250 replies to this topic

[Kevin Kirov]

"I'm not that old yet mate, I'd still be more than a match for any DCMS dog who tries to follow us." Kavin said panting.
"Might just take a seat though" He said as he sat down, back against the concrete on the side of the doorway.

[Orcinus]

So the umbrella is a shotgun...? Better than being unarmed, I guess.
Furukawa propped up the first board, nails and all, on the wall next to him.
I'll make due with this.
He reached for the board just below the gap he made and started prying it out.
"Give me a second."

He glanced over at the man with the pistol. A chest wound left him looking a bit paler than he was earlier.
Furukawa recalled the six DCMS soldiers from earlier and turned back to the board he was still pulling at.
"Don't push yourself. We can't afford to have your marksmanship die on us now."

[theginganinja]

*Hey, many apologies for my lack of IC posts since my first; I was distracted by finals, then I got to deal with a rather nasty virus on my computer *

Shortly after arriving at the safehouse with his squad's last man, Pard is sent to search for possible recruits - a number of the resistance's contacts had reported a small group of people fighting Draconis troops at the Empty Stein bar, then heading towards the industrial zone of the city.

Pard enters the industrial zone, and heads for a nearby resistance hideout - any more news of the group would have to be gained there. The post is undermanned - they recently suffered losses after being ambushed by a Kurita Stinger. However, luckily for Pard, less soldiers does not necessarily mean a reduced ability to gather intelligence - one of their contacts is able to reduce his search to a few blocks, rather than the whole sector. He checks his auto pistol, then heads for the area the group was last spotted in.

Edited by irishwarrior, 16 December 2011 - 11:48 AM.

[CaveMan]

Jason half suspected that the Drac had picked the smallest board to remove on purpose.

All the same, he removed his trenchcoat and barely squeezed himself through the gap, careful not to make any sudden movements. He pulled the coat through along with the shotgun and wrapped it around the barrel of the gun.

As his eyes adjusted to the dimmed interior, Jason could see that someone had indeed been in the building recently. A flickering fluorescent light spilled out of the room where the local woman said the first-aid station would be. A handful of paper documents littered the hallway, some with wet footprints on them. He thought he could see a raincoat and galoshes piled in the corner of the lighted room.

He stepped in, gingerly, careful to keep flush with the exterior wall and out of the lighted room's line-of-sight. He reached out and waved his companions forward, slooowly, then raised the shotgun and kept creeping into the room.

Just as he was about to reach the lighted room, one of his boots found a piece of window glass and made a loud crunch.

"Fmmmmph!" he bit his lip to stifle a curse.

He heard shuffling papers in the room and what might have been a pistol cocking.

Jason threw his head back against the wall and rolled his eyes. Just my f***ing day...

"Leave your weapons in the room," he said in a low voice, "and come out with your hands where I can see them. One at a time. I'm armed, and I won't hesitate to shoot."

[revanus]

Alex had smoothly slipped the small auto pistol out of its shoulder harness moments earlier. He didn't leave the shadows of the booth he was sitting in.

He wasn't a professional marksman, but he could definitely hit a man-sized target at 20 feet. He'd also been putting in a lot more practice "at the range" since the invasion began, shaking off the rust from his childhood gun outings. Alex was confident he could unload his 16-shot Serrek 7875D and chamber a spare mag rapidly enough, if things went south.

He very much wanted to avoid a southern turn.

After all, shooting people in daily life tended to have messy consequences.

Alex was surprised by the shotgun-toting figure that had been making his way into the room. Inwardly, he was slightly relieved. While the prospect that he was facing armed looters or a criminal gang wasn't exactly comforting, Alex still found it preferable to running into an armed Combine patrol. While Alex did carry a Federated Gun License, and had already talked his way out of having his weapon confiscated a few weeks back after a random Drac street search, the stories of Combine grunts shooting without bothering with formalities such as questions were well known.

Criminals, at least, could be bargained with.

"No need to get trigger happy, but we've got guns, too. Don't come any closer."

Alex figured the dim lighting of the bar and the large numbers of booths and other concealed spaces would make it impossible for the newcomer to quickly figure out how many people were in the lounge.

