Corr
Member
You can lead a fool to knowledge but you can't make him think.
Posts: 940 
Affiliation: Clan Vhett
Traffic Light: Orange
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Post by Corr on Jul 17, 2013 15:33:18 GMT -8
Rumours of some sort of infection driving citizens of Tauve into mindless drones had been circulating for the past day or so though most of Algarine put it down to the eccentric nature of their fellow city. Tauve had often been a thorn in the side of the more cultured and universally generic people of the capital city, most seeing them as radical rustics in the grip of racism and bigotry. Their recent alliance with the Xan Brotherhood had done nothing to change this opinion of them, leading the rest of the planets population to shun them and distrust their motives.
It was with no surprise then that the special bulletin came across on all channels, invading comlinks and holonews alike to bring the information to the people on a global scale. What likely would surprise the populace was the flaming inferno depicted in the scene as the second largest city on the planet was gradually consumed by a relentless inferno. A disaster on a scale this planet had never seen before had Xan and visitor alike staring wide eyes at the scene as the rather awestruck voice of the reporter spoke.
The camera changed angle and depicted different scenes of the destruction as she spoke, all of them far off views, some obviously taken from a flying craft.
We haven't been able to get closer shots of the city due to the massive outpouring of heat from the inferno. It is believed several munitions caches and chemical facilities have been set alight in the fire, one such explosion taking place just an hour ago as we arrived on scene...
The shot showed a huge column of flames soaring into the sky, mushrooming out to spread among the clouds. The skyline flashed an angry crimson, seeming like the very vaults of hell itself, and black smoke clogged the air from horizon to horizon.
All this happens just a few short weeks after martial law and a quarantine of the planet had been lifted, once again causing woe and disruption of the Xan people. Many are calling this the end of their race, referring to ancient prophecies telling of the Armageddon, a time when the planet would be destroyed by a series of disasters. Other blame the Mandalorian occupiers from bringing trouble and discord to the world, their combative nature bringing out the worst in an otherwise peaceful race.
The picture finally came to settle on a meticulously made up human woman, stood with a background of flaming city over her shoulder, blonde hair framed by the blazing halo of destruction behind.
All I can tell you is that there's no peace for Tauve this night as millions of Xan have been displaced by the tragedy behind me.
This is Fiona Toffnose reporting for Channel Rim.
The picture fades to black before displaying a few helpline comm codes.
The Xan stand frozen for a moment, their eyes wide from the shock of witnessing such a disaster. Some had families in Tauve, families that they were now fearful for. Others saw this, like the reported had said, as a herald of doom for them all. Some grew angry, some fearful. The mention of a plague also sowed discord, trepidation causing people to immediately seek their homes, their families, their loved ones.
Soon there was chaos in the streets. Perhaps not on the level of the riots from the previous months but madness was beginning to prevail. People sought to escape the planet before another quarantine was announce while others sough safe places where they could ride out the coming madness. Some though, enterprising souls through and through, would try to turn a quick profit in all this strife. For where there was trouble there was often credits to be made...
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Silhouette Ordo
Member
The Bounty better say dead, because I kill everything so watch your back I'm Insane in the membrane.
Posts: 71 
Affiliation: The Deceitful Kind, the kind that shoots first and asks questions later kind.
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Silhouette Ordo on Jul 18, 2013 8:02:23 GMT -8
I caught up on the incoming broadcast as it streamed into my visor. I crack an devious grin as I continue to look upon the village that I was scouting.
"Finally something worth exploiting, besides a doctor heading into a hospital. I mean who wouldn't jump into what just came over my visor, that just screams honorable journey and conquest."
I think to myself as I pick up my rifle and sling it across my right shoulder and get up from my perch. My active stealth now deactivated, I move into a more steardy position using the terrain as a primary concealment to possible prying eyes. I activate my stealth again and peer through the scope. I view a few unsuspecting soldiers in the village and fire well placed shots at the group of soldier coming to support the ones that were near the group at the jewelry store. First one aiming to go through the soldiers head that would surely kill him instantly, the next I aim to place the shot through the neck of the female soldier next to him as she would have possibly started to embrace the shock of what would have just happened to her counterpart. As for the last three before moving positions to avoid specific tracking I launch a explosive round with a evil grin on my face as I watch it head towards the other three surely to explode into pieces around creating a scene of carnage. I then grab my rifle and double time it about 500 meters to the left with my stealth still active I set up an observation stance viewing through my special T-Visor to observe the rest of the protective soldier populace that stood to protect some high valued asset. I watch and record everything for intel.
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Gukky
Member
I remember... The Major.
Posts: 1,052
Affiliation: FOR SCIENCE!
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Gukky on Jul 18, 2013 10:10:27 GMT -8
Tarmac
The Lieutenant gave the mercenary a steely glare, which would have resulted in sudden and painful death, if it were not for the hostage situation. It was this kind of indifferent insolence that goaded them into the fight. What did this offworlder know about their struggle for peace?
There was a fallacy among warriors, who fought for peace. It was a delusion, a rationalisation foisted on them by those who found it a convient lie. And once they could get enough people to believe it, something magical happened - it became truth. What did it matter that the Xan and the humans had been at each others throats until they had found a common enemy in the Mandalorians? As soon as they had heaped enough fire together make the Mandalorians regret their coming coming here, they would be right back at it again. Likely, Captain Minid would execute those that had been given treatment by the Mandalorians as "collaborators". It was a hole that they would dig themselves deeper and deeper into until...
