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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 15, 2017 8:53:35 GMT
"Thank you for your kind offer," said Lodja. "We will do everything we can to help you, except leaving the jungle. You see - our people are forest people, not urban nomads and somehow I feel that it's the way of life I can't and don't want to change. We are used with the green lush jungle, not the concrete, glassy or asphalt ones. That means we lacking experience in urban warfare. Also we are not conquerors but defenders who just want to be left alone and live in the way the ancestors have lived thousands of years. Once there was a man who built an...not an ark but a raft from balsa logs and other natural materials and called it Kon Tiki and travelled over the ocean with it. That man was Thor Heyerdahl and he said among other things that:  We live the simple life here and clash with so called civilization usually ends with our loss - new diseases, alcoholism and all kind of other troubles. That is why we are willing to help you here and now, with the means of our own, not with the help of modern weaponry. It's a matter of balance and tradition and the fact that ancient materials, methods and ways have lasted the time test and proven to be efficient, so there is no need to improve them, because consequences might be unpredictable at best, disastrous at worst." Lodja's eyes wandered around the jungle while he thought. Then he said: "Maybe I can find few volunteers, because we have Indians who tasted the civilization and then returned to us. There are also Synths with the civilization experience who chose to be on our side and decided to live in peace with nature and obtain nature ways of living. They might be willing to use wonders of civilization and visit the town temporarily because we also can't allow the spread of Skarr's influence over us. But I can't promise you an army. Only few volunteers at best and even if they come in small numbers, it makes you responsible for their lives. Are you willing to take that responsibility?" |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Sept 15, 2017 11:07:14 GMT
Lodja's eyes wandered around the jungle while he thought. Then he said:
"Maybe I can find few volunteers, because we have Indians who tasted the civilization and then returned to us. There are also Synths with the civilization experience who chose to be on our side and decided to live in peace with nature and obtain nature ways of living. They might be willing to use wonders of civilization and visit the town temporarily because we also can't allow the spread of Skarr's influence over us. But I can't promise you an army. Only few volunteers at best and even if they come in small numbers, it makes you responsible for their lives. Are you willing to take that responsibility?"
I responded with, "As three leaders here, all with different styles, I am sure we can put our heads together and come up with something that works for all three of our peoples. Besides I would not expect you or your people to do what they aren't comfortable with. So if that means most will not join us, and a good portion of the small number that does would prefer the old-style but still very reliable weaponry, then that is their choice. We will make do with what help you can offer.
However I will point out that I saw the spears and knives the two injured that we brought back to you were using. The spear tips were broke and not secured correctly. So I would suggest having one of your better weapon-smiths double-check any weapons the volunteers will be using, if they don't want to use any of the weapons we brought for them. As for the responsibility of their lives the simple answer is yes. I always look out for those working with me.
That said I must point out that Chancellor Cael will be in command of whatever reinforcements you can put together for us, as I am needed back on the Vigilant. That way I can watch and coordinate all our teams from the air, where I have a tactical viewpoint advantage. It also makes it easier for me to gather and send extra teams or even provided air support if absolutely necessary. However if you currently have any injured that need more medical attention then you can provide, I am willing to take them back to my flagship with me, so our medical team can help them...or if you prefer I will personally bring a medical team down to treat your wounded here, after we help Cael retake his city."
Just then Kabule the Younger started to speak, and I could tell from the tone and politician-type attitude (as apposed to Kabule's gruff assassin attitude) that this time it was actually my nephew Cael speaking. Cael said, "Do not worry Lord Lodja, you have my word as the rightful Chancellor of the Votanis Collective that I will be responsible for any volunteers you can provide. Besides I have learned from my uncle and mother that sometimes a small group of allied guardians can make a bigger impact than an invading army. Besides I am sure my mother and General Kima will be able together enough of my followers together to give them the army they need. So I don't need an invading army. I need guardians to watch my back and help me get to my people and army so I can rally everybody together and take back our city. Once we have retaken control, I will also open my gates to your people and offer any help that you require as our allies and neighbors. You have my word as an Irathient and the Chancellor of the Votanis Collective."