After a brief, tense pause, Alex was gratified to see he wasn't filled with bullet holes. He took this as a good sign.

"Let's talk."

As a lawyer, Alex was an experienced negotiator. In fact, he had a natural talent for dispute resolution and arbitration.

"Last I checked, it doesn't take an arsenal to go for a walk. What are you doing here?"

Edited by revanus, 16 December 2011 - 02:56 PM.

[CaveMan]

revanus, on 16 December 2011 - 01:45 PM, said:

As the group filed in, tossed down weapons, and raised their hands, Alex was taken aback.

((Hang on, what? Jason was telling Alex (and whoever might be with him) to drop his weapon. I'm confused.))

[VEDRFOLNIR]

CaveMan, on 14 December 2011 - 10:45 PM, said:

"As long as you can get the door open, Miss, any entrance is good," said Jason.

He took a look over the imposing structure.

"It certainly looks solid enough. Roof should have a good vantage point on anything coming up the street. Is there a basement, or a garage level we can take cover in? Less risk of stray fire versus street level. Autocannon rounds aren't usually obliged to stop for plywood."

Eiko nodded, keeping an eye out for any movement in the street. 'It has a basement that was used for hardcopy storage of invoices and such. I expect there will be another first aid station in the warehouse, but I don't know for sure.'

Jason wormed his way into the structure, shotgun at the ready. Eiko cocked an eyebrow at Jason's inventiveness but said nothing - if someone was inside, then she certainly didn't want to attract their attention. For a minute or two, there was silence from within, then Eiko could just hear Jason say '"Leave your weapons in the room and come out with your hands where I can see them. One at a time. I'm armed, and I won't hesitate to shoot." She tensed and looked back at the others. 'Be ready,' she whispered.

revanus, on 16 December 2011 - 01:45 PM, said:

As the group filed in, tossed down weapons, and raised their hands, Alex was taken aback. This was a very strange, well-armed bunch. They also looked absolutely wretched. One of the men was fairly bloody, and seemed woozy. Another had his arm in a jury-rigged sling. Alex quickly glanced at the girl, who was noticeably pretty despite her haggard appearance. All told, they looked more like refugees than looters, but Alex wasn't taking any chances.

"You know, last time I checked, it doesn't require an arsenal to walk down the street. What are you doing here?"

((Sorry, but that's not what we're doing. You might want to revise your action. ))

[CaveMan]

Quote

Let's talk

"Alright. You don't shoot me, and I won't shoot you. I'm going to lower my weapon now."

Quote

Last I checked, it doesn't take an arsenal to go for a walk. What are you doing here?

"I think we were about to ask you the same question. We've got wounded. We came here looking for shelter and medical supplies."

Jason glanced at the ransacked first aid station.

"...Although it looks like you may have had the same idea. If you've got any meds, maybe we can work something out."

[revanus]

((Problem fixed. When I first read it, I thought you had given my character a gun and written in some opening dialogue. After a second read, I realized that "he" wasn't me .))

[Orcinus]

Prying off the third board, Furukawa heard a crunch of glass followed by a voice from inside.

So much for the element of surprise.

He made his way down to a fourth board and began prying it off.

VEDRFOLNIR, on 16 December 2011 - 02:06 PM, said:

'Be ready,'

He eyed the board propped against the wall. He had chosen the smallest board in an attempt to mitigate its unwieldiness; it was a wooden board, after all.

He turned to the woman.

"I can handle this one. You should get yourself and everybody else ready to squeeze through whatever is available at a moment's notice."

[revanus]

"I used to work here. I came back for some files."

This was true, to a point.

"The med kit on the wall is empty. I checked."

Also true. Alex didn't bother mentioning that the kit's contents were sitting at the bottom of his messenger bag, The stims and painkillers were more valuable than gold. Not that Alex planned to sell them.

"There might be a second med kit somewhere by the bar. You're welcome to look around."

Alex didn't see the value in mentioning that he already gone through that med-kit, as well. The only thing he had left behind were a few soggy bandages and some expired fast-clotting agent. Alex couldn't take back expired meds in good conscience--supplies weren't so low to justify the danger of a mishap by relying on ineffective or faulty drugs.

