Triumph Assault AF Meeting

From FiranMUX

Sat, Sep 05, 42 A.U.

Aervani moves into the paddock, steps crisp and practical. She's not usually one to wander or meander her way in. She stands quite still not too far from the entrance, waiting for others to file in and for the meeting to begin.

Marsalos strides into the griffon paddock area, brushing off his hands. He looks around at all the faces, his expression proud as usual when there's a group of crazy motherfeck-...er...Air Force soldiers around.

Alessandro walks into the Paddock, looking...rather uncharacteristically uncomfortable, and stiff, and it's not just the new limp he seems to be displaying since the last battle. Alessandro comes to his assigned place in the muster line, and stands rigidly at attention.

Nisa arrived early for a change, and waits quietly off to the side, standing at attention. She watches though as others make their way in one by one.

Eriden shoves the last bite of bread in his mout and brushes away any crumbs, stepping in to muster.

Aeryk straightens his already stiff-posture into a stiffer one, parade rest to the nth.

Tagda walks away from her griffon's cage and looks over all of the pilots. The Commander, where she is usually a bit unapproachable, seems...well, quiet today. She holds a scroll in her hand and has a table of whiskey bottles set up to the side. "Thank you all for coming today, Soldiers. I have a few things I want to go over before we go into our next battle. Please make sure you keep this all in mind so you are all on the same page when we go into the battle tomorrow."

Jericho glances around as everyone slowly filters in and waits for the whole shindig to get started. Jericho looks over to tagda and nods his head, moving to sit on a crate full of griffon meat, he hates standing.

Nisa listens intently, moving to a bit more relaxed position, waiting for her to begin.

"We had a successful last battle. We eliminated the enemy's Air Force in a timely fashion, and I could not have been more impressed. The pilots kicked into action by letting their archers down, and the archers performed well, despite the mixed communications with the volleying." Tagda begins and looks down into her scroll a bit more than she looks at the pilots and archers in front of her. "Pilots, you did well after you dropped your pilots off, but we all had some issues with 'what do we do next.' And that is what we will discuss today."

Marsalos settles in to listen, hopping lightly up on a barrel with his hands to hoist. Clank.

Arik eases his way in if belatedly. He tucks something or other back into his backpack as he joins the fringes of the gathered pilots to listen with the usual grim indifference.

Aeryk inclines his head in listening acknowledgment, for all that he has heard of the complexities of the last engagement only by rumor.

Aervani perks up a little at Tagda's words. From her expression, it sounds good to her!

Alessandro relaxes a fraction as he sees everyone else quite relaxed, but decides it is best if he remain standing, at the military at ease position, listening to Tagda intently.

Eriden breathes a sigh of relief at the topic. "Thank feck." He leans back against a paddock, relaxing as the others do and listens to Tagda. *Firan*

"There will be three new orders you need to listen for in the air. They are 'Form Lines' 'Air Attack' and 'Archers Join Volley.'" So, you might want to highlight these on your client! Tagda looks up from her scroll briefly and then looks back down to her notes. "One or more of these commands will be called only /after/ all enemy griffons are grounded and /killed./"

Jericho listens intently to the little after action report although a frown creases his lips, he says nothing for now.

Arik tilts his head as he listens to this. He looks thoughtful before inclining his head but looks on as if expecting more explanation as he listens.

Nisa listens intently and nods a bit as Tagda goes through the various items.

Aeryk cants his head a slight fraction as if committing the new orders to memory.

Alessandro shoots Jericho a warning look before nodding, pulling out a scroll to write the new orders down on. Perhaps he should get horns made for them.

"When I call to 'Form Lines' this is what should happen. Pilots should land their griffons and let their archers off. Then, they will use their griffons to defend themselves and they will defend their archers. This will probably only take place if Argin's lines do not have enough people to defend our archers alone. After you have your archer defended, I would like if you attacked the ground troops. If you have a spear, you should remain on griffonback and use your spear. If you do not, you can step off of your griffon and attack with your secondary weapon." Tagda pauses here and looks up out of her scroll once more, her blue eyes flickering over the pilots.

