As Madness' body is filled with magic energy, pulling together muscle tissue, then repairing burnt flesh, the world around him changes. For as long as he can remember, the sky has been an oppressive force, always speaking to him in the voice of his father, a malicious old gene splicer. That voice was no more. In its place was that of a woman. The things it said were only slightly kinder, but still a marked improvement. The aggressive Madness that the group had seen was pushed back, deep into the realms of his subconscious -- at least for the time being.

With Ahnaka's hands still on him, the two begin to float in the air. After she has finished healing him, he turns to face her. He hugs her like a child holding a toy bear; "Thank you, I owe you my life."

With that he floats up into the air, as if he were a butterfly, and Ahnaka is returned to the ground gingerly.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:01, Thu 26 Apr 2007.

Or rather, she would have been had she not been borne up by magic of her own.  She arches a fine eyebrow at him, then nods.

"I'll let you know when I'll want to collect on it, then," she replies.

Glancing at the gaping tunnel into the earth, she turns her attention to the scattered...leadership...of this battle-ragged band.

"I assume there is some sort of plan?" she calls out in a clear, challenging voice.

PM
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:09, Sat 28 Apr 2007.

 After no more than a few minutes - and certainly not half long enough for comfort - 'Masque returns at some speed, bounding in long, loping strides that see him clearing the partly barricaded bridge without effort to make his report, and using his heavy-duty speakers to do so - no sense keeping /this/ one quiet.

 "We are having six spider-walkers at seven and a half klicks... four of them scouts. We are not having time to be standing around with thumbs in asses, is safe to say they have help on way..."

 He slows down to a merely ground-eating pace, coming at last to a stop not far from the gathering squads as he looks about, trying to get a sense of how long it's going to be before the team shake themselves down for movement - and movement at best speed at that, given the likely weight of metal the Coalition will throw at them.

 And in the process of course he spots the shambling undead force that's begining to collect around the necromancer, moving at a snails pace (though they're still faster on the ground than Arven - but of course /he/ can always ride something) in the lizard-things wake.

 He doesn't even seem to think as a visible shudder rolls through his two-tonne cybernetic frame, and he reaches up over his shoulder for the heavy Wellington arms grenade launcher once more.

 Oh yes - he doesn't like the undead, does he?

"if we are to be leaving who should I follow? I wouldn't want to get lost"

"No I am not in charge of the others. But I do frequently enlist the aid of powerful beings such as yourself. We will be leaving together - stay near to me and you will be fine my friend."

If you have 6th sense it is going off...

"Shit... Lotus is still down there." Climbing out from his foxhole he begins limping over in the direction of the tunnel entrance. Stopping suddenly he looks over in the direction of the bridge trying to peer through the smoke. "Shit!" the Rahu-Man says again this time alittle more emphatically and begins his slow loping run towards the underground tunnel.

"Fight or Flee, someone tell me something"

   Arven is confronted by the shadowy form of Dalamar, still concealed by his shadow cloak.  But there is no mistaking the legless corpse wrapped in a blanket and hovering four feet off the ground.  Dalamar has a handful of the blanket, apparently controlling where the body of his brother will float.  He looks up at the tall rahu-man, reading his face.
   "What is it?"  The black mage asks, obviously detecting Arven's distress.

"The Coaltion is about to crash this fucking party hardcore. Im gonna go down there and let em' know. Sorry bout your bro man." Arven heads down the tunnel ducking if he needs to. Despite what he said to Dalamar he really only cares about finding Lotus.

Arven disappears into the tunnel, while Dalamar puts Caramons' body inside the mountaineer, with the other recovered dead. (Maitlyn, Patulik, Quinn, Ulik, Seifer, White Moon. The others : Harmon, Takimatsu, Marlene, Zephram and Jonas have been destroyed - there is nothing worth carrying...

Shortly after Arven and Lotus come charging back up. Lotus returns to her hovercycle, Arven climbs on top of the mountaineer.

A minute or two behind them comes Tyirrak, carrying the body of Sharp The Red over his shoulder - before adding it to the other dead. Followed by Lord Osema, Gendun and Klowkuh - rittled with flesh wounds, their armour is literally hanging off of them. Calliandra is next, carrying the body of a prisoner. Magnet Man follows, levitating a ball of weapons, grenades and ammo in front of him. 15 prisoners burst into freedom outside of the tunnels along with the underground squad.

