good two to three weeks for the newly formed 11th Infantry Division to arrive. They need to get mobilized and also learn about the culture of Promised Land, you know, how to conduct yourself in public, how you should treat a man versus how you treat a woman, that kind of thing. Also it's gonna be pretty fun when these wargames get started as we've never had to fight in a hot climate before."

Everyone arrived at the barracks and rested up until the next day.

OOC: bump

OOC: I can't reply yet, but I promise I will when I can. I don't have a lot of time on weekends.

"Meh, just make sure they respect personal property, don't go out into public in minimal or no clothing, don't assualt civilians unprovoked, and treat women as the equals of men, and they should be fine."

There were probably more things he could have listed, but those were the basics, really.

Once everyone was on the bus, it was only a half-hour's ride to the barracks. Few people were actually out and moving at this time of day. Either at home, at work, or at some other activity that kept them in one place.

Their sleep would be undisturbed until 5 AM the next morning, when the lights came on and they were told to be ready to go in five minutes.

Everyone got up the next morning and was ready in five minutes. The Troinan soldiers were in full gear and ready for some action.

"Excellent," Carter said, nodding his approval. "You are able to go to full alert despite no knowing when you might be called up. Your training is not slacking, I see. Very well, you have half an hour in the mess hall to eat, and then assemble outside on the parade grounds. Make sure before coming there that you fill your canteens, and drink as much water as you can safely hold. There isn't much to spare where we're going."

The Troinan soldiers went and ate and after filling up their canteens and getting extra ammo, they went out to meet the Promised Land soldiers.

"So, where are we going?" piped up Private Julie of Psi Team. "What are we going to do?"
"Relax," said Capt. Bernake. "What happens, happens."

The soldiers then saw the Promised Land troops coming and quieted down.

The regular troops had just started to get for their morning routines 15 minutes prior, so as the special forces troops filed out of the mess hall, the regulars were filing in in greater numbers.

The base was turning into a veirtable beehive of activity as the kitexians and Promised Land special Forces steped outside.

Promised Land's special forces had, up until recently, simply been regular infantry units with more thorough, complete training, meaning that their uniforms had simply been modified with a simple patch denoting their status, two pieces of red-colored cloth in the shape of a shield that a medieval knight might have used, sewn just under the place on the shoulder where most militaries put rank insignia.

This represented their name, Crimson Shield.

They quickly took their places just opposite their kitexian counterparts. Carter stood in front of them all, facing the midpoint between the two groups. "Today we will only be going out into the grasslands, but take note...the term can be misleading. Just because there is grass does not mean water is readily available, nor does it mean it is going to be even pleasantly cool. It is still going to be hot when the sun comes up. Right now, I can imagine you Kitexians probably feel right at home in this chilly morning temperature, but rest assured..." he paused dramatically. "That will not last."

He gestured to four waiting transport helicopters, just enough to take all forty of them to their destination.

"This first day will just be to acclimatize you to the heat, but a couple days of that, the real work will begin. Now, load up."

All of the Troinan SF teams boarded the helicopters and kept themselves busy by checking their A3s and thinking about how'd it be in the grasslands.

OOC: Are the transport helicopters Chinooks?

"All clear," Carter said into his helmet, signalling the pilots to take off. It would take them at least half an hour to get to their destination, and by that time, the sun would just be starting to rise.

When the helicopters landed, it was a clear sign for everyone to jump out. the terrain was not completely flat, but rather low and rolling, and covered in a hardy breed of grass that came up halfway up their shins, making it very easy, in a combat situation, for two opposing militaries to surprise each other.

"We will be hiking from this spot, to another point 50 miles north. We will be eating lunch when we get there."

Part of their kit were, of course field ratons. That was the 'lunch' he referred to.

OOC: Yeah, that's what they are. I rarely specify something that exactly unless someone asks (like you just did ).

