The crow sat down for only a few moments, the rebuilt Hummer rolling off almost as soon as the ramp was down. Rhic, Poppy, Leo, and Elspeth along with their equipment and an unsettling amount of demolition charges found themselves alone on the far fringes of the air defense nets radar grid.
    a range of broken sandstone hills separated the team from the starport and it' defenses. The survey maps marking the three towers in the hills as the most vulnerable targets for demolition.

T'risa's mind sounded through to everyone present. "Ok, we're ready on our end, please start whenever you are ready."

  <blue>" Alright kids lets' go deliver our goodies to the lovely folks.<blue> Rhic whispered as they moved up the hillside below the first gun tower. He motioned for the team to split up, signaling Elspeth to take Poppy to the second gun emplacement and them motioned Leo to follow him as he made his way around to the first

Elsbeth looked at Rhic with a slightly confused look for a moment, she found the Q'sa to be neither lovely nor folksy.  And while her assessment was likely to be biased from her previous experience with the ambush, Elsbeth could rightfully attest that the Q'sa she had seen were down right homely - and that was before she had altered their features with her portable singularity.  After that, they were homely and asymmetric.  Elsbeth was about to note this to the Master Sergeant, when she realized that he was engaging in sarcasm.  Most Tae appeared to really like that form of communication, at least that had been her experience with the Colonial Marines.  The drill sergeants and the other recruits used it all of the time.  Besides, Rhic's orders before deploying had been fairly explicit - keep the chatter down.  So, Elsbeth paid more attention to his hand signals and the task at hand.

Elsbeth's armor was already fuzzed with her photon shield; it had been that way before she had even left the Crow.  That was the standard protocol with Colonial Marines and Elsbeth could see no reason change that now.  As they made ready to move towards the gun emplacement, she opened her visor briefly and designated a common commlink channel for her and Poppy to communicate.  Then the visor slammed shut and Elsbeth tried the link.  ++ "Miss Poppy,"++ Elsbeth noted as she pulled up the tactical and topological overlays for the local terrain, ++"I am thinking of the following path the second bunker."++  And Elsbeth pushed her projection over the commlink to Poppy, whom she assumed could easily assimilate the digital stream given her mechanical nature.  Elsbeth also projected her armor's nominal range and speed vectors to ensure that they were on the same page about approaches.

++"Do you think that we should try to pincer the bunker?"++ Elsbeth asked, ++"It could ensure that at least one of us can deliver a payload."++  She checked the status of demolitions stored in the compartments on her armored back - luckily, they were just withing the photon shield's field.  Everything seemed secure and she made ready to move.  Elsbeth figured that she and Poppy could hash out details as they approached.  And it might not matter anyways, as with any plan, it was likely to be broken beyond any recognition in no time flat, once they actually contacted the enemy.

Leoulin's right hand was unwrapped his rather unique blade extended he wholly planned on making their own door into this tower... but he didn't need to make any noise to tell Rhic that.  If they met up with trouble Leo was not one to skulk or sneak.  He would cover the distance and drive that burning blade with all its faint scent of ozone into the problem.

Spot 28

This message was deleted by the player at 00:53, Wed 13 Oct 2010.

  Poppy kept right on Elspeths heels moving with speed that most people thought inhuman. lightly loaded having worn nothing but a pair of fatigues and a tactical vest she had little trouble fllowing the heavily armored marine.
   She was armed to the teeth carrying pistols, machine pistols, grenades and knives, and extra clips.....more than most gunshops carried. the only sizable weapon she carried was a scopped and silenced high powered rifle that she had slung over her back.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Thu 14 Oct 2010.

In contrast to Poppy, Elsbeth was reasonably well armed, but really more just well armored.  She had both her trusty customized laser carbine and her Marine-issue assault rifle with its underslung grenade launcher in tactical slings.  The carbine was stowed on her back currently, with the assault rifle at the ready.  She carried her Marine sidearm tied to her right thigh and her collapsible concussion rod in the left thigh storage compartment of her armor.  Balkiir's family blade was fastened horizontally, across the small of her back.  Her webbing carried some extra clips, but other than the demolitions packs... no other munitions were present on her.  Of course, given her highly customized powered armor, which was a weapon in and of itself - that alone ensured that Elsbeth was never really unarmed.

Elsbeth kept her electro-optical photon shield primed and up while they moved towards the second emplacement.  Since Poppy didn't seem to have the equivalent feature, Elsbeth made sure to attempt to stick to cover - and with any luck they would be able to flank it in some way, shape, or form. And barring that, they could at least attempt to set up some sort of cross-fire, if they were discovered to early.  And since the terrain was not always helpful in providing cover, when necessary, Elsbeth sacrificed stealth for speed.  Closing the distance would be crucial - deliver of the package essential.  If being discovered was unavoidable, then it wouldn't due to be discovered too far out - the enemy had both numbers and area of effect weapons.

And ultimately, Elsbeth trusted that her equipment would allow her to achieve her objectives, to make the Marshal's plan work.  She trusted the Marshal and that meant she just needed to trust herself - to have the courage and presence of mind to make a difference.  And if she did not Fear: fear the Q'sa, fear the firepower or failure, fear Death.  Then, perhaps... just perhaps, she would live to see all of this through.  One of Elsbeth's old instructors was fond of saying: Luck, often enough, will save a man, if his courage hold.

   the two teams manage to move as close as they dare to the gun positions. sentries int he foxholes around the two emplacements keep a watch their unblinking eyes keen for movement. on several occasions a guard raises his head slightly turning it side to side in an odd way that too closely remembles a preying mantis waiting for it's prey to come close.
   The two groups can get within fifty meters of the towers but no closer without risking detection, they find themselves facing a dug in machine gun and it's four man team. the foxholes placed in such a way that no matter what the approach angle they have two weapons able to fire at them as they make thier final push toward the towers. fortunately at such close ranges the big gun can not fire on the two groups.

  In position ready to start on your signal Rhic signaled T'risa as he slid into the shelter of a large rock outcropping. it blocked enemy fire but did little to keep the blazing sun off his back and neck. his armor onl making the heat that much wore. I am getting to damn old for this... next time lets just send them a scathing letter and shame them into retreating he added dryly.
   With a hand signal he motioned everyone to hold their poitions and wait fo the signal to attack removing a greade from his web gear and pulling the pin. tossing a smoke grenade to Leo and motioning for him to get it ready.

Elsbeth glanced at Rhic, nodding slightly as he motioned to hold for the moment and thinking, Roger that, Master Sergeant.  Ready to move on your mark..  She transferred her rifle to her left hand and pulled a grenade from her belt popping the pin in preparation for moving forward.  She could hear echoes of Balkiir's voice speaking his litany in her head, and she found that quite comforting.  If only she had her own forebears to pray to, as well, she would.

Instead, Elsbeth took a deep breath, glancing at Poppy nearby, and then refocused her gaze on the nearest foxhole - visualizing her presence within that foxhole within mere seconds after the command to move forward was given and the grenade thrown from her hand had just exploded in their midst.  Elsbeth knew that it was all in the entrance and presentation...

  the low ground shaking roar of high speed aircraft rolled over the valley beyond the air defense sites. moving low and fast two sleek delta winged aero-fighters ripped through the sky each aircraft had two over sized missiles slung under each wing, anti ship missiles designed to inflict massive damage to anything smaller than a battle cruiser.
   the noise of the passing fighters covered up what ever alarm had been shouted in the bunkers, but the Q'sa now looked agitated and looked toward the bunker in front of Elspeth, a tall very impressive looking Q'sa emerging from the tower and sending the others back to their position.