Of the prisoners, several are healthy and able to pilot some of the Coalition hovercycles left around. Also, some of the dead Pluto Company members, no longer need their hovercycles.

Prisoners - you can choose a TW hovercycle (abilities unknown for now), or one of the norhtern gun-made Coalition hovercycles.

Mephisto calls up to Cannon - "We are leaving this place my friend. come along." The shifter then takes his hovercycle to the front of the pack, ahead of the ATVs.

Pluto Company set out with their rescued prisoners, and the two Atlantean Bounty Hunters that were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Three os the prisoners are recognizable ones to the majority of the company : Capt. Sorkhan Shira, McKnight - the medic, and Tecumseh the Cyber Knight. (formerly of Pluto Company) One of the prisoners is a recognizable Sgt. Jack (formerly of 2nd Platoon) - to the golem-warlock Obidiah. This flee for safety is not the time to catch up however...

The hovercycles take the lead : Lotus, Razgriz, Dalamar, Mephisto, Lord Osema, Reginald, Gendun, Klowkuh, Magnet Man, Mithas, Tyirrak, followed by the Mountaineer, the rolling thunder and the trail blazer.

Arven again, rides on top of the mountaineer (driven by Lt. Xion), Obidiah hangs on to one of the side handles of the trailblazer (piloted by Calliandra). The wounded : Jelme, Braga, Madness, half of the prisoners, are loaded into the back of the rolling thunder, (driven by Van).

Cannon Fodder, Lt. Drake, Attila, and Silvermasque follow behind the ATVs.

The sounds of COalition jet engines can be heard approaching from the opposite direction - as Pluto Company charges towards Tolkeen... the long journey home is still ahead...
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:51, Tue 01 May 2007.

Dropping communications jamming, a futile effort now, Drake contacts Lt. Xion over a private frequency.

Jack doesn't stay for the Brodkil "sport", only pausing briefly to wish their deaths on them. He does offer Callie his arm to escort her out of the tunnel, smiling and apologizing, "Sorry about the smell currently. Someone pissed all over me. Are you hurt or anything?" He will make small talk with her to try and keep her mind off her dead compatriots until they are out of the tunnel. "I'm around again now, if you need me, Callie. You have but to ask. Right now, I need to go...what's the word?...ah, yes...requisition me a new vehicle..."

Jack dearly wishes to take his natural form upon leaving the cavern, but doesn't want to be a  big target so in stead he goes over and mounts up on one of the TW hovercycles not currently in use. He looks at his tattered, dirty and stinky armor and sighes. A bath and armor repair and clean will have to wait. He does have an eyebrow raise at the Lotus and Arven reunion, how close they seem to be and thinks to himself, Interesting. Supernatural love. How sweet.

Freed of his restraints and under the open air, Karnon is spitting out vomit onto the ground and tearing at the fur of his face trying to rid himself of more of it. Hardly a dignified look, but at the moment the wolfen couldn't care less.

He snagged himself a energy rifle, checking it only cursorily, before leaping over the back of the closest non Coalition hoverbike, preferring to avoid further symbols of his imprisonment.

He still felt dangerously vulnerable... without his talismans or armor. His spells would be his defense.

Zor takes a seat in the back of the rolling thunder, but before doing so he casts a cleanse spell on himself and the other prisoners. They may be wearing nothing but rags, but they should be clean rags, not filthy ones. He wondered what the status of Mars Company was after the battle at Hillcrest. Did most of them get away before the town was destroyed? If so where was Mars Company operating now?

While driving away Xion attempts to hail Saturn company on the radio.

Taking command of one of the spare hovercycles, in lieu of her own hovercar she is forced to leave behind the line of advancing Coalition troops, the tattooed woman seems willing to throw her lot in with that of the Tolkeen forces -- for now, at least.  To do otherwise would likely prove fatal, so it's hardly a surprise....

PM

After a ten second delay, and some squeeling static - a voice responds over the radio : "One step ahead of you Mr. Spock. Just keep haulin' ass - we'll handle the rest."

