12 Parachute's are for newbs

All of the trainees gathered around the briefing table after their Jaunt in the simulators with their new equipment. The Capitan wasted no time booting up the display and launching into the briefing. We exited warp orbiting the planet you will deploy on. Zargeras, this jungle planet is filled with various exo-beasts predator and herbivore alike. Your mission is simple, a research group recently set down here to research the local fauna and lost one of its expeditions in the field after a rockslide separated their team and destroyed the communications equipment they were carrying. Their problem, the deadly exo-beasts known as the Razaraptor.

Borridin looked confused "What exactly does the raza mean captain?"

Felicia chimed in on the briefing, "That would refer to its razor talons known to eviscerate their prey rookie."

Nodding along, Dawson continued "The Razaraptors had made their nesting and hunting grounds in the area that the team was lost in due to the rockslide. our clients, the leadership of the research team have commissioned us to insert, track the lost team and recover what remains of the expedition. Priority on the lives of the researchers with the lead of the group being their prime priority as it seems to be the son of the expedition leader himself. If we are unable to find the members of the expeditions lost team or verify the unfortunate passing we will be tasked with recovering the data."

Dawson manipulated the global map projection to highlight the research camp. "You will be inserted here via drop ship 10 kilometers from the base camp."

Theo raised a question "sir, that landing zone looks far too small for this ship. how are we going to be deploying if we cannot touch down?"

Dawson smirked "That's quite simple rookie, we are just going to drop you off. nice and easy. That's it for the pre-mission briefing. go get geared up and assemble in the launch bay. Dissmissed"

Dawson saluted the rookies and exited the briefing room leaving Theo confused. "He didn't answer my question..."

The team assembled in the launch bay equipped with their chosen gear and exo-suit. Mcgregor moved around them all making sure the suits were sealed and equipment working in proper order while mercy added details.

"I will be in contact with you throughout the mission and will offer support where necessary. once on the ground you may find yourselves lacking signal so a signal booster will be available with the survivors. either that or high altitude can clear up any interference."

Vessa spoke after a moment "this signal booster, why not simply use it to gain contact with the main group?"

Mercy nodded and replied "The signal booster seems to be damaged and only giving off a faint tracking signal, you will use spare parts that are supplied to you in your equipment to make on the spot repairs and gain contact. This signal is also how we will track the missing researchers and start our search."

Vessa nodded without another word and moved into the airlock with the rest of the rookies.

"I think that's the first time she has spoken out loud" Borridin mumbled.

They each got into the specific drop tubes for each of them and latched in for the upcoming deployment. They swerved closed with each of them in a man high cylinder tube and descended into launch positions.

Getting nervous, Theo spoke up "So when do we touch down?" Macgregor chuckled over the comm in their suits "Didnt ya hear lad? your gettin dropped. This be a drop ship. An ORBITAL drop ship"

.... "what?" the three male rookies said in unison. Vessa remained silent as if complicit.

Immediately above the ships intercom blared, "Prepare for drop, drop initiating in 10, 9, 8..."

Theo slumped "I hate surprises"...

The airlock launch tubes opened up and took the four into position before charging and immediately shot open once the timer hit zero launching the four down to the planet.

Theo let out a wordless cry as they were flung into the planets atmosphere. The tubes broke through re-entry quickly only being in low orbit and shed their outer shells freeing the rookies in their exo-suits and letting them free fall. The wind whipped past them deafening the four to what's going on outside, thankfully the suits helmets are insulated enough for comms.

Borridin fumbled around swaying left and right trying to regain control where Theo seemed to have locked up and was not moving at all.

Borridin chimed in over comms "This thing has a parachute or something doesn't it!?!"

Vessa pressed her flight systems and stabilized her descent 3000 meters before impact.

[2500 meters before impact] The suit saw fit to warn them of their impending demise.

Azamir noticed vessa's action and replied over the channel "No but it does have rockets! Channel your flight systems!"

They all palmed the flight system on their belts to arrest their momentum and control the descent to the planet.

After a bit of flailing the group corrected course and followed the readout to the drop point.

[1500 meters before impact: Heat 60%]

Azamir checked the heat levels on his suit before realizing his mistake. "We need these to land! disengage the flight system and only use it to correct your fall!"

[600 meters: Brace for impact]

With the ground rapidly approaching their faces they all fell until about 500 meters before engaging their flight systems again and they all landed with mixed results.

Vessa landed light as a feather under perfect control. Azamir cut the flight and touched down with solid footing. Theo cut his flight systems alittle too high and then burned again right before touching down and stumbled wheras borridin fell like a comet and landed hard spraying dirt and dust everywhere.

The team looked at him kneeling in what now looked like a mini impact crater and saw him stand and yell "That's how you make an entrance!"

Theo kneeled to the ground "ugh I think I need a second, I almost passed out from shock there".

Azamir shrugged, "its a good thing we didnt have to be silent here. I think borridin woke the whole forest"

The group took a moment to orient themselves and look around the landing zone. They were surrounded by lush foliage with vines crisscrossing their treetops. The sounds of the jungle were eerily quiet in the wake of the loud landing and slowly started to return as the group stood and readied themselves to set out for the missing research team.

Mercy chimed in as if to succinctly put the cherry on top of the situation. "Congratulations on your first successful planet-fall, that last step formally makes you rookies in the raiders eyes as well as the MRB."

Confused, Borridin spoke immediately afterward "I thought our rank was provisional until the end of this mission? why the quick promotion?"

"Well, statistically 40% of all rookies fail their first planet-fall witch has obvious implications. The shock, quick thinking and ability to ration your suits flight systems are crucial to any fall and its a brutally efficient test at weeding out those under shock. you can thank Azamir for the warning as we projected Borridin landing with heavy damage and Theo not landing at all."

"Great, not five minutes outside of the ship and they are already trying to kill us. My new rating on being a mercenary. 5/10 stars, cool equipment and thrills, too much unexpected immediate threats to our lives." Theo grumbled..

"Pretty sure that's the job description Rookie."