Night of the Werewolves XXII: The Road to Ruin (Game Thread)

thomas.berubeg said:

Oh No! I Did not sign up. I was forcefully conscripted... And never have i had a better experience. i'd really like to personally thank whoever put my name down

Click to expand...

OOC: Ah, one of those join the army or go to jail guys.

We're in enemy territory and outnumbered. A fire would be the stupidest thing to do. We have our rations and if they're anything like MRE's, then there is a self heater in them. Starting a fire would just get us killed. First off we need to regroup and gather intel on our situation. What are we up against? How many? What sort of firepower do they have and most importantly, what is our avenues of retreat? We need to regain comms with the rear and see what our mission is. Do we continue with the mission, or do they wish us to retreat?

Note: From the 1st until the 4th I will be with my caving group on our winter campout/caving bonanza and there is no internet where we are going (caves included).

Well this whole situation just got FUBARed real quick. Lucky we got out of there. Now that we're moderately safe anyone get injured back there?

*Medic paces between the squad looking for any injuries that need to be taken care of*

Nay, Methos... I do not regret this conscription, though it certainly cost me my job. I much prefer cooking for you guys than for the Snobs of paris.

"All right lets get this organized. Nobody seems to be so capable as to shout their name, were going to have to get out of here before someone's incompetance gets us all killed. As acting Master Sergeant, I'm ordering everyone to begin the retreat away from the disaster sergeant. The means that way for most of you dull people.

When we get their, we will establish sentries and make a fire. A smokeless fire as they taught us in basic, and we will share the jobs like collecting firewood, and so forth.

*walkes over to reverand oats*

So are you voluntering to take over MR. Commando, cause it's more than talking that allows you to command a squad.

Day 0: Night

Night fell has the retreating soldiers debated on what to do. Some argued to start a fire, while others argued that starting a fire would just give away their position. At least for now, whoever was in charge of the insurgent counter-attack had called off the dogs, so to speak, and the squad settled in for the night.

Pvt. Avery Johanssen began his work in his makeshift tent. Command for whatever reason decided to assign a coroner for bag and tag duties for this mission. "I guess they're expecting some casualties," he murmured to himself. Using a small electric lamp for light, he carefully examined Commander Logic's wound. Entry wound just above the base of the skull and no exit wound he noted. Something didn't seem right. It was obvious the bullet had killed him, but the entry hole was in the back of his skull? According to the battle reports, all evidence pointed to the fact he had been facing the enemy. A wave of fear swept over him as he gathered his tools for a more thorough autopsy.

After ten minutes of carefully removing tissue around the wound, Johanssen finally found the slug. Fortunately for him, the slug had not disintegrated and he could examine it in detail. After cleaning the piece of lead up and triple checking his findings, one thing never changed: the bullet came from one of our own weapons.

After making the discovery, almost on cue another figure entered the room. The dim light in the tent didn't illuminate his face - in fact it cast an eerie shadow over the man.

"What have you found?" he asked Johanssen.

"The bullet is from one of us. Looks to be the same caliber our snipers use."

"Are you sure?" asked the shadow.

"I've triple checked the results. There's no doubt."

"Show me."

Johanssen turned to pick up the slug. As soon as he was facing away from the shadowy figure, his voice spoke again.

"So, what are you going to do with this..." he paused. "Information?"

"I'm going to notify Command and the rest of our squad that there's a traitor in our midst."

"That won't be necessary."

"Excuse me?"

Johanssen turned back around towards the figure. Heart racing, he could see the reflection of a silenced weapon in the man's right hand, pointed right at him.

The muzzle flash was the last thing he saw.

Day 1: Morning

The next morning the squad woke up. Reconnaissance hadn't reported anything on the insurgent front, but the another made a gruesome discovery. Pvt. Avery Johanssen lay dead in his tent, single bullet wound through the temple. Next to him lay the corpse of Commander Logic.

"An Insurgent killed our coroner?" asked one of the soldiers gathered outside.

"No, if an insurgent had infiltrated us during the night we'd all be dead." answered another.

Master Sergeant Ice looked over the tent. He noticed a single trail of footprints leading from the tent to the road in the direction of the insurgent village. Whoever did it had tried his or her best to make it look like an insurgent attack.

