Portia
Van
Braga
Karnon
Calliandra
Oksana
Thasha
Sir Thunderhoof
Severin
Burd
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:19, Sat 26 Apr 2008.

The Tolkeen vehicle yard is a large-lot full of used vehicles fit for combat. Hundreds of hovercycles, armoured cars and trucks, hovercraft, Coalition military vehicles, Techno-Wizard vehicles and scattered others from other North American Companies.

(what are you looking for?)

Callie gave the battered Death's Head SAMAS suit a fond pat as she walked off to the vehicle yard.  "You did a good job back there, old man, but I don't think that this is quite up your alley.

The young woman set out, her face showed fatigue from the Madtown engagemet, but no despair.  They'd done the best they could, considering what the Coalition had thrown against them, and had helped more citizens out than she'd had any right to expect.

Callie can't find a single scrap of Naruni equipment anywhere in the yard. After several battered Coalition PA suits, she comes across the JAPE mark II in almost perfect condition,save for several laser scars. One of the lot-hands notices Callie taking an interest and the young man jogs over.

"Hi there cutie. You like what you see?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:47, Tue 29 Apr 2008.

The massive thornhead stands emotionless while watching the others "shop" for vehicles. He then turns to Portia and asks "Are we gonna get sumthin'?"

Portia only nods to her Thornhead thrall. "Corporals O'Hare and Fanel I trust you can choose a vehicle or vehicles that will be suitable for our squad. Something that can accommodate most of us and can withstand at least some combat. My preference would lean towards something that hovers or flies however I will defer to your expertise as you two will be in charge of maintaining and upgrading our vehicles."

Turning her attention to her new squad as a whole she raises her voice and speaks in a authoritative tone that makes even the workers at the fleet yard stop and listen. "Some of you are new to my command. Welcome, I am first lieutenant Portia Lynn. I am your commanding officer, I am not your friend, your mother or your goddamn babysitter. As long as you can follow orders we will get along fine and we will all stand a greater chance at survival. This squad is a guerrilla fighting unit and we will act accordingly. Generally speaking I do not give a shit what Shira, Karno or any of those other shitheels say. We will accomplish our mission goals using the resources at hand and our individual skill sets in an efficient and logical manner. Our rules of engagement are determined by myself and may vary but will generally be as follows. We will seek out and destroy any Coalition personnel combat, support, or otherwise we encounter in Tolkeen territory as long as it does not interfere with our current mission. While in the field we will give no quarter and we will not engage in the taking of prisoners unless it is for the purposes of interrogation. When they no longer serve a purpose I will execute them myself."

Portia looks at the Cyberknight in particular as she delivers her message with a cold indifference.

"I want to make things very clear to newcomers so that there will be no misunderstandings during combat operations. The tactics we will utilize will go beyond typical "hit and run" and will be designed to deliver our enemy crippling blows. They would likely be described as terrorist attacks by the Coalition and that suits me just fine since that is my intent. If there are any concerns with any orders or anything at all I am open to discussing them on an individual basis in private. If my authority is undermined in combat I will immediately exercise my right to execute soldiers under my command as granted to me by Article 9 in the revised Tolkeen Laws Governing Warfare. I can not be any more clear than that. It is my goal that no one in my squad should perish and while that may be unlikely if we conduct ourselves in an intelligent manner than we can certainly minimize our risks. To date I have not lost a person under my command. If you have a problem with anything I just said You have my permission to leave and be reassigned. Go see Captain Shira and let him know that I said so. You are all free to do whatever you want just make sure to keep your radios on an tuned to our squad channel.

Portia turns and walks back towards her odd looking Eye of Eyelor hovercycle but stops and turns back to Van and Calliandra. "I almost forgot I still have five large I.E.D.'s we constructed for the battle at Madtown. They are in fifty-five gallon barrels and weigh a little over three-hundred pounds. Make sure we have room to store them in one of the vehicles you choose."

"Lieutenant, if there is nothing else to take care of in the immediate sense, I am off to continue constructing more scrolls and talismans. I expect that I will be summoning some more minions for the upcoming operation. If any particular type would offer itself best to your plans, please inform me so I may begin summoning them." Karnon said to Portia after the speech as she walked back to her hovercycle. The wolfen shifter didn't seem to overly care about his promotion, but was pleased to continue serving under Lynn. Her preparations had allowed them to kill many, many soldiers... and not one of her squad had fallen. If Karnon felt any guilt over the deaths of those the downed transport troops had caused, he didn't show it.

"I am intending to construct more of the Invincible Armor talismans, at least one for each member of our squad. If the goal is to keep our squad alive, they shall assist in ensuring said goal."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:22, Wed 30 Apr 2008.

Grimathor returns Portia's stare and when she and Karnon finish he replies, First and foremost, I am here to help. I am not part of Tolkeen's army or any other army for that matter. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the help in rescuing my charges and it is the reason that I am here. But I never agreed to become a soldier. I will follow your orders as long as they don't countermand those of my order. I personally will not participate in torture of any kind, although I understand that my ways are not yours. The Coalition has given no quarter and therefore they deserve none, I agree. If that is acceptable than I will join you, if that isn't that I will take my leave now. He crosses his arms across his chest, waiting for a response.

Callie, snapped from her reverie by Lieutenant Lynn's commands nodded.  "Yessir..."  The psi-tech bit back an impulse to ask questions, from what she'd seen this Lieutenant was one to watch your step around.

She turned back to the lot hand, "It'll do, I guess.  The CAS have a full load?" she asked, referring to the net-like capture system built into the suit's left arm.

'Lot-Hand-

"It is fully loaded and ready to go."

Portia nods at the Minotaur and says, "Agreed. It is always good to have an understanding of what one is capable of." Turning to Karnon she actually allows her self a bit of a grin though it is as much predatory as it is friendly. "I feel I owe you and Severin an apology. It is feasible we could still be harrassing the CS dogs from those bunkers of ours. At the very least we could have killed twice again the number we did were we not forced into a premature withdrawal. Early retreat to save citizens who were too stupid to have left until their deaths were imminent. She cuts herself off not wanting to make an emotional or callous comment.

"This mission sounds as if it is going to far more covert than our last. Some Superior Invisibility might be good for infiltration or escape purposes. I have half of the scrolls left I started with at Madtown and a good number of Mystic Portal scrolls as well. I also have two Tectonic Entities ready to use. The idea of using Possessing Entities for infiltration and assassination has always intrigued me but I trust your judgement as far as any minions, Talismans or scrolls are concerned.

Severin shrugs, "No worries boss, given enough time and rest we can do the same. Although I must admit, watching my elemental brothers destroy those assholes was entertaining."

Looking around, Grimathor smirks and queries Got a hovercycle or something? I don't think anything else will fit me unless you toss me in the back of a truck or something.

Callie had wandered over to the larger vehicles in the motor pool, there were a couple hover vehicles that'd fit most of the squad, and one well armored and armed APC.  She stood a moment, pondering her choices, then nodded at the two Wilderness Crusaders, the pair of hovercrafts.  "These'll do, I think, and we'll need some hovercycles.  I'll let you know on that as soon as I know how many of these lugs can run one."

The psi-tech gave the two Triax machines a second look over, "If we've got the time, think I can spend some quality time with 'em in your machine shop?"

Braga walks to Grimathor and grabs his left shoulder. "Is honor to fight on like side of you"

The simvan turns his head to Callie and interrupts her "No time, we are going"

Grimathor turns to face Braga when he greabs his left shoulder and nods his head at the simvan's words.

Sergeant Fanel reports to Portia after a quick scouring of the vehicle yard. Before speaking he stops himself and gives her a quick salute, as if it almost escaped his mind, then he proceeds. "Well, in terms of armor and hovering capabilities, it almost seems like it's one or the other. There's a pair of Triax Wilderness Crusaders which would hover us, but with only moderate armor. Then there's an Iron Heart APC which would definately give us armor and be able to accomodate us all, but no hover. You're call. Me and Callie can pilot either. If we've got the time too, I'm sure we could make a few enhancements too -- I could at least throw an armor spell on there or something, and they already come with Chameleon and Globe of Silence."

After Braga moves along, Thasha makes his way over to Grimathor. "Are you a real Cyber Knight?"

Braga notices a family of Silonar gathered in a large fenced in area. With a few clicks in his throat they all take notice and stop what they were doing, one even wakes up and follows the others to the door to the gate.

Braga opens the latch and all the silonar remain still watching him. Braga motions to one very fit-looking beast and waves it over. It comes to Braga, yet the others remain where they are without struggle, while he closes the gate.

Braga hops on top of the unsaddled silonar and rides it back to his squad. The remaining silonar return to what they were doing before the influential simvan arrived.

Real? Well I was trained as a Cyber-Knight. If that is what you mean by real than yes, I am a real Cyber-Knight. If you mean powerful and of legend, than no I am not a real cyber-knight. Grimathor says.

"My father used to tell me stories about Cyber Knights. He was a mercenary for a long time, and he said it was always an honor to work with them. If you die before I do, could I take your skull with me? It would mean a great deal..."

A raised eyebrow is the only reaction that Grimathor gives to the grisly request. Shaking his head he says, I do apologize, but it is custom among my people that fallen are returned to their family for burial, intact as much as possible.

"I understand..." He replies, complete with an overdone look of disappointment and hints of a pout. Thasha walks off by himself to look at power armours with Calliandra, glancing over from time to time at Van and Portia.

Turning to Portia, he asks How do I go about getting a Hovercycle or some form of transportation that will bear me?

Burd turns to face Grimathor from Portia's side. "Maybe a coffin? Cyber Knight scum!". The Thornhead puffs out his chest and snarls at Sir Thunderhoof, trying very hard to be insulting.

Callie waved to Sir Grimathor, "Over here, big guy."  The psi-tech was browsing the available hoverbikes while Van was talking with Portia.  "And anyone else who needs one, we'll have some storage space in the back to bring a couple along.  Worst case, we can always bungee it to the top when we're not under fire."

The young woman seems much more in her element here, surrounded by the technology she loves, than on the battlefield.

Portia laughs at Burds little outburst and actually rolls her eyes slightly. "Now Burd mind your manners. You know that the Cyberknights are our allies. Well the half of them that disobeyed a direct order from the leader of their entire order." She turns her cool gaze over and up to the large Minotaur. "At least that is what I heard through the grapevine. None of my business really I just hope that the disobeying orders is not a habit. For both our sake. You can pick out whatever hovercycle they have here that will accommodate you. Try and find a nuclear powered one if you can."

Portia returns Vans salute crisply but with about as much as enthusiasm as he performed his with. "I think the two hover vehicles would suit us best. Make sure the additional hovercycles, those who plan on riding independently choose, are of the proper make so that they can be scavenged for parts should repairs become necessary. It would be nice to add some magical enhancements. I also would like to discuss some side projects with you when time is sufficient. I already had a decent amount of precious stones and I just purchased a hundred thousand credits in additional gems for that very purpose."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:16, Wed 07 May 2008.

"Thunderhoof, take small cycle if haf'to. I take Silonar inside, but wont need I thinks"

Another few clicks in the back of his thraot and he stretches his neck out, and raises his chin to speak commandingly to the squad.

"Finish up! Lt Lynn will go in Hover One with Callie, and demons and Karnon. I will go in Hover Two with Van, and Oksana and Thunderhoof and young Thasha. Five of minutes."

He looks to Portia for approval before riding his silonar into the back of one of the hover vehicles Van and Callie picked out.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:39, Wed 07 May 2008.

Lt. Lynn nods in approval. Opting not to load her mystic powered hovercycle up into one of the larger vehicles she chooses to ride for now. Before she lifts off she looks over at Braga and says, "Sergeant if that beast shits or pisses inside the vehicle then I am going to let Burd eat it." She floats up into the air and waits until everyone is ready before flying out.

Callie verified that her new suit of power armor was safely stowed inside her vehicle then climbed into the cockpit, trying not to think about the nature of her passengers.  Eschewing the standard pre-flight checks, she linked with the Wilderness Crusader and querried it's systems one-by-one.  Though methodical about the task it was a far quicker way than a standard checklist.

"All systems check out, Lieutenant," she said as the check neared it's completion, "We're ready to go on your word."

   Although she really prefers not to be cloistered inside a big metal box on wheels, Oksana knows she can escape with a thought in the event she is needed in the air.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:02, Tue 13 May 2008.

Van catches himself laughing at Portia's warning. He jokingly comments to Braga "That's funny I didn't know Thornheads ate shit."

Pre-flight; Van familiarizes himself with the machine by laying a hand on the controls and closing his eyes. It is only a moment before he begins confidently starting up the systems on his vehicle. The hover jets come on and the Wilderness Crusader begins to float a couple inches off the ground. He plays with the environmental controls while people filter on.

Braga stares at Van for a few seconds before responding to him. "Lieutenant Lynn meant Burd would eat my silonar..."

Braga hops off of his Silonar, and points towards the cage he got it. He grunts several times, and the silonar walks off towards its cage alongside him. He opens the lock, and it walks willingly back inside.

Braga then returns to the group and enters 'Hover Two' with Van and Sir Thunderhoof.

Thasha marches inside 'Hover Two', breaking into a stomping-jog to catch up with Van.

"You're a kid too right? You are the only human male in the squad, I think your size is hidden, because the 2 females are small too. But I can tell you are young. The other pilot is the same age as you I think. And I believe she also wants to mate with you."

   Oksana's metal face turns into a smirk as she realizes the humour of the situation.  She might be elven, but she grew up among humans and saw little distinction between humans and herself.  Most d-bees in the Chi-Town burbs spent their time trying to emulate humans in fact.  It was refreshing to meet one that was at the opposite end of the spectrum.