Elsbeth grimaced as she watched the large Q'sa come into view.  Her eyes narrowed as she gauged the target - and a slightly feral grin crossed her features.  Obviously, an invitation.  Elsbeth had to fight down the urge to engage immediately, Wait for the signal. she chided herself, There will be time enough.  She had to stick to the plan:  Deal with the foxholes and the crossfire.  Take out the bunkers.  Kill every Q'sa SOB that was stupid and crazy enough to cross her path.  And now she hoped that number would including the biggest and ugliest one of all.

And that moment was when Balkiir was hit.  Elsbeth had to bite her tongue to stifle a cry of unexpected pain from their connection.  Her eyes darted back and forth, as her vision went slightly red for a moment.  Elsbeth was unable to stop a small gasp from escaping her lips when her connection to her seemed to waver for the briefest of moments.  She could taste the blood in her mouth as Balkiir's thoughts strayed back into her consciousness.  Her relief in the strengthening of the weakened contact was short lived as she realized that the large Valkiir warrior was potentially going into a frenzy.  Too soon, she thought pointedly towards him - and she tried to calm both herself and her betrothed down.  Through Balkiir's surface thoughts and perceptions, Elsbeth could see the Marshal trying to get his attention, so, Elsbeth briefly added her own thoughts to the mix.  Focus, my Love.  Discipline.  There will be time enough. she noted quietly and comfortingly and let her hand reflexively close, searching in vain for his for the briefest of moments.

Then Elsbeth pushed herself far from that contented place again, and set herself back onto the mission at hand.  Her visor cracked open, creating a breach in her photon shield for her face to be seen briefly, as she looked expectantly at Rhic and Leo, and then over towards Poppy.  No signal yet and Elsbeth exhaled slowly.  The visor sealed shut again, and Elsbeth felt her heart rate return creep back to its baseline as she waited for the signal ...

T'risa's mental voice sounded as if she were very busy.

"Balkiir's hurt. I'm giving him medical attention now and M'Kira is just joining the fray. Begin your assault now. We have their attention. Their mecha have powered up."

<i> You have two high speed interceptors moving your way..they are carrying anti shipping missiles. Looks like they know the crow is in the area...Aziza better fire up the point defense Rhic warned as he motioned For Leo to make his move. He brought up hi grenade launcher and fired aiming for the fox hole to give Leo some cover as he moved.

Elsbeth got the mental signal that she had been waiting for.  She gave Poppy a thumbs up and slapped the trigger of her barrier shield on her belt.  The coherent field powered up around her - the tell-tale hum letting her know it was active.  Elsbeth popped up from her position behind her boulder and she threw the primed flashbang grenade in her right hand towards the nearest foxhole.  She pushed off of the ground hard, heels digging in deep as she broke towards the enemy towers.  And in the same smooth motion, Elsbeth stepped up the boulder; the servo-assisted myomar fibers of her armor pulling taut and augmenting the movement in a burst of amplified musculature - a well-practiced synergy of woman and machine.  In concert with a blue flare from her boots, Elsbeth and her armor - together weighing well over a quarter of a ton - were launched high into the air - the movement was a blur.  Elsbeth actually pirouetted and rolled once airborne, rotating in a graceful arc as she tumbled inexorably towards her target foxhole and the enemies that it contained within.

On the upwards rise of her arc, the assault rifle still in her left hand, Elsbeth pulled the trigger trying to lay down a bed of suppression fire at the foxhole next to the one that she had targeted with her grenade.  Unfortunately, the rotation of her body made the burst less effective than she would have liked.

Irrespective, she had little time to dwell on that fact - far from it, her mind had moved on, and when she reached the apex of her arc of travel, Elsbeth's right hand went to the thigh holster for her concussion rod.  The harness for the pocket singularity snapped open as she prepared to make her landing.  A smile crossed her lips, as her body tucked and turned, continuing to rotate just so.  She moved in such a way that Elsbeth presented an impossibly difficult target to track, and therefore, shoot.  At least, that was the theory.  In practice, Elsbeth could only hope that she had timed it right and would be making a grand entrance into the foxhole that her grenade had (also hopefully) cleared a path for.  All of this, of course, assumed that the nothing (for example, a large artillery shell or a huge angry Q'sa) intercepted her along the way...

Leo primed the grenade after staring at it for a moment.  Then he let it go in a low arc toward the nearest set of foxholes... he was going to go take out the emplacement.  He smiled as the grenade stopped just shy of the hole... after all he didn't need to fill a hole with smoke he needed cover until the hole.

He gave it two seconds and then made his break for it.

(20 on the to hit)

   The first sound was the double thump of Rhics grenade launcher. a blast  blast tore into the first foxhole filling the air with a wash of whistling steel ball bearing and piano wire. the second blast was softer filling the air with purple smoke the Q'sa in the fix hole had little time to duck under cover and were sprayed with shrapnel knocking one Q'sa down and making the machine gunner flinch costing him valuable seconds. his burst was wild as he laid down on the trigger bolts of plasma ripping into the ground at Leos feet turning sand into glass and spattering molten glass across his boots and armor.
   The second gun crew was startled by the sudden explosions any soldier knew what a grenade looked ans sounded like the second gun crew got an up close experience with one two seconds after Rhic's rounds detonated. the blast dealing destruction as Elspeth leapt skyward the Q'sa eye was incredibly sensitive to movement but they couldn't fire without locking on with there smaller central eyes. and that required them to be able to concentrate n their target.
   Bullets screamed past Elspeth as she vaulted her tumbling twisting body  a hard target even without the effects of the photon screen. a bullet glanced off her calf, flattened against her chest plate, and cut a grove in the fabric on the left side of her body.
  Because Q'sa drones were not predator, and their wide compound eyes did not require a mobile head or particularly mobile secondary eyes they could not raise their head or move it quickly enough to track a fast moving target especially one moving in a high vertical hop. the rounds were wide and to scattered to be of any real threat.
  as Elspeth made her move Leo burst fro cover, his speed and agility more than anyone would expected he covered the open terrain in a graceful dash his blade hissing and shrieking as it charged up to discharge. the Q'sa behinfd the plasma repeater looking rather shocked to have someone half his size darreling at him with utter disregard for the weapon he fired.

Elsbeth relaxed her legs and lower body, ignoring the incoming small arms fire.  She trusted in her armor and shields for protection and her own mass to ensure that there were no unexpected mid-arc course corrections.  Even as her long legs extended to their fullest as they got ready to coil and absorb the impact of landing, Elsbeth's grip on her extended concussion rod tightened.

She could hardly contain her excitement at finally engaging the enemy.  Her thoughts and eagerness, to both T'risa and Balkiir, were quite transparent.  As she descended from the sky, Elsbeth picked a target and adjusted her body positioning a fraction, twisting slightly, to compensate and adjust her trajectory.  She came down with a heavy, satisfying 'Thud', though perhaps not as heavy as one might have expected, given the amount of weight involved or her velocity.  Elsbeth's intention was more to concentrate her momentum into single spot lead by her leading foot.  She nodded grimly as she came down in the foxhole; fully intending to use the plasma repeater gunner as her live landing cushion.

