In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg # 232):

The coyote whined.

It seemed like this was more a general dislike, not sensing a threat.

 Rowan nods in understanding
"Understood friend we will walk the stairs".
Turns to the group, "sorry I misunderstood trickster he says no threat, only he does not like boxes"

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg # 234):

Jane could understand Trickster's dislike of elevators.  The "box" was easy to ambush people in.  The stairs were also but at least it gave a little more room to try and escape and survive.  Even running the gauntlet on stairs was easier than running around in circles in a box.

"Stairs it is then."

Peter shook his head. "Let Rowan and Trickster take the stairs." He gave Jane and Rowan a meaningful look, and then glanced at Simon with a tilted head...hopefully conveying that with Simon's health being up and down so much it was likely better for him to take the elevator. Peter guided Simon towards the elevators.

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg # 236):

Jane nodded at Peter.  "That sounds good.  Split it up so if anybody is caught in a trap it's not everybody.  Plus they can do security detail for an exit route if needed.  So Simon, you and me in the box?"

Simon chuckled. "Don't forget Peter! That Gibson fellow seems to have wandered off. Yes, let's go."

Part of the posse took the elevators from the basement.

Rowan, Trickster and Jane took the stairs. The fire stairs from the basement led up into the five-story complex. They passed a pair of security guarding the ground floor fire exits. After their ID was examined they were allowed to continue up.

Everyone eventually met up on the fifth floor. The meeting was in the City Hall's chamber of deputies. It was formerly a conference room, lavishly appointed, and large enough to hold all fifty delegates.

Refreshments were served. Soon, Ike, Mayor of Junktown, gaveled the meeting to order.

More rounds of speechifying commenced.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:26, Sat 22 Nov 2014.

Bored, Samuel sought out his friend, Brother Edgar.

"Yo, Bro. Let's hit the bar and catch up."

In reply to Samuel Gibson (msg # 240):

Brother Edgar leaned over to Simon.

"Yes. I don't think there's a bar. But there's a cafeteria and a buffet table downstairs. Simon, Gibson has a radio. Contact us if needed."

With Simon's nod, he and Samuel left the conference room.

Dakota watches the delegates stream into the confrence room from his position just outside the doorway, he takes his mass of hair and begins to tie into a pony tail so that if trouble starts its out of his face. "I should git ma'self ah sweet mohawk when this mess is all done." He says to no one in particular as he pulls out his guitar and begins to strum a tune quietly singing a strange tune "Something is coming....into the edge of our awareness...can you feel it?...."

Vundra stands a few feet behind Dakota while he begins singing. Vundra is still not focused and his eyes are pointed to the ceiling and his fingers tapping the the nearby wall. As the song start he look down and decide that he dont want to be stuck in the room with the delegates, he can ask for the conclusion of the meeting from someone later. So he headed to the cafferteria to finish his little project he started last night.

 Rowan with trickster fades to the corner, watching quietly

Smoker also finds a wall to prop up as the talking begins.

Peter gave Simon a small smile, and then it was gone. Riding in an elevator was still a bit of a treat. Then the gathering and the meeting and the speeches once more. Peter stayed silent but did take some of the refreshments as he listened and watched over Simon.

The meeting progressed past speeches, and the delegates broke up into smaller groups to talk and share concerns. This was the first time in over a decade that communities came together on any but a local level. If cooperation was going to happen it was going to start like this, simply meeting and talking.

Of the posse, Smoker, Peter, Jane, Rowan (and Trickster) were in the conference hall on the fifth floor. Dakota was outside in the corridor, while Vundra, Gibson and Brother Edgar secured the cafeteria.

Where Dakota was sitting outside the main door, he could see four heavily-armed MPs with him in the corridor. Two were stationed on either side of the doors, the other pair were patrolling up and down the hall, they paused, then entered the stairwell at the end of the hall.

Dakota put his guitar down disappointed at his lack of practice, "Well shit th't was some crap ole sing'ng!" He says with a laugh as he picks up his rifle, Melon Splitter, and tries to act like a professional security guard. "Ya guys heard any good jokes lately, or ya'll business?" Dakota asks one of the MPs.

The meeting progressed past speeches, and the delegates broke up into smaller groups to talk and share concerns. This was the first time in over a decade that communities came together on any but a local level. If cooperation was going to happen it was going to start like this, simply meeting and talking.

