5th Section Barracks

Seacliff leads you into the headquarters, in the front there are some offices where people are working on the mundane tasks of the Home Guard. She takes you through these offices and upstairs into a long, wide hallway with doorless openings on either side going all the way to the back.

She takes you to the fifth door and motions for you all to enter. Inside is a fairly large room, quite long with a row of beds on either side. The beds are simple with a locker at the foot. On the far wall are two doors and between the doors is a painting of a black dragon.

"Pick a bed," she says. "Doesn't matter which, in the morning you need to make sure the bed looks exactly the same as it does now. We don't work like the army, but the barracks must be spotless. Put your gear in the lockers, washrooms are in the back. Then I'll take you down to the quartermaster and we'll get uniforms."

The black dragon is painted directly onto the stone wall. The room is very spare, very clean, and lacks any advanced amenities you might find elsewhere in the city of Sambar. The washrooms at the back are two identical rooms, each containing half a dozen toilet stalls, sinks and the same number of shower stalls. Truth be told there's nothing to find. Leothorn probably gives up before even finishing.

Currently we have Ryvelli, Leothorn, Orlias, Chastity, Devochka and Kade in the barracks. I imagine Orlias is able to see any equipment that no one is trying to keep secret. There are a dozen beds in the room, six on either side, so no one can be too too far from anyone else.

We do have one character, Chastity, carrying a piece of gear that would definitely draw attention. The pistol that Chastity is carrying is not just any shop-bought pistol it is stamped with the seal of Lantan, which means it was bestowed to an ancestor who performed meritorious service during the aftermath of the catastrophic transit to Abeir. Lantan law dictates that that nothing can seperate this weapon from it's owner. It can only be transfered to a new owner by bequest. There are only a few thousand of these and they are of the highest craftsmanship and confer great honour in society. Each one is recorded and registered in the records of Lantan history. If one of these weapons is damaged beyond repair they are intered with full military honours.

Seeing that everyone is situated Seacliff returns and instructs everyone to follow her to the quartermaster. Down the opposite end of the hall you came up in there's a flight of stairs going down to a depot where all of the Home Guard's equipment is stored. The quarter master and a dozen subordinate soldiers are waiting for you.

The Home Guard is not as bespoke as the rest of Lantan, nor quite as industrialised as we might be used to so each of you is measured and then uniform pieces are assembled on the spot to fit you. Everyone gets one uniform: olive trousers, olive shirt with maroon sleeves and shoulders and a spare. Boots and underclothes as necessary. Everyone gets a patch on their shoulder that features a '5' and a black dragon, on their sleeve everyone gets one chevron, except Ryvelli who gets two. You all get a maroon beret with a patch of the coat of arms of the Home Guard.

Those in no armour get a leather jerkin (coat, no AC bonus) with the same markings. Those in leather armour get traded for a suit of the same in the appropriate colours with the appropriate markings. Those in metal armour get a surcoat with the appropriate markings and colours.

All this take about an hour. During which Seacliff explains that once you are in uniform you are soldiers of the Home Guard. The Home Guard is not the army and therefore different standards of discipline apply. Furthermore the 5th section is a reconnaissance section. Your purpose will be to be air dropped into unfamiliar territory, usually at night, and perform reconnaissance or surveillance as required. Sergeant Seacliff is you Sergeant that means everything she says goes, you have a problem with that you can talk to her afterwards. Same goes for Master Corporal Warryn, anything he says or does is with the same authority as Seacliff. Both Seacliff and Warryn are non-commissioned officers, so do not 'Ma'am' or 'Sir' them, do not salute them.

Because they are a reconnaissance section discipline might seem relaxed but that is only because while in the field you are to act as though you are in enemy territory at all times. The goal of the Home Guard is to defend Lantan from all threats, so wherever they go in Lantan they must be prepared for danger. In a world of magic and (Lantan) technology your enemy can appear anywhere, at any time, and you must be prepared for it.

You were all sorted into the 5th section because you have unique skills and abilities. These will be tested in your first mission, which will occur tomorrow, details to follow. As such you are expected to be prepared to perform at your best.

"At this time does anyone have any questions or any material they require in order to be prepared to meet their expectations tomorrow?" asks Seacliff in a sunny tone.

Seacliff eyes Orlias carefully for a moment and then shoots a glance to the quartermaster, who shrugs. "We'll see what we can do Private Orlias."

The quartermaster provides you all with combination locks.