This position, of course, put her in excellent position to reach out and touch the unfortunate Q'sa next to her target.  So, Elsbeth tried to do just that, her armoured arm whipped around and she reached out to touch the nearby Q'sa with the business end of her concussion rod.  But only after that end of the rod had been swung around in a blurring, whirling arc to attempt to achieve supersonic speeds.  And while that goal was unobtainable, it didn't mean that should would not try; the rod's hum had already started to fill the air as she descend from when it was first snapped open.  But, the pitch was considerably higher as Elsbeth brought it to bare on her target.  While, the presence of the Marshal and the precognitive overlay was a bit disconcerting for Elsbeth, she found it really helped to anticipate where she needed the concussion rod to be at any given time.  All Elsbeth had to was to make sure that she put her weapon in the right place at the right time.

Ultimately, her hope was to clear the foxhole of the opposition as soon as possible - that would leave her the most options open.  Elsbeth would then perhaps move on to the next one or should the opportunity present itself, use the enemies own heavy weapons against themselves...
This message was last edited by the player at 06:06, Thu 28 Oct 2010.

  Rhic Jogged forward letting his Grenade launcher fall to his side hanging on the sling as he grabbed his battle rifle. he shifted his aim from the first foxhole to the second, Leo was in the midst of the first group keeping the second gun crew's head down was top on his list of "to do" His finger touched the trigger and squeezed off two rounds, aiming at the machine gunner in the second foxhole
This message was last edited by the player at 15:50, Mon 25 Oct 2010.

Leo's blade flashed around him again and he smiled beneath his mask, "Rhic, find something more useful to shoot at I'll clear these holes, maybe you should just go inside unless you want me to make a door..."

20 to hit 12 damage

  Poppy waited till Elspeth landed as the Big woman made her approach Poppy squeezed the trigger on her rifle siting at the head of the q'sa Elspeth was not targeting. Her breathing and twitch circuits disabled making her aim rock steady as she squeezed the trigger sending a high velocity kiss toward the Q;s grunt she had selected as her target.

   Elspeth landed with a meaty crunch under her boots the Q'sa collapsing under the impact of one marine, plus battle kit, plus armor, plus about thirty five kilometers per hour of momentum. the concussion rod hammered home screaming as the powerful accelerator amplified the powerful stroke of Elspeth's arm to a bone crushing impact. the Q'sa was hit hard enough to carry him backward into the sandbag wall and into the floor of the gun pit.
   Leo was in the pi in a flash slicing and dicing with lethal fury. the psi blade leaving bloody rips in the Q'sa's armor and flesh. the q'sa staggered the wound hissing as if hot iron had been riven into the wound howling and screeching in pain as it recoiled fro the charged weapon.
   Elspeth saw blood hit her armor as the q;sa on her flank took a high powered hunting round to the head. that Drone dead before hit hit the ground. another Q'sa in the second pit hurtled backward the grenade fro Rhics launcher hitting him square on punching a hole in his armor with little resistance.

Elsbeth's momentum from her sweeping blow on the Q'sa next to her carried her down into the foxhole for a moment.  When her head and torso next popped out of the foxhole, Elsbeth had co-opted the plasma repeater that had been formerly manned by the now defunct Q'sa squad.  She pretty much figured that they would not be needing it - and that she could put it to good use.  Her concussion rod had been dropped from her hands and her assault rifle dangled from its tactical sling close to her body as Elsbeth held the grips on the plasma repeater tight, checking the magazine status bar briefly.

As she came up, Elsbeth cast about looking for the big lead Q'sa.  It would not do to lose him in the shuffle.  But, unfortunately, all of the action and chaos on the battlefield had lead to just that circumstance.  She pursed her lips for only a moment, thinking forcefully to the others of her group, I've lost track of the Big Ugly Q'sa.  Watch out...

But, Elsbeth could not dwell on that fact.  She merely continued to try and whittle down the numbers of the enemy that should see.  So, that meant, laying down some suppressive fire.  And while the use of such a heavy weapon was not necessarily her forte, Elsbeth figured that she could, at the very least, make their enemies flinch and give the others of her team the chance to move forward more quickly.  She targeted the foxhole to her right, which up until now had been untouched...  That needs to change, Elsbeth thought to herself.  She motioned to Poppy to be ready to move and held down the trigger of the repeater to try and fill the air above the foxhole (and if possible the foxhole itself) with a hail of plasma bolts.

  Poppy slung the rifle over her shoulder and jumped to the top of a low rise she had been using for cover. when Elspeth opened up with the heavy plasma gun she burst into movement. her feet digging into he rocky soil and sending up gravel as she surged toward the second foxhole.
   Her sped was impressive without any other mechanical aid than her won muscles. she tore across the ground drawing her machine pistols and bearing down on the Q'sa like a guide missile. Her braids fluttering in the breeze and a wild grin on her face as she made for the position.

Since Rhic hadn't asked him to open a door, he assumed that Rhic was taking care of something else and not ready to move on.  As Leo himself was not entirely in a 'standing in a frost covered field' position, he occupied himself with the life of himself and comrades, and the death of those that were unyielding in their opposition.

His blade could easily tear through a great deal of plating... as readily as if they were so much of the gause his people were fond of wrapping their men in.  It would take a significant amount of very hardened metals to stop him appreciably.

Rhic took the opportunity to prep the explosives charge he was carrying and tossed it against the front of the bunker. it wouldn't level the place but it would blow a hole big enough to get inside and take out the gun crew without having to deal with a sleet of fire from the machine gun nests.
    " Make for the bunker when the charge Blows Rhic shouted to Leo.Outside was not exactly the best place for a close up fighter to be standing.

OOC: charge set to go off at beginning of next round.

"Ok, sorry for my tardiness. We just had a situation back where we are, but it looks as though the tide has turned. We're going to win this....unless something bad happens. Balkiir will be fine. I see your placing the entry charges already. Leo, you're a bit close go to ground. there will be more than enough for you to do soon. Elsbeth, how are you and Poppy getting on?"

   Elspeth's barrage connects with one Q'a sending him to the ground, the rest of the gun crew take cover. Firing from cover the Q'sa try to return fire laying down a wild spray of plasma across the fighting position. even with her photon shield active the stream of plasma fro her weapon gives the Q'sa a good idea of where to fire. a stray bolt clips her armor, glancing off harmlessly a second bolt hits her solidly as she strafes the enemy position.
    Rhic's throw is good, the satchel charge lands against the wall of the bunker the Q'sa inside open fire in return a bot hitting Rhic in the side as he ducks for cover another sizzling past Leo's head a he moves to keep the charging Q'sa from the second pit busy.
   The first Q'sa to arrive at Leo's potions swings wildly with a long bladed combat knife the second seems to be having trouble even holding his properly. the third manages to catch the edge of Leo's robe ripping the fabric and drawing a bloody welt with the tip of the blade but doing no real harm. the fourth Q'sa over the sandbags tackles Rhic driving the tip of the blade into his side.
    a burst of fire from the Bunker catches poppy as she charges, the round hitting her solidly enough to put a normal human down from shock. The hit barely slows the Cyberoid as she leap into the pit with the remain exterior defenders machine pistols in both hands.