Despite that particular evidence to the contrary, the soldiers began to connect the dots. Johanssen had been working on Logic. Bullet hole in the back of Logic's head. A handful of books lying open depicting current military bullet designs. And no slug from Logic could be found.

Ice made the announcement. "Men, it would appear there is a traitor in our ranks. The coroner had obviously found something rather damning, and someone came here last night to silence him."

"Since we need to know who is behind this, I suggest we hold a military court each day, with no man being above reproach. Every man gets one vote, and whoever at the end of the day has the most votes gets executed."

"That's barbaric!" protested one in the audience.

"Tell you what. How would this sound: If they don't have a significant vote lead over the next man, how about we just tie them up? We won't be killing them, but they couldn't kill anyone else either."

The soldiers answered in agreement. The rest of the squad dispersed, quietly murmuring to one another, suspicions ablaze. And today they had to elect a new leader to guide them on top of this.

...

It is now day, you may post!

Votes for Platoon Leader in bold Blue

Accusations in Bold

Midday post in roughly 24 hours

Numbers of players left: 24

Current Over/Under: 4

{Disclaimer: Characters used in telling the night's actions were used for storytelling purposes only. The story is not in anyway inferring who has what victory condition}

Icekommander is doing a fine job of taking over for the late captain. I say we let him lead us. But as for the traitor... I have no idea.

Nico, the weapon specialist, sat with his back to a small sand dune overlooking the arid desert landscape. Wearing sunglasses and smoking a cigarette, he looked much like the epitome of a casual soldier out on a boring routine mission. That is, if it hadn't been for his trembling hands that made the tip of the cigarette look like a firefly on LSD. After missing the mouth a few times and by sheer luck avoiding putting fire to his own hair, he threw down the cigarette and stomped it in disgust.

Okay, so lemme get this straight then. We sorry souls are what's left of a force twice the size, we got insurgent dogs on our back, we have a traitor in our midst that we need to flush out, and 11 days to trek to the exit point? Geez, I can tell already, this'll be the best vacation of my life. Prolly the last too.

Flinging his small pack across his shoulder, he grabbed his 5.56x45 MK 16 and started hiking up the dune in the general direction of the extraction point. When he realized the others didn't follow immediately, he impatiently turned around, but kept walking backwards.

Whaddya fellas waiting for? The f###ing cavalry? Heh, no cavalry gonna bust us out here, we're on our own. Half of us'll probably be unfit for active duty after this mishap, and that's not even talking those that won't make it. High command ain't wasting resources on us for sure. So just get your gear and follow me, since no one else seems inclined to do more than talk.

After considering our options, Methos decides to fall in with the weapon specialist Niklas. So far, his decisions seems the best for the squad.

[PRIVATEBACKSTORY]Charles Li looked forlornly at his Radio... it had failed him... He shook his head in slow motion as he looked back, scowled and shot one of the insurgents who was jumping out off a window. He turned and ran, feeling a thud as he...

Charles Li woke up, gasping. He had went for 2 years in the Acadamy for Machinery and Socialology, not once in his 24 year life did he imagine going into a distant place as a Radioman, the crucial member to connect their squad to the outside world...

He heard a group gathering near his tent, going outside he saw Ice and a few others. He heard Ice explaining what happened... he couldn't help but yell, "That's barbaric!" [/PRIVATEBACKSTORY]

It was a nightmare over again... He sat down back in his tent. As he polished his radio and its portable spare he muttered, "Ice will do us proud. He will try to lead us to escape from this Hell Hole.. But Niklas is the only one who is taking action..."

He slung his radio equipment over his back and picked up his modified M1 Carbine, "He is the only one taking action. I will gladly follow him!"

(i will come back on new years day, can't post or focus on anything on computer right now since i'm on vacation)

So.. Traitors in our midst... I bet they also informed the insurgents that we were going to attack. You know you guys, I think I'm pretty good at leading the group back home. I vote for Myself. After all, I am second in command.

Specialist "Big Tom" Renata stepped out of his tent looking a bit like Rambo, only blonder, a bit less muscle-bound, and not quite so intelligent. No one in the squad knew Specialist Renata's actual first name. They called him Big Tom after his nickname for his machine gun, which the man had a bit of an unusual affection for. If Specialist Renata noticed the light mocking, he gave no sign. He didn't talk much.

