"Oh fuck Oh fuck.. wait hold on. i have my other arm free.. i'll try to somehow pull the scientist into to me as a meat shield and kick the major's nuts and then stab the needle onto him.." Jason thought and then engage with his plans.
"I hope this works.."
Hariim nodded at Markus. He was already working on forcing an exit. With the enemy techs distracted trying to keep his message from playing, he splices into the train's control systems in a mad attempt to floor it's throttle and make it peel out of the way of the trucks. Simultaneously, he lets loose a worm into its targeting and fire control systems to disable or fritz the guns on the monstrosity. "Stand by. Clearing path." He says, using Itasha's gear to supplement his computing power and multitasking capabilities.
Mercy nods as she quickly runs over to Maddox, kneeling down to take a look at him. After finding the dart, she attempts to pull it out as painlessly as possible. After that, she attempts to, if not cure Maddox entirely, at least alleviate his symptoms until they were out of danger.
"Fighting a shit monster and getting blown up isn't exactly what I sought zhat I'd be doing here..." She mutters to herself.
Back at Yovek, Jason was about to be stuck by a syringe filled with something unpleasant, and he knew he needed to act quickly. So quickly, in fact, that Major Yadahr would miss his shot, even from such a short distance. "Easy now..." the kanad grumbled, sensing danger. Jason waited, keeping his eyes on the officer while the nurse leaned in and pressed the needle against his skin- there was a sharp prick as it pierced him, but there was a window of opportunity to act before the plunger could be pushed in. This was the moment!
CH Estimate: 3/5
[B]Actual: 4[/B]
Roll Passed.
Suddenly seizing onto the nurse's coat, Jason pulled her in front of himself, and Yadahr pulled the trigger, accidentally shooting the nurse in the process! The VRI let out its characteristic shriek as a burst of plasma crashed into the nurse's back, igniting her coat and inflicting deep burns which gushed with blood.
Yadahr: [B]5[/B] x 3(Malevolence) x 3(Sadism) = [B]45 DMG(!)[/B]
[B]Enemy Neutralized.[/B]
[I]Faction Feat Discovered: GKVR Sadism (x3 DMG when attacking the helpless)[/I]
Swiping the syringe off the floor next to his foot, Jason held her in a tight headlock as he lunged at the Major, who had overcome his own shock at the misfire and was once again trying to get his sights on his human adversary. Regardless of the nurse's screams and calls for help, Yadahr kept his eyes locked on Jason as he stood just too far away for the latter to reach. "She needs medicine, human," he hissed with an inflection which was hard to identify, "I'll put my gun down if you let her go; so are you going to strangle her? Are you that vicious?" he continued, deliberately ignoring his own disregard for the nurse's health and safety. Perhaps that was why his tone was difficult to place- he was so obviously disingenuous, he had wrapped around the scale to honesty- at the moment, there was nothing so certain as the fact that Yadahr was a ruthless, conniving, manipulative son of a bitch.
Jason could swear that Yadahr gave a slight smile when he realized that the human wasn't going to let his guard down. This was a duel. "Norwood, sound the alarms," he said to his human friend, who dutifully trotted away from the doorway. The major then leapt forward, trying to strike Jason's head by swinging his pistol around the nurse's body as a method of separating Jason from his meat shield.
CH Estimate: 1/4 x 2(Malevolence) = 1/2
[B]Actual: 2[/B]
Roll Passed.
Yadahr: [B]10[/B] x (No Feat Applicable) = 10
Jason: DEF Roll = 3
[B]7 DMG[/B]
Jason HP: 93/100
The blow wasn't strong enough to knock Jason out, but was solid enough to jar him loose from the nurse. However, Yadahr was now standing close enough to enable the mercenary to strike back. With no time to think, he kicked the Major in the crotch. Unfortunately, kanad males don't have quite the same weakness as human males in that location.
Jason: [B]10[/B] + 8(Assault) + 9(Assault) + 7(Assault) = [B]34 DMG(!)[/B]
Nevertheless, this kick was nuclear. Yadahr's lightweight body was propelled off the floor as he simply dropped his weapon in agony. His pelvis was broken by the force of the kick. Jason then grabbed him, seeking to both administer the drug as well as to unlock his own handcuffs.
CH Estimate: 4/5
[B]Actual: 3[/B]
Roll Passed.
[B]Enemy Neutralized.[/B]
While Yadahr put up a token resistance, Jason was now able to manhandle him completely and execute his plan. A siren began to sound in the near-distance as Jason stood facing an open doorway. Outside, a short hall led to the exit door, which was practically unguarded as the blockhouse was not meant to be used as a permanent prison. And just beyond that door, the Major's truck awaited with something called "the Archive" in the cargo space. Jason paused for a moment; having the Major on hand might be useful in his escape, but hauling his now-tranquilized body out of the building would definitely slow him down. He needed to make a decision.
---
((Away team update coming tomorrow.))
As the UGC forces unloaded their ranks of peacekeepers from the lumbering, mechanical monstrosity that surrounded the trapped convoy.
Jag took an moment to gather it's strength before disembarking from the makeshift armored vehicle.
The prolonged exposed to planet's gravity had taken it's troll, Jag's movements seem sluggish compared to before.