Once Cael was done talking, I said, "I trust that works for you Lodja?....If not say so now because we need to get Chancellor Cael to his people right away. As they all believe he is dead, and are fighting in his memory, I am sure his sudden presence will cause his followers and sympathizers to fight harder and rally more people to my sister's, General Kima's, and Volodja's side."
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 15, 2017 11:11:54 GMT
"I am afraid that there is a price to pay for our help," said Lodja thoughtfully. "And I am afraid that it's more than a fistful of glass pearls or dozen iron axes. It's a treaty between good Chancellor and our Nine Tribes. You probably haven't heard about the island of Niihau, the "Forbidden Island" of Hawaiian Archipelago. Let me explain. The island of Niihau used to be a private property of Robinson (sic!) family. and that is why it was was generally off-limits to all but relatives of the island's owners, U.S. Navy personnel, government officials and invited guests. That kept the island untouched by outsiders and people there could maintain their way of living."  Lodja explained to Chancellor Kael: "We'd like to have a similar status applied to this area, because as a former member of civilization I happen to know that states have a nasty habit to expand themselves and we belong to the sphere of influence of Votanis Collective. That treaty will be a guarantee that our Indians can maintain their freedom and autonomy within the Votan state. We don't want to become a reservation and possible tourist magnet where people make photos and buy souvenirs and leave their trash behind. We prefer limited portion of legal visitors who enter only when allowed by us. Illegal ones we can handle ourselves. That is all we are asking - our own private Niihau. OUR, not mine. Technically it won't change a thing because we just want being left alone by tourists, settlers, foresters, miners, hunters, military, tax collectors or any other folk of that kind. Just like things are right now. We just want that situation to last and being given the legal status by the treaty between us. So shall we pay our toll to bureaucracy and politics and sign that treaty? No small print and I am afraid that Chancellor has to sign for both of his personalities. After all, I share my memories with Volodja Uljanov, and thus I am aware of that nuance." Lodja shouted really really really long tirade in native language, telling Indians and Synths about the project of the treaty (and explaining what is treaty and why they should have one and so on) and once again hundreds voices of approval created an illusion like the whole jungle supported that idea. |
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Sept 16, 2017 6:13:48 GMT
Marcel Lestrange thought about perspectives. Then he thought about his task. Then about his target. Then about circumstances. And then he said while his body swirled and curled around Lena like a bindweed:
"Honey Pot! I have an idea how to beat possible competitors who probably want to eliminate old Skarr just like I do. Since we probably are going to step on toes of each other we need an advantage. They have saying that early bird catches the spider or something like that. We have to be those early birds by skipping all landing procedures and airport fees and check in and such by hacking ourselves into Skarr's Dark Matter portal system. He used it to send his robots to get us and then Volodja fell into the portal and reached straight in the centre of events. Accidentally. We will do it consciously, we will do it much better than him. We have our own portals and all we need is an access to Skarr's portal system to use them for our needs. I believe that you have skills, needed to open the back door for us."
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Post by Lena Marr on Sept 16, 2017 9:46:51 GMT
Lena Marr threw her unblinking sky blue eyes heavenward putting a chalk white forefinger in the corner of her lush lips as she thought over Marcel's proposition before a wicked grin crossed those lips as she nodded enthusiastically in agreement saying, "Can-do but we'll have to take Mrs. Stick-in-the mud with us. Commander Atty-baby wants us to go together and he is paying the scrip for this little trip." Lena quickly went to Sandy Bell with Marcel's plan explaining that if they did use the Black Matter portal system in the Chancellor's Palace they might not have control where in the palace they went but it would be the best chance they had for a stealthy entrance and at the very least would surprise the enemy. Lena also explained that they would have a better chance of not being discovered if the party was small, mainly just the three of them. Sandy's tan forehead wrinkled and her blue eyes narrowed as she considered the plan, and although she didn't like leaving her strike squad behind, she had to agree that their success chance of rescuing their captured friends and killing Skarr was greater if they kept the party small. "I would like to have at east one other with us though," Sandy asserted to Lena,"Attila Constantine has shown he can be awfully good in a pinch and has a killer