In reply to Lorain Messandi (msg # 33):

Neva looked out and nodded.  "It's not a good situation but our situation in here isn't going to get any better.  Best not to think too much on it and just do it.  Want me to try and go?"

Neva wasn't sure if she had the right skill set to pull it off, but she did know the streets pretty good and getting out of one firefight versus a gang shooting, well perhaps four gang shootings with how many were there, did have some similarities.

Linus looked rather lost.

"This is outwith my experience. Just tell me what to do."

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 35):

"We run, zig, then zag.  Oh, and don't get hit, at all costs" Blake gives a grim smile to Linus as he readies himself.

"I'll make a point of that," said Linus, managing a weak smile in return.

In reply to Blake Renfield (msg # 36):

Neva smiled as Blake explained.  "Don't forget to try and make yourself as small of a target as possible but not too small that it hinders your running."

In reply to Neva Alexovna Morozova (msg # 38):

"So... we have Ken, Blake, Neva and myself going here? Okay."

She looked out towards the middle area. Mortars were still landing there, and the incoming fire from helicopters was intensifying. Something was burning, sending up billows of smoke into the flare-lit sky, and there were secondary explosions going off.

"Some of us will probably get hit doing this. It's going to be bad. If we're going to go, let's do it!"

Ken shook his head.  "I don't like it.  All the government fire is pointed right at the air raft hangar. Our vehicles are somewhere most likely.  Maybe we can find them in the other buildings and avoid charging the trenches."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 40):

They were located in a group of sheds and warehouses in the belt of semi-cleared forest midway between the inner compound and south gate. The prefab buildings (some quite large) were on wide plascrete pads raised about 30cm from the ground. Long shallow ramps led from in front of the warehouses to the dirt road. It reminded them a little of the pads, ramps and "taxiways" at the hoverport in Val Preszar.

Looking down the dirt road leading south, they could see the black of the lake's waters. The road seemed to lead straight into the water.

Ken examined the situation. "It looks like the bad guys use hover craft as well from the ramps in front of the building.  If we could find hovercraft in the buildings around here we could escape straight out south to the lake."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 42):

Indeed, searching the warehouses and sheds, they found one of the tomb robbers' own craft, a large passenger vehicle. There was not a lot of time to check, it seemed the survival locker had some supplies and weapons (carbine, shotgun).

The firing seemed to be concentrating on the centre area for now but it was clear time was running out.

Ken called to the others.  "This will have to do. Get aboard, lay low and let's crash the gate.  We'll flee back toward the coast.  Lorain, Talia get the wounded aboard.  Professor you help them.  The rest of you make a quick check of the warehouse to see if there is anything useful to take.  Lastly, who can drive this damn thing?"

"I can make a go at it if nobody else is good at driving," said Linus, scanning the area for anything worth grabbing.

Ken nods to Linus.  "Have at it Linus!  Go check the vehicle and get it started while we load the wounded and whatever else we might find." Ken moves to the locker on the vehicle, grabs the shotgun and readies it.  He tosses the rifle to Thomas.

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 46):

Neva nodded.  "I'm ready to go too.  Want me to help move people or help defend with the guns."

Ken glanced at Neva.  "See what you can find quickly in the warehouse Neva.  You're fast and clever.  The rest can load up the wounded and get the hell out of here."

"Right..."

Linus went over to the vehicle, hopped in to the driver position and fired it up, getting a feel for its controls.

Even though they had searched the warehouse before and managed to scavage some things, Neva repeated her search.  Looking into the areas that she knew things could be hidden in plain sight and just not everybody would see.  It was possible, although she wasn't sure how probable, that they had too many eyes looking before.  Perhaps everybody thought the other person had covered that area whereas nobody really had.

She slunked down a little into herself, a common trick and habit of people from the streets, and started to search again.

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 49):

The engines started with a roar and the skirts inflated with a whoosh. Talia and Lorain started to load people into the back of the GEV, along with whatever few bits of gear and tools were in the shed.

"All aboard!" called Linus, beginning to plot a route out of here that avoided the worst of the firing. He waited, ready to gun the engines once everyone was inside.

Ken paused a moment to make sure that everyone was aboard or heading that way.  "Neva!" he called out, "load'em up!" As the machine rose to life Ken moved over to the door and prepared to open it.

"Rush the gates Linus.  Everyone else stay down if you don't have a weapon.  If you are armed then fire ahead to help clear the way.  We get into the woods and strike away from the coast to break pursuit."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 53):

Before loading up, Neva found an advanced medical kit. Score!

"Got it!" said Linus. He looked round, picking a line straight towards the gate and getting ready to open the throttles wide.

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 53):

Neva grinned and held up the medical kit for Ken and Linus to see as she started to load up everything.  "Found something...a med kit.  That was it I'm afraid.  We had pretty much found everything else earlier."  Neva, not having been given back a weapon yet, climbed in and helped get everybody else situated.

All on.  Let's make this happen."

"Hold tight and keep down!" called Linus, then rushing the gate as directed.

At least, he was hanging on, keeping down didn't work when you needed to see where you are going!

At Neva's cry of victory Ken gave her a thumbs up.  "Good work Neva!  We can use that."  Then Ken opened the door and then swung up into the cab as Linus gunned the craft out of the warehouse and around toward the gate.  He took whatever cover he could and watched with his gun for danger.  "Go! Go! Go!"