After getting out from the flatbed, the Sanghvi's posture had degraded to hunched over stance after it had set foot onto the ruined ground.
Jag slowly scanned it's glaze across scores of UGC troopers, many of them holding their sights onto the Sanghvi.
Their eyes locking with either hatred or fear, their fingers uneasily hovering over their guns triggers.
Waiting for their chance to terminate this colossal threat to this sector's stability and to fulfill their own vendettas.
The veteran pirate simply stood unfazed by their numbers.
Simply staring through them while it's comrades droned on with their futile attempts of deception.
Jag knew that these peacekeepers we're not looking for any so called peace, but rather, blood.
Yet, despite being in the face of such a fate. It was another deja vu to Jag's previous encounters dealing with such events.
Facing down dozens of armed individuals wanting nothing more then your death was nothing new to this tired rock.
Yet how many more will happen? How many more will throw themselves with knifes and rifles in hand?
Will they finally succeed? Jag knew that it's presence was waning more and more as the years came and pasted.
It knew that it's finally trip into the void was close at hand, through close was an all familiar uncertainty that continuously eluded Jag
Nevertheless, Jag simply proceed to drown the sounds coming from it's environment along with musky and polluted atmosphere all around it.
It's sight's all turning to bright, blinding white.
With it's conscious entering an state of momentarily ecstasy.
Now free from the distractions and woes from the outside, the Sanghvi quickly begin to expunged any doubts from it's mind.
Gathering whatever strength it had left, it awaited the call to battle.
And it was quickly answered with quiet, low hiss coming from it's teamleader's neck before Markus's booming voice sounded over the intercom.
Jag nodded at his commands, planing out his moments in it's mind while it carefully awaited to see if Hariim's attempt succeed.
Through for Jag, it's fate wouldn't being staring straight to court but rather the line of simultaneous muzzle flashes with it's back up to the wall.
Jag quickly scanned the area around it, it's belt's worth of smoke, flash and chaff grenades were to detonate in the air above the peacekeepers standing their ground.
Jason takes the VRI, along with the Holster from the tranquilized body of the Major. Jason then looks at the wounded nurse to see how bad the burns were and then checks his items that are currently with him
"i think i have something that can treat this.. I know its somewh- Gotcha!"
Jason pulls out a small white ball with a Red Cross in its center. Jason Presses the cross and the White ball transformed into a small drone. A Medical Drone,
"Come on, little guy. Help her out while I deal carrying out this Trash outside." Jason glanced at Yadahr and then proceed with dragging him out while the drone helps on the wounded nurse.
Zealot Hector Roth grinned. Following the official declaration of war against the Sol Government the USR forces had acted quickly. Dozens of backwater colonies had either been razed or forced to provide for the cause. Colonies with no ties to Sol or the UGC had been "lucky" in the regard that their people had not been slaughtered.
The colony of Aspix was not one of them.
At the inner edge of the outer rim zone, Aspix was a major trading hub where merchants from the inner systems traded goods with workers and mining corporations working at the eastern edge of the galaxy.
The planet had received aid from Sol numerous times during natural crisises and had been a strong voice of resounding support in a UGC campaign to crack down on fanatical cults, the Divinity Creed included.
Now, the population on the planet below had no clue that their lives would be changed forever.
Roth unsheated his sword. "Crusaders!"
The hundreds of Creed crusaders infront of him entered a ready stance as the sound of their metal boots hitting the floor echoed throughout the ship.
"Today God has given us a important task." The zealot began.
"We have been given the honor of spreading his divine message to the worlds which has spent far too much time living in sin. We will redeem Mankind's place as God's sword and shield by removing those who are forsaken!"
[i]"We have been given the honor!"[/i] Replied the crusaders.
Roth smiled and put on his helmet. "Carry forth sons and daughters, for our faith guides our blades and lasers."
[video=youtube;klipWO5ZI-A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klipWO5ZI-A[/video]
The local security forces of Aspix had no time to react. Before the first warning message came through their only frigate was seen exploding in lower orbit, its burning pieces falling towards the planet surface.
By the time the air raid siren came to life five massive Creed dropships had already touched down outside of the capital city.
Aspixian security forces rushed to form a perimeter, however their training and equipment was restricted for usage in policing as the UGC's patrols had always protected the hub from pirates.
Creed cavaliers and lancers, mounted equivalents of the crusaders and knights, formed a kilometer-long arrowhead made out of shining armor, metal hoverbikes and energy spears.
Meanwhile aspixian police officers took cover behind patrol cars and the few armored response vehicles they had at their disposal. One of the officers, a young man who had been working with the police for three years, tightened the grip of his gun.
He dedicated a quick thought to his family.
Zealot Roth raised his sword into the air. The energy spears were lowered to a chest-level. "Let the Lord have mercy on these wretched sinners; attack!"
He pointed the sword forward which was the final signal.
The police officers opened fire, ballistic rounds pierced through dozens of cavaliers and sent them flying off of their hoverbikes which crashed into the ground. Some of the officers screamed in frustration when they realized that there was no time to reload or run for cover.
Hundreds of loud bangs could be heard as the energy spears slammed into cars and officers, killing the latter instantly.