OOC:
Poppy 20pts damage
Elspeth:12
Rhic: 7
Leo: He ruined your outfit.
all damage before DR

Elspeth yo can not see the Q'sa warrior but you are certain he is not outside the bunker.

Elsbeth spun as she was pelted by the plasma bolts from the bunker.  Her eyes narrowed as ducked back into the foxhole chiding herself for losing track of the enemy.  Know that Poppy was well on her way to clearing the foxhole to the right and would soon be ready to advance, Elsbeth turned on her heel and made ready to jump.  I'm going in, she growled.  Glancing down, Elsbeth quickly grabbed her concussion rod from the floor of the foxhole and hooked it to her belt.  The servos in her armor coiled and compressed, readying themselves for a violent release.  The plasma repeater was tightly gripped in her hands, as she glanced down at the ammunition counter - it still glowed yellow; so, she was confident that it hand more than enough for what she wanted to do.

Elsbeth made ready and then immediately launched herself into the air towards the bunker - the servos uncoiling as she pushed off with all of her might and at the same time activating her jump jets for an extra boost.  Her goal was to land immediately in front of the bunker and its firing slots.  She figured that both the element of surprise as well as the difficulty that she had noted that the Q'sa had tracking her when airborne should allow her to get the barrel of the repeater into the slot and to cut loose with a barrage before they even knew what hit them.

Timing was essential, but so was speed.  And, ultimately, Elsbeth didn't have a better plan.  If nothing else, having the plasma repeater fire into the enclosed space of the bunker would require its inhabitants to move to cover or otherwise take some sort of self-preserving defensive action (assuming they wanted to survive) - giving her some time to act again (and to let Poppy close as well).  At least, that was the theory...
This message was last edited by the player at 08:44, Tue 02 Nov 2010.

Leo flexed his muscles and nanites increasing the visage of the armor as his uniform was greatly comprimised.  As much as he hated to admit it, he was still a man of Omaedian sophistication... he would not brook someone ruining his outfit.  It had been done, this one was getting no chance at surrender.

26 to hit, 16 damage, ignore 6 DR

  The up close and personal death dance with Leo became a bloody e. his blades cutting into Q'sa with little resistance. the infantrymen were out matched both in weapons and in skill. screeching furiously as they slashed and stabbed ineffectively at the small figure dancing among them.
   The effect of Elspeth jamming the muzzle of the repeater into the firing slot and holding down the trigger was brutal to say the least inside the small fighting space there were few places to hide. the grunts had little chance as she poured fire into their position.

   Poppy followed close on her heels a round from a grunts weapon pinning her as she dashed but not stopping her. slamming into the wall on the opposite side of the doorway she pulled the igniter on the satchel charge and tossed it into the control bunker.
   Someone got Elspeth's range as they moved from the second foxhole to try and keep them out of the bunker. a Q'sa grunt fired at her fro the side his rifle spitting plasma tracers at her at a furious rate.

   Rhic's satchel charge blew out the front of hi bunker the blast powerful enough to knock a man sized whole in the wall and turn the inside of the bunker into hell itself with flying debris and shrapnel. for a very long second their was no sign of life in the first bunker until a spray of heavy rifle fire tore through the air

OOC:
Elspeth you cant see or hear anything moving in the bunker after you open fire...and no sign of the larger Q'sa you spotted earlier.

Elspeth 23 pts damage before armor/DR
Leo:.....they don see that interested in killing you...or the die roller likes you.

Elsbeth felt the heat and energy from the incoming plasma barrage hit her barrier screen square on.  The feedback loop bled some of the power passed the shield to allow the armor's wearer a status update.  A yellow warning blinked insistently on her HUD, the barrier shield's integrity was dangerously low.  Another hit would likely dissipate it.  But Elsbeth had no time to worry about that - the shield was a tool to get the job done.  And the big Q'sa was worrisome, as was the incoming barrage.  But they would be dealt with post-haste.  Ultimately, those things were entirely secondary to the mission objective.  And, thankfully, Poppy had that covered.  So, now it now behooved both of them to seek cover.  And Elsbeth figured - what better way to do that, then to engage the enemy that was firing upon them.

And while, Elsbeth knew that she had her explosive charge left - which allowed the possibility of a third tower to be destroyed.  She figured that might have to wait until the large Q'sa was found and eliminated.  Eliminated from the gene pool with prejudice - very extreme prejudice, if possible.  Elsbeth glanced around hoping to catch a glimpse of the big SOB.  Barring that, Elsbeth hoped not to be surprised by anything untoward.

Still, Elsbeth figured that she and Poppy needed to secure the area first and stop getting hit - so, that task became the current priority.  She focused on the Q'sa firing at them.  The plasma repeater's main grip in her right hand, Elsbeth signalled Poppy with a 'thumbs up' with her left hand to acknowledge Poppy's excellent delivery of package.  And then motioned to show that she was engaging the Q'sa shooting at them.  Elsbeth wound up her leg muscles again and felt the comfortable tightness and feedback of the amplification coupled with the myomar fibers and catapulted herself forward, building speed with every augmented step, until she lowered her shoulder and let her momentum carry her around as she rolled into a tuck and then burst upwards in a single motion, - tumbling to launch herself into the air towards the attacking Q'sa.  Death from above seemed quite effective against these bipedal reptilian-insectoid hybrids and she saw little reason to vary that tactic for the moment.

While, the remaining enemy might be wising up to the tactic, Elsbeth trusted her mobility to help mitigate any of her assailant's ability to track and aim against her.  It was only when she had been stationary at the bunker's fire hole that they had been able to draw a bead on her.  And Elsbeth longed to figure out how truly disciplined her opponent would be with an angry, armored marine and her newly acquired plasma repeater barreling down on them.  At least, the experiment begged to be repeated.  For reproducibility purposes, of course.

  " damn'it.... Poppy hissed as she looked in the direction of incoming fir..." I just got these the light armor hadn't stopped all of the round that hit her in the chest and it had torn up her new bodies.... cosmetic attachments slightly. if you knewwww.....how much I hate.... getting shot my...... butt shot up.....

  she spun away from the door drawing her machine pistols and sending a stream of lead to either side of Elspeth as she made her move. the two Q'sa to either side of the marines target her intended victims. she punctuated her words with short bursts of fire twisting turning and rolling to make herself a more difficult target. for a second she smiled as the marine ohhhh thats gonna hurt.

  Going in....<blue> Rhic warned as he stepped into the Bunker through his new door stepping quickly to the side.<blue> Watch your backs they probably have reinforcements in the area. clear the foxholes.Rhic warned as he fired a full burst from his assault shotgun into any area that looked like it might hide something that might move.

Leo moved with haste and grace as he assured that these trenches were cleared out, or at least in process, "I'm okay here, doing a final sweep here and then I'll follow you in..."

  Elspeth lands with a brutal thud, the Q'sa she was aiming for breaking her fall and several of his own ribs in the process. a burt to the face with the plasma repeater seemed to take the fight out of him almost immediately.
   Poppy engaged the two Q'sa flanking Elspeth hitting them both with concentrated fire from her machine pistols. the Heavy pistol rounds lacked range but within fifty feet they were as lethal as assault rifle rounds. A human firing the heavy weapons in full auto would be in severe pain or even suffering from wrist damage after a long burst fro the 12mm pistols.