Eriden makes a note of those terms, and listens intently.

Alessandro nods, taking that all in. Form Lines. Got it.

There is a faint touch of unease in Aeryk's expression at the mention of griffons defending, but it doesn't turn into anything voiced and it passes after a moment.

Jericho lightly touches his spear and just nods his head.

"Archers, once you hear 'Archers Join Volley' you are to do exactly that. So if you are serving as an archer, when you are dropped off, you are to immediately join the ground vollies. You all followed that exactly the last battle, so it is nothing I need to really address this one." Tagda moves on then and points at her scroll, going right down the line. "The next command is 'Air Attack.' When you hear this command, pilots, you are to land your griffon and let your archer dismount. Then, you are to take to the side and defend your archer. Keep your eye on your archer at ALL TIMES. At the same time, you will have your mount attack ground targets. Whichever target you have your mount focus on, you are going to shoot at the very same target."

Arik listens quietly and nods his head absently. The tactics make sense to him as it is they aren't new for him. Instead his eyes flicker along the pilots trying to see if he can spot any who may not be clear about it.

"Now, if all of that is clear, I move on to the next thing on the list. Our battle procedures." Tagda motions Marsalos to come up to join her. "We will hopefully be trying some new tactics, but we are waiting to see if we can get the supplies." Or, read OOC: We are waiting on a request to see if it is do-able. "I am sure we all have come to realize that even after we down the enemy air threat, they have a shit load of archers who are still on the ground. We have been trying to eliminate them in a timely matter, but their vollies weaken our ground forces in he meantime. So, we need a way to break their lines quickly as well as take down their archers in large groups."

Eriden nods a little, rubbing the back of his neck. He starts to ask a question--but stops, making sure Tagda is finished with instructions first. New tactics? "That'd be nice, ma'am. I'd like to see a whole row of goats fall at once." *Firan*

Aeryk is still processing, remembering, visualizing, the touch of unease crossing his face now and again and usually vanishing as soon as it arises. He refocuses on Tagda as the tactic talk moves on.

Kael hustles in, carrying a few packages with him to the meeting!

Marsalos slides off the barrel with an iron thunk, heading up to the front where he can see everyone clearly. The mention of those tactics waiting for them make him all warm and fuzzy inside.

Nisa straightens up a bit more before leaning in a bit to hear more clearly.

Alessandro nods, and smiles, also knowing what is coming for this particular segment. A thing of beauty, this.

Jericho raises an eyebrow, "New tactics?" he says to himself and indeed he is intrigued. *Firan*

"To do so, I have come up with a plan. Well, not alone. Marsalos has helped me with it as well. And Arik," Tagda motions to Arik, "Has helped with the suggestions for the new commands." But, moving on, she gets back to the subject at hand. "If we can get the materials, after the air threat is eliminated, we might have a chance to have the pilots take their griffons back behind lines. Then, the pilot and archer will pick up buckets of a flamable mixture. We will fly out, dump this mixture on the enemy lines, and then the ground archers will volley flaming arrows. The artillery may be able to fire flaming ballistae bolts as well. This will light their lines up, break them up, and provide some smoke for air cover."

Okay, no unease here this time. Aeryk turns his attention to Marsalos, brief, with a faint hint of a grin. Yay, flaming death.

Nisa ohs and blinks as she listens, and blinks again before a wicked smile forms. "I like it." Stating this simply, though her eyes spark with dark glee. *Firan*

Marsalos gives Aeryk a knowing look, both brows rising and falling. Oh yes, flaming death mateys.

Eriden grins slowly. "Oh now that is a -sweet- idea." *Firan*

Alessandro smiles, and nods to Arik and Jericho, with a wink. Fire is... well, who doesn't like fire, especially when it flies into goats!