With no second line of defense but a few isolated police patrols doing their best to escort civilains to safety the Creed forces forced their way through the city unchallenged.
Behind the main force was a armored assault force of white and gold-colored hover APCs slolwy making their way towards the city. As the APCs reached the city limits they began unloading hundreds of battle-ready crusaders led by fanatical knights, all eager to kill.
Some would say that this kind of tactic was "overkill". The Creed didn't. They called it "absolute cleansing".
Roughly three hours after the intial assault began most of the Aspixians had been killed, alongside with any alien merchants foolish enough to have outstayed their welcome at the trading port.
However, a large portion of both locals and visitors had managed to flee in their ships. As planned. Roth walked casually across a decorative plaza, looking up toards the sky. He observed the last fleeing ship enter orbit and then jump for another system.
The people of this galaxy would soon know that dozens of worlds had been struck.
And Sol was to blame.
[Media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bVlsjiVHAE[/media]
[I]Meanhwile, on Jugmach CS.[/I]
Moklan had made his rounds cleaning the tables in the diner.
There was not a single patron left except one, the Aracaan who was still slumped over the bar counter.
Moklan went over and tapped her on the shoulder, "Ma'am we're closing" he said with a calm tone.
A snore was interrupted as Sting awakened from her alcohol-induced coma.
She slightly corrected her hat and looked at Moklan with drowsy eyes, "Ya mind if sleep here? I just followed the bar signs to get here and I am lost as hell, partner."
Moklan narrowed his eyes and circled around to the other side of the counter to access his computer.
"You got any info on your ship?" he asked while he prepared to scan the docking system.
Sting's eyes lit up as she leaned onto the counter in a proud and nonchalant way, "Well I don't want to brag but it's the only remaining [url=http://img01.deviantart.net/df9a/i/2012/170/2/8/blue_space_truck_by_masaligo-d5446o8.jpg]Western Galactic[/url] chassis in the eastern quadrant. Outfitted with a sum'bitchin 4-cycle DRC airmaster modified to take platinum stones and, a family specialty, a cosmotron X-8 hyperdrive. Complete with no ID-numbers, if know what I mean" she finished, bumping her elbow into Moklan while snickering to herself.
Moklan gave Sting a long look, "I meant the docking number, you got a chip when you landed right?"
Stings leaned over the counter to look at the screen, "That's just complicatized paperwork, just point to it on the damn map." she stated in a loud, annoyed tone.
Moklan simply pointed to where the hangar was located on the map.
Satisfied with the information, Sting jumped down from her seat and corrected her attire.
Moklan leaned on the counter to make eye contact as she was pretty short, around 168 cm.
"It would be much easier for you if you had those docking codes, you know."
Sting spun around and point one of her upper arms at Moklan while the other hung loose and her lower arms were crossed, "Listen here now, I don't come in here tellin you how to run your damn diner, mister. So don't you be tellin me what I can and can not do."
She paused briefly and looked up to the menu, and continued with a calmer tone, "Now, I think I'll have one o' them Long Island Ice Teas for the road."
Mokland raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, "We don't do to go." he replied with a calm but stern tone.
Sting widened her eyes and made an angry grin, pulling out two [Url=http://jeu.video/uploads/monthly_2015_11/563f35a385a4f_queteexopremieremalediction.jpg.5768c5d566f9a9f9f75f8a2a1134f1dc.jpg]Kerssant Marshall .50's[/Url] and fired a few shots into the roof before pointing them at Moklan, "I said a god damn Long Island Ice Tea for. the. road. Now gimme the damn drink!" she spat between her teeth.
Moklan, intent on not dying over a drink, put his hands up in resignation and whipped together the drink, handing it over to Sting.
She holstered one of her guns to take the drink while one of her lower hands threw the credits onto the counter.
Moklan looked down at the credits and then to Sting who was already at the door.
"Have a good'un and see you around, hoss." she concluded in a jovial tone as opposed to her recent outburst as she stepped out of the door and began walking to the hangar.
Mokland shook his head and hit the light switch, darkening the diner and putting on the [I]Closed[/I] sign at the door before leaving the diner himself.
((Please tell me Sting is joining the crew. We need a drunk space cow[del]boy[/del]girl.))
Before leaving his cell, Jason deployed a tiny medical drone to assist the burned nurse. He equipped himself with the VRI, which, for a gun built by and for tiny hands, was actually quite large, as it followed the same basic design principles as the OBV, the kanad fleet rifle. Nevertheless, Jason made sure his finger would fit through the trigger guard before holstering the gun. Dragging Yadahr along, he stepped through the hall of the blockhouse and out onto the dirty ground of the planet surface. Immediately, a shriek- the type produced by said OBVs, signaled the arrival of a plasma burst which impacted the wall just to the right of him. Jason quickly ducked and got behind a vehicle for cover, before realizing that said vehicle was actually Yadahr's.
---
Jag dropped over the side of the truck and instantly made itself the center of all attention while Markus directed the last-ditch effort to defend the cargo. "Drop your weapons! Last warning!" a Peacekeeper warned. Jag responded by throwing all of its remaining smoke and chaff grenades into the air over its opponents' heads.
