Overhearing Drano's radio transmission Dusk looked up from rifling through a saddlebag to mention, "Perhaps there has been some mis understanding.  I believe I am to guide.  Were you not given maps?"  He fished a personal computer from a belt pocket, unfolded it and began calling up his own annotated version of the one he'd been given on being assigned to the station.  (OOC: at top of thread)(er, of the C12 thread)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:50, Wed 25 Apr 2012.

Just because it didn't have wings didn't mean it couldn't fly. "Ok Dusk you can stick with me as well. If Mephisto gets into some serious shit we can provide covering fire while he pulls back."

"What your supposed to be the local guide? Fair enough. Let's upload those maps to my mecha and if Smoke want's an upload him too."

The big borg lifted his right hand, then extends his thick pinky finger. There is a faint click, and the pinky tip splits, a small jack extending outwards slightly.

"Sounds solid to me. Always did like knowing where the hell I am." He rumbles, holding out a hand for one of the mini-comps.

The private jogs over as fast as he can from Silvermasque's squad without causing a panic, and tries to catch his breath. He salutes Drano, and in-between breaths, hands over a data-pad to any interested. "Maps. Sir." He states, among more heavy breathing.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:56, Wed 25 Apr 2012.

In reply to Drano Pierce (msg #9):

"You need not fear any of my servants, any more than you need to fear myself. In Pluto's past history with demons, the trouble was with the Brodkil, and a pair of gargoyles they recruited, and then more recently with Portia and her goons. Servants under the command of an allied mage, are as loyal as the mage. So assuming you trust me, then they are some of the most loyal members on the squad." He grins his usual grin at that last comment of his, knowing full-well nobody trusted him.
This message was last updated by the player at 06:44, Wed 25 Apr 2012.

The DB's bonhomie faded a bit.  "Yes, the native scouts most familiar with this land are mostly passed.  So I take us by the trails that seem luckiest, to those of us still here."

PM

   "Hey Mephisto, not everyone here get's trained in magic so on behalf of the squad can I ask a favour?  Can we hear you order these fuckin' creatures not to harm even a hair on our chinny chin chins?" Lotus pauses. "I'm not joking.  I want to hear you tell them.  I don't give a fuck if you can order them otherwise five minutes from now.  I just want to be able to sleep at night."
   The mystic knight stares at the shifter from behind her demonic helm, still seated atop her gryphon and gently stroking its mane of feathers.

Drano put in his two credits. "Mephisto, I just want to ensure that the things you summoned do not harm any of us.”

Mephisto was taken back at the way Lotus was speaking to him, barking orders at him... Mephisto considered forcing her to kneel before him, until Drano spoke up as well.

"I assure you Sergeant, they will pose no threat. I have summoned many beings to serve me since I joined Pluto, and not once has there been an infraction. I find it insulting that now, my abilities are doubted and questioned."

Mephisto is visibly angry.

Drano tried to smoth things over he certainly didn't need the shifter waling off all pissed off. "Look Mephisto, the actions of those Brodkil have marred the reputation of ALL demonic beings who are willing to fight for Tolkeen. You say your summoned beings will do no harm and I accept that. But proving that they mean no harm goes along way to repair the perceived reputation they have."

"I see. It is not my duty to repair that perceived reputation. In fact it is not my problem at all. I believe that responsibility would lie with the officers in fact..."

"They're demons, bucko. Losing control and finding loopholes in the command of their owner is part and parcel to the package."

Rumbles the 'demon killer' Borg, dull optics focused not on Mephisto so much as the twin demons. Large metal hands flex for a moment, before he continues.

"'Course, that ain't the damn excercise here. Ain't we got somewhere to march?" Optics slide aside, to Drano, the borg's lower jaw shifting back and forth for a moment. ".. Sir?" Nothing wrong with the supernatural, so far as Perkins could see. His specific was just for the supernatural what had a taste for things screaming and scuttling about. Those type, he could do without - but there was no profit in wasting ammo knocking off a couple of jacktooths when there were skull boys itching for ventilation.