That being said, between the bar's shelves of alcohol, the bandages, and the questionably-effective coagulant, a person had all they might need to do a quick field surgery. In any event, Alex wasn't about to waste important meds on randoms.

"Why don't you head to a hospital? This isn't exactly a medical clinic."

Edited by revanus, 16 December 2011 - 03:04 PM.

[Brenden]

The rain had started up again, from a previous light drizzel in the early hours too a storm of regular purportions. While the planet is known for being wet, it's also known to have rain almost every hour of every day for the year, with only a few days out of the month with sun shine. As such, those on the street had their faces down, umbrellas opened and trenchcoats locked as too keep the rain out and barely paying attention too all those around them. The DCMS were unprepared for this, and while their coats and umbrellas are sturdy, they can just barely "Weather" the storms frequent on this planet.

The DCMS, alarmed that they have two more pilots killed but more over by -another- Battlemech, have gone into full lockdown: No ships may enter of leave the planet, searches and seizers are being commenced in every warehouse planet wide and are suspecting everyone that doesn't cooperate too be a rebel. While this might seem like torment for the civilians, this is just what the Pilot wanted: They will search large buildings, warehouses, maybe that frieghter that's anchored off shore, but they would never suspect of searching underground.

Legs thrumping, rain beating at the plates like rocks too a tank, the Shadow Hawk runs it's way into a destroyed and abandoned part of the city: The Old Town. This place was where the first settlers of the planet came, and since the DCMS invasion all has been destroyed. But what they didn't know was that there was a secret Aerospace locker just beneath the former baseball field they once had here. Upon approaching the green turf, the 'mech slowed down too a canter, then a light jog and finally a walk. It looked around, remembering the once happy faces of men, women and children that were once here. The crowds of cheering spectators when one of their star athletes would hit a home run and then riot when they didn't count him safe. Good times. Upon stomping onto the now watery and swamp-like turf, the pilot saw a small baseball bat down by the plate, and sighed. Pressing a button within his cockpit, the ground suddenly shook and opened in a large triangular shape, water and dirt falling onto a black and purple metalic surface below.

Crouching, the pilot released the handle and let loose the 'mech, who jumped into the air without the aid of rockets and landed into the large, hollowed space below. Soon, after a moment or two, the field closed, taking the bat with it.

[Kevin Kirov]

Kavin came slowly stood up and made it though the small opening into the building, the rain beginning to come down harder. "Glad to see they have a bar here as well" he said laughing.
Cursing when he saw the group at a standoff with a well dressed man, No doubt he finished off what medical supplies are left Kavin thought, he spat blood.

Not feeling like talking upon seeing this, Kavin's thoughts turned to his chest and the kids leg, Dop was his name?

Looking at the rag tag group assembled around himself ((obviously )), Kavin wondered "How can I get Cadeyrn into the combat here. I need to get some real experience as a MechWarrior before I leave here, I cannot come back a failure."

[Orcinus]

((Umm... I guess everybody went inside now))

After pulling off the sixth (or was it seventh?) board, Furukawa stood back and admired his handiwork.
This should be sufficient.

"Alright. Everybody inside. Quickly."
The woman went in first, followed by the boy, and then the man with the chest wound.

Kevin Kirov, on 16 December 2011 - 04:41 PM, said:

"Glad to see they have a bar here as well"

That can't be good.

Board in hand, Furukawa stepped up to the gap after them.

[fuguzawaz]

Dop crawls through the boards, and when he notices the other men, he stands behind the nearest person, trying to hide his broken ARM, as to not appear weak.

[CaveMan]

Quote

"Why don't you head to a hospital? This isn't exactly a medical clinic."

"That's our business," Jason replied warily. "War imposes certain necessities, we'll leave it at that."

He edged inside cautiously. There was only one figure in the room, that he could see at least. Nice bluff.

Now that he was closer, Jason could see he was dealing with a man in a suit. This unnerved him; mercenary work had left him with little affection for the kind of men who wore suits on a good day, but the kind of man who would wear a suit in the middle of a war zone was either insane, dangerous, or more likely both.

