We're Going on a Bug Hunt (Medium-DP)

[Rafael]

Name: We're Going on a Bug Hunt
Participants: 3-4 Shinigami-Beasts
Location: The Wilderness of Soul Society
Difficulty Level: Medium
Setting: NDE

Plotline: After the attack on the outer most Districts of the Rukongai several weeks ago Central Forty-Six has come to the conclusion that something must be done about the large insect Beasts that attacked. Although some time has passed and the Beasts haven't returned since the idea that there are Beasts that seem to be clones of one another that can force one of the strongest Vice Captains to retreat is a threat that cannot be overlooked. As such a small group of Shinigami has been deployed to search throughout the wilderness to the South. The search will take place over a single weeks time after which the group is to report back with whatever information they've collected if any.

Estimated Enemy Strength: 5-2
Estimated Time Until Completion: 4-6
Starts: Once someone joins
Special Conditions: N/A

[Rafael]

Well it was time for the assignment to almost begin as today was the day that the small group of Shinigami would be sent out into the wilderness in order to track down a small group of Beast that looked identical to one another yet were strong enough to actually overpower one of the strongest Vice Captain's and force him to retreat. He had been able to defeat one while based on the report heavily injuring another yet apparently three others arrived that possessed qualities that made them far more dangerous.

Soul Society didn't know much about what was actually going on as Beasts typically didn't attack the Rukongai as a group. This group had attacked which resulted in the deaths of over a thousand Rukongai citizens. They couldn't ignore what had been done so sending out powerful scouting parties in all directions from nearby districts of the Rukongai was the first step that would start now. This group was one of many being sent out yet it was led by a very higher seated officer in the Eleventh Division and someone that kept his head down. He would wait for the shinigami assigned to his group to arrive now as he sat inside of a small shack his massive body concealed beneath a black cloak and hood.

[Connor Greaves]

It has been far too long, Connor felt, since he last went out on a mission like this. Many thoughts and feelings swam through his head as he approached what appeared to be a small shack. Knowing this would be a mission through the wilderness, he decided to modify his outfit for the occasion, wearing a blank steel mask with a black explorer outfit. It was unusual for him, he prefered urban search and destroy missions, but if he had to trade in the concrete jungle for one made of actual plants, he would do so. Not happily, but he would see his mission through, even if it killed him.

But, he had a feeling death might be a preferable outcome. An eleventh division member? Leading a mission to hunt some of the most dangerous game? What were the higher ups thinking? Instead of a squad two assassin that could track targets, he got stuck with the brute who was as likely to get them all killed. Hopefully this one would be competent, but Connor highly doubted it. The eleventh were people who lived for mindless violence, pointless combat, and it left a sour taste in his mouth. Even before he crossed through the threshold of the small building, he knew this would be a long mission. "Connor Greaves, Reporting for duty." He said in a dull monotone, gazing at the cloaked man from behind his mask.

[Masaaki Kenji]

Kenji had no idea why he had been invited and told to be on this expedition. He was only told that he had been assigned a role in an expedition as Squad 3 was running sparse due to the huge amounts of the expeditions that had been landed on their plate. Since Kenji had a vast amount of experience in that sort of field, it was agreed by Raion that Kenji would be able to join and assist their team however Kenji was sure that he was wanting to move away from that sort of field. Afterall, Kenji loved a little bit of fighting but now he was a Vice Captain, he couldn't really afford to continue with the constant juggling of other squad's duties. Yet still, Kenji was taking a back seat here. He was just going to watch and enjoy.

However, Kenji didn't really know what was going on when he arrived at the gathering spot, as there seemed to be a lot of shinigami that didn't really know too well as well. Afterall squad 11 was notorious for doing that sort of thing. Briefings were not their strong suit, that was the problem and Kenji didn't like dealing with things that weren't organised at all. Yet still, Kenji loved a little mysteriousness so he couldn't help but enjoy this a little bit of excitement to it, even if it frustrated him that tiny little bit in his soul! Yet still he enjoyed it a little bit "Vice Captain of Squad 9, Kenji Masaaki reporting for duty!" Kenji spoke loudly, giving a big grin and a small wave. However while the others all wore pitch black, he still tried to take his vibrant usual looks by wearing his black expedition outfit but he kept his big glasses on and his hairpins! Afterall they were part of his look!