"Sir! Sir!"
Lieutenant Ashour turned to see his radio operator come running at him. Hushed whispers. Urgent orders. Without a second word, the Lieutenant briskly walked off, not running, but clearly wanting to run. Gukky had seen the broadcast too, but that was merely a confirmation of what he knew already. He checked his watch. No more time. He knew that the militia would be interested in saving the gold but if they couldn't get that, they would save themselves. And they will kill anyone now who got in their way. But on their list of priorities, Abrim was unimportant now and the doctor was vanishingly small.
The shuttles engines started warming up.
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Flo
Member
Ow. That doesn't hurt.
Posts: 12
Affiliation: The Doctor
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Flo on Jul 18, 2013 10:11:32 GMT -8
Command center
Captain Minid was ashen faced. His planet was in ruins! In less than a year they had taken what he, his family and their ancestors have accomplished and thrown it beneath their feet. He could hear the frantic chatter of civillians, afraid, with nowhere to run. It had all come to one throw. And he would choose to bet everything, rather than have it taken from him.
"To all forces: sieze the hospital, kill the invaders and secure the shuttle! Show yourself as men and save our planet!"
There was a ragged battle cry from the forces. There was no order of battle, no formations, no preparations. Every soldier fired a salvo of whatever he had found in his hand at whatever he could discern was an enemy. And most of them saw only the vast bulk of the A-9 fortress. Mortar shells pelted down, rockets flew, grenades were lobbed. Then they were charging forward, flooding into the hospital, shooting as they advanced.
At the traffic collision
There was no response from the drivers of the truck. The pilot had been safely buckled down but his co-pilot was not quite as lucky. His helmet hung at an unnatural angle from his bump on the head. The laser cannon fire didn't penetrate the cab of the truck, but the heat of the shots cooked the pilot in his armour. Not so lucky after all.
Flo knew that the drivers weren't playing heros. Her tactical display showed them deader than dead. Which is what would be happening to the PMC soldiers that caused it. Her other two teams were still getting into position to complete the pincher manoever. She was in position, on a rooftop opposite the jewelery store. Two soldiers below. Dispassionately dismissing them for later, she hefted her anti-armour launcher, keyed in the dumbfire settings, stood, lined-up the missile and fired.
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Jace Stealer
Member
Posts: 305
Affiliation: Unfair Advantage
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Post by Jace Stealer on Jul 22, 2013 2:09:19 GMT -8
Jewelry Store
The two soldiers who had been lucky enough to dodge the truck glanced upwards as the sound of a rocket roared overhead. At that very instance the round from the unknown sniper on the hill pierced through the helmet of the soldier on the right, killing him instantly. His companion glanced over just in time to watch the heat ripple through the air from the other side of his helmet as she herself took a round to the neck. She collapsed, head hitting the ground bodily as she was now paralyzed from the neck down. She quickly slipped away, the last thing burning itself into her mind being the explosion from the rocket impacting their only hope of escape.
The driver, Corporal Orsier, saw the rocket coming but was unable to warn his gunners of the incoming threat. The back half of the A-9 was torn to shreds as the anti-armor rocket punctured the armor and exploded inward. The resulting shrapnel flew out the other side of vehicle, taking the rear gunner with it. The entire vehicle lost powered and dropped a foot onto the pavement, a metallic 'thump' signifying it's defeat.
Inside, Orsier wiped the soot from his face and turned his head to see what had happened to his front gunner. His last remaining soldier, Specialist Gordet stood up shakily and touched her shoulder gingerly. She had been lucky enough to only sustain minor burns and bruising to her left shoulder. Orsier grabbed her A280 Blaster Rifle and tossed it to her, grabbing his own while priming two thermal detonators. He looked over to his partner. "Ready?"
Gordet checked the charge in the rifle and the magazines she had on her. It would be enough to hold off any pursuers until help arrived. She knew what Orsier was planning to do, taking one of the primed detonators to mask their escape. "After you, sir."
Without warning, a single thermal detonator rolled out from the wreckage of the A-9 and under the truck that had been their inevitable downfall. Gordet and Orsier sprung from the side door of their vehicle, on the opposite side from the rocket-wielding soldiers so that the truck and the smoke from the A-9 would provide them cover. They ran down the street a few steps, firing rounds wildly in the direction of the jewelry store in order to keep their heads down. Beside them, the two low-grade detonators went off: one that had rolled under the truck, the other still inside the A-9. The Flying Fortress exploded in a shower of sparks and fire as the main power source blew, a thick black smoke rising from the wreckage to accompany the other plumes that dotted the city. Orsier and Gordet cut into a side alley, using the explosions to cover their escape. With the buildings beside them to provide cover from snipers, the two ran as fast as their legs could take them.
At the hospital
Kenev watched curiously as Ashour said nothing, but knew something was going on. A voice further on the landing pad rang out, calling their superior to them. As they spoke in hushed tones, Kenev looked over to Moorland and noticed the expression on his face. He had only seen that cold and terror-fueled-adrenaline look a few times before, and he knew it was bad news. Something other than the refusal to deliver Abrim had come over the comms. The second lieutenant looked back out to the doctor, but spoke to his friend next to him. "Moorland... sitrep. Now."