"Well, this oughta be interesting" thought Capt. Banks. He and the rest of Alpha Team moved cautiously foward while Kappa Team moved in a northwesternly direction, Psi Team in a northeasternly direction, and Theta Team covered the rear. They were moving slowly as to get used to the camera in the upper left hand corner of their helmets.

OOC: Whoops, I apologize. I thought I had replied to this already.

IC: Within a matter of an hour, the sun was up, and already the heat was rising. Unlike in the city, there was no gentle breeze to blow some of it away, and despite the armor's special enhancements, the Antarctican troops would feel the sweat begin to come off them. This was the main reason Carter had recommended they load up on water--you couldn't always depend on high-tech gear to save your bacon.

Any that hadn't gotten as much water as they could would soon regret not doing so...

"Thankfully, the Troinan soldiers had carried extra water. Everyone was walking quickly now, through the grass. They soon had walked about 5 miles.

"How about we take a rest?" Rosie said to Capt. Banks.
"I'll think about it."

Carter, throughout the journey, would make the rounds, checking to see how everyone was doing.

"You want to rest now, Soldier?" he asked loudly. "However long you rest now will just add to the time you spend out here in this heat."

As he'd told the Captain, women were treated no differently from the men, whether civilian or special forces.

It would be the second full hour before Promised Land's troops began sweating, but such a thing was inevitible, despite them being used to the heat.

Sighing, Rosie decided to keep going, the sweat slowly building. They marched on...

And as they marched, it only grew hotter. They had come out here during the cool of thwe day, but that would seem like a distant memory by now.

They were special forces, so it was expected they were tough, but being unused to the heat, allowances would be made, and the route was set accordingly.

Halfway there, they would run across a small stream, marked by an area of greener grass, and a few small trees. It wouldn't actually cross their path, but it would not be out of their way to stop and take a short, half-hour rest in the shade, as well as re-fill their canteens (after ensuring the water was drinkable, of course).

"The Troinan soldiers rested in the grass.

'Wow, it's way hotter than I thought!' said Jack of Alpha Team.
'Hopefully we'll get used to it,' responded Capt. Banks.

After resting for about 15 minutes, everyone gathered up their things and marched on."

"Getting used to it is the idea," one of the Crimson Shield (OOC: My Special Forces/OOC) members stated. "Don't worry, the first couple of days is the hardest, after that it's easier. That's why these first couple days is simply getting you used to the heat. Then you'll probably be in familiar...territory, if you'll forgive that analogy."

The rest of that day would follow in pretty much the same vein. At the end of their march, there was another spot not unlike the halfway point, where they could rest in the shade and eat their rations. About the time they finished these rations, the transport choppers would arrive, having been quietly signalled by Carter the moment the troops had arrived.

Once they were back at the base, Carter would tap Captain Banks on the shoulder, and indicate with a silent gesture that he wished to talk to him alone.

Capt. Banks led Carter to a private area where they could talk alone.
"What do we need to discuss?"

Taking a seat that allowed him to keep an eye out, ensuring no one could evesdrop without his knowledge, Carter spoke.

"It's actually only a partial truth that tomorrow will be the same as today. The first half of it will be just like today was. However, we need to prepare the troops for the idea that they don't always get the correct intel. They need to be prepared at all times for the unexpected. Therefore, I've requisitioned a small company of 100 regulars to prepare a little surprise. Only you and me will know about this--neither your troops or mine will, and like today, they will be equipped with paintball versions of their equipment. Their mission will, of course, be to 'survive--'" he indicated the quotation marks with a hand gesture "--with no backup."

Banks laughed.
"That's cool, though Troinan SF rarely gets backup in the form of soldiers, we lucky if we get some F-15s or a Predator or three to come help us."

"All right, just so long as YOU are aware of it. Now I don't know about you, but I need a shower after that hike. I'll see you the same time tomorrow, eh?"

He stood, then clapping Banks on the back in a friendly gesture, he walked off to take that shower.

Banks also went to take a shower, then retired to bed.

Each of the soldiers in turn went to bed, knowing that tomorrow would be just as taxing as the first...