   "Thasha, I do not think Callie would appreciate you sharing her feelings, but I'm sure she'll understand.  Maybe its for the best in fact."

Van is caught off guard. Instead of being embarassed though he can't help but laugh. "Intuitive little guy. You know I thought I picked up on that too, but I tried to play it off. Considering our offspring aren't born able to fire a gun like Greots I don't imagine 'mating' would be the best idea right now with a war to fight."

Portia chuckles at the comment showing she has at least some sense of humor. "You might be surprised what the people under my command will eat if I tell them to." She says coldly as she mounts her hovercycle and lifts up into the air leading the way out of Tolkeen.

Portia leads the way further west. She takes them south of the town of Blue Earth, and then north of Spring Valley, both Coalition sympathisers waiting for them to finally secure the area and get rid of the vile magic worshippers and demonic plagues that have scorched the land.

The small, quiet town of Vosberg supposts Tolkeen for the most part and welcomes Squad One as they enter. Dozens of human and d-bee villagers come out of their homes and offer home-cooked food and small trinkets to Portia as she passes through ahead of the two hover crafts. The only person of note is a dark man standing on the front porch of his farm-house watching the squad pass by, with a scowl. Probably a CS sympathiser.

Squad Three should be just 5 miles behind, and Squa Two should be just 10 miles north.

On the trip, Callie kept mainly to herself, uncomfortable associating closely --or, to be honest, at all-- with the vulgar demons in her hovercraft.  She smiled to see the townsfolk come out to greet them, that was part of the reason she'd joined the militia and it was good to have that reminder.  Tempted, as she was, to stop and sample the gifts she knew that Lieutenant Lynn would come down hard on such behavior so merely contented herself with waving to the crowds through the small window.

Squad Three is reportedly stopped, which means they will soon be without back-up. There has yet to be any signs of any Coalition patrols, locals, or The Apocalyptic Cavalry.

Squad Three reports they are on the move again after only a twenty minute delay. Portia again leads the way in search of any locals, or Coalition patrols, while the rest of the squad sit comfortably in their respective transports.

   "I used to hate just waiting around, before joining the war I mean.  I used to always need something to do.  Now I don't think I could ask for more than a few more minutes of quiet like this.  Although a window would be nice, these APCs are kinda claustrophobic."  Oksana looks relaxed and cheerful for the moment as she comments on the situation to anyone in earshot.

Portia notices a group of people in the distance and halts her squad's advancement. Using distancing binoculars she can see a small squad of Coalition soldiers dealing with several humanoid travelers of some sort. The CS definitely has a spider skull walker, and at least 2 visible power armours.

Portia speaks over the radio for all to hear "Lynn to Silvermasque. A Coalition squad has been spotted ahead of our position. A Spider Walker and 2 Power Armours can be seen, as well as a handful of infantry. We are moving in on them, close the gap Masque."

Then switches over to the squad's private channel "Prepare yourselves, if those other humanoids are not identified as allies, consider them enemies as well. Take them all out quick, and remember we need them all alive."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:20, Fri 20 June 2008.

Callie concentrated for a brief moment, then stood and moved back into the passenger compartment of her Wilderness Crusader.  Though this seemed to leave the hovercraft without a driver, it continued to glide in formation as she walked back to where she had stowed her JAPE II suit.  The young psi-tech seemed a bit more distracted than normal as she began prepping the power armor.  Though her mouth did not move and she was away from the com system, still her voice could be heard as she replied to the Lieutenant's command.

"Roger, Lieutenant.  With your permission, since my new JAPE suit can more easily immobilize and capture them than this hovercraft, I'll park this beast when my passengers deploy and go out with them, sir."

"Everybody may as well deploy now, we will fare much better outside of these hover craft. We need to take these guys out fast, any ideas?"

"Roger," Callie said in reply to Lieutenant Lynn as she set the Wilderness Crusader down gently.  She climbed into her JAPE II and continued, still on the squad's private channel.  "As to ideas, I don't know if you're familiar with these suits, but they're mostly made to capture, or at least slow down, Juicers and Crazies and the like.  The rifle will seriously disorient anyone hit by it who's in light armor, and it's got something like a net launcher that'll immobilize almost anyone.  I've also jury-rigged the old jamming system from that Wild Weasel SAMAS, so I should be able to keep those deadboys out of radio contact.  I haven't had the chance to field-test it, though, so I can't guarantee that last." she added, a note of doubt in her voice.

Lieutenant Lynn gives Calliandra a nod in deference to her comments. Seeing that no one else has much to add at the moment she calmly scans the area again with her binoculars and then turns to the squad. "The jamming feature does sound useful and in future engagements we will likely need it. I do not want you going toe-to-toe with the CS armor out there though. Instead you can use the other abilities of the suit you mentioned." She hands her binoculars over to Oksana. "Burd fetch one of the I.E.D.'s from the Crusader. Calliandra, Oksana and Thasha you are on Capture Team one. Oksana key in on those two deadboys out in the open near the travelers. When you hear the first explosion teleport out and snatch one immediately teleporting him back here where Callie and Thasha will quickly subdue him. The second target will be more aware but you need to do the same to him. The three of you will need to disable and imprison them however you wish but do not kill them."

"Karnon cast Fly as the Eagle on Severin and Burd. Those two are the destruction team. As soon as I cast invisibility on the pair of you I want you to fly out towards the Spider Skull walker. Severin drop the arm the I.E.D. and drop it on top of it. It is likely to destroy everything in its radius but should crew or troops nearby survive feel free to fly down and capture them if possible or just kill them if you like. Once they are handled move in and detain the travelers they are accosting on the off chance they might know something of use."

"Karnon, Grimathor, Van, Braga and myself will make up Capture Team two. We will fly in using the second power armor as our primary target and secure the rest of the area with our main goal of capturing all remaining CS personnel. Braga your with me." She offers her hand so she can swing him up onto the back of her hovercycle. Floating over near Burd and Severin she casts Invisibility Superior on both of them immediately after Karnon casts the flight spell.

"Alright you two shitheads move your asses! We give the slowpokes sixty seconds head start on the Skullwalker then we fly in. Stealthy if you can, no large, sustained, area affect magic in the immediate area of combat. Oksana... eyes on the prize sweetheart and do not scratch up my binoculars."

Flipping back her hood Portia checks her watch then looks over her troops. A subtle sadistic smile touches the corners of her mouth. "Lets go make some new friends. MOVE OUT!"

Karnon complied, casting the flight spells on the two demons, which promptly vanished as Portia turned them invisible.

He mounted his hover-cycle again, and wove his protective spells about him, and then double-checked his e-clips as he waited, sniffing the air, tasting the scent of it right before the kill. The smell of the invisible demons still lingered in the air, but Karnon was used to scents like it... what kind of shifter would he be if he didn't?

He ran through his head which spells were most suited to live capture. It might be interesting to visit upon the captives the kind of treatment Karnon himself had been subjected to.

Severin nods his massive crocodillian head, "You do know the way to my heart Portia." the tauton grabs up the IED, and feels the magics cast upon him take affect as he and Burd fly out to the spider skull walker, Severin arms the charge and drops it directly on top of the spider skull walker and immediately flies away some distance so he isn't killed in the blast.

Burd says nothing, but smiles with a sadistic grin full of teeth, like a shark. After waiting patiently for the spells to be cast upon him, he let's a few words slip out of his mouth. They sound as though they were restrained and then burst out like a child holding in laughter. "I need to kill!"

Braga accepts Portia's hand, and hops on the back of her hovercycle. "Thank you" he says as the smell of rotting flesh rides his breath into Portia's face. Such is the bane of having a cannibal riding bitch on your cycle.

   Oksana took the binoculars as they were handed to her, not really knowing what to do with them.  She sort of just sets them down at her feet before following orders and teleporting away.  Oksana appears behind one of the dead boys with both arms turned to tentacle-like extensions wrapped around the soldier.  Her wings curve around her and her quarry like shields as she casually teleports them back, minus the soldier's rifle.  Total round trip: about 6 seconds (3 actions).

   Upon her return, Oksana drops the soldier at the feet of Calliandra and Thasha for them to "subdue".  She is about to teleport to get the next one...

Thasha quickly grabs the soldier by the head and lifts him off the ground. With his other hand, he grabs the soldiers two arms and holds them together behind the man's back, rendering him completely helpless to the supernatural strength of a greot.

The CS soldier only struggles for a few seconds before realising he is trapped. His glare is fixed on Calliandra...

Severin and Burd have barely left the squad when Oksana and Thasha have the first captive soldier in less than ten seconds.

Callie grinned at the man, though he couldn't see that through the opaque faceplate on her power armor.  "Hey, don't look at me." she said, her voice cheerful through the suit's external speakers, "The kid did it all by himself.  I can contribute my part, if you like, but if you'll promise to behave I think we can do without that for now."

Van shuts the engine down on the hovercraft, taking the key with him. He gets in his TW Dynamo Armor and locks his feet into his wingboard. He seemed to not have much to say until he got himself all suited up. "I've got the PA furthest back. I'm gonna Timeslip, hit his face with Carpet of Adhesion and slam into him with Supernatural Strength from behind. Once his face is in the dirt he won't be a problem."

Grimathor does not doubt the Squad's ability to subdue the near by CS forces without his help. He doesn't say much other than, exchange a few nods, as he readies his things and heads off towards the rest of Pluto COmpany to find Major Karno.

Another ten seconds pass, and Oksana returns with the second captive; another human male Coalition soldier. She reappears next to Callie, Thasha, and the other subdued soldier.

As Severin and Burd race towards the Spider Walker, the CS squad opens fire on the travelers with them. The whole group is shot down in a matter of seconds, and the CS squad scrambles for cover.

Just before Severin and Burd clash with the squad, Portia, Braga, Van, and Karnon speed off towards them.

Severin and Burd both arrive unnoticed, and drop their IED's right on target. The Walker is consumed in the blast, as are several other soldiers who werent seen by Portia. The legs, and the main rail guns literally melt, and the scorched skull-body crashes into the dirt. Three power armours made it away from the walker just before the blast went off. They put themselves between Portia and the demons and open fire on Severin and Burd, unhindered by the invisibility.

Severin and Burd are caught in a fury of rail gun slugs and laser blasts as they pass over the small battlefield.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:02, Thu 03 July 2008.

Burd laughs with excitement, and calls to Severin as he flies towards the power armours. "Use your claws to tear them! Use your fists to break them! Use your teeth to CONSUME THEM!"

The raged Thornhead lets out a deafening war cry as he flies directly into one of the 'Mauler' power armours. They roll for dozens of feet before coming to a stop. Burd sits on top while slashing and bashing the chest and head of the armour.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Thu 03 July 2008.

Severin laughs like a mad man, and begins chanting the words to a spell.

Both Burd and Severin are shot several times by the inferior Mauler Power Armours. Burd finishes tearing into the pilot of his tackled Mauler, at the same time Severin ensnares another in a magic net.

The third raises the arms in his PA, and declares over his loudspeaker "I give up! I surrender! stay back!"

   Having completed her orders, Oksana waits near Callie and watches the battle with the demons.  She spots the power armour pilot surrender and she secretly hopes the monsters that claim to be on her side will accept.  In fact, she suspect they will not and finds herself growing tense, considering a quick teleportation to protect the hapless soldier...

PM

Burd glares at the defeated Mauler PA, and snarls while stalking his prey, like a Lion before it pounces. "Get out of your shell human... and you may live beyond today..."

Drool pours out of Burd's toothy grin.

Portia and her squad have no visible targets. The demons seem to have either killed or subdued the power armours, the infantry and travelers are all dead or unconscious, and the spdier skull walker is just a smoking skull. The crew is likely still alive inside however.

Portia speeds towards the downed power armors with all haste. Into the radio she issues orders. "Alright everyone round them up! I want them alive! If they are injured administer enough first aid to make sure that they do not die. Karnon & Van see if you can get into that Skullwalker and pull out some survivors.

   Oksana is confident that she can maintain her grip on the soldier she is still carrying with little difficulty.  She doesn't bother talking to him or really acknowledging that he's alive at all.  Instead she carries him as if he were a ragdoll with her metal fingers elongated to grip around his entire chest.  Hearing her commanding officer reiterate the order to keep the soldiers alive, Oksana feels a little relieved.  She doesn't mind using lethal force in the heat of battle, but not against surrendering soldiers.

   Oksana walks over to follow Portia...

Thasha likewise holds his own prisoner with little difficulty. "Shouldn't we stay with the vehicles Oksana?"

   "You stay here with Callie, I can be back in a flash if you call.  I'm never very far away."  And Oksana continues walking after Portia with the helpless soldier toting along in one hand.

Van tries to make his way into the Skullwalker. If he can't find a way to open the door conventionally he will use his TW Demon Claw to remove the door. He anticipates possible resistance on the other end and uses Blinding Flash on the inside before entering.

"Coalition Fuckheads! Do not fire or I swear to god you will know pain like you have NEVER known before!"

Any armored soldier who fires at him will get a Supernatural beat down that he'll feel through his MDC armor.

The last remaining PA pilot complies and begins to get out of his Mauler PA. He does not make eye contact with Burd or Severin, and fails at trying to hide his tears.

Soon he is out, and unprotected, standing in front of the two demons, with Portia quickly approaching. The first PA Burd had attacked, was torn open, and the pilot was shredded along with it. The other was subdued by Severin's magic net.

Van begins to tear at the hatch to the pilots inside the skull walker. Karnon waits by his side, ready to subdue the pilots should they attack. Both pilots, one male, and one female, raise their arms in a gesture of defeat as Van opens the hatch. A look of shock crosses their faces, as the 17 year old techno wizard becomes visible... they were expecting something different...

