Shots begin firing.  Jade is on her back firing up as the mutant goes by.  Snow is unconscious on the floor, so luckily they are mostly out of the path of bullets.

The mutant is riddled with bullets and falls to the floor.

Elle is conscious now and gently nudging Sam to wake him.

As the mutant falls to the floor, the party rushes forward to pull Snow to safety and set him on a bench in the train.

You notice that the train has slowed at least another 10 kph.  It might not be going much faster than 25 or 30 kph at the moment.

And then you see the horde approaching.  Your jaws drop agape.  The mutants are running down the tunnel, climbing walls, and running at a pace faster than the train can outrun.  The first wave will reach the train in a minute, maybe less.  Although the tunnel is dark, you guess there are several hundred of them chasing after the train.

The window at the controls is now shattered from the previous mutant's entry.  Through that large opening, you hear the squeals, clicks, and other strange sounds as they march toward you.

Jade yells back to Lot, "Give Snow a shot of the boost rate and inhibitor."

Then she turns back to the sight in front of her.  "Time for a rocket launcher," she says, preparing the LAW to fire into the horde.

Laz takes a quick breath as he sees the mutant go down but is at a loss when he sees the approaching horde. "Anyone know how to speed this thing up?"

 Fault looks to Laz and nods. "I know thirty separate prayers designed to increase the speed of a vessel," he points to his wounded leg, "and I've got enough blood to perform any of them... Unfortunately, they're all designed for sea-going craft, and I'm not sure any of the gods can hear me here, so they may not work."
 He drags his fingers over his bloodied calf. "I can try one if you'd like?"

Laz looks at Fault disbeleive in his eyes. "No, save your energy because we are all gonna need it."

 Fault nods, completely oblivious to Lazarus' expression. "Good point," he says seriously.

With Elle and Sam secure for the moment Lot charcges forward to the train controls and examines them briefly.  Far more important at this point was getting the train moving again, better to outrun the mutants than fight them off.

PM

Lot tosses a glance at Snow on his way over to the lever.  He seems torn between getting to the lever and helping his injured teammate.  With a growl he abandons his plan and runs to his allies aid.

"Damnit, if we are going to die we might as well die fighting and not in our sleep.  Someone get this goddamn train moving before we are buried up to our necks in razor sharp claws."

Lot pulls Snow into a sitting position and jabs an inhibitor into his shoulder just above the wounded arm.  Afterwards he begins to wrap a bandage tightly around the bleeding arm hoping that the combination of bandage and inhibitor will stop the bleeding quickly.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:52, Thu 11 Nov 2004.

Jade lowers the LAW and attempts to speed up the train like she did before.  "Good idea," she says.  "Speed may be our ally here."

Lot gives Snow an injection and begins bandaging him up.

Jade tries to speed up the traincar.  It is not responding.  In fact, if anything, it is slowing down -- losing momentum.

Snow awakes from unconsciousness, feeling much better but still hurt badly.

Lot snaps a look at Jade wondering why they were not accelerating yet.  The situation was becomming grim, in only moments they would be torn to shreds by the mutants.  With his options running out Lot abandons the bandaging for the moment and pulls out the flare gun.  Aiming it at the hole in the ceiling he fires, signaling their position for the Hyperion.

 Fault runs to the front of the train. "Jade! Rocket-launcher! Now," he stammers, stabbing a finger toward the pursuing horde. "Fire at the big one!"

Snow just takes a cople of seconds to re-orientat himself then loads his shotgun and gets some cover from a train bench.

Seems like a fight  could go down so Laz prepares himself. He takes a cue from Snow and takes some cover while waiting for any mutants.

Jade resumes preparing the LAW for a launch at the approaching horde of mutants.

Jade lifts the rocket launcher to her shoulder and prepares to fire.

Elle rubs her head and gets on her knees to inspect the mutant.

Above you, several mutants are ripping holes through the steel roof and ceiling, preparing to descend.

The doors to the subway car slam close and stop, somewhat stifling the outside sound, even though the rumbling of the train and screech of the mutants flows through the broken front window and the holes in the ceiling.

