Xion nods, "She also gave us a weight limit. I need 5 volunteers for guard duty once you all arrive. Volunteers please."

   "Ok I volunteer Arven.  And Anniyan, and anybody else with supernatural blood running in their veins.  They'll bring the dog boys on our asses a lot faster than mages and psychics will."

Xion is forced to grin, "I am surprised Lotus, I was told you mystic knights were vile dispicable creatures. Nice to see you at least pretending to care about the whole troop here. I like that idea, Arven, saddle up its your lucky day, who else here is supernatural?"

"How many minutes, Harmon?" Callie asks over the speakers between Bernie's stomping.  "Bernie can clear over 20 miles in the first 5 you can give here, after that she'll be a bit tired and can only get another 10 or so in the next 5 after that."  Even through the distortion of the mechanical speakers, the note of pride can be heard in Calliandra's voice.

"Cut the shit we ain't hidin from nobody out here in the open, sides I weigh over five hunnerd pounds. Them cocksmokers are teleporting right into a military base what do they need my protection for. I can take down a Spider Skull Walker by myself in thirty goddamned seconds so maybe ya ought to let me stay here and do what im good at. If it is a direct order I will go but I know fer a fact I don't give off any more supernatural stink than that big sonofabitch over there. Arven jerks a thumb at Obidiah and the fires another burst at the distant treeline. He waits to hear what Xion says showing that he despite his lack of respect for officers he is not completely insubordinate.

Caramon continues firing; Anniyan and some of the others start laying fire towards the south. Several shots are returned, but mostly into Fearless. Alot hit his bike, and some pass thorugh his body; one through his shoulder, another through his gut, and possibly others. Fearless drops off the bike about 90 feet from the front lines of Pluto Company, and the bike crashes into a tree.

Braga makes a clicking sound from the back of his throat, and the Raptors begin advancing, with the riders secure on top. Razgriz motions for the remainng three undead to follow - and both sergeants stay back awaiting teleportation.

Zephram and the others arrive, prisoners with Silvermasque. Jelme is released of his possession, and looks unaware of what had happened.

Lady Marlene has syphoned the energy she needs, and is opening the first portal to (Tolkeen? Fort Gravender? Fort Comartin? Where within?).

The 5 wounded, two prisoners, Zephram, Jelme - Deacon is near the wounded - they are all first. Another three can go... decide VERY quickly.

The advancing Coalition are just coming into view. They have Dog Packs, Juicers, Mauler PAs, and Terror Troopers.

 With the dematerialisation of a large circle of ground, 'Masque erupts out of the hole like the biggest damn' prairie dog who ever hacked through a tree root with a vibro-claw. It's the work of moments for him to transfer the prisoners to the teleportation squad and head back to the hole (instant foxholes are not to be sniffed at).

 "Boss." he directs at Xion, a somewhat concerned tone in his artificial voice... "We sort of have problem here - Coalition will roll over us in minutes, youbet - we got plan to odie?"

Jelme will take Prosek from Silvermasque, carrying his unconcious body over his shoulder, and walks over to the wounded, standing beside the other prisoner that Silvermasque set down. Jelme lays Prosek on the ground beside him, and activates his Psi-Sword.

"So when are we leaving?"

"I have enough Magical energy to perform the spell! You have 10 second, before I Telepoter to Tolkeen. So be very quick on who going...1...2...3...4...5...6...7..."

   Realizing the urgency to leave very shortly, Zephram makes a couple quick statements, first to the mud mounds.   "Elemental brothers, attack the humans in black armour over there, return home before they can kill you.  Xion, Razgriz, I will return as fast as I can."
   Zephram then moves to stand near the teleporter.

Xion smiles, despite the despondent look in his eyes, "You don't get to play hero all the time Zeph, get those VIP's secured, we will figure something out."

Again, using some of the last of his reserves, Xion covers himself in mystic armor, and readies his pistols for the coming fight. "Everyone stay low, give them as little to shoot as you can, do not get flanked, we have to hold. Failure is not an option."

 'Masque gives Xion a slightly pained look and nods, settling down into the tunnel with a low, almost subsonic grumble. "That is not plan for survival, is plan for stupid last stand..." he points out, unslinging his plasma cannon and checking his grenade harness.

 "I am proud to be part of it - but you bastards pay me double if we get home, da?" he calls back to the escapees as he once more thumbs the self-test and brings the cannon up to his shoulder, studying the woods in a range of spectra looking for targets.

"Okay three more can go - Lady Marlene is one of them, and you two are up. See you all shortly. That's a direct fucking order so get outta here!" - she points at Mephisto and Van as the next two people - they are both near to the wounded.

Positioning his bike at the southern tree line, fire dripping off him like drips of water, Mithas slices down the larger trees in his proximity using his hooked vibroblades.  Stray laser beams burn through a couple trees as he moves around. he lets the trees fall close to his bike making sure that he has enough room for his make-shift "dug out".  (the trees extend out from the next larger trees at the edge of the forest and the hovercycle is parallel to the tree line "leaning" up against another large log) He sits down, leaning his back agains his bike using it as cover and seems to be chanting something quietly.  Clicking fresh ammo into his guns, the fire around him fizzles out and he reaches for a flask from the side pouch of his hovercycle, Mithas takes a swig and looks around holding the flask at arms length to any who might want some.

(Occ: Invincible armour activated)

 'Masque produces his own hip-flask, the minimal need he has for biological suplements ensuring it's packed to the filter unit with something bearing more than a passing resemblance to Draino mixed with rocket fuel, absolutely guaranteed to kill off any brain cells the Coaltion don't get. A short swig and he raises it in one hand, tossing it underarm to the 'Burster then offering his own hand for the catch-back of the other bottle...