Moorland was already fishing one of their improvised explosive devices out of his pack. A high explosive with a delayed proximity scanner on it. As he started to key in the configuration in order to prime it, he glanced once or twice to his superior. "Report just came in, Tauve is gone. Gone! The whole planet is descending into chaos. We've lost contact with Telhan's other unit out past this mob. It's only a matter of time..."
Kenev nodded and stepped back, letting the door slide close in front of him before snatching up his rifle. Moorland armed the five second delay on the proximity charge as the two turned and ran down the hallway. They rounded the corner and stopped, staring out the window at the mob. The proximity charge armed itself, securing that doorway. Kenev raised his hand and activated his comm to his squad, his eyes growing wide as the sea of people before the hospital raised their weapons to the Mandalorians and the A-9 on the front defenses. Smoke 'em and EVAC! Everybody out! NOW!
The convoy began to pull out the back entrance, frantic to leave the area as all hell broke loose. The mounted weapons manned by the Mandalorians quickly fell to the hail of fire that swept them. Rockets destroyed the front gates and the A-9 as mortars chewed holes in the courtyard, tearing apart anybody unlucky enough to be out there. The two men on Telhan's squad that was in their A-9 died almost instantly. The Mandalorians quickly began to fall as the overwhelming amount of rebels poured onto the grounds and towards the hospital. Telhan and his three remaining specialists were on the other side of the hospital by the rear gates. As the order went out from Kenev, they jumped into their hover-truck and pulled out behind the convoy. The line of vehicles were already speeding down a street towards the center of the city, where their last bit of refuge was.
As the first salvo of the rebel forces slammed into the hospital, the fire team on the roof stood and fired their two rockets down at the hostage shuttle before dropping the empty rocket tubes and running across the roof. The six soldiers at the window didn't even bother firing down on the landing pad and instead ran back the way they came through the hospital. Kenev and Moorland turned and sprinted away from the window, heading down a hallway perpendicular to the landing pad. The sound of glass shattering echoed behind them as the outer walls of the hospital got pounded by the small-arms fire of the forces outside. He sent another comm to his squad as he ran towards their exit. King, drop some ropes over the far windows! Rappel down them and hold them for the rest of us!
On the roof of the hospital, Corporal Stuking redirected his fireteam to the edge of the roof, opposite of the incoming forces. Pulling their cords out, the dropped them over the edge and let the automatic drilling mechanism on the end of the cords secure themselves on the roof. Hooking in their short-ranged rappelling devices on their belts they proceeded to swiftly drop down in an almost-controlled guided free fall to the ground. They tightened their belts as they reached the bottom, slowing them considerably just before impact. As they detached themselves from the ropes, their companions on the floor above Kenev started their descent.
Kenev and Moorland reached their window just as the last soldiers rappelled past it, giving them a second to slide it open before they were able to descend. The two gentlemen slide down quickly, forming up with the rest of their squad. Kenev was glad to see his squad was unharmed for the time being. Taking point, he lead them through a side gate just as Telhan sped past in the speeder truck, hot on the tail of the convoy. His voice crackled over Kenev's helmet as the second lieutenant lead his soldiers across the street and away from the hospital.
Sir, do you want a pick-up?
Kenev ran down the side street with his squad right behind him, the sound of boots hitting the duracrete and heavy breathing reaching his ears. Negative, Telhan. I want you to contact the rest of the platoon and inform them of the situation. Phone the boys with our ride and find a SAFE LZ between one to two klicks of our current direction. Find out where the rest of your squad is, rendezvous with them and meet us there. Don't be late.
An affirmative from Telhan could barely be heard as several more explosions from the direction of the hospital rang out. Kenev stepped to the side and let Moorland take point down a different alleyway as he counted the heads of his squad as they passed. A perfect dozen. He turned to follow Stuking, who had taken up the rear, and glanced back once just as the captured hospital left his sight.
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Gukky
Member
I remember... The Major.
Posts: 1,052
Affiliation: FOR SCIENCE!
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Gukky on Jul 27, 2013 20:12:32 GMT -8
Landing pad
The shuttle slowly rose and as it began to fire up its sublight engines, a pair of rockets lanced through the hull. Although it didn't destroy the shuttle outright, it was the killing blow. Toppling over, it splashed back down onto the landing pad, exploded into flame before rolling off the roof to crash on the street below. Gukky had a front row seat, watching its death from the safety of the shipping crate he was cowering behind. No survivors, was his clinical note that he appended to the the situation. He could have seen that one coming. But he couldn't have foreseen the raging inferno that now covered the landing pad. He couldn't get past it and try to work his way through the hospital. And he couldn't stay here either, without a risk of burning himself to death.
So, he did what all people did during a fire. He used the fire escape that snaked down from the landing pad to the ground. Which sounded a lot easier than it was. Soldiers were shooting at everything that moved, but Gukky took his time, hiding and crawling forward until he managed to get to the ground. He lost one of his slippers, but it was a sacrifice he was willing to make. Things didn't get much better on the ground. In fact, he had to shoot two soldiers who had opened fire at him. Which had attracted more soldiers. Cursing his dumb luck, he ran, losing the other slipper in the process.