       Elspeth was already fully committed to her attack and landing when the larger Q'sa made his appearance, now larger and bulkier than before. he wore a set of techno-organic boosted armor and carried both a heavy energy rifle and a wicked looking curved blade as he launched himself at Elspeth.

OOC Elspeth you get one hand to hand attack on the Q'sa as he closes

I also need a strength check Dc 14 if you fail you are pushed back 10ft( and need to make ref check DC12 to stay on your feet.)

---

as Rhic made his way into the bunker his weapons fire tore up the consoles and two unarmored q'sa who tried to get out of the way. the third Q'sa did not try to evade and was definitely not unarmored. His clubbing right hand sent Rhic flying back and slammed him into a wall
   The heavily armored Q'sa swiped at Leo with the blade he carried in his off hand three feet of steel and ceramic that glinted and shone in the dut and filtered light of the bunker. The glancing blow from the blade drawing a line across Leo as it sliced through the air and knocked a sizable chunk out of the pillar next to him.


Elspeth: Bullrushed
Leo: 7 pts damage before DR
Rhic: laying on his face from a crit and a 1 on a fort save..
Poppy: dealing out full auto death and giggling madly.
Big Bug 1: On Elspeth Undamaged
Big Bug 2 On Leo undamaged.
Q'sa grunts: bloody and busy with Poppy.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:03, Mon 22 Nov 2010.

Leo actually paused a moment when he had been hit.  It was more like a slap to the face than a bonecrushing swing...  He smiled and pressed the blade that flickered on his right knuckles to the worst of the damage to his combat suit so the tatters wouldn't get in the way.  "Rhic, bet on him if you like, I'm getting this one.  You go ahead.  Scream like a child if you need me."

That said more of the metalic sliding sound and his blue skin was hidden once more from view.  He smiled and due to the armor enhancements and the soft red glow that was now flowing through much of his skin it stood out enough to notice.

His voice collected a synthesized reverberation as he turned his earpieces to blast his music outside his own head and shouted, "Let's dance!" as he lunged at the armored qsa unleashing the unique fury of his sharpened mind.

Elsbeth could not really hear Leoulin's remark.  But, her experience was far different than his, likely.  She did not have his grace, talent, or training - combat to her was not an Art to be cultivated or admired.  She had fought for the entertainment of others not so long ago, but never had developed the grace or showmanship to make it into a dance.  For Elsbeth, combat had always been a reckless, brutal, and violent affair.  One that she had survived many times, but only through unyielding perseverance, dogged determination, a touch of courage, and no small amount of sheer luck.  So, she had learned to trust in herself and in the Bright (and Fickle) Lady of Fate.

As she came down, Elsbeth could sense that the Q'sa would be underfoot at the proper time.  She only needed to adjust her foot position, just so... And as the Marshal's future sense helped to chart the way.  The various strands of time converged for a shining moment during the actual impact.  Elsbeth 'saw' the conclusion of her actions a split second before it actually happened.  The strands snapping together almost audibly to her as they came together.

And then the strands diverged again in a sort of randomized tapestry: shimmering and beautiful for another brief moment suspended in time.  But, they quickly reformed a pattern which placed her and a large Q'sa in the same space at the same time.  Elsbeth knew that she could not react in time to avoid her opponent.  And something deep down inside of her didn't want that anyway.  So, forewarned, she twisted her body slightly, adjusted leg and arm position, and dug her heels into brace for a contest of strength.  The big Q'sa was imposing, but Elsbeth had supreme confidence in her training and her abilities.  She inhaled deeply, closing the gates of the body's inner strength - part adrenaline, part inner Ki.  She felt that strength gathering, welling up in her, ready to explode forth upon impact.

Elsbeth braced herself for that impact, positioning her arms and hands on the plasma repeater and keeping her upper body low for leverage and her limbs loose for immediate action.  She twisted again ever so slightly, moving in time with a perceived shift in positioning of the Q'sa within her double vision granted by the Marshal.  She saw her opponent try to compensate at the last moment, feinting to the left.  But ploy was readily apparent in the myriad streams of probability arrayed before her and Elsbeth was confident that she had the right of way - that the convergence of the streams would again give her the advantage over her immediate opponent.

Elsbeth cracked a slightly feral grin, one with a little too much tooth to be called genial.  As her charging Q'sa foe came into contact with her, she sprung into action.  Her body violently uncoiling, Elsbeth moved with her armored opponent and then dug her foot deeper into the (now) prone body of her previous Q'sa target.  Elsbeth mentally intoned as her instructors had taught, A reed bending in the wind.  She felt the dead Q'sa's chest plate buckle under the strain.  As she spun around, Elsbeth brought her other foot into position, to tangle with her opponent's.  All the while, the butt of her plasma repeater was swung around, high overhead in an attempt to help push the heavily armored Q'sa down into the dirt.  Elsbeth's counter was to try and send her heavily armored opponent sprawling to the ground, using his momentum against himself - if the Bright Lady of Fortune smiled upon her.  And then, her smile widened a touch, the reed snaps back...

  The power armored Q'sa sprawled face first with an angry hissing keening shriek of anger. the Warrior was quick to recover but not fast enough to avoid exposing his back to a well placed attack before he could get up and react. Te Q'sa's reaction times, movements, and disciplined manner set him apart from he drones and grunts Elspeth had faced up to that point.
    His manner was lethal and precise movements trained no wasted effort no moves that put him at a disadvantage. e soldier she faced was a warrior no doubt, trained experienced and disciplined well beyond the grunts poppy was busily trading gunfire with.
   Elspeth managed a strike at the warrior as she sprawled face first the enhanced mass of the concussion rod sending spiderweb cracks in the ceramic that protected the warriors spine.
  A heel kick aimed at Elspeth's Knee snapped out as the warrior tried to stand the aim to take her off her feet rather than injure. a repeat of his tactic of trying to immobilize her or put her off balance before attempting to do real harm. the move was perfectly aimed catching her jut inside the knee and trying to force the knee to buckle to the outside as f the warrior had been trained by a corp instructor.
  moving faster than anticipated the warrior also drew and fired her heavy side arm as she rolled forward and twisted to face Elspeth the heavy plasma disrupter spat an bolt of intense violet light that passed harmlessly past Elspeth and disintegrated a fist sized section of concrete fro the bunkers outer wall.

OOC: opposed roll str or Dex vs Dc 20
since you have the ability you can recognize an ability surge. the warrior is pushing herself to the maximum to get out of the situation and this tie she moved before you...initiatives now required your up against a Hero NPC

This is a Q'sa warrior , at close range differences in build reaction speeds, and even appearance are immediately obvious. limbs are more powerful , head is larger, and through the visor you can see they have four smaller mobile eyes and a the wide angle bug-eyes are less pronounced. n addition they sport a wicked set of mandibles along side the reptilian jaw that look like they could take off you hand with a solid bite.

