After the Dawn (IC)

[Elyrin]

Assault Team
March 9 – 2:39 PM
City Entrance Parking Garage
Rocky Mountain, Columbia


Jessica nodded at Grapevine's explanation, giving a brief salute to the snacking Vulpo.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Dust. I'm Jessica from Blacksteel Worldwide. I've worked with Rhodes Island before, so I hope we can get along."

"Blacksteel Worldwide, huh? Never heard of ya!" Dust tossed the last piece of jerky in her mouth and stuck the empty packing under the van's windshield wipers. "I'm technically the boss around here, but I'm pretty much just an overpaid security guard. No idea what the rest of Rhodes is doin'. Just tryin' to keep my guys- oh, right, the bag!"

Dust hopped down from the van's hood and jogged back to the elevator she'd taken down, no doubt to pick up the backpack still sitting there. Jessica put her faceplate back on and turned towards Grave Moss.

"Well, you guys made contact, so I guess it's our turn. We can sweep the parking garage, then check inside the city. See if there's a proper guard there. Securing the entrance is supposed to be our job anyway." The Feline waved her team forward, and they advanced past the makeshift blockade single file with the Defenders in front. "Looks like this was just a quick skirmish, but if you guys are heading into the city, you'll probably want to be in top condition. Who knows how far you'll have to walk or how many patrols you'll run across..."

She was probably frowning, but with that mask on, who could really tell?

"Hopefully we can get the jump on whoever's up there. They might only be expecting four or five people. Hit them hard and get it over with quick, right?"

Jessica followed her team forward, bringing up the rear as they ascended the ramp. Meanwhile, Dust returned with her overstuffed backpack and hopped back onto her perch.

"All good, nothin's open or broke. Woulda been pretty shitty if I snuck all the way over here and forgot it."

---

Infiltration Team
March 9th - 2:22 PM
In the Belly of the Beast
Rocky Mountain, Columbia


Muelsyse didn't have much to offer besides a shrug. Well, there was also a grimace, but nobody else could see that through the scarf.

"If we h-have to, we have to. If it's already sub-zero, it's not like being f-further sub-zero will be any worse, right?" Optimistic. Perhaps overly so. "Just b-block any explosions for me and I'll be f-fine."

The infiltration team returned to their prior formation and pushed open the door to the next room. Though 'room' was a bit of an underwhelming descriptor. The team stood in and around the doorway at the top of some metal stairs, overlooking what could have been an entire floor of a building. It was still lit by the same red lightning as the previous room, but they just kept going and going further into the dark until disappearing from view.

Much of the room was dominated by some massive piece of machinery that seemed to be producing a quiet but pervasive rumbling noise. It was causing the floor to vibrate ever so slightly, just enough to be noticeable - and unsettling. But, other than that...

"W-what the hell? Do they even s-send maintenance down here? How the h-hell is this still r-running?"

Lumps, for lack of a better word. Massive lumps of something, mostly along the walls of the one-third or so of the room not already filled by the massive device. Some of the larger ones were even glowing, letting off a blue light that was bright enough to see by. On the plus side, this highlighted the team's probable goal - a large double door on the far side of the room. Besides that, it also highlighted the fact that the lumps were also moving.

"We're definitely gonna p-piss them off..."

Muelsyse sighed dejectly, but what else was there to do but advance? Down the ramp and across the floor the team moved, careful to avoid stepping in anything or getting too close to any of the moving lumps. Nuriel reached out with her Arts at anything suspicious, aiming to quell any aggression before a particularly prickly slug decide to try a sneak attack.

Result: 1d20 (7) = 7

Unfortunately, it didn't last. The squad made it about halfway across the large room when one of the smaller lumps suddenly jerked violently and something crawled out of it.



Another infused slug, similar to the previous one. But this slug seemed off. Its abdomen was swollen, almost stretched. And glowing red, besides. It seemed unable to move properly, half walking, and half dragging itself along, like it was too heavy for its own legs. As it slowly moved towards the squad, there was a wet slapping sound from the middle of the team. Something had... fallen on Muelsyse's head?

"Urgh. G-gross." The director gingerly detached the originium slug(regular) from the hood of her jacket and tossed it aside, toward another one of the lumps - recognizable as some sort of webbing, now that the team was close enough - which immediately began shaking violently as soon as the slug made impact. "Uh. I think I f-fucked up."

The second lump of webbing tore open and several more slugs burst out.



