All Quiet on the Aeolan Line

[stimpius]

Ilane

First off good thing i didn't hear that and can justify everything she did. So we'll go down that path when she gets back.

FortSave - (1D20+5)[18] (+2 from bears endurance (+4 con) - 1 from injury already sustained. ) DC16

"Come on Sangius, time to go home. We've bought the other's enough time, now I hope they got what they were coming for. Damn meetings."

With that she will turn and run (4x speed :D) Back to her own lines and trenches :)

[Zafuel]

The Battlefield
Ilane is in full retreat now, back towards the safety of Aeolan trenches. Bombs erupt across the wrecked ground as the Centurion reaches the Suboptio, and the two head back to the trench
The sounds of sudden explosions can be heard in the officers' dugout as the bomber payloads are dropped over Aeolan trenches. The drone of Milonian Venator and Coalition Thunderbolt engines all blurs into one hum, rising and falling as they speed past.

Finally, as it starts to rain, they come into sight of the trenches. Home.

The Dugout
Aquila motions to one of her milites, who leads the Milonian duplicarius out of the dugout.

"Suboptio Fabius has taken your watch, Immune Vicio. I suggest you get some rest as soon as possible, all of you."

Immune Aquila turns to the pilot, looking a little worse for wear.

"You'll probably want to call your Legatus Caeli, let them know you made it back."

The pilot nods, and moves towards the teline connection.

Outside, there comes sounds of explosions and shaking as bombs hit the ground around the shelter.

She starts handing out clay mugs of a lukewarm vis.

"It'll help against the cold. Exactly what happened?"

Spoiler

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Right, since we're out of combat for a bit, does anyone have any comments or criticisms about my DMing?

[Exeson]

Sangius walks slowly into the dug out, holding his side where his bullet wound is. he will wait for Aquila to salute him before saluting back, as is proper decorum. He then nods over to the Centurion,
"I am Sangius Mens Volatilis, necromancer by trade, this is our Centurion Ilane - I suggest you get some medical attention for her pronto. I trust you have been informed of what took place? If not then one of my Suboptimos will write up the report for you.", Sangius's words are rather clipped, taking on a tone of authority, it is clear that he is in his element. He slowly leans against the wall.
"Now I understand we took two or three prisoners? I hope my orders were carried out. I wish to have the first crack at them myself," Turning to Ilane, "if that is alright with you Centurion?" without waiting for a reply he turns to Atticus,
"Now about that makeshift lab, how long will it take?"

[Moechi_Vill]

(It's good. No time to post right now. I suppose Eris made his way to the officers in the meantime to relate his minor diatribe.)

[Selv]

"Thanks, Aquila. May heaven smile on Suboptio Fabius, because I could do with a sit-down."

Atticus holds on to a mug of vis, breathing in the vapours thankfully. When Sangius begins speaking, in his best tones of authority, Atticus almost unconsciously straightens up and adopts a serious expression- somewhat incongruously, still holding the mug in his right hand.

"I managed to get some glassware, back in the dugout. The Aesculapian Sisters have more you might find useful, agar and ethanol, but they're short on supplies themselves and I wasn't sure what you'd want. I spoke to the matron, and if you've some money to spend they're telling an equipment order to HQ tomorrow."

Like the other soldiers, Atticus is looking around for someone who can attend to his wounds.

[Zafuel]

One of the other soldiers is rumaging through his pack on the table. He eventually emerges with a field medical bag and gestures to Atticus. He removes a clay bottle recognisable as being sanens gel; a cure spell in external form.

"You'll want to get those treated, sir. I'll need to remove the bullet before using the sanens. If I banage it up tonight, it'll probably repair before the end of tomorow."

Hearing Sangius' comments about "taking a crack" at the prisoners-of-war, Aquila frowns.

"You'll have to talk to the Tribune about questioning the soldiers. They'll probably end up in Aiae pretty quickly to be honest. What sort of information were you looking for? "

As Ilane enters, Aquila looks up.

"Centurion! What the hell happened out there?"

[stimpius]

Ilane

Running back into her own lines she takes one look up and down.

"Okay first off - take those medical kits away. We need these troops fighting fit and now. That can be used in emergencies - mine will replenish easier and faster than that. You there,"

she will point at the miles who got hit, "come over here." When he walks over she will place her hands on his wound - mutter a few words and watch as it heals over and the bullet is pushed out.

Then dropping spells to spontaneously cast she will do,

Sangius
Gauis
Atticus
Eris

for cure lights.