Something about the man's story rang hollow, but Jason couldn't place it. Either way he felt he wasn't getting the whole truth.

"Miss," he called to Eiko, "please come in here and search the med stations. You'll know where the supplies are better than I would."

He kept his weapon lowered, but still facing in the stranger's direction, careful neither to make any aggressive moves nor to let down his defenses. His pulse was pounding.

The Asian woman cautiously rifled through the places where medical supplies ought to be, and threw Jason a look that confirmed his suspicions.

"Under normal circumstances," Jason said, calmly as he could manage, "I'd be happy to leave you to...whatever it is you're in the middle of. But as I said, we're in the middle of a war zone, and we need any supplies we can get. So I'm going to have to ask you to toss your bags into the middle of the room, and my friend here is going to look through them. If you're telling us the truth, and you don't know where the meds are, we'll be happy to let you go about your business, with my sincerest apologies.
"If not, we're going to have to take anything we find, and you're going to have some explaining to do."

Eiko clearly wasn't enamored with Jason's latest policy decision, he could see that in her face.

"Now," Jason continued, "I'd like to take a moment to remind you that I am holding a very short 12-gauge shotgun loaded with number zero buckshot. If you try anything disagreeable, I don't have to aim all that well to give you a very bad day. I've also been shot before, so I know there's a very good chance that if you shoot me, I'll get off at least one round before I go down. This is to say nothing of my mates, who are also carrying. It's very much in your best interest to let us get this over with peacefully.
"Now, please. Hand over the bags."

[Jasin Lochnivar]

((Sorry about the delay. It's been like juggling greased snakes around here. This may actually be a good place for Loch to get into the action))

And the trip had begun so pleasently. Loch told himself. Was it sarcasm or was it a true statement? True, the ride out on a passenger dropship had been rather nice. It wasn't the best, but Loch had the funds to make the trip in something resembling comfort. It was also nice to leave the Lancers business to his XO and make a trip.

Ostensibly, the trip had been one from St. Ives to Trellwan to visit family that his parent had left behind to pursue a rather lucrative business opportunity in the Cappellan Confederation. The profitability had been enough that Loch could chose his way in life, rather than have his life chosen for him as he scrounged for something to survive in this screwed up universe. His sister Caitlin took to running the family business. Loch chose service with the duchess, Her Grace Candace Liao.

Now, he was here. Hundreds of light years from where he wanted to be, where he needed to be.

((ran out of time, Will continue later.))

[revanus]

As more people drifted in, Alex got the sense he wasn't looking at hardened criminals. They looked frayed, too ragtag. Alex spotted a kid in a makeshift sling, and another man who clearly had a severe gunshot wound. The guy looked woozy, bloody, and pale, as though he were only minutes from passing into shock. The girl caught his eye for a moment. She was pretty, but she seemed haggard and on edge.'

Alex got the sense that the people he was looking at were not in particularly good mental and physical shape. But Alex wasn't about to confuse a lack of organization with a lack of danger. Desperation can make people do crazy things.

Alex slowly eased himself out of his booth. He was on the rear right, almost against the back wall. The group was standing closer to the center of the room, while the girl was on the middle left, behind the bar. He had never lowered his weapon, a fact which might have been concealed in the dim light.

"Look, let's all keep calm. I don't think anyone here wants a shootout."

Alex mulled over his options. He didn't like the idea of handing his bag over. He knew they'd have no idea what to do with the financial records. Those docs were the whole reason he was in the building, but on the surface, it was all worthless corporate paper.

Still, the meds in his bag presented a problem. Alex hadn't exactly lied, but he didn't like the thought of being caught red-handed with stim-shots and painkillers. He also had no guarantee the group wouldn't shoot him after tossing over the backpack, or what they might do if they didn't like what they found. Even though they didn't seem like criminals, their request sounded an awful lot like a mugging at gunpoint.

"Also, you don't look like the type to murder a bystander over his bag."

