[ArosFarron]

After making sure everything was set up correctly, her hired actors in place of threats and enemies were around the city at key locations, Merletta waited on the arrival platform. She lit a small cigarette and watched students travel to different ships. God, I remember why I hated visiting this school. Allowing any years to go on a mission like this. They might think twice about this. But, if their weapons are interesting, they might have my attention. She took a puff and looked at the roster she was given. They all seemed reasonable but she still did not trust any of them. She shook her head and reached into the ship. She took a dufflebag out and activated her semblance to create a smoke screen around her as she changed into her Huntress outfit. Once she was dressed, her black feathered cloak blowing in the wind, she took another puff from her cigarette and waited. "Lets hope they're not late. I payed the buggers by the hour." She grunted as she took a couple maps out of her pocket.

[Asterisk]

Arriving at the airship pad fully ready for combat, Strelka just said, "Harbinger, reporting in."

[Th3King0fChaos]

Once Cherry arrived she was ready for combat, her adjusts her gauntlets and once she made it in sight she said as she took off her mask, "Cherry Rockwell here".

[Vox Machinae]

Rose made her way to the docks, bouncing one of Sacky Hak's bean bags as she walked while eating her burrito. She missed lunch, after all, and she was a hungry girl. Or was it breakfast? Breakfast. It was definitely breakfa-

IT WAS BREAKFAST. Bereft of burrito, since she had never acquired one, damn machinations of fate, Rose turned from the docks, and made her way to one of the many stands from the Vytal Festival, bought her burrito, and went back toward the docks, happily chewing on her food with one hand while she pulled a Sak out of her backpack to begin bouncing it. Breakfast was saved. ... Or was it lunch? It was. It was definitely lun-

IT WAS LUNCH! Hungry from her burrito she ate hours ago, or stashed in her backpack, Rose rubbed her stomach, turning to the cafeteria. Didn't she just leave there? She did. She had nachos. She looked down at the nachos. She didn't remember getting nachos, but she didn't remember many things. She took a bite of the burrito, looking up at the docks. It was a good burrito, the best thing she had eaten since breakfast. Or was it brunch?

... No. That was stupid. Beacon didn't have brunch. Or linner. Rose rubbed her stomach. She hadn't eaten since linner, and it was almost time for supper. What sounded good? Rose pulled her backpack around, opening it and looking at her options. Burrito. Burrito. Burrito. Burrito. Burrito. Pot brownie. Burrito. Pot burrito.

She decided. It was an easy decision. She would have nachos for breakfast. Again. Before she headed to the docks to meet with-

Rose froze. "... I'm, like... an idiot..."

The mission was tomorr-yesterd-today, and Rose's head hurt.

Fucking Paradox. There was no burrito, no bouncing of a Sak, and no cheery hungry Rose as she made her way to the docks, before pulling a joint out of her pocket and lighting it as she took a spot next to the angry bitchy-looking lady bringing them. She took a long drag, closing her eyes as she slowly let it out. "Like... 'sup... You're, like, Merletta, right?"

Rose yawned.

"Rohese Alexandria Stachelig," she gave a sleepy wave, "and not the one who works here. That's another Rose Stachelig."

[snaketicus]

Fionn brought the cigarette up to his mouth and began to chew on it in frustration as he frantically searched the deep pockets of his long coat. Fionn was very very late to something quite important. He'd heard of a place of employment and employment was what he desired. A few extra bucks in the pocket quickly becomes a few extra drags into the lungs. The problem right now though, as he began to search the folds of his satchel, was the lack of drags he was taking. He had forgotten his lighter at home in the rush.

As he walked and walked, his feet hitting the occasional puddle in the sidewalk, he silently cursed all known deities and man-made gods. Even as he gave himself another pat-down like the addict he was he somehow managed to keep a straight and calm expression upon his face. Some deep part of the man was glad that no one he knew was nearby.

As he chewed the end of the cancer-stick he thought back on what had lead him to walk towards the docks. Somehow information had passed down to him about someone wanting... something..? Ah damn, the lack of nicotine was clouding his mind. He probably had dark circles around his eyes. He sighed slightly, keeping the calm expression, as his destination came into view. Fionn saw several other Hunters and Huntresses there, signalling his lateness to all.

The man waved towards the one in the raven-like attire, assuming her to be the one organising the whole shebang. As he walked closer, the sword upon his back swaying with every step, he took the destroyed cigarette from his mouth and pointed at the smoking woman. "You wouldn't happen to have a light, Ma'am, would you..?" Fionn asked in an expectant monotone.