Pluto races away from the battle scene, dozens of SAMAS coming into view now, and six spider-walker climb over the bridge and crawl over the battle field.

Pluto Company blasts past Saturn Companys' position - at least 150 soldiers - lying in wait for the SAMAS to come within range. Bull Ova, the giant Ape waves as Pluto COmpany leaves them too, behind.

Explosions from their battle can be heard long after Pluto leaves the area...

A grim mood hangs over the survivors of this prisoner rescue. The only talking done is by Xion when he directs the group to change direction to avoid certain terrain.

This mood hangs over, until the towers of Tolkeen are spotted in the distance.

The wounded and dead are dropped off at the military hospital first - where a transport is waiting to receive the prisoners. All of the prisoners are taken into Tolkeen custody except Na-Wa. Nobody knew the psi-stalker would be on the APCs.

The rest of the company heads to their barracks where they are intercepted and debriefed seperately - probably around the rescued prisoners are as well.

Tolkeens' main focus at first is how much they knew about their captured Coalition Emperor. It turned out to be a D-Bee, transformed to look like the man. Originally sent to kill, and replace the emperor - it had been brainwashed and sent back to us...


The mercenaries are payed - and the company is sent to a seperate section of the barracks for a peaceful sleep. Even apart from the gathered new recruits, and 1st Platoon.

Na-Wa, Ahnaka, and Cannon Fodder are offered contracts to serve Tolkeen in the war. (I will let you know the contracts and such)

In the morning the entire company and about half of the prisoners are gathered by a Colonels' tent.

"I am Colonel Hendricks. Tolkeen wants to congratulate Pluto Company and thank you all for your bravery and sacrifice. We understand it could not have been easy to have suffered the losses your company did in capturing this spy. We can not show how grateful we are.

After this meeting the mercenaries are to report to Zed, to receive payment, and supplies. But for now I have some promotions to hand out.

Tyirrak - promoted to 2nd Lieutenant

Magnet Man - promoted to Sergeant

Van - promoted to Corporal

"Of the rescued prisoners, several are soldiers anxious to return to battle.

Three of which served on your company before. Captain Sorkhan Shira, Sarah McKnight : The Medic, and Tecumseh the Cyber Knight.

The others are the two wolfen : Maeth and Karnon. Lieutenat Dyvalis, Major Karno, and Dekker - the smuggler.

Your platoons have been re-organized - please report to your officer before setting out to Zeds' or elsewhere in the kingdom.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:43, Wed 02 May 2007.

The Madness is returned in full health, and Braga returns with a pair of bionic legs. Both are anxious to get wounded again. Jelme returns - with his face replaced... again... it would seem to those who saw him before being admitted to this hospital - that the cyber armour, had nearly covered his entire head under the skin...

Platoon assignments will be posted shortly...

 Precisely what Xion says to 'Masque to keep him from unloading the remainder of his grenades on the growing undead host and their macabre commander is unknown - the only thing we can be sure of is that there was a lot of urgent whispering involved.


 In any case, when the group muster out he pops copies of the various sensor and mission logs to be handed in, keeping the originals of course for later review - since after even a short, but immensely vicious firefight like the one just completed, there are things to learn. Then it's to barracks to drop off the weight of armour (which needs to be fixed), weapons and salvage.

 Busy busy...

PM

The colonel adds before leaving : "Major Zor Karno is now in charge if the company."

   Dalamar doesn't leave Caramon's body with anyone else back in Tolkeen. Although his face is as rigid as ever, one can only assume he is in a state of turmoil right now.  Dalamar approaches Tyirrak quickly before he leaves for debriefing.  "Tyirrak, I realize this might not be the best time, but I cannot continue in your service until I have exhausted all efforts to save my brother.  There is a possibility, however remote, that i can find someone here in this city to revive him.  I do not expect this will be an easy task and it may be cost prohibitive.  But I must try.  Until then, I must resign from active duty."
   There is almost a hint of desperation in Dalamar's tone.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:57, Thu 03 May 2007.

Jack goes and cleans his armor and clothing and gets his armor repaired before taking a long hot bath. Then he shifts into his natural dragon form and finds someplace quiet to sleep outdoors but in the camp, if possible.