Jade fires, and there is an explosive whoosh as the rocket hits its mark.  An explosion of mutant bodies and squeal of pain is drowned by the explosion.  It is hard to tell the results in the dark, and because the explosion has thrown a thick layer of dust over everything.

"We have to get this back to Zion to investigate it," Elle says, pointing to the slimy dead mutant, apparently disinterested in the chaos around her.

Sam is also waking up, but still very groggy from the drugs.

Snow and Laz are under cover.  They peek out to see what Jade has done.

First one mutant, then two, crawl out from the explosion, making fast headway to the train.  Then you see more.  The horde has been reduced, but it is still there.  And it is still coming forward.  Jade has just bought you some more time.

You hear a squeal of joy as one of the mutants on the ceiling is breaking through the last layer and preparing to jump down through the hole.

A sudden beeping sound draws your attention down to the screen by Jade.  A message is flashing.

TRACKS BLOCKED AHEAD. DANGER. EMERGENCY BRAKES ENGAGED.

Funny.  You don't feel any brakes engaging.

Another message flashes red:

COLLISION IMMINENT. DISENGAGE THROTTLE. 30 SECONDS TO IMPACT.

Laz's eyes are wide as he sees the mess Jade makes but they grow even wider when he sees the still approaching mutants. He attempts to head for the controls if the path is clear.

"The throttle's already disengaged," Jade yells at the computer.  "The brakes don't work.  We've got to jump."  She looks warily out at the approaching horde of mutants.

"Doors are closed, so it's either up through the holes past those mutants coming in...or out this front broken window and into the horde."

She begins to reload the LAW for another shot into the horde.

Snow fires his shotgun into the main mass of the mutant on the roof, shouting

so can everyone jump out? who needs help?

"Getting out doesnt sound like an option.  Those mutants will be on us in just seconds after we jump.  Im going to find out what kind of obstruction we are looking at here.  Be ready to jump, but who says we cant plow right through it?"

Lot fast-draws his pistol and runs for the back of the train, the end facing the obstruction.  He smashes a window with the butt of his pistol when he arrives to clear his view of filthy glass and looks for what could be blocking the tracks.

"We've lost one to that jump already...I'm with Lot, check to see if we can plow through.  We'll have to brace ourselves to the rear of the car, strap ourselves in with the rope if need be, and ride itout." Mitose gestures for Elle and Sam to start moving to ther ear.

Seeing the hole that a Mutant as made, he pauses beneath it to fire upwards.

Laz saw that he could do nothing with the controls so he goes with Lot to the window.

 Fault turns to Jade and points emphatically at the empty air in the center of the horde-filled tunnel. "Aim past them! Shoot the big noisy one!" He glances out the front of the train. "It's obviously their leader, so there's a good 50% chance that killing it will cause the mutants to flee!"
 He shrugs, "Well, y'know that or it'll send them into a berserker frenzy."

Snow shrugs, Who wants to live forever anyway Then shouts to Elle as he fires at the mutant on the roof Elle, get over here and hold onto something....

Laz moves toward the controls.  He squeezes in next to Jade, who is reloading the LAW.

Lot is running to the back of the train, pistol drawn.

Snow fires his shotgun into the main mass in the hole being opened on the train.  The mutant is hit, squeals, and then slams into the concrete ceiling of the subway above.  There is a thump, thump, thump on the top of the ceiling moving toward the front of the train.  Then you see the mutilated body fall out onto the tracks in the path of the oncoming horde.

Sam is looking at Elle and the mutant.  He rubs his wounds.  "We must get this body back for analysis," he says.  "Our analysis before leaving the Matrix showed that they repelled the Sentinels.  If we can harness that--"

His words are cut off as Mitose fires up at one of the mutants making a hole in the ceiling.  He hits something that squeals, but then it moves back in position, hiding behind the hole it is opening up.

Snow is recovering from his shots and unconsciousness.

The screen flashes still:

TRACKS BLOCKED AHEAD. DANGER. EMERGENCY BRAKES ENGAGED.

COLLISION IMMINENT. DISENGAGE THROTTLE. 20 SECONDS TO IMPACT.

Then a new message lights up.

TERMINUS DETECTED. 30 SECONDS TO END OF TRACKS.