Then she'll drop all 5, 0 level spells (figured equiv of 2 -3 injuries if this isnt right your call.)

Then she'll do

If 2 - Sangius and herself.
If 3 - Sangius Gaius and herself.

"As to what happened, it was a sodding ambush. As myself and Sangius turned up, my other 3 officers you see here, were escorting the pilot of a downed areotropius back to our own lines. I bought them the time needed, and went for the back for the enemy groups, cutting off any quick runners they could send back to their own lines for support whilst our own support came. Then on the fallback, I hope someone grabbed the notes from the areotropius as was ordered. Two enemy planes turned up, and I ordered a full tactical withdrawl from our own men, as I stood to draw the planes fire. Whilst some may see this as a foolish thing to do, I had protective magics up which protected me better than any other of my officers could have hoped to have been protected. Sangius here took out one of the planes himself before we had to withdraw."

[Moechi_Vill]

"Why thank you Centurion Ilane. Tis a merry day indeed, to be victorious is life!"

He could make a report later he supposed.

[Selv]

Atticus pales when the medic mentions removing the bullet, and is positively green by the time it drops from forceps to pan with a metallic clang.

We've got the pilot's notes and, I'm glad to say, the pilot himself- nodding absently to the captain to acknowledge his rank- I lost track of Augurius and Ulysis in the fray. Did they get back?

[Exeson]

Sangius grins wolfishly "Everything they know...and more, I am a scientist and scientists must run experiments". At Atticus's question he turns around to face the man "I'm more interested in where the Tribune who sent us into that ambush is." he says, "I have quite a few things to discuss with him."

[Zafuel]

"Augurius and Ulysis did make it back, a few minutes before you did. Ulysis is on a watch soon, but Augurius will be in the dugout if you want to speak with him."

Aquila seems as if she's about to say something to Optio Sangius, then thinks better of it.

"Tribune Caepio is with the Legatus at the moment. I'm sure they are discussing something fairly similar, sir. If you-"

The Immune is interrupted as an Optio wearing Raen Pteron Legions uniform enters the dugout. He salutes to Ilane.

"Ma'am, I have the aerial surveillance of Milly trenches for you. Cato wants your officers to look over them before the big push next week. He starts laying the map out on the table. Now, here is your target on Milly's trenches..."

He breaks off, looking down at Gaius.

"Are you alright, Suboptio?"

Spoiler

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XP For Everyone
- Everyone recieves 900 XP for defeating the two Milonian squads with Aeolan assistance.
- The pilot recieves a name: Gaius Aemillus Nepos.

[Exeson]

Sangius grunts as his wounds are taken care of, his already pale face turning ashen white. He steadily gets to his feet, and moves oner to the map, "well then, show us man!" he says sounding impatient.

[stimpius]

Ilane

After checking aroudn to make sure all the Mile's made it back safe and as many are healed as possible she will walk over to the map.

"Very well lets see it."

Then directing to the officers

"Boys ill outline hte plan as we go through the map."

[Moechi_Vill]

Eris coddles the widdle flybear a bit further then gets him a cup of coffee.

"So Ace. What you seen in the skies of yesteryear? I hope you don't go through this every day!"

[Mavian]

Gaius is going to look up blearily from the side of the trench were he'd managed to fall asleep.

"'m fine, Sir, just comin down of a battle high." He yawns and stretches, wincing when he moves against the bullet holes in his back. "Although I appear to have been shot at some point, wonder when that happened."

[Zafuel]

"Some predicted that the artillery bombardment would prove catostrophicly ineffectual, others feared that the Avitus' famous cavalry assaults would appear again. But no-one anticipated what was to happen.
- Quintus Salvius, historian"

As the medics and Ilane continue to work to repair injuries, the Raen Pteron Legions officer continues to explain the plan.

"Currently, the Raen and Milonian fleets are engaged in an ongoing conflict in the Aeolan Gulf. One of the goals of this attack is to provide assistance to the Raen Navy in that battle."

Spoiler

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"Milonian ships in the Aeolan Gulf are based from three ports: Intonia, Hispae and a habour on the island of Saltorii. Once we've broken through the Milonian lines, the infantry will split into two attacks, one on Intonia and one on Hispae.
Your century will be part of the attack on Intonia, and will remain in the town following the battle."

He indicates the two arrows representing the infantry attacks.

