"Hello, sorry for my lateness I was taking care of a few things. Hope you don't mind me joining you both in the front line." *Jordan looked up and saw another morph joing the party and then smirked and turned and looked out the door* "Hey big girl. Ready to crush some pesky religious freaks?" *He then smiled at the term she used and then kept quiet* "So Lieutenant, are you excited too? I know I am." *He frowned while looking out the door and then loooked at the new group member* "Frankly I show no emotion during combat. It show's sign's of weakness during battle." *He then sighed and spoke again* "But if you really want to know the truth yes i am sort of Excited" *After he had said that he heard more foot step's and saw that the smallest of the Morph's came to join the party as well* "Hey...any room for me or did the little whore take the last of the space? Can't stand their stink...makes me want to burn my nose off than have to be around them, you know?" *Jordan Chuckled at Runt's comment and spoke* "Well yes there is space. And sadly you have to stay here now." *He watched as the door closed behind Runt and then he looked toward the count down. Since he and Mutt liked to be on the front lines they were always droped first. there primarey Job was to Clear away as Much enemy ground troops as possable. 3 seconds.....* "Well, we are on a express elevator to hell.....Going Down!" *Then he felt the sudden drop in his chest.*

*A minute pasted and then they hit the ground.....hard. Jordan bounced up a inch and then looked at the secondary counter. less then 30 seconds. He reached over and grabed his Face plate. there first target was the Space port. He looked at the counter. 15 seconds left. He put the face plate on and then stood up and placed his weapon at Battle Ready. He spoke through the Comm's system for his squad to hear* "I want a easy clean sweep Standern Arrow head formation two on the out side two on the inside. Mutt, Niina you guys got Upper level sweep. Keep us covered from those Sniper's. Runt you are with me on ground Floor." *5 seconds* "And remember watch for the Cross fire." *He frowned under his face mask and spoke again* "Speak if you need help. And Good Luck" *Then the APC came to a shuttering stop and then the door began to drop......*

Taking the container, Leif uploaded the data to his implants and turned to his squad. “Alright. For those of you who were not eavesdropping, and thus have no future in the communications industry, we’re hitting the instrument tower, here.” Leif popped the data cell from his uplink port and loaded it onto the small screen in the APC. “Keldara and Lothar, you two hit dirt first. Mark targets, light ‘em up, and get outta the way. Lightning and Ghost, out next and hitting the long range. After that, everyone form up and push hard and fast to the tower.

“Once at the tower, blow the doors and send grenades through. This is the time that I remind you that yes, you are able to use those grenades, Lightning. I know you’re a sniper, and they’re not precise enough for you, but too bad.”

A catmorph at the front of the APC nodded. “Gotcha, Overkill. Still think they take no skill to use, though.”

“Dying doesn’t take any skill either, Light. Remember that. Now, once in the tower we do this by the numbers, floor by floor. Check your fire indoors, there could be civvies or crucial personnel there. I don’t want a repeat of the time Lothar tried to hack the central mainframe of that office building, agreed?” Several of the veteran’s heads nodded quickly, and the dogmorph Lothar looked sheepish. “Good. Any questions, children?”

“Yeah, Rel, I’ve got one.” The small sleek geckomorph Ghost, who specialized in stealth and sniping, leaned forward. “What’re we looking at when we take the tower? Just go where we’re needed, or is there a plan?”

“Hold the tower against any counter attack, then go where we’re needed to help take the spaceport. After that, you kiddies get a nap and sentry duty while us brass look at where to go. The spaceport is the main goal; without it, we have no forward base. Anything else?” No-one moved. “Outstanding, children. Last gear checks while we wait for our newest member: Venom.” And after we get back I'm gonna kick her scaly tail through a wall for being late.

Anima did not stop walking until she reached her medical suites and the comfort of the wide rooms filled in their entirety with medical equipment. For the doctor, this was her haven when all of her charges rushed enthusiastically to get themselves shot and blown up. Noticing her staff was still occupied cleaning the surgical floor, Anima decided to take refuge during this particular battle in her private laboratory.

This room was even more cramped than the rest put together; filing cabinets, test tubes, syringes and flasks littering her worktables and desk. Feeling lethargic after the long surgeries and her one-sided heated debate with the Captain, she decided that only the relaxing effect of conducting her private research would soothe her spirits.

