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| - Governmental Cavern - New Luna - VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV Quiet but bustling, this large cavern is filled with dozens of buildings, all placed around the edge of said cavern. Large patrols of militiamen make rounds here, focusing on the Council-related facilities as well as a large, heavy-doored passageway. A painted-blue booth seems to recruit for the planet's militia. A few benches and street vendors dot the center of the cavern, and a wide open cave mouth leads outdoors to Plaindid Street. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Abdul nods at Norton, grabbing his rifle and making sure the weapon is loaded. He does a very quick equipment check and then begins to move out behind the man. The rest of the soldiers, about fifty in all, follow along. Abdul equips Assault Rifle. Hondon shrugs, Following Abdul and the others. Nortons voice and brisk pace didn't leave room for any more talk. Norton and the rest are moving with a purpose out of the area. Hondon follows Jared joins the rest of the group in the Government Cavern, now decked out in a military uniform, and carrying his new rifle with him. His gaze scans the room briefly, a little frown on his face. Independence Harbor - New Luna - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The land and sea meet uncertainly, salty blue ocean water giving way to thick hummocky estuary mud in a whisper of spent waves. The silt-laden waters of the Washington River snake out of the muck, pouring a fertile brown stain across the ocean. Sea birds with enormous wingspans wheel and cry like calligraphy against the sky. The long light wooden finger of the Independence Docks stretches out through a clear stretch of ocean with several small boats tied along it. It leads to a broad wooden platform of roughly split logs that's set on a patch of relatively dry ground and tethered against the lift of the tide. Upon this are some few wooden sheds and coils of rope, half-repaired boats and sailcloth. Crisp ocean scents struggle for dominance with brown organic decay and the smell of fresh wood. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Once on the docks, the Lunite captain speaks up again. He says, "All right, boys, you know the drill." With this his squad of marines leave. Then, Norton says, "All right, raise your hand if you can sail a sail boat." Goldenfur arrives from Landing Pad - Greenville. Goldenfur has arrived. Aleksei arrives from Landing Pad - Greenville. Aleksei has arrived. Hondon looks around to see if anyone raises their hand. Norton is standing at the docks with about fifty soldiers, including Hondon, Jared, and Abdul. Jared shakes his head in response, he too glancing over towards the others. Goldenfur comes in, Aleksei following him closely behind, as soon as he sees the soldiers, he approach them smiling, crutch on the left hand. "Excuse-me NLM soldiers?" "Yeah?" Norton asks Goldenfur. A few hands are raised among the rank and file. He motions them off to the side. Goldenfur look around, and then he asks "I am seeking for the person in charge... I am Goldenfur Gadgettweaker, Amethyst Operations engineer..." Abdul looks at Goldenfur with an arched eyebrow. "That's the Captain. Either you shut up and help us or you can leave. Know how to sail about, either of you?" Aleksei heads over just behind Goldenfur, his eyes squinting as the sun rises. Not used to thoses from the looks of things. He looks over the Militia soldiers as Goldenfur talks to their kapitan, but he offers comment as yet. At least until Abdul speaks. "Sorry, if you mean boats..I'm barely able to fly rockhoppers, never mind sailing vessels. Actually Goldenfur and I are trying to find the starship Teamhair. Is it on Hancock Station, because I do not see it here on Landing pad, yes?" "Yeah, I'm the captain. Answers would be good," says Norton, not bothering to wait on them. He points out some random people to include Jared, Abdul, and Hondon. "You are with me. The rest of you who can sail, fall in on a boat. Gather as many people on said boat as you can until we're all accounted for. A sail boat, jerkoff." He tells a soldier who had started a line at the ferry. He tells Aleksei, "You boys are crap out of luck. Get off my planet." Heidi arrives from Landing Pad - Greenville. Heidi has arrived. Norton is standing about with the scout platoon and the other PCs. The scouts are forming lines by sailboats. Heidi was selected to be on Nort's boat. Jared grumbles a bit and nods his head towards Norton, "We should get moving then." He says, glancing at the group of soldiers loading onto a boat. He moves to join Norton. Goldenfur continues looking to Norton, then he say "And... Also, we came to help, I mean, I have a unarmed and unshielded research ship, that is loaded with some dead phyrrians to get reverse engineering..." then he point to Aleksei and say "And I think that he can fight, he was a Kommisar before ungstir exploded, I rescued him..." Hondon nods at the Captain, ready to go whenever. Heidi runs over from the ridge near the Harbor back to the ships. "Nobody yet sir." She calls out as she returns, rifle in hand. "If you wanna help better hurry up. We're not waiting for you." Abdul, far from his normal politeness is what could be called an asshole. "Let's get on the boat." He pulls a smoke out and pokes it inbetween his lips, lighting it a bit shakily. "That's great," Norton tells Heidi. "You're on my boat." He looks back to Goldenfur as the other ships prepare to depart the harbor, unlashing hoisers and all that nautical nonsense. He says to the Demarian, "The ship ain't good for nothing. You want to come with us to live like heroes on a God forsaken island, get in the boat. You don't. Get back in your ship and fly away." He turns and starts moving towards the Pride of Bacchus. "I might as well sink that slimey turd burglar's ship for shooting me." Goldenfur stares at Norton for some time, do not believed how someone can have so much pride, and he says "I can take the group to where you want, if there are a way to land there..." Aleksei curses in Mierznykovy. Then he turns to Goldenfur. "These are soldiers. If they are anything like Ungstir militia, they have no use for unarmed *and* unshielded ships. I don't know, maybe we should try Hancock...or we can do what..I guess that's the Kapitan there..we can do what *he's* saying" "Hancock is gone. Either get on the boat now or get out. We won't have any ships landing where we're staying." Abdul repeats, shaking his head and puffing eagirly on the smoke as if it'll be his last. "We don't want the ship fingerprint on our island," says Norton. "Or we'd fly our own ship there. Ships are easy to find from on high. People slightly less so. Make up your minds." He motions people and other beings to start boarding the Bacchus. High in the sky above, one could make out the streaks of friction exhausting off large starships - six of them - descending through New Luna's atmosphere. As they get closer, it becomes apparent that they are warships, boxy and bristling with weapons - but none of them looks exactly the same as the other. Goldenfur try to think fast, then suddenly he asks "Can we take the dead phyrrian there? I mean, so we can work on it and know how to defeat it?" Hondon starts heading towards the Bacchus, figuring that everyone else will get on board eventually. Aleksei curses once again in Mierznykovy. "Hooping great! I guess..you want to go with them?" He gives his 2 kopek opinion to Norton. "Better heop those machines can't swim!" Heidi climbs aboard the ship with the resto her squad. The two none Militia for a moment then starts starts to run to the Pride once the ships are spotted. Jared glances up towards the sky, "Like I said, let's get the fuck outta here." He says, grumbling a little bit as he looks towards Norton. Abdul looks up high. Sees ships coming into orbit. Frowns, throws his smoke into the water. "SIR! Incoming!" He points at the 6 streaks. Hondon stops to watch the ships enter the atmosphere. "Scatter," says Norton. The poor slobs who had spent so much time waiting on the rest to finish their idle chatter are more than smart enough to unass their boats. Some go for a swim. Others start sprinting up the dock. Norton starts tearing off down the beach towards the river. The descending Phyrrian ships start dumping lots of smaller things out of their bellies. First, units that anyone who was on Ungstir yesterday would recognize - the sappers. Dozens of them. Second, about two hundred automated fighters that angle toward Greenville. "My Gott" Heidi mutters as she sees the ships unloading. The rifle is heft and she starts to does as she's told scatter. Hondon sees Norton start to sprint, and decides it would be wise to follow his lead. Jared glances towards the sky and just shakes his head a little bit, he takes off after Norton, heading for the beach muttering unpleasant things under his breath. Abdul's first instinct is to say something in Arabic to himself. Then he takes the smart route and follows along his CO, pack bobbing up and down and rifle held closely. Long distance to Tiana: Jared is so dead with this lot. :P Heh. Aleksei also squints up and spots the ships heading in. "Shit! Getting too old for this! Ok, Goldenfur..let's follow the Kapitan!' The scarred Kommissar tugs on Goldenfur's shoulder in Norton's direction. Goldenfur put the crutch on his back, and start to follow Norton around using his three remaing limbs, then he scream "Sappers! They are the nanite launchers, take them out first!" Heidi is still running hard after Norton despite the pack and the rifle cradled in her arms. The Waldheimer glances over her shoulder from time to time at the ships but keeps huffing away after her CO. All of the sappers - *all* of them - pounce on the Seek and You Shall Find. They unleash their nanite infections as they swarm the craft. Several of them scramble into the airlock and vanish inside. They re-emerge with the sapper corpse that Goldenfur had scavenged off Ungstir. People who roll Perception at -2 with at least a Fair result will notice what appears to be a homing device glowing on the dead sapper. The ohter sappers start scrambling onto neighboring ships while the fighters target the Seek and You Shall Find. Plasma cannons open fire, seeking and finding the ship that was carrying the stolen Phyrrian. Jared doesn't see -shit-, since he's busy running for whatever hideout Norton's got in mind, huffing away behind the Marine. "Shut the hell up," says Norton as his arms and legs (he has all of them, maybe pointing to a finally honed survival instinct) in the direction of the river, giving only the briefest of glances to the sky. His weapon thuds against his chest as he runs. He doesn't bother with zig zagging yet, concentrating soley on speed. The chaos on the landing pad doesn't seem to bother him. "They're going after the pad. Keep moving. Keep quiet. If you yell again, you crippled kitten, I will gut you and make you into guitar strings." Abdul doesn't say anything. He doesn't /need/ to say anything. He just runs. Hondon rolls his Perception with a -2 modifier. Use a feat (+help feats) to try to overcome the impossible. The result of the roll is Terrible-1 (-4). Goldenfur nods, and keep following norton quiely, he notices that while they are destroying his ship, they can run to whatever direction norton wants. Aleksei curses at Goldenfur as he sees the sappers getting out their late komrade and notices the homing device. "Great, are those machines gone, but seems there's homing device *leading* them here..good job! Ah well, water under bridge now, yes? Let's keep going!" Al follows Goldenfur, who's following Norton, who's going whereever he's going. Hondon runs as fast as he can after the captain, telling himself "I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die!" Anyone who got Fair or better on that roll noticed that the dead Phyrrian taken from the Seek and You Shall Find had a homing device on it. The sappers finish disabling all the ships on the ground and then scamper off toward the town proper while the fighters zoom overhead, laying waste to buildings in town. Great mushroom clouds of fire and smoke roil skyward as the onslaught continues. The six warships, meanwhile, slow to a stop and hover above the beach, about 100 feet in the air. The carrier bellies slide open again. Infantry bots start spilling out. "Ah hell," sighs Norton almost peacefully as he lets his legs go out from under him. He lands on his belly with a crash. He rolls to his side to bring the rifle out from under him, and he starts crawling towards cover, wishing himself deeper in the sand as he drags himself along. "They're going to pin us down till their air buddies finish wrecking the town. Then, we're all going to die. So what we're going to do is. Shoot them and, hopefully, get to the science complex where we can die in the shade. Yeah? Good plan. I thought so." He starts shooting, explaining things probably just to give his mouth something to do, not that the soldiers need to hear it, "Work with a buddy. One man shoot, the other man move. If it becomes painfully obvious we can't cut through these 'bot jokers to get to our shady dying spot, well, we'll just die in the sun." Abdul falls to a knee and motions to Heidi. "Take a shot, Wulfe. Overwatch ,overwatch! I'll go find cover closer." And so he does that, getting back up and sprinting to the nearest cover. Hondon falls down next to the captain, wondering what he is suppose to do. "Hey, Captain, what should I do? I don't have any weapons." he asks. Goldenfur have no idea of what to do, in fact he decides to do like Norton, he stops, land on his belly, and draw a pistol with his right paw, but he does not start shooting right away, he just keep looking to what he would shoot. Heidi nods and hits the sand. Her rifle is leveled and she looks through the scope. A line is muttered in german the trigger is pulled back. "Get going Abdul!" Jared grumbles a bit at that, "Neither option sounds real frikken appealing." He murmurs, moving to duck down behind some cover as well, "Where's the science bunker?" he asks. Aleksei gets his pistol part-way out of his holster and briefly flicks a switch oh it..anyone who notices this will see that the pistol is now set to the 'kill' position. He gets next to Goldenfur. "Big cat, if you've got a weapon, I suggest you get it out *now*!" Thne he notices Gold with his pistol. "Nevermind..but..suggest you put it on kill, like I did, see." Al gestures to his now drawn pistol. Like Goldy, he doesn't shoot right off the bat, just waiting to look for the targets. Two dozen Phyrrian infantry bots fire braking jets as they land on the beach. The pistols, rifles, and knives affixed to their appendages click into place as the mechanoids start scanning the area for sentient organic targets. They start walking toward the river while the fighters continue pounding the city. And then the tank bots start falling from the sky. It's about this time that dozens of panicked New