--------

The lights came on at the exact same time as the day before, and the routine started the same way--water, food, then gathering on the parade grounds to be taken by helicopter to their destination--and though the destination was in a slightly different place, it was the same terrain.

Once again all the Troinan teams took their usual positions but now walked quicky as they were used to their helmets.

"Careful there," one of the Promised Land troopers said, tripping on a small hole in the ground, no doubt made by a rodent of some sort.

Carter simply smiled slightly. For the first few hours, it would indeed be normal, as he'd told Banks. When the time came for the more vigorous exercises, though...

Well, it was time to educate the Troinians on another aspect of their helmets.

"One aspect I suspect my superiors forgot to mention about the helmets, but that you might have already determined yourselves, is a 'friend-or-foe' indicator. The helmets contain a tiny ID chip. Anyone wearing such a helmet will be indicated on the HUD of any other wearing one as 'green,' or friendly. Anyone not will, of course, appear in red."

After delivering his brief monologue, Carter edged over to his counterpart, speaking in low tones to ensure no one else overheard. "I hope you decided to wear extra padding today...the inititation of the exercise is our 'deaths.'"

Banks grinned. "We did wear extra padding. Hope they come soon though, I think that you'll be suprised at our tactics."

"Don't forget they'll have to work together...without us," Carter reminded with a wink.

"Still, almost fourty of them vs a hundred regulars...should be a piece of cake even with the surprise."

he returned to walking normally. At about noon, they would sit down to eat...then pack up once more. Five minutes later, two shots from a 'sniper' hidden on a nearby hill would 'take out' Banks and Carter, and the troopers, no dummies, should not take long in figuring out this was a test...

All the teams got down on the ground and spread out.
"Banana!" yelled Rosie, which was the call sign for the Ghosts to all split into two-person teams.

Kappa Team 1, then began firiing at the spot where the shots had come from.

The Crimson Shield troops dropped as quickly as their Troinian counterparts. They knew thay they needed to cover the rerar, in case they had walked into an encirclement trap. They lay low, watching the grass around them carefully for signs of movement. So far, there was nothing but the sniper who'd taken out the leaders.

Speaking of which, no more shots came from that direction. Though there was a curse that was quickly bitten off...apparently someone had made a hit.

But that had been long enough for the sniper to call in the exact location of the SF troops. they would have company any time now.

Theta 1 and Alpha 1 moved quickly to just behind the top of a hill while Theta and Alpha 2 gave them covering fire. Now they were in a great position to radio info about enemy troop movements to the others. All of Psi team was held in reserve.

They didn't have long to wait...it wasn't more than five minutes before the first soldier popped his head over the hill just beyond. The way he moved, he was obviously a scout. Of course, the fact that he was in a military jeep would probably have given that away too...

It was his superior's hope that, due to appearing so quickly, he would draw fire from the quickly-reacting SF troops, and enabling those regulars behind him to locate a few targets before they exposed themselves to the SF troops.

Still nothing appeared from behind. One or two of the Crimson Shield troops, being newer at this, let down their guard, but the rest kept their eyes out...

The Troinans kept quiet and stopped firing.
Theta and Alpha 1 crawled slowly to the top of the hill, where they set up an M60 machine gun. The rest spread out and positioned themselves in a semi circle to annihilate anyone who came.

The scout scanned the area...this was where his fellow scout had been stationed when he had gone silent--after calling in the contact, of course.

He couldn't be sure, but the grasses on that hill over there seemed to be stirring. Though he couldn't make out any individuals due to the tall grass, so perhaps it was only the wind. Still, better safe than sorry. And there was no way to tell for certain except to try.

He called into his radio, and before long, the rest of the troops arrived. Only half were on foot, the rest were in transports like jeeps...and even a couple of APC's. But they remained out of sight behind the hill for the moment.

The first wave of ten charged over the hill at running speed, followed by two jeeps containing five troops each. Each jeep had a mounted anti-personel machine gun in the back, manned by one of the five troops.