Tagda watches the reaction of her pilots and archers and continues on. "Marsalos and I will be working on finding a good mixture that can be handled by the pilots in the air. If we can't perfect it this battle, we will the next." The Ticanee Commander looks around the room and then nods to Marsalos, "Now, this is how the next seige will go down." And she passes the baton.

"Will this not effectivly reduce our ability to have our griffons attack ground targets though? I know I don't like running into smoke, I don't think griffons would enjoy flying into it." Jericho brings up for consideration.

Marsalos is ready to speak, though let's Tagda field questions first.

Aervani isn't exactly jumping for joy at the mention of fire, but she's not looking upset, either. She's pretty solemn faced. As usual. Boring.

Arik blinks as he's motioned at. he pauses and furrows a brow glancing around the area. Well certainly no lack of flammable materials. He does blink again then..flaming.. ballistae bolts? That should make for an interesting night. He does nod with Jericho. Flying birds into burning buildings is a nuisance, says experience. Though why Arik has flown a bird into a burning building is probably a good question.

"I am not sure if we will be flying our griffons after the fire assault or not. If we can pull it off, we can join the lines in ground assault." Tagda responds to Jericho, and then moves on with the meeting.

Marsalos lifts his voice to speak. "I'm going to outline the way this is going down in just a moment, but before that I want to say something important to all of you. In the last battle I was ordered to command the artillery corps on the ground. It's been a while since I was fielded on the ground for an operation, and it was difficult to leave you all for our first major engagement. But I had no idea how difficult it was truly going to be. I will tell you all this much. I remember at one point I looked up and I saw you all up there, flying proud while their griffons dropped from the sky like stones."

He pauses a moment, looking at each face around. "Soldiers, through every training that Hawk Squad, then Alpha, then the entire Air Force have seen under me...through every raid you've put down, and every threat you've neutralised...I have never been prouder than I was at Judano's Climb. I looked up that day and I missed the air with all my heart. Not because of the thrill, or the glory. But because this group of soldiers was up there, kicking such incredible, ruthless, -serious- ass. To all of you, thank you." He stops and nods once, slowly, then opens the scrolls he has from the meeting. "Now. The assault on Triumph will be in two stages, which I will detail now." *Firan*

Kael is resupplying himself with that care package he received, and doesn't have many questions. Though one thing does interest him. "Joining the ground lines mid-battle is problematic, ma'am, because everything goes nuts on the ground. I would favor staying on our griffons." Then he hushes up for the next briefing. *Firan*

"Please hold your questions and comments until we are finished." Tagda nods to Kael and then turns back to Marsalos.

Jericho smiles at Marsalos's compliment and nods to him, giving a slight glance to Kael and a nod, but he shuts up. Now is the time to listen.

There's a twitch down of Aeryk's grin at the mention of the battle. Although he nods solemnly enough. He will be there next time!

Every fighting lesson Eriden has ever had has been with Marsalos in one way or another, so he's beaming after that praise.

Alessandro nods, and remains silent. Kael, however, he gives a long look, frowning down at his scroll.

Arik leans forward. He's been in dozens of battles but nothing's as trying as taking a fort. It throws the usual formations into mayhem and disarray, and most infantry forces are chopped to pieces long before the begin the gruelling grind of fighting inside of the forts. He expects this to certainly be something he hasn't done before.

Tagda looks over as everyone beams at Marsalos' praise. Sniffle. She praised them too!

Marsalos goes on, only having to glance at his notes once. "Stage one will be an attack on the forces they have camped around the fort. We will be shooting their their Air Force out of the sky, as we do so well, while the infantry works twofold - to destroy their ground forces and to blow breeches the size of Lurashar in their walls. This will be a conventional attack phase.