Gingerly she pulled up her long sleeved shirt and expertly retrieved herself a small sample of her own blood. Pouring it into a Petri dish she proceeded to add chemicals and take notes. The battle would be a long one but, in her own way, Anima Colton would participate in the endeavors of the KPA.

Though the little ermine had opened her mouth in retaliation to the insults, when the Heavy's claws take a grip on her shirt, the most she could manage was a surprised squeak. Her green eyes widen to what would seem to be the size of dinner plates on her small face, the threat making her quake in her boots for a moment. Though the filthy little whore didn't scare her, the Heavy did. It wasn't every day that she got picked up off her feet like that and the threat of being eaten was very real to her, for she was bite size for someone Mutt's size. She swallows hard when dropped, losing her footing at the sudden let-go. It was likely a good thing, however, for as she fell, she grasped at Mutt's leg, keeping her from bouncing around like a pingpong ball as the APC was released, speaking up to the Heavy.

"All right, all right. Whatever you say, Mutt. I'll shut up...just don't eat me, 'kay? I don't think you want a mouthful of ashy ermine."

She hoped that the soot covering her body did more than kept her hidden in the shadows...she hoped it deterred the big female from eating her. That was one of her fears of the big 'morphs, the prospect of winding up their meal one tha wasn't very hospitable. If that happened, then she really would be just a little shit. Her head turns once more as she taps her helmet down a bit more, pulling the strap tighter to hold it to her head no matter how she contorted her neck. She stands as she takes in the words of the human male, her eyes narrowing as she nods. She clears her throat once more, for she had sucked in a bit of soot, coughing out the blackness before speaking.

"Yes, sir. With you, ground floor. Gotcha."

She never said more than she really had to in situations where superiors were concerned, her paws sliding back to the two pistols on her lower back first. Those were always the first two used to keep her from having to reach back to get them in the middle of something. She flicks the buckles on the straps, unstrapping them as she readies herself, eyes narrowing. Her claws tap softly on the grips of the pistols, drawing them slowly after a moment, yet keeping her fingers off the triggers until ready to fire. The door dropping open made her tense just a bit, but this was what she did now...and she was surprisingly good at it. She grins just once, mumbling to herself about the insult the Exotic had tossed her way.

"Pah...child. Keep your fake smiles to yourself...jus' shove 'em right up that canyon-sized cunny. There's killin' to do."

The rail guns had not worked -- some time in the last few years the doors to their ammunition feed had been painted over, and so Louis Pellac had watched in helpless dismay as the enemy vessel descended with impunity to a resting place on the spaceport landing field.

"I've got the Reverend on the line," the techie said. He looked pale as he stared over his console and through the window to where the ship sat steaming like a great and monstrous beast on the tarmac.

Pellac put on a headset. "Is that you, Reverend?"

"It's me, Louis." The voice was unmistakeable. "I've heard we've been invaded. What can I do to help you?"

"I need heavy weapons," Pellac replied at once, "Heavy weapons and more of the congregation.Our faith is strong, Reverend, but sometimes it takes more than that to win a battle." Most times, he added silently to himself.

"I've already sent what vehicles and heavy weapons we possess," Hadassah replied, "And I'll send our reserves as well, along with our advisors from the Untainted. But I'm afraid they'll take a couple hours to reach you."

Louis's heart sank. They would have to hold for a few hours, armed only with their rifles, machine guns, and rocket-propelled grenades. Hadassah must have sensed the gravity of the silence, because he said in a soft and tired voice. "I'm sorry, Louis. Is there anything else you'd like?"

Pellac felt an arm slip around his waist, and turned his head to find his wife Helen beside him. She looked odd dressed in fatigues and carrying a rifle, but the tender expression on her face remained unchanged. They shared a moment of unspoken communication, before Helen smiled sadly and gave her husband another light squeeze.

"Could you pray for us, Reverend?" Louis asked at last.

"It would be my privilege, Louis," said Hadassah. "I have just the thing."

Pellac removed the headset, then gestured to the techie. "Put the Reverend up on the PA," he said, "Then get out of here and find some place to hide."

The techie nodded, striking a few keys on the console so that the strong and sonorous voice of the Reverend sounded throughout the spaceport, reaching the ears of its waiting defenders.

