Glaring ahead, Linus gunned the GEV.

It lurched somewhat, as he fought the controls against the uneven terrain of a battle-torn compound, a bit different from nice smooth water. Hopefully the somewhat uneven progress would make it harder to shoot at!

Cursing under his breath, Linus pursued an erratic course towards the main gate.

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 59):

At least the hovercraft didn't crash and burn. Linus had some difficulty navigating out of the hangar and onto the road. Then they started to make their way down the slight incline to the gate, slower than Linus would have liked!

Ken clung to the seat as the hovercraft lurched and swayed down the ramp.  He scanned the area ahead of them for enemies of either side as they headed toward the gate.

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 61):

Neva tried to stay low and kept some of the others close by so she could help keep them in the vehicle also.  She then noticed that she had been holding her breath and had to concentrate on breathing normally in case they had to make a run for it on foot.

The hovercraft bounced back and forth down the trail, managing to not get hung up on a tree or bush but not really picking up speed even though they were on a downward slope. No one seemed to be firing at them, the gate guards were hunkered down in their bunkers and dugouts, attention focused to the front.

As they got to about 50m from the gate they could see the road narrowed somewhat between two log bunkers on either side that normally functioned as gate houses. A metal pole was lowered which might stop a ground vehicle, rolls of barbed wire were stretched across to stop foot intruders from penetrating the double-fencelines.

Ken examines the situation and then yells to the others.  "Gun it as fast as you can Linus and we'll break through the barrier.  We need to use our surprise to get out of here.  Everyone else duck down!"

"Right!" gasped Linus, aiming the GEV for the barrier and attempting to increase speed.

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 65):

The roar of the GEV's engines increased in volume and pitch as Linus poured on the throttle. Their being on a slight downward slope helped some, too. It was a wide gate (not big enough for 2 GEV's to pass side-by-side, but two ground lorries could.

They almost made it scot free, but the right skirt clipped a concrete barrier and they bounced, spinning a little counter-clockwise, finally slamming into the gap and halting with a tremendous crash! Everyone who wasn't buckled in was jolted around. Thankfully, the mercs manning the gate area had no idea what was going on. A few looked up at them out the firing slits in disbelief.

After a few seconds, Linus got them straightened out and they rolled over the barricades and rolls of barbed wire. A couple men ran after them, yelling "hey, wait for us, dammit!" thinking it was some of their own trying to break out and escape.

"Sorry!" said Linus, who belatedly realised he'd forgotten to strap in and stayed in position mostly by hanging on to the controls. Once moving again, he accelerated away from the gate.

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 67):

Walker hung on tight for the ride.

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 67):

Neva was glad that she had made sure people were secure for Linus driving wasn't the best but then neither were their circumstances.  She continued to hang on as much as she could and let the others do the fighting.  She didn't want to be tossed out of the raft.  That would not be good.

Ken hang on for dear life as they crashed through the gates.  As they made it though he shook off the effects of the impact and grinned at Linus.  "Good work!  Let's get the hell out of here.  Head for the lake."  He looks back; "Loraine, Neva?  Is everyone ok in the back?  How are the wounded?"
This message was last edited by the player at 08:07, Tue 05 Feb 2013.

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 70):

Neva turned her head and looked at her charges.  "I'll answer that after we get away.  It's not like this is a good place to stop and see to their needs.  Just try to keep us in the raft and don't tip us over and we'll deal with the rest later."

A couple autorifles opened up at them from the tree line off to the right, someone on the government side obviously saw them making a run for it. Bullets bounced off the Kevlar skirts and then rattled off the metal side of the passenger compartment. Everyone there hit the deck. No rockets or recoilless fire was directed at them.

The tough fabric must have been damaged by the rough run over the barricades and razor wire but was still holding up when they blew down the ramp. They hit the water with a tremendous splash and jolt. They were in a kind of shallow bay (perhaps a silted-over lake port) and needed to get through a narrow reach and around a headland to escape.

"We're mostly fine back here, I think!" replied Lorain.

As they skimmed over the water, those up front could see a clearly Mirayn (4-armed) figure running along the shore of the headland. He was waving wildly at them!

Linus spared the Miriyan a glance, seeing if he recognised him.

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 73):

It was their guide, Stanley! He obviously recognised Linus and Ken through the front windshield, as he waved even harder. "Hey! Hey! Come pick me up!"

Linus will swing by to get him.

"Hurry up and jump aboard, Stanley - we're getting out of here!"

In reply to Linus Spruance (msg # 75):

They swung close to the shore, and Stanley waded out. He protected his face from the backwash with one hand, using the 3 others to climb up. "Thanks! The mercenaries, they just killed everyone else! It was horrible!"

Ken leaned over and helped Stanley climb aboard.  He growled at his news.  "Damn mercs, bastards.  They're getting theirs from the government forces.  I wonder how the hell they knew to attack this place.  Obviously we must have led them here somehow."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 77):

Stanley seemed to agree. "Makes sense. At camp site, was left for dead. Had short time to look for useful gear. Not much left. But found what looked like transmitter hidden in Harmon Jael's kit. Had taken bullet. Looked advanced, powerful. Was not able to see settings or take before mercs returned! Found nothing else, barely escaped with life. Followed them here, look for you."

He looked almost ashamed at surviving where his friends died, but with non-humans it was difficult to tell.

Harmon Jael hadn't survived the Merc's attack. So while this looked suspicious there was really no way to determine if he was some kind of mole.

Ken shook his head.  "The only reason for the transmitter would be to report on our position.  If he was working for the mercs then he should have survived their attack.  I'd guess he was government and was helping them stay on top of Loraine in case she struck it big."  He smiles.  "I'm glad you made it out alive Stanley."

In reply to Ken Jenkins (msg # 79):

Putting a hand on Ken's shoulder Stanley replied, "I am saddened at all of our friends killed by these bad, bad, men. But I am happy for having found you!"

The hovercraft skimmed out into the darkness of the lake. Behind them, the jungle swallowed up the red and orange glow of combat, save for the strings of tracers floating dreamily upwards.

Not more than a minute after leaving the headland, they could see the running lights of a helicopter running along the shoreline. A searchlight snapped on, it was obvious someone was looking for them, starting with the shoreline nearest the buried and drowned city.

Ken reached up and grasped Stanley's hand.  "I share your grief at the loss of good people of both races lost.  It seems that vengeance is being brought down upon them."  He points to the help;  "Now we need to get out of here.  I don't think we particularly want to be found by the government."

"I think it advisable not to be 'found' by either side right now," said Linus, steering away from the helicoper.