Lunites - some of them badly burned and bleeding - come shrieking from the spaceport and onto the beach, just in time to be mowed down by plasma fire from the Phyrrians. Goldenfur in fact, have two weapons with him, he hands to Hondon his pulse pistol, and grab a midviet pistol from his backpack, he promply start to charge his pistol, for now, on the kill position. Then he sees what happened to the fleeing lunites and suggests to norton "We should run... Really..." Norton rolls over again and pulls out a stun gun which he tosses to Hondon. "Point and shoot, bud. Get back to me when you need a cell. That or take it off a dead buddy. Be resourceful." He tells Jared, "In the direction we were going. Why is it everyone but us has cool stuff? We're lucky to give our guys stun guns." Abdul arrives at his form of rudimentary cover, which is a big rock. Sticking his assault rifle over it, he fires a burst at the enemy to try and surpress them. "GO! HEIDI!" Norton gives Stun Gun to Hondon Hondon picks up both weapons, looking from one to the other, and decides to go with the stun gun, figuring that it might mess with the robot's electronics. The shots fired by Abdul miss wildly, but both Norton and Heidi connect with their shots, each hammering through the chest of a Phyrrian infantry bot and striking its internal power core. So, it's down to only 22 infantry bots and the descending 15 tank bots and the six warships hovering above, which lock their guns on the source of the weapon fire. Abdul, Heidi, Norton - you will need to pass Reaction and Agility rolls with Fair or Better. Mod: 0, since you should expect this. "God be with us, we've stirred up the nest now." Abdul says with a severe look on his face. He grabs his smoke grenade and pulls the pin out, releasing it from his hand as it arcs towards the Phyrrians approaching and lands near them. Less than a second before it leaves his grip, though, the Phyrrian warships are onto him. ZZZZPT! A massive green plasma bolt is fired directly onto the Corporal. He doesn't just evaporate or fall down dead... the plasma actually melts his skin and flesh off of his bones as he screams in a sickening manner. That is, until he can scream no more. The mangled remains of Abdul Ramadi fall into the sand. Belatedly, the smoke grenade goes off and starts to obscure the approaching bots from the organics. "Move, move, move," yells Norton as they start to take fire and Abdul gets crisped. Sand sprays beneath his feet as he charges another five yards before diving down once more and firing. The sand of his previous firing position gets melted into glass as the Phyrrian ship fires. He doesn't pay that or the dead corporal too much attention. "Move, move, move. Shoot and move!" Norton rolls his Projectile_Rifle with a 1 modifier. Use a feat (+help feats) to try to overcome the impossible. The result of the roll is Legendary+1 (5). Heidi lets a small gasp escapes her when she sees her comrade go down. "Gott have mercy." She murmurs as she squeezes the trigger once more and starts to try to run again. Goldenfur just stuck the ungstiri pistol back on his holster, and start to move toward the direction that he was told to move, using all his three limbs. Heidi rolls her Projectile_Rifle with a 0 modifier. Use a feat (+help feats) to try to overcome the impossible. The result of the roll is Legendary+3 (7). Aleksei quietly curses in Mierznykovy as he notices the refugees being cut down. He notices the stun guns being flung about. He quickly tells Goldenfur. "Maybe try stun after all. Might work." He puts his hand on the pistol switch, ready to switch to stun if need be. He still watchs. He mutters: "Hate to say this, but vi must come closer, machines. Let's see your eyes!" He grins slightly as the number goes down..slightly..only 22 soldiers and 15 tankbots yet to hit dirtside. Then he curses as Abdul buys a ticket to see the farm. He taps Goldy on the shoulder. "Time to go, again!" He follows Goldenfur, who follows Norton, who's going whereever he's still going. Hondon gets up as fast as he can, trying to keep up with the captain. He tries to aim at the smoke behind him, awkwardling shooting off a random shot. As the warships start pounding their position, and the smoke goes off, Jared mutters, "Fuck this." He pushes himself up from the sands and sprinting down for the river a good distance as the NLM soldiers start shooting at the Phyrrians, doing his best to keep a low profile as he moves for cover. Norton is rolling to the side to get up as the warship fires again. He doesn't really care about the tanks heading for the city as his goal is the river. He blinks as he runs five more meters through the smoke before tossing himself on the sand and shooting some more. The second after the trigger is pulled back the woman is up and running again. She is about half way to a new fire postion when a blast erupts a few feet in front of her. Her ears ring silently and the NLM uniform is a lot worse for wear. "Oh gott." Heidi murmurs and scrambles to her feet once more and grabs her rifle. A prayer is said in german and she is off towards Norton. "Gott.... Abdul is watching..." Norton is rolling to the side to get up as the warship fires again. He is signed but not fried chicken nugget style. He doesn't really care about the tanks heading for the city as his goal is the river. With the smoke behind him, he runs five more meters before tossing himself to the sand again and firing. He's heading for the river which is away from the 'bots. (repose for clarity, yo) Goldenfur keep running toward the bunker that norton said that existed, he really do not want to get tracked and shot by a warship, in fact he do his best to use the color of his fur and the color of the sand to try to not attract attention of the phyrrians. Jared takes a couple seconds behind cover, glancing just briefly back behind him and watching the Phyrrian warships pounding the positions before he hops up again and hauls balls down towards the river, muttering a little under his breath but focusing most of his energy on sprinting towards the water. Hondon picks himself up from the ground again after an ungraceful dive for cover, running in the same direction as Heidi and the Captain, the stun pistol gripped tightly in his hand, unused. Aleksei is just behind the running cat, heading over towards the river and, with luck, the bunker that's around there. An occasional curse, either in Russian or Standard, is uttered out loud. The twenty remaining infantry bots emerge through the smoke roiling on the beach, closing on Norton's position. One of them falls as it is struck in the chest. Only 19 left! Three of them open fire with plasma rifles at Norton while the warship launches another salvo at him. Man, that Norton is one slippery mammer jammer. Either he's highly trained or highly lucky. Anyway, he barely feels the heat of the next salvo from on high. He yells, "Why are you jerkoffs still clogging up my beach? Get to the river!" He tests his luck and his aim by trying to shoot back while keeping his distance thing going on by moving fast. Heidi pauses for a moment then turns and fires once more while still trying to run. The woman is panting now and she shakes her head and murmurs in german. Hondon pauses, figuring that if he was ever going to learn how to shoot a gun, it might as well be while he was getting shot at. He takes quick aim at the nearest Phyrrian and squeezes one off. Two more infantry bots collapse on the sand, leaving 17 on the ground and menacing the people fleeing toward the bunker. The warship overhead locks on Heidi, Norton, and Hondon. They get to roll Agility and Reaction again. Failure means death. A blast from the ship once again streaks for the Waldheimer. This one lands to her left and tosses her against the sand. Hondon frowns as his shot misses by a Lunar mile, turns and hightails it out of there. After moving no more than a few feet, the place where he was just standing explodes in a fountain of sand as a plasma bolt hits it. Hondon runs faster. "Stop drawing fire," Norton yells at Hondon. "That pistol is useless at this range. When it starts being useful, you'll be mowed down by the plasma fire from the infantry. Till then move with a purpose to the river." Again, that slippery snot manages to avoid being turned into so much roast meat with some sweet zig zagging across the beach. He stops only briefly to fire over his shoulder before resuming his mad dash. Goldenfur continues wobbling the fast as he can toward the end of the beach, toward the bunker that Norton said that exists, but he have no idea on how far it is... Norton rolls his Projectile_Rifle with a -1 modifier. Use a feat (+help feats) to try to overcome the impossible. The result of the roll is Superb (3). A blast from the ship once again streaks for the Waldheimer. This one lands to her left and tosses her against the sand. Heidi shakes her head and starts to scrable to her feet once more. The rifle is yanked up and she forgets about shooting for now and starts off running again. Jared doesn't waste his breath talking as plasma cannons pound the beach, huffing and puffing and huffing some more as he continues spirnting his little Lunite ass off. Aleksei calls out to Norton, with a small pant of breath. "I'm not..exactly..strolling along this..beach with tourists, am I?!" He somehow manages to catch up with the running, wobbling cat. "Damn..forgot you cats..can move when you have to! Ok, guess we keep..moving, yes?" Al is panting a bit as he talks to the cat, but still does not stop him from heading with Goldenfur towards Norton, who's moving towards the river. Sixteen infantry bots left after Norton's shot takes out another one. Well, sixteen if you don't count the twenty-four more that are dropping from the belly of the Phyrrian warship as it locks on Norton's position and fires again. That Norton continues to tap dance his way around the fire coming from the none too friendly skies. Still intent on cover the beach with as many exploded 'bots as he can, he continues to run and shoot, hoping he doesn't trip and fall in the process. He's bound and determined to reach the river if nothing else. Heidi just runs like the jaws of hell are nipping at her feet. Probably because they are. The woman doesn't even bother shooting back now. This isn't a war anymore this is survivial and that means out run the slowest guy. Hondon continues running towards the river, sparing breif glances around him to make sure no one was vaporized. he is really starting to feel the burn. The twenty-four newly landed infantry bots fire braking jets and land on the beach. Meanwhile, the sixteen that had been stomping toward Norton and company stop, as if they're processing some new bit of information. As one, they turn their backs on the river and walk back toward their companions. Five of the six warships fire thrusters and arc away from Greenville, rocketing toward orbit. The remaining warship fires salvos at the boats along the shore, rather than wasting further energy on Norton. "Hah," says Norton as he breaths raggedly. "I knew I'd sink that back stabber's boat." When the Phyrrians break off, he doesn't question it. Instead he just stops shooting back and picks up his pace. Jared isn't entirely aware of the withdrawl... he's busy running... the lack of nearby imminent death explosions is noticable though but he keeps on running. Heidi doesn't stop running as the firing stops. She slows slightly though, her lungs burn from the excertion. Satisfied by the acquisition of the beachhead, the infantry bots start setting up gun emplacements as dozens and dozens more infantry and tank bots start dropping from the sky. Aleksei is NOT going to be the slowest guy. In fact, it's a race at the moment between himself and Goldenfur, leading for a moment, then falling behind. So to repeat: Al is following Goldenfur, who's following Norton, who's heading to the river. Washington River - New Luna - The broad Washington River cuts a clean sparkling path through the plains. It is wide enough that it is hard to make out details on the far bank, and a strong slow current tugs inexorably towards the ocean through this flat sea of tall grasses that is marked at intervals by groves of enormous, dark-leaved trees. At its margin the river laps softly against silty buildup with a quiet murmur; across the center it shows barely a ripple. Insects churr, winging their way over the river; the small quick-moving specks concentrate especially around the trodden paths where large ungulates can occasionally be seen drinking. The grass very near to the river tends to be somewhat trodden, sweeping up with distance to nearly eight feet high. Norton slides down the bank of the river on his butt. Panting raggedly, he asks, "Well, who likes to swim?" Hondon looks at the river. "Would now be a good time to mention that I am a poor swimmer?" he asks. "Like not dying." Is Heidi's response was she splashes in after her CO. Goldenfur place all weapons on his back, and then he look around and say "I strongly dislike swimming... But I learned how to swim on the jungle..." Jared follows suit, sliding down the bank of the river and taking a few moments to catch his breath, "Why the fuck did they pull back?" he asks, grunting a little bit as he looks over towards the other survivors. Hondon sighs. Putting the stun gun away, he follows the others down the bank. "Because they're going to organizing and implement a security system and secure base of operations to go about slaughtering us systematically," says Norton as he lights up a cigarette and looks towards the board walk. Goldenfur scrathes his head, then he joins everyone inside the water and say "We pulled off, not them, they just stopped wasting energy on us, that they can kill later... I think that now we need to figure a way to prevent the last part happening..." Hondon shakes his head slowly. Taking out the two pistols, he examines them. Looking up at Norton, he raises the two pistols, asking "Which of these are better?" Aleksei snickers at Hondon. "Da, but our choices are limited at this moment, yes? I'm no Olympic swimmer, but I will not drown..after you, Goldenfur!" Al shoves his pistol into his holster and begins to follow Goldenfur. To Norton: "So, Kapitan? Where is this bunker of yours?", the scar-faced cop inquires as he enters the water with a small splash. "Yeah. So this research bunker, how far is it?" Jared asks, "Think we can find anything useable there? Mighta been sheltered against nanites." He glances over towards Norton, "We go underground and hit 'em where we can just like on Luna. Probably our best bet I think." "Captain, jerkoff. I didn't pull my rank out of a hat," says Norton before pointing towards the boardwalk. "That way." He tells Heidi, "Watch our backs." He tells Hondon, "The stun is good for putting them down. The pulse is good for keeping them there." He tells Jared, "To go underground, we're going to have to beat feet in land, farther than this bunker which ain't exactly hidden." Heidi nods and starts to shift her gear around. "Das bunker is up