CH Estimate: 7/10
[B]Actual: 10[/B]
Roll Passed.
The canisters exploded in a brilliant flash as gray smoke billowed and nearly-invisible shreds of aluminum clouded the air. The enemy soldiers were simultaneously choked, deafened and blinded by the brilliance, while the crew aboard the flatbed were unharmed. However, this made Jag a prime target for the two heavy machine guns mounted on the train itself, which simultaneously opened fire on the spot where Jag had just been standing.
Machine Gunner 1:
CH Estimate: 2/3
[B]Actual: 2[/B]
Roll Passed.
Machine Gunner 1: [B]7[/B] x 2.5(Homefront) = 17.5... 18
Jag: DEF Roll = 4
[B]14 DMG[/B]
Jag HP: 36/50
The first gunner, positioned at the flatbed's one o'clock, had a prime view of the sanghvi just before the grenades detonated. The bullets punctuated the beginning of the true battle as they cracked the air with hundreds of tiny sonic booms. Jag was struck multiple times as it retreated to safety. The second gunner was in a less opportune location, at the truck's seven.
Machine Gunner 2:
CH Estimate: 1/3
[B]Actual: 3[/B]
Roll Passed.
Machine Gunner 2: [B]9[/B] x 2.5(Homefront) = 22.5... 23
Jag: DEF Roll = 5
[B]18 DMG[/B]
Jag HP: 18/50
Despite the poor angle, the gunner correctly predicted the direction in which Jag was likely to move, and managed to tag the mercenary with several more rounds, severely damaging its outer shell. Yet again during this operation, Jag was in mortal danger. Up on the truck, however, Mercy was busy attending to the paralysis of the team's leader. Quickly and carefully, she detached the helmet of Maddox's armor and set it aside, revealing the soldier's grimacing, terror-filled face, frozen since the toxin began its work. She presented a small case and searched it, while simultaneously checking Maddox's symptoms. She made an educated guess at the type of neurotoxin which was employed and injected him with an antidote.
Mercy:
CH Estimate: 5/7
[B]Actual: 1[/B]
Roll Failed.
After injecting the fluid, Mercy massaged Maddox's neck to assist with the uptake, but after several seconds, it was clear that the muscles and sinews weren't relaxing at all. Realizing that the wrong medicine had been administered, Mercy was forced to try something else... but every second that slipped by increased the likelihood of Maddox's death. [I]She would only have one more chance to get it right.[/I] At the same time, Hariim and Istasha worked on trying to clear a path forward, hacking their way into the train's systems. The guns, it seemed, were manually operated and controlled, and could not be disabled.
Hariim + Istasha:
CH Estimate: 1/10 + 1/10 x 3(Ingenuity) = 2/5
[B]Actual: 2[/B]
Roll Failed.
The train itself had to be ancient, just like all the old trucks still being driven across the surface of Voyak. The diesel dinosaur was too archaic, too mechanical to be taken over by a digital attack, and very little could be gleamed from the meager amount of data pulled from its so-called computer. The enemy was beginning to fire at the shadows they perceived as the enemy, but the smoke kept them from actually hitting anything. The smoke was clearing, though, and the crew was somehow in a shittier situation than when they had been in the sewer. It was all up to Porter and his heavy gun to lay down suppressing fire.
(Auto Roll)
Porter:
CH Estimate: 3/5
[B]Actual: 4[/B]
Roll Passed.
Remembering the outcome of a similar, high-profile attack on Prospera, Porter was sure to act in a more careful manner, simply trying to prevent the enemy from overrunning the crew's position rather than standing tall and trying to gun them down. The result- the enemy was pinned down momentarily by the machine gun fire and wasn't able to charge, at least while the smoke from Jag's grenades hung in the air. After almost thirty seconds of continuous fire, the smoke cleared, revealing that the Black Fleet and Peacekeeper forces had gained practically no ground. It was an embarrassment. How were they supposed to fight the Pale Armada if they couldn't take down a gang of bandits on the highway- when said bandits were surrounded, no less?
The commanders on the train weren't quite so fazed. Sometimes, a good operation took a bit longer to execute than one might imagine. There was no reason to hurry here, especially since the mercenaries had a truck full of bombs that neither side wanted to detonate. Once again, they ordered an advance, and once again, they called for the remnants of their fighter wing to peel off.
And again, the fighters failed to respond.
[B]1 Turn Until Air Strike.[/B]
[B]1 Turn Until Extraction.[/B]
[B]??? Turns Until All Hell Breaks Loose.[/B]
Vakarus turned to Taylor. "Taylor'atvan! We are nearing the ground team. My weapons will soon be in range."
"I believe that would be Norwood, Correct? Listen fella. I got no time to brag so let me shoot you and let me take your rifle, Deal?" Jason said with cockiness in his tone while putting Yadahr beside him, Jason prepares to leap out of cover and use his Assault Specialist training he was taught when he first joined the Sparrowhawks.