mechanical skill set - not to doubt yours Lena one bit. Some redundancy can be a good thing!" In fact, Sandy wanted someone to watch her back for in her mind the diabolical duo were not the most trustworthy of allies. Sandy's main and most important mission was to rescue the Synth envoy Ruby, Erika Widowmaker and Volodja Uljanov, Sandy's new husband of only hours ago. Marcel Lestrange had betrayed Volodja in the past back in Lima although later he had a change of heart, black as it was, helping both him and her to escape their captors. With Marcel, business always came first, and in this case, he was being paid to kill Skarr first and foremost. As to Lena, she was as mercurial in mood as they get and although she was usually crazy as a fox, sometimes she was just plain crazy. Sandy spoke to Captain Yar and the Constantine twins asking Atika to begin disrupting Skarr's Synth mind-controlling transmissions as soon as they hit space as she ordered Attila to come with her. Sandy then commanded her strike squad and Pilot Poe to stand by the shuttle "Eagle" in case they needed back-up, then sent a quick EGO message to Commander Batman with their change of plans. With that done, Sandy went down to the Vigilant's hold where Lena was already hacking into Skarr's system and connecting their Black Portal with one of his. Just as Sandy, Attila, Lena and Marcel were about to depart, the white haired Synth Sister Whitney ran up to them in a fresh battle dress with her rapier drawn. "Please let me go with you!" Pleaded the beautiful pale young Synth girl, "My sisters left with Atticus and left me! I want to rescue Ruby just as much as they do and no one owes Skarr more than me - I mean who else did he put a singularity bomb in their tummy?!?!" Sandy was about to shout a resounding "No" but Lena interjected, "Aw, let the kid come Captain Courageous. I'll watch over her and make sure she doesn't do anything stupid," Then turned to Whitney and said sternly as she reached into her pocket to retrieve one of the rings Atilla had made, "Just if any of us three say hop, you hop - don't even ask how high just do it and remember: Marcel gets the kill shot on Skarr! I've been wronged by Skarr too girlfriend, but that's why we both need to let Marcel do the deed, as we might get a wee bit too emotional and make long you-done-me-wrong speeches allowing Skar to get the upper hand! When we get to that act of the play where Skarr dies, you and me are just part of the audience - Capiche? Now put on this ring and don't remove it for the duration: It will keep Skarr out of your head. Don't worry, doesn't mean we're engaged or anything!" Whitney's ice blue eyes went wide as she looked impassively at the ring Lena placed in her palm remarking, "Commander Batman gave me the same ring earlier but... well, gold doesn't really go with my outfit! I mean, silver jewelry is best with my white dress and the accessories I already have are all silver so gold might clash with... oh, not a fashion choice, huh?" Sandy glared at Whitney wondering if taking her on such a dangerous mission was a good idea as Lena just slowly shook her head grinning as Whitney sheepishly put on the ring. However, before any of Sandy's second thoughts could be voiced, Lena grabbed her hand and pulled her into the Black Matter portal followed by Whitney and having been preceded by Marcel and Attila only moments before. Lena didn't know where in the Palace they might end up, but she was sure it would be exciting and being a bit of an adrenaline junkie, that would do!  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Sept 16, 2017 11:19:25 GMT
Lodja explained to Chancellor Kael: "We'd like to have a similar status applied to this area, because as a former member of civilization I happen to know that states have a nasty habit to expand themselves and we belong to the sphere of influence of Votanis Collective. That treaty will be a guarantee that our Indians can maintain their freedom and autonomy within the Votan state. We don't want to become a reservation and possible tourist magnet where people make photos and buy souvenirs and leave their trash behind. We prefer limited portion of legal visitors who enter only when allowed by us. Illegal ones we can handle ourselves. That is all we are asking - our own private Niihau. OUR, not mine. Technically it won't change a thing because we just want being left alone by tourists, settlers, foresters, miners, hunters, military, tax collectors or any other folk of that kind. Just like things are right now. We just want that situation to last and being given the legal status by the treaty between us. So shall we pay our toll to bureaucracy and politics and sign that treaty? No small print and I am afraid that Chancellor has to sign for both of his personalities. After all, I share my memories with Volodja Uljanov, and thus I am aware of that nuance."
Lodja shouted really really really long tirade in native language, telling Indians and Synths about the project of the treaty (and explaining what is treaty and why they should have one and so on) and once again hundreds voices of approval created an illusion like the whole jungle supported that idea.