the river." She says with a frown. The woman then splashes some water over her face and wipes away the dirt and blood. Helga the rifle is brought up again and the Waldheimer scans the area through the scope. Boomer has arrived. Aleksei snorts! "I thought I just said that! But we can get into pissing contest later..let's just get to bunker first, and then? Well, guess we make it up as we go along. Ah well..off to work we go and all that." To Goldenfur: "One small problem with these pistols, big cat..only good when it's up close and personal, yes..they don't do hoop at long-range, unlike the weapons these soldiers have!" Heaving a deep sigh, Norton risks getting back up, tossing his cancer stick into the river. "Hope some cop does fine me for littering." Crouching down, he begins to make his way along the slippery bank, trying to keep among the trees when he can. He seems to expect his ragtag group to follow. Hondon nods to himself after hearing Nortons explanation, putting the pulse pistol away. Looking at the stun gun again, he practices holding it, trying out different grip positions. looking up, he notices Norton start to move. One last look at the stun gun, and he starts to follow Norton. Jared grumbles a bit and he grabs up his rifle again and stands up, moving to follow after Norton as well. Goldenfur follows Norton, then he say to Aleksei while he swims in cat style when possible, or use other limbs when possible. "I know... But is better than nothing... It would have been more easier to have all the group of ungstiri defenders here, Ace crew have a bunch of weapons..." Heidi slowly backs away after the others. The glass eye of the rifle's optics keep looking the area over for any Phyrrians. The woman's face is in a deep scowl as she moves along. Aleksei calls out to Norton: "I am..uh, *was* cop..not here though..and I think any cops left have bigger crimes than that to deal with just now, yes?" To Goldenfur: "Do not disagree with you there..but as I said to you before, Ungstir Militia, what is left of it, all scattered throughout Orion Arm now, and Jackal crew, if they are still alive, are on Jackal and not here, are they? So, it is just you and me..and our weapons. So, we play the cards we're dealt and we keep on going." Al is still moving behind Goldenfur, who's following Norton, etc.etc. Jared chuckles a little and glances over towards Aleksei, "I'm from the Jackal." He says with a smirk, "But my guns.. the ones still working are on the Jackal." He says with a bit of a smirk. He continues following along with everyone. Boomer has his own survival mechanics. On the scattering, he had scattered. On the fleeing, he fled. Now though, some of those heading up river to the bunker, may notice a stocky fellow just floating along at ease, letting the current take him as it pleases. This may or may not be due to a heavy combat suit though. Least he's going the right direction. Aleksei rolls his eyes after Jared reveals that he's a Jackalian. "Oh for hoops sake, you guys are like bad kopeks: you always keep showing up, yes? Ah, well. Lucky for me I managed to hold on to my Midvyet when I left Ungstir. Unlucky for you that you only get to use my pistol over my dead body!" "There goes another one," notes Norton as Boomer floats past in the opposite direction. He seems to be distracted by the whole goal thing of reaching the bunker before he bites the bullet. Goldenfur notices that Boomer is there, knowing Boomer from a near brawl once on Greenvile once, he knows that Boomer does not die this easily, and it is easy to notice that there are no plasma marks on him, then he say "Hey... The Boomer guy over there, is not dead..." Heidi sweeps her rifle over and locks on the floating man. "Get your ass up if your alive." She calls out to it. Her head then tilts to Hondon. "If he's dead get his gear." Jared grins faintly at Aleksei and pats the pulse rifle he's carrying, "I got something that'll do, though I'll put it to good use if the Phyrrians get ya." He promises. His attention is drawn towards the floating man as everyone calls attention to him, brow raising a little. Hondon nods at Heidi, his eyes on the floating body. "Yes, Miss Wulfe." Hondon turns towards the body, waiting for a response. "Fuck you." The 'dead' Boomer grumps, rifle bumping along his side as he goes. "Fuckin' new broad. Blah, blah, blah and suck a.." The armored man tilts slightly, realigning himself, heavy boots plunking down on the soft undersoil, electronic voice system fizzing. It's probably safe to say he's still talking though. "That's the spirit, buddy," says Norton over his shoulder to Jared. This board walk destination seems nearly as painful to get to as the river was. He continues to plod doggedly along, occasionally looking to his side towards the docks and beach where the 'bots are setting up. He nods as Boomer starts smarting off, "Nice to see you, too, mac." Aleksei squints at the 'corpse' and shrugs. "If you say, Goldenfur. Does not appear to be, at any rate." Then a brief aside to Jared. "Please do..same goes if machines get *you*, da? Just so you know that. No offense!" Then, the 'dead' man speaks! Al looks at Boomer and shrugs his shoulders. "After all this, why am I not shocked that he's alive? Ah, hoop it! Anyone who survived so far, can't hurt." "Fuck you, been here for years." Heidi replies with a grin. "Stupid damn men." She grumbles and pulls her aim away from the Martian. Hondon shrugs, continuing along the river. "Couldn't find.. ass... Must've been .... kitchen." Boomer replies through the failing mechanics of his helmet. "Norton, we pushin'... bunker?" Aleksei, Hondon, and Goldenfur are ignored, or seem to be. One can't really follow his eyes. Goldenfur just keep following Norton, not saying a word to Boomer, he do not want to start a fight inside the river, and he know that anything that he say is potentialy dangerous if the person hearing is Boomer... "Yeah," says Norton. "That's the plan. Knock the seaweed off your helmet and keep up." He huffs and puffs as he scrambles along the bank, finally reaching the boardwalk. Norton heads into Boardwalk: Washington River . Norton has left. Jared casts another glance towards Boomer briefly, head shaking a bit, "We should stop all this chattin' and get moving." He mutters, he scrambles up after Norton. Boardwalk: Washington River - New Luna - Split logs of some light pale wood are roughly shaped into this gently swaying boardwalk. The rough-smudged wood winds along the estuary a half-dozen feet from the muck below. The walk parallels a lazily winding channel of the river as it braids with the others across a sea of tall grasses rooted in soupy mud and punctuated by more or less solid hills, eventually ending at the base of a small hill. Like the river's branches the boardwalk takes the path of least resistance, winding around the occasional waterlogged tree or silted-up dead-end branch of the river and trails off as thr ground solidifies far from the coast. Bridges leap other small streams that trickle out into the broad muddy expanse of river. Small signs of life are evident all around birds especially scurrying in the grasses and cutting long clean paths through the air; their squeaks and cries only emphasise the habitual quiet of this place. The organic scent of decay hangs heavy on the air. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Heidi steps onto the firm ground and nods to herself. A few muttered words in German and the sniper rifle starts to sweep the area. Back toward the beach, the Phyrrian warship - having disgorged its belly of about half its complement of infantry bots, tank bots, and sappers - fires thrusters and arcs back toward orbit. Climbing up onto the board walk from the river, Norton cuts across towards the research facility, motioning towards the wetlands as he goes, "If we get hit, run towards the wetlands and meet back up at the river in that copse of trees where we saw Boomer at nightfall." The ship gets watched only long enough to determine it is not coming his way. Goldenfur follows Norton closely, hoping that upon reaching a research facility, they could do something... Hondon nods to himself. keeping the stun gun raised, he follows a few meters behind Norton, his eyes trying to look everywhere at once. Jared nods his head a little bit and casts a glance towards the direction Norton points before he starts after him towards the research facility. Aleksei steps onto the boardwalk, barely missing a loose wooden splinter jutting up from one of the planks. He briefly glances back at the departing warship and breathes a small sigh of relief. Al nods in agreement with the Militia captain, and keeps on following Goldenfur and the group, on their way towards the research facility. Boomer moves up on the boardwalk, water dripping off the surface of his armor. "Ja," The Waldheimer agrees and looks the area over. The Departure of the ship gets a glance up she tears her eyes away and shakes her head. "Still too many on the ground." "What? You think we were going to spend our time with easy wins?" Norton asks of Heidi as he beats feet for the research facility, keeping low. "This is going to be fun." Goldenfur continues following Norton closely, also goldenfur do his best to not sniff the stench around, his sensitive smell is great to catch smelly thigns when he do not want it. Jared glances briefly towards the Demarian before turning his attention forward as he walks along behind Norton a bit towards the Research base. Norton sets himself up on the left of the entrance. He motions for Heidi and Jared to stand on the right. He says, "Boomer, you and our two volunteers go in first." Aleksei doesn't have as sensitive a nose as a Demarian, and even *Al* can smell that stink a mile off. He shrugs and says to Goldenfur; "Yeah, I can smell it too..the stench of death and decay. Bah! And *that* is why I preferred Ungstir..you don't get that smell so much here..then again, I find most beachs smell like that, the times I got offplanet, yes? Let us keep going on..maybe this bunker will smell a bit less, yes?" Aleksandr strolls along the boardwalk, finally recovering his breath. Hondon thinks of something while he walks, and he moves over towards teh Demarian and Ungstiri. While still looking all over the place, he asks them, "Hey, you think either of you can give me pointers on how to use this thing?" He motions with the Stun Gun. Boomer nods, leading the way. He's got the powersuit, after all, swinging his rifle up to a ready position. He does stop, armored helmet slowly craning back to Hondon. And sums up their small world in one word. "Fuck." Hondon looks at Boomer, a bewildered look on his face. "Huh?" Heidi nods and slings her rifle back and pulls out her pistol. Hondon gets a raised eyebrow. "Fuck is right biggie." She murmurs and motions for him to leave. "The volunteers being the Demarian and Ungstiri," explains Norton further from his post to the side of the entrance. He tells Boomer, "Good luck, bud." Goldenfur waits to see if Boomer will lead the way, then he look to Hondon and say "Buddy, I only got shot with it, I never used it... But he knows..." he points to Aleksei "I think that being a Kop he used much of this thing..." "Sonuvabitch." Boomer mutters, helmet crackling as he moves up to the doorway, quick check, then he's moving through fast and hard. Please don't shoot me! Hondon looks breifly at Aleksei before his attention is riveted on the door of the facility. He puts both hands on the grip of the stun gun, pointing it at the ground. He didn't want to shoot any of his alies by accident. That would be bad. Jared moves off to the right as well, smirking a little bit, glancing towards Boomer and Company as they take the lead into the Research Facility. "Hey, pistol boy," Norton tells Hondon. "Stand over here with me." Aleksei offers Boomer a smirk that is distorted by the scar on his face. "Relax, there. I'm pretty good with stun guns. And the cat, also, so don't knock us.." And then he looks over at Norton as he gets shanghaied, as it were. "And what is it we just got 'volunteered' for..*Captain*, sir?" Yes, don't be shocked, Al knows perfect Standard as well. He follows Goldenfur still, who is now following Boomer, who's headed into the bunker/research facility. Hondon looks over at Norton and nods, moving next to him. Boomer heads into Research Facility . Boomer has left. Goldenfur heads into Research Facility . Goldenfur has left. Aleksei heads into Research Facility . Aleksei has left. Norton leans up against the wall as the other three enter the facility. He keeps his head cocked to the side as if he's listening. Hondon glances behind him briefly before looking back towards the door. he waits. Heidi lowers her pistol slightly and nods. The woman then glances over to Hondon and brings a finger to her lips and motions to stay still. Jared glances across towards Norton, "So... umm what exactly is being researched here?" he asks, motioning his head towards the entrance of the facility. Hondon nods, showing he understands. "Oh, the ordinary top secret biological stuff," answers Norton, apparently deciding it is safe to talk. He enters carefully none the less. Norton heads into Research Facility . Norton has left. Hondon looks at Heidi. "so, who is next?" Jared shrugs his shoulders and he moves to follow in after Norton, "Huh. Comforting." He mutters. You head into Research Facility . Research Facility - New Luna - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Set at the base of a tall, rolling hill, this area is dominated by a several acre, 4 story tall drab complex of gray brick; virtually featureless, and for the most part, windowless. It is surrounded by a tall chain-link fence topped with razor wire, and patrolled by a dozen uniformed militia guards hefting heavy-duty plasma rifles, with a few more patrolling the roof. A bulky stone sign has been whitewashed over, its embossed letters only faintly proclaiming it to have once been: UNIVERSITY OF PLATO, GREENVILLE DIVISION - RESEARCH FACILITY. A singular gate accesses the facility, manned by two guards in a wooden booth. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Boomer is held up by the pointed guns of the posted guards, no doubt jumpy and waiting for something to shoot. "Friend! Friend!" A desperate call to keep from being shot up. Goldenfur follows Boomer closely, not jumpy or anything, he is even not holding a weapon, he just approaches and shout "Phyrrian attack survivors! Do not shoot!" Aleksei steps into the compound behind the big cat. "Da, what they said! More friendlies coming, no machines behind us..so far!", Alek calls out to the guards. The crazy Lunite with the face paint who some numbskull made the mistake of making into a captain, steps in about twenty seconds after Boomer, Goldenfur, and Aleksei. He's got his hands at his sides, away from the rifle slung across his chest. Another explosion detonates in the near distance, coming from somewhere in the vicinity of the militia fuel depot and ammo dump. Jared steps into the facility behind Norton, glancing at the other Lunite, "We should make it quick here whatever we're gonna do. We don't have enough people to hold back any sort of real attack." Heidi glances towards the door once the explsion detonates. "We need to get to the woods." She says and looks the guards over. Hondon follows shortly behind Jared, his gun still pointed at the ground, and stops behind the two other lunites. "Well, I was planning on having a spot of tea, guv, but since you insist..." Norton tells Jared. "We'll just get it to go." He walks over towards the guards, "What's your guys status? You going to stick it out here or you got some sort of back up plan? Me and mine, unless you point guns and tell me otherwise, are going to make for the swamp." Goldenfur look toward the guard, waiting for a reaction, he have no idea if they will decide to shoot them or not, but when Norton shows up, he decides that is safe, and do not say anything more to them. "We've got orders to defend the outpost," one of the guards says. He doesn't look enthused by it. Neither does his partner. "Orders, y'see." Jared smirks a bit towards Norton, "Some tea would be mighty nice, yeah." He glances towards the guards, "So would some super weapon to kill the Phyrrians. Ya got one in there?" he asks, glancing towards the facility propper. "Well, if you want a new set," says Norton while lighting up a cigarette. "Feel free to beat feet. I doubt the Phyrrians need our ever so advanced tech. It's not doing us any good, anyway." He tells Jared, "We did. But, uh, you see. The nanites prevent it from working now. Not that any of us knows how to use it. The big brains fled planet." He shrugs, "We're going to eat frogs in the marshes while we build a ship out of mud and logs to submerge ourselves below as much water as we can and snorkle to Ghost Chime Island." He looks around, "Any better ideas, boys and girls?" "Ammo would be great." Heidi replies with a shrug. "But so would a whore and some bier. But I like frogs, tasty." She then nods to the door. Goldenfur raise a paw, the right one, since he is not again standing and using the left paw to hold a crutch, and he says "I am a engineer... We could figure what is there, altought nanites make repair impossible..." then he look to Norton and say "We can make something to navigate there... But... How far is that island?" Hondon's eyebrows raise, looking at Norton. "snorkle? Never done that before." he looks at the guards, and shrugs. "I have no objections." One of the guards says, "I suppose we could take a break in the marsh." The other pipes up, though: "What made them choose New Luna, anyway? What kind of threat are *we*?" Boomer mechanical helmet kisses back into life, lowering his hands now that everything is calm. "Can ... your whore, girly." "Good question," Norton tells the guards, offering them a smoke. "Is there anything useful around here? Stock piled rations? That sort of thing? My stuff is, conviently, on a distast island or the ship which, unless I miss my guess, is probably worthless." He looks to Goldenfur, "Oh, it's far enough." He tells Heidi, "One shot, one kill, private. You should have at least three hundred rounds. That makes for two hundred and ninety nine dead 'bots and one dead you." "Glad you're with me, anyway," Norton tacts on to tell Hondon. "Objections get over ruled with weapon fire, anyway." Aleksei curses as the fuel and ammo dumps explode. He adds to Jared's comment. "Could use a few of these guys, too..can't have enough plasma rifles where the hooping killer machines are concerned." Then to the guards: "Your orders are about to get you killed, komrade! Good job!" He turns to Norton: "How about moving onwards, or order at least *some* of these guys to come with us as we head to this Ghost Chime Island." To the guards: "We are living and they are metal machines who want to kill off *all* life, in case you haven't seen the news of late. Can worry about how they came to New Luna later..still haven't figured out how they chose Ungstir of all places. Anyway, komrades, may want to follow us, if you want to live. Up to you." Jared nods a little, "We should take what we can before we go." He agrees with Norton, looking over towards the facility a bit, he grins a little bit and glances towards the guards, "Everyone wants to kill Lunites, We're like the master race or something, duh." Heidi glances over to Boomer and shrugs. "As lovely as your rack is your not my type. I like em pettie." She snorts then nods to Norton. "A motto I've lived with for a long time. Get me to a good postion and they'll start dropping." Hondon grins at Norton. "yeah, I figured any objections would." Hondon sighs. Here he was just looking to get himself hired onto a ship, and instead he winds up in the middle of a battlefield. Shaking his head, he moves over to a wall near the door and sits down, leaning back against the hard surface. Latest Breaking News: FLASH: NEW LUNA ATTACKED! - SEPT07-36 "Imagine .... a fucking ...." Boomer hisses through his helmet, broad shoulders shrugging. Apparently he's ready to follow more then lead. Goldenfur look over to Heidi and says "You are mad... They are fucking phyrrians... They have super targeting computers, they can shoot you back even if you are the size of a butterfly...". He look around and says "So... We will move in and grab equipment and maybe do some research, or we will just run away with more people to die along with us?" Hondon thinks for a bit. "Usually, im all for research, but lately, living seems to have become my higher priority. I figure the best way to do that is to stick with you all, so whatever the group decides, im in." "We're staying," announces one of the guards after briefly conferring with his colleague. "No one's gonna call us cowards, leaving our post." "All right, buddy, but if you don't mind..." Norton tells the guards. He nods to the beings who came with him, "Go scavenge anything that these guys don't object to you taking. You got a minute. Then we're moving on again." To the guards again, "So, just to be sure you tell the Phyrrians the right stuff. Ghost Chime Island. Snorkling in a mud boat. Got it? We should depart after the cow moos at midnight." Hondon grins at Norton's heavy sarcasm. Shrugging, he picks himself off the floor and starts moving deeper into the building. Heidi nods and starts off into the compound. Her steps are light and her pistol is still raised bespite the fact that they are 'safe.' Aleksei snickers at Goldenfur. "Goldenfur, I think they know that, da? Still and all, if we die today, let's do it by taking out as many as possible, eh?" He nods at Hondon's remark. Then he overhears the guard's decision and snorts. "Suit yourself. If here you will stand, then here you will die!" To Hondon: "Indeed. And if the academics were smart, they've left here and got offplanet as well. Ok then, I will depart soonest..as soon as we, ah, help ourselves if you do not mind?" "Help yourselves," the guard says. Goldenfur starts to stroll toward the facility, along with Heidi, he need badly to find something to scavenge and work on... Hondon walks towards Research Bay 3 "Thanks, buddy," Norton tells the guards as he looks back towards the beach. Hondon approaches the door to Research Bay Three and inserts his card into its slot. The door slides open with a muffled hiss. Hondon has left. Heidi approaches the door to Research Bay Three and inserts her card into its slot. The door slides open with a muffled hiss. Heidi has left. Goldenfur approaches the door to Research Bay Three and inserts his card into its slot. The door slides open with a muffled hiss. Goldenfur has left. Goldenfur has arrived. Hondon has arrived. Hondon moves towards Research bay 2 Aleksei approaches the door to Research Bay Three and inserts his card into its slot. The door slides open with a muffled hiss. Aleksei has left. Hondon finds that the door to Research Bay Two requires a security clearance, which he does not have. Aleksei has arrived. Heidi has arrived. The research bays are mostly empty of anything really useful. What you do find, however, are Fizzy Cake snacks, MRE bars, and cheap bottled water. Heidi comes back with an armfull of MRE bars. "Be just like the civil war." She snorts. "At least we don't starve." "Good find, private," Norton tells Heidi as he waits on his pillagers. Boomer has removed his helmet by now, hanging from his belt. "Yay for fuckin' that." Hondon approaches the guards, asking, "Can any of you open the door to Research Bay 2?" Goldenfur approaches one of the guards, then he ask them. "Tell me, what is on the bays that are not destroyed by nanites?" then he asks also "And there are anything there that we can use to craft a boat?" Aleksei exits door #3, laughing sardonically! "Laser drill in there..would have been nice if we had time and lots of men to use it. Well, we do have this food, which we can dig into later, yes?" Al's holds an armful of half snackfood and half water bottles all filled and ready to go. Jared grunts a little bit as Heidi and gang come back with loads of food and water and he nods his head, "Yeah, that stuff'll be useful. Won't have to hunt frogs for a least a couple more days." Hondon makes a disgusted face at Jared One guard smiles politely at Hondon. "Nothing in there but a broom. Not much sweeping to do in the swamp." The other looks at Goldenfur. He's not smiling. "You talk funny, even for a Demarian. But, no, what we've got are some snack cakes and rations. If you think you can float across the ocean on a raft of Fizzy Cakes, knock yourself out." "Save them for when the frogs get thin, or we're all too shot up to find them," says Norton. "Let's go. I hear the swamp calling my name. That sweet, sweet swamp music." He tosses his cigarette to the ground and starts heading out. Goldenfur scrathes his head, then he look over to Norton and say "Hey Norton, the militia do not tell soldiers to protect brooms right?" then he look back to the guards, and say "Are you sure that you are guarding brooms on a security locked facility?" The guard levels his rifle at Goldenfur. "We're guarding brooms, and we take that job *very* seriously." "Pussy. Frogs are good." Heidi says on her way out. "Brooms whatever. We need to move and now fuz." She barks and points to the door. "Don't get yourself shot, crippled kitty," says Norton as he continues on his way out. Boomer snorts, shifting his rifle as he turns to leave as well. Hondon sighs, heading for the door. Goldenfur swings the crutch toward his back, and stuck the crutch there, between his back and his backpack, and then hre resumes walking on all fours toward Norton. Jared raises his brow a little bit at the reaction, "The Cat's got a really good point." He says, glancing towards Norton as he decides to take off, shrugging a bit he moves to follow the Marine. "Fine," says Norton to Jared as he stops. He turns back towards the guards and asks simply, "Hey, man, will we find out what's in that room without getting in a fire fight with you?" Hondon stops too, turning towards the guards. Boomer knows the answer. He doesn't stop. Heidi is with Boomer on this one. She keeps walking. Aleksei snickers at Hondon. "Don't knock it, Gospahdin! You have never had cooked rockrat, have you? Had it in soup, once. Vile! Frogs are tasty in comparison, yes?" To Goldenfur: "Bah, let them die like tourists, yes? Dying for brooms..tchah!" Al spits on the ground and departs behind the crippled cat. as he leaves, he remarks to Jared: "Some people have died for less." Then he halts for the moment, just behind Goldenfur, like usual. "Maybe," the other guard says, bringing his own rifle up to aim it at Norton. "Maybe not. You've got numbers on us. But *they* have numbers on all of us." He nods toward the pair of fighters that appear to be zooming upriver toward the research station, low enough to ripple the reeds and water. Hondon looks at where the guard motioned, cursing lightly under his breath when he sees the fighers approaching. He looks at Norton. "Now what, Captain? Duck and cover?" Goldenfur halts, in front of Aleksei, then he turn around and sit on the ground. After that he grab his pistol and charges, while aiming at the guard that is aiming at Norton, he learned that noone aim if do not want to shoot... Boomer pauses, curses sharply, then ducks back inside station to hide. Jared smirks just a bit, "Our minute's up, guess we shoulda checked a little sooner." Jared says to Norton, "Bet they ignore us to hit the research station if we duck off to the swamp." He suggests. Long distance to Tiana: Jared grins. "Mien Gott." Heidi muitter as she ducks for cover. If only you could get to the swamp faster than they can get to the research station. The missiles are unleashed from below the wings, whistling toward the bunker entrance. Everyone paying attention to the fighters, roll Reaction and Agility at -2. Pass with Fair and survive. If you're aiming at the guards, your back is to the entrance and you don't get to roll. You lose two luck cards to survive. Aleksei overhears the incoming fighters, looks up and sees them heading in the bunker's direction. "And I repeat: I am getting *too old* for this shit!" To Goldenfur: "Gold, I think we have much bigger problems, da? It is time to go. Discretion is better part of valor and all that. Let them guards their brooms if that is what they wish. Let's depart with all due haste!" And then the missiles hit. "There you have it," says Norton as he turns back around to see the fighters. "See, that's what I get for asking stupid questions," he tells no one in particular as his dwaddling to chit chat once again has put him in an awkward position. His current dithering, though, seems to be more of an assessment of the situation and takes place while he's moving. He briefly hides behind that stone thing before picking up and moving towards the swamp. Boomer, with helmet off, turns to Heidi. "Since we're in such a shit position, how about a quickie? I'll be gentle. I got this trick I like to do, get's the girl's wild. While we're going at it, I reach around and with my thumb I..." Whatever he was gonna say was blown away when the missile impacts upon his location, incinerating the body, suit, gun, equipment, and even his damn can of beans he was saving for a rainy day. "I prefer gir..." Heidi is half way through her response when the missile hits. The blast showers ther in dirt and debis and she starts to run full speed towards Norton. Goldenfur ears move backward as he hears the missiles approaching, but shit... He is SITTING on the ground, bad time to take a perfect aim, he try to stand and wobble away from the possible impact point, when the explosion happen and he go away from the impact point REALLY fast, landing, of course like a cat, on all three, on the ground near the door number two, altought it is not a perfect landing, the cat tumbles and rolls on the ground, still holding the pistol on his right paw. Norton scoots with his feet nary touching the ground as he hauls balls away from the smoking facility and towards the swamp, hoping to be gone before the fighters can come back around for a second strike. "Stay spread out!" he manages to wheeze loudly. Aleksei is flung by the blast of vaporized Boomer by Goldenfur. "Oof! Damndamndamn! Guess we don't get to leave, then. Ok!" Al draws his pistol out out his holster and slowly gets up, not easy when you get caught by a nearby missile explosion. The guards in the research facility? They're killed by the explosion. Secret Door No. 2? Missiles don't need no stinkin' keys. So what was hidden inside? Not a weasel! Not a barrel of monkeys! No, it was a container of volatile explosive chemicals. Very volatile. Very explosive. More of those lovely Agility and Reaction rolls, please! Hondon sees the missiles coming, and is running away from the entrance when they hit. The explosions blow a lot of debris when they hit, and Hondon unnecessarily dives head first for cover, landing in a pile on the ground. Goldenfur rolls his Reaction with a -1 modifier. Use a feat (+help feats) to try to overcome the impossible. The result of the roll is Great (2). Aleksei equips BKMS 630D Midvyet Pistol. The chemical explosion nearly does it in for Norton. His back catches on fire, but he manages to remember the whole stop drop and roll thing. He keeps right on rolling till he hits the river with a splash off the boardwalk. Hondon starts to get up from his ungracefull nosedive, but then is blasted back down by a humongous explosion, caused by explosive chemicals in the Research Facility going up in smoke. He gets up after a while, somewhat dissoriented, and starts looking for other survivors. Goldenfur just after landing near the door 2, he remembers that they were surely defending thigns that explode, since these are the only objects that the nanites do not destroyed, and then he start to wobble toward the exit, as soon a the temperature make the thing explode, he is launched into the river, where he splashes water everywhere, happily for him it was not sufficient deep to him drown. Heidi is barely getting though standing up whent he second blast hits. The woman gets airborn for a moment then slams down into the water. It takes a few moments for the Heidi to come up for air.