From among the shot-up travelers, a faint whisper "help... me..." is heard by Van and Karnon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:36, Sun 06 July 2008.

It's fortunate that the Dynamo Armor makes Van's age less distinguishable. On a battlefield, a 17 year old in an exoskeleton looks basically the same as a 30 year old. It's probably more fortunate for the grunts he shoots down -- who wants to be in triage and admit that the reason they can't walk is come some teenager came out of nowhere and blew their leg off.

Van grabs one pilot, letting Karnon grab the other. Hearing the whisper he hurriedly throws his prisoner off to the side, making sure he has no weapons on him. "Keep a watch on these ones until you can send them back with Oksana."

He hurries over to the travellers. "MEDIC!" He pops off his gauntlets and helmet. "My name's Van. How can I help? Where is the pain?"

   Oksana hears Van call for a medic and she is kneeling next to him within a second, the soldier still clutched in one hand.  Oksana appears with a bright flash of light and what sounds like scrap metal scraping through a small doorway.  She immediately reaches out with her free hand to touch the bare flesh of the person to whom Van is attending.  She will attempt to use her psychic abilities to literally read the injuries and condition of the victim. (psychic diagnosis)

edit: grammar
This message was last edited by the player at 15:31, Mon 07 July 2008.

The man has clearly been shot once in the gut, and has a large piece of shrapnel imbedded in his left cheek. He has lost alot of blood, though it is hard to tell who's blood belongs (belonged) to whom, since the explosives were detonated on the Spider Walker, and teh bits of infantry were scattered across teh small battle field.

   Oksana hands her captive soldier to Van.  "Take him, I will heal this man as best I can, but need to concentrate."  Oksana then places one of her chrome hands in the center of his chest and the other softly upon his cheek - the one without an embedded piece of shrapnel.  She begins the healing process by first stimulating a portion of his natural regenerative abilities to help stabilize him and stop bleeding.  Then the long process of psychic surgery begins.  Oksanawill work as quickly as possible while trying to keep the man calm with a soothing voice.

Callie stooped and removed the prisoners' weapons as they appeared.  If any looked inclined to put up a fight she would entangle them in the armor's Capture system.  Though uncomfortable, the bonds shouldn't seriously damage anyone in even light armor and would hold any but the severely augmented.

"Oksana, bring the captives back to the vehicles, we don't need any reinforcements swooping down on us here. Burd and Severin, collect any weapons, ammunition or explosives you find. Van, search the remains of those travelers to see if they had anything useful."

She then turns with Braga riding on the back, and heads back to Calliandra and Thasha.

"Karnon, you're with us."

Karnon glanced at the wounded traveler.

He growled, and made sure the other soldiers were unarmed and subdued. Then he turned as Oksana began her work and spoke spell-words of his own. A blue-green flame roiled around the clawed fingertips of his right hand, which he thrust into the mans shoulder, releasing the magic.

The magic burst healed the man.. enough at least that death was no longer an immediate concern. Further work by Oksana would be required to get him A-OK, but Karnon simply didn't care to heal him further.

He instead followed Portia's order and re-mounted his hover-cycle.

Then Karnon
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Wed 09 July 2008.

"The one that's still alive might have something useful." Van will gather up the prisoners and march them back to Callie and Thasha, giving Oksana some time to work with the wounded civillian. "See if you can stabilize him enough to bring him back to the rest, then check the dead for anything useful," he says, trading duties with Oksana, "Personal items even, some psychics can get a whole lot out of something as simple as a pen or a comb."

He gets his helmet back on and trains his gun on the prisoners. "Alright, interlock your fingers behind your head and let's march, shit bags."


[edit: "check the survivors dead for anything useful..."]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:59, Wed 09 July 2008.

OOC -- I know. We're presumably bringing him back for questioning as well. I'm taking the living CS grunts. Oksana can heal the civilian and then bring him back along with anything else of use from the scene.

   Oksana hopes it is ok to disobey Portia's order to bring the captives back if Van takes them himself and tells her to help the civilian.  A momentary glance at Portia's reaction should answer that question.
   The silver angel doesn't allow herself to be distracted for long however and quickly returns to the task at hand.  If the man is still conscious, Oksana will try engaging him in conversation.  "What's your name? Mine is Oksana.  Where were you guys headed?"
   Unless told otherwise, Oksana will stay and continue healing the victim for as long as it takes.  When he's ready, she'll teleport them both back to the APC, appearing beside it.

Van and Karnon walk back with the captives, leaving Oksana and the demons back at the scene of the battle.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The wounded traveler responds "We are from Aberdeen... we were heading south to Karloon... until they stopped us. One of our group was an apprenticing mage... and it got ugly from there...

   "You're safe now, friend.  The Coalition soldiers are our captives now.  What is there for you in Aberdeen that caused you to risk travelling at a time like this?"
   Oksana wonders to herself how long it would take her to transport the travellers to Aberdeen and return herself... Not likely more than a few minutes.

"Aberdeen is a bug town... the Xiticix want it. Karloon is in the clear... for now.

Is there a young blonde girl? did you find a young blonde girl? She was with me when they started shooting...

The man is suddenly very anxious, and at risk of going into shock. There is a young adult female with blonde hair among the dead. Most of her head is melted off, leaving just scorched bone, and the lower half of the face remaining...
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:44, Fri 11 July 2008.

   "I'm sure she's fine, they took the survivors back to our APC.  Just rest and you can see her soon."  Oksana caresses his face but with a hand on the side facing the blonde girl so that she can prevent him from seeing her.  "You were injured and I am working to heal your body.  Soon I will teleport you back to our platoon.  Don't worry, soon everything will be ok."
   Oksana does her best to evoke the man's trust, but she is not a very good liar.  She keeps her eyes locked with his and she knows he can see the truth.  If Oksana were not transformed into metal, her eyes would be streaming tears down her face.

The man starts to cry, and his breathing tripples in speed. He tries to talk, but chokes on his words and tries to roll over."She was all I had... she was.... no..."

   Oksana looks around in vain for assistance and sees the demons.  They would do even more damage than she did.  The metal angel will focus on healing the man's body, not knowing what to do with his spirit.

Tears fall down to the ground, and the man gathers enough strength to vomit. "She was all I had... my only daughter.... I love you baby..." He slowly lowers his head down to rest in the mess under his face, and his heart stops. In a few moments he is gone.

Burd seems to be able to smell the death in the air, and begins to make his way over to Oksana, and the dead traveler in her arms. "You have failed him... he died because of you Oksana..."

   At first, Oksana doesn't even hear the thornhead demon taunting her.  She knows exactly what she has done.  She did fail him and it tears at her heart.  The wounds penetrate all of her armoured skin as if it wasn't even there and she reacts explosively.  Oksana springs to her feet, swiveling around in a mad strike at the creature called Burd.  As her hand comes at him in a powerful uppercut, it liquifies and reforms into a sword-like blade.  She attempts to stab him under his chin, straight up through the top of his skull.

Severin snarls at the metal lady attacking Burd, he races towards her and attempts to tackle her down away from the attack.



09:43, Today: Severin rolled 15 using 1d20. tackle the metal lady.

Burd parries the attack effortlessly with one hand and takes a step towards Oksana to move in for an attack. Before he can however, Oksana is caught off guard by Severin who smashes right into her and tackles her to the ground.

Severin wails on her while Burd finds an opening. The thornhead joins in, by kicking her in the face or stomping on her whenever he has room to strike.

Portia and Braga have just arrived back at the vehicles. Thasha still waits with his captive. In the groups absense the young greot has given the Coalition soldier a canteen of water and is sitting in the grass with him.

Van and Karnon are just behind with their captives.

Callie had been watching Oksana, keeping an eye on her and the demons just in case something like this were to happen. She is the first to notice the brawl break out.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:17, Sat 12 July 2008.

"no," Callie said in a small voice as she first noticed the intra-squad brawl.

"No,"<orange> louder this time as the young psi-tech dialed up the external speakers on her power armor.  <orange>"Not again," some of the shock had left her voice, anger and determination filling in, "Not fucking again!"  She knew the demons were going to try something like this, you couldn't trust anything that reveled in cruelty like their ilk.

Callie thumbed the safety off the suit's Neural Disruptor Rifle and switched it to the more advanced setting, though she didn't shoulder it just yet.  The tool's appearance, so like a standard firearm, would only escallate things.  Still, it never hurt to be prepared.  Instead she raised her right arm and fired two quick cannisters from the capture system.

"Lieutenant,"" Callie broadcast on the radio, "Severin and that demon are attacking Oksana.  I'm trying not to kill any of them, but I think I'll need some backup if this doesn't work."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:04, Mon 14 July 2008.

Severin stopped, letting Burd have his due turn, after all... Oksana did attack him first. Severin grins as the violence ensues.

"Burd, Severin, Oksana! Stand down immediately or I will get involved! She yells into the radio over the squads private frequency. Looking over at Callie she shrugs her shoulders slightly. "The girl can teleport away anytime she likes. If she was fighting then it was a fight of her own choosing. Not a problem as of yet. Pay attention to the prisoners. Triage them and let me know if any are near death. If so then those will need to be interrogated immediately.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:14, Mon 14 July 2008.

Before Callie can get involved, Severin and Burd stop attacking Oksana and stare at Portia. She glares back at them, and both demons move off to continue searching the bodies.


Callie has little triage to do, as none of the CS soldiers are wounded at all, and are very soon gathered together at the vehicles. There are six Coalition captives in total (2 infantry, 2 PA pilots, and the 2 crew of the Walker). Thasha is laughing at something his captive is saying while they share a water canteen, waiting for the others to arrive.

"Braga, have these men standing in a line and stripped to their underwear. Then we will begin the interrogation. Thasha get on your feet, this man is not your friend."

"Yes Lieutenant."

Braga walks to where all the captives can hear him, then stretches out his neck and makes a very loud clicking sound from the back of his throat to catch the groups' attention. He walks in a small circle making eye contact with each of the six, carrying his Judgement Day rifle in one hand at his side.

"You have your lives! Now we have them... stay calm, and smart and you see women and babies again... do as we tell, you be set to home freedom. Do what your allegiance tells, and die in the dirt. Got it?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:16, Tue 15 July 2008.

   Oksana just lies there on the ground with her unbleeding cuts and scrapes and her wings splayed out beneath her as she stares up at the sky.

Portia walks over to Oksana and looks down at her. The slightest look of sympathy crosses her face for a moment before being replaced with her standard stare of restraint with a strong undercurrent of anger. "Private Oksana do you require medical attention? If not then get on your feet and quash whatever emotional turmoil you are experiencing until you are on your own time."

Making her way back over to the line of prisoners she notices some of them are not very excited about stripping down to their underwear. Apparently you people are under the impression that we are not deadly serious. Perhaps you need some motivation. Burd! Come and eat this mans left hand! She points to one of the men on the edge of the line before calmly continuing. "I am First Lieutenant Portia Lynn and you are my prisoners. Everything Braga said is correct. I have no real desire to torture or kill you however I ensure you I am capable of both. Once we have the information we need you will be set free. I do not have the time or inclination to transport you to Tolkeen for proper processing."

She walks back towards her hovercycle where she removes a green apple from a saddlebag. Before biting into it she says, "Could someone give that prisoner medical attention before he bleeds out."

As burd makes his way over, salivating and licking his lips, the captive soldiers nearly vomit from fear. They very quickly strip off their clothes, down to just their under garments.

One man among the prisoners takes a small step forward and puffs out his chest to speak to Portia. "Ah finally a human... and I thought that ugly sack of shit was in charge (referring to Braga with a nod of disgust) What did you want to know Lieutenant." A sarcastic grin creeps across his face.

   Oksana sits up and looks over at the bodies of the civilians.  She resolves to finish the task and bury them.  With her incredible strength and the ability to reform her hands into shovel-shaped tools, it takes only a few minutes to dig a hole deep enough.  She will bury them all together and use a wing like a plow to push the dirt back into the pit.  When finished, she marks the grave with a small stack of rocks.

   Oksana turns back to look at her comrades questioning the captives.

Callie began to move towards he fallen friend, stopping mid-stride at the Lieutenant's command and looking back and forth between her two duties.  Though it was hidden by the JAPE's helmet, she shot a thankfull look at Braga when the Simvan took control of the prisoners.


Callie moved over and helped Oksana as she could.  Though she couldn't match the metal elf's strength.  She worked in silence and, when the last of the bodies was interred, opened the armor's shell and stepped to the ground next to Oksana.  "We have to watch this, don't we?" she asked quietly, "For all of them."

   Oksana doesn't answer Calliandra aloud.  Rather she turns her head and looks up at some hills far in the distance.  A second later, Oksana vanishes with the usual flash of light and sound of scraping metal.  A keen eye would pick out the tiny flash of white light on top of one of the hills a couple miles away.  Several seconds later, Oksana returns with another flash of white light and with a handful of white flowers.
   She lays them on the grave and turns to Callie.  "Ok, back to work..." Her voice is stil somber, but resolved to press on.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Wed 16 July 2008.

Portias tiny hand moves in a blur and with a much practiced motion she unclips her whip from her belt and cracks it across the mans face and chest. The Cat O' Nine Tails leaves bloody furrows in the flesh it contacts. "Mind your tongue when speaking about my men." She says calmly. "We are going to play a little game called who would like to tell the truth rather than be introduced to a Splugorthian Interrogation unit. Placing her whip back onto her belt she reaches beneath her black robes and pulls out what looks like a thorny ball attached to a short handle. Holding it up near one of the captives the "ball" unfurls revealing four purplish black tentacles ending in small barbed hooks that wriggle furiously trying to grasp the face of the person in front of it.