I snapped, "Enough daking lectures! I get enough of those from Volodja, and Doctor Von Eschen! Dak, even Marcel Lestrange, Sandy Belle, and Erika have taken to giving me occasional lectures as well!"
When I saw that knowing glimmer in Lady's eye as she looked up at me, I continued more calmly with, "I am not saying I didn't deserve them! I probably did on occasion. I am just saying, I don't need them all the daking time!"
Cael ignored my outburst and calmly responded with, "I was going to make it a protected nature reserve anyway...so I suppose, I am fine with your idea. With your people here to keep poachers away, I will not have to assign any of my people to do so. However I do enjoy coming here to hunt during my free time, and don't worry I always make use of my whole kill, or donate it to a local orphanage. So I would prefer if we can keep it that way, with any other visitors having to get both my permission and yours. So if we both now agree, then I will sign your treaty once I can actually write it up.
However as you have Volodja's memories you should know that Kabule can not sign it because he is still considered legally dead and it's better for everybody if it stays that way. Besides only you and my uncle's closest friends know about him. I only recently gained knowledge of him myself, when my Kabule decided I needed to know about him.
So perhaps since my uncle is present to witness this verbal agreement, you would settle for the second signature being his, after we regain control of the city so I can write up the treaty? After word that the infamous Atticus Batman is now leading the group of Do-gooders known collectively as the Paradise Protectors is common knowledge in both E-rep and Votanis Collective circles, not to mention spreading wherever they travel and they seem to travel all over the world." |
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Sept 17, 2017 8:34:14 GMT
"What we have here," said Marcel after their arrival to the portal coordination centre of the palace. "Like a central station except there are portals instead of train tunnels. But where is the personnel?"
Marcel scanned the room and discovered some life signs in the darkest corner of it. Closer examination revealed that the subject of his study was neatly tied and gagged and placed carefully to the floor.
"Looks like a handwriting of Volodja Uljanov," muttered Marcel. "He usually spares bystanders just like I do."
Marcel was telling the truth because both of them avoided causing unnecessary casualties. But that truth was not that simple as it seemed. Both men had totally different set of motives of sparing lives. Repetition is the mother of learning so we return to their motives once again for the sake of understanding those two rivals better. Unlike humanist Volodja who spared lives for the sparing sake, Marcel thought pragmatically and for him murders were matter of economy. If the client wanted a mayhem then the client had to pay for quantity - make a collective agreement on targets or pay for a group package or...For Marcel life was a precious thing, not priceless, and that is why he charged their clients for every life he had to take. And those who weren't covered by agreement could live since Marcel had liberty to decide so. If Marcel wasn't a businessman, he would probably become an union leader and the worst nightmare of any employer, because he would charge them every extra move employees had to do. Enough of that now.
"I think that we should let this one stay in his corner," decided Marcel. "He can not give us any information since he was probably tied up before anything else could happen. We need someone who can lead us to Skarr. I am sure that he hides his skin in seclusion but when he has to leave his hideout he needs some backs to hid him behind those. All for one and...all for one! For one and only Skarr" Marcel almost spat those words out and then he became silent and he listened dungeon sounds carefully. Dropping water (somehow every decent dungeon has that sound effect installed) was the first noice and then there was sound of footsteps, caused by quite a few moving feet.
"I believe that there goes Skarr's security," announced Marcel with a whisper. "We will follow them and take most of them out. Only head of the group must remain because they might lead us to him. It is a lottery but it is also our best chance. We could arrange an ambush in this portal station but Skarr might have a private exit somewhere else so we can not take that risk of him getting away. You know what, dears! I am in generous mood today and thus I compare that moving group of security guys with a pizza bottom or vanilla ice cream. And I compare taking them out with choosing a topping of your own taste. That is why you can choose your own methods to eliminate this gang as long as you can maintain silence. Let us go!" Marcel wiped others to follow and begun to sneak toward footsteps.
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Post by Attila Constantine on Sept 17, 2017 11:20:51 GMT
"I believe that there goes Skarr's security," announced Marcel with a whisper. "We will follow them and take most of them out. Only head of the group must remain because they might lead us to him. It is a lottery but it is also our best chance. We could arrange an ambush in this portal station but Skarr might have a private exit somewhere else so we can not take that risk of him getting away. You know what, dears! I am in generous mood today and thus I compare that moving group of security guys with a pizza bottom or vanilla ice cream. And I compare taking them out with choosing a topping of your own taste. That is why you can choose your own methods to eliminate this gang as long as you can maintain silence. Let us go!" Marcel wiped others to follow and begun to sneak toward footsteps.