[Rafael]

The man hidden beneath the mountain of black fabric had been waiting for over an hour now and while two shinigami had just arrived within a couple of minutes from one another he was finished waiting. This had taken far to long. The first shinigami wore a mask in addition to his uniform hiding his face from sight. A strange addition due to the fact he wasn't a member of Division Two or the Onmitsukido. As long as it didn't effect his ability of it didn't matter. The other shinigami seemed far more playful almost childish in his simple lack of sorrow. It was visible he didn't have any sign of ever having his believes or loves assaulted. What a privileged shinigami.

Getting to his feet the figure would tower over the newly arrived both in height and width he was massive compared to them. The roof of the shake itself barely contained him as his good brushed against the top. "No point in wasting time. Lets move forward." his voice sounded ruff and ragged almost like something was caught in his throat. He would lead the party beginning the patrol out of the Rukongai and out into the wilderness.

[Angel]

Originally, Angel had been posted in the Rukon ago in a farther out district to guard it, and was surprised to face off against odd bug like creatures that were killing the populace seemingly at random, and here she was now, assigned to work alongside other officers in this position, mostly because she had analyzed their enemy far more than others, and as a result, she proceeded to do some reconnaissance, explaining her late meeting, but she'd be dashing through the trees, hopping along as she kept her senses sharp, leaping up until she'd meet with the party in the middle path, stopping her movement as her eyes lazily gazed upon them, but with a sense of coldness that seemed almost hereditary of a Kuchiki. Her officer's badge present on her right side, she'd stand at attention, especially when gazing at the badge of the Fukutaicho of the 9th division.

"I am the Fifth Seat of Division 7, Angel, and I am here to offer my services in helping to combat the foes presented and to give all the information I have gathered previously. Allow me to give a brief debriefing as we continue to travel." Going on ground level if they so wished to travel in such a manner, she'd follow suit, moving through the land at a leisurely pace, she'd begin to speak. "They lack spiritual capabilities based on what I had seen, but overwhelming strength as well as speed. In addition, they have incredible instincts and senses, far more than the average Shinigami. They are vulnerable to spiritual attacks and seem they are creatures that act off instinct as opposed to rationalization. Be careful. They also seem to travel in groups of two or three."  

Remaining silent, she held her left hand at all times on Ossein, her bone blade she had received after slaying a series of human monsters in the human world, and as she walked, she kept note of the shade of the trees, the dim sunlight, and therefore the many shadows that would loom in the darkness, looking for any obstruction, and or the sounds of disruption in these woods. After all, she mentioned before, these things behaved and acted like animals. Though, she half wondered in her mind if they had any aptitude for the art of strategy as well as the arts of combat. They had some semblance of a pack mentality didn't they? In other words. They had to be guided somehow, some way by some mastermind. Remaining silent as she had to physically tilt her neck to look up at everyone, she took the vanguard as she took deep breaths. 

Those fuckers were up to something. 

[Rafael]

The journey throughout the Wilderness of Soul Society beyond the Rukongai districts had only just started as the three Shinigami traversed the small distance between the edge of the district and the beginning of a long stretch of forest. This would take several hours to reach the opposite side. Perhaps they can get to the other side within a few minutes yet doing so would keep them from gathering any sort of information on the area around them along with also taking a rather large hit to their stamina, slowing them down for the rest of the day.

When they reached the first roughly a mile into the forest did the late addition of the search team arrive. Angel Kuchiki had been apart of the small group of shinigami that had first encountered and fought against the insect Beasts that this group and so many others were currently searching for in the wilderness. She would know more than perhaps everyone else that these Beasts couldn't be underestimated as she had faced off against a fair share of dangerous adversaries in her short time as a shinigami yet a single blow from one of the Beasts had left her body in broken critical condition.

Introducing herself to the others of the group the largest of the Shinigami still concealed beneath the black robes and hood nodded his head. "Next time let me know if you scout ahead. We need to keep an eye on each other at all times otherwise we're dead. Now with this new information. Greaves I want you to stay beside me at all times. Kenji you stay just behind us and be ready if one should appear attack right away. Angel I want you to stay in front as the point of our unit. Should you spot one inform us immediately. Now let's push forward we have much distance to traverse over the next week."