Almighty God, Eternal Father, Lord of Lords, have mercy upon me, a
humble warrior in Thy Divine Service. Oh Lord, I pray for Thy
indulgence and blessings. Forget not Thine servant in his trials, nor
his Mission of Life. I pray, that Thy Will be done in all things,
both great and small.

There was a rumbling sound as doors in the belly of the ship slid open and began disgorging vehicles which crawled like beetles across the tarmac toward the spaceport.

Let me always be worthy of Thee, let me not forget Thee in good times
nor bad. Armor me with the panoply of Thy Righteousness, give me the
sword of Truth that I shall confound Thine enemies and be unto Thee a
true warrior.

The beetles were closer now, shining in the late afternoon sun. Louis and Helen made their way to the window of the control room and slid it open, then took a knee and rested their rifles on the window sill.

O Lord, in my hour of need, be with me. Let me never forget my sacred
and holy vows unto Thee, that I should not be prey unto demons and devils nor the dark things of this world.

With a cool eye Louis watched the first beetle draw near through the scope of his rifle. in the floors below, a hundred others did likewise through the sights of rifles, machine guns, and rocket-propelled grenade. Pellac held down the "speak" button on his radio. "No one shoot until I do. We're going to let them get close, then open up with everything we got. God be with you."

Let me always be a beacon unto those in distress, never allow me to
forget my obligation unto the homeless nor the poor: let me serve Thee
and Thine Eternal Throne all the days of my life. Let me always
remember the obligations that I have taken upon me. Lord, if it is
Thine Will, let me serve Thee forever!

A single shot rang out from the floor beneath Louis, but before he could grab his radio and shout his orders again, silence returned once more save for the grinding gears of the beetles. He thought of Kara, how proud she looked when the Reverend had given her the tiny uniform, and he hope she at least made it out of here alive. He put a hand on Helen's shoulder.

If ever, oh Lord, I turn from Thee and this Holy Mission of Life, let my name forever
be cursed, may my spurs be broken and my body given unto demons to
dwell with them forever in that Lake of Fire which Thou hast: prepared
for the ungodly.

The beetles were very close now -- he could read the numbers and markings on their dull metal bodies. They began to fan out across the tarmac, forming into one line. "I love you," Helen said.

Power beyond Power, Pillar of Strength, Refuge of the Homeless, let me
serve Thee for all the days of my life! Amen.

"I love you too." As one their fingers drew back on triggers.

*Jordan was the second one out of the APC of his squad. He looked arounded and opened fire. Taking down target's as he made his why towards the Main buliding. He looked at how big it was. It was massive. Mainly ment for the civinallens to get processed to get on the plane's He frowned and kept shooting. He then ran out of ammo for the one clip. He ejected and loaded a new one. He made it to the main door. And looked back towards his squad making their way slwoly towards him. He spoke then through the comm's* "Ok its been clean so far. Now its gunna get messy. Remember Mutt, Niina. Top floor. Runt ground floor with me. And when on the top Floor Try and clear a path towards the Command tower. SHIT!" *He had barly any time to react. He saw a RPG missle come flying toward's him. He rolled forward's but not far enough. He was then sent flying 5 ft toward's the group. when he landed. He landed hard. He rolled over on his back. The world was spinning. All he could hear was breathing. He then turn on his transceiver letting the squad know he was down. And counting.*

Lein waited for the ship to land, grinning at the thought of an upcoming battle, sliding out his combat knife.He admired the blade, having saved the meager share morphs got to pay for this and his pistols, having it customly made with a few suprises in it. His mind began to drift to the cat girl he had spent the evening with before he realized he didn't even know her name Well that's one more thing I'll have to take care of at the little party..He was jostled from his thoughts as the vehicle landed out of the ship. He didn't know anybody and the APC and didn't really care if they lived or died. Afterall, they were only human.

Once they were close enough to the battle grounds, he jumped out, rushing to the battle already under way. He watched as a few lasers made their way at him, and adjusted his movements slightly to avoid each barrage. There were few times he thanked the fact that he had been bioengenered, but at least he can appreciate the usfelness of it in battle. He came up to the horde of soldiers, losing himself to the battle, operating on pure instinct. He sighed as his blade went through the throat of another soldier. There seemed to be no one of any real potential here. Though they had an advantage of numbers, it seemed they would take any one who could lift a gun from the looks of things.