But now he was just another fleeing civilian in the crush of fleeing civilians.
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Flo
Member
Ow. That doesn't hurt.
Posts: 12
Affiliation: The Doctor
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Flo on Jul 27, 2013 20:15:01 GMT -8
Militia Command Center
Captain Minid had found the quiet in his thoughts, the eye of the storm. The unusual alacrity didn't console him. All that it did was allow him to see their truly hopeless situation. There was a moment for regret as he looked back on the months before. Although the war had been a terrible struggle, he could recall the comradeship, the quiet glow of satisfaction of knowing that someday they would win. Now, looking at the shuttle tumble to its fiery end, there wasn't even the option of escape. Yet, how his boys had tore through the hospital gave him one last desperate hope. All that there was left for them was to press on the attack and retake the whole of Algarine. He could entrench, resupply and hold out until the firestorm past. They were ready, fearless and were in surprisingly high spirits over their easy victory.
All units, press on to their stronghold. Drive them out! Our day has come!
Another cheer, this time a deafening shout, defiant and angry, instead of confused and bewildered. Civilians came to look what was the commotion about. Guns were past around and the militia's ranks swelled. Now, it was a tidal wave of humanity advancing on the Mandalorian's stronghold.
Jewellery Store
There was no such jubilation from Flo, who grimly surveyed her work.
Move in
Was the curt command. Her soldiers had started to stalk forward to secure the truck when a burst of suppressive fire came their way. They ducked away and returned fire as they did. The crew of the A-9 would need to escape the pincher movement before they could make it to their headquarters.
Then another explosion. Flo watched how the armoured truck lifted slightly, then sagged. The armour had deflected the brunt of the explosion, but it was now completely disabled. The wheels were shredded and smoke curled out of the engine.
"Engineer, give me a damage assessment."
She tried the door. Still locked. "You two" Points "get us in."
"Unit one, secure the area and find us anything of use to get this truck mobile again. You have ten minutes."
Her radio squawked: Sir, we've engaged two soldiers fleeing into our position.
Flo acknowledged and left the clean up to the others. Cocking her LMG, she was going to nail those two to the wall for inconveniencing her...
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The Major
Member
Also known as Sailor Titan
Posts: 5,959
Affiliation: Fallanassi
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by The Major on Jul 28, 2013 7:24:07 GMT -8
Somewhere else, someone who should not be allowed to smile is starting to have a smirk touch the corner of their mouth's left side.
Excellent technique! Truly remarkable, and this was coming from the young woman, Kya, who did not have the benefit of having a family of woman teaching her how to collect and use her powers to their fullest extent. True, Fallanassi were taught some of the more useful skills just out of infancy: children learned to immerse themselves before they were even taught to speak, but to see Kya build such life-like interpretations of troops, and even be willing to wisp together images of their deaths, was impressive. For a moment, the Major wonders if those life-like death throes that spouted out of the conjured soldiers were inspired by Kya's blood stained history. Did that man hooting and jumping into a ruined mess remind her of the women being repeated gutted by fixed bayonets? Did that one wisp of Current dragging himself upon the broken field remind Kya of her mother trying to crawl away from the hut she hid the little Kya in, before a Fascist smiled as the young Riplian updated the position of the wounded mother through a communicator, thus facilitating the aforementioned mother's death? What were the words the Major said?
Fallanassitin: auf der linken Seite; Sieben Metern, Idiot.
Ratatatatatatat. Mother now is a bullet sponge, completely at a loss as to how a simple man could possibly have guessed where she was. It was a waste of last thought, no doubt. It was a painful thought, no doubt. But that mother did manage to succeed. Here her daughter was now, sitting right next to the very person who planned out the genocide, who made it all possible. But enough of guilty thoughts. Revenge would be doled out when it deemed fit. Right now, the Major wanted to tell Kya, that while her illusions were impressive, there were plot holes. For instance, if you opened up with fake troops within range and then the other side did not take casualties, they would probably grow wise to the prank. After all, these clowns were being ripped to shreds where ever the Vhett clan mandos or the Bloodrage Pirates were concerned. Now they were steamrolling?
She might have to teach her how to enable the illusions to carry explosives by using a variation of the Doppelgänger trick -usually with C4 or thermal detonators, and have them run into the enemy. Obviously not enough to turn the offensive, but who ever you fought against needed to smell the blood of their komrades filling the air. It gave them a sense of reality and urgency, and if there was anything the skinny Fallanassi liked, it was men and women doing things with a spring in their step.
There also was another important lesson. Never use an illusion for something that could be handled by the proper or impromptu application of military technology. Lesson? Wait. Why was she already shifting to the perspective of a teacher? What in the world was her mind trying to make her do? How odd. Distraction: activated.
"Does zdat make zyou feel tired at all? Remarkable endurance, especially affter being trapped in ein containment fieldt. "This she says to Kya, as the tank rolls into the suburbs and makes little bumps as it passes a sidewalk, or a parkbench, or a parked speeder.
