IC - Bug City The Lost Years

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Curren
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Re: IC - Bug City The Lost Years

Post by Curren » Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:43 pm

The Cockney nodded in understanding. The gun toting solo's in the 'civilians' eyes were no better than the group of murderous fanatics that had decimated their families.

'I'll get my retribution on those fuckers one day' he thought as he walked over to the families that had nervously started to group together with the armed men's prompting.

'It's alright fella's, I'll take it from here.' he nodded to Tombstones militia as he smiled at the remainder of his charges.

'Ok team, Mr Stone and his group are kindly escorting us to a safe place tonight. But we need to gather all of our things together quickly so we can get there before night fall. Now I need all you kids to be brave 'an look after your parents and friends, as without you being in charge of them they may not feel brave enough to get there. Now; can I count on you to look after them?'
Negotiation of 15*, 10, 5, 3
'I want you all to be part of the Dream Team, where anything is possible if we stick together and keep smiling. Do you want to be in my team?'
Charisma:5 (+3 Edge pool) 12*, 8, 5, 3, 3, 2
'Probably best to centre on the kids, they are the weakest link in this venture' he thought grimly.

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Re: IC - Bug City The Lost Years

Post by arcanus » Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:01 pm

Your plan seems to work, as the kids spark up and the glaze of excitement replaces fear.
The parents still look warily at Tombstones troops, recent raw memories still fresh in their minds, 'scars running deep' thinks Curren.

Distantly gunfire growing ever closer tears through the quiet of the group, the kids are already stood up now eager to get on, the adults look over their shoulders fearfully.

"We should get moving, hunters are getting restless" says Tombstone, his carbine already unslung, his hands running across its working parts automatically, checking its readiness.

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Re: IC - Bug City The Lost Years

Post by Curren » Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:30 pm

Curren claps his hands softly.

'OK Dream Team! Now lets show the grown ups how it's done, I want you to to keep close to them and keep your eyes peeled around you. If you see anything, let the grown ups know and they will let me know.' he looks meaningfully at the parents.

'Dorothy, keep an eye on me an stay close ok? Without you I don't think I can make it, so you can be brave for us both ok?'

'Are we set then? Everything packed? OK, lets go!' Curren nodded to Tombstone.

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Re: IC - Bug City The Lost Years

Post by Curren » Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:38 pm

Whatever happened to the Embracer mate?
Was there any real indication that Cassandra was dead from what Curren saw?
Curren is deep in thought over these questions!

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Re: IC - Bug City The Lost Years

Post by arcanus » Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:47 pm

Curren wrote:Whatever happened to the Embracer mate?
Arcanus wrote:The Embracer seemed to vanish admidst the attack!
Was there any real indication that Cassandra was dead from what Curren saw?
Arcanus wrote:No only that her body was missing, MIA rather than KIA!

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Re: IC - Bug City The Lost Years

Post by Curren » Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:56 pm

Curren will mull this over as the troop travels. :D

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Re: IC - Bug City The Lost Years

Post by arcanus » Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:18 pm

The group moved off, the fretting and fussing quelled and turned into direction.
The mercenaries moved out to vanguard positions and to flank the group, a degree of nervousness ran through the troop as gunfire flared in the near distance.

On the edge of Curren's senses he could sense an etheric weight, a sluggishness that mulled around him.
His paranoia seemed to grow, a sense of constantly being watched, hardly surprising he thought.

The troop moved back into the built up areas, keeping close to the buildings rather than navigating the open street.
There was no sign of life, empty streets littered with long abandoned vehicles and garbage blowing around, empty black windows peering down at the troop.

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Re: IC - Bug City The Lost Years

Post by Curren » Sat Aug 06, 2011 4:34 am

Curren's eyes were everywhere; checking on his charges, and the militia to see if everyone was ok. Also for the sleepless enemy that haunted this dying city.

The restictions regarding the use of his powers left him feeling very vunerable, and he only hoped he was strong enough not to fall back on it unless there was no other course of action left to take.

The compound at Emerson Heights were the civillians only hope he thought. In any other circumstances he would have probably rejected their assistance, but the groups situation was very desperate and there were no other options to take.

The question was, would he go with them if they managed to make it to 'sanctuary'?

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IC - Bug City The Lost Years

Post by arcanus » Thu Dec 10, 2020 3:54 pm

The corner of North Racine Avenue and West Cornelia Avenue
Tombstone ignored the ferrocrete and plaster dust blown from the apartment walls by rifle fire, he watched the forces converge at street level, happily exchanging small arms fire between them whilst concentrating fire on their position.
They’d Shepparded the families north, avoiding the predators but aware they were being trailed, the safest thing had been to press on as quickly as they could try and outrun what were hopefully opportunists.

After 10 blocks it had become clear these were no scavengers, the Volk had revealed themselves two blocks south on West Newport, a running battle had ensued, breaking east they’d headed for Racine aiming to cut through the backstreets the final two blocks to Wrigley.
That was when Catherine’s forces had arrived, heading in from the North and them off, for a brief moment Stone had thought the two forces had allied, however as quickly as they spotted each other as they opened fire, that had given Curren and the crew a momentary window to hurry the families into the nearby apartment blocks.