She shook her head lightly. "Those impulsive animals..." Another mercenary mumbled. The APC had halted and a caninemorph had anxiously jumped from the vehicle. The beast had been looking at a small blade in his possession a few minutes ago and now he was ferociously cutting and sliding throats with it.

The commander of the unit too, was visibly annoyed. But luckily he wasted little time voicing his feelings. "Back the beast up before he kills himself, then proceed with the objective." He ordered. Within little seconds the squad had moved out, covering the blind spots of the caninemorph. Regardless of the hatred for each other within the ship, outside everyone was a comrade.

Autumn was left in the APC, as usual. She couldn't move in any armour that was even remotely heavy and though she had custom-made protective gear, it was light and thus not very sturdy. The armour of the APC however, could take on light and medium weaponry. The enemy had no morphs, obviously, so the heavier and more dangerous arms on their side would be scarce. Allowing the vehicle to sponge attacks if necessary.

-

"Corporal, spotting an assault on ten past eleven. What are your orders sir?"

"Hey you! We got our hand full here!" The commander's reply echoed through her ears. "Back us up will ya?"

"Understood."

-

It was an automatism. An instinct perhaps. Although Autumn didn't like to describe it with that word. She would watch the radar and try to calculate the odds and numbers. When she spotted the approaching foes and contacted the squad leader to warn and ask for orders, she knew beforehand what the command would be. The technology inside the vehicle allowed her to watch over the battlefield like a bird.

The engine roared and the APC rolled forwards and slowed down again. The human part of the small squad quickly gathered in the vicinity to seek shelter behind the protective armour. Now with everyone safe, Autumn pulled the barrel around and fired at the small group of surviving hostile infantry. The combined fire-power of the mounted large-caliber laser and laser-rifles made quick work of their opponents.

"Good work people, but we're not done yet!" The commander briefed through the squad's communication channel. "Fenrir, you're like a running stud alone. If these people were trained soldiers you'd be full of holes and our medics can't stuff those! So get your ass back in formation, now!"

Watching with only slight hesitation as he who she was supposed to stick with dashed from the APC, Runt follows suit seconds after, her pistols held in a tight grip. She was not, however, running straight for the crowd despite her speed and the fact that they were going steadily down to those on her side. That would have been suicide for someone so small, flitting between spots of cover. Even as she ducked and weaved, still quicker than many humans, she took potshots that found their marks. Many a religious nut found themselves falling, likely not even aware that her shot had just burned a smoking hole through the eye they had just been aiming with, skull hollowed out on that side.

Even amidst the dashing between crates, however, she felt the heat of narrowly missed shots, knowing in the back of her skull that if she wasn't as small and quick as she was, she'd have a few holes already, even with her armor. It was light, just like she was, so it would only absorb a few shots before letting them through, so she had to be a bit more careful than most. Her ability didn't stem from the fact that she was an extremely good shot, even if that was the truth. In the heat of battle, on some level of her brain began what she had dubbed as hyperprocessing. Her eyes, ears, and nose took in scents, noises, and visuals at the same rate, yet her brain picked through it at triple speed, seeming to slow the world to a crawl. She, too, seemed slower to her own brain, yet it was beneficial to her, allowing her to pick out positions and wield her pistols more effectively.

Runt, ground floor with me.

Her head bobs in affirmation even as she gives a quick "Yes, sir" through the comm, her eyes narrowing as she slips away from cover once more to advance. She never made it fully to the next cover, however, as the expletive makes her sensitive ears ring, wincing as her head turns once more. Her eyes catch the explosion, making her eyes close nearly fully, able to pick the flying mass called Jordan out of the mess before he rolls to a stop upon impact. In the time it took her to process this and the fact that she was still in the open, her body twisting to avoid the shot that was inevitably coming for her, she felt it. The hit took her breath away, for the shot had hit her where the vest ended, just above the armored plates on her thigh. A neat hole had been punched through the lower left portion of her torso, a non-vital area, yet it hurt like a bitch.

"Guh-SHIT!"

She pants as she tries to calm herself, continuing to move as adrenaline floods her bloodstream, thankfully dulling the pain as one hand drops, pulling the vest down a bit more over the smoking hole to hide it. She'd be fine for now, but she'd need to get that looked at later. For now, her duty was to her comrade. Her bootsteps falter for only a moment before finding their rhythm despite the new limp, slipping between cover once more and laying down suppressing fire when she could. Silently she curses up a storm, some of her mutterings audible, yet she also lamented her small size. She wouldn't be able to fully help the larger man, even when she reached him, leaning back against a crate for a moment. She thought for a moment that she was sweating, yet the moisture came from the corner of one eye, a bit of moisture also creeping down into her pants, soaking the shirt and vest from within, as well.