Against all logic and reason, one of the Originium slugs is the first to act. It slithers around the corner, complete ignoring the cleverly hidden Sting and rushing - in slug terms, anyway - towards Nuriel. It lunges - again, relatively speaking - and pierces the Sankta's leg with a spike or two.

Combat Results

Turn Order: Slug Beta, Sting, Asura, Glacial Slug A, Vitro, Muelsyse, Glacial Slug B, Nuriel, Glacial Slug Alpha, Infused Slug, Infused Slug Alpha

Nuriel suffers 8 damage.

[Ayakashi]

Infiltration Team - Nuriel
March 9th - 2:22 PM
In the Belly of the Beast
Rocky Mountain, Columbia

"Argh...!"

Nuriel grits her teeth as she feels a sharp pain in her leg -- the results of having a few lacerations, courtesy of the slug that somehow beelined to her. Why it did so wasn't too hard to guess: she had been the one essentially interfacing with the surrounding fauna, and thus if anyone was to have an adverse reaction, they'd most likely home in on her like she was some sort of beacon. How it somehow got the better of all the supposedly highly trained operators in here though, Nuriel had no idea.

Perhaps that the sankta herself had been focusing too much in maintaining the calming aura to react in time -- it was the only explanation she could come with on the spot, but... the time for thinking was over.

"Change of plans, everyone get ready for combat!"

[Zagrin]

Infiltration Team - Sting
March 9th - 2:22 PM
In the Belly of the Beast
Rocky Mountain, Columbia

Sting sighed as he regarded the situation they now found themselves in. Nuriel's trick seemed to have run its course, with a couple of slugs now advancing on them from the front and rear. Essentially they had been ambushed by a couple of slugs...suffice to say this wasn't the kind of scenario he thought he would be dealing with when he had first heard of the assignment. Nonetheless it was clear that the slugs shouldn't be underestimated, considering how one of them was able to strike at Nuriel before anyone in the team could respond, and that was one of them smaller ones.

Drawing his weapon once again, he crept past the tussle between the slug and Nuriel. Though it got the drop on them, surely Nuriel would be able to handle an opponent such as the one that had attacked her, thus Sting's focus was more on one of the other nearby slugs, that seemed to be bigger than the rest. Not quite as big as say those with the spiders legs (which were poor targets anyways considering the fact they had a tendency to explode), but still noticeably larger than the ones without. Therefore it seemed clear that the smartest move right now was to take it out before it also had a chance to attack.

Taking a moment to analyze as to where best he might strike at the creature so as to achieve a fatal blow, Sting raised his blade and slashed at the slug at where it seemed to be most vulnerable.

Battle Arts

Execution Strike - Big Damage(?), 4 turn CD

Movement

One square to the left, then diagonally striking at the Alpha Glacial Slug.

[RacingeR]

Infiltration Team - Asura
March 9th - 2:22 PM
In the Belly of the Beast
Rocky Mountain, Columbia

Ah, there it was.

For the rest of the team, being ambushed by the slugs was a rather inconvenient event, if not a very perilous one. For Asura, it was a very welcome break from the monotony.

It was as if the Lupo girl hadn’t been quite ‘there’, so to speak, until now. It was something hard to explain in words or to even put in concrete terms, but the moment combat started and adrenaline flowed, there was a noticeable change in Asura’s presence. As if from being half-asleep, she had suddenly awakened.

Saying that her mind went into overdrive would be false. Her mind was always in overdrive, only that now it was doing something useful instead of spinning in circles like before.

She took stock of the situation in an instant. They’d been caught flat-footed and in a way that invalidated their formation. Enemies totaled six, for now, one having sneaked past Sting and hurt Nuriel before anyone could react.

Originium Slugs were not to be underestimated. They weren’t particularly dangerous by themselves, but as a kid she had personally experienced how much of a pain they could be in great numbers, especially if they got the drop on you.

Well, at least one of them was probably not surviving Sting’s pre-emptive attack. Which left her to consider her options.

Three enemies within her range. The sole normal slug had just attacked, and it probably wouldn’t make a move anytime soon. Compared to the other two, it was low priority.

That left two. The smaller blue one to the left and the bigger, explosive one to the south. She’d had seen plenty of the normal slugs before. She knew about the existence of explosive ones, but she didn’t know any details. The same could be said about ice slugs. The lack of information was concerning. Really should’ve taken a minute to shake Nuriel for info on these things.