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Dred Vizsla
Member
Posts: 734
Affiliation: Whomever pays better
Traffic Light: Purple
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Post by Dred Vizsla on Jul 28, 2013 16:24:32 GMT -8
Nine miles away from the Jewelry store
*Dred had the WLO-5 hover tank topped out with the peddle to the metal. Careening and weaving through or over traffic. It was pretty straightforward.*
Five minutes later and four miles away from the jewelry store
*Dred could make out the security forces sounding the building. Dred doesn't lay off the accelerator, and fires the forward cannons to make a hole. Metal and fire erupt around him as he swerves and side rams one of the vehicles out of the way of a metal missile hell bent on retrieving Arkan and Fia.*
Two minutes later and one mile away from the jewelry store
Arkan and Fia can be seen being taken away. Dred makes a b-line for the pickup vehicle about to carry away Arkan and Fia. With the escort soldiers opening fire on the tank they know it to be pointless and duck out of the way as Dred drifts the tank into the vehicle with a hockey stop, knocking said vehicle into the building while making sure those who were hanging on knew to hang on for dear life.
=Arkan=
"What took you so long?"
*Arkan can't see it but Dred had a smile.*
"Oh you know me Alor'ad, I had to make an entrance."
=Fia=
"They've taken Gref! We can't leave without him!"
*Dred shakes his head as if he is about to tell her no, but Arkan nods as if to tell him yes. Dred Grumbles to himself in Mando'a and fires his jetpack launching him in the direction he is nodding towards. Dred lands as he sees them load up the Vonskr into a cage muzzled and bound on the parts that make the animal dangerous. Dred whips out one of his rippers faster than the other two and shoots at them. He misses on purpose and tilts his head at them to take off in a quick gesture. He puts back his ripper and proceeds to take Gref's restraints except for his tail. Dred didn't want to be poisoned again. Last time it was a neurotoxin from that bastard Count Demici. Dred carries the animal under his arm as he takes a blaster shot from behind. It was aimed at his jetpack but it wings him in the collar bone. Dred fires his jetpack, turns in mid-air and fires back with one of his rippers. Landing near the tank, Dred helps them load the animal and get ready for take off. But not before reinforcements arrive.*
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Kya Xemo
Member
I'm still editing my profile.
Posts: 27
Affiliation: Fallanassi and the White Current
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Post by Kya Xemo on Jul 30, 2013 11:49:52 GMT -8
Riplian's question went unanswered as Kya concentrated on the illusion, if only it were endurance instead of stubbornness. Kya did not want to show how tired and drained she was from being trapped in the containment field. In fact she was so entirely exhausted that she didn't see the obvious errors in her illusion, but it had done the trick and minimized casualties, even with the blood thirsty Mandalorian at the wheel mowing down unsuspecting targets. It wasn't until they were clear of the reinforcements that she let the illusion fade away. There she sat quietly holding on to the vehicle as tightly as she could in her weakened condition, her fingers loosening their grip as she started to nod off only to become alert once again at the sound of knocking within the tank. As they arrived to their destination Kya's exhaustion was becoming more and more evident.
Again she sat silently as the Mandalorian rescued the animal in a very chauvinistic manner typical of his kind. Running in guns blazing to announce his dominance only to show those who knew what the display was all about a follower with Alpha Male complex. Kya only rolled her tired eyes as she watched the events thinking about how a woman would have handled the situation in a much more effective way and not drawing the attention of reinforcements to them. Which is exactly what it appeared had happened. Silly boys and their silly toys.
"I'll draw some of them away."
A sentiment that she knew would go unappreciated by the Mandalorian and possibly the others around them, but it was her way. She breathed deeply as she began to cast yet another illusion, this time she would put everything she had into making it real, this time she would--pass out.
And so there she lay, unconscious and defenseless on the tank before she could assist this new group in any way.
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Jace Stealer
Member
Posts: 305
Affiliation: Unfair Advantage
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Post by Jace Stealer on Jul 31, 2013 22:32:35 GMT -8
Orsier and Gordet continued down the alleyway, checking behind themselves occasionally to make sure they weren't being followed. After two minutes of finding their way out of the side streets they came upon the entrance of a small market courtyard. A full circle lined with dusty, empty stalls of previously lucrative businesses. Trinkets, small bits of food and other wares dotted the area around each stall. In the middle of the courtyard sat a large fountain. A simple flowing design of water made the base of the sculpture, made real by the sunlight playing over it's wetted surface.
The two soldiers took cover behind the nearest stall, Gordet covering the alley they just came from while Orsier pulled out his commlink and watched the rest of the courtyard. Blade 2-9 to Blade 2-1, requesting status report, over... I repeat, Blade 2-9 to Blade 2-1, come in? He waited a few seconds, watching the commlink intently and hoping that his squad leader's voice would call out to them. As the seconds dwindled by, the realization that a soldier's worst fortune might be upon them. He looked to Gordet, who was still watching their entrance vigilantly. "Gordet, we..." He faltered, taking a glance around the courtyard before looking back to her. "Veronica... We might be on our own. Who knows what's happened to the rest of the team? For all we know, they could-"
Specialist Veronica Gordet turned and cut him off with a dangerous stare. Before she could speak her mind however, the radio crackled to life. Blade 2-1 to Blade 2-9. Orsier, where the kriff are you?! What's going on over there? Gordet looked from the commlink back up to her fireteam leader. "Just shut up and get on the radio. I want to- oh blast it!" Out of the corner of her eye she spotted several teams of soldiers moving into the opposite end of the courtyard. Looking back the way they they had came from, there was no doubt that it would be crawling with the soldiers that they had left behind. They were effectively trapped in the courtyard. Veronica was always quick on her feet when it came to bad situations, so it was to no surprise to Orsier when she spotted a luxurious building on one side of the courtyard in between them and the hostile forces. "There. That's our best bet out of this courtyard."