Portia pulls it back and arches an eyebrow at those gathered. "As a slave on Atlantis I got to experience one of these first hand. The pain that they can inflict is exquisite. As I am sure you can imagine. There are more subtle uses however that I can employ if needed." She stops in front of the female prisoner. "I can wipe clean the memory of your wedding day or the birth of your children. I can and will simply use this creature to bond with your mind and take what I need. How much of your mind it destroys while doing so is entirely up to you however." Stepping back she looks over to make sure her words have sunk in. "I want to know the exact location of the secret CS facility that is near here. I want directions and I want details on personnel and defenses. I also want to know what in the hell kind of tricks you guys are pulling with these inhumanly powered super soldiers. Deny me this information and all you will know is suffering. Death is to good for you dogs."

Turning to Karnon she says, "Make sure they all have paper and writing implements to draw maps and detail the information. Except this one. He gave up his chance to avoid pain." She indicates the man she hit with the whip. "Burd restrain him!" She commands as she moves to allow the tentacled creature to ensnare the mans face.

The female power armour pilot turns her face away when portia walks up to her, letting slip a slight whimper as one of the tentacles slides across her cheek.

The Sergeant takes the whip-attack with pride, and retains his glare at Portia. Before the tentacles grip his face he replies "The pain you inflict on my team will be glorious, compared to the wretched torment your people will feel at the hands of The Coalition States."

Once it grabs ahold of the sergeant's face he screams in terror and drops to his knees. His body twitches and fills with pain, as Burd takes hold of the man's shoulders to keep him restrained while the creature does its' work.

The other five watch...

Braga stands by and watches as Portia begins the interrogations. He switches his rifle to both hands, ready to fire should the need arise. He looks over at Portia hoping to make eye contact, and suggest that he would like to take care of the sergeant when she is done.

PM
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:20, Thu 17 July 2008.

Portia smiles and puts the foul device back beneath her robes.Turning to the other prisoners she says, You all have five minutes to draw a map to the facility and answer the questions about defenses and super soldiers. I intend to keep my word. Though she does not need anything further from them Portia does love mindgames and the thought of breaking down the Coalition soldiers particularly excites her. Walking back to the APC she switches to the platoon frequency. "This is First Lieutenant Lynn. I have secured the location to the facility and am prepared to lead the assault. How shall we proceed? Over." Checking her watch she will wait exactly five minutes and see what the prisoners offer her before deciding their fate.

Van takes a long look at the sports car the travellers left behind. With no will and testament it's really impossible to know what they could have intended for it after their death.

While the interrogation is going on Van calls over to Callie, "Hey Freckles, come have a look. This is one of those MI Dragon Cats. They started making them back in 100. Modelled them after the pre-cataclysm Corvette. If this was a real Corvette in this condition it'd be worth a mint to a real collector! Even this guy's gotta be worth a couple hundred K."

To a gearhead like himself there's nothing better to keep your mind of the horrible things in life like a well-engineered automobile. "We should hide it and come back for it."

Thasha stands by and watches the 'interrogations', but after the sergeant is released from the splugorth creature Thasha looks puzzled, but just watches as Portia walks away. Unable to find the courage to ask her about her methods, he turns to Braga to ask... but can only see anger in his eyes.

Thasha watches the violence in silence.

   As she returns to the group, Oksana sees the questioning in progress.  Oksana can't watch and stares at the ground, listening to the interrogation instead.

Callie smiled at Oksana's gesture, it reminded her why she was out here in the midst of such barbarity on both sides.  Not that she hadn't partaken of her own share, to be sure, she reminded herself.  Still, she watched the interrogation as if standing witness in spite of the upswelling of nausea caused by the alien device Lieutenant Lynn made use of.

Once the lieutenant was done with the Coalition sergeant, and only then, Callie turned to join Van.  She noted the expressions of Thasha and Braga, her own expression bearing much the same sentiment as the Simvan's.  As Callie moved to join Van, she gestured to Thasha to join the two techs.  The Greot was imposing as hell, though by his own admission he was little more than a babe in arms.  "C'mon over, Thasa, check this out."  She spoke as much to get the young soldier away from the more malign influences as to enjoy his company.

Callie shot an apologetic look to Van as she approached, "Wow," she began, "This is loads nicer than anything I had to work with back on the farm, and a heck of a lot more elegant than anything I've gotten to play with recently."  The young woman ran a hand admiringly over the surface of the vehicle.

The 5 still-standing captive soldiers refuse to use their pencils, and paper. They stand at attention, facing forward, their chests puffed out with pride. They do not draw the maps for Portia.

Braga steps towards the Sergeant and presses the barrel of his rifle to the man's temple while he lays defenseless on the ground. The Sergeant makes a slight moan, but the other five remain standing even after Braga disintigrates his head.

Braga walks towards the man on the left, one of the infantry Oksana captured and aims his rifle at his head from ten feet away. Again Braga orders them to draw the maps and again they refuse, and again another soldier is killed. The next in line is the female power armour pilot, and Braga now stands ten feet from her, aimed at her head.

"Draw..." is all he says.

Thasha quickly turns to face Callie when she calls him, and walks over to her. He comes to look at what she is trying to show him, but is distracted when Braga starts executing people. Thasha watches...

   Oksana has much fewer problems with execution than torture, but has seen both committed at the hands of the Coalition.  Her mind drifts back to the time when soldiers killed the man she loved in the open street of the burbs.  This was the fate they deserved for wearing the deadboy armour.  Oksana was now watching Braga as the simvan killed them one by one.

"Good for you all. Enjoy the afterlife." Portia pulls out her NE-4 plasma pistol and shoots the remainder of the prisoners in rapid succession. She opens the cylinder of the weapon and ejects the empty shells onto the blood soaked ground. Walking towards the APC she replaces the cartridges. "Alright people you heard Shira lets move it out! Van you can bring your new toy along if you like but Callie I am going to need you to drive this monster." Stepping up into the APC her diminutive frame flanked by Burd she answers her superior over the radio. "Roger that. Proceeding to target our ETA is three minutes. Lynn out."

Thasha watches as the Coalition soldiers are executed. WHen it is all over, he walks slowly over to one of the bodies and crouches down beside it, watching the blood flow out.

"I cannot believe they are human inside those demonic shells. They are the same as you Lieutenant... at least on the inside. My father told me there was nothing inside their shells... he told me they were just evil spirits trying to kill us because we were different. But they aren't... are they... I wonder what they did this morning... or what they did last night before bed..."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:28, Tue 22 July 2008.

Callie touched the Greot's shoulder as she passed by him to retrieve her armor.  "They weren't evil spirits, just evil men."  She paused as she touched the JAPE suit, activating it without climbing inside to save time, "Just evil people, and I think we'd all better remember that."  Callie moved towards the Coalition APC, the JAPE suit walking along behind her, almost looking as if the two were walking hand-in-hand as she kept in contact with the armor in order to more easily control it.

"They killed everbody I have ever known. It is good they are dead, they don't deserve life."

Thasha stands on one leg of a dead soldier, slowly crushing the limb under his foot.

"Yeah," Callie replied over her shoulder, "And they trashed grandpa's farm and killed the Millers.  I hate them, don't get me wrong."  She paused in her walk to respond, "But it's enough to drive 'em back and put some respect into their people, but not worth trying to level all their towns and salt all their fields as some would have you think."

Getting the ok from his superior, Van gets excited about his new acquisition. He starts up the engine and gets ready to head out.

In listening to Thasha and Callie, Van adds his two creds, "It's true big guy, you've got a lot of reason to hate them. Just remember that self-preservation is as important as vengeance. Now who wants a ride?"

   "Don't forget the travellers they just murdered a few minutes ago over there.  I wonder what they did this morning, or last night.  I don't believe these soldiers are completely evil like the demons we're using in this war.  But they have allowed themselves to be blinded and corrupted.  They might still have mothers that love them, but this is a war of survival.  Those of us with the power to fight back have to save those that don't.  Its not complicated, Thasha, just kill or be killed.  Fight till you can't anymore and when this is all over we will try to forget."
   Oksana stares at the battered Coalition corpses while she speaks, her wings spread wide casting an angle-shaped shadow across them.

'I don't give a shit what you believe or how you justify it so long as you do what your told. Now move your asses." Portia says as she enters the APC. Within minutes they should arrive at the sight of the complex barring any further difficulties of course.

   "Yes ma'am" Oksana replies professionally.  She's feeling a bit better now after seeing the deaths of those travellers vindicated, if not justified.  "Ma'am, can I request permission to stay outside the APC?  I can fly overhead, ride on top, or teleport alongside.  I just can't stand being cooped up in there..."

"Of Course. I would prefer you to be watching the skies for us."

Severin follows Portia inside the APC, pausing only briefly to speak to Thasha. "You're right Thasha, they do deserve to die. You were living happily in your little home when these dark spirits invaded and took it away from you. You have every right to be angry, nobody will stand in your way now. Kill them without mercy."

Braga jogs for the other Wilderness Crusader, slinging his rifle over his shoulder on the way. "Let's go!"

The squad splits into two groups for each Crusader, and Van takes his newly acquired car, with Oksana in the air above them. They move to the north at a slowed pace, hoping to converge with squad two, 2 miles from the facility.

Precisely 26 minutes later, Amy's dropship appears directly above Oksana, flying silently above squad one, casting a dark shadow over them all. Both squads will arrive at Portia's discovered location in just a few minutes.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:20, Wed 23 July 2008.

   Oksana teleports above the dropship and continues flying along.

Squads One and Two can see a large farm in the distance. As the squads approach the farm it becomes apparent it has recently fallen under attack. There are scattered animal corpses (horses, cows, pigs, sheep, and a few dogs.) These corpses have been mutilated by massive creatures of some kind (visible signs of claws, teeth and flesh-tearing). The farm itself has no windows left intact, and it is riddled with laser fire and rail gun rounds (most definitely CS weaponsfire) No living beings are seen at all, and this farm is at the exact location of the supposed facility. It is 3 stories tall, with a window for each bedroom, a double-door front door, and white-panel walls.

   Using her radio, Oksana calls up Portia.  "Ma'am, requesting permission to search the farmhouse for survivors.  There could be someone hiding in there."

"Negative not our concern... continue flying in a holding pattern until we determine the best way into the facility." Portia turns to the Tauton next to her. "Severin I want you to send out one of your little earth creatures to check underground and locate the bunker facility. I want as much detail as possible, depth, dimensions etcetera. If you are capable of accompanying it then by all means do so I know that they are kind of stupid creatures. If you are not then make sure that it returns in a timely fashion."

Over the platoon channel she broadcasts a message for everyone. "There should be a barn with an elevator down to the main facility. I am searching for another option instead of using the front door which is likely heavily defended or trapped. Give me five minutes and I will lead us in one way or another. "
This message was last edited by the player at 23:40, Wed 30 July 2008.

Oksana spots a massive barn behind the farm, before the rest of squad one.

   "I see the barn, ma'am.  Right behind the farm."

The smell of blood came from upwind before Karnon could even see the farm, and he inhaled its metallic aroma. He kept his hover-cycle close to Portia's, maintaining formation. He leaned forward on the handle-bars of his hover-cycle and studied the carnage.

"Master... that will take forever... my ability to dig is not fast, and we would have to feel around the outside of the structure to learn its size. It could take days..."

Portia does not acknowledge Severin with anything more than a slightly annoyed look. Mounting her hovercycle she speeds towards the farm intent on circling wide around the house in order to approach the barn. "All forces converge on the barn." Portia keeps her vehicle low to the ground and ignores any incoming small arms fire. She is prepared to evade any missiles or similar devastating assaults.

"Sounds like Silvermasque found back door Portia..." Braga waits for the Wilderness Crusader to stop, then he is the first one outside waiting for the others to prepare themselves.

The simvan stalks carefully up to the barn and stops ten feet or so away.

"Thasha, open doors... Van and Callie cover him. When doors open, Karnon, take Severin and Burd in barn, secure area. "

Thasha marches right up to the barn doors and pulls the right-side door open, making room for Karnon and the demons to charge inside.

   Oksana teleports to the far side of the barn, a few hundred feet in the air, when it is time to enter the facility.  She'll take a glance down at the structure before teleporting again to view another side.  She'll ensure that she has checked all sides before teleporting back to ground level near the entrance and make her way inside.  She'll follow the demons on foot.

<IMG SRC="http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/5462/barnentrancecopyfv0.jpg">

Van holds his Plasma Rifle at the ready, aiming down the sites. He switches to thermal vision on his multi-optics.

Portia turns her mystic hoverbike hard and glides sideways around the far side of the barn. The silent levitation system and of course the giant jelly encased eyeball on the vehicle makes it seem that much more strange. "Braga, Karnon Severin, Burd and Thasha prepare to breach the front door on my mark. Be mindful of automated defenses and traps. Oksana, Callie and Van with me. Dyvalis come in behind us and pick up the pieces." Portia waits until the Oksana, Callie and Van are with her on the side of the barn. Using one of the programmed spells inside the Eye of Eyelor she opens a Mystic Portal on the barn wall in front of her. "MARK!" She fires on any visible target within. If the coast is clear she will just hover in.

Portia and crew come in through the east wall, as Braga leads his team inside the front doors. An entire platoon of skelebots (30-35) guards a ramp leading into the ground in the middle of the room. Recognizing the Tolkeenite scum they find near-by cover (in the way of stone pillars), and open fire on Squad One. There is literally nothing else in the barn, and no other forms of visible cover.

(Initiatives for Portia, Oksana, Van, Callie, Severin, Karnon)
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:57, Sun 03 Aug 2008.