Seacliff looks at Ryvelli, looks at the uniform and takes him aside away from the others in the depot.

@Leothorn. Once the measurements are done the assisting soldiers zip the uniforms together with huge sewing machines. It goes quite quickly, but they gladly accept Leothorn's asistance.

Seacliff responds to Leothorn by saying: "We'll go over the details of our assignement once we return to our barracks," she says happily.

I walk over to Chastity and point to the lock on the locker. Mind if I practice? I whip out my lockpick set.

@Leothorn. Sambar is the type of place where gears and tinkering tools can be found almost everywhere. I imagine Leothorn can arrange those materials from the quartermaster. He assembles the contraption like a practiced rigger and when he's done he has a contraption that can definitely make a bed in almost as much time and almost as well as it can be done by hand.

After a while Sergeant Seacliff returns to the barracks with master corporal Warryn. Warryn calls out "Atention!"

Seacliff then says. "Now that you're all in uniform I am your Sergeant and you are my privates," she says with a sunny tone. " I will respect and protect you with my life, and in return I will expect the same from you. Together we are going to protect and defend Lantan from all external threats. If anyone disagrees with that they can leave now. Otherwise I'll outlay our assignement and section designations. How does that sound? "

"Private Kade our mandate is to handle any threats that might arise from beyond the shores of Lantan. Beyond that we will act as we are bid by the Ayrorch and beyond that Gond."

"Our mission is as follows. We will be transported by thopter to the inland hills where we will rendez-vous with a tribe of shifters. The shifters have reported something strange and dangerous to the Ayrorch, and we have been dispatched to investogate and handle it. There's some who believe this thing might not be from Lantan, and therefore we must assess where it came form and what we can do about it."

"Private Orlias, you are Information, that means you'll be issued our locfinder and the rangcom, you'll be briefed on their use. I'll talk to you about that."

"Privates Leothorn and Puntah, you are Engineering, that means you'll be liasing with Transpo and then you'll get our field gear prepped and loaded for travel. Master Corporal Warryn will help you with that."

"Privates Ryvelli, Chastity, Devochka, Kade and Arashi, you are all Tactical. For the time being that means your jobs are to be prepared to deliver absolutely the most terror and pain onto Gond's enemies as you can. The opportunity will come too soon and too often. Be ready."

"Furthermore, Master Corporal Warryn will be posting the Section assignements at the back of the room. You'll all be part of a two person fire team. That means you stick with your fire team partner at all times in the field. One of you moves, the other is ready to protect them. We'll cover the basics of the fire team system in the field. Just know that your fire team is your life, without your fire team partner you are dead. If everything goes bad stick with your fire team partner and the Home Guard will always be proud of you," she says with a smile.

She nods towards Master Corporal Warryn, who gives her an inscrutable look. He then slowly licks his thumb and peels a page off his clipboard and walks to the back of the room. He posts the following page on the wall and walks away without saying a word.

"Once you've had a moment to go over your assignements feel free to come and talk to Master Corporal Warryn or I. We have offices just outside your barracks, mine is the right and the Master Corporal's is to the left." She waves goodbye merrily and both she and Warryn leave.

That evening you are informed of lights out and encouraged to get your rest.

At 0400 the next morning the lights in the barracks all come on at once magically. Sergeant Seacliff begind banging a pot and a pan together.

"Up and at them soldiers of the Home Guard. We are never found wanting and we are never found napping," she hollers merrily.

She tosses her instruments at Arashi. "Bang these together once a second every second for the next sixty seconds."
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"You have sixty seconds to be ready to go! That means bed made, gear packed, and soldiers presentable at the foot of their bunks!" She proceeds to stand back and watch everyone scramble about.

Master Corporal Warryn joins the scene by yelling at anyone that her percieves as moving too slowly or not doing their jobs well enough. His advice is helpful but also fairly intimidating.

Everyone make a dexterity savin throw.

Devochka, Kade, Orlias and Puntah are the last to fall in line, and recieve the harshest of Warryn's rebukes.

"Alright soldiers! Fall in behind me. Ryvelli I want you beside me. Then Fire Team Alpha, Beta, Charlie, Delta and Echo."

Once Ryvelli takes his place beside her she turns her heel and walks out.

Sergeant Seacliff leads the section out the hallway to ther stairs in the back and up to the roof.