[ArosFarron]

Handing the newcomer a match, Merletta took a puff and threw the cigarette to the floor, rubbing it out with her shoe. "As much as I resent doing this. I was asked by your headmaster to take on a mission with me. A company has had some important documents stolen in an act of industrial espionage. I have the location of where the criminals are. Just follow me and don't lag behind. You will refer to me as Ms. Yoru during the mission. Once it is over, you are to report to your headmaster and inform him what you have learned. Now get in, and make sure you put out all cigarettes before we fly off. Any questions." She sighed, her British accent sounding annoyed and amused. She fiddled with the two Thorn pistols on her belt. "Once we land, you will have assigned roles. Follow them and you will succeed, ignore them and you miss the point of the mission. As much as I hate to say it, teamwork will be your biggest ally here. I know the group we are messing with. If you can not work together, leave now, if not, get in and buckle up.

[Asterisk]

Nodding, Strelka wordlessly got into one of the seats and buckled herself in.

[Th3King0fChaos]

Cherry said with a nod to the raven like woman, "Understood Ms.Yoru". Then cherry started to walk over to the airship and was thinking of what could be the dangers that lied ahead. When she started to reach the conclusion that there was too many she shook her head and took a seat. Cherry started to buckle in and found the woman in the airship with her sat this moment doesn't say much, this might be even harder than expected.

[Vox Machinae]

Ah, Rose thought, so she's one of those Huntresses...

She finished her joint and dropped it, crushing it with her boot and feeling much better than she did just after nearly hanging herself with her own closed time-like curve, but really not looking forward to dealing with this woman. The question was whether this woman was being tested pending adjustment of her hunter licenses, or if Rose and her fellow students were being tested on their ability to deal with incompetent leadership. Didn't matter, it was points, and after sleeping through an exam, specifically during the exam, in the room, so she couldn't somehow Discontinuity out of it, Rose could use all the points she could get.

"So, like..." Rose pulled her arm out of a strap and swung Sacky Hak's backpack around to her front while she climbed in, glancing back at Merletta. "The mission parameters, like, said the contact would be giving the briefing. Was, like, that it, or is there a proper briefing, like... during the ride? Zone of engagement? Enemy, like, disposition and stuff? Whose stuff we're, like, gettin' back, and is it, like, search and retrieval or scorched earth?"

Rose frowned. Stolen blueprints would probably have already been copied by now, making a data breach mitigation less likely of a cause than just straight up punishing the thieves. Unless this is something that wasn't backed up, making the victimized corporation either stupid... or their objective something that was off the books. But the mission was being handled through the school, leaving a record, making the likelihood of this being a black operation somewhere between slim and none. Unless...

Her realization hit while she was buckling in. "... Oooooh, this is your first time in a command role, isn't it?" Rose nodded sagely, pulling a small, thin paperback out of her backpack. Hunter Combat Field Operations Handbook, Fifteenth Edition was cleanly visible on the cover. "'Kay, here's hoping you, like, at least read the files on us and assign roles, like, suited to our abilities instead of, like, randomly puttin' a striker on recon or trying to get a scout to do see-see." Rose yawned. "But you look Big Rose's age, so you'll probably, like..." Rose trailed off, looking down at her book. A ton of what-ifs ran through her head, and she looked up. "... So, how does an archer using girls' panties as target practice explain Atlas, anyway?"

She froze. She did it again.

"... Nevermind."

[snaketicus]

Fionn nodded his head silently as he took the match from the woman, thumbing it in his hand for but a moment. He struck it against the crossbar of his blade, muttered a thank you, and lit a cigarette. The man took a long drag as he listened to his apparent superior detail the mission... wait, where were the details..? Fionn saw her flapping her lips and telling them to obey but failed to hear her give anything beyond that. Tactics and plans, where were they? To be honest he felt somewhat insulted by her attitude, though her pride was admirable in some respects. Maybe the man was simply too used to long documents detailing exactly how his employers wanted a man to die, maybe he was too used to working alone.

A blank slate was his face, a rush of thoughts was his mind. One cannot simply tell others to have faith in each other and teamwork before treating them as mere trash. Even in the military an attempt to establish a bond is there; you are not your superiors equal but you are not dirt to them.

The man looked to those he was to work alongside and, to his astonishment, they simply followed as she said. Fionn was used to falling in line himself but he couldn't help but wonder about their own inexperience; surely they knew the signs of a good leader? Well, enough time thinking. The man took the tobacco from his mouth and was about to speak out before the tall one spoke up:

"So, like..." Rose pulled her arm out of a strap and swung Sacky Hak's backpack around to her front while she climbed in, glancing back at Merletta. "The mission parameters, like, said the contact would be giving the briefing. Was, like, that it, or is there a proper briefing, like... during the ride? Zone of engagement? Enemy, like, disposition and stuff? Whose stuff we're, like, gettin' back, and is it, like, search and retrieval or scorched earth?"

The man sighed, butted the cigarette, and put it back into his pack. "I apologize for speaking out of turn but I must agree with my temporary comrade here; we need a little more to go on." Fionn listened to the last of what the tall one had to say, moving closer to the craft as she spoke insults and nonsense. The man felt a certain respect for people who could speak their mind, even if this one didn't seem that intelligent. He took Jenny off of his shoulder and swung it around to rest tip-down between his legs as he sat.