Alex knew he could try to run. He knew the building, and had an escape route planned. If he moved with purpose, he figured he had a fair chance of making it out without getting shot. Alex kept slowly easing left, towards a darkened rear exit. Choose a rear booth with an exit strategy wasn't a coincidence. He kept his gun trained on the guy with the shotgun. He also spotted a laser pistol on the gunshot victim, but Alex knew this wasn't a good time to look around.

There was also a third option.

"I know you're all under pressure. One of you has a very serious gun wound. Even the best med-kit couldn't cure a gunshot. You know this."

Alex gave a slight nod to the guy with the shotgun. He seemed like the natural leader, and he seemed to be the least shaken of the bunch.

"He needs serious professional help. He needs it fast, or he's going to bleed out. And the fact that you're here scrounging for supplies instead of at a hospital means one thing--whatever happened has left you without normal options."

Alex dialed in the charm like his life depended on it. He flashed what he thought was a warm smile at the group. Alex didn't like the idea of leading a bunch of strangers to the nearest safehouse. But given this situation, it seemed like the least bad option. If these guys were really on the run, they might prove willing. At least some of them seemed like ex-military. They might be useful.

Or they could be ISF, Alex thought cynically. The number of Asians in the group was a bit disconcerting.

Whatever the case, Alex made his decision. The Resistance had protocol for dealing with "new members"--ways to make sure that there wasn't undue exposure to outside or hostile influence when taking in strangers. And the Resistance was compartmentalized enough that, even in the worst case, exposure didn't mean catastrophe.

"I can help. I can get you to a trauma center that won't ask questions. But I'm keeping my bag."

Edited by revanus, 16 December 2011 - 09:02 PM.

[CaveMan]

Quote

He needs serious professional help. He needs it fast, or he's going to bleed out. And the fact that you're here scrounging for supplies instead of at a hospital means one thing--whatever happened has left you without normal options.

Jason nodded slowly. He swallowed, trying to soothe a parched throat. His mouth was dry and full of a metallic taste.

So he's going to call my bluff, he thought. Just as well. Jason knew he was in no position to be making demands. If he had trained regulars at his side, he might have been willing to press the issue, but he was dealing with shaken civilians and what seemed to be two burned-out soldiers, one of whom had a major injury. It wasn't worth it, not for pride's sake.

The man flashed a smile that could give a 'Mech laser a run for its money. But there was something almost reptilian about the smile.

Jesus, this guy is either a politician or a lawyer, Jason thought. Nobody with a soul smiles like that.

Quote

I can help. I can get you to a trauma center that won't ask questions.

This seemed too good to be true. Maybe the man was just trying to save his own skin, or perhaps he was working for the Combine. It seemed a long shot, given the circumstances. The man certainly didn't look like a Drac, and his accent was pure Robinson, but the ISF was notorious for recruiting people to spy on their neighbors. For that matter, how well did Jason know the people standing behind him? The woman seemed honest enough, and the fear radiating from the kid could only be real, but what about the warriors?

"I used to work for the Combine, now I don't, simple as that," the Kuritan had said, but was it really so simple? There was more to that story than Jason had been told.

Quote

But I'm keeping my bag.

And the bag. The more it was spoken of, the more protective the stranger seemed to become of it. If he really did know of a free clinic operating somewhere in the city, why be so protective over a handful of medical supplies? Whatever was in there, it sure as hell wasn't 'personal files'.

Damn, this was complicated. Jason wished for a moment he'd just stayed with the battered Hunchback he'd hidden away in the city. At least in a 'Mech cockpit things were straightforward. Shoot, or don't shoot. Taking your life in your own hands. But now he was gambling with other people's lives, for the first time.

"Alright," he said. "I'm going to trust you on this. But if you double-cross us, I swear you'll live to regret it."

[Orcinus]

Pausing for a moment to check his surroundings, Furukawa stepped into the building.
Once inside, he reached to pull down the hood of his cloak, then decided otherwise.
He made his way towards the rest of the group, board in hand.

Upon reaching the door, he stopped again.
The boy and the injured man were leaning on the near wall, while the woman was off to the right.
And the man who'd entered first was pointing his shotgun at--

He tightened his grip on the board.
This can't be good.