On the roof is a large metallic dragonfly. The head has large clear bubbles where the eyes would be. The body is larger and thicker than a real dragonfly might be, the legs are drawn up and it is laying on the ground. The Thorax has several openings along the side and you are lead inside.

Inside are pairs of seats with complicated harnesses like a modern airplane seat. You are instructed to sit according to your fireteams and shown where to stow your gear and how to latch yourselves into place. Once you are deated you are each (except Arashi) give a warm pouch with a straw in it. The pouch contains a hearty susbstance that's like a mixture of oatmeal and coffee.

"Orlias, go up and see the pilots. They'll have some info for you," says Seacliff while making sure everyone is strapped in and fed.

There are two pilots in the front section when Orlias arrives. Oneis running through checklists while the other turns to face him. "So you're the info tech for this trip?" He looks to the rest of the section, "no medic we die like men, right?" he says enjoying some joke.

"Don't worry rookie, my partner thinks he's funny, I'm sure you'll do fine. Sergeant Seacliff always brings her section home." says the second one.

"Ok, time for business," says the first one. "Hold up your locfinder." he holds up a device similar to a locfinder.

Once Orlias presents the locfinder there's a beam of light that connects the two and then both emit a satisfied tone.

"You locfinder now has the mission info. Once your objectives are complete your Sergeant will instruct you to rangcom with headquarters and we'll be on our way for pick up. Now take your seat ground pounder, we need to bite the sky."

Once everyone is strapped in Seargeant Seacliff informs the pilots and wings lever out fro mthe back of the thopter. They begin to flap like a dragonfly's, the craft begins to lift off and the legs retract. The doors seal up and the thopter takes flight.

Once enough altitude is gained the sun can be seen rising over the ocean, turning the bay into a burning bowl of pinks and golds. Head west, inland, you move away from the sun and disappears again under the horizon. The hills ahead are dark greens and shades of blacks waiting expectantly for dawn.

Sergeant Seacliff unstraps herself and moves to the middle of the craft delicately. "I hope you are all enjoying your first flight. If you have anyquestions now is the time, we have almost two hours before we arrive. I'll also be providing the in-depth mission briefing."

"Here is the mission. It's a simple creep and peep. Our allies, a tribe of shifters living in the hills, have sent word to the Home Guard that something unusual and dangerous has appeared in their territory. These shifters know their territory like the back of their paws. Time was they might have greeted a section like ours with claws out and teeth bared, but since the Transit we've all been good friends. This mission is proof of that, they need help and they are asking, so we provide, like good friends do. If something dangerous is prowliing their lands and they've called for us to look into it it means they think it might be from outside Lantan. We find this thing and determine it's threat level and origin and then we retreat back to the city. We'll meet with the shifters and see what they have to tell us, then we'll move out to investigate. Any questions?"

Sergeant Seacliff looks confused. "The Home guard does not believe in corporal punishment. It is innapropriate to strike a fellow member of the Home guard, or any Lantanese citizen who is not attempting to harm another. Private Leothorn please remove that note form your otherwise helpful visual aid."

"Regarding use of force the Home Guard uses a doctrine known as the continuum of force. We respond to threats with equal force to those presented by opposite parties. The continuum is: presence, words, weapons, then force and finally lethal force. The means if a potentially hostile party is present so are we. If they are verbally threatening then so are we. If they are physically threatening, demonstrating weapons or suggesting harm, so are we. If they use force, so do we. If they are attempting to kill any Lantanese citizen including one of us then we are allowed to respond in kind. It is the goal of the Home Guard to curb all threats to Lantan. We do, however, try to gather as much information as possible about these threats, and that includes avoiding lethal force where possible so that we can gather information from any hostile actors we encounter."

"This is a lot to lay on you, this is partially a training mission. You were all assessed as being basically capable of defending yourselve, and the Home Guard doesn't care about marching or other pageantry, so we're not spending time training in base. We are going into the field to learn and to do."

"Is there anything else?"

"Alright, now that we've got that settled let's move on. Once we approach our landing spot we are going to exit the thopter in a quick and orderly fashion. These unarmed thopters are at their most vulnerable when they are close to the ground, so we minimise the amount of time it takes before the pilots can lift off. We fan out, fire team alpha will go north, fire team beta goes east, charlie south, delta west and echo hunkers in place until all teams are in cover. Once I determine that there's no immediate threat we will move towards our rendez-vous point, under Orlias' direction. Fire teams always move together. We'll discuss more on the ground."