 "Smoke them if you have them, yes?" he calls out, a second hand coming up with a couple of smoke grenades, "For covering retreat - who want's couple?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:42, Thu 31 Aug 2006.

Braga decides it better to dismount his Raptor, and move to a prone position on the ground, by a stump. Holding a modified Judgement Day Rifle aimed to the south advancement.

His raptor walks up slowly beside the others.

The other survivors have all moved to some form of cover, behind trees, stumps, or their own hovercycles. Magic armour, and force fields have been erected.

"That orc scout is still alive, he is crawling towards us..."

Caramon mentions casually as he continues to fire single, spaced out shots. It seems he is shooting the Coalition Dog Boys as they come into view.

Mithas catches 'Masques flask but then accidentally drops it in his lap.  He leaves it for a second and tosses his own flask at 'Masque..... Mithas looks around with a wide tooth grin to see if anyone noticed the fumble.  A laser blast pings off Mithas' bike.  The large minotaur stops for a second.    Aims his C-14 at the closest pack of Dog boys and fires a few rounds...  a yelp can be heard but Mithas has already re-postioned himself behind his bike and pulls out what looks like a cigar.  He puts the cigar to his lips and it lights where it touches.  He turns it around and begins to smoke the unlit end.

With no hope of finding a hole large enough to hide her mech in, Calliandra instead flicks Bernie's sensor array on to full activity, figuring that if the Coalition heavy infantry can see her, the active radar won't give much away.

Distractedly calling out what she can see outside of visible range, Callie picks off the advance scouts with Bernie's railgun and belly turret, waiting to find a nice juicy bunch of soft targets (read: not power armor) grouped close enough together for her remaining missile volley.

"Harmon," she calls out over the mech's speakers, "If you don't mind putting that plan you mentioned into effect when everyone else is gone, Bernie and I would appreciate it very much."

Of course, my dear.

I can give you and the Tiger 6 minutes of total invisibility. Make the most of it. The sensors won't find you, so you will only need to be concerned with the dogs and psi-stalkers - if they can keep up with you - and any psychics who may be supporting the force.

But most of all, you must remember, DO NOT ATTACK THEM. Just flee. The magic is powerful, but delicate. Your hostility will break the spell and you will be visible to all vision and sensors. So if you take a hit, keep moving. Don't stop and certainly do not return fire.

Now, about this onslaught... Harmon stares out into the forest looking for any concentration of activity.

Focussing his energy, Harmon casts a spell [ooc: impervious to energy] and approaches the edge of the clearing where the big Rahu-Man whoops and hollers. I hope you fight as well as you talk. Let me know when you see something worth shooting at.

Fearless?.... Mithas peers over his bike using the small scope on his rifle to locate the orc.... sees the little guy struggling.  Mithas looks to Silvermasque..... 'Masque, he looks to the ground and there's hurt in the Minotaur's voice. "I think I'm gonna do something very stupid." Mithas gets on his bike just as smoke begins to rise from his body.... his feet, then his legs, then the his body begin to burst into flame, followed by the rest of the minotaur.  He starts up his bike..."hold this 'till I get back" and he tosses the cigar.  Mithas turns his bike and races off towards Fearless.

(OCC: how far time wise is fearless from the trees?)

 "Sounds like goodness, you bet - hey, tingirl, big man... I can hit two hundred klicks an hour, maybe more." the big 'Borg reports to Calliandra and Harmon, knocking back a slug of the minotaur's industrial paint stripper with obvious relish and tossing the flask onto the next waiting hand.

 "I can carry one, maybe two people and not slow down doing it - if anyone is left, should be easy to make evac that way, or will spell not cover things I carry?"

Harmon considers, Well, I have never tried it as such, but I /could/ - in theory - extend the spell to /who/ you carry rather than /what/. I think it could work as long as they are connected to you, but hopefully the teleport gets the rest of us out.

If I have enough juice left by then, /I/ could ride along myself and renew the spell as needed. Hmmm.... have to consider that. He glances over to Bernie as possibilities fly through his mind.

Mithas blasts towards Fearless, where the orc is dragging himself towards his platoon, trying to ignore his pain, and loss of blood. Although a noble gesture, Mithas was right... it was not the time to be a hero... Mithas has made it half way (which is 45 feet of the original 90 - posted before). His flame field drops first, almost immediately; followed by dozens of shots into his invincible armour, and several well placed shots into his hovercycle.

The cycle stalls, and crshes front end into the ground, tossing the minotaur no more than five feet.


Fearless is an estimated 85 feet away now, and Mithas just under 50 feet.

More Dog Boys, Borgs, Power Armours, Juicers, and human soldiers come into view, return fire has begun, and all must take cover in order to survive. Razgriz and Braga give the direction for their troops to advance, if only to draw the Coalition's incoming fire.

The portal created by Lady Marlene opens to its full size, encompasses those departing, and then closes again - leaving an empty circle of forest behind.
The five surviving wounded, Deacon, Zephram, Jelme, both prisoners, Van and Mephisto, along with lady Marlene have left the chaos of this battlefield.

Now the wait begins for her to come back...

Some of the faster borgs and juicers have found themselves stuck to the ground, and are now open targets for Pluto Company.

OOC - to Calliandra, and others - missiles would be extremely bad to fire in a forest... anything as big as a branch can throw them off course, and any tree in the way could pose a threat to the team. Fire at own risk.

 One hand darts up to snatch the cigar from the air as it spirals towards him, and then 'Masque settles in to provide what covering fire he can for the big Burster, burning through a Coalition E-clip in four short blasts of blazing plasma, ejecting it into a lower hand and slapping home a fresh one, engaging targets as they bear in an attempt to surpress some of the fire coming the other mans way.

 As the range drops of course, he'll have other options to put into play from the relative safety of his hole in the ground.