*
*
* BOOOM*** goes the missiles and the research facility, tossing Jared about like a ragdoll, miraculously only banging him up pretty good. The poor Lunite shakes the cobweys from his head and slowly starts to push himself up with a groan and trying to take a quick survey of the situation before he starts towards the exit as well, picking up speed as he runs on instinct more then anything down into the water with the others. Besides the crackle of flame and the huff of roiling smoke billowing from the wreckage of the research facility, it is now rather quiet. The two fighters arc back around, the high whine of their engines growing louder as they approach on another low pass. They fire no more missiles now, though. They arc off to the east, possibly on a patrol route. Aleksei is almost back on his feet..almost there..almost..and of course, that's when he gets brushed by the big-ass fireball as the facility explodes. He gets flung the other way and slams into the ground once more. "OOOOF! Fuck this! Fuckinhoopshit, sonofabitch!! Ok, enough of this..I am out of here!" Lucky for Al, he's been tossed close to the river. As he gradually slides down into the water, he shoves his pistol back into the holster. Aleksei unequips BKMS 630D Midvyet Pistol. Norton heads into Boardwalk: Washington River . Norton has left. Heidi heads into Boardwalk: Washington River . Heidi has left. Hondon heads into Boardwalk: Washington River . Hondon has left. Aleksei heads into Boardwalk: Washington River . Aleksei has left. You head into Boardwalk: Washington River . Boardwalk: Washington River - New Luna - Split logs of some light pale wood are roughly shaped into this gently swaying boardwalk. The rough-smudged wood winds along the estuary a half-dozen feet from the muck below. The walk parallels a lazily winding channel of the river as it braids with the others across a sea of tall grasses rooted in soupy mud and punctuated by more or less solid hills, eventually ending at the base of a small hill. Like the river's branches the boardwalk takes the path of least resistance, winding around the occasional waterlogged tree or silted-up dead-end branch of the river and trails off as thr ground solidifies far from the coast. Bridges leap other small streams that trickle out into the broad muddy expanse of river. Small signs of life are evident all around birds especially scurrying in the grasses and cutting long clean paths through the air; their squeaks and cries only emphasise the habitual quiet of this place. The organic scent of decay hangs heavy on the air. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Aleksei staggers onto the boardwalk. You know, looks like Al's getting used to the stink now..seaweed, rotten sea creatures, dead Militiamen! He carries the big cat with him. "Great day I am having..just fucking great! And carrying *you* does not help, yes?" Al sardonically asks Goldenfur. Norton has ended up in one of the streams. He remains under the wooden bridge for a moment or two before he starts to crawl down stream towards the wetlands. He keeps his weapon slung across his back as he inches along like the insignificant sort of thing that he is. For once, he doesn't seem to have any sort of comment to offer. After a bit of crawling, he staggers to his feet and starts trudging along, slowly picking up speed as he goes. Jared stumbles along, glancing up briefly as the fighters zoom off, he moves to catch up with Norton, going quiet again himself as he follows the Marine towards the wetlands. Heidi follows Norton to the bridge. The woman pauses for a moment and scoops up some mud and smears it on her face and uniform. She crouches low and follows after, leaving some space between her and the others. Hondon comes onto the boardwalk with an unfocused look in his eyes. looking around slowly, he spots Norton walking towards the wetlands. Staring for a few seconds more, he starts to follow Norton and the others. The stun gun hangs limply at his side. Aleksei doesn't need much mud as he and Goldenfur pretty spattered with mud as is..still, Al reachs a hand out and grips some mud, which he proceeds to rub on himself and the cat. The duo follow the group into the marsh and whatever horror awaits for them all there. Spitting into the steam, Norton says, "Remember the fall back position. Stay spread out. At least five meters apart." Splash, splash he goes towards the wetlands, swinging his rifle back around in front of him as he staggers along doggedly. Jared falls into position in the line, keeping the distance from the person infront of him as he shifts his rifle about as well, shuffling along. Hondon, having caught up with the others, nods at Norton, and does as he says. His eyes are now focused, his thought processes back up to their normal speed. He tightens his grip on the stun gun as he moves a little ways away from the others, heading in the direction of the wetlands, his eyes to the skies. Heidi checks the chamber of her rifle then nods. The woman drops low and scurries after them. "Once there I will show you proper camo." She tells the group in a loud whisper. Shuffle shuffle, splash splash. Aleksei mutters "Another position? Beautiful. But he and the cat follow Norton's order, staying 5 meters back, and head off into the marsh..tail-end charlies, it would seem. Norton heads into Greenville Wetlands . Norton has left. Heidi heads into Greenville Wetlands . Heidi has left. Greenville Wetlands |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Tall grasses and thick lilypads come up through the water here, creating a tangled web just above the water's surface that is teeming with life. Tiny, wren-like birds make nests in its protection, as do small rodents and amphibians. Buzzing, deep purple flies and the like keep a constand high droning, and a low, base warbling can be heard periodically from several directions at once. The grasses taper off as they stretch into the deep water. Through this bustling ecosystem a 40 or so foot wide causeway has been cut into the thick flora to allow marine passage, and leads to a small dock. The dock itself stretches for almost a quarter mile before reaching a muddy shore, and begins to follow a rough path between farmer's fields. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Hondon arrives from Boardwalk: Washington River . Hondon has arrived. Aleksei arrives from Boardwalk: Washington River . Aleksei has arrived. Norton wades carefully through the marsh, keeping to the shallow water and avoiding any more than waist deep on the stocky Lunite. This way he stays among the grasses and lilypads. Over his shoulder, he says, "Wulfe, take the rear. Everybody, single file. Not that I think the 'bots do much in the way of noticing bent reeds or wilted lilypads." The insects get ignored. Hondon nods, moving into the line. Heidi nods and drops to a knee once she is at the water's edge. "Move along, no noise," She orders and pulls Helga the rifle to her shoulder. Jared follows suit, moving into the file, brushing past the grasses he pushes through, giving a bit of a grimace as he swats away an insect. He does his best to hold his rifle above the water. Aleksei enters the march with the cat. With a tired sigh and a brief wave to some flies that are beginning to buzz around the duo, the kommissar(retired) asks Norton "And now what.." And then Norton interrupts with his instructions. "Gods, I sincerely hope their metal rusts if they enter this, yes?" Then he quiets down at Heidi's instruction and moves with the cat, single file, 5 meters apart is still assumed by Alek as he drags the cat along, trying their best not to splash as they move along. Norton seems to reach his destination which, from the looks of it, is no different than any other part of the swamp. Maybe the reeds are a bit thicker. Maybe the water is a bit shallower. Resting his rifle across his shoulders, he says, "Form up in a circle. We'll take stock and wait here. What and who do we got? I'm Norton, captain, Hancock marines. I got enough stuff to last me a week or, maybe, ten days if I'm lucky. What about the rest of you?" Jared moves to a spot in the little area Norton's picked, "I'm Jared, guess I'm with the Recon platoon for the time being." He says with a little shrug, "I've just got my standard load of rations plus what we picked up back there." He gestures with his head. Heidi follows in quietly after the others and forms up. "PFC Heidi Wulfe Third Battlion Recon. I have the MRE bars, my survial gear, my nets, all together enough for a week or two also. But I don't mind frogs and snakes so maybe a month then." She says with a shrug. Kolek arrives from Boardwalk: Washington River . Kolek has arrived. Hondon moves to a space off to the side of Jared, making sure his stun gun stays dry. Looking around, he decides to go next. "Name is Hondon. I'm an Engineer, fresh out of Uni. I've got some rations, might last me a week, but I agree with Miss Wulfe. If it's edible, I'll eat it." Hondon glances at the stun gun in his hand. "Also, I've got this stun gun, seems to be in good condition, I think I've shot it twice already. Also have a pulse pistol on me, unused." Hondon nods to himself, sure that he got everything. Aleksei heads into to the circle with Goldenfur. "As for us, I am police Kommissar(retired, I guess!)Aleksandr Strumenko, managed to get off Ungstir before the twice-damned machines destroyed her! Seems I have been running from them ever since..and this.." Al gestures with a free thumb at Goldy.."is Goldenfur Gadgettweaker! Same situation with him, I guess! He rescued me with his ship, along with some smashed Phrrrians, that some of you saw were yet active! And that's about when I joined your merry little band as it were, Captain. As for food..well..I do have enought for maybe a week or so..if you like your snackfoods and waterbottles a bit damaged..got flung about a bit, as you all saw. As for weapons?..Dunno about the cat here, I think I saw a Midvyet pistol on him. I've got one too, fully loaded, also a nightstick, dagger, and some brass knuckles!" And then Goldenfur wakes up from his slight stun. "Your turn, guy..and tired of carrying you, yes?" Goldenfur arrives from Boardwalk: Washington River . Goldenfur has arrived. "An optimist," Norton tells Heidi. He and the others are currently hiding out in the middle of the swamp. They've formed a small circle in some of the denser growth and shallower water. He nods to Hondon, "Well, you'll probably get more chances to use it." Looking towards the farmland, he continues, "Maybe even a chance to use that degree you wasted so much time and money earning." Then, he tells Aleksei, "All right, fair enough." He nods to Jared and asks, "Yeah, I saw you the other day, right?" Speaking to the group at large, he says, "Well, if we don't die, we can feed ourselves for a week. Stuff that we think can last a week can last a whole lot longer if you're hungry. Me, I intend to be hungry." Goldenfur wake up from the blast, on the arms of Aleksei, he look around, and then after some time he asks "everyone ok? noone died on the phyrrian attack? where is boomer?" Hondon nods. "I'm no stranger to missing meals. I did it all the time, back in Uni. I was always obsorbed in my studies." He shrugs. "Optimist? No, I know my skills and I plan ahead. Our squad stashed some supplies nearby sir." Heidi says and points to a rotting log. "Should be some explsives, ammo and rations if not more weapons." She starts off that way without a moments delay. The sound of wading water can be heard, ripples touching the area the group is circled around. Then some splashing. "Great. A nerd," Norton tells Hondon. He tells Goldenfur, "He went boom." Then, he holds up a fist which is Heidi paid attention in the hand arm signals class means she should probably stop. He points his rifle towards the splashing. He keeps it pointed but he tells Heidi, "Keep going. I got this jerkoff." He calls out quietly but loud enough to be heard thirty feet away, "Keep the hands up, buddy." Goldenfur he nods and say "Ok... I will not miss him... I did not knew him..." then he hear something and look over to a movement and say "Hey! Who is there?" Hondon turns at the sound of splashing, aiming his stun gun towards the noise. Aleksei turns to Goldenfur. "Da, what Captain Norton(that's the guy giving the orders, see.)said. And the facility..it's gone to meet it's maker." He doesn't hear the noise as he's busy talking to the cat. Heidi is still slowly making her way out when Norton signals and misses it all. The Demarian's shouting and pulls out her side arm. The woman sinks low into the water and holds the pistol out as she circles the group looking for the cause of the shouting. The figure can be visibaly seen raising two arms, "Hoop! Don't shoot!" The man stands there, motionless. Goldenfur stares at the man, then he climbs down from Aleksei, to settle himself inside the swamp, and then he keep looking to the person, but he does