Orsier pulled out his last grenade: A white-phosphorous tactical smoke grenade used for instant deployment of smoke for cover. He nodded once to Gordet and she nodded back in understanding. Pulling the pin on the grenade he tossed it out between them and the other soldiers, just to the right of the fountain and a small distance farther then their supposed exit. The grenade bounced once, detonating a foot off the ground a split second later. A screen of smoke erupted from the canister, throwing up a thick cloud between them and their hunters. Lasers punctured through the screen in retaliation to the action, aimed to deter the movement of the two hiding behind the stall. But they were of the Emerald Blades, some of the finest men and women to be serving in a military force. Bum-rushing the doorway, the two fired back a few shot of their own on the way to the door.
They got in without incident, aside from a few small bits of duracrete in their hair from the close calls. Gordet grabbed a heavy cabinet and slid it in front of the door while Orsier brought up the commlink. With the heavy cabinet blocking the doorway, and it being too thick to simply blast it apart with blasters, they would have to use at least a small explosive. Might buy them a minute. Sir, we're pinned down in a market. Transmitting coordinates. They only had to wait a few seconds before their squad leader responded.
You guys are in for rough patch. Doesn't look like there is a back-exit into any alley... We'll be there soon. How is the rest of team holding up?
Orsier sighed and paused for a moment, looking back up to Gordet. They simply stared at one another. ... It's just Gordet and I, sir. The two started to make their way up the stairs that dominated the main entryway. There would be better cover and possibly an escape route on the upper floors.
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Dred Vizsla
Member
Posts: 734
Affiliation: Whomever pays better
Traffic Light: Purple
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Post by Dred Vizsla on Aug 1, 2013 9:20:12 GMT -8
*Dred watches Kya pass out. He chuckles as he knows she exerted herself beyond her means. Any self-respecting mandalorion knows when they a first taught that stamina goes a long way. Never commit all your energy to one task or group of enemies and that is precisely what Kya did. Pushed herself beyond her means. Normally Dred would leave her to be captured by the enemy but Major and Kya found each other and not by chance. Once the Vornskr is loaded,Dred goes to scoop up Kya. He lifts her up effortlessly and she dangles like a ragdoll in his arms.*
"You know Jeti'ika, for someone who claims to be different than a Jetii, you have some very close characteristics of a Force user who doesn't know their limits."
He smiles under his buy'ce and loads her up. Knowing women he'd never get the last word unless she wasn't conscious. That smile fades as the reinforcements try to surround them. Major jumps on the machine turret to lay down blaster fire as Dred gets ready to leave in the tank.
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The Major
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Post by The Major on Aug 1, 2013 14:09:58 GMT -8
And in this corner we have a reckless display of chauvinism followed by another putrid layer of even more chauvinism. Typical testosterone bound drama; absolutely no respect for physical space. You know, personal space? Next, there would be dress wearing and cocktails while the men decided who would be married to whom and who would be a one night lay. Honestly, watching actions like this made the Major wish she could force herself into being a lesbian. Perhaps turn humans into an asexual race in the future? What a depressing universe they inhabited. The Fallanassi who wasn't passed out tries to remember some of the statements made by the lesbian Kama Sutra. And then she remembered the pictures.
"Oh, fick no."She visibly shutters.
Contrary to everyone believing that she was Fascist asshole who was racist, she was not. Racism would imply the things she hated were human. Strictly speaking, only non-humans were given the gift of jackboot laced, genocide bound attention. Otherwise, the humans who served her purposes came from all manners of life, and homosexuality was not even noted among the ranks. Really, nobody gave a damn what you wanted to sleep next to as long as it had 23 chromosomes and was willing to fire a remade MP-40 into ranks of Twi-likes, or Jim-Jams, or Mon-sushis, or shards, or whatever the Hell those beasts wanted to call themselves. Oh, you also had to like slate gray BDUs. And maybe ribbon. Great news though in the world of human supremacy: mandos might just become officially upgraded from sub-human to good old regular kind, and that was cause for celebration.
These thoughts were bought to you by a warped brand of Fallanassi feminism. Really, all of the White Current followers, even the Major, had this little button in their psyche that was pressed if anyone displayed an act of chauvinism. You think a dark sided woman scorned was bad? Come back after you survived five years of mind rape at the hands of an illusionist. It was so bad, you couldn't even list it under "dark." It went under "other."
Dred's mistake was assuming Major climbed into the turret to fire back at the attackers. First of, let's set the record straight here, she does not use anything that does not fire bullets. Secondly, she does not use anything that fires bullets that was fully automatic. The turret did provide good cover from return fire though, and that was just what she doing: hunkering down in the seat for covering while blaster bolts glanced off the armor. Since it was a quiet moment, she used the time productively and typed up a post in a holonet RP-forum on her datapad. Goddammned autocorrect was playing havoc with her typing speed.
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Dred Vizsla
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Post by Dred Vizsla on Aug 1, 2013 17:10:36 GMT -8
*Assumptions are the mother of all fuck ups. Dred should have known that Major would use the turret, but not in the fashion he hoped. He need to move this party and quickly.*
"Haar'chak!"