And she really ought to have packed a damn box of nails. It was rare for her to forget to do so. Ah well, hindsight was 20/20.

The priority objective was to protect the VIP, Muelsyse. So Asura had to either block or eliminate the Infused Slug below her. But without knowing the range of the explosion, eliminating the target was too risky.

Meanwhile, the ice Slug to the north looked like it was about to move. It was more likely to get a hit on the VIP or on the team’s medic (well, Muelsyse also supposedly could act as a medic too), neither of which was an ideal outcome.

“Move to the right.” Asura tapped Muelsyse with her left hand before taking a step to the left to place herself in front of the more spider-like of the Slugs. Even with her camo suit doing a passable imitation of her surroundings, and her natural sneakiness, the creature ought to notice her when it was physically blocked. And she was about to make some more noise, anyway.

“Nuriel! Explosion range of these things!” She raised her voice a bit to ask her commander for the information they needed. Asura didn’t need to do so, she wasn’t that far from Nuriel, but she did a bit more noise than she needed to, just to make sure to catch the attention of the enemy in front of her.

For now, she’d just try and avoid its attacks, hoping her camouflage, agility and her senses would be enough to handle it for a round or two. And if she took the attack, oh well. The medics would patch her up after that.

However, she didn’t take aim at her immediate opponent, but instead at the secondary target to the north.

Killing it in one hit was the ideal outcome, but she knew that while she could severely hurt a normal slug with a single attack, she couldn’t kill one. The ice slug was probably as tough as a normal one, if not even more so. Unless she used her ‘trump card’ right now, of course, but she’d need it to deal with the Infused Slug to her south as painlessly as possible.

So instead…

She envisioned an invisible string, one that connected from her body to her backpack. More precisely, to one of the stakes concealed within. To the others, it looked like her weapon just smoothly slid from the backpack and floated up by itself, but she could ‘see’ the string that moved the weapon like her very own puppet.

Then, the weapon pointed towards her target, and she concentrated on the string, exerting a mental pressure on it, plucking it like a musician would pluck a guitar’s string.

The sharpened stake then disappeared from sight, fired at a speed and strength not dissimilar from that of a bullet shot from a Laterano gun.

However, Asura didn’t aim to instantly kill her enemy with this attack. She doubted she’d be able to do so. So instead, her aim was to impale and cripple the enemy. At the very least, given the size of the creature, her stake would be long enough to pin it against the floor. The idea was merely to hurt and delay it enough so that someone else in the squad could finish it off before it hurt someone.

Movement & Attack

One square to the left. Attacking Glacial Slug A with a stake, aiming to impale it or otherwise hit it in such a way as to stop its movement or delay its action.

[Elyrin]

Infiltration Team
March 9th - 2:22 PM
In the Belly of the Beast
Rocky Mountain, Columbia

To no one's surprise, the two infiltration specialists were the first to react to the sudden(?) ambush. Sting was marginally faster, advancing forward to take a swing at the especially blue one. Besides the cold, it seemed pretty similar to your run of the mill originium slug. A shell that didn't really protect all that well, with some pretty visible weak points ripe for a quick surgical strike. Which is exactly what he did. The slug's thin shell might have helped a bit against a regular dagger swing, but not this. With a single blow the poor critter practically fell apart, collapsing in on itself like a deflating dessert.

Asura moved second, slower by just a heartbeat. One metal spike streaked through the air towards another of the glacial slugs, piercing right through its... midsection? Could you call it a midsection if there was only one section? In any case, the stake punched clean through the slug's fragile shell and buried itself in the flesh within. Pale blue ooze leaked from the wound, but the slug seemed to be still moving, through grievously injured. It was intelligent enough to recognize that it had been attacked, at least, and mobile enough to retaliate at its aggressor. It crawled towards Asura, surprisingly quickly for being severely injured, and struck at her legs.

Combat Results

The Glacial Slug Alpha suffers 38 damage and is killed.

Glacial Slug A suffers 16 damage.

Asura suffers 10 damage. A chill spreads through her leg, but it quickly subsides.

[Plue]

GraveMoss
March 9 – 2:39 PM
City Entrance Parking Garage
Rocky Mountain, Columbia

"Well, you guys made contact, so I guess it's our turn. We can sweep the parking garage, then check inside the city. See if there's a proper guard there. Securing the entrance is supposed to be our job anyway." The Feline waved her team forward, and they advanced past the makeshift blockade single file with the Defenders in front. "Looks like this was just a quick skirmish, but if you guys are heading into the city, you'll probably want to be in top condition. Who knows how far you'll have to walk or how many patrols you'll run across..."