"Meanwhile, the Raen Navy will be attacking the ships based in Saltorii Harbour. Without the three ports, the Milonian fleet will be forced to abandon the Battle of the Aeolan Gulf. If all goes well, we'll be in a strong position to take the rest of the Laerus region. From there..."
The pilot lets the sentence hanging, leaving the obvious ending to the imagination.

[Moechi_Vill]

"Awwwww he's a good boy oh yes he is!" Eris hugs the pilot as he looks over the map.

"That sounds great." he says, letting go.
"Too bad about not being allowed to kill civilians." he muses.

"Aaah, I can always execute those who don't verbally surrender!"

"Of course..." he frowns.
"This might be harder for the ... rest." he gestures at the army behind them in the trenches generally. "It's up to us to massacre thousands if we are to win.."

"Hmmmmmrmmmm. I wonder how a century composed entirely of officers would work out. In a loose column formation!"

[Exeson]

Sangius nods, "It seems tactically sound, I have no objections" he turns to Aquila "Now, I would like for someone to take me to Caepio, and I don't care if he is in a conference with Zeus himself"

[Moechi_Vill]

"Loose column formations are great for charging enemy trenches." Eris sits down again.
"What do you think Centurion Ilane?" he asks expectantly, looking from her to the other superior officers.

[Zafuel]

As the Pteron Legions officer starts folding the map away, the rest of the trench curators head for the dugout exit, just as Tribune Caepio enters, looking somewhat flustered.

"Is everybody alright? I heard what happened out there."

In the distance, you can still hear the air-battle going on above no-man's land.

[Exeson]

Sangius salutes smartly, waiting for Ilane to speak first, as is her right as Centurion.

[stimpius]

Ilane

"Im not sure of what happened to the couple of minutes prior to my own arrival, but from what I gather, one of our pilot's went down. My fellow officers here had reached the craft and rescued the pilot by my own arrival upon the scene, yet it was an ambush. The enemy were well set up and even had a machine gun ready for us, so drawing upon Mars's power I sent forth allies of our own to counter the enemy. For a few moments, the battle was pretty even. Myself and Sangius had turned up just as morale was about to break and held the craft. Notes were rescued and we were relieved by our own troops as well as destroying the enemy ambush for no fatal casulties amongst our own men. Then enemy flying craft turned up and threatened to overwhelm us. Holding Sangius with myself, I ordered a tacitcal withdrawl to save our men, and the main objective whilst we held off the craft and badly crippled one of them."

Finished Ilane will sag against a stool and sit heavily, as the last of the magics drain from her and her face becomes pinched and tight.

[Exeson]

After Ilane finishes Sangius looks up, "So after we got ourselves out alive, I'm left wondering, how did the set up such a comprehensive ambush so quickly?" He sends a penetrating glare at Caepio

[Moechi_Vill]

Eris

"Actually we were fine, but Madame Centurion reinforcing us and holding down the rear worked out splendidly - not that it was necessary for success, but it turned the engagement into a major decisive victory of tactical proportions.

[Zafuel]

Caepio takes in the explanations with a grim expression, before turning to Sangius.

"We suspect it was a ploy to capture someone to interrogate without need for a raid. We're just lucky that they didn't manage to capture any of you; that would have been too much. I presume you've been briefed on the plan for the offensive? The artillery bombardment starts at first light tomorow. Are there any questions?"

Spoiler

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Soonish, I think we should cut to the actual battle, unless anyone has anything they particularly want to do in the meantime. I don't have anything planned for the time in between.

[Exeson]

"I have a few things I would like to discus" Sangius says as he rises "...In private"

[Moechi_Vill]

"But basically I believe the actions were too offensive. Nope, no questions Sir."
"I would like to talk in private as well too." Eris finishes. He follows Caepio together with Sangius.

[Zafuel]

Caepio
Caepio leads Optio Volatis and Suboptio Eris out of the dugout, and through into a empty supply trench.

"I see. And what did you want to speak to me about."

Trench
The night grows darker and colder as above, the air-battle draws to a close.

[[Is everyone okay with jumping to the Battle of Saltorii after Sangius and Eris have talked to Caepio?]]

[stimpius]

Ilane

Feeling completley drained and fatigued, she will head for her sleeping station only pausing to nod at people on the way past.

((yeah im fine with a skip))

[Moechi_Vill]

"I wanted to note that I think Ilane is too hotheaded to be a Centurion. Sangius, Atticus, myself, anyone else would be better. Someone who stays around to make sure the primary objectives are fulfilled without disaster rather then someone making sure the tactical victory is maximised." "That is all. Thank you for listening Caepio, Sir." Eris takes his leave.

((me too))