Lot begins banging on the back window to break it.  That's when he notices the light at the end of the tunnel...literally.  The traincar is about to surface from the underground into an open air track.  It will exit the subway in approximately 10 seconds.

Laz follows Lot to the back window.

Jade fires the LAW into the center of the tunnel per Fault's suggestion.  The missile explodes in the distance, throwing up rubble and dust.  You don't know its effect, but the horde seems unaffected.  It continues toward you.

With a crash, the rear window of the traincar shatters.  Wind begins rushing through from the rear to the front windows, both of which are broken now.

It appears that two more mutants are on the ceiling of the traincar trying to break through, plus the one that survived Mitose's bullet.

In the darkness, Lot and Laz cannot yet see what is blocking the tracks ahead.

"Jade, I hope you saved another rocket.  Looks like we are going to reach the outside very soon.  When we do be ready to collapse the tunnel behind us.

Lot continues to watch out the window until they are outside.  Perhaps then he could see what was blocking their way, leaving enough time to jump or head back to the other end of the train.

Laz had a look of confusion on his face. "What are we going to do folks this isn't going well?"

Snow watches the train roof, waiting for sign of the mutants. If one shows its ugly face he'll aim at it then fire.

Jade throws the LAW on the ground.  "There were only 2 rockets," she explains.  "But that was a good idea."  She pulls out her pistol and has her EM Rifle slung over her shoulder.  "Once this exits the tunnel, I think we're going to need to jump clear."

TRACKS BLOCKED AHEAD. DANGER. EMERGENCY BRAKES ENGAGED.

COLLISION IMMINENT. DISENGAGE THROTTLE. 10 SECONDS TO IMPACT.

TERMINUS DETECTED. 20 SECONDS TO END OF TRACKS.

The train exits the tunnel.  The mutants over the roof begin howling, and then they jump.  You see them quickly running back toward the tunnel.

The train is now above ground.  Those in the rear can see now that this once was part of a city.  It now is a demolished wasteland of rubble.  And part of that rubble is blocking the tracks, several large cement blocks (roughly 5' x 6') and two telephone poles.

The approaching horde was just seconds away from reaching the train.  Now, it stops at the edge of the tunnel, unwilling or unable to exit.  A hundred red eyes peer out at you, and the angry screeches are deafening.

Snow quickly flips the mutant hoarde the bird then turns to the others,

ok, I figure we either jump or try to blow the obstruction with that pointing to the LAW. I say lets jump, take defensive positions and wait for the ship.

"Uh, just two problems with that," Jade says.  "First, I've got no more rockets for the LAW.  Second, these mutants are our only protection from the Sentinels.  We've got to get back toward the protection of the tunnels before the Sentinels find us."

F*** Snow says to Jade. I dont think we should go back in those tunnels, lets get in contact with the ship, and wait. If any Sentinels appear we still have a couple of EMP rifles to hold them off with. There are far too many mutants to deal with.

Lot peers through the broken glass at the blockage on the tracks.  He spends a brief moment in thought, seemingly considering what was worse, a jump or a collision.  Making up his mind he moves away from the impact side of the train, secures his gear to free his hands, and sits down in the isle.  He braces for impact, bracing his feet against bolted seating and grabbing onto support poles.

"Prepare yourselves, with any luck the collision will bring us to a complete stop.  I dont think we are going quite fast enough to worry about instant death on impact."

Mitose checks on their rescued, and then gestures for anyone that will have it, "Quickly, lash yourselves down with the rope---" He does so to Elle and Same, "--it should help a bit."

Then to Lot, "I'm with Lot, if we stay out of sight, we should be able to avoid Sentinels...for all we know, they don't patrol near here because of the mutants again..."

Laz starts to tie himself down concern rampant on his face.

 Fault drops to the floor and tries to crawl under the nearest seat, clinging to the chair supports to brace himself.

Jade nods at Lot's suggestion.  "I guess we hold on and pray at this point."  She gets as tightly secured as possible and awaits impact.

Everyone braces for impact.  When it comes, you are slung toward the back, but everyone keeps their grips since the train is not going exceptionally fast.  The rear of the train buckles slightly, and the front where you are holding on lifts off the tracks.  Your body goes up and then slams back down as the train falls back, now derailed and at a complete stop.