---

   Leo's opposition was not particularly impressed, but she did hesitate for a moment sizing up her opponent before attacking again. he curved three foot long blade she carried hummed menacingly the vibro edge shimmered slightly as she spun it in a dizzying kata dropping into a low ready crouch that most soldiers would have difficulty to match in heavy armor like her comrade she moved without difficult in her heavy armor and obviously had spent many hours if not most of her life in armor and handled her sword with practiced ease.
  unlike many opponents there was a cold, calculating intelligence behind the four inhuman eyes that followed Leos moves she did not rush him instead she studied him carefully moving to avoid his feints, and refusing to be lured into an unprepared attack.
   when she did move it was with lethal intent slashing low then high and reversing her attack to suddenly come at Leo from the opposite direction of attack. the blade screeched as he closed her hand around the grip triggering it's edge to full power. She connected with her attacks the blade drawing a line across Leo's side then as she spun with a back handed stroke meeting his heavily encased right hand.
   Leos blade slid into her side as she struck the second tie the enhanced psionic weapon slicing through her armor as if it were made of light plastic instead of face hardened metal, and reinforced boron carbide ceramics. leo felt his fist slam into her side with an impact that jarred his arm a sure sign he had hit a more than solid strike.

OOC:
two hits
10 pts before Dr
12 pts before DR
Note, your blade sliced through her armor as if it wasn't there... evidently it is not as heavy as the armor Elspeth is wearing and is giving no protection from your reduce hardness attacks.

Elsbeth had pulled her concussion rod out just in time to hit the sprawling Q'sa.  She had hoped that the hit would delay her opponent, but that was not to be.  Her opponent moved with frightening speed, but Elsbeth was not frightened.  However, she was also not quick enough to avoid the Q'sa attempt to trip her.  When her knee was struck she could feel it buckle slightly and she was forced to go down on one knee.

She twisted and rolled, trying to shift and use her momentum to regain her feet.  Unfortunately, all that succeeded in doing was causing her to wind up flat on her stomach after rolling in the air.  Elsbeth growled and let out a single Tae expletive before doing just about the only thing left open to her...  Her left hand was still holding the plasma repeater in it.  And even though it was her off-hand, she depressed trigger and swung it around in the desperate hope of catching her opponent off guard.  At the very least it should offer some suppression fire.  It wouldn't scare her enemy off, but it should at least give him some pause.

She noted grimly that, if Lady Fate had decided to turn on her, then there was nothing to do, but to go down swinging (or in this case firing) ...

Leo expected the armor to amount to little if anything anyway... he was not surprised to find his blade burried to the knuckles in his foe.  His hands were enough to tear through most infantry armor if only barely.  The blade in his hand was only slightly more deadly than his hand alone... minus the intense burning caused by the increased ionization that the gauntlet granted.

He took the two cuts with only a little slowing... he felt them certainly, but it was not enough to greatly trouble him yet.  He instead took the time that might have been used to cover himself better to try to identify if this Qsa was connected to SHE.  The nanite data relay took a few precious moments in combat to obtain and decipher but would lend to him something of an edge one way or another.

He drove in his blade at the foe again.

OOC: Standard Action: Attack Qsa; 18 to hit, 18 damage, ignore 6 DR
Move Action: Sense SHE Taint

  Leo got the first hit in as he and his dance partner clashed again the blade slicing though armor leaving a glowing red hot trail where the blade touched the armor. The warrior shrieked and chattered in pain four eyes filled with hate locking onto Leo as the Q'sa swung her blade in a hissing arc the first swipe going over Leo's head as he lazily twisted aside, the second stroke burying the tip of the blade in the concrete wall as Leo flowed around the thrust to move to flank the heavier fighter.

   Elspeth took a solid hit fro the vibro blade as she got back to her feet. the enhanced weapon was powerful enough to slice through infantry armor but the powered armor offered more protection. The warrior moved to strike again when Elspeth let loose with the repeater on full auto. even offhanded the weapons rate of fire was more than enough to ensure that at least one bolt hit the target. the warrior backpedaled to avoid being hit by more than one blast, the raw plasma packing enough punch to get through the warriors heavy armor.

OOC:
Elspeth take 15 pts damage before DR

Leo turned the melee into a dance despite his partner... to some it might look like a tango for the intimacy of it, his hands traced the air along the limbs of his foe and his own body slid only scant inches from the Qsa.  The music was unlike any music earth had not taken in as part of the Tau cultural exchange but the song was one typically reserved for less public entertainments.  It was popular certainly, but generally considered not socially acceptable.  It was one of those things many Omaeda of breeding rights considered a 'dirty little secret', and in all honesty, Leo felt that it was a highly appropriate battle theme.

After all, who gets under your skin and could possibly cause more damage than a lover?  But it never would stop males and females the universe over from getting close.  It was this delicate balance of close and still not touching that was paramount for fighters and for Omaeda males.  To be intimate and yet keep that intimacy outside oneself.  It was a paradox that made Leo both infinitely happy and furious.  It was freedom of expression in the captivity of his forefathers.

...His armor and his blade.  He moved sinuously drawing near again to his foe and with shocking movement ripping his blade across between them as if tearing at some metaphorical intrapersonal barrier... or perhaps just his foe's body.

21 to hit 14 damage

As soon as Elsbeth had let loose with her barrage of plasma, she pushed to her feet.  Up and back.  But, it was still not fast enough.  Her accursed opponent was too quick on the uptake, weathering a hit from the repeater to close and engage her with its blade.  As the blade snaked towards her, she twisted and turned, trying to avoid contact.

Her photon shield flickered and the outline of Elsbeth's armor danced lightly - the bent light twisting as her silhouette flashed in and out of visual range.

And then Elsbeth still felt the hypersonic vibrations from the vibroblade resonate and dig deep into her barrier shield.  Her eyes darted to the corner of her HUD screen, where the silent alarm blinked a bright crimson, warning her insistently about her shield's imminent failure.  Too close for comfort, she mentally reminder herself.  She hated being on the business end of a vibroblade - something about that strange hum and ease with which it sliced through metal and flesh made her skin crawl.  But then, maybe it was just the fact that once to often it was her flesh that was being rended.  After all, her concussion rod did something just as bad, and she loved it...

Elsbeth gritted her teeth and forced her focus back on her opponent.  It was time to try and repay her attacker with her own brand of high tech flesh rending.  Taking a page from her opponent's book, Elsbeth's last feint was a push forward and she shuffle stepped forward into the oncoming blade.  She knew that avoidance was not readily possible with that attack; so, Elsbeth merely tried to position herself to mitigate the damage, and place herself into a superior position to strike out.

Bouncing off the blade after it dug into her shield and engaged her armor, Elsbeth lowered her right shoulder and tucking her head and tumbling to try and create an opening in her opponents defenses.  Her hope was to find a chink in the armor and exploit it.  Her right arm pronated to bring the long thin rod in her hand in line with her forearm, and then with a flick of the wrist brought the business end with the singularity hurtling towards her opponent, even as the arm itself whirled around augmented by the spin of her upper body, the coiled myomar fibers, and the actuated servos of her combat armor.

Although her opponent could not hear it, a low growl escaped Elsbeth's gritted teeth.  As the concussion rod closed on her opponent's position, the strands of probability, refocused - converging into a stark and vivid view of the strike.  Elsbeth could feel the 'rightness' of the action, she could 'see' the future laden curves collapsing upon themselves in her mind's eye as the blow drew closer and closer.  The edges of her mouth twitched - but, deep down inside, she could only hope that it was enough...

   The fight was getting serious in both locations. Elspeth's Blow landed hard other Q'sa's arm smacking it out of the way and ending shards of metallic ceramics whistling in every direction. boosted muscle and gravitics amplified inertia resulted in the Q'sa having to fight to keep his balance the rod causing hi to stumble and twist to keep hold of his blade.

the Q'sa used the momentum to spin and slash at Elspeth but misjudged his mark the blade cut above Elspeth as she ducked drawing a centimeter deep line in the concrete wall behind her. the blade screeching as it send sparks and dust flying as thousands of vibrations a second powered the diamond hard ceramic edge and turned concrete into dust..