[Angel]

With her orders given by this apparent superior, she had been given information that she would be staying at the front. She soon nodded her head in response, "Yes sir." Although she wasn't the best in terms of senses, she trusted herself, and so, taking no chances, she drew forth her Ossein sword, keeping ti by her side as she progressed through the forested regions with her eyes always open for some sort of enemy to attack, whether it be Hollow, Beast, or otherwise. It was better than her normal sword in terms of raw statistics, and she couldn't say anything terrible about it mostly because she'd never had to use this sword in actual battle. So, what now? Where were they headed?

There was little that she could do in this instance other than just keep moving onward, and she didn't seem to be the type that was going to complain about the position either. However, as she moved onward, she decided to give the rest of them a heads up on what they looked like overall. "Oi. Mina. I want to let you know that these things are roughly six some feet tall, are primarily grey faced and have antenna. They don't seem to be intelligent and most certainly look muscular, physically intimidating. If you're going to get close to one, know that they can break your rib cage in a single hit. They move fast, but Bakudo is typically especially effective on them. Seems they lack spiritual capability."

Though after a while of moving, Angel gradually reached into her robes, pulling out a small envelope, of which she'd take out a white cylindrical little pleasure stick as she stuck it into her mouth, letting loose a small flame in her hand as she took a deep drag in, letting the smoke blow behind her as she continued moving through the area. Gradually letting out a long and slow exhale, she felt it warm her up on the inside. There was just a certain rush she couldn't get her finger on, and it felt a lot like the feeling you got while in a fight, albeit way more mellow and laid back. Undoubtedly drawing attention from the rest of her members as she did this, she just stared on ahead seriously as she gave a dismissive response. "What...do you all want one or something? Go and buy your own."

Seemed like to Angel that it was going to be a long week of moving forward. Well, that was unless of course they ran into anything along the way. Then it might not be too unbearable. She wasn't the best at talking to people, so. Yeah. The unbearable kind of silence between everyone wasn't exactly the most jovial thing in the world for the young Kuchiki.

[Rafael]

Traveling further and further out into the wilderness the small group of Shinigami kept walking in silence. It seemed that none of them had any sort of interest in what they were doing or perhaps they just didn't have any interest in dealing with one another. This wasn't typical even when Shinigami were assigned to groups that weren't made up entirely of their Division members they still shared the fact that they were all Shinigami and thus shared the same goals. This wasn't right.

After roughly half an hour when they had traversed perhaps three or four miles from the starting point on the edge of the Rukongai the girl who introduced herself as Angel felt it best for her to give further information on the Beasts that had attacked the Rukongai that they were now seeking out. No one stopped her so she told them what she knew and afterwards the largest of them the man in charge nodded his head beneath the cloak.

"Physically capable is how most Beasts excel. Your experience against them will play a key part should we encounter them. Who here can cast Bakudo?" Depending on who answered he would turn his head making sure to add such details mentally to what his unit could do. This was very odd. He was a member of Division Eleven. Most of them were meat heads that just wanted to beat things up with brute force yet he seemed to be thinking it out and didn't sound like he hated kido like most of them.

"Alright well if they do have a weakness to Bakudo than we would be foolish not to take advantage. The moment we encounter one I want both Angel and Kenji to cast whichever Bakudo you believe to be best for the situation. Connor stay with Kenji and defend him the best you can. I'll engage directly and keep their attention while you all then attack as best you can mainly from a distance if possible. Any questions or opinions?"

[Connor Greaves]

Connor had somehow managed to zone out for what felt like a couple of minutes, but was actually half an hour, before realizing he was somewhere else entirely. Looking around, he could see that he was a few feet next to the commanding officer, and some new female Soul Reaper. And she was smoking. Connor's nose scrunched at the stench of cigarette smoke, and could not help but make a comment on it. "Those things will be the death of you." He said, the disgust clear in his voice, even if it sounded dull. "And it will be the death of us if these bugs are able to smell us coming." He added after a brief pause.