As you start to brush yourselves off, you see movement.  Two of the mutants from the top of the train were running back to the tunnel.  As they run, a Sentinel spots them and descends to confront them.  They don't stop.  Instead, they launch themselves at the Sentinel and begin ripping it apart right before your eyes a couple hundred meters down the track.  Then they leave the husk of metal and retreat into the distant tunnel.

The city around you is mostly rubble, a reminder of the human world when it once dominated.  Before the machines.  About a hundred meters to your left is an open area, perhaps once a baseball diamond, but now a dark mass of dirt and a broken chain link fence.

From the way your hair is standing on the back of your necks, you get the feeling you won't be alone for long.

Laz dusts himself of as the train comes to a stop. His attention is drawn to the battle between the sentinels and the mutants. A look of horror is on his face as it draws to a close.

Jade says, "Where are the walkie-talkies?  We need to get ahold of the Hyperion and get it here ASAFP."  She begins looking for them.

The walkie-talkies appear to be dead.  You surmise that it must have been the electromagnetic shockwave sent out by the bizarre worm-like creature.

Snow will take one of the handsets and begin to try and get it going again. He keeps his shotgun in easy reach.
This ain't gonna be easy to repair without any tools....

"Flares," Jade says.  "Use the flares.  Who has them?"

Lot produces a flaregun from under his belt and tosses it underhand to Jade.  He walks over to the broken windshield at the front of the train and clears away jagged shards of glass with his pistol, knocking them to the ground where they cannot cut anyone they pass through.  Once the galss is clear he climbs to the outside and tries to pull himself onto the roof of the train.  From that vantage point he can get a good look at the surrounding terrain.

Jade catches the flare gun as Lot climbs up to the ceiling.  Sam and Elle are pulling the mutant corpse toward the broken windshield so they can bring it with them.

Looking back toward the tunnel, you see something approaching in the sky.  It is the Hyperion.  Apparently, it has shaken the Sentinels and is circling to await notice for pick up.

Lot sees that most of the area is rubble from the ancient city, except for the empty field-like lot a couple hundred meters away.  You could probably climb through the rubble and get there, and the Hyperion could probably make a safe landing at that spot.

Jade helps the others out and shoots a flare in the direction of the open field.  "Come on, guys.  We're almost there.  Just a bit further."  She helps the others out of the train and to the field.

As the party scrambles out, with Elle and Sam taking the corpse of the mutant, Jade fires the flare.

It apparently works.  As you begin clamboring over rubble toward the field, the Hyperion turns and begins to move in your direction.

Unfortunately, the flare has attracted more attention.  A group of about ten Sentinels is approaching from the far side of the field.  You are certain they will reach you before you can get to the field.

And if that doesn't make matters bad enough, a distant cloud appears to be moving too fast.  It is on the far side of the Hyperion approaching; they apparently didn't lose the swarm like you'd thought.

Hundreds of Sentinels.  And you are now the star attraction.

 Fault pauses to look at the approaching sentinels as he clambers over the rubble. He trembles as the swarm beyond the Hyperion moves. "Y-you ever wonder if Death has a quota?" he says to no one inparticular. Readying his EMP Rifle, he continues toward the field.

Jade gets her EMP rifle ready.  "Okay, guys.  Prepare to rock and roll.  You," she says to Elle and Sam, "you're in charge of the mutant body.  We'll take down these Sentinels."

Once the Sentinels are within firing range she will fire...still going toward the field as quickly as possible.

Without a suitable weapon with which to fight sentinels, Lot assigns himself to the researchers safety. He crawls over the rocks to them and points at the mutant corpse, "Elle, help me get that on my back."

Once the corpse is balanced on his shoulders he presses forward with the researchers at his sides.  He would have to trust the others to clear the way.

Thinking that the shotgun is more of a Sentinel attractor than weapon, Snow follows suit and holsters it before beginning to run towards the reundevous with the hyperion. He keeps low and dashs between cover in short bursts.

Laz runs full out toward the open field, arms waving at the Hyperion.