   Oksana's first action will be to teleport directly behind the rearmost skelebot about five feet in the air with arm-blades ready to tear their metal hides to pieces.  She vanishes from their line of fire in a flash of white light, reappearing with the same flash and the sound of shearing metal as she rips through time and space.  If more than one skelebot is alerted to her presence, she'll sidestep behind the stone pillar her first victim is using for cover.  With her arms each transformed into a thick curved blade she will hack at the automaton, parry any retaliations or dodge them as they are levied against her.
   Oksana's mind drifts to images of the traveller who died in her arms.  She relives his last breath and fights for it not to have been in vain.  Oksana's mutant reflexes take over.


17:56, Today: Oksana rolled 12 using 1d20. initiative (+3).

18:04, Today: Oksana rolled 24 using 1d20+9. strike #7.
18:04, Today: Oksana rolled 13 using 1d20+9. strike #6.
18:04, Today: Oksana rolled 25 using 1d20+9. strike #5.
18:04, Today: Oksana rolled 28 using 1d20+9. strike #4.
18:04, Today: Oksana rolled 14 using 1d20+9. strike #3.
18:04, Today: Oksana rolled 25 using 1d20+9. strike #2.
18:04, Today: Oksana rolled 23 using 1d20+9. strike #1.

10:14, Today: Oksana rolled 29 using 8d6. damage #7.
10:14, Today: Oksana rolled 30 using 8d6. damage #6.
10:14, Today: Oksana rolled 28 using 8d6. damage #5.
10:14, Today: Oksana rolled 21 using 8d6. damage #4.
10:14, Today: Oksana rolled 32 using 8d6. damage #3.
10:14, Today: Oksana rolled 26 using 8d6. damage #2.
10:14, Today: Oksana rolled 38 using 8d6. damage #1.

18:07, Today: Oksana rolled 33 using 1d20+14. defense #6 (autododge).
18:07, Today: Oksana rolled 23 using 1d20+14. defense #5 (autododge).
18:07, Today: Oksana rolled 16 using 1d20+12. defense #4 (parry).
18:06, Today: Oksana rolled 26 using 1d20+14. defense #3 (autododge).
18:06, Today: Oksana rolled 25 using 1d20+14. defense #2 (autododge).
18:06, Today: Oksana rolled 21 using 1d20+12. defense #1 (parry).


edit: just added the damage rolls which I had forgotten.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:15, Mon 04 Aug 2008.

Karnon came in on the heels of Burd and Severin, relying on the two heavier-skinned demons to take the brunt of the fire. His battle enchantments were up prior to the breach, and he had several scrolls in one hand. He selected one, peeled it open and said the word that activated its magic.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:56, Sun 03 Aug 2008.

Callie stood in stunned immobility in the face of the platoon's fire, her mind gone blank with the sight of so many skelebots facing them.  Though she recovered relatively quickly, still the delay likely left her exposed for too long.  Still, her power armor would provide more cover for her than anything else nearby, so perhaps her reaction was not so problematic as it might have been.

Callie spared a moment's thought for the barn's construction, then started firing at the skelebots' positions.  As she fired, Callie keyed her radio to a private, encrypted line with Portia.

Severin opens fire with his rifle on the Skelebots, pausing after a couple shots and mumbling the arcane words to one of his earthly magic spells.

Burd restrains himself from charging in and taking them hand to hand. He instead stands back with Severin and throws several plasma grenades into the group of 'bots.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:29, Mon 04 Aug 2008.

Thasha walks forwards steadily, firing his rifle at any skelebots in clear sight. He swallows his fear of being hit in return... this Greot is becoming a warrior.

Braga uses the right-side door as cover, and bends around to take shots with his Judgement Day rifle every few seconds. He doesn't risk taking head shots in this mess, and just aims for center mass.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:35, Mon 04 Aug 2008.

Van's exo-skeleton is surrounded in a nimbus of purplish-black flames. Those with technological or extra-sensory abilities (other than detect magic) register him as dead. Even to the average person, he seems like a lifeless automaton.

His rifle is leveled at the mystic portal, and with smooth, deliberate motions he keeps a few paces ahead of Portia. If she moves to enter so will he, moving in and to the side to make room, taking shots wherever they present themselves.


21:37, Today: Van rolled 12 using 1d20+1. Initiative.

STRIKE ROLLS
21:39, Today: Van rolled 22 using 1d20+8.
21:38, Today: Van rolled 15 using 1d20+8.
21:38, Today: Van rolled 18 using 1d20+8.
21:38, Today: Van rolled 25 using 1d20+8.
21:38, Today: Van rolled 11 using 1d20+8. (Miss, Nat 3)
21:38, Today: Van rolled 23 using 1d20+8.

DAMAGE (x10)
21:57, Today: Van rolled 4 using 1d6.  (40)
21:57, Today: Van rolled 1 using 1d6.  (10)
21:57, Today: Van rolled 4 using 1d6.  (40)
21:57, Today: Van rolled 4 using 1d6.  (40)
21:57, Today: Van rolled 5 using 1d6.  (50) -- Stray shot
21:57, Today: Van rolled 5 using 1d6.  (50)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:07, Tue 05 Aug 2008.

With 35 skelebots in a mass some are likely very exposed. Portia will use the mystic abilities of the hovercycle she is sitting on and fire off four magic nets aiming at any larger groups of bots that are close together. With the ability to ensnare up to ten human sized targets she hopes to take a good number out of the fight long enough so they can be easily cut down. Noticing others moving into the barn she hovers forward as well ignoring any fire from the Skelebots. She answers Callie as well. "Negative on bringing down the house. It would probably impede us more than them."

The 30-something skelebots split up into groups of four. Each squad seems to choose one target as Squad One pours in through the entrance. Just as they open fire, Portia, Van and Callie appear at the east wall.

Burd and Severin are inside first, and Karnon is right behind them. Burd tosses several grenades among the bots, and Karnon throws a small black sphere between two squads. The plasma grenades explode among the front 3 squads, then the anti-matter ball from Karnon explodes on one skelebot's chest, enveloping everything within a 20 foot radius. All eight skelebots in the radius are completely vaporized. Braga remains outside and uses the right-side barn door for cover. He fires at one four times in the chest before they return fire. The barn door is shredded as Braga runs for his life along the door, then diving for the ground. The skelebot he shot up is badly damaged, but fighting on.

Oksana teleports behind the rear-most skelebot and slashes his head, and his back. The skelebot turns around quickly, and takes aim with the rail gun, which is immediately parried by Oksana and the gun is aimed at the ground when it fires. She slashes it twice more before the other three bots in the squad turn to open fire on her, moving around the pillar to get better shot. Oksana teleports back outside the barn, and prepares to jump back in.


Van is first to surprise attack from the east, he chooses one unsuspecting bot and fires six times before it finally drops, landing all but one into its chest. Portia enters behind Van and launches Maagic nets from her hovercycle, ensnaring the two entire squads of four, and the three left over after Van melts one.

Thasha jogs in alongside Karnon, and fires at the far left-bots, damaged already by Burd's plasma grenades. He doesn't destroy any, but damages at least three of them.

Calliandra eventually joins in the fray, and blasts one behind the skelebots in Portia's nets.

Severin finishes his spell, and covers another skelebot in a magic net, just as an explosion on the north side of the barn, followed by Flat Bullet and Vashti from Squad Two. Flat Bullet dives to his chest to avoid crossfire, and fires at teh closest skelebots. The six-armed Vashti The Bold charges right for the bots and attacks a squad with swords. Shortly after, massive holes are blown in the west side of the barn from the boom guns of Squad Two. Every skelebot hit is completely destroyed, or blown in half.

After just fifteen seconds, only eight are left standing, which are cut down when Tyirrak leaps into the midst of one squad, tearing them limb from limb, and Vashti finishes up with his squad of four.

Severin was hit only once, while Burd and Thasha were each hit four times. The rest of Squad One is spotless.

The short few seconds, felt like an hour... and the silence is unsettling...

The ramp in the middle of the barn leads down to an elevator, with closed doors...
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:52, Fri 08 Aug 2008.

Portia sits atop her hovercycle calmly and only raises an eyebrow slightly as giant sized holes from the boomgun rounds are punched through the flimsy structure. Lifting her radio she calls out. "The situation inside the barn is well under control please refrain from firing blindly into the building with boomguns and such. We will be entering the facility proper in five minutes." Now that combat is over for the moment she pulls up her hood and her face retreats into the shadows of her silk cowl. Nodding to Vashti and Tyriak she says, "Thanks for the assist boys. Will you be staying with us?"

Lt. Lynn floats her hovercycle over to a horse stall and parks it. Walking past the ensnared skelebots she gives some orders. Thasha, Burd, Severin! Blast the shit out of these things and make sure they stay down. Callie do your thing. I want that elevator open and functional in five minutes. Van help her out. Everyone prepare for close quarters combat."

   After transforming her blade-arms back into their normal metal shapes, Oksana picks up the severed metal skull of one of the robotic skelebots and holds it up in front of her own face.  She marvels at the complexity of the design and wonders how badly the Coalition must want them all dead to have invested so much time and effort.  I am just defending myself, these people have been planning murder for years... she thinks to herself.  She keeps the skull in her hand for the moment as she wanders to the top of the ramp and looks down at the elevator.  Oksana will stroll down to the doors to make sure there is no other robotic defenses that might hurt Callie or Van.

Burd uses his rifle to execute the skelebots trapped in the nets, shooting them all in the head, while teaching Thasha to hold a rifle properly. Together they move from bot to bot, blowing up heads.

Callie's JAPE II suit hissed as the pilot's compartment opened and the young woman stepped out.  She approached the elevator with a thoughtful expression and stopped a bit more than arm's length away from the doors.

Her breathing deepened and Callie seemed to become oblivious to the activity around her, focusing instead on the elevator.  Those close to her could hear the young psi-tech muttering under her breath, seemingly coaxing and cajoling the lift into giving her the information she wanted.

Van steps toward the elevator, keeping his rifle on the doors. He gives Callie a moment, knowing himself the brief moment it takes to absorb the information through Telemechanics, after which he asks "Is it linked to any security systems?"

Lieutenant Dyvalis of Squad Two enters the barn and walks to Portia alongside Flat Bullet.

"Lt. Lynn, what do we know about the facility's defenses aside from these drones up here?"

"We are waiting on Callie to figure that out for sure... according to the sergeant we interrogated, the first two decks were used as a barracks. I didn't get any information regarding any defenses."

She smiles at Dyvalis before adding, With half of your squad being pulled away, you may as well join mine. As soon as Callie and Van have those doors open we are going inside in three fire teams. I will lead one with Severin, Burd, Braga, and Callie. Van will lead another with Karnon, Oksana, and Thasha. And you can bring your remaining five in. My team is on point, and you will take up the rear Dyvalis."

"The only security features are a passcode to get inside here, and a camera inside the elevator, which I have just deactivated. The elevator is on its' way to our floor... be ready..."

   Oksana, who was standing at the elevator doors with Callie and Van offers to stand in front when the elevator opens, just in case anything dangerous happens to be inside.

Van tries to guage how large the elevator might be by the doors. If it's a massive cargo elevator it could hold a lot more troops than a smaller one. He brings his rifle up from his hip and stares down the sight. "How many floors down does it go?"

Dyvalis gives a sarcastic smile at Portia's comment about losing half his squad. "You're the first officer on site," said in a manner that indicates 'whatever you say boss', "My squad will be in behind Sgt. Fanel's."


The elevator is huge. 15 feet deep, 12 feet wide.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:04, Sat 09 Aug 2008.

"It goes down... sixteen floors..."

The doors open, with Oksana on the ready to pounce anything that may be a threat. The elevator itself is 15 feet deep, and 12 feet wide, and Callie was right, this elevator goes down up to 16 floors...

The elevator is empty, besides a dead soldier. A Private in his mid-twenties is slumped in a sitting position with his head between his knees, and a CP-30 in his hand, and still in full body armour, damaged of course. Upon closer inspection, there is a laser-hole in the back of his head. With no wounds on the man's face, it becomes obvious he shot himself in the mouth. Oksana can tell the body has been here for a couple days. The elevator stinks of rotting flesh, nauseating to the inexperienced.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:25, Mon 11 Aug 2008.

Callie repressed a shudder at the grisly sight and turned back to her power armor.  She climbed in without a word and moved in to the elevator.

Van's exoskeleton and Aura of Death conceals any reaction he might have. "Not like a grunt to do himself in like that. 'Course if they make psychics like Madtown here there's no telling what kinda shit they could make a man do. I recommend everyone keep up a Mind Block if you've got it. Those that don't, just think happy thoughts."

There's no point in worrying about it now. They've got to go in there either way or they're shot for insubordination. Might as well get on with it. "Alright, Karnon, Oksana, Thasha; on me. What floor we want Lieutenant?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:45, Mon 11 Aug 2008.

   Oksana spots the body but doesn't falter.  She has the advantage of not needing to breathe while transformed into metal and after the first whif of rotting flesh, she stops.  She steps inside the elevator and already starts to feel claustrophobic.  She's not terrified of small spaces, just uncomfortable without being able to fully stretch her wings or glide around.  Since they are about to head down, she decides to take a peek at what is down there.  Oksana's metal wings seem to fold in on themselves, telescoping into shorter stubby-looking wings on her back.
   One of Oksana's forearms transforms itself into a metal spike and she drops to the floor, punching her arm through in the centre.  If she is able to make a hole, she'll withdraw her arm and take a look down into the darkness.  Her elven eyes should still be able to see.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:44, Mon 11 Aug 2008.