The man could feel a chill in the air as he buckled up.

[ArosFarron]

Once everyone boarded the ship, Merletta pulled brown folders out of her bag and handed one to each of the students. "You wanted a mission briefing well, here you go. The mission we have is what most would consider a black mission, however the files that were stolen are actually well known to the public. They're research notes on a new type of medicine. The true prize that was "stolen" were the two scientists that worked on the notes. Because of this, it is a snatch and grab style mission. We will go in, get the hostages, and get out with as few casualties as possible. We will be landing about an hour's walk from the compound the thieves are hiding out at. Now, due to the nature of this mission, it must be done under the cover of darkness. Inside the folders are dossiers on each of the key players and a full blueprint of the building. Study them now, once we land, we will go over plans of attack." She instructed as the ship took off and began the flight to the mission site. "Any questions?"

[Asterisk]

Taking the folder, Strelka raised her hand. "Uhm... Is this a training exercise?" She looked around, then down at herself before looking back up again. "None of us look... well... dressed I guess? For a clandestine mission I mean. Except for that guy maybe." She pointed to Fionn. "Uhh... I think I kinda might understand like... why you might not have told us details, but uh, a list of what to bring might have prepared us better? Maybe? I um... think? Unless that were the point of the mission I mean. If this mission were important, why didn't you hire better people like... I dunno... Abigail Hunter or something? She could probably do this by herself. Makes me think that this is a learning trip. Don't get me wrong though, if this is an exercise I'm like... Okay with like..." Great, now she was talking like the other girl. "I'm okay with going, just let me um..." She took her large sword with her gun in it off her back and tossed it towards the rear of the ship with a clatter. She then took off her rocket greaves and threw those to the back too with a loud CLUNK. Opening and re-opening her fingers still inside her spiked gauntlets while crossing her legs, she said, "There. Better. I just need these."

[Th3King0fChaos]

Cherry goes to take the folder she was given and says with a slight nod, "Thank you ma'am". Cherry felt the front of the folder then opened it to start reading it. She had some questions, but she knew it would be easier to find them through going into the mission. She just wonders most of all, who could be so bold to do this and how they were so easily found inside of Vale. Whoever they are, they must be either very clumsy, or very bold.

[Vox Machinae]

"Black ops usually don't have, like, stealth gear if Hunters are involved due to the tendency of Hunters to be noisy by nature. It just becomes, like, a matter of sterilizing the area. But since we're, like, students who didn't sign up for murder, Yoru will probably, like, handle silencing the opposition's, like, witnesses and stuff." Opening her folder and not even thinking about her casual discussion of mass killing, despite being pretty sure Merletta was just setting them up on a training mission. She did, however, feel herself slip a little. And fall. Falling was definitely a thing she felt for a moment.

And that was not a now thing.

"Merletta," Rose said, not even caring about the Ms Yoru bullshit, "What kind of opposition are we up against, because, like, I'm pretty sure getting shot down isn't part of our plan..."


The old woman who stood in the fields of Vale's agricultural district had other plans, as she watched a countdown on the holographic display of her personal terminal. Her dirty white doctor's coat fluttered in the wind, and the ground was soft under her bare feet, but she paid the environment little mind. Her focus was entirely on the dossiers of the five people in the transport. What was it called. Bullhead?

A stupid name, typical of the Vytali.

Just like the students, and their Huntress instructor. She looked over each name, pausing only momentarily over Rose's to confirm that it was, in fact, the younger of the Stacheligs and that damnable aura weapon wasn't on the field.  She looked up only when the timer hit zero, to look at the small dot in the sky.

"Radicance."

The armored woman rose from the wheat surrounding them, raising her rocket launcher but waiting for the signal.

Doctor Shiphah Fresno gave a rare, thin-lipped smile. "Bring it down."

Radicance was only too happy to comply. "Boom."


An explosion. From where the Huntress and students were sitting, it was a lurch in the aircraft, and a deafening bang, preceded only by a short cry of terror from the pilots before said pilots were a fine red mist flying back into the students' faces like the shrapnel from what used to be the front of the transport. The cockpit was gone, and uncontrolled, the Bullhead they were in began to tilt downward...

[ArosFarron]

As the bullhead lurched down into a nose dive, Merletta instinctively tried to reach out to the children. "Hold on children. This not going to end well." She tried to use her smoke to protect the students as the ship crashed. The bullhead landed upside down as pieces landed around them. Upon impact, Merletta unbuckled, a small gash along her side, and began moving rubble. She winced in pain as she made an exit for the students. She crouched over to each of them, as sparks and fire spread. "Sound off if your alive." She struggled to say as she held her side, blood seeping onto her hand.