Mephisto turns and heads over to his hover skiff, along with the two demons. As he is taking point, he starts it up and heads south west at a speed of 30 kph. "Mr Dusk, let me know if there is anything I should avoid..."

Dusk had by now returned from his own summoning, seemingly unaccompanied by any new monsters other than the two animals with him earlier.  If he had contacted something and brought it on patrol, he must have told it to stay hidden. 

Eyebrows finally lowering from the shifter's persecution Dusk nudged his mount up next to the skiff and called from the saddle, "Abandoned village five miles southwest.  Must be careful near there, the Deadboys plant traps sometimes."  He finished replenishing his stores from the nearby ley line and began drawing energy to enspell himself and his animals before leaving the bounty of free PPE.  He finished by pulling a cloak of darkness around his own form to protect from the climbing sun.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:15, Sun 29 Apr 2012.

PM

As they moved Drano let the issue with Mephisto drop for now. Upon hearing about the village up ahead he called it in one the radio. "Nutari, we got a deserted village ahead. Local scout says it might have mines and other traps. You want us to skirt around it or conduct a search?"

There weren't many vehicles that Perkins couldn't pace. Being too big for most mobility platforms meant that the big damn borg had to BE a mobility platform; Between size, robotic endurance, and the cyber-jet nodules he could usually keep up with damn near anything ground-bound. With ammo chains jangling and clanking, power cables swaying with each long step, the Borg listens in on the command frequency. Working his jaw for a moment before he switches to a short-range for Drano.

<"I can peel off and sweep it, hoss. Telescopic optics and all that business.">

He has no cigar clamped now - it wouldn't keep flame in the passing wind.

As the squad set out Dusk let his mount fall behind from level with Mephisto's skiff to next to Lotus still perched on the ground.  At first he made sure the demonrunner approached slow and low, ready to spring away, but the gryphon seemed well trained enough to suffer another predator's approach.  Leaning over he asked her, "Pardon, miss, you work magic too yes?  Is the Mr. Pierce opposed to it or just summoners?"  Apparently he hadn't been present to see that it was Lotus herself who started the demand for loyalty oaths from the demons.

Drano alternated between normal and thermal optics as the patrol moved out. "Listen up we're going to byass the village Dusk mentioned."

The patrol so far was a nice break from the constant dangerous missions Pluto was continuously sent on. Although, patrolling out ahead of the front lines wan't actually safe...

The sky is turning grey, and the sun is slowly disappearing behind large rain clouds. It would be raining soon.

Mephisto pipes up over the squad-channel "Hey Sarge, how far out should we go around this village? I say we stay close, maybe we end up seeing some dead boys, and we can take 'em out."

<"Kinda the damn point of patrol. See if any skull heads are hidin' round.">


Grumbles Perkins over comm, still thumping along in the caravan. His bare metal skull shifts sideways, optics whirring as enhancement is placed. Despite the grumbling, however, he won't break ranks with what 'the big hat' said - just proceed forward, sticking nice and close like a good twelve foot tall mobile weapon platform.


The sinking sun has given his rust color a far more bolder hue, making him appear bathed in crimson as opposed to lightly dusted in dirt camo. His shadow lengthening somewhere towards the horizon, with the swinging chains and pistoning legs.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:35, Mon 07 May 2012.

Drano thought about Mephisto's question for a bit before answering.  "Let's keep a kilometer between us and the village. No sense in taking chances."

Led by Mephisto the group moves ahead, keeping about a KM away from the deserted village. It starts to rain lightly just as the town comes into view. It is a very small place, population would have been less than a thousand. The buildings are mostly wooden, and the streets are dirt, with planks of wood, that used to form bridges from building to building, and down the middle of the road.

Nothing appears suspicious.