[B]All Hell Breaks Loose.[/B]
[video=youtube;UoQcMrXxmbE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoQcMrXxmbE[/video]
The Muramasa and the Cataract emerged from the rainy skies over the suburbs of Vohmdash with their speed and capabilities restored, as the mechanics on both ships had been working hard to restore them to fighting strength. Unfortunately, the destroyed flak cannons on the Muramasa were still out of commission, but with partial weapons capability, Vakarus scanned the horizon for the remainder of the enemy fighter wing. The light of the sun above became blinding as they entered the desert, but the radar could see right through it all- three enemy fighters closing from roughly 90 degrees out, their eyes glued to Route 9, where the away team was pinned down by the enemy. At this distance, it would be just about impossible for the corvettes to tackle the nimble fighters, and the same could be said the other way around. Not that either side was particularly concerned with their own battle; it was a race to see which side could intervene first.
The commander of the Black Fleet troopers onboard the train had now resorted to contacting Yovek for support in calling off the fighters. It was soon clear that the remainder of the wing was dead-set on revenge, in direct contempt of superior orders.
[quote][You are about to kill hundreds of your own comrades! You will disengage immediately!][/quote]
[quote][Negative.][/quote]
[quote][What do you mean, negative? We've confirmed the presence of high-yield explosives on the lead truck-][/quote]
[quote]We will not disengage. They forced us to kill our brothers and sisters; blood begets blood, sir.[/quote]
[quote][Bullshit! Pull up or we'll be forced to fire on you!][/quote]
The fighters were pulling ahead, even as the Muramasa threw all of its power into the engines. On the ground, the Peacekeepers and Batakya troopers swarmed the sides of the trucks and began to vault into the flatbed. Toothache and Johannes were each ripped from the drivers seats of their respective cabs even as the machine guns and missile batteries began to turn away, toward the sky. As the pocket collapsed, the crew opened fire for the brief seconds they had before they were in a melee with their opponents, and with so many hands in such close quarters, it was impossible to take them all on.
Amazingly, Mercy found herself being protected by the enemy forces while she dealt with Maddox, even as the other crewmembers were thrown over the sides of the truck onto the dusty highway. One of the kanad troopers leaned in and indicated which toxin had been used against the team leader, and so Mercy, with great concentration, was able to administer the correct medicine on the second try. It was clear that the Black Fleet wished to take the crew alive. Only Porter remained standing on the flatbed, with his considerable strength, he held up against a dozen opponents even as they grappled him and bashed him with the buttstocks of their rifles. Among the others, Istasha had surrendered peacefully, while Johannes struggled onward with a ferocious barrage of ice and sword attacks before being wrestled to the ground and electrocuted with a stun weapon. Markus was quickly beaten down, but despite repeated blows, gripped his rifle with the strength of a man possessed. Hariim had been concussed by a strike from an enemy rifle and was unable to properly resist. Jag, in order to avoid being trampled, rolled under the flatbed itself and struck back against its pursuers.
It seemed like the end, but at that moment, an order was called over the enemy comms which caused them to stop fighting immediately. All at once, the Peacekeepers and troopers craned their heads toward the sky, the kanads and gohvas, and the occassional human and phirin, scrambling to the outer edges of the arena the train had created. Only the ahra-phi, numbering somewhere around sixty heads, stood their ground, and with a fearful, yet duty-bound determination, raised their arms. They weren't surrendering; they were preparing for the air strike.
The three fighters took up an echelon formation in order to cover as much ground as possible, targeting the entire field of battle to ensure that the Muramasa crew could not escape. They prepped all of their remaining rockets for fire and unleashed them at the same moment the train did the same with its own anti-aircraft missiles. With a howl, the missiles tore through the air with equal ferocity in opposite directions as the mass metaphysical distortion of the ahra-phi Peacekeepers set in above their heads. Machine guns mounted in the noses of the jets did battle against those mounted on the trains as the rockets began to impact the ground, the train, and beyond, exploding into brilliant fireballs of death and destruction, [I]but none of them hit the trucks.[/I] The anti-aircraft missiles, uninhibited by such forces, struck their marks like dominos, breaking the fighters apart in a blaze of debris and carnage, but not before hundreds of large caliber machine gun bullets were deflected in random directions, striking dozens of the enemy fighters, including the ones cowering at the edges of the scene.
The Muramasa dropped in behind the tumbling fighters and switched their target to the train itself, firing a heavy anti-ship missile at the ground just beyond the ring. The crew, staggering back onto their feet as the shockwaves ripped pounded them, were nearly thrown to the ground again as the train car blocking their progress forward was blown open like an over-flooded dam. With considerable effort, they regained control of the trucks, throwing the few remaining enemies from the flatbed in the process, and restarted their engines. Straining to see through the smoke and reddish hell-glow of the fire all around, Toothache and Johannes put pedal to the metal, and the trucks roared indignantly as they surged onward, slamming into the remainder of the destroyed rail car. The wheels lost traction, the suspension bottomed out, and it wasn't clear what was happening as the trucks descended into the literal crater beyond the shredded steel, before they reached the bottom of the basin and emerged on the other side, bursting from the smoke like jets from a cloud. Toothache howled through the radio in desperation.