As Attila was about to follow Marcel, he noticed the tied up person was trying to hide something that appeared to have fallen out of a pocket or something. So he put his hand on Marcel's shoulder to get his attention, and keep him from sneaking out of the room just yet, like he was about to. Marcel of course turned and glared at the younger man, as the older Frenchman whispered sharply, "Merde! You better have a good reason, garçon!"
Attila nodded and pointed back to the prisoner, as the young man whispered back, "After you checked him and turned away, I think something fell out of one of his pockets. Look he is using his tied up feet to try to hide whatever it is. I'm going to see what it is."
Marcel nodded in approval then went back to watching for the security, as Attila quietly moved back over to the tied up person. After having to punch the person in the leg so he'd move them off of what he was hiding, Attila picked it up. Seeing that the object in his hand was the size of a small key, it was no wonder Volodja missed it earlier. After looking closely at it for a few seconds, he realized that is exactly what the tiny flat object in his hand was, which meant what he was holding in his hand was definitely something the team may need. So he went back to where Marcel was carefully looking out the room to watch for the security he heard, with Sandy and Lena near him.
As soon as Attila moved back to the group and knelt by them, He opened his hand to show his find to his three teammates, as he whispered to them, "Look, he was hiding this little yellow electronic key. I'm not sure what it's for, but am guessing it is an important 'key', based on the way he was trying to keep us from finding it, and struggling to keep me from retrieving it. However, judging from the Castithan number 4 on it, I am guessing whatever it unlocks probably requires atleast four of these things. So if we do knock out or kill the security that Marcel is watching, we may want to check them for more of these little things. What do you think Lena? You have a lot more experience with these things than I do."
In the Brazilian jungles Atticus and his little envoy had gotten a distress call supposedly from Atticus himself. The call led them to the missing and presumed dead, 'Chancellor Cael' defending two wounded natives from Skarr's bots. After helping Cael and the natives, the injured natives had agreed to lead Atticus and the others to their leader, Lord Lodja. Cael (with his Kabule the younger personality currently in control of Cael's mind and body), had decided the best thing to do given current circumstances had decided it would be best to accompany Atticus' team.
Once they had met with Lodja, Cael temporarily retook control of his mind. Then he and Atticus had proceeded to ask Lodja to provide Cael with some aid to get him into the city and back to his most loyal followers so that together they could retake the city. In the process of seeking aid, Lord Lodja had seen the opportunity to better his people and convinced Cael and Atticus to agree on signing a treaty that Cael and Lodja could both agree to.
After the impromptu peace and alliance negotiations had come to a reasonable completion, Atticus and his team left Cael with Lodja's people. After Atticus and his envoy had left, Lodja gathered some volunteers to go with Cael to the City. As that was happening, Kabule of course retook control of Cael's mind as he was the fighter while Cael was the diplomat. Once the volunteers were gathered, Lodja and Cael/Kabule filled them in on their task. They were to protect Chancellor Cael and help him get back into the city, where they would then join up with General Kima and interim Chancellor Widowmaker. From there Chancellor Cael would rally together his most loyal followers and remaining sympathizers so they could rebel and retake the City and return Chancellor Cael to power as the rightful Chancellor of the Votanis capital city.
Once Atticus and his envoy returned to their shuttle; 'The Ghost-Bat' and were securely onboard, Lady had easily gotten the shuttle back into the air. Then they headed on an upward trajectory to once again meet up with the Vigilant, that was on an upward trajectory of it's own. Before long the shuttle had met up with the Vigilant, and requested and been granted permission to dock.