The armored defender takes pause at the shorter mercs words, helmeted gaze turning back to drift over her team. Slightly singed, battered and bloodied... and that was just one of them.

"Ah~ Mmm~ Then good hunting~ Radio if findings too much excitement~"

Well, after all... if someone was offering nap time it would be quite rude not to take them up on it.

"Kay~ Nice Blue and her duckies going to clear out ahead for us~ My duckies rest up~! The vans look pretty comfy~"

"Short Bow~? Do you having any mapping~?"

Someone had to stay awake in any case... is this the true burden of leadership?

[Elyrin]

Assault Team
March 9 – 2:40 PM
City Entrance Parking Garage
Rocky Mountain, Columbia


Jessica's team made their way onward, and the assault team began to settle down. Grapevine had treated everyone's wounds, and there had been no forthcoming complaints, so everyone was fine, surely. Besides one person.

"Short Bow~? Do you having any mapping~?"

Dust's ear twitched in response. She had been mournfully gazing an an empty snack wrapper, but the innocuous question prompted her to glare at Grave Moss instead. Who she was just about eye level with despite sitting on the hood of a delivery van.

"You bet I fuckin' don't. Intranet's down, and who even owns a real map these days?" The Vulpo snorted and tossed her wrapper aside. "Tours is pretty close by. I guess they might have some. You guys lookin' for some place specific?"

[Egophobia]

Operator Grapevine
March 9 – 2:41 PM
City Entrance Parking Garage
Rocky Mountain, Columbia

Grapevine dug through her bag and unsealed one of the ration packs from Blacksteel. Most of the components called for water or the provided heating element, but Blacksteel was Columbian, so there were bound to be breadstuffs somewhere. Ah, there. A bun for some kind of dehydrated roast fowlbeast sandwich and a vacuum-sealed brownie. Not exactly healthy, but the purpose of sugar rations was for energy and morale, so it'd do. She passed the second pouch to Dust.

“We're to locate a Rhine Lab facility and rescue one of the employees.” The Sankta tried not to sound too dispassionate about having been deployed to save one person amidst what was very possibly a humanitarian crisis... but she didn't try very hard. “Or to secure a path for the client to do so, should there be danger along the way.”

She resealed her bag.

“Operational priorities are Blacksteel's to decide. For my own part, I am compelled to ask if any part of the city is running on reserve power. I am leery of our client and Operators Santonia and Sting spending too long in the cold.” She gestured to her bag. “I also need to know if you came to the garage intending to secure a vehicle and leave the city. If you are lacking supplies, I will give you some of mine.”

[Elyrin]

Assault Team
March 9 – 2:41 PM
City Entrance Parking Garage
Rocky Mountain, Columbia

Dust's ears perked up at the sight of the slightly dry brownie, and she accepted the offering with glee.

"Thanks, doc. Owe ya one." While Grapevine began her explanation, the Vulpo slowly picked at the brownie, doing her best to savour it after wolfing down her jerky earlier. "Rhine Lab? Never heard of them either. What sorta lab would set up shop at a ski resort?"

Dust alternated between nodding and shaking her head as Grapevine outlined what Blacksteel knew and needed to know. It was pretty safely confirmed that the squad was on her side, so the logical thing was for her to share what she had. Once she finished eating. After working working her way through the snack, she added the wrapper to her pile and wiped her hands off on her jacket.

"Alright, the more detailed rundown. What I got, at least. The electricity's on, but the lightning storm fucked it up good. Our right honorable Mayor and CEO had just enough brains to keep the lights on in the hospitals and the fridges on at grocery stores. Everyone else is running on batteries, or burnin' wood like some kinda barbarians." Dust shuddered at the thought. What was the point of Originium-based technology if you still had to use a wood stove? "I wasn't plannin' on comin' here to start, I was here for this-" she tapped the backpack stuffed full of... whatever it was. "Medicine. Our shipments always sit around in a warehouse because Mountaineering won't pay for anyone who gives a shit. One of my guys is having a flare-up that won't fuck off on its own, so I need to get this back to the office."

[Plue]

GraveMoss
March 9 – 2:39 PM
City Entrance Parking Garage
Rocky Mountain, Columbia

The Pilosa seems to be considering something weighty as she meets the glare evenly.