Right now, murder or no murder, the machine gun was the only thing on his mind. He stomped across the clearing and grabbed Nico by the arm just as the weapons specialist and his followers were making for the path onwards.

***ing pig-***er sniper shot out a notch right in the ***ing tripod mount, Nico! I don't want no damage to Big Tom, no one's shooting at us, so are you going to fix him now?

He shoves 80 pounds of machine gun and 40 pounds of tripod at the much smaller weapons specialist, who barely manages not to drop them. Turning away, he peers into the surrounding forest with distaste.

No ***ing lines of sight in this ***. Good thing I'm here then, ain't it? Big Tom don't give a *** about no lines of sight. Fix him, Nico, and I'll watch everybody's ***ing six for them.

[OOC: Err, I'll tone down the ***-ing a bit from now on. I was just thinking about how evil it was of Backwards Logic to give us a bunch of soldiers to role-play on a forum where we can't swear! And as said in the previous thread, I'm really busy until after this coming weekend, so if I don't post or get back to you in a timely fashion, please don't read anything into it!]

Zupff the negotiation overseer strolls around amicably, but frowns when he hears the repeated foul language of his fellow soldiers. He does not understand why they are so uncivilised when they most need each other's warmth and support. He also mutters something to himself about loyalty.

Shame on you, soldiers! Why do we even need to have a vote?

The clear choice is the Second-in-Command, he should be automatically instated as platoon leader. Unless someone can contradict J-Man about his rank, he gets my vote, and he should get yours too.

Nathan, or "LightFang" the scout, awoke suddenly.

No coffee today, he said, to no one in particular. The lack of caffeine would make him a bit less twitchy than normal, which is to say, he was still very wired. He quickly checked his guns--a modified, short double-barreled shotgun, and a Walther PPK handgun--then dashed up to Nico et al. at lightning speed.

Do you have any idea who I am? You're gonna need someone fast, someone quick, someone intelligent, someone like me. I mean, you can go with dumb brawn here (he jabbed Renata in the stomach), or you could go with me.

I mean, it's clear Nico has no idea where he's headed. Just, no idea at all. Follow me, and I won't lead y'all wrong. I guarantee it. And if you came from where I came from, you'd know my word's as good as . .. .. .. .in' gold.

Nico stared incredulously at Big Tom Renata and little LightFang, and added an extra eye for that mr-high-and-mighty Zupff too. But after only a brief pause to put "Big Tom" down on the sand, he kept walking.

Don't worry Renata, I'll fix up Big Tom once we make camp next, but we really need to get going. So grab 'im good and let's walk, now.

LightFang, of course we will follow you. You're the scout! Which sorta begs the question, why aren't you scouting? I didn't see you move until I acted. Some leader eh? So you scurry off and we'll be right behind you, 'kay?

He throws an extra long look at Zupff and J-Man, and starts off up the sand dune again, shouting over his shoulder.

Hey, J-Man, you're a great second-in-command, so why don't you stay that way?

Hmm... Reverend Oats thinks that [bl]Niklas[/bl] would be a good commander, due to his previous experience fighting werewolves... I mean insurgents.

OCC- What is the BB code for blue?

{ OOC: [color=blue]text here[/color]

Btw, BL, apparently you should have noted more strongly that we're in a desert environment here. Just saying. }

[Desert, schmesert.]

Bigfoot the navigator didn't want to be there at all.

I'm the only one who cares enough to tell where we're going. I got the map right here. I knew this thing would be a bust from the start, that's where big guns and big heads 'll get you. But no time for playing the blame game, we've got men to get home safe. I say I should point and J-Man should lead the way.

Well, y'all. I'm a politician. I know all about having sneaky nasty traitors in my midst. But the fact is, the fundamentals of our squad are fundamentally strong, and with the right leadership, we can get through this period of brief problems.

Of course, the right leadership is me. Y'see, I'm a maverick. I'm a military outsider. But I do know how ta get our squad through this. I know all about these insurgents. I can see this desert from my old home. And I know how to get rid of traitors. Why, the first thing I do every morning is look around and find me a traitor to get rid of.

And that's why this squad should put their hope in a maverick we can believe in. Vote me for leader!

[OOC: Yes, I know I just mixed 3-4 different politicians into one speech. Deal with it]