*The time to leave has come and gone, so Dred calls to the Cutlass to arrange a barn swallow with all their new occupants.*
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Fiàin
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Post by Fiàin on Aug 14, 2013 15:52:10 GMT -8
[Changing a few things and backtracking myself because we had a story line somewhat planned already...]
Fiain took the bag from Arkan as the armoured man walked off. She headed directly for the cases to her left, near the one containing the large red gem she had seen before. She slid open the small door behind the glimmering display and with sweeping motions emptied the contents into the sack. When she reached the case with the red gem she paused slightly, taking the necklace out she held it in her hand, surprised at the weight of it and momentarily mesmerized by the sparkle that emanated from the perfectly cut facets of the large ruby. Not wanting to risk Arkan taking it for himself in the bag, she quickly hid the necklace inside her top before starting to move on. She was stopped by a loud noise to her left and saw an armoured man rapidly approaching yelling at her to drop the bag. He had others with him but he sent them to grab Arkan, obviously assuming her could handle the unarmed woman by himself. He came closer, obviously not seeing the large black Vornskr hiding in the shadows. In one swift movement Gref shot out from the shadows and swept by the man with a fast lash of his tail...looking to the officer most likely like a large stray dog running from the shop seeing as it was dark. The man felt a small sting in his leg but didn't think anything of it, focused on not being distracted and apprehending the female looter. That was when his vision started to blur and his limbs got heavier, he didn't even have time to react and radio the others before the Vornskrs powerful venom made him drop his weapon. In seconds Gref was on him, the animals powerful jaws ripping out the mans throat as his nearly paralyzed vocal chords managed to utter a scream that quickly turned into a gurgle.
Fia grabbed her dropped bag of loot and swiveled, calling Gref as she began to run out of the shop...as always her mind was on self preservation above all else. Then she heard a shout from the back room and her mind went to Arkan, and with a little growl of frustration she realized she didn't want to leave him behind. She knew the other men were in there and she was aware she was outnumbered, but some loyalty she never felt before inspired her to help the captain. Quickly, and slung low to the ground, the feral looking woman skulked in the shadows towards where she heard noises. When she got to the doorway she saw two men surrounding the captain, and she felt a flash of anger. Gref picked up on the anger, and before she could tell him not to the Vornskr ran into the room, tail whipping side to side stinging one man but his tail deflecting off the armour of the other. Fia screamed as they aimed a blaster at him, and she ran into the room throwing herself in front of the weapons fire. She felt a burning sudden pain in her leg, and when she tried to stand again she couldn't. She yelled at Gref to flee, but the Vornskr, seeing her injured refused. That was when the man who has shot at the Vornskr previously, seeing the loyalty perhaps, decided against killing the large animal. Instead he set his blaster to stun and shot him. The 400 lb Vornskr went down with a thump and Fia cried out in fear, her eyes going to Arkan pleadingly. Gref was her only family...they couldn't hurt him.
Her consciousness was starting to fade, the pain in her leg and the blood loss making her overwhelmed mind hazy. She suddently heard screams and shouts, loud booming sounds and crashes...none of which she could process in her fogged state. She looked up as one of the men tried to drag her away, unable to stand she felt immense pain as the movement jostled her injured leg. Then she spotted Dred as she felt her captor let go. In her last few seconds before her mind drifted completely into unconsciousness she managed to mumble out
"They've taken Gref....we can't leave without him...."
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Dred Vizsla
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Post by Dred Vizsla on Aug 15, 2013 12:39:38 GMT -8
*With everything set right, things move ahead. With Fia injured and Gref out cold Dred lifted the 400lbs of dead weight with a little trouble into the tank, just as Arkan helped Fia or with logic he thought he would. When Dred figured Major would jump in the turret, he thought she would shoot but forgot she doesn't fire anything but slugthrowers. A nice sentiment to have when enemies weren't on there way to surround them. But anyways, all is as it should be and things aren't looking up for our dastardly crew. Just when things are looking down for the three passed out crew members, all of a sudden come a man and a woman tearing down the street. Why it's none other than Gukky and his esteemed colleague running down the street with the ISS close behind them. Dred shakes his head as Arkan fires up the WLO-5 hover tank and starts taking off in the direction of Gukky and the woman. Dred stays on ground and makes himself a target so they have two to deal while the rescue continues. Without question, (because at this point I'm out of ideas), the crew welcomes Gukky and his companion in and speed off. Dred fires his jetpack and heads off on a rendezvous course with the tank. Coordinating with the Cutlass, the ship does a barnswallow off a cliff, scooping up the intrepid crew and their new acquisitions. The Cutlass takes off for open orbit while the Good doctor tends to his new comrades(without question or incident I might add because it'll end the story.) while Arkan gives orders to the helmsman to head for open orbit, then for Ryloth.*
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Corr
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Post by Corr on Oct 19, 2017 8:04:53 GMT -8
Three years after the above events and the events in Tauve... The wind wheezed lazily through the forlorn city, a wistful sigh that mourned the once thriving community that once felt its gentle caress. Buildings stood sentinel over roads and causeways already seeming to yield to natures firm advances, presiding over a metropolis of emptiness and dereliction, uncaring of the fact that there was nothing 'natural' about its fate. When the end had come for Algarine it had come without turmoil or opposition. The destruction, unlike her sister city of Tauve, had been near nonexistent. With ruthless efficiency and implacable will the unknown plague had absorbed everything in Algarine, its writhing tendrils of electric blue matter snaking and squirming into every facet of the urban landscape, infecting the very ground upon which the capital resided. The people hadn't known what was happening until it was too late, the very constructions that had sheltered them from the elements becoming an insidious doom, a virulent cataclysm that permeated all things at every level. The eyes had been the first noticeable change, if there had been anyone to notice. Dazzlingly blue iris' had grown to stain the entire optic mass, sinuous veins of the same colour branching out towards temples, hairline and down towards the jawline and chin. At first the people had gone about their business, some level of parody still being played in case of a need, listlessly continuing a daily routine. Eventually that too ceased to be, the zombie-like figures abandoning even the pretense of normality. It is not the purpose of this narration to reveal the fate of these people. The story to come will see to that. Suffice to say the people just ceased to be present, leaving a city devoid of any discernible life. Indeed, even the wildlife was absent its usual presence, the vegetation a mockery of flora and fungi, stained with the strange blue veins of infection. Every here and there the twining tendrils of contagion formed a hub or a nucleus where they converged, staining the very durescrete and steel a vivid blue hue.