You guys lookin' for some place specific

Grave Moss props her shield against the van, making the suspension groan. Popping open a case on the inside of her shield she takes out a pair of meal bars before closing it again with a thunk sound.

The doctor seems to have saved her a meal bar, and talking.

"Rhine Lab? Never heard of them either. What sorta lab would set up shop at a ski resort?"

"Snow lab~" The defender states completely confidently while undoing the seals on her helmet. A nap might be out of the question, but at least a snack.

[SleepMode]

Operator Vitro
March 9 - 2:22 PM
In the Belly of the Beast
Rocky Mountain, Columbia



Well. The maneuver was awfully short-lived. Slugs they may be, these creatures are incredibly cunning -- a group effort to ambush prey is surprising from them. Although not apex creatures, these slugs are still not one to take lightly.

Vitro grunted as the team began their retaliation. Operator Sting made quick work of one, while Asura attempted to skewer one while taking a wound of her own. Taking performance into consideration, the Supporter deemed it better to support the Sniper; close range is not her ideal ground, and Squad Leader Nuriel can easily back the Entoma.

And if not all that, better to keep their client from harm first.

“Nuriel! Explosion range of these things!”

The Liberi hummed in thought. Although this is his first encounter with the frozen slugs, their protrusions and glow are distressingly similar to their explosive cousins in dry wastes. Though of different variants and an uncommon function, the chances of one exploding upon death is not zero. What was that one Colombian saying again…?

“...‘Smooth clean shell, easy to kill; crystals abound, best abscond.’ Maintain distance at a meter’s pace, everyone -- those with excess Originium growths are more likely to combust!”

Perhaps it was a touch rude to butt into a question, but the flow of battle waits for no one. Not wasting another moment, the Liberi quickly slid to Muelsyne’s left, putting himself between the client and the encroaching slug. Taking wounds this early was far from ideal, but with his expertise and the Rhine Director’s Arts this was an acceptable risk. Sub-optimal temperatures aside, she should be of use once they are in warmer environments.

Unhooking one of his Arts Units, Vitro plugged its opening into a gap in his mask. Taking a breath of cold air, the Support Operator lets it swirl within him. A burning ache of spice and fruitpeel makes itself known. A-three, a-two, a-one- —

Vitro exhaled, and the glass vial was filled with a warm red vapor. Detaching the Arts Unit, the Liberi points its opening towards Asura as the condensed fume shoots outward and covers the Sniper in its haze.

“Try not to cough. This should get you going long enough.”

Action

Vitro moves left 1 square and down 1 square. Then casts Aggravate on Asura.

Wise Up: Arts

Aggravate: 3 SP - Short Range
Poison-based Originium Arts born an offshoot from the Galvanize. Adjusted to a lighter dose for general exposure, the processed “toxin” is released onto a subject to induce physical enhancement not wholly different from doping. Thankfully, the dosage involved won’t result in risks of addiction.

(Increases one ally’s Physical Strength, Physiological Endurance and Mobility by 1 rank for 2 turns.)

[Elyrin]

Infiltration Team
March 9 - 2:22 PM
In the Belly of the Beast
Rocky Mountain, Columbia


Red vapors coiled around Asura, clinging to her somewhat unnaturally. A product of Vitro's arts, as was the surge of energy suddenly filling her body. The throbbing of her leg wound faded, and she felt like she could do everything. Maybe not a good idea.

"L-lean right, Vitro."

The Liberi had just enough time to follow Muelsyse's advice. The director pointed a mittened hand at the slug he was nobly defending her from and blew it away with a jet of water. The poor thing never stood a chance. "It's j-just slugs. Back up a b-bit and you'll be f-fine."

In the meantime, the remaining glacial slug crawled closer to the team. Despite the quick reflexes of the prior slugs, they weren't really all that fast, and it couldn't get close enough to attack anyone.

Combat Results

Asura gains +1 to Strength, Endurance, and Mobility for 2 turns. Her max and current HP increase by 10.

The Glacial Slug A suffers 12 damage and is killed.

Muelsyse

Originium Output: Superior

[Ayakashi]

Infiltration Team - Nuriel
March 9th - 2:22 PM
In the Belly of the Beast
Rocky Mountain, Columbia

Things could be going better, but it could also be significantly worst. Without even needing much guidance, the group had identified what needed to be dealt with first, and Vitro himself appeared to know a thing or two about these slugs, helping Asura to make the proper call. All in all, there was no need to panic.