It was worse for the tall man. All the smoke was hitting him in the mask, getting in his eye and nose, forcing him to walk away from the young-looking woman. He understood that all people had their vices, but did she have to do that now? Perhaps he was putting too much focus on this, perhaps not. He would still prefer not to give these 'bug people' any chance to know that they were coming, or at least give them as few chances as he could. "As to the Bakudo question; I know only Haddo one and four. That is all." He said, and simply continued walking.

[Angel]

Wait a second. Wait one second. She could understand a Vice Captain being here. This member of Squad 11, and herself. Sure, they were seated officers. Then came this...person who stated he only knew two Hado and now that she looked at him more closely didn’t seem to be a seated officer at all. “You’re rather bold to be coming with us on this assignment. I just hope you don’t get in the way. Or die…” She stated it kind of bluntly, but as she took another deep drag, watching as the white began to disintegrate slightly into black, she decided to give them a little note.

“Sajosabaku is the only Bakudo I know that would be incredibly useful in this case. Rather, the only one I can cast that they can’t resist and shatter. Other than that...I know some high level Hado that can be potentially useful.” There was very little to say as she walked with the rest of them, though the man in charge did ask of her opinion and her thoughts on the plan. “Yes. In my thoughts, we don’t have a strong enough vanguard to protect the long range fighters. We’re ill manned and as a result can’t take more than one, maybe two at a time. This is my verdict. I don’t know about your abilities, but as for the other two?”

Gauging Kenji and Connor’s talents, she found an anime sweatdrop forming on her head. “Well...I don’t see it working so well in close combat.” With a sweatdrop, she’d lightly chuckle, though she’d quickly speak up. “No offense. I myself aren’t the best physical fighter, but I do have a Shikai that compensates in that regard…” She didn’t know Connor’s rank, and she didn’t know how reliable the combat abilities were of a vice captain of a squad with more of a bookworm type of position. Taking a leadership position, she’d quickly look to the Squad 11 member before speaking up.

“Mind sharing your name? In addition...what data do you have on the Beasts we’re hunting? Their numbers namely. Based on what I recall, they typically assault with one on one assaults with others closeby.” She firmly crushed the cigarette remainders in her hands before throwing it to the floor, keeping her eyes and ears open for the information, but also any potential threats. Seemed like it was going to be very important. Some part of Angel was wondering in her head if she was going to be utterly fucked in this mission, and the more she was hearing the situation? The answer was slowly becoming. "Uh-huh." 

[Rafael]

Listening to everything that the others of the group had to say about the game plan was . . . disheartening to the cloaked leader. He wasn't against those that had been placed with him in this small group. At the moment though he didn't really know anything in regards to what each of them could do for certain. He had only been assuming that Kenji relied heavily on kido. Knowing that Connor knew only the basics and didn't know any bakudo while Angel based on how she spoke knew a fair bit, but wasn't all that confident that they would be much help.

This all meant that he would likely have to be the one to rush the target should they manage to find one. Once he engaged in combat he would have to hope that Angel could land a Bakudo or maybe one of the high level hado that she claimed to be able to cast. She stated that she wasn't all that great at close combat yet made sure to put in that her shikai aided her in that regard. He was curious as to what her zanpakuto did, but that subject was sensitive to shinigami so he simply would go off her word and trust her.

"My name is Gva. I have no information based on these Beasts that we haven't already gone over openly. We're ordered like all other units to patrol the wilds for the next week and should we find any of them we're to capture should it be possible. If it proves to be to strong to detain we are to eliminate it and bring back the body."

[Connor Greaves]

Connor merely glanced at the seated Soul Reaper. He felt that she was egging him on, taunting him. Perhaps trying to get him to turn back so he would not die here? He would not be intimidated in such a manner. He decided not to respond. If she was worried about him, then she need not to. He would handle himself out here, or he would not. There was no other choice here. So he did as he always did and continued on, listening as she claimed to have a single Bakudo, and several Hado in her repertoire. An impressive skill set, much better than his own.

Even so, he believed that he would be able to contribute to any fights they were bound to get into on their journey. He listened to their leader announce himself as 'Gva'. It was an odd name for sure, but short and to the point. Not too long, and... probably easy to pronounce? Even though the man said the name, was was not going to try and say it just yet. Not till he heard it a couple more times. Still, saying the name sounded better than having to carry a bugman all the way back to the Gotei. If they were anything like he pictured, hawling one back was going to be more effort than it was worth...