[quote]Alright, Muramasa, switch to flying in reverse and get on up behind us! *cough* Johannes, pull up next to me![/quote]
The flatbed thundered ahead in high gear, catching up the bomb truck, whose doors were still flapping open in the wind. The Muramasa descended from the sky above them, rotating through a combination of thrust vectoring and careful use of the flight control surfaces. Owen broke out in a sweat as his HUD displayed the view out of the back of the craft as he closed on the trucks and the ground simultaneously. The ramp hit the highway with a loud thump, sending sparks into the air as the two trucks let off their accelerators, bringing them right up to the edge. They were too large to fit into the ship together, and so the away team was ordered to dismount onto the ramp. One by one, they jumped onto the awaiting surface, with the most injured of them coming last. Finally, Johannes pulled further to the side, opened the driver-side door, and used his jump jets to leap onto the ramp as the flatbed coasted onward, rumbling off the road and into the desert.
With the away team safely aboard, the bomb truck crept backwards until it was properly aligned, and in one tense moment, rolled up onto the ramp, reversing as Toothache guided the beast upward into the main tunnel of the craft. The ramp raised itself up from the road as the Muramasa began to rise as well, and, moments later, both it and its sister ship were soaring again, heading deeper into the desert, away from civilization and danger. Within minutes, they had escaped from enemy radar screens by flying into a dry, rocky mountain range several horizons away, and began to look for a place to land and rest before the final stage of the operation. Elsewhere, Wilson confirmed that he had retrieved the targeting beacon and would soon rendezvous with the crew, but only after communications security had been restored.
[B][Mission Update]
Current Objectives:
✔ Gain entry to Dyatiq
✘ Retrieve Frosty's body
✘ Destroy or disable at least half of the missiles
✔ Retrieve fire bombs and false attack beacon
* Destroy two Dyatiq targeting stations
Future Objectives:
* Assault Yovek Airbase
* Recover Archive I
* Escape Voyak[/B]
---
Jason, deciding to stand and fight rather than run, leapt out of cover and attacked with the VRI he had taken from Yadahr. Opposing him, he found not Norwood, as he expected, but five armored Black Fleet troopers who had been called by the human scientist instead. His surprise attack caught them all off guard, giving him the initiative.
Jason:
[B]9[/B] + 3(Assault) = [B]12 DMG[/B]
[B]2[/B] x (No Feat Applicable) = [B]2 DMG[/B]
[B]4[/B] x (No Feat Applicable) = [B]4 DMG[/B]
[B]6[/B] x (No Feat Applicable) = [B]6 DMG[/B]
[B]4[/B] x (No Feat Applicable) = [B]4 DMG[/B]
The plasma pistol struck the enemies one by one, but failed to do critical damage to any of them. In response, the angered troopers shredded Jason with their own volley, teaching him that initiative alone wasn't enough to take on an entire squad of troopers. To win, one must also have a solid plan of attack, and quite a bit of luck.
Kanads 1-5: [B]{2, 7, 7, 9, 6}[/B] + 10(Numbers) = {12 + 17 + 17 + 19 + 16} = 81(!)
Jason: DEF Roll = {4, 1, 3, 4, 4} = 16
[B]65 DMG[/B]
Jason HP: 28/100
Jason had been badly burned by the enemy's plasma, but he was lucky he hadn't been killed. Scrambling back into cover, he found the Major, sedated and clumsy, trying to unlock the door to his truck using his biometrics in an effort to escape from him.
Mercy sighs, getting up to her knees before falling backwards onto the flatbed. She takes a few deep breaths, before simply asking, "...Is zhis... usually how zhese missions go...?"
Markus threw his rifle aside and turned his head frantically, breathing heavily as the adrenaline began to disappear from his system.
He took a few heavy breaths before kneeling down and tearing of his mask to stabilize his breathing.
after kneeling in silence for a few seconds he let out a low laugh before rising from the floor again.
Walking over to the place where Porter had put down Maddox and Mercy was examining him, "We should take 'im to the med bay, luv." he said as he picked up Maddox's limp body from the floor.
He turned towards Jag, "Ya might wanna get those cracks looked at, mate" he concluded as he headed for the med bay with Mercy in tow.
---
Yuga had remained calm on the surface, but had been quite stressed on the inside during the extraction. She was not used to high-octane action and this was not a pleasant experience for her.
When she got the confirmation that the ramp had closed she corrected her hat and looked to Taylor, "Perhaps you should inspect your crew. I will remain here to consult Va'un and Ms Fermi about the weapons repair and locate a landing zone for us."
She took out her compass and released some vapors while opening a channel to Bucky, "Ms Fermi, diagnostics, please."
Vakarus's body had gone into a combat rush during the extraction. He breathed out heavily and laughed before looking at Owen.
"You bring much honor to your house! Your actions re worthy of song and dance!"
-----
Maddox eyeballed Markus angrily and gurgled as the convict picked him up from the floor with little effort.
After this day of fighting was said and done, Jag took some time to gather itself while aboard the Muramasa again.
Cycling out the planet's polluted air from within it's system to regain some energy for it's worn and damaged body.
The thoughts of doubt wandered into it's mind for an brief moment, the time within carbon space has taken quite the troll on the Sanghvi.
Pondering the stakes for moment more, wondering on what to do next with itself. And back onto it's what it has loss.
Though Jag was taken back by the voice from behind, the fellow comrade Markus. Rising it's head to listen.