'Indeed Nuriel, there is no need to panic at all, everything is going to be fine...'

Repeating herself that sentence inside her head, like some sort of deranged mantra, the Sankta released the safety lock that kept the machete-like sword dangling from below her back. She grips the weapon with both hands and feels like the tendons in her arms are about to be ripped to shreds as she lifts the blade up. With one surprisingly hefty swing, perhaps because she let gravity do most of the work once all that was required was to let the blade come down... Nuriel did her best to make some Originum Slug ham.

Why did she not use her arts? Because most of her arts required people to not be nearby, which in this case, was near impossible in such a tight area. Accidentally freezing Sting would not be a the optimal play here so... a degree of restraint was Nuriel's chosen course of action. Well, as restrained as swinging an oversized executioner's sword is.

[Elyrin]

Infiltration Team
March 9th - 2:22 PM
In the Belly of the Beast
Rocky Mountain, Columbia


Nuriel's sword descended upon the hapless slug, which didn't exactly have the presence of mind to dodge. Or the reflexes, for that matter. The heavy blade made a solid hit, cleaving straight through the slug's flimsy shell, shining with a faint blue light to contrast its target's red. It took some effort to pull the sword free, and already Nuriel could feel her biceps protesting.

While Nuriel dealt with her own opponent, the other creatures took action. The swollen red slug dragged itself forward, still struggling yo move, but drawing itself inexorably closer to the team. Meanwhile, the legged slug engaging Asura raised its forelimbs menacingly before lunging at her. Its cold fangs bit into her leg, though there was no strange chill like from the previous glacial slug.

The slug, just barely holding itself together, struck at Nuriel again. Once more its red spikes pierced through her armour, though not very effectively. Even if it seemed rather more dangerous than your usual slug, the minor wounds it caused the Sankta were no real threat. At least, not compared to the other creature slowly working its way toward the group.

Combat Results

The Originium Slug Alpha suffers 15 damage and seems severely wounded.

Asura suffers 10 damage.

Nuriel suffers 8 damage.

[Egophobia]

Operator Grapevine
March 9 – 2:43 PM
City Entrance Parking Garage
Rocky Mountain, Columbia

Mhm. Glad as she was to hear that the city still had reserve power and the younger woman hadn’t been about to take her chances out on the snowplains, the disparaging note of Rocky Mountaineering’s attitude towards their shipments of medication doused any good mood she might have taken away from all this. What was the point of paying for supplies in the first place if they weren’t going to make proper use of them? Putting on appearances? Rhodes Island’s administration liked to try to exercise its best judgment when partnering with outside entities, but sometimes that meant operating at a loss just to get a foot in the door. And half-assing its medical partnerships was such a Columbian thing to do.

The brownie had its intended effect, at least. Good. Dust seemed to be managing the crisis situation well.

“I must provide care for this and another group of combat personnel on assignment, else I would accompany you. Tell me, where is your office? The Liberty branch was unable to provide much in the way of an address. I will make my way there as soon as the operation is finished.”

She glanced at Grave Moss, who had removed her helmet to eat.

“Once I am sure that everyone has exfiltrated safely and in good health, naturally.”

She said it very matter-of-factly, but that obviously meant staying behind after the mission’s end. No matter. If the resort wasn’t going to look after the Infected, then it was her responsibility to help. Dust’s office was small to begin with, and lacking in dedicated medical personnel.

“It bears mentioning that Rhodes Island was, to my understanding, unaware of the situation here until I went asking around the Liberty branch for more information. Relief should be on the way, but as of last night, they fear it will take several days to for a proper rescue party to arrive.”

[Elyrin]

Assault Team
March 9 – 2:43 PM
City Entrance Parking Garage
Rocky Mountain, Columbia


"The office? Where else? Down in the ass end of the city, as far from the entrance as fuckin' possible. Can't have the infected stinkin' up the nice shiny part of town, can we?" Dust grimaced, absentmindedly reaching for one of her discarded wrappers. Finding it - once again - empty, she flopped backwards onto the hood to stare at the concrete ceiling. "This place sucks. I shoulda stayed in Liberty."

It bears mentioning that Rhodes Island was, to my understanding, unaware of the situation here until I went asking around the Liberty branch for more information. Relief should be on the way, but as of last night, they fear it will take several days to for a proper rescue party to arrive.