So it was that the city of Algarine stood silent in the mid-afternoon sun, a ghost town serving as a tomb for the unfortunate civilisation that had found itself in the path of an inexorable entity on its indomitable path towards a goal beyond this galaxy's understanding...
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Post by The Corruption on Nov 5, 2017 8:37:09 GMT -8
Algarine. It had been the site of Miros's first direct contact with the Mandalorians; now it stood as a silent testament to his determination and skill. Those particular assets had not gone unnoticed by the collective, and a previously discarded idea was soon to be literally brought to life. The pathogen recognized the new potential of slight independence among its ranks, the ability to think outside the proverbial box, and it was the unanimous, single decision to bring forth one whose genetic template had been long ago acquired, considered, and stored as an eventuality.
The risk was deemed acceptable now. With Miros at the helm to maintain guided control, this new creation would be a powerful asset in furthering the Spread.
So it was that the Darkness of the Corruption stood before a pool of the pathogen's raw form in the city square, his hair and cloak rustling slightly in the gentle breeze. He stared forth into the pool's center, holding his hand out level in front of him, and the pathogen swirled, reconstructing itself, forming creation anew..
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Kairos
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Post by Kairos on Nov 8, 2017 9:27:45 GMT -8
...until the surface of the silky blue pools surface parted around a form draped in cyan tendrils that writhed and undulated frantically over its indistinct mass. The viscous liquid retreated sluggishly as the new creation rose higher, drawn from the heart of The Pathogen by the extended hand of robed figure at the shore. A shape could be discerned now, partially concealed beneath the ghastly blue filaments that spawned from the depths of the lake beneath, the pulsing energy that traveled upwards along said filaments to breath structure and definition into the quickly-forming entity.
As the physical essence was constructed without so to was consciousness forming within, personality and attributes long ago assimilated by The Corruption, held for nearly a decade for this very purpose. All the memories and abilities of the being encountered all those years ago on Haruun Kal manifested now in the construct brought to being, the thoughts within sharpening to sentience in a matter of minutes. There was no confusion. No growing pains. There was only purpose. The essence of the pathogen flooded and swirled within, trillions voices coalescing into a single mind, a chorus that sang of "we" merging into a single voice that calmly spoke...
"I...."
The word was a quiet gurgle, but the meaning reverberated within the echoing vault of The Corruptions hive-mind. The fluid had near-completely drained from the figure and the fidgeting tendrils had now begun to withdraw as they moved forward, gliding the now-humanoid shape across the top of the pool and towards the shore, lowering to the ground in front of Miros. The skin was still a pale blue but was rapidly darkening, beginning to take on the hue of the human that had once worn it. The eyes blinked steadily as the last of the liquid retreated, the orange-flecked iris'staring out from the background of milky blue, lids narrowed with keen attention. Dark hair lay plastered to the high forehead and temples, brows sharp and defined like the jaw below. The mouth was a thin-lipped line that opened and closed several times as it worked on forming words for the first time.
"I am..."
A harmony sang forth within, an unholy hymn of praise for the new creation that would help to carry the seed of Corruption further still in this impure galaxy. Within the being the process was complete, the awakening of self-consciousness and sentience firmly established within the one now known as...
"I am Kairos..."
The thin lips twitched up into a hauntingly familiar lopsided smile.
"And our Voice shall be heard."
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Dees
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Home is a Universe Away
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Post by Dees on Jul 31, 2018 17:50:35 GMT -8
A stranger driving a 1968 Buick Electra 225 pulls into the city and finds the nearest ice cream stand. Parking, the stranger, a man, slightly overweight and with a messy mop of a hairdo gets out. He is wearing a comfortable looking tee shirt with the image of the famous Darth Vader on it, and his cargo shorts have a few devices in the pockets to make his communication back home a little easier. He goes into the ice cream parlor and looks around to see if anyone is around to help him with his mighty need for ice cream.
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Corr Vhett - puts the "Laughter" in "Manslaughter"..... 