 Of the posse, Smoker, Peter, Jane, Rowan (and Trickster) were in the conference hall on the fifth floor

Rowan watches committing to memory the people talking and those hanging back.
to see who will not talk and those who avoid certain groups

In reply to Dakota Jack Cardinal (msg # 248):

One of the MPs, a woman, cracked a smile. "You are terrible with that thing! Not all business, no. But no jokes... wait, what was that?"

Sensing something was amiss she unslung her assault rifle and started aiming it at the stairwell where the two other MPs disappeared a moment earlier. The 2 MPs had reappeared, but both were carrying HI Blazer SMGs, equipped with suppressors. These type weapons were only issued to Combine forces, definitely not Junkyard militia.

"Halt! Identify yourselves!"

Inside the conference room, Jane heard thumping and noise from overhead. It sounded like something was happening on the floor above them. Trickster also looked at the ceiling, whining.

Downstairs in the cafeteria, Vundra was engrossed in his project and didn't notice anything was amiss.

Smoker, still propping the wall up, looked up incuriously. Someone being careless moving the furniture?

Dakota smiles like a fat kid in a candy store as the two out of place guards, "YER ALL GONNA FUCK'N DIE!" he yells as he smoothly drops into a crouching position and opens fire on the closest rouge guardsmen with Melon Splitter. He is going to guard this door until his dying breath, this is what Dakota has been waiting for since New Mexico.

OCC: If I can, I will also make an Overawe against both of those guards in addition to blasting one. I'll try to give covering fire so that the real MPs can get their shit together so to speak.

Actions: Hip Shooting my Winchester twice at each fake MP (if I can)
Win. M1894 LA Rifle    13/15 shots (after shooting), 2 Speed, 1 RoF, 4d8 DMG & 20 Range
This message was last edited by the player at 02:39, Sat 29 Nov 2014.

In reply to Dakota Jack Cardinal (msg # 252):

Downstairs in the cafeteria, a worried-looking Schaeffer strode up to Vundra. He was dressed in his battlesuit, carrying his M4 but had an enormous rifle slung on his shoulder. He addressed Vundra, Gibson and Brother Edgar.

"Something is happening, I see some of the perimeter guards are missing. Come with me now, if there is an attack on the conference rooms we can't do anything about it here!"

Hurrying towards the stairwell entrance, he motioned for the others to follow.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 01:11, Wed 03 Dec 2014.

In reply to COL Kurt L. Schaeffer (msg # 253):

"He's right, let's get moving!"

Robes billowing, Brother Edgar followed.

In reply to COL Kurt L. Schaeffer (msg # 253):

"Hell yeah, let's get it on!"

Drawing his plasma pistol, he readied it for action. When powering up it gave off a noticeable hum that rose in pitch. The clear plastic weapon glowed green from within. "Ready to rock!"

The corridor was 60 feet long, with the double doors to the conference room at the halfway. The ends of the corridor, from Dakota's perspective, ended at two stairwells (1 at either end) left and right at T-junctions. (That is, if you face down the corridor towards either end you would see the stairwell exit in the middle of the T-junction.)

There were planters, chairs and benches on both sides, providing some minimal cover. There was also an empty executive boardroom across from the occupied one at his back (where the meeting was taking place).

The 2 Combine infiltrators quickly went down under the fire of Dakota and the two MPs near the conference entrance. As they slumped down, the fire doors were slammed open off their hinges, clanging off the corridor walls. In through the gaping hole stomped a metal monstrosity. It was a Combine automaton, a gleaming steel skeletal figure carrying a 20mm chain gun! The chain-gun spat fire, blowing away the 2 MPs. Their body armour didn't even slow the 20mm light armour-piercing rounds down. It then turned to face Dakota, infernal red eyes glowing as it locked on to target!

Inside the conference room, Jane gave a warning and indicated something was on the third floor above them. At that point they could hear the firing right outside the door, and then the ceiling blew downwards, filling the room with smoke and dust. Down dropped another automaton, this one bigger than the usual Combine terror unit, and more figured dropped down as well.

The conference room filled with billowing tear gas. There was mass confusion (and coughing) as the delegates scrambled for cover (mainly the solid board room tables), those that were allowed weapons drew them and prepared to resist.

OOC: Everyone's previous Quickness rolls stand, except for Dakota. He may roll again.

Vundra quickly puts all the parts back into the bag before grabbing his Flasher and connect the gun to his armor."Let hurry over the.the.then." he seems to be a little shaky.