[QUOTE]"Ya might wanna get those cracks looked at, mate" he concluded as he headed for the med bay with Mercy in tow.[/QUOTE]
"Acknowledged, Marksmen Markus." Jag said in a tired tone towards Markus before looking about it's surroundings.
Concluding an second later that will trail alongside Markus and Mercy.
Mercy sighs, rubbing her temples, "So, ahm, my question from before was never answered, but, ah, do missions wiss zhis team usually involve fighting literal shit, getting surrounded and almost blown to hell multiple times?"
At this point she's taken off her helmet, hooking it to her belt. She looks up at Maddox, rubbing the back of her neck. "And, erm, sorry for..." She clears her throat, "Almost, er... getting you killed, back zhere."
Markus carried Maddox over his shoulder and replied to Mercy with a hearty laugh, "Miss, I'm an outlaw. I've seen some nutty things over the year while I was runnin' with Daggers an' 'is crew, but this is somethin' I'd rather not get used to. But if ya can 'andle yerself in this weather, yer a real tough nut. Aint that right, grease monkey?." he said while clapping Maddox on the back.
"I've handle worse situations myself in the past, Medic Mercy." Jag added onto their conversation.
"Though I haven't encountered quite like the creature fought within the depths of the septic system." Jag said while reflecting back onto it's battle with the disgusting monster earlier.
"Gah, Shit, Bad Idea, again.." Jason looks at his wounds and reaches for his pocket to pull out another Medical Drone and starts working on his wounds. while doing this. He sees Yadahr trying to escape on the Vehicle.
"Oh no you don't!" Jason a barrage of plasma from the VDL to the limbs of Yadahr. and tries to pull him out and escape.
[QUOTE]"Perhaps you should inspect your crew. I will remain here to consult Va'un and Ms Fermi about the weapons repair and locate a landing zone for us."[/QUOTE]
"You do that. Keep an eye out for anyone trying to tail us." said Taylor, as she straightened up from where she was standing at the map. Not even captain anymore, and she's still acting as if she should be giving orders. "Good work, Owen and Vakarus." she said towards each of them, before departing from the bridge.
Hopefully nobody was killed or severely injured during the op. She proceeded quickly down the hall, before spotting Maddox, Mercy, Markus, and Jag. "You guys look like hammered shit. Everyone alive?" said Taylor, a bit relieved to see that they were still alive.
Jason quickly deployed another medical drone to try to heal himself in a hurry.
CH Estimate: 3/5
[B]Actual: 5[/B]
Roll Passed.
+20 HP
Jason HP: 48/100
After recovering a bit of strength, and having noticed Yadahr's attempt to escape, pointed the VRI at the Major's legs as he tried to hoist himself into the truck.
Jason: [B]3[/B] x (No Feat Applicable) = [B]3 DMG[/B]
The plasma grazed the officer in the inner knee, causing him to wince and sort of... just... lean against the truck in utter pain. He didn't say or do anything as Jason grabbed him and pushed him aside, stepping into the truck himself from the passenger side and slide over to the driver's side. Seeing that the ignition switch was also biometrically locked, he was forced to open the door again, scoop Yadahr off the ground, and press his thumb into the sensor to get the thing to start. A moment later, he was off, roaring away from the blockhouse while the troopers fired fruitlessly at the truck.
The cargo in the back, the Archive, was clearly important, based on the conversation Jason had overheard a moment earlier. But his top priority was to contact the crew of the Muramasa and rendezvous with them somewhere safe. It wouldn't be long before the Black Fleet deployed vehicles to chase him, and so he needed to decide which direction to drive, either toward the city of Vohmdash, away on the rural roads, or to abandon the road altogether and risk it on the mountain terrain.
[QUOTE]"You guys look like hammered shit. Everyone alive?"[/QUOTE]
"Affirmative Captain Taylor," Jag answered, walking past both Mercy and Markus, "Though Team Leader Maddox seems to have suffered an dose of some toxin fired from one of the UGC snipers."
Jag glanced back over the incapacitated soft-carbon. "It doesn't appear to be too debilitating," Jag said before turning back to face Taylor.
"I'm confident that our medical staff will have Maddox rehabilitated within the planetary rotation period, Captain Taylor."
"Fuckin' hell.. For a truck, why the hell do you need a bio-lock?" Jason said driving away from the blockhouse and driving in the main road but, stops and pulls over and activates the GPS.
"Okay, so i need to think fast. The Muramasa crew could be anywhere, hell. even in orbit, so i would need some sort of communication device to rendezvous with them, The city is not a good idea, Too much attention. Driving in the mountainous terrain is going to risk me losing the precious cargo. So Rural is the only option i have."
Jason searches for any type of communication devices he can find in the Truck and finds a comms radio in the Glove Compartment
"Score! Now lets get to the Rural roads"
High Councilor Quint Wayford adjusted his collar and cleared his throat. He glanced to his left. "Any more news Keith?" The loyal administrator grimaced as he looked up from his touchpad. "Three more worlds have fallen. USR forces turned them into dust."