[Yetsuna Yishnir]

Yetsuna quickly made her way through the edge of the rukon district as she rushed to meet the group she had been assigned to for the expedition. Originally she had been in charge of the planning and logistics for the operation because it was the type of thing squad 3 normally did, but at the last moment she was request to deploy as well. In what little time she had to prepare she glanced over a handful of rosters top find a group to join and came across a familiar name; Masaaki Kenji. She didn't know the guy too well, odd considering she remembered him being one of her seated officers, but she did remember him recently being poached to go be vice captain for squad 9. She looked at the names of other people in the group, no one that really rang a bell or stuck out. She continued flipping through papers and as she did she felt this tug, an instinct, to join Kenji's group. She honestly couldn't say why, it was just this odd feeling she had. "Guess that's where I'm going," she said to herself has she grabbed Ishio from his resting place against the wall and slinging him over her shoulder.

It took her moving at a fairly quick pace to traverse the distance from the seireitei the edge of Rukongai in any amount of time that would be considered reasonable. Assuming she was lucky the group wouldn't have gotten too far yet; considering they were an expeditionary group it was unlikely they would be moving extra ordinarily quickly. By the time she reached the edge of the wilderness a few hours had passed since the arranged time for the groups to leave, chances were she would be able to find them, she knew the rough direction they were going and her senses would be solid enough to pinpoint them if she got close, but then she got a rather fortunate break; she smelled cigarette smoke in the air. It was faint, far away, but she could track it. With a leap she jumped into the trees and started following the smell of smoke. 

It didn't take long for her find the group after, landing on a tree as they were coming to the end of a conversation. She doubted her arrival went unnoticed, she wasn't exactly skilled in stealth nor was she trying to really go unnoticed. She looked over the group briefly before coming off the branch, she was able to identify the smoker immediately, both visually by the discarded butt and smell, "I'd recommend not smoking while you're on an expedition like this," she said friendly, but stern, "Smoke is pungent and easily tracked, I got the scent from the edge of the forest and followed it right to you. I'm all for indulging vices, believe me, but there is a time and place." she turned to the goliath of a man, "Gva was it? Hope you don't mind I'll be tagging along, last minute assignment. And to answer your bakudo question I'm not much help there, I'm a bit better up up close and personal," she said being serious, but also unable to reset the double entendre. She looked  at the other two, one was someone she didn't know in the slightest, the other was Kenji, "Kenji, how have you been? Settling in over at squad 9 all right?"

[Rafael]

The small group of Shinigami was moving at a decent pace still even after walking for going on several hours now, but just as the humans that dotted there realm were trained to endure long distance travel so were the shinigami. Gva wasn't so sure that they were going to come across any of the Beasts that they were looking for even if they were out in the wilderness for a week. The Beasts were far fewer in number than the shinigami while the wilderness was vastly larger than the Rukongai meaning that actually coming across one might be next to impossible.

Obviously though Division One had taken this into account which had been why so many separate units were deployed into the wilderness at the same time. It was still somewhat surprising that he had been appointed as the unit leader even if he was a seated officer of Division Eleven. There were Vice Captains present it felt strange that he had authority over one at the moment. He like the others could smell Angel's smoke and knew that it was potentially dangerous.

Gva though wasn't worried about being found and attacked. If anyone was stupid enough to attack he was certain that they could handle them. If it turned out to be one of the Beasts that they were all looking for then even better they could return almost right away. That was when he heard the arrival of someone new landing on a nearby branch. Turning and gazing upwards Gva saw that it was another Shinigami although not a typical it was another Vice Captain.

The Vice Captain of the Third Division, Yetsuna Yishnir. Gva looked from beneath the heavy black cloak that still concealed his physical appearance from everyone. The figure nodded his head in acceptance. "I have no issue. You're knowledge of the wilderness is a benefit to be sure. As for combat if you believe you're best up close then I have no right to say no to your aid should the need arise." Like that he was done talking and began to move once again. He was definitely strange for a Shinigami, but he was determined to this assignment or at least that's how it seemed.