"Coming as quick as I can...just keep yourself alive."

“Move, kids!” Leif popped the hatch of the APC, and Keldara and Lothar swarmed out, quickly leveling any troops that Alex had missed. Following tightly behind them were Lightning and Ghost, who dropped several soldiers on the other side of the airport. Slipping his pack on, Leif gathered his squad and rushed to the door of the tower, indicating his understanding to the Captain.

Once at the door, the squad moved to defensive positions while Leif set a breech charge on the door. “Clear,” he called, rushing to the side. “Fire in the hole.” Th charge sheared through the door, killing anything standing on the other side. Waving to Venom, Lothar and Keldara, Leif sent an incendiary grenade through the gaping hole that was a door. Shielding himself from the blast, Leif was glad that he had his head shaved; there was no hair to be singed that way. Finally slapping his helmet on his head, Leif swung through the door, shotgun at the ready and backed up by his squad.

Lein sent his blade slicing through a last straggler before ansewring, "Aye, and if any of them had been the least bit skilled with a gun, I would've atleast had a spot of fun out here." He said as he loped back to the squad. While he didn't particularly care if the commander wanted him back or not, disobeying a direct order was a good way to get a bullet in the head wiith these mercanaries.

He looked over the others in his squad. Not many of them were of any dstinction worth noting, except for prehaps the pink haired one, but then he didn't pay much attention to the armory crew. "Feh, hiding in a shell of steel, not much honor in it, and certaintly no excitement." He said. It was always fun to play with your food before devouring it.

(This will be my last post today, see you tomorrow.)

I had slowly crept onto the APC, following Sergeant Hannover. Settling in a dark corner, I had adjusted my mask to cover my eyes with a thick black screen. This way I would rely on my strongest senses- taste, touch- via vibrations in the air, scent, and hearing. And heat vision. From there, I had been patient, and just stayed in my solitary position, thinking of many things I should not.

After having practiced recollecting myself, we landed. I crawled up, and did not know the environment, nor did I know where I was headed, but I followed the storming vibrating waves and heat signals of my group.

My feet hit the ground, and my pace lightened greatly. I walked softly, and began assessing. To my right was a great set of vibrations, long stretch of heat, and loud noise. A grenade. I then followed my group again, watching the heat signals brace through terrain.

Heading to a place... Watching the vibrations of my fellow morphs and the Sergeant, I could determine its high walling, and burst open door. I raced after them- lifting a pistol in my right and my battle knife in my left, ready for anything- whilst flicking my tongue out to predetermine the enemies position.

Autumn sighed softly. The beast couldn't see her delicate smile nor read her thoughts.

Animorphs, they were created by humans to fulfil a certain task. Only very little reproduced the natural way. In this mercenary-business, animorphs were born for battle and would die in battle. Autumn liked to think of her future a bit, brighter. She was in for the money. If she'd fight and die here, she would have died for nothing. There was no belief Autumn was fighting for, no land to protect, no nothing. Priority number one was survival, priority number two the mission objective.

At least their opponents had a belief, a common goal, in short; a reason to fight for. Autumn envied them. She would have wanted to have one too, but alas, no government army would accept her. It made her sometimes wonder, why was she with these mercenaries in the first place? The pay was fair enough, but that wasn't it. Nor the fact she had been trained for it. Did she have something to prove? Perhaps. But then, was it like the beast said; was there no honour in driving an APC? No, Autumn decided. There was no personal glory in it. But honour, she protected her comrades more so than anyone else did, there was much more honour in that than in giving a one-man show.

"Hey you! Stop dreaming." The commander's voice woke Autumn from her thoughts. "We're going for the tower people. There, we'll meet up with the other squads. Once we're in, we'll cover the back rows of our fellow squads. Autumn stays down with the other APC's to make sure no reinforcements will enter. Got that?"

"Affirmative." She replied, when the commander had finished his quick briefing. The rest of the squad assured they had understood the orders too, two syllables later.

"Great, I'm keeping the channel open, so we can keep contact. Now move out!"