Stage two will be the taking of the fort itself. This will be via the front gate, breeches, and siege towers. Once we have cleared enough that infantry can pour in, the Air Force will be assaulting the fort's tower forces and neutralising threats to our ground as they go in. It will be at this point that we'll be carrying out the Flaming Death Plan, and once it's alight will continue our assault. Their tower archers will no doubt be trying like hell to take us out as well; it will likely be raining arrows at that point. Provided they can even see. This will be a difficult phase for us, as it is a type of operation we are unused to. However, with solid goals and communication, I believe we can more than wipe the floors of Triumph with our enemy.

Are there any questions about the phases?" *Firan*

Nisa listens intently, and she simply nods. She's got it.. but then she has the easier of the two jobs.. The pilots have the way harder task.

Kael is munching something he found in his care package. "Are there any scouting reports on the damage done to the walls the other night by our sapping force, sir?" *Firan*

Aeryk is getting that intense look in his eyes again. Yeah, he's listening.

Jericho glances over to Kael again as he talks about sapping forces. They have sapping forces? Hrmmm, interesting. Although he doesn't say anything, as questions are to be saved to the end!

Eriden shakes his head, "No questions here, sir." *Firan*

Marsalos looks over at Kael, then at the rest. "Their walls have been damaged by firebombs in a sapping mission, yes. We do not know how successful they were. It is a concern for the ground troops at this point." *Firan*

"Does anyone have any questions at all? About any of this?" Tagda asks now as she tucks her hair back behind her ears.

Aervani shakes her head. It all seems pretty understandable to her. She does, however, begin eyeing the whiskey when no one is talking. Because it looks really tasty.

Alessandro nods to Marsalos, with a smile. "No questions, sir. Seems to be solid, this will continue to improve on the vast success we have already had." *Firan*

Eriden lifts a hand, "I do, ma'am, about joining in the ground volleys, if I may?" *Firan*

"Go ahead, soldier." Tagda instructs.

Marsalos rolls up his notes, looking quite pleased about something. Probably the Flaming Death stuff. He looks over at Eriden.

"Will we be using the Eagle to our advantage again?" Jericho asks, as that was a neat trick they used last abttle, and it helped a lot.

"When volleying was explained to me, it was said that the idea was to have two or more teams, so to speak." Eriden stands up straighter as he talks to his COs. "If and when archers are dropped into ground forces, how do we know where to go? ANd who is commanding the volloys for that group?"

"You will join the infantry line of archers. Argin is responsible for making sure you are defended by an infantryman on the ground, but if you aren't immediately, you will have your pilot doing so at the least. If you go too long without one, please just call out until someon hears you." And by someone hearing you, she means use the infantry orders channel. "You will be following whomever is calling the vollies. Sometimes, it might be me. Sometimes it might be someone on the ground. All you have to worry about is volleyin when the volley is called. Does that make sense?"

Eriden nods, then clarifies, "I think so. So all the ground archers are volleying at once? Not split in to two sections then, ma'am?" *Firan* Marsalos is silent as Tagda fields questions, listening to the queries and answers.

"All at once, yes. It is not effective when the groups fire separately. Once you hit the ground, you serve with the infantry." Tagda then turns and motions to Alessandro to speak.

Eriden says "Thank you, ma'am." *Firan*

Aeryk follows the flow of questions and answers with that sharp, gathering attention. Noted, noted - and then he's raising his hand as well.

Alessandro clears his throat. "During the FORM LINES procedure, if we are not spear wielders, should we draw swords, or archers? When we attempted...a version of this, before, I had my bow, and I think we all know I ran into a bit of trouble for that." *Firan*

"I believe, as I explained it, you are to use whatever your secondary weapon is. You may, of course, continue to use your bow if you don't wish to leave your griffon. But a melee weapon would be much more effective, especially a spear, since you don't have to leave your griffon then." And since the trouble Alessandro landed in was a bug, Tagda moves on to Nisa's question.

Jericho waits for someone to answer his question.