The residents hadn’t been too happy but easily dissuaded, however now they were under fire from The Volk to the South and Catherine’s forces to the North.
In the edge of his vision diagnostics scrolled down his vision, Stone thanked his delta-grade ware it had been several years since maintenance and it was still running at near peak capacity, with all of the nonchalance of a seasoned pro he ignored the rounds chiselling piece of plaster or window frame from the wall.

He’d scattered a number of disposable pin cameras along the top of the window giving him a birds eye view of their opponents both at street level and having now ascended the floors of the opposite building. Periodically his crew returned fire however their shots were fewer and measured, they didn’t have the ammunition to burn and chose their targets carefully.

Either the Volk or Catherine’s killers had now reached floors higher than their apartment block, so fire began to descend upon them, the response was harsh and immediate as Maniac opened up with his HVMG. Stones tac-comp was running between the pin cams, continually mapping, as calm as day he completed the strip down and reassembly of his Colt M22, allowed the smartlink to recalibrate and synch.

He rolled from sitting with his back to the wall to a crouched position, acquired, slid to stand alongside the window frame, with inhuman speed granted by cyberlimbs combined with wired reflexes he swung around the frame four rapid single shots followed by three shots from the underslung grenade launcher and he returned to his crouched stance.

******

Maniac, the crew and Curren watched as figures in windows disappeared in a cloud of red mist, an explosion tore through the apartment floors directly opposite, a store front being used as cover for several VOLK erupted in flames and a car wreck adjacent to one of Catherine’s Humvees, crashed down onto its bonnet.

<Fucking show off> swore Maniac via his datacomm which electronically appeared in Stone’s thoughts
<On a related fucking note, I told you we should have got the fuck out of here when we had the chance>
Again, Tombstone was silent
<Yeah, yeah, I know no one was keeping me, but you know none of the crew would have left without you!”
Again, only silence in Maniac’s mind
<Hello, your comm not working> chided the dwarf
<Working perfectly fine> thought sent Stone
<I get the honour piece, but we’ve never been this sentimental before>
<That was before, in here, we are no different everyone deserves to live not just because they have spells or chrome or training, the scum down there don’t get to decide!> Stone continued <We were left in here same as everyone else, why do we get to escape, and they don’t>
<Because we can!> replied Maniac simply
<Agreed but by that same token its in our gift to help them escape because they can’t!>
<Alright it’ll fucking kill us, but one for all and all for all that bollocks>
Tombstone merely smiled at his comrade in arms before hearing the next burst of hell released by the dwarf

******

From his vantage point on a nearby building Lieutenant Alcim winced as a further volley of micro-grenades were fired from the apartment block with devastating consequences, it took out half a dozen VOLK under good cover and a number of his troops. Three way street fights were messy although he was confident for all their numbers and savagery his troops could easily deal with the VOLK.
But this family being protected by a few runners were frightened rabbits, no they were taking chunks out of both sides and had repelled every attempt to storm the lower floors.
“Thoughts?” he directed towards his number two, a big imposing Salish Tribesman called Rumble
“They’re not just runners, these are ex-military or spec-ops trained, notice how they don’t respond to the VOLK or our fire, they’re choosing their targets. Plus, there’s some pretty big magic guarding the ground floors!”
“Fuck it, be easier to light the entire fucking block up, just bury them!” Alcim replied tersely
“True but that draws attention” Rumble looked skyward, both he and Alcim knew that there was a line, the UCAS Military were happy to let their citizens rot in the CZ but if too much ordinance or firepower came into play then they quickly punished it through a rain of fire.
Plus, Catherine’s orders had been explicit the runners and the mage were taken alive no excuses
“Tell the troop to dig in, we’re going to have to sweat them out they’ll soon run out of ammo no matter how careful their shots are and do something about those fucking irritant Volk”
Rumble nodded before activating his comm

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Re: IC - Bug City The Lost Years

Post by arcanus » Sun Dec 27, 2020 2:10 pm

The command room would have been at home in any mil-spec operation, illuminated only by the readings and visuals on the consoles.

Catherine Cunningham or 'Catherine The Terrible' as she was now known watched her comms officers surveil the areas of the CZ of most interest.

Of particular note was the three way fire fight near Wrigley Dome, her interest drawn by high end runners and capable magical talent, a case of recruit or shoot and then there were also the rumours about this group.

Her own internal comm chimed, icily she stood and retired to her sealed office.

The channel opened, the encryption about as good as it got.

The speaker wasted no time <It would be preferable if your people pulled away from Wrigley!>
She deliberately left a lingering silence before responding <Are's Senators getting upset!>
<More Henderson>
<The toothless lion, you know as well as I the rules of engagement as does he!>
<Of course, however these are refugees, let them get to Wrigley!>
<Come, come, with that statement their value has just tripled and since when did you care about collateral?> she smiled as she replied
<Lets not dance, you're no more interested in them than 5 minutes ago>
<No what is guarding them is of interest!>
<So I take it, you'll be your usual stubborn self and not step away>
She smiled <It has continued to serve the administrations purpose to keep me locked in here, I have little reason to be helpful given the history! You'd do the same in my shoes I'm sure>
However the line had dropped 'Touchy' she thought

***
Henderson noted the message that quietly appeared in his comm, simply reading <No dice>
He thought sent back <Deal the hand>

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