"Uh, what sorta 'proper rescue party'? The heavily armed kind? I've got no fuckin' clue when these assholes are gonna leave." Dust scooted over, slowly turning without actually getting up so she could keep an eye on the Blacksteel team... especially Grave Moss. "I had to dodge a couple patrols on the way here. They don't make too much trouble if you just keep to your business, but step somewhere 'off limits' and you're in for it. And, uh, you guys don't exactly seem like stealthy types. You gonna be okay?"

[Zagrin]

Infiltration Team - Sting
March 9th - 2:22 PM
In the Belly of the Beast
Rocky Mountain, Columbia

Sting let out a sigh as he glanced at the situation behind him. Seemed the slug that had led the valiant charge on them was still standing, even after having been struck by that chunk of metal that Nuriel called a sword. Perhaps the little bugger was actually tougher than it looked...although with how Nuriel was wielding her blade, perhaps that would be giving the slug too much credit.

"Don't worry, boss, I'll finish this one off."

With that declaration, Sting spun around and slashed across at the slug where Nuriel had left its vitals vulnerable. The creature had already been weakened so there was no need to make use of the same technique as before, but he nonetheless struck at it with a similar sort of surgical precision to swiftly bring an end to the threat. It seemed even a buffoon like Sting was capable of acting like the Blacksteel Operative he was supposed to be when the situation called for it.

"That should be enough to put it down. Hey boss, you think you could that big one back there? I kind of have an allergy to explosions so kind of want to avoid stabbing that thing, I think I'll just handle the other little guy coming at us, but first..."

Sting looked towards where the other half of the team was gathered and cupped his free hand next to his mouth.

"Hey Pink Hair! I mean Asura! You're supposed to stay away from those things, remember? Dunno what you're planning back there, but could you finish it off before it gets a chance to come closer? Would rather our client not get turned into a popsicle."

With that message out of the way, Sting dashed off to the side, finding a nice little spot that appeared to be out of the direct line of vision of the incoming slugs.

Actions

Sting attacks the originium slug alpha with his weapon then moves one square to the right, then another square to the right with Fast Redeploy - Hornet Edition activated

Battle arts

Fast Redeploy - Hornet Edition: +1 movement speed, can re-stealth if you find cover, can't stealth then attack on the same turn

[arkturus]

Valravn
March 9 – 2:43 PM
City Entrance Parking Garage
Rocky Mountain, Columbia

"I had to dodge a couple patrols on the way here. They don't make too much trouble if you just keep to your business, but step somewhere 'off limits' and you're in for it. And, uh, you guys don't exactly seem like stealthy types. You gonna be okay?"

“Off limits?” Valravn mumbled through her meal bar ration, poking her head through the car window. Somehow she had snuck into the car that Dust was sitting on or perhaps she was already resting inside the car. The liberi swallowed her mouthful of food before continuing.

“What kind of places are they keeping people out of? Hopefully not the stores, I wanted to see what sort of clothes I could find here that weren’t tacky giftshop apparel.”

[Elyrin]

Assault Team
March 9 – 2:43 PM
City Entrance Parking Garage
Rocky Mountain, Columbia

“What kind of places are they keeping people out of? Hopefully not the stores, I wanted to see what sort of clothes I could find here that weren’t tacky giftshop apparel.”

"Aren't you s'posed to be a merc? Do mercs normally hire dumbasses?" Dust turned again, her questioning gaze shifting from the Pilosa to the Liberi. "Most of the off limits areas are Rocky Mountaineering owned. Well, that's pretty much fuckin' everywhere, but you know what I mean. Government buildings, utilities, garages and hotels, ya know, actual Rocky Mountaineering. Plus, everything even sorta close to one of the city exits. Like here."

Dust's ear twitched, and she glanced towards the ceiling. Nothing reached anyone else's ears, but whatever it was, she didn't seem so concerned.

"If ya wanna try lookin' for an open department store or some shit, go ahead, cogliona. Soon as your pals are done upstairs, I've got a date with some back alleys. Maybe a couple rooftops if I get lucky. Gotta cart this medicine back across town."

---

Infiltration Team
March 9th - 2:22 PM
In the Belly of the Beast
Rocky Mountain, Columbia


Sting tore through the already wounded slug, finishing the creature off with one precise blow. And then he vanished. The slugs weren't really paying attention to him in the first place, but in a flash he had disappeared even from his teammates' view.

Combat Results

The Originium Slug Alpha suffers 15 damage and is killed.

Sting is hidden from all enemies.