Wayford shook his head. It had barely gone a day since the leader of the Fists of Sol, Lord Vexar Sword, had declared war against the Sol Government and already a dozen of worlds had fallen to the hordes of fanatics and terrorists hellbent on killing anyone even remotely sympathetic to the Sol cause.
"Well, then let's deliver our response." Said Wayford as he stepped up onto the podium protected by five energy shields and a squad of SIG guardsmen. Keith sat down on a chair nearby.
Wayford looked out on the assembled crowd consisting of press and civilians.
"Greetings, I am High Councilor Quint Wayford of the Sol Government. I have called this press conference in response to the declaration of war forwarded by this United Sol Resistance."
Several camera drones approached the podium and zoomed in on Wayford.
"Our resppnse is this: the United Sol Resistance will fail. They are nothing more but a misled group of angry dissidents. The united might of the Sol Defense Forces will meet them head-on. We will finish what our ancestors did not.
To our allies; we thank you for your continued support. Support Sol and we will return the favor. Make no mistake, Sol will still stand in one year from now. And the next year. And the next one after that."
"Thank you."
[QUOTE]"I'm confident that our medical staff will have Maddox rehabilitated within the planetary rotation period, Captain Taylor."[/QUOTE]
"Good. Get the injured to medical, and get yourself fixed up too. I need to speak with Hariim about an issue with comms." she said, glancing towards Maddox before looking back at Jag. "Good job out there. Looks like luck was on our side there at the end." she continued, before patting Mad on the shoulder and departing.
Markus grinned as Taylor gave them her regards.
He gave Mercy and Jag a glance and corrected his grip on Maddox on his shoulder, "Well c'mon then, Cap'n says we've gotta get in shape so le's get 'his meatbag into the Medbay."
---
[I]Meanwhile on the opposite side of the galaxy, in the Chasers Grave[/I]
Wana Kromm stood up from his chair and leaned on the table, looking over to Hakuyambhi, "So you're stating the obvious here, then?"
Hakuyambhi sat eating an entire pork leg, a rare delicacy in this part of the galaxy.
"As I was saying, Kromm, Captain Gobukhan reported that the Bloodrunner ship, pressumably with your cargo on it, last entered hyperspace sometime after embarking from Fintan."
Hynam Sidikan released som kyz vapors into her mask before letting out an almost orgasmic breath and slumping back into her chair. She eyed Kromm with dozy eyes from beneath the brim of her cap, "It's true, big boy. My quartermaster's man on the inside at the Wupash monitoring station confirms that those fucking idiots miscalculated the jump, and the got wasted and had their ship scrapped by an Imperial patrol. You've got nothing to worry about, dear."
Kromm raised his eyebrows at this reply and focused on Hynam, "So what will Captain Mihok tell our contractor in the covenant?"
Gerald Daggers had been discussing with his comms officer and turned back to the table, "You tell them that whatever mystery craft they managed to ping coming from the uncharted pit has been dealt with. The Bloodrunners capture it, the Royal Marines dispose of it and you get paid. End of story."
He slowly got up from his chair and looked at the other high captains gathered around the table.
"Now I've got some proper news for you."
[Media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMSoo4B2hFU[/media]
"I've just got word that Sol is in deep shit. Old enemies have come out of the wood works and are tearing them a new one as we speak."
A murmur went around the table, and Gerald continued.
"With Sol surrounded by outlaws and fanatics, the suits int the pocket will soon have a whole lot more to worry about."
He eyed the crowd with a smirk, turning to Kromm, "Now's the time."
Kromm returned a smile before turning back to the other high captains, "Well you heard him", he said with a fierce voice, "Now's the time for us to go knocking on the suits' door. When we tighten the vice, they'll give us our part of the galaxy or WE WILL TAKE WHAT BELONGS TO US!"
a cheer was building in the crowd but Kromm was intent on building the gained momentum, "All in favor say AYE!" he yelled with his fist raised.
A thunderous, unanimus, AYE returned from the crowd.
Shortly after, communications spread like a wild fire through the entire renegade sector.
A pirate armada had begun it's rallying, one which the likes the galaxy had never seen.
After a long distance of driving in the rurals, Jason drives up a small hill, with enough concealment to hide the truck and him.
"Okay, time to radio them in, I need them to be here fast as possible before the Black Fleet gets to me.. I think i saw some flares in the utility box i found in the back where "The Archive" is. I can use that as a marker where i'm at But. That means Black Fleet knows where im at too. So i might have to set a defensive perimiter around this hill. If it gets breached, the Machine gun in this truck can mow'em down."
Jason Finishes up the details, and then turns on the Comms radio to contact the Muramasa Ship and its crew.
[QUOTE]"Good. Get the injured to medical, and get yourself fixed up too. I need to speak with Hariim about an issue with comms." she said, glancing towards Maddox before looking back at Jag. "Good job out there. Looks like luck was on our side there at the end."[/QUOTE]"Acknowledged Captain Taylor." Jag said, ending with an light nod to it's captain before tailing along with Markus and the rest of the ground team heading towards the medbay.
While beginning the first few steps in their short trek down towards the Muramasa corridors, Jag turn it's glaze to Markus.
"So Marksmen Markus and Medic Mercy, any acts of interest that you too would care to share?" Jag asked coldly as their pasted the first doorway.
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