not draw out his pistol. "Come on in, then," Norton tells Kolek. "What're you bringing us Santa Clause?" Jared holds his rifle as Norton calls attention to Kolek, then calls him in to join them, a little frown upon his face as he watches the figure approach in the darkness. Hondon watches the figure, grinning. "Hope its some damn armor. I'm feeling kinda naked here." Heidi slips her pistol away and starts off towards her previous goal, the rotten log. She glances about slowly and then ducks under the water. Aleksei turns and overhears the man shouting about not shooting him. He squints as he spots the man and narrows his eyes as he sees who it is. "Captain, if that is who I think it is, it will be more like what he will take from *us*, yes?" Then he calls out: "Gospahdin Kolek! You magnificent thief! How the *hells* did you survive? You are like a bad kopek, you amazingly keep showing up!" Kolek grunts and struggles his way through the water, the gargantuan bag over his shoulders, nearly his size. "Anything and everything that could be taken." He reaches the group, arms still in the air. "Still want to smell my pits?" He nods to Aleksei. "I'm a sneaky thief." Goldenfur scrathes his head, then he turn to Aleksei and ask "Another one that keep giving you trouble?" "You're non-'bot enough for me," says Norton. "You cause problems, though, and I'll let the cop beat you with his night stick or whatever else it is he wants to do to you." He continues to watch the sky. Hondon keeps his stun gun trained on the man called Kolek for a little while longer, then shrugs and lowers his weapon. He looks towards the area where Heidi was, but doesn't see her. There is a splash of water and out bobs Heidi's head. The woman stands upright again, if you are fairly perceptive you would notice that semi-floating/sumerged next to her is a large metal box. The Aleksei turns briefly to Goldenfun with a snort. "You could say that! That's Ungstiri luck for you..all my sins have come back today to bite me right in the ass, it seems, yes? Last I saw, he also was with the Jackal crew. Hmm..and that reminds me.." As Al overhears Norton's reply to Kolek and adds to it. "You'd better believe what he says there, Gospahdin Kolek! With the kind of day, I've been having so far, you even give me so much as a *glare*, I shall use every weapon I have on me on you! And yes, I'll probably start with my nightstick and so how it goes, da?! But that..having said that...what *is* it you have in there? And hopefully, is the Jackal in that bag?", Alek quips. Kolek lowers his bag, "Cop? Kharasho." He opens the bag up. "Food, water. Magazines." He pulls out some snacks, canned food and water, and a magazine with a nearly naked woman on it. And lots of them. Anything I could get my hands on." "Great," says Norton. "We can die with hardons." He shakes his head, "It's barely three thirty planet time. We got a long time till dark. Not that the bots will probably have any less of an advantage, then, either, but I like moving at night for nostalgistic purposes." Goldenfur after some time thinking he says to Norton "We should find a less dangerous place while we can see... The bots have infrared sensors... At least the ones that worked with me had..." "Give me a hand." Heidi calls out to the other as she starts to pull her crate towards the group. She ignors the talking for the most part till she hears Kolek speak. "Got any with Timmiegirls?" The woman asks, still hauling along. Hondon, nodding at Goldenfur's comment, and grinning at Heidi's, moves over to help carry the crate. Looking back at Kolek, he asks, "How about science magazines? or anything technology?" Aleksei snickers and shrugs his shoulders. "Actually, call me semi-retired! Ungstir..is gone, Gospahdin Kolek! Consider your record there..expunged, is that the term? da!..expunged, since it got destroyed when the twice-damned machines destroyed our home. Can't help you if you have any records elsewhere, however..not my jurisdiction! Ah..food and water that is not damaged, we can use. Magazines?..Heh, that will be for future education, as it were!" To the group, with a shudder: "Hopefully the machines won't run so well in this marsh, may they rust solid!" To Heidi, with a leer: "Don't tell me you are a sister of Sappho, yes? Not that there is anything wrong with that!" "What do you think hanging out in the water is doing to your core body temperature?" asks Norton. "But, if you got better places to hide let's hear them." Goldenfur thinks for some time, then he says "Water do nothing to me... Good fur... But well... If we can not reach in daylight the island, then will be better to just stay here, even at night, on the trees if the water is that bad..." he look to the crate that heidi is moving around, then he look to Aleksei and say "The phyrrians do not rust I think, or their own planet would consume them, also, they can fly and cut, it is sufficient to find us..." Kolek eyes reverting to Heidi, he nods, "Da." And then towards Hondon, a pause, before he looks to Norton, "A nerd?" Smirking towards Aleksei, "Well theres some good news...Sort of." Another glance towards Norton, "What do you think our chances are of surviving this?...And have we made any plans on re-populating New Luna?" His eyes shoot towards Heidi. Something like a new star glows in the sky above New Luna for a few seconds, and then goes dark. Hondon thinks for a bit, his gaze wandering over the landscape. His eyes pause on the nearby farms. Looking back at Norton, Hondon asks, "What kind of crops do they grow on the farms? anything tall?" Hondon pauses when another thought occurs to him. "Hey, do you think they will torch the farms?" Goldenfur comments: "Something went boom..." Hondon, gazing up at the sky, asks, "I guess there would be fighting up in space too, huh?" "Yeah," Norton tells Goldenfur as his attention shifts to the brief glow. With a look to Hondon, he says, "You saw what they did to Greenville. Don't see why they won't torch the farms." He nods, "Wonder who it is. Guess maybe those oxygen thieves came back. Bit late, if you ask me. Might as well have stayed gone." Jared huhs a little and looks skyward, "Probably why all those carriers pulled back without dropping their loads." He says, shrugging a bit, "Wonder if it was one of ours?" Heidi glances over to the men and shrugs. "I like girls. So unless your going in drag and hacking something off your all screwed about the repopulation plans you have." She snorts with a bit of laughter. The crate is finally brought into the group's area and she leans on it when the flash catches her eyes. "Mien Gott." Goldenfur after some time just says "New Luna had a moon? If not, it was something with Hancock, or Hancock went boom, or Hancock made something asplode..." it seems that Goldenfur likes a lot to talk funny, specially when he is talking about explosions. Kolek glances up towards the sky, "Hoop." A look towards Heidi, "Well if your our only hope...Looks like you'll have to deal, da?" "Giantesses aren't my type, viking," Norton tells Heidi. He takes out a can of dip which he begins to pack. He gives Goldenfur a strange look before saying, "Right." Aleksei glances for a moment up at the sky and sees the 'star'. Then he looks over at Goldenfur. "Hopefully, it was their damned fleet, yes?" And then he sez to Hondon, in a dry tone of voice: "Well, that *is* where the robot ships were heading after they trashed this area, yes?" And to Heidi: "As you wish." Then back to the cat, with another shudder: "If it was Hancock, then we are in even deeper shit than we think..from what I heard, it was a pretty powerful battlestation, although I gather Captain Norton would know that better than I!" Hondon stares at the sky for a bit more, then shrugs and looks at his Stun Gun. Goldenfur nods to Aleksei, then he look back to Norton and asks "So... It take too long to reach the Island? I mean, how far the island is? And the island is near the shore or it is impossible to swim there?" "It was pretty big, but it was pretty slow, too," says Norton. "It can hold its own against a RNS ship but not their whole fleet." He tells Goldenfur, "Relax, cat, or I'm going to put you down for a nap. All right?" Heidi opens open the top of the crate and peers inside. A sniper rifle, flak, some rations and ammo but most importantly D55 Explosives. The blade is pulled out and examined. "Hancock left." Is all she says as she swings the sword a few times to get a feel for it. "Always plan ahead." Kolek chuckles to himself a bit, "Hey, Kapitan. You seem like you need a cig?" He holds out a cigarette from a near full box, grabbing one for himself, and a lighter from his pocket. Examining his stun gun, Hondon wonders if there would be any way of increasing the photon output. He figured it would give the gun a bigger punch, but it would probably drain the energy cell faster, too. turning it over in his fingers, he decides not to take it apart, as his skills at reverse engineering were mediocre at best. "No smoking," says Norton as he puts a pinch of dip behind his bottom lip. He tells Hondon, "This ain't the best place to take weapons apart, kid." Goldenfur look at the box for some time, then he nods to Norton and say "Naaah... The blast already made me rest what is needed for a week... Along with the stun shot yesterday..." Kolek frowns, pocketing the cigs and lighter. "Hoop." He reaches just a bit towards the Captain's dip, "Mind if I...?" "Yes," says Norton as he pockets his can of dip without offering any to Kolek. He goes over to look over Heidi's haul. "Any demo experts out there?" Hondon shakes his head. He has never touched explosives in his life, besides the odd chemical reaction in Chem lab. Jared glances up towards Norton at that, "I did my fair share of work with Demolitions back on Luna." He chuckles a bit, "I'm a little rusty, though." "All right," says Norton to Jared. "We split it up between ourselves. That way it's not all on one blown up body next time we get hit. Anyone know how to use a sniper rifle?" He rumages around in the crate, "Who wants the flak vest?" Hondon looks around. Kolek mutters, "Hoop." Before eyeing the items, hands in his pockets. Jared shrugs a bit, "I'm not real good with Projectile rifles, better with the Energy rifle, or an Energy Pistol, but if it goes down.... I got a Kevlar vest at least, if someone else doesn't have anything they could use the armor." "Pass this stuff around, Wulfe," Norton tells Heidi. "To them that need them." Aleksei nods to Norton. Then to Heidi, with a snort. "If we planned ahead, we'd be on Hancock now and we would not be in this paradise in such jolly company." And then to Kolek, Would like some later..perhaps after dark, yes?" And to Hondon: "What he said. If you need to practice shooting it, I shall help you with that..but that is also for later." As to Norton's offer o' dip, Al looks and says. "I'll pass on that, thanks! I prefer cigarettes, but I can wait until the machines have left before then, yes? And no, I'm no exlosive expert. Just good with my gun, nightstick, or a dagger in my hand, me!" As to Norton's offer of the flak vest, he shrugs. "I've got kevlar myself..anyone need that vest, is fine by me." Al folds his arms across his chest. Hondon raises his hand. "I could use some armor. I've been running around in civilian clothes this whole time. Heidi starts to pull out the rations and the ammo as Norton talks about the bigger objects. "Line up, well spread this between all of us. And as for planning ahead we did. We chose to stay." She says coolly. "Already got flak, a few knives, and a revolver, plenty of ammo." Kolek states, reaching for a bag of snacks from his bag. Hondon walks towards Heidi. "Just a flak vest, please." "I was on Hancock. I left to come here for some good, old fashioned mud and blood," says Norton before swallowing down some of that tasty, tasty dip spit. He looks back towards the sky as he sits in the mud which, for the moment, is mercifully free of blood. Goldenfur look around it seems that a plan is being made, then he asks "So, what is the plan? And I am willing to do anything that is needed... In fact, I am not just a stupid engineer... I know other things too..." Jared glances about the others, "Anyone else need the Sniper Rifle?" he asks at the others, moving over to Heidi for some of the Demo gear. Aleksei shrugs at the Valkyrie-looking soldier scout and also at the NLM captain and says as he is looking at both of them, in a sardonic tone. "Yes, and aren't you glad you made that choise!? Still, more than I got! Such is my luck..although we Ungstiri have saying: 'If it were not for bad luck, we would have no luck at all!' Right, Gospahdin Kolek?" Al turns as he asks that qustion. "Hell, I didn't fly you here, man," Norton tells Aleksei. He tells Jared, "Take it if you want to hump it. We might find someone else who can use it later if nothing else." Heidi looks Hondon over then shoves the flak over. "Don't get fried." She says then glances over to Aleksei. "Don't fuck with me. Too many good men died for that crap. Abdul would bust your face open for that talk." She barks out angrly and starts to mutter in German. "Lets just all calm down and lower our voices so we don't get melted down, huh?" Kolek says, stuffing some snacks into his mouth as he eyes the stuff being handed out. Hondon nods, walking back to where he was with the vest in hand. Stopping, he puts it on, feeling somewhat more safer than he has the entire day. Goldenfur nods to Kolek, well... Noone asked what he is also skilled, so he will not tell until someone asks. "So, what is the plan? I mean, we have a plan, no?" Heidi gives Flak Jacket to Hondon Hondon equips Flak Jacket. "Survive," says Norton. "Or you want something more specific?" Aleksei shrugs at the Captain. "I know..but no offense to you, sir..on the whole, I'd rather be in more civilized territory, yes? But since I'm stuck here, I can live with it if you can, yes?" And then to Heidi: "And I see the price you've paid, I am not blind, yes?" To anyone at all: "Soo..what we do next, komrades?" "The civilized territory is kind of blown up," says Norton to Aleksei. "You're more than welcome to go off on your own, though. I am going to sit here and think about my options. Then, I am going to exercise them." Goldenfur after some time, he says to Aleksei "Sorry for bringing you here..." then he look to Norton and say "So... What are the options?" Two more fighters pass overhead, going rather slowly. They are sweeping the marshland with searchlights. Kolek laughs softly, eating some more of his snacks, "Your gonna stuff your face with dip and wait for..." He looks up, "Hoop!" "Christ," says Norton as he goes under water and starts to swim away from the group. You're on your own, boys and girls, is what he seems to be saying. Jared ducks down at that and starts moving away as well, trying to be as stealthy as possible and get away from the main cluster of people. Goldenfur also go underwater, then he start to move to a place with more plants, where finding him would be harder, doing his best to not make the