Urban Decay

[mtjsmith]

Major Ling's preflight checks were completed, The Social Credit was ready to fly. He headed down the ramp, where a member of the recruits shouted that a senior officer was amongst them and they all quickly stood to attention.

[color=#FFFF00]"Better. We are ready to depart. Your gear goes in the over head locker and you lot will take any seat. It does not matter where you sit, when your time comes - you will be picked at random and then you will drop."

[color=#FFFFFF]The recruits hurried themselves along into the hold of the ship. The Social Credit had two banks of seats, one on the left of the hull, the other to the right. In the space in-between stood several boxes and towards the front of the hold there was a small jeep with an AK-1 on the back of it. Ling smirked at the jeep.. If only the recruits knew what that was for..

[color=#FFFF00]"Get strapped in folks."
[color=#33CCFF]"We've got clearance to disembark Major Ling."
"Lijie, You take her out Lt Zupkauskas. I will finish off with the recruits then take the wheel when we enter the atmosphere."
"Very good sir."

It stuck Ling as remarkable that for a name like Zupkauskas, the Lieutenant spoke in a near perfect Cambridge accent. As the ship shuddered and roared into life, Ling remained upright and stood holding an overhead handle. Quietly in his mind, he wondered if the handle would hold his weight on take off or if it would give. Such a situation would cause massive embarrassment in-front of the recruits. He might have to shoot any of them if they did laugh. However, they were soon in space, and Ling made his speech.

[color=#FFFF00]"Recruits. There are two ways I can brief you, the first is me trying to give you confidence. To be all warm and make you feel good about yourselves. However, If I did that, you would all die. Therefore, I will go the usual route. You will always find me harsh but fair, and there is no point lying to you about your chances on the planet below. Look around at your fellow recruits, this will be the last time you see some of them. You have mutated wildlife, the extensive radiation, the raiders and, we don't know exactly, but there may still be pockets of the Volkhan's death squads on the surface. Survive this, and you will have gone a long way to earning our trust and respect."

[color=#FFFFFF]The ship shuddered slightly as it began its descent.

[color=#FFFF00]"You will be dropped off, alone, to the north of New HangZhou. Up there is very mountainous terrain and thick woodland before you reach the dense Jungle that surrounds the north of the city. You may find a few old settlements in the mountains and villages in the Jungle. Do not linger for long. If you keep a quick pace, you can reach New HangZhou in a week. Once you are in the city, make your way towards the airstrip to the South-West. We will be waiting for you there. Good hunting!"

[color=#FFFFFF]He saluted the recruits and walked up the steps to the cockpit.

[color=#FFFF00]"How's she doing?"
[color=#33CCFF]"Deceptively easy to fly in space, you can be the judge in the atmosphere comrade Major"

[color=#FFFFFF]Ling dialed up the shields to full to take the extensive heat which greeted the SoCred as it entered the atmosphere of New JiangXi. It was a fine art getting any ship in and out of planetary atmosphere, a job made ridiculously simple by docking rings. The ship shuddered and roared as it slowed and descended towards the planet. Everyone was pushed firmly back into their seats. He heard several groans in the back, perhaps a few of the recruits did not have strong stomachs?

[color=#FFFF00]"Hmm.. we're in. Shields at 65%, Good. Lower them and take the stick Lt. Take us up to drop point Alpha and we'll fling one of these muppets down."

[color=#FFFFFF]He thought back to when he did his drop, it was a scary experience but it taught him so much. Yes, it was cruel - but space was cruel, and this was the only way to see what the recruits were made of.

[color=#FFFF00]"Hmmm... YOU!"

[color=#FFFFFF]He hauled the recruit up and read the tag on their uniform.

[color=#FFFF00]"Time to drop Recruit Drsnovova!"

[color=#FFFFFF]He laughed at the double meaning of what he had just said and strapped the recruit onto the zip line. He then stood back and spoke into his comm.

[color=#FFFF00]"Lt Zupkauskas, hover here and start the countdown!"

//OOC - recruits will RP being dropped from a zip-line into different sites on the mountainous terrain and then it's up to you.

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