It takes Oksana eight hits, to finally break through the bottom of the elevator, and a ninth stab to make the hole big enough to see through...

   Oksana peers through the little hole, looks back up to everyone else and then does a double-take.  Standing up, she looks to Van and Callie.  "Ummm... there's something down there... some kind of freak snake!"

Van jumps to, needing to see it to believe it. He uses his multi-optics to get a better look while keeping his rifle aimed generally at the hole, with curiousity and caution in equal measure. "What the fuck?"

"Make that hole big enough so we can shoot the damn thing then lets go on down to sixteen. I am guessing that is where all the fun is."

   Oksana forms both arms into elongated hooks and she jams them both into the hole she made and starts rippinng.  Once some tears are made in the metal, she reforms her arms to normal and peels up the metal plating in the floor of the elevator to make a hole about two feet in diameter.  Oksana bends the metal as if it were clay.  Then she'll step back for someone with a gun to take care of the next step.

The 'snake' is coiled up at the bottom 16 decks down (over 300 feet). It is brown, with snake-like markings all over its flesh. It is at least 50 feet long, and as wide as a man is tall. It isnt noticing the movement up above ground, but it is definitely breathing... it could be asleep...

"Better make the first shot a good one, I don't think it knows we're here. Anybody got a fusion block?" Van keeps his rifle on the hole and motions for Callie and Thasha to do the same.

If nobody has one, or if the idea is rejected then it's just open fire. All at once, on three. 1, 2, 3...


STRIKE
11:29, Today: Van rolled 25 using 1d20+8.
11:28, Today: Van rolled 18 using 1d20+8.
11:28, Today: Van rolled 22 using 1d20+8.
11:28, Today: Van rolled 11 using 1d20+8. - Miss (3)
11:28, Today: Van rolled 14 using 1d20+8.


DAMAGE (x10)
11:30, Today: Van rolled 60 using 1d6.
11:30, Today: Van rolled 60 using 1d6.
11:30, Today: Van rolled 50 using 1d6.
11:30, Today: Van rolled 50 using 1d6.
11:30, Today: Van rolled 20 using 1d6.

Nobody volunteers any explosives, and Portia doesn't seem to impressed with the idea of bombing the facility just yet. So that leaves Van and Callie to open fire on the creature laying coiled at the bottom of the shaft. He hits it, three times before it squeels, sending a high-pitched screeching, echoing up through the shaft for everyone up above to hear. It quickly uncoils itself, but its direction is unclear, and no head is visible. Soon the creature is gone, disappearing down a hole in the ground just big enough for it to squeeze through.

Van reports what he sees, and Portia wastes no time to get on with the mission. She leads her squad into the elevator, as Van and Oksana step back out to make room. Severin, Burd, Braga and Calliandra step in taking up a large portion of the elevator. Van, Karnon, Oksana and Thasha step in next and pretty much fill up the rest. Everybody has to squish together to allow room for Dyvalis, Flat Bullet, Tyirrak, Vashti, and Daemonis. And the elevator is packed, shoulder to shoulder, man to demon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:29, Thu 14 Aug 2008.

   "I hope that was just some mutant snake and not a... tentacle." Oksana comments as she gives Burd a light shove after he steps on her foot.  She doesn't like being in such cramped quarters, let alone with the likes of demonic creatures.  She will maneuver for a spot in the elevator near the door so she can be one of the first to exit.  She'd rather face the unknown in the underground complex than spend more time than necessary crammed in a metal box.

Hearing Oksana's comment, Severin replies rather dryly, "Lovely... a tentacle..." he then shrugs his shoulders as much as he can in the packed elevator.

"Well snake or squid, I scared it off anyway." Van vies for a little more room, although, with his exoskeleton and board he already takes up a fair bit of room. He turns to Callie in her JAPE. "Hey freckles, since we're all in tight like this I figure now's as good a time as any to ask you if you'd grab a drink with me next time we're on shore leave. I'll take you out in the Dragon Cat."

   Oksana, slightly surprised at the sergeant's self-confidence in asking one of his direct reports out on a date.  Oksana was new in the military but suspected that such fraternization wasn't allowed.  She wasn't about to comment on her own officer's bahaviour, she's just glad it wasn't her being put on the spot like that.  She felt sorry for Callie though.

"Keep it in your pants Sergeant. You can all play grabass with each other till the cows come home for all I care once the mission is over. Until then get your heads out of your asses and in the game." Portia pushes the button for level 16 and waits calmly for the ride to end and the doors to open.

Callie smiled inside her armor, forgetting that the expression wasn't visible to Van.  "Sure.  It's gotta be more fun than the last few outings we've been on." an oblique reference to the last few missions.

At Portia's comment Callie replied, "Sorry, Lieutenant." sounding mostly chagrined.  There was not much she could do until the elevator arrived and some of the inhabitants debarked.

PM

Van smirks a concealed smirk, "Yes ma'am," he replies to the lieutenant, then adds quietly, "Sorry Callie, no grabass till we're finished here."

Something in the past couple missions had started to make Van feel invincible and at times almost boastful. But every time he donned his armor he felt inexplicable confidence. Van had no worries; this mission was going to be easy.

Callie scowled at the button panel, then carefully opened her armor enough to allow her to control the elevator.  With the tight press inside the elevator car there wasn't room for more than an inch or two, but it should be enough.  Callie sent a mental command to the elevator car to take them to deck 16.

The elevator doors close, locking everyone inside, and at Calliandra's mental command it begins the journey down to Deck 16. It moves smoothly, as Callie reads out the floors as they pass them.

"One... two... three... four..."

The elevator begins to shake slightly...

"Five... six... seven..."

The shaking becomes stronger, and a faint grinding sound is heard, coming from outside the elevator...

"Eight... Nine... Ten..."

Still six floors to go, and the grinding is getting louder...

"Eleven... Twelve... Thirteen..."

The grinding sound suddenly stops, followed by a low growling sound, that seems to vibrate the elevator itself.

"Fourteen... fifteen... Sixteen..."

The elevator stops and the doors slide open...

An empty hallway stretches out a couple hundred feet, and there is a map on the wall just outside the elevator.

   Oksana considered teleporting out of the elevator as the ominous sound started, but she held on until the doors opened.  She was the first into the corridor, glancing at themap briefly.  Without a legend, it was mostly useless but at least they had an idea of the size of this place.  She keeps moving forward so everyone else has room to escape the confines of the lift.

   On the map, is there a door between room "G" and our corridor?  Also, what is the size? (I need corridor width and height to know if Oksana can fly down here) Thanks.

There is a massive mechanical door, (slides open by splitting in the middle)  and electronic lock next to the door between the elevator corridor and Room "G". Room "G" is 50 feet wide, and the ceiling is 30 feet from the floor. The Elevator corridor is 20 feet wide, and only 15 from floor to ceiling.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:46, Mon 18 Aug 2008.

Thasha follows Oksana, choosing to stay close to her, and assuming the rest of his squad must be following her as well.

"I didn't think I would fit... but this facility wasn't made for just humans..."

"Yes, very accomodating for plus-sized individuals like yourself, or if you will, power armors. I'm hoping the latter."

Catching up to Oksana he checks out the metal doors. "It's cool Callie, I'll get this one." He places his hand on the panel beside the door.

OOC - Van mentioned the dead CS soldier in the elevator... and what happened to him. He is still in the elevator that smells like death.

   "Thasha, if we stay down here too long, maybe you won't fit.  When we met, I was taller than you... How big will you grow?"  Oksana stands in front of the door, next to Van at the control panel, waiting for it to slide open.  "You know Sergeant, I can always open the door by force if you get tired of picking locks."

Vashti grinned and shook his head, "Ah, but we should be nice to the young man and let him show off in front of the ladies. Not," he added not quite preening himself, "That I would ever need to do such a thing.  Besides, an unlocked door can always be relocked should we have the need, whereas a broken one cannot."

Callie was thankful that the armor was there to conceal her reaction to the swordsman's rather pointed comment.  To cover, she nodded, then suppressed a shudder at the memory of the snake/tentacle in the elevator shaft.  "Yeah, and with whatever it was in the shaft still alive I think I'd be happier with a nice thick door between me and whatever that thing was."

Tyirrak squeezed himself tightly into the elevator, compacting his large frame as much as he could, although his tail was coiled behind him against the wall, like a spring between him the wall itself, should he need to dash out of the elevator upon opening. Idly he considered the implications of popping his armor-blades out in such close quarters.

He observed the mating rituals with a fair amount of disinterest. Amongst his people, such issues had little to do with emotion, and more about pragmatism. The strongest would mate, and the species would go stronger.

The other thing he couldn't help but notice was the preponderance of magic and psychic energy now surrounding him. There were plenty of individuals that might qualify as very interesting prey if this were not wartime...

Still, if there were any psi-stalkers or dog-boys further up ahead, this group had about all the subtlety of a 'tactical' nuclear strike.

"Not sure how tall... my dad was as big as Sheriff Flat Bullet."

Flat Bullet responds with inflated pride "Come on now, not quite..." He steps out of the elevator and follows Tyirrak and Vashti.

"Knowing what is on the other side of the door before opening it would be a bonus but as long as we can be reasonably certain that it will not trigger an explosion that will blow us all to hell then I do not really care what is there." She steps to the side to give the close quarter combat specialists room to work. She flicks the safety off of her Naruni pistol and waits for the door to open."Kill anything that moves." She says coldly.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:10, Wed 20 Aug 2008.

Van finds the code to the door rather quickly then moves over to punch it in the panel. The sound of the doors unlocking echoes through the corridor, and then they open slowly, revealing a massive Thundering Iron Juggernaut from Tolkeen standing motionless in the center of the room ('G') facing the group.

The room is other wise empty, other than several computer terminals. Every door to the other rooms is closed and there are no signs of anythign living anywhere. There are security cameras in every corner of the room up near the ceiling, all aiming at the opening door...
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:05, Sun 24 Aug 2008.

When Braga enters the room, and looks at the towering Iron Juggernaut he jokingly mentions "It is not moving... and is perhaps not alive... orders Lieutenant?"

   "Alive?  I've seen several of these things back at Madtown.  Nobody said anything about them being alive! I thought they were robots!"  Oksana walks up to the foot of the behemoth.  "Are they cyborgs?" She asks with a bit of curiosity while touching its leg with her fingertips.

"Oksana get excited? I said perhaps not alive... response to Portia... why you think robots? They are pilots inside no?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:52, Wed 27 Aug 2008.

   "Of course I thought there were pilots inside.  As far as I've ever seen, Tolkeen doesn't have robots that think for themselves like the CS skelebots - not that I really call what they do thinking.  But you said this thing might not be alive like you half expected it to be.  Sorry, maybe this is just a language barrier."

"What in the hell is that thing doing here?" Portia asks somewhat rhetorically. "Details of those bastards are way above my paygrade. Karnon if you know anything about the juggernauts check it out but if not everyone stay the hell away from it for now. We will include it in our report and let the archmages deal with it. Callie, Van... shut the door behind us and get these computers up and running if you can. Patch into the security system I would like to see as much of this facility as I can on those screens before we run around opening all the doors in this place." Portia pulls and apple out of her small satchel and takes a bite of it. The venomous snake wrapped around her wrist like a piece of jewelry flicks its forked tongue at her nose causing her to scowl at the reptile.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:59, Thu 28 Aug 2008.

Vashti sketched a mocking bow towards the security devices.  "Say hello, fems and fen, we're on camera."  Though his tone was mocking, his actions were anything but.  He pulled out a small, moulded pistol, the embedded gems giving away it's TW nature, and fired a effervescant beam at each camera.

Lest her scowl be turned on himself, Vashti takes care to add, "The effect is only temporary, Beloved Leader, and the cameras shall return to their surveilance forthwith.  I thought it best, however, that we not be immediately observed."

Callie looked at the juggernaut with a mixture of awe and professional curiosity.  She'd have liked nothing more than to go over and to "get to know" the behemoth, as it were, but that would have to wait.

Callie turned to the computers, trusting that Van, having opened the doors, should be able to close them.

"Karnon, take Oksana and Thasha and cover far hallway and door. Burd and Severin cover this door with me. Dyvalis? perhaps your men could cover the other two doors?"

Braga points to the far hallway and the door right next to it when he orders Karnon to cover it, then moves to the door just next to the entrance, assuming Burd and Severin follow. All doors are closed, however the hallway at the far side has no door, and is therefore a possible threat at any second. He points to the bottom two doors when referring to Dyvalis.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Sat 30 Aug 2008.

PM

Callie smiled, pleased with her discovery.  This certainly had...possibilities should the need arise.  "Hey, Van," she called, then gestured towards the terminal, floor and ceiling, "This is a power armor shop, complete with labor-saving devices."

She turned back to the console and worked a bit more, "I wonder if we could co-opt this room..." her voice trailed off while she worked.

PM

Severin takes his rifle and holds it ready should any threats emerge from the door he was assigned to watch.

Callie nodded, satisfied.  "Lieutenant Lynn," she said, returning to the squad leader, "The security system is isolated from these terminals, we can't get to it from here.  On the other hand, this room appears to be a power-armor and robot repair garage and is packed with machinery in the ceiling and floor.  Those are ours to control now, should we need them."

"Good to know but unless it helps us clear this facility it is not immediately important. Until we get orders to the contrary we are going to go room to room until everything but us is dead. Lets move out!" Portia indicates the door nearest to her indicating it should be opened.  "Anyone with psychic, magic or other abilities that can determine what might be beyond each door we are gonna bust through please utilize them."