The Q'sa fighting Leo recoiled form another hit, her blood spraying across the floor as she grabbed at the still smoking wound. stepping back she reached up and removed her helmet tossing it aside, flecks of blood on her face.
  four inhuman eyes watched as he moved and flowed the q'sa stepping back giving him room her blade now held in a defensive posture as she studied hi and began to move more cautiously as his music filled the air.
   a high pitched shrill chitter from her headset eemed to take her attention for a short moment then she began to back away carefully disengaging and heading toward a hatch in the roof of the bunker.

OOC::
No damage to any players

One Q'sa in a defensive retreat.
the other still fighting. and very pissed.

The dust from the pulverized concrete swirled around Elsbeth's optically fuzzed form.  The eddies curled around in strange patterns as they bounced around the fast moving form adding to the confusing trick of light that surrounded her armor.  Her concussion rod was visible, of sorts, but mainly because of the warped light that encompassed the singularity at the end.  And then that singularity gained speed, the effect was startling.  Not that her opponent necessarily cared, but Elsbeth herself always found the phenomena fascinating.  She liked to fancy herself having the ability to hit something hard enough that the poor victim could actually see a blue shift in the singularity as in approached them for impact.  While, it might be a scientific impossibility - the speed required would be well in excess of millions of miles per hour - it was a nice fantasy.

And it was something that Elsbeth wished that she could do right now.  But, since she was 'merely' locked in mortal combat with an enemy of comparable abilities - Elsbeth only needed to focus on disabling or damaging her opponent.  She knew that her adrenaline rush was limited in effect and duration.  Already she could feel the fatigue threatening her muscles.  So, she forced herself to focus and relied on her training and discipline to carry her through.  Elsbeth took a deep inhalation, her nostrils flaring, and then launched herself forward when she sharply exhaled.

She pressed her advantage.  Twisting with her follow-through from the strike on her opponent's arm, Elsbeth brought her concussion rod around for another pass.  This time whirling inward and thrusting for the torso; the armpit of her opponent's outstretched arm, to be more specific.  Since, the arm appeared to be over-extended (and possibly slowed due to the concrete wall), she hoped that another blow to the weapon arm with bring it that much closer to being disabled.  She didn't necessarily think about taking her opponent alive.  Far from it, she suspected that the creature would never allow itself to be taken prisoner.  It was merely that if its ability to access its major weapons was severely curtailed, the warrior Q'sa would be much easier to dispatch.

Now, if only her opponent would stop making it so difficult for her to hit him...

"We can do it. Elspeth, Leo do your best, our thoughts are with you. Rhic, time to get up. Look in your pack, lower left hand corner"

OOC:Blowing an Action point to give Rhic a medical thingy chance to recover.

Leo hounded his opponent but spared thought as it came to him, "There's some noise over their com... it might be a retreat or this one is headed for some kind of TPK.  I'm going in... but I've been relatively indistructable so far."

There was amusement in his voice, thought he did feel badly for the normally... obsessed creature to turn and flee.  He understood not liking one's orders.

If he caught up to the foe, his blade would seek purchase and lifeblood.  This is what it waas to be a warrior, a soldier.

Leoulin rolled 10 using 2d6+7. damage.
Leoulin rolled 14 using 1d20+8. attack.

  Leo closed in on the Q'sa his blade weaving and lashing out as he made for the kill. The Q'sa was o the defensive leaking blood from every wound. The larger trooper moved and ducked wildly to avid his blows making for the roof exit. Le feinted as she made her move the blade slicing though her armor but not drawing blood this time. In a single leap the trooper was up through the hatch and onto the roof out of reach and putting layers of concrete and steel between herself and Leo.
    Elspeth swung a forceful blow the head of the rod smacking into the arm of the Q'sa but glancing off it's thick metal and ceramic plating.  As it gathered itself there was a high pitched screech from the escaping trooper that caused the Warrior to pause gathering itself for a leap using it's own powerful body, myomers and antigrav units to hurtle skyward and backwards toward the safety of the bunker's roof. he momentary distraction and movement gave Elspeth a clean shot at it as it sought to escape. the blow sent the Q'sa slightly off course as he lept but was not enough to ground him.

OOC Q'sa are attempting to disengage and retreat. You can either pursue or hold position and secure the bunkers.

Elsbeth's eyes narrowed when her opponent started to withdraw - her parting swipe doing minimal damage, but at least it connected.  From what she could tell, Q'sa were fearless and thus would only retreat under exceptional circumstances.  And now, those circumstances appeared to be when defeated - but, it was more than that.  In Elsbeth's experience, a withdrawing enemy was only clearing the area for...  She gritted her teeth.  It was the only thing that made sense.  Even though her grasp of tactics was not stellar, it was what she would do in their shoes - it was what she figured that her Marine commanders would do.

She thought hard and loud, Marshal.  The enemy is beat feet, which I can only presume to mean Scorched Earth.  She could only hope that the others could hear her thoughts.  Elsbeth was unsure of Poppy, but perhaps the Marshal was in contact with her as well.

Then she remembered her comm and that Poppy had been previously monitoring it.  Elsbeth noted on the Marine Channel, "Poppy, evacuate the area.  Now.  Incoming."

And then Elsbeth had to think about herself.  With her enemy disengaging, Elsbeth lept as well, but only to the top of the bunker nearest her, an easy leap for her augmented, jump jet assisted legs.  She crouched low and forced armored form skyward, leaving the plasma repeater behind.  She tucked for a moment, before stretching out as Elsbeth tumbled skyward for a flashing moment - seemingly easily defying the pull of gravity as she rocket upwards.  Her right hand moved to stow her concussion rod while in the tuck and as her armored form opened up, and prepared for landing, her hands then moved to pull her stowed M-37 Standard Marine Issue Assault Rifle.

She landed with a thick thud, sending up a little bit of dust.  If there had been anyone in the bunker, they likely would have noticed the landing of the quarter ton of mad marine and gear.  But Elsbeth and Poppy had already attempted to ensure that no one was left inside.  She rolled with the momentum, coming up in a crouch and she raised her M-37 to her shoulder, bracing it.  Elsbeth was not planning to spit hot lead at the retreating form of her Q'sa opponent.  Instead, she lined the weapon up with the intent of using the standard issue underslung grenade launcher instead.  Elsbeth kept an armor piercing tank buster round in the breach of the grenade launcher for just such an occasion.  Her vision narrowed and focused, as Elsbeth concentrated on her breath and the form in her crosshairs.  The HUD in Elsbeth's helmet tracked the moving form as it leapt - projecting a path; a path which also seemed to coincide with the Marshal's forward sense - which again began to collapse into a single thread of probability.  For her part, it was a sort of attempt to will the grenade to seek out the retreating form of the withdrawing Q'sa warrior.  See the grenade, be the grenade.  And her fingers depressed the trigger on the launcher.

Like one might have ascertained by watching certain old vids... people who spend their lives in pursuit of occupations, or hobbies, that require physical appearance for success are usually quite capable.

As such, the lightly armored Leo was only a short few steps behind as his opponent took flight.  His bound took him up to the point he likely didn't need servo assistance to get into the hatch his opponent had used.