water movement show up where he is. Kolek does the same thing as Norton, ducking under the water and moving away from the group in a different direction as everyone else. Heidi drops into the water and starts to swim slowly to some tall grass nearby. "Fucking kidding me." She murmurs to herself. Hondon ducks down low, slowly moving into a patch of tall grass. The fighters hover for a few more moments, but then they resume their patrol path, accelerating into the distance. Hondon mutters curses under his breath, staying where he is. Goldenfur look around, sniff and hear around, trying to find other people or other phyrrians. Norton's nose breaks the surface of the water. The rest of him, he tries to keep down. He doesn't have a long nose, though, so he ends up revealing his face in order to breath. Aleksei looks at Norton and snorts. "Yes, if you remember, I was around for that. Ok, I can do that too..was part of my own trainin.." And then the fighters fly over them! Ohhh, Hoop!" He turns to Goldenfur "And like so many times before today..time..to..go!" Al also duckins into the water and heads with the cat toward the plant life..and then..the ships fly off. He stops and calls. "Whewph, I'm getting pretty old for this!" Jared waits until the fighters can no longer be seen off in the distance before slipping back towards the central area, "We should get moving again, if their patrols are coming out this far." He grumbles. "Where can we get to from here?" he asks in hushed tones. Kolek remains hidden away under the water, taking a quick breath but keeping himself hidden. Norton, probably despite his better judgement, ends up back in the central location. He says, "The plan is to stay alive, like I been saying. If you got a better place to do it, I am all ears." Goldenfur returns to the middle, not finding any enemy it seems, then he look around and says "I think that we need to find a more covered place... Maybe a more dense area on the swamp... Or a forest if there are one nearby, or going onto a place where they will never search, something like... The sea?" Hondon stays in his clump of tall grass. "I can't think of any place, but staying here in the water, we are bound to get hypothermia or something. I'd rather not be sick and running away from phyrrians..." Heidi moves from her spot and joins the others. "I'd say we hit the jungle.... we can skirt the coast at night and make for it in land once we are far enough from the cities. Then we live off the land and just survive as long as possible ja?" She says. Hondon thinks for a bit, looking at Heidi. "That sounds better than staying here." Aleksei briefly gasps as he gets up out of the water. "Sounds like a plan to me, sir! I'd rather be staying over at a hotel here myself, but from looks of things, is not an option, yes?" To Goldenfur: "Not an option, unless you like swimming for very long time..the deyvatchka, there: sounds like she knows something we 2 do not, eh?" To everyone: "That works for me too. Captain?" Kolek still remains hidden under the water somewhere. "Jared asked himself a good question," says Norton. "How do we get there from here? Well, the answer is that we swim after dark. Till then, just chill out. This swamp is working so far." Goldenfur nods, knowing that the day is clear right now, he look around and asks "So... We stay here until night? Why wait until night?" Hondon shrugs. "I can do that. If anyone needs me, I'll be in this clump of tall grass." he says, waving the stun gun in the air before retracting back under cover. Jared nods his head a little bit, "Sounds like a plan." He agrees, "Hopefully ground patrols don't make it out here." He moves back over to Heidi, "Lemme get that stuff from you while we've got the time." "We aren't doing anything, cat," Norton tells Goldenfur. "I am doing what I told you because I am tired and am going to use this time to rest some. You can do what you want. If that's not what I'm doing, that's fine." He looks to Jared, "If they come out this way, we'll know pretty well in advance. If they drop in, well, they could have done that just as easily on us as we're swimming, so it don't much matter. We'd just die tired." "Not a toy." Heidi barks out to Hondon. "So we have some time to kill." She muses then glances over to where Kolek was. "Damn.... I wanted to see his dirty mag collection." She sighs then moves over to the crate. Hondon sticks his head out of hiding place at Jared's comment. "Oy, that reminds me. Need me to carry anything else? rations? bags? stuff we need?" Goldenfur after some time looking around, he rests his back on a plant, Aleksei near him, and he say plainly nothing, for the first time on his life, he just shut up, and do whatever someone told him to do. Kolek re-emerges among the group, wiping some water away from his eyes, and scratching at his facial stubble. "Never fear." He says, smirking. "Great," says Norton. "Porn is here." Aleksei slides against a nearby plant. "Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but since I left Ungstir, barely got sleep in Goldenfur's ship, get to this lovely planet just in time for the machines to blast the city and harbor, shoot at me, head to a research facility that was apparently researching bombs, get tossed around by explosions..and now I ache all over! I'm almost about to sleep..except.." Al's eeys glitter impishly as the bearded Kolek emerges. "Dibs on the top magazine, Gospahdin Kolek. I need to be educated..right over there." Al points to a nearby grassy, shaded area with a small laugh, with humor in it at last, from the sound of it. The marine co continues to crouch in the water, eyes on the sky. Jared hunkers down himself, grumbling a little bit as he waits. Kolek smirks towards Aleksei, though crouches down a bit as well, looking towards Norton and whispering, "See anything?" Heidi moves over to Kolek. "Again, I will keep you alive through this. In return I want something raunchy with Timmiegirls." She says with a glint in her eyes. "If I did, I wouldn't be here talking to you," Norton says. Goldenfur after some time he suddenly say "Why noone came to get us yet? The station is the one that exploded on the sky?" Kolek smirks towards Heidi, "You got yourself a deal." And then a glare to Goldenfur, "You hoopin' kidding? This place is swarming with Phyrrians." "Shut up, cat," says Norton. "Let's go." he gets up and starts humping it down the coast, away from the city. Hondon peeks his head out of the weeks for a second, before following Norton at a good distance, trying not to make too much noise. Occasionally, he looked up at the sky for any signs of scouting ships. Jared glances over towards Heidi then back towards Norton, shrugging a bit he gets up as well, following after the Marine, keeping a decent spread from the man and trying to stay nearby vegetation or other concealmant as much as possible. Goldenfur nods, stands, and start to follow Norton, again not saying nothing, and like Hondon, he do his best to do not make sound, in fact he is better than normal at doing it, better than any demarian would be. Heidi swings the spare rifle over her shoulder and nods. "Sure thing sir." The sniper then moves out after him. Aleksei looks at Goldenfur funny. After he yawns for a moment, Al replies: "I get the feeling that everyone else is either dead or busy trying to survive, like us. We can't be the only ones left alive..witness that guy..Boomer, was it?..Boomer, he played dead and he survived, at least for a while..also witness Mister Kolek, he somehow got through this, and sometime, he and I shall discuss how in the hells that happened. Have to be others around..must be. As for that explosion..if that was Hancock, we are in trouble..deep, deep in it." Al reluctantly gets up and follows the group on their way!" As he does so, he calls out to Norton: "No rest for weary, eh sir?" After a long, torturous journey down the coast and then over some mountains that takes much of the night, Norton and his intrepid band of beings who are surviving for the moment, make it to the...jungle. A few close calls and flybys that somehow go without incident happen. The pace, by necessity, is slow enough for the crippled Demarian to keep up. "No rest for the weary." Norton has left. Heidi has left. Jungle - New Luna - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This humid jungle is somewhere between Pitchton and Greenville. It is south of the equator but not south enough for it to make much of a difference. The high triple canopy jungle obscures much of the sun, leaving the jungle floor in perpetual gloom. The underbrush is surprisingly thin among the giant hardwood trunks. The Raella Mountains are to the southwest. A few streams gurgle through the jungle, probably originating in said mountains. To say the area is off the beaten track would be an understatement. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Kolek has arrived. Goldenfur has arrived. Hondon has arrived. Aleksei has arrived. Heidi plops down against trunk of a tree. "Let me rest a bit and I'll show you all the blend in." She says wearily placing her two rifles next to her and pulling out a canteen which she drinks from hungrly. "Watch out for Ferretmonkies." Is added as an after thought. Norton collapses with his back against a tree himself, facing the opposite direction of Heidi. He says, "This is as far as we go today." Kolek smirks, leaning against a tree of his own trying to air out his clothing, forming a triangle on watch. "Trust me, I know how to go unseen." Goldenfur proceeds on the Jungle, now he is in a more familiar territory, he go wobbling using all his remaing limbs, the fast as he can, his paw digits not making any noise. Hondon nods queitly, sagging against a tree. taking a moment to catch his breath, he adds, "We might have to watch out for Poelu and Yoescu as well...." "Whatever," says Norton. "I got a psi blocker, anyway. Just don't let them steal anything useful, like your weapon." Jared tags along with everyone along the trek, keeping quiet and to himself. He moves and settles himself down once they troupe makes it to their appearant resting place. Goldenfur also stops as soon as everyone stops, he moves closer to a tree, and settles there, his back against the tree, he facing Norton. Hondon nods, tightening his grip on his stun gun. Heidi pulls her rifle onto her lap and starts to look it over. The woman pulls a cleaning kit and starts to clean the weapon. Looking over at Heidi, Norton says, "Half of you clean weapons. The other half pull watch." He recognizes a good idea when he sees it, apparently. Goldenfur nods, having no idea of how to clean a weapon, he charges his pistol, and climb the tree, altough not too high, and he sit down there, holding his pistol charged. "I've gotta clean my revolver." Kolek takes out his revolver and begins to clean it. Hondon breaths easier, his mind slowly processing his thoughts. Examing his gun, he notices some dirt that has accumulated on the dish. He rubs it clean with his shirt. Shrugging, he stands up, deciding to help with the watch. Looking up at the tree canapy, Hondon says, "You know, maybe we can find an abandoned Poelu cave and hide there." He looks at Norton. Aleksei staggers in last, tail-end charles of the group, his rhetorical question answered. "Hoop, that was fun! You sure, sir? No more mountain hiking and flying robot recon machines looking for us? Well, bring it on!" Al sighs in exasperation, then finally relaxs against a tree. To Kolek, with a wink: "Still have dibs on top magazine..only now, my education shall be..over there, this time!" Al points at a nearby tree. Then he hears about..what? "Ferret monkeys? And what the hells are Poelu and Yoescu? Flies..or mosquitoes?..because if so, plenty of those here!" Al slaps at some of them flies and mosquitoes that seem to be buzzing around him for some reason. He turns to Hondon: "After we get some rest and have time for it, will show you how to shoot stun gun..my own and the cat's pistols have a stun position on them..for later, eh?" Al reluctantly gets his sorry butt up. "I'll take first watch, if you don't mind, Captain? As long as I am still up and all! My weapons are clean for the moment.." Al notices Golenfur shimmying up the tree. "They're big burrowing animals," says Norton. He tells Aleksei, "If you say so, man, but how they stayed clean in the swamp is beyond me." He looks back to Handon and says, "Yeah, maybe, but I am not going to burying myself in one of those places. If they find us, their firepower is more than good enough to blow that up. I'd rather keep moving. We can't all fit in a hole, anyway." Hondon looks back at Norton. "I heard that whole tribes of people lived in em, they were so big. But your right, if the Phyrrians ever found us, they would bury us alive." He goes back to watching the jungle. Heidi finishes up with the first sniper rifle then starts on the spare. "If we can't get someone to use the other rifle I can break it down for parts. Some can use the spoce for scouting." She says as she removes some dirt from the rifle's bore. Goldenfur from up the tree awnsers to Heidi "I would scout, but I think that it is more usefull to use him to shoot... I think that you can teach someone how to shoot, I remember that urf taught me in a day how to shoot very well, I think that training someone that already know how to shoot a energy rifle is not hard... It is?" Jared glances up towards Heidi at that as he begins tending to his rifle, "I can use it if noone else wants it. I'm not terrible with Slug Rifles, and it'd be nice to have a backup that won't break down." "No point in taking apart a perfectly good weapon just to use the scope," says Norton. "Leave it together." He starts to clean his own weapons, starting with the large bore slug thrower assault rifle, working to the plasma cannon attachment, and then to an assortment of energy pistols that may or may not turn into dead weight in the near future. Kolek finishes cleaning his weapons, remaining silent as he looks around Hondon looks at the stun gun in his hands once more, pondering something. Turning to Norton, he asks, "How many energy cells do you have for this thing? I want to know if theres enough for me..." Hondon pauses, a new thought occuring to him. "Actually, do you have enough energy cells for me to practice with the Pulse Pistol? I just remembered that you can't see the Gamma rays for the stun gun, so I can't see where I'm shooting at." Aleksei snorts. "Had cloth on me..as we were hiking along and ducking the recon ships, managed to clean them up a bit.." Al shows the captain the now dirty cloth. "Not fit to clean stuff with this..all I have to do is clean that up somewhere..I'll find a place to do that after I get off watch, yes?" With a shake of his head to keep his sorry ass awake, the scarred cop peers around, looking for furry monkeys and big burrowing animals. None to be had, at the moment. Maybe they're hiding from the Phyrrians? Who knows? Heidi nods her head and finishes with the pistol before dropping her pack and standing up. "Some of the strangest things