Moving over near to the Juggernaut standing motionless in the center of the room Portia stares up at the behemoth before removing her leather glove and placing her tiny hand on its cold metal surface. Those watching closely can see the black asp that is wrapped around her forearm also pokes its head up and touches the Juggernaut.

Dyvalis simply smiles politely at Braga when he suggests the order. He then drops the smile and turns to what's left of his squad and motions toward the doors. "Do it." is all he orders.

With Lynn's 'kill everything' order given, he snaps to. "Alright, Tyirrak, Vashti, Flat Bullet, Daemonis. We're going to clear 'H'otel and 'I'ndia. As soon as the rooms are clear, we're back to this position. Vashti, you're on point."

Van takes in the Iron Juggernaut. He looks up at it with some measure of awe. "Man, machine, magic; whatever they are they make fantastic troops," he says with fondness, "Goddamn I miss my air team."

He heads over to Callie as she diagnoses the facility. "Fuckin' sweet. And that's just one of a multitude of amenities that this place offers. With all this equipment in here I can't understand why we're not buried in Hellraisers by now."

Vashti nodded to Dyvalis "Your wish is my command, LT."  He moved towards the indicated rooms quickly, but not so fast that he severely outpaced the others on his team.  Briefly considering, then discarding, the idea of stealth he moved to open the door, ready to slip in as soon as he could.

Karnon moved up the hallway where Braga had pointed, several rolled scrolls in one hand. Destruction was not necessarily the best first reaction, and so he stood ready to seal the corridor with a forcewall should anything big come at them.

Tyirrak stayed in a support position to the six-armed blender of a swordsman. His own blades stayed retracted in his armor. He activated his clairvoyant abilities, psychically scouting out rooms ahead of them before entering. He notified Vashti on point if anything seemed out of sorts before they breached.

PM
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:37, Sun 07 Sept 2008.

Portia pulls her fingers back quickly as if from a hot stove before slowly putting them back on the iron-hide of massive juggernaut.

Van slings his rifle and removes the gauntlets of his exoskeleton to better manipulate the panel beside the door (whichever door his squad is going through first). He goes to work quickly, already familiar with just what type of lock they're using. He removes the panel and engages the override.

Dyvalis' squad is stopped by a closed security door.

PMs for everyone else

Tyirrak raised a hand for halt. His senses had detected something, although with the background sense of magic and psychic energy their own squads were giving off, he had to concentrate to filter out each sensation.

"There is a magic presence on the other side of the door. I'm not getting a sense that its an immediate threat though."

Van opens the door for Sgt. Braga's squad first. "Corporal O'Hare, be a doll and grab the door for Lt. Dyvalis and his gang of misfits," he speaks while screwing around with the locking mechanism and getting a bit frustrated, "Karnon I'll be with you in just a second, once I get this piece of shit working. Unless Liquid Metal there thinks she can slice her way through," referring to Oksana.

Callie nodded and moved over towards the door that Dyvalis' group was gathered around.  "Excuse me, gentlemen."  Still out of her armor, the JAPE suit was parked near the computer terminals, Callie slipped easily through the crowd to the door's panel.  She laid one ungloved hand on the mechanism and spent a moment analyzing the door before trying to open it.

With the door open the smell of rotting food leaks from the room inside. Braga peaks inside the room quickly. Not seeing any oponents, he looks up at the two demons. "Room has tables and chairs. Two doors inside. Follow me. No prisoners."

Calliandra has the door open in just over ten seconds. Flat Bullet peaks inside, before stepping into the room, with Tyirrak and Vashti right behind him. The room appears to have been used to study magic weapons. Squad Two has literally walked into a shopping spree on magic weapons, and items. On one wall there are several beautiful ancient-style weapons with strange symbols along the sides. There are a matching pair of katanas, a long sword, a giant battle axe, a giant war hammer, and a staff, with a point at one end, and a naginata-like knife at the other. They all appear to be made out of a light red coloured stone of some sort, and smell like sulfur. There are dozens of charms, amulets, techno wizard weapons, and items contained inside machines, likely used to study the items in some way. There is a computer terminal next to each item, including the matching weapons on the wall.

"Roger that. Were on sixteen." Portia replies to Shira over the radio. Replacing her leather glove she sighs giving up on the Juggernaut for now. Hanging back while the squad does its work she cannot help but sense the abundance of magic energy coming from the room once the door is open. She will walk over casually and peer into the room taking stock of the situation. "Be wary of traps but lets pack this stuff up. Spoils of war and what have you. We can I.D. later... Callie snatch the C.S. computer files too. With their psychic analysis of the  items they can save us a lot of mental energy.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:24, Wed 24 Sept 2008.

Callie headed over towards the nearest computer terminal to check it out and begin the inventory.

Just as announced, Captain Shira and two others enter the room, after taking the same elevator. Shira is with Madtown the disabled psychic and an alien power armour. They walk (in Madtowns case, hovers) over directly over to Portia.

"Reprt Lieutenant." Shira stands waiting for Portia to respond, next to Madtown and the alien power armour.

Dyvalis repeats the order. "Pack it up, and no sticky fingers. I'll know if anythng's missing."

He then steps out into the doorway to listen to Portia's debrief and Shira's orders. He salutes his CO.

In reply to Sorkhan Shira (msg #241):

Shimrod stands to the Captain's side, unmoving and silent in his strange Kittani power armor.

Vashti had moved over towards the weapon racks to make a closer examination of the equipment there.  His eyes held no covetousness, only admiration for the workmanship that had gone into the pieces.  "You got it, Lieutenant." he said in response to Dyvalis, running his fingers lightly over the surface of the matched katanas before bending to the task.

Braga, Severin and Burd charge into the room. It turns out to be a full cafeteria with tables and chairs to seat dozens. Food is laying around rotting, but there are no signs of anything alive, and nothing useful is laying around.


Captain Shira awaits a report from Portia, and Van opens the far door for Karnon's squad.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:44, Thu 02 Oct 2008.

"Shimrod, head over and assist with the corporal." Captain Shira points to the back of the room, where a Wolfen corporal, waits to enter a room, with the help of a young techno wizard, a Greot hatchling, and a woman with wings, and metal skin...

(Door "F" and the open hallway)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:39, Thu 02 Oct 2008.

In reply to Moloch (msg #247):

Shimrod intones in a gravely voice, "Instantly, sir." He moves into position, poised.

Karnon stands poised as the door opens, his attention entirely focused upon it. His lupine ears were swiveled towards it, and twitched in anticipation. His claw-tipped furred fingers twitched as well, although this reflexive motion was incurred from years of constant spell-casting, rather than an instinctual tic.

"Not a whole hell of alot to report sir. We entered the same way you did and had a nice elevator ride down here. No real resistance, no casualties or injuries to speak of." We are currently sweeping the place room by room. Found a nice magic weapons cache over there that I intend to get first crack at and of course you can see the Juggernaut."

Vashti sagged after touching the weapons, catching his balance against a bare spot on the wall, one hand gingerly touching his face as if to make sure it was still there.  "Goddess Agasaya, what was that?" Vashti's question was directed to himself but was spoken loud enough to be heard.

With a shake, the Jerridu pulled himself back.  "There is something wrong with the red-stone weapons.  No one must touch them until it's determined how to do so safely."  As he spoke, Vashti leaned in towards the weapons, careful not to touch them again, and examined them carefully.  After a few moments he made an annoyed tch sound and leaned back.  "I don't know what they are, exactly, but they are definitely dangerous to anyone touching them."

The room in front of Karnon, Oksana, Thasha and Shimrod opens in front of them, revealing an empty room. There are lockers inside, each containing parts likely used for skelebots. Some lockers have entire torsos, or other limbs inside. Nothing of real use...

And another door...

"You guys can have your damn swords. They ain't nothing in a gun fight. If Tolkeen loses this war we will all know why... The history books will write of a Kingdom of fools who stood against The Coalition with swords. Especially swords that freak out bug-boy over there. I don't want no part in that shit."

Flat Bullet continues to gather up the other magical stuff in the room.

"What about the next door...?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:02, Sun 05 Oct 2008.

Thasha enters the room cautiously, checking the corners of the room, with his rifle aimed steady.

"Open the next room. Van? open it please."

Van eventually makes his way to the next door and works his magic to open it as well, then quickly steps to the side of the doorway to ready his weapons, and make room for the others.

Inside the room is a demonic looking skelebot with horns and six arms, each holding a light rail gun. It was inactive until the door opened, but now its eyes light up, and several mechanisms audibly activate on the robot. It looks Karnon in the eye before aiming its weapons at the squad in front of it and opening fire. (Shimrod, Thasha and Oksana, along with Karnon. Van is not visible currently.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:57, Fri 17 Oct 2008.

A lifetime of martial training has honed the Kittani's reflexes well. As soon as the skelebot's eyes light up, Shimrod instantly opens fire with his K-1000 heavy laser.

Before the 'bot can even raise its' weapons Shimrod and Thasha blow it away. Inside the room are tools, and more spare parts. This demonic skelebot was likely a prototype of some sort.

Braga, Severin and Burd finish searching the other three rooms, only finding empty crew quarters.

Dyvalis and the rest of Squad Two finish their search as well, uneventfully.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:00, Fri 17 Oct 2008.

"We are too cluttered down here together. Reinforcements will be here soon, we can't move this slowly."

Shira looks over to Dyvalis.

"Lieutenant Dyvalis, bring your squad with me. We are heading to the higher decks. Shimrod, you're with us as well."

Portia checks her watch in between eyeballing the Red Metal weapons anxiously as they are stored away. On the squad channel she issues her version of a pep-talk. "This is one of sixteen floors we have to clear people. Get your fucking asses in gear and hup-too already!" Replacing her radio on her belt she mutters under her breath and walks over towards the weapons rack and picks up a Gladius style sword crafted from the exotic red metal.

"Fuck it."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:06, Fri 17 Oct 2008.

PM
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:31, Sun 19 Oct 2008.

In reply to Sorkhan Shira (msg #259):

Shimrod nods and falls in, showing only momentary interest in the shards of the skelebot prototype.

Portia instinctively jerks her hands away as if burned. Then with a grimace of determination she grasps the hilt of the sword again. Closing her eyes against the pain her eyes close and tears roll down her cheeks and a small rivulet of blood rolls from her left nostril splashing down onto the crimson blade where it becomes lost in the sea of red. Less than 30 seconds pass and she opens her eyes, quickly wipes away the blood and tears and manages a slight smile as she strolls out of teh room sword in hand.

Vashti's eyes narrowed at the lieutenant's behavior but he said nothing for the time being, simply concentrated on ensuring that the rest of the weapons were quickly and safely packed up for removal.

Captain Shira, Madtown, and Shimrod along with Dyvalis, Tyirrak, Vashti, Daemonis, and Flat Bullet make their way for the elevator to move up to the next deck.

Portia and her squad continue to secure the current area. After every member is carrying huge satchels of magic weapons, they are ready to advance through the corridor. The Iron Juggernaut remains motionless, and apparently useless. There is no further sign of any threats, although it's a good bet the Coalition knows Tolkeen is here.

Callie gave the iron giant a last, wistful look as they left the hangar area.  It seemed a shame to leave such a majestic creation there for the Coalition to despoil.  Even if it had no living soul to damage, surely such magnificant workmanship shouldn't be left to the butchers.  She trailed one hand over the thing's arching form before leaving the room.

"Yes sir," he replies to Shira, joining him in the elevator. When inside he addresses him with an alternative plan. "Captain, frankly, it could take us hours to search this place top to bottom. However the temporal arts could shorten that time greatly. I can render myself a 4th dimensional being. It would take too long to get into the physics behind it, but it would allow me to see this entire facility as though it were a flat map. Nothing would escape my awareness. I could only do this for 5 minutes, and afterward I would need to recouperate, so with my last moments in the 4th dimension, I would transport myself back to Tolkeen. With your permission I would like to go ahead with it."

"It concerns me lieutenant that you did not mention this earlier... very well, do what you need to do...

As Sorkhan's squad moves off, Portia's prepares to exit the open room containing the juggernaut, and enter the hallway. (shown as to the right on the map).

"No more, sir, than it concerns me now to undergo this transformation." Dyvalis' hand gives a slight twitch. He mind fills with a mixture of fear and excitement. This spell is not to be taken lightly if one cares about one's mental health. But the things Dyvalis has experienced in his tutelage have taught him that one's sound mind is a luxury which these troubling times cannot afford a man in his position.

He sets his watch and then begins the incantation. As he does his body seems to distort as though he were being seen through water, the waves of which seem to increase until he has completed the spell, at which point he disappears, leaving his shadow behind for a moment. An exhale can be heard momentarily as though it were coming from all directions, then the shadow, the voice, and the man are gone completely.

PM

Dyvalis roams the 4th dimension.

PM
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:37, Thu 04 Dec 2008.

Captain Shira and his squad hang around to see what comes of Dyvalis' plan.

Utterly fascinated by the notion of travel in the 4th dimension, Shimrod ponders the ramifications of such activity and wonders if he'll ever have time to question the spellcaster about it.

A short while passes before Dyvalis reappears, phasing into the 3rd dimension. "Deck 13. Bring the engineers." He phases out again without waiting for a reply.

"Alright, lucky 13 it is.  Someone stop the kids from making moon-eyes at each-other and tell them to meet us up on 13, alright?"  The jeridu began to move back to the elevator, not having Dyvalis' abilities.  "We waitin' for the CS to invite us or what?" he said over his shoulder, "Come on."

"Alright platoon, the lieutenant seems to have made himself useful and cut this trip short. Form up and move out to the elevator."

"Well... I suppose we have to trust him. Let's go, deck 13..."

Shimrod dutifully falls in, as always constantly scanning the area.