Then it was with a startled noise and horrific smell his opponent acknowledged his presence where most Tae or Tau were unlikely to have been able to follow- the acknowledgement was more for the charring psiblade that had once more found a place of rest in its body.

Leo saw the life fade from the multifacited eyes and in that moment imagined that the being had died in combat... the way it would have wanted.  An awkward justification, but freedom granted to the enemy was still freedom.  It didn't like the order and now wouldn't have to listen to reprimand nor deal with consequences from mortal supervisors.

...it was only now that Leo cast his eyes about.

31 Jump
23 Attack
8 damage

T'risa voice flashed into extreme danger "Everyone back off now. We'll need to come back to this. Explosions will be here imminently. RETREAT."

  Elspeth's leap threw off her aim but the haste of the Q'sa to escape was it's downfall the round clipped it detonating the shape charge sent a jet of superheated metal into it's armor searing flesh and blasting out the far side of it's armor.
   below Poppy ran and made a leap grabbing the edge of the Bunker to join the rest on the roof Looking at the bloody mess of two corpses with a slightly wicked smile..
  Nothing but the Team moved, the battlefield was eerily quiet as the three members of the team stood alone atop the bunker.

Leo voiced over the Comm, "Rhic, you getting the hell out or do I need to make another trip to save your brown little behind?"

Leo's armor was not receeding and infact still clung as if trying to swallow him in the seemingly liquid metal that ran like oil over his skin.  It gave him an alien appearance and also covered the majority of his face now that he didn't have a mask on.  He wondered absently how far they would have to go to be clear of said explosions.

  Did anyone get the number of that truck Rhic grumbled as he answered the call, I'm up.... my teeth are itching from what ever was in that hypo but I'm up.... Fall back to pickup point double quick.

When the armor ruptured from the inside, Elsbeth could not suppress a slight grim smile.  Lady Fortune had smiled upon her - the shot was low and she knew it.  Still, Elsbeth did not look a gift horse in the mouth, she offered a quiet silent prayer to Infi as she popped another grenade into the launcher and stowed her M-37, and then stood next to Leo and Poppy surveying the area for a moment.

Elsbeth did not need to be told twice that she needed to move out.  She looked to the other two companions that stood with her for a moment on the bunker.  Elsbeth was well aware that both of them could take care of themselves, having seen them move at speed over the battlefield.  Only the question of whether Rhic needed to be carried to safety remained.

"Leaving now, Master Sergeant." she intoned dutifully into her comm.  "Do you require assistance in evac?" Elsbeth prompted, "Time is of the essence."  Elsbeth paused only for a moment before she moved to the edge of the bunker roof, she was either going to launch forthwith towards the pick up point, or drop to the bunker's door and grab Rhic first before launch towards the pick up point, forthwith.  All she waited on was his word before she beat feet ...

   " I'm mobile," Rhic replied gruffly It'll take more than a sucker punch to put me down for good. Double damn quick out of here marine.

  The team Makes for the extraction point as dull thuds are heard in the distance the distinct sound of sonic booms at low altitude roll across the broad valley below the air defense towers.
   The team Makes it to the cover of the boulder field below the towers before a shadow pases over head, out of the valley a sleek dark hulled starship pops up and streaks over the team at supersonic speeds, a salvo of missiles and plasma bolts impacting around the two gun emplacements filling the air with dust bits of rock, and acrid fumes from explosives and the familiar hot stone and ozone smell of a plasma strike.
   Even with the gun sites back in enemy hands the towers are useless without spare part and hours if not days to repair the demolished fire control systems. well outside the impact area the team is free to move back to their pick up site and rejoin the rest of the crew.

Elsbeth didn't need to be told twice to move out.  Well, actually, in this case she did.  But once on the bounce, Elsbeth could beat feet with the best of them.  Unarmored, she was quite fast.  But, with amplified muscles and jump jets, Elsbeth's rate of speed was even more formidable.  As she bounded across the open landscape, Elsbeth kept her eyes open.  She didn't have a thousand yard stare for nothing.

Once in the scrub, she was a bit more circumspect - foregoing the use of her jump jets to keep herself lower to the ground.  Elsbeth still made time by moving over many of the boulders and debris in her way.

Elsbeth also kept an eye out for her companions, though she maintained radio silence until well outside the air defense perimeter.  At that point, she regrouped with the others and they started the trek back to the extraction site.  She did stop with the rest of the group when the air strike occurred.  Her armor informed her of a high probability of multiple starship grade plasma strikes = as if Elsbeth had not noticed the presence of the enemy ship.  Elsbeth couldn't suppress a small smile - all that fuss, just for the four of them.

Naturally, since they were closer to the site, they arrived first.  Even though T'risa was in constant contact with them, she made a conscious effort to let her know that they had arrived.  Elsbeth also knew that Balkiir knew of her whereabouts implicitly, but given his injured state, she didn't figure that she could count on him to inform the Crow about their status.  After establishing where their base camp was for the next few hours, Elsbeth took up patrols around the area; she had little else that she could do.  While Rhic might require some medical attention, Elsbeth was definitely not the one to give it to him.  So, she left that to either the others with her or the autodocs on the Crow.  They'd be extracted soon enough.

   Poppy ran for her life. vaulting boulders and pushing herself as hard as she could without tearing a muscle in the process. After several minutes of combat and two mad dash sprints she was overheating and her muscles were building up waste products faster than she could get rid of them. For once she envied mechanicals. they didn't have to worry about silly things like muscle wear or the shooting pain she felt every time she tried to move her right leg. sure she could ignore it, mute it, pretend it wasn't there but it still hurt.
   " Oh my god...." Poppy gasped between heaving breaths her 'lung' desperately trying to cool her nano fluid blood and get it back to the over heated muscles before the myomers began to break down, or more correctly break down faster than her nano could repair them. " Did somebody forget to tip the valet???? I can't believe they got that upset.... two measly guns and a platoon of grunts...I mean good lord! I've blown up a lot more than that before and nobody's ever called in an air strike..... You'd think we had stolen their best looking butt...or slept with their virgin son......,or something important."

    The Crow approaches the pick up area, coming in low to avoid detection. As it approaches the ships sensor detect three heavy freighters lifting off from the abandoned starport climbing at a rapid rate escorted by two frigates of unknown type.
  The Ships sensors also detect that the frigates active sensors lock onto the crow a it comes in. However they continue on their escape trajectory without leaving formation with the freighters. climbing swiftly out of the atmosphere and beyond the Crow's detection range.
   Without further incident the Crow safely touches down to pick up the second team. allowing the crew to reassemble and prepare for the next phase of their plan.

Conrad came in right behind the crow.  Watching the three vessels take off, Conrad ponders for a moment where they were heading off to in such a hurry but it was obvious that it was of no concern since the Crow wasnt opening fire.  After the Crow lands, Conrad and Tiny land near the back of the Crow waiting for everyone and whatever else was to come.

"Aziza should know that you were injected in that fight Rhic.  Otherwise, she might think you've been mind controlled too or worse... were hiding something.  She'll likely have something foul to inject you with that will hurt alot but ensure that it wasn't something like Greys that you were shot full of."  Grey Ooze was a particularly gross nanite weapon but even nano-bombs were a problem if they got far in your system before going up.  "...The joys of unknown viscous fluids eh?"