"The eagle will probably not be used, no. She will probably be reserved for scouting missions as she is too much of a threat to our griffons before a battle." Tagda answers Jericho's question out of turn and looks back to Nisa, waiting for hers.

Nisa nods as she is called on. "Ma'am, sir. Now when we join the ground, were still out in the open. Well I was the last battle, and got pounded near to death literally. Will there be a chance to get someone assigned to defend us? I know I for one was a sitting duck with no protection from a spearman or sword. I had them coming from all sides. Some times many as four as once. Is that something we should just expect once we jump off our Griffon? Or find Argin and get assigned a line?" She adds quickly then. "My bow is my most effective weapon. I am barely passible with a spear." *Firan*

Jericho nods his head slightly, and listens to the other question and answers.

Kael clears his throat. "Ma'am, I would suggest we confirm a defender for our archers before landing and letting them off the bird. (using Infantry_Orders) Last time we relied on ground forces being ready, and our archers were torn to shreds." *Firan*

"As I've explained, we will either be forming our own lines with our griffons and pilots, if Argin doesn't have enough to defend our archers. It your responsiblity, though, to make it known that someone has not defended you. But archers generally do not have protection from swords and spears. You are an archer. We choose, when we use our weapons, to sacrifice the conventions of a sword and spear. You, as an archer, will always be volleying with the ground, though. You do not have to worry about attacking enemy soldiers head on." Tagda tries not to get annoyed at stating what she has already stated, but she does so anyway. "At the least, you will always have your pilot defending you long after you have left the griffon." Turning to Kael, Tagda addresses him next, "We are working with Argin to make sure the pilots are adaquately defended and quickly. If you find yourself without a defender after too long, please make sure you make it known." By calling it out on the channel.

Marsalos makes the suggestion quietly, "It is important to be prepared, not scrambling at the last moment. While we're doing the initial formation of lines, each bird should perhaps be assigned to a ground line. So that when we have to get ready to land, the pilot can shout for the line leader that he is assigned to, and that line leader can worry about it instead of Argin." *Firan*

"We will work with Argin. There is little else I can tell you right now about that without speaking to Argin first. Any other questions?" Tagda looks around to the others to see if she forgot anyone. The patient ones with their hands raised.

Nisa gives a little shake of hre head. She doesnt mind dieing for the Republic. Though she'd like to avoid diein out here if possible.

Aeryk puts his hand down and just notes carefully, "I was just wondering about the griffon defense issue. Is there any point where they've, ah, taken enough damage and should be defended instead?" *Firan*

Tagda thinks about this a moment and presses her lips together. Looking to Marsalos, she hrms and then shakes her head.

"No. The birds will not be defended. Not now. We have back up birds, but we can't waste our man power on them if we need to be working on the enemy. If you can get them back into the air and to a farrier, or call a farrier over, that will have to do. If I change my mind on this, I will tell you."

Alessandro nods at that, writing down more notes on his scroll. He's old, it's hard to remember all of this stuff.

"Any thing else?" Tagda asks once more.

Aeryk nods slow acknowledgment and clasps his hands behind his back.

Eriden's player is thankful this is getting posted. "No ma'am." *Firan*

"Now, it's been a trying past couple of weeks for all of us. Some of you are new to the front, and so your first taste of battle has been one of victory. Some of us have already lost friends and loved ones. Some of us have taken injuries that we will feel well after the heat of the battle. But the important part is this," Tagda motions to the whole ground as she looks them over with nothing but pride in her eyes. Well. There's some underlying sadness, but that is something saved for another day. "Savaren came to me today and told me that he has come to the front and has heard nothing but praises through the camp about how well we are doing. Praises from the infantry. Praises from the staff. Praises from Donos himself."