Van's head tilts back, thankfully. "Alright, some direction. I was not looking forward to picking a hundred locks over 16 floors."

Van makes for the elevator quickly, right on the heels of Lt. Lynn. "Come on, freckles. Game time." he quips to Callie.

Callie blushed at Vashti's jsesting shot, then deeper when Van called her, then quickly clambored into her power armor, hoping to conceal her reaction.  "On my way."

The two squads will have to make two trips in the elevator with all of the magic items they are carrying out of the facility. Captain Shira, his entourage and Squad two head inside first, with Portia's crew waiting for teh elevator to return.

The elevator returns to load up Squad One. Portia, Van, Callie, Karnon, Burd, Severin, Braga, Oksana, and Thasha load into the lift and wait to join Squad Two on deck 13.

The squad piles into the elevator and head up to meet Squad Two on Deck 13. They have secured the corridor just outside the elevator but have not moved out of this hallway. (see map)


This message was last edited by the GM at 15:59, Tue 20 Jan 2009.

"Welcome to Deck 13 Lieutenant Lynn. Just to paraphrase Lieutenant Dyvalis, there are some sort of snakes slithering around up here... as well as several soldiers sleeping in room 'M'. Apparently our devices are located in 'U, V, and W'."

"Flat Bullet move up and report what you can see inside the room from the doorway. Tyirrak prepare to move inside after Bullet's report. Daemonis, Vashti and Shimrod, you're with him, and Flat Bullet follow them as soon as they go through."

Captain Shira jogs up to the opposite side of the doorway from Flat Bullet, followed by Madtown and watches Flat Bullet as he takes a peak around the corner.

"Portia, prepare to follow us in."

Flat Bullet jogs ahead to the doorway (looking out to room 'G') just as Sorkhan runs past to the other side of the doorway. The Grackle Tooth has his massive plasma cannon aimed at the ground as he quickly peaks his head around for a split-second and then looks to Sorkhan.

"There's nothin movin' in there Cap'n. Looks like a bunch of glass boxes stacked along the walls... They're all smashed..."

Flat Bullet then nods to Tyirrak, motioning for him to lead the squad inside the room.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Tue 20 Jan 2009.

In reply to Flat Bullet (msg #287):

As always with weapon ready, Shimrod follows Tyirrik into the room, displaying nary a hint of nervousness.

Tyirrak moves in first, his rifle at the ready, followed closely by Daemonis, Vashti, Shimrod and Flat Bullet. Shira and Madtown wait by the door, as Portia and her squad move up, and prepare to enter the room.

Inside, are dozens of dead bodies, all human. Most of the flesh has been torn off, and likely eaten... by... something... or someone...

It is a wide open room, with glass aquariums stacked along the walls. The majority of these aquariums are smashed and empty, although a few appear to have some sort of reptile or scaly-creature (not moving) inside of them.


One of the bodies on the far side of the room moves slightly, as if it were bumped by something small.

Shimrod goes ramrod. "Sir, something bad is due to occur. ETA, one minute. I'd suggest we prepare for the worst, because the worst appears to be on its way." He points and aims his weapon at the moving body, eyes scanning the area around it.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:45, Wed 28 Jan 2009.

Daemonis chants the words to a spell and then is clad in a mystic plate mail. He wonders out of the elevator behind Tyirrak. Not armed with a rifle and still generally a stranger to this land, he seems out of place, even amoung this motley assortment.

As the warning comes in from the monkey, Daemonis takes up a pair of hunting knives. He scans the ground for some sort of modern weapon.

Tyirrak cracked his neck and looked about the room, returning his rifle to his back, and hefting a pair of deadball plasma grenades instead, as blades in his armor all slid and snapped into place. The sergeant had clearly senses the same as Shimrod, and was ready to dice whatever would threaten the squad.

Vashti nodded in response to Shimrod, the situation having silenced for once the irreverent Jerridu's quips.  He let out a soft breath and cleared his mind, readying himself for whatever had prompted the warning.

Daemonis spots several Coalition-made rifles lying about, some without blood and flesh all over them.

The room is filled with bodies... one body closer to the entrance is severely mutilated, and appears to have been partially eaten. The gut has been emptied out and several small grey eggs are nestled among the decaying organs of teh corpse. Everything is silent and motionless until the head of a snake is made visible as it peaks up from under one of the bodies at the far side of the room...

Then, suddenly... Flat Bullet collapses to the ground, flat... on his face.

"I... can't move... ... what THE FUCK!"

Not wanting to stand around in the congested hallway when a fight is about to erupt Portia moves ahead towards the rooms Shira indicated. To Burd and any others following along with her she says. "Take no chances... kill anything that moves."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:12, Sat 21 Feb 2009.

Inexperienced with rifles but understanding the idea well enough from observation, Daemonis points and shoots at the head of the snake. His first shot goes wide, hitting the already mangled corpse.

Daemonis opened fire on the revealed snake on the other side of the room. The first shot missed outright, and the others seemed to be absorbed by some sort of force field in front of the snake.

Shimrod opens fire just as quickly, and his shots are likewise absorbed by the force field at first. The last couple shots punch thorugh and hit the snake in the face just before it disappears back under the rotting corpse.

Just a moment later and Daemonis' rifle is pulled form his hands by an unseen force and flies into a nearby wall, and then Vashti collapses motionless next to Flat Bullet...

Tyirrak has his grenades at the ready, while Sorkhan and Portia along with the rest of the squad waits outside the room.

"I can't move either... we walked into a god damn psi-snake nest!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:25, Tue 03 Mar 2009.

Tyirrak almost sneered under his helmets. Interesting prey. He cocked his head and with a flick of his taloned thumbs set the pair of grenades to detonate on first impact after leaving his hands. He stared around in wait for one to show itself, and then snapped out the grenades at it the moment it did.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:50, Wed 04 Mar 2009.

Concerned that a grenade could hit a force field and launch back at him, Shimrod discards that option for now and grimly continues to fire at the corpse the snake is hiding under. He also rallies his mental energy for a potential attack from that quarter.

OOC: Erect Mind Block with one action.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:36, Wed 04 Mar 2009.

Lotus seems to materialize from thin air in the center of this dark, snake-infested room.

She stares blankly without her helmet at Shimrod, Daemonis and Tyirrak for a moment before speaking.

"Greetings.... you are not Coalition.... what is your purpose down here...?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:44, Sun 08 Mar 2009.

Shimrod manages to reply in the midst of his firing. "Right now, dispatching psychic devil-snakes. As for the larger picture you have to ask my CO."

"That is not Lotus... it is the snake..."

The Captain comes out from hiding and steps into the room to see this Lotus impersonator.

"No we are not Coaltion... we are from Tolkeen... we have business to take care of in this facility. Will you let us pass by you, or must we go through you..."

Captain Shira then motions for Portia's squad to move into the room...
This message was last edited by the player at 13:53, Thu 12 Mar 2009.

"Oksana, go back up to the surface and report in to the other squads, let them know our status."

edit : She then motions for the rest of her squad to follow her inside the room behind Captain Shira. Lieutenant Lynn leads the way.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:31, Fri 13 Mar 2009.

Having thought this was going to be straight forward combat, Daemonis figured he could get by following visual commands. But things are getting wierd. He'd curse Dyvalis for leaving him to fend for himself if it weren't for the fact that he knows the sacrifice involved in 4th dimensional transformation. The fact that he did not order Daemonis to be the guinea pig is appreciated; then they'd've had to argue.

Daemonis ducks for whatever cover he can find and casts a spell, so he can understand just what exactly the fuck is going on.

Oksana teleports away (likely to the surface), and returns a few moments later. She returns and heads directly for Portia and whispers in her ear.

"I will let you pass... for a price..."

"I'm sorry if I gave you the impression that you were in control of the situation snake... We did not come down here to make deals. Your options were to let us pass by you, or through you. You have made your choice."

"Kill her!"

Sorkhan begins casting a spell...

Shimrod dutifully turns and fires at the woman/creature, still wondering if she's merely an illusion but ready to obey regardless. Should the very first round go through nothing but air, Shimrod will anticipate the next command and return fire to the corpse. After all, the Kittani make natural soldiers for the Splugorth, but their prized attributes are their intelligence and lust for battle. Why hinder those glorious reaction-times waiting for an order you know is coming?

Shimrod's gunfire is plainfully ignored as it is deflected off of some invisible force field. The metamorphed snake focuses its attention on the Captain. Sorkhan's spell is cut short as his voice ceases to speak the words to his incantation.

Sorkhan looks worried for a moment, before he collapses to the ground in agony. Shira is reduced to squirming and twitching on the floor, he is screaming, but  no sound escapes him.

She then looks to Portia as her squad enters the room...

"As I was saying... I will allow you to pass for a price. I know you were rumaging around on one of the lower decks earlier, and made off with much of the magical loot the Coalition had been gathering for tests. I want the collection of runic-stone weapons that were fixed upon the wall. Place those weapons here at my feet, and move along on your mission."

OOC - anyone wuith demon/monster lore may roll on it to figure out more about this snake...

Van levels his C-29 Hellfire at Lotus, perhaps even before he realizes she was the snake. He always figured she would turn on them if the price was right, or if a certain 4-armed dickslinger was involved. But obviously this was not her. This was something far more threatening. He doesn't fire right away, simply waits for his Lt's command (since his captain seems to be indisposed at the moment).

He whispers to Callie.

Daemonis keeps his gun trained on the snake-woman. Fucked if he's gonna take the first shot, just cause their cocky shifter CO thinks "we can take 'er".

PM

Shimrod also ceases fire. His tone is utterly neutral - pragmatism uber alles! "Release our commander from your spell. We cannot possibly bargain until he is functioning."

Portia looks at the false visage of Lotus her eyes slightly narrow at the obviously worthy adversary. She considers her opponents words for about twenty seconds which no doubt seem alot longer given the tense situation. "Drop the weapons it wants on the floor and gather up our paralyzed comrades. Lets move!" Portia continues on towards the exit and interestingly enough does not bother dropping the runic sword she took for herself.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:23, Sun 22 Mar 2009.

Vashti pauses in his muttered cursing as the snake named its price, appearing to ponder the request.  "Ah hell," he said in disgust, "Give it the damned things, and I do mean that literally."

Callie looked shocked when she walked into the room and was confronted with Lotus' image.  She hadn't been a direct participant in that affair, but she couldn't help but hear all the gruesome details.

"L..Lotus!  No, no you're not." she said, understanding coming over the young psi-tech.  Her eyes narrowed at the request, she obviously didn't trust the simplicity of it, but neither did she feel like getting shot by her irritable lieutenant.  Callie nodded to Van, taking a moment to erect her own psychic defenses before moving further into the room.

"Right on, Boss" Van looks over toward Shimrod. "Guess we can bargain without the Captain." Van couldn't agree more with the decision. He backs out to go retreive these weapons.

Daemonis watches the Sgt leave. "Wait, I can fit them in here," he says referring to his satchel, "They'll all fit, I assure you."

He follows the young TW out of the room to wherever we've stored these weapons (OOC - Where are they?)

Not having been party to the rune weapon looting, Shimrod concentrates on those felled by the being...

 - The magic stash (and rune weapons) were gathered up in satchels and backpacks and spread out among the 2 squads. I believe Portia kept 2 of the weapons the snake is asking for. -


Shimrod and Portia's demands are completely ignored. Instead, her attention is focused entirely at Van and Daemonis as they gather the weapons from the rest.

   When the weapons are retrieved and placed at Lotus' feet, she embraces the axe, the shield, the daggers, and the spear like children returned to their mother. Instantly Shira, Vashti and Flat Bullet are released of their paralysis and the snake-creature seems to forget anyone else is around. She cuddles with the weapons and slowly changes shape, into a amall snake again.

However, Sorkhan Shira lays dead cuddled up against Madtown's hover-chair...
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:06, Tue 24 Mar 2009.

Shimrod frowns at the corpse of his leader. However, he can't but help to wonder if he just got a battlefield promotion.

Braga looks to Portia, to see what her orders are regarding the death of the Captain...

Do we leave him behind... or do we claim revenge...?

As the troops pour out of the room, deeper into the facility, Portia pauses to decide what to do regarding Shira...

She considers her duty, and her preferences but she knows she can not linger long waiting to decide a plan of action. In the end she chooses to accept the death of Shira as an acceptable loss to avoid a battle completely with this supernatural snake-creature.

Having not been too fond of Captain Shira up to this point helped her make her decision. The man had been captured in the first days of the Company's formation after all, and was responsible for all of the sloppy decision making, and casualties thus far. (except for Lieutenant Zephram's underground blunder... that was all Zephram's doing...). Not to mention the good Captain had just called out a super-being in arrogance and found himself squirming like a bug under her boot... figuratively speaking... and now he lay dead for his lack of good judgement...

Yes... leaving this incompetant officer behind was no big loss to Tolkeen... and it allowed for a field promotion for yours truly... yes Lieutenant Portia was now in charge of the current mission... excellent...

"Let's get a move on people... let's get this Coalition toy and get the fuck out of here, shall we?"

"Shimrod and Madtown, you are both being absorbed into my squad until further notice."

This message was last edited by the GM at 16:33, Fri 27 Mar 2009.

Shimrod salutes, "Yes, Commander." As swiftly as circumstance allows, he checks the corpse of his former captain for extra E-clips or anything else that could be of use.

Madtown hasn't spoken in some time... but he seems visibly bothered by Sorkhan's passing...

Perhaps a feeling of guilt that Sorkhan has given his life on what madtown feels is on HIS behalf... or perhaps simply the sight of death has him feeling down...

Or perhaps the fact that they are going deeper into the cave has removed the ability to smile or display any form of contentment...