come in handy out here. Don't toss a thing away." She says pulling out a coil of what looks like netting and her short sword. "First up on today's lesson, camo then we are building a lean to." "Ferret monkey tribes, maybe," says Norton to Hondon. "They're about two feet tall. Other than the Viking over there and the fuzzball, we're a group lacking real height, but even we tower over yoescu. Something to keep your eye out for, though, for when we get slaughtered. Someone quick and smart might be able to hide in one while the rest of us die." He tells Aleksei, "Resourceful." He doesn't get in the way of Heidi's lesson giving, shutting up. "I love how we're such a good team. Was there any military left here we could meet up with, Kapitan?" Kolek asks, glancing Norton's way. Hondon makes his way over to Heidi, ready to ask his question again when Heidi's lessons were over. Jared grunts faintly as Heidi disregards his comment. He returns to working on the Pulse Rifle he's carrying, cleaning it down as best he can with what he has. Goldenfur continues looking forward, but both ears turn in general direction of Heidi, then suddenly one ear return to scope the surroudings, while the ear closes to Heidi keep hearing her to whatever she has to say. "About thirty that work in either," says Norton to Hondon before he tells Heidi, "Give the guy the spare sniper rifle." He motions towards Jared. Aleksei gives Norton a crooked, scarred smile. "Have my moments, sir!" And to Kolek, with the same smile: "He prefers Standard term, Gospahdin Kolek: 'Captain'! Already learned that the hard way, yes?" Then he turns to the Valkyrie, ready to learn survival skills he needs. But, still he glances around on occasion, just to make sure nothing's sneaking up on them, animal or metal. Kolek gives a faint shrug and shakes his head, "Whatever." Heidi pulls the blade out and moves about hacking branches and leaves off plants. "Someone unroll the net." She orders and continues to hack away. "I don't know what's happened any more than you do," Norton tells Kolek. He makes no move to unroll the net. Hondon sighs, and moves to unroll the net. "ok, done." he says. Goldenfur keeps himself on the tree, paying attention to the sorroundings, ready to warn everyone if he notices something dangerous. Jared shifts his gaze over towards Norton, "So ya don't happen to know where we might find supplies out around here, do you?" he asks, starting to put the pieces of the pulse rifle back together. "If we're where the map says we're supposed to be, I do," Norton tells Jared. "If we're lost...maybe....maybe not." Aleksei nods to Kolek and offers his 100,000 ruble opinion(for all it's worth, given Ungstir's vaporized): "I'd settle for what's happened, so far. Gos..nyet, *Mister* Kolek, how did you manage to get here to New Luna..and what happened to Jackal? Has that survived?" With a major sigh of exhaustion, Al reluctantly moves over to unroll the net, since apparently no one else is doing it. A Kommissar's work is never done, even when he's not a Kommissar! Heidi starts to collect the various plant materials up and drops them next to the next. The woman then drags her pack up and pulls out a multitool and a tiny sewing kit. "I'd say no peaking but I don't you'd listen." The sniper sighs then starts to remove her shirt and pants. Jared nods his head a little bit to Norton, "Good ta hear. We could really use some hardcore weaponry and shit if we can find it." He grunts a bit and shifts his attention towards the rest of the survivors. "Why are you making this ghillie suit into a strip show?" Norton asks Heidi. He tells Jared, "Well, we'll see what we turn up." Goldenfur altought was really curious to see a naked human female, he keep looking around, paying attention to what he is doing, even, because he is not that intersted in seeing a naked female ape-like creature. Hondon coughs and turns away from Heidi. After a brief period of embaressment, Hondon goes back to examining his stun gun, taking out the energy cell and looking into the slot. Kolek shrugs at Aleksei, "Luck, wasn't on the Jackal, so don't know." He double takes Heidi. "Whats she doing now?" Jared nods a little to Norton and shifts his attention towards Kolek, "Your from the Jackal, huh? Last I heard everyone had gone over to the Faux." "Got a spare uniform I can use to make it?" Heidi replies to Norton. "Fuck it, moral boosting then. Get an eye full. Give ya something pretty to think of before you die." She snorts then lays the discarded clothing on the netting. "Okay, we are going to make a ghillie suit just like Norton said. We need to attanch netting to all our clothing." The woman then starts to sew away. Kolek shrugs, "Alright." He watches Heidi a few moments as he answers Jared, "Nyet, wasn't on the Jackal. Ever." "You're making this way too complicated," is all Norton tells Heidi. He inserts more dip behind his bottom lip, dozing off to take a nap. Hondon sighs and places the energy cell back into the stun gun, turning around and focusing on what Heidi was doing. Goldenfur tucks the pistol back on the holster, and grab from his backpack his old clothes, the ones that are not made or armoured leather. A big jeans, that have one of the legs badly damaged with scorch marks of a plasma pistol, a dirty white shirt, and a black jacket of false leather. After that he throw everything near the woman, and grabs his pistol again. Aleksei watchs with a small leer on his face as Heidi begins her 'striptease' Pole dancing, next? To Norton, leer still on his face. "*I* have no problem with it, Captain, sir!" Then to Kolek, leer temporarily off his face at this time: "Ah, da! Bad luck, it seems, eh? And..well, looks like she is starting to remove her clothing..try not to discourage her, yes?" Then back to Heidi, leer back on his face. Turns out Aleksandr's a secret voyeur, who knew? Not this narrator, that's for sure! Then the leer goes off..Awww! Sewing lessons? She's no fun, anymore! So, to Jared: "Guess, you and he may well go to Jackal if this is ever over..and I'd like to join too, if I may?" To Heidi: "Will wait for others to do that..been a longwhile since I've sewed, yes? Not since my academy days, when I used to have to keep my uniform in shape." Jared grins faintly, "Must be why I didn't recognize ya." He says, shrugging a little, "Well Swifty and the others were with the Faux when I came to New Luna, Torr had the Jackal and was doing his own thing. If yer still kickin' when we get through this I'll put in a good word though." He says, flashing a grin before glancing over towards Heidi. Heidi glances at the clothing dropped near her then up to the Demarian. "Thanks, we can reforce the elbows and knees." She says and adds a few more stiches and the net is attached and cut to shape. The woman then starts to crave up the jeans with her knife. Hondon tries to stick all the energy cells into his jacket and pants pockets, barely fitting them. Moving back towards a tree, Hondon sits, continuing to watch Heidi's actions. Aleksei glances over at Jared. "Noted, sir! Although I should warn you that while at the moment, Kapitan Ace, Swiftfoot, and Stars seem to like me, Kapitan Torr most assuredly does not! Have no idea why, though!" Al gives Jared a mock-innocent look, which probably fails. Al glances over at Hondon. "Need help, mister..Hondon, is it?..have some spare room in my pants pockets? Up to you." With a shrug and another glance, it's back to Heidi and her sewing lesson. Hondon tries to keep his eyes open, but they slowly shut and he finally succumbs to his exhaustion, going to sleep. Goldenfur continues scouting the place from up the tree. Jared smirks, "Torr doesn't much like anyone, especially if you give him a reason to dislike ya." He comments to Aleksei, "So don't feel too special." He adds. Heidi sighs and the patches are on the elbows and knees. She then turns the uniform over and starts to insert the plant parts into the netting. She does this in silence for a while then slips the uniform back on. "See? Hopefully we'll all make on in time." The woman's back is now a mess of branches and leaves. The sniper slowly slips down and starts to crawl off to the bushes, looking much more like a moving piece of scenery. "I once treked thirty mile and avoided partols are a week in one of these." She explains. Aleksei turns to Jared again, for a moment with a small smirk on his face. Then the scarred Ungstiri shrugs. "Ah..thought he just didn't like me only. Although maybe I should feel too special...he took a dislike to me the moment he found I was a Kommissar..must have been the walk we police do, because I remember not having my badge on at the time." Then he turns and notices that now Heidi is redressed and fashionably tree-like. He nods in admiration. "One of the things I'd like to learn, Miss..Heidi is it?..Yes, would like to know that one..but that's after I get off watch and get a bit of sleep, yes?..and still have to teach that guy..Hondon? Yes, Hondon..how to shoot stun pistol. Or Goldenfur can do that, with your own Midvyet, eh?" He shrugs and says "And now, if you don't mind, I watch for for those burrowing animals and..ferretmonkeys?..and roving killer machines, I know those!" And with that, back on watch Alek goes! Jared grunts a little bit, "So, ya both were on Ungstir huh? What happened there? We haven't gotten much news here on New Luna, for obvious reasons. Still can't believe you guys came here of all places." Aleksei is still looking around with a slightly tense look on his face, given that's his current duty at the time. He turns to Jared with a small, sad smile. "Well, we of the police and Militia got as many people out as we could: Miners, Shopkeepers, even the majority of the Citizen's Kommittee. Saw to that myself. Orphic came back..put off the crew of the vanished Athena..then exited the pad just in time for the Phyrrians to blast it. Then they were about to hit us when Kip Caspar, a Militiaman made them stop..turned most of them off, made others..just..*vanish*. Then he nearly made Ungstir disappear with that power. Then, Kip was taken aboard a ship..bound for..Nocturn, I think! Then the day after that..the machines came back..they came back in greater numbers. I and my tactical team got as many people onboard as many ships as we could. Got separated from my unit and had to hitch a ride on his ship.." Al gestures to the cat and continues on: "And then I slept for a bit..then I wake, and he hands me a PDA sh owing the news. I expect as much, but still hurts me!" Al sighs "But I shall mourn later, when I have time for tears, yes? And you, sir? How you get from being a, ah, dashing rogue to New Luna Militiaman, may I ask?" Jared nods slightly at that, "Huh, well that's a shame, I really liked Ungstir. Guess I won't be getting a new Midvyet anytime soon, good pistols." He sighs a bit, but at the question he flashes a bit of a grin and leans in a little, "They had a working gun and a working ship. Unfortunately I only got the gun when i signed up." Aleksei gets an evil grin on his face, bigger than Jared's. "Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about *that*, Mr. Jared! As far as I know, only Resilience was destroyed. With luck, U three niner is still around. Was there for a little bit and browsed some shops..had a few Midvyets on sale, amongst other weapons! You'd be more able to go there than me, though..shortly after that, entered the bar to deal with..actually if I recalled, he was a Jackal..anyways, wound up fighting a *huge* demarian..about as big as Stars..and some friends of his..got knocked out too..also why I'm now so handsome!" He gives Jared a crooked smile, scar showing plainly on his face. "At any rate..working guns are good..but yes, could use a working ship right about now! Instead here we are in New Luna..Paradise Planet, the ads call it. Always wanted to go on vacation here..and of course, all of my vacations end in disaster..Ungstiri luck for you, let that be a lesson, da?" Jared grins, "Three Niner's a nice enough spot. Went there with the Artemis once, that was just about a mess." He adds. "Ahh well. Probably can scrounge one up somewhere when we get back to civilization anyway." Aleksei giggles at this. "Yes, maybe nice for *you*, perhaps..but a word of advice: when you do, go in heavily armed and with backup..I stupidly forgot my own, and this is how I turn out. Tell you what..if or when we survive and get back to something civilized..will buy you Midvyet if I can find one, yes? But not on three niner, if that's still around. Or on Tomin Kora. Get feeling that I go to either place now, will last about a minute before I disappear, to be found in pieces if I am lucky, yes? Hmm..there are a few other asteroids around Perseverance system that could hold life..and I do mean a few..saw them while flying in rockhopper ship." Jared grins faintly, "I'll take you up on that." He says in response, "Sure there's plenty still on the market somewhere." He adds. "Fucked up place this is." He comments, glancing about the jungle a little. "Don't suppose we have any doctors, do we?" Aleksei laughs, not unkindly though. "If there are, they would have volunteered by now, I would think. The closest I am to being a doctor is that I am..*was*, must get used to this one of these days..was what they call a 'first responder'. Which meant I secured the scene of an emergency and tried to comfort the victims with words, or water if they asked for it. Which is about all I can do if any of us goes down. Maybe that blond woman, over there.." Al points to the nearby Heidi. He adds:"..noticed she's pretty damn handy with that needle, yes? She could probably stitch a wound up if she has to, I bet. From what I've just seen of her, she is probably resourceful enough to do it, eh? Other than that..well, guess we'll have to make do until we get back to civilization, if the Phyrrians, damn their metal hearts, haven't finished it all off all over the Arm. Dammit, too many ifs, Mr. Jared!" Jared chuckles a little, "Yeah, maybe we'll stumble upon some more survivors sometime." He adds, giving a bit of a shrug. Aleksei nods at Jared and gives him a small, less humorous smile. Guess the events of the day eroded his humor sense. "Perhaps we will, Mr. Jared. Can't be just only us who survived..witness that soldier..Boomer, was it?..he managed to survive the attack..at least for a time..and then there is Mister Kolek." Al points at Kolek and continues onward: "He got past the machines somehow..and if those 2 could do it, surely you're right, other survivors must be around..and with luck, we shall meet them soon. But, that is for tommorow, yes? In the meantime, if we get through tonight, I'll settle for it." And with that, Al goes back on duty. And so, as night falls and the scene fades to black, we leave our intrepid heroes camped out in a New Luna jungle. Will they survive another day? Will the Phyrrians come back to finish what they started? And whatever happened to Baby Jane? Tune in tomorrow! Same New Luna time! Same New Luna Channel!
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