Tagda takes a moment to suck in a deep breath and presses her lips together. "It's been a trying time on me as well. While this is not my first war season by far, it is the first time I am leading up a whole Air Force and not just a squadron. It can be hectic out here. We spend most of our time at home worrying about how to protect our city, which we've mastered. But the front lines are a whole different monster. And we are adjusting. But, I want to make it clear to all of you. Each and every one of you," And she even looks directly at Kael when she says this, "That I could not be happier as a Commander to serve with you and beside you. I have the best group of pilots I could ask for. We will go into a tough battle tomorrow. Some of us will make it, some of us will get wounded, and some of us will die on that field. But I know, if I die on that field, that I am going to do so serving with the best men and women I could have asked for. So," Tagda runs her hands down her military skirt and gestures over to the table of whiskey she has set up. "Tonight we celebrate. In moderation. But still. We celebrate. You are all ordered to celebrate." She smirks at the last part, as brief of a smirk as it is.

Eriden cheers, and takes a drink. "Best order I've heard all day, ma'am." *Firan*

Jericho nods his head and moves over to the table with the whiskey on it, dropping his flasks full of whiskey for the rest of his comrades to enjoy along with him.

Aeryk does not know how to celebrate, so he - nods solemnly again and claps in his low-key way. Aeryk cheers Tagda!

Alessandro clears his throat. "May I be excused for a moment, sir? I need to pick up my mail real quick, I might have some more things to give to my comrades." *Firan*

Tagda looks to Alessandro and merely nods her head.

Nisa's expression changes a bit at what Tagda states. She is smiling a bit, then frowning, then serious. She steps up to take up a whiskey and holds it up. "If this the last whiskey I take, it'll have been an honor serving with each of you. I pray we all survive tomorrow, and take back Ellish once and for all! TO THE REPUBLIC!" All that said, Nisa downs the whiskey in one shot. *Firan*

Eriden toasts, "To the Republic! To the Air Force!" and finishes off his drink. *Firan*

Kael watches Tagda as she speaks to the gathered pilots. And then he eyes the alcohol. "I do not think Hydran warriors can partake in alcohol, especially before a battle." *Firan*

Aervani actually hints at a smile as the meeting concludes. As people move toward the table, her gaze follows. Ah, whiskey. Awesome. Aervani heads right over to the table and tips the drink back. Sure, she's a Bear, and sure, she's a girl. It seems she's got a taste for the brew, though.

Tagda lifts her shot of whiskey and nods her head, "To the Republic." She joins in on the toast and then looks back to Kael, "Not even in celebration?"

Jericho takes a drink of his own whiskey, raising the flask as the toast is given out.

Aeryk can take a bit of whiskey. So he does with a slow fill of a glass and knocks it back. Very well.

Nisa sets down the glass and coughs a little. "I hope Donos hasnt drunk that whiskey I gave him. I'll be most put out. Finest batch I ever brewed. So I sent it to him to use when we took back Ellish." *Firan*

Marsalos nods firmly, lifting a glass. "To the Republic." And he knocks back a shot, even though it apparently tastes bad. *Firan*

Kael looks from Tagda to the whiskey, and back again. "Maybe if we win the battle, I can celebrate." *Firan*

Aervani usually likes whiskey. But, this isn't good whiskey. It's not even average. "Ugh," she coughs a little, rubbing her throat. "That leaves a really nasty taste in your mouth, doesn't it?" she notes to Nisa, noting the other woman had a similar reaction. *Firan*

Arik flickers a glance around. He nods as he watches things fall into drinking. For better or worse drinking isn't for him today. He ducks after Alessandro to check on the package arrival. Making a note that if it has to do whores he's throwing Kelarik in the fecking river.

Nisa glances to Aeryk and offers a smile. "Sorta was surprised to wake up at all sir." And with that, out she goes. *Firan*

"You are dismissed, if you don't wish to stay and drink. Rest up. You have a big day ahead of you." Tagda tucks her scroll into her backpack and watches as some people leave immediately. Then, she turns back to Marsalos and takes a deep breath.