Once the docking procedures had been finished, Atticus' team exited the shuttle. Atticus told Murdock, Perkins, Brooke and Yvette to join the strike team that Sandy had on standby aboard the shuttle: Eagle. That way the awaiting strike team would have a full squad. Then Atticus and Lady headed back to the Vigilant's Bridge. Just as they entered the Bridge, Atika had informed Captain Yar that they were now in position for her to activate the jamming programing that she and Lena had come up with to disrupt Skarr's Synth mind-controlling devices. Yar gave her the go ahead, and Atika quickly started working on Jamming Skarr's signals, working with Lexy (the Vigilant's AI) to monitor the signal and alter it regularly to keep Skarr's people from being able to break through the jammer even for one second. Then seeing Commander Batman on the Bridge, Yar moved out of the Command chair and over into the first-officer's chair, as she said, "All seems to be going well up here Commander. Captain Bell's team has already gone through the dark matter portal, and Miss Constantine is now working on disrupting Skarr's control frequencies."
Atticus nodded as he sat down in my command chair. That way Atticus could easily communicate with any teams that made contact, while I used the ship's view screens and sensors to monitor the surface and try to direct the action, as needed, from my Command Chair. Lady of course sat in her own chair next to her husband. |
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Post by Lena Marr on Sept 18, 2017 1:27:10 GMT
As soon as Attila Constantine moved back to the group and knelt by them, he opened his hand to show his find to his three teammates, as he whispered to them, "Look, he was hiding this little yellow electronic key. I'm not sure what it's for, but am guessing it is an important 'key', based on the way he was trying to keep us from finding it, and struggling to keep me from retrieving it. However, judging from the Castithan number 4 on it, I am guessing whatever it unlocks probably requires at least four of these things. So if we do knock out or kill the security that Marcel is watching, we may want to check them for more of these little things. What do you think Lena? You have a lot more experience with these things than I do." "Could be but in these days of retinal scans and DNA keys it's a bit old fashioned," Lena Marr replied with an exaggerated grimace on her pretty chalk white face, continuing with, "Pre-Pale Wars, these kind of keys would be tied to the launching of atomic missiles or a doomsday self destruct device with all four having to be turned at the same time or..." A wicked grin suddenly crossed her face as she exclaimed, "It could be the key to his gym locker which is number four and he doesn't want anybody to see his dirty jock strap!" Lena quickly pocketed the key and as the other started to stealthily move forward, she took the rear whispering to the one in front of her, "You guys go ahead, I'll catch up! Forgot something back there!" Lena crept back to where the man laid tied up, going behind him helping him to sit up with both her arms draped around his shoulders as she commented in a matter-of-fact voice, "Ya know, I was ready to give you the benefit of the doubt; that maybe you were under Skarr's mental control or at worse a dupe but then you had to do it! You just had to try and hide that key! Ya see, that indicates to me that ya were using your free will when you were following Skarr's orders..." The captive man started to make a muffled protest through his gag, but Lena continued with her remarks sporting a wicked grin, "No, no, no - no use protesting! I know the look: I was a true believer; had drunk the coolade; had signed on the dotted line; and so-on-and-so-forth back in the day! I was a loyal Skarr follower!" The man relaxed stopping his protest and seemed to utter a sigh of relief when Lena suddenly reached into the the loose sleeves of her coveralls with each hand pulling her Bowie knives from their sheaves where they were secured and quickly and with precise dual strokes neatly cut the man's head from his shoulders belying a strength that didn't appear possible in her slender but muscular arms as she said through gritted perfect teeth, "I got over it - now you did too!" Being careful to not get any spurting blood from his neck on her clean coveralls and nimbly stepping over the pool rapidly spreading under the man's body, she moved silently back to her team although all the voices in her head save Hope's were loudly singing, "Oh, what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day" in perfect refrain. Sandy Bell noticed Lena's return with a raised blond eyebrow over narrowed blue eyes and moved carefully to the rear to confront her in a hushed but angry tone. "What the hell did you do back there Lena?" Asked Sandy knowing full well what Lena had done, admonishing her, "I gave no order that captives should be killed!" Lena gave a lopsided grin answering in an incredulous whisper, "What?!?! That's not what you mean by leave no man behind?"   |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 19, 2017 9:41:16 GMT
The mood wasn't very uplifted in upstairs. It was businesslike at best. Defenders were tired because they were made flesh and blood, not metal junk and unlike Skarr's bots they were aware that every life was irreplaceable. Not only because of uniqueness and value of life, but because they knew that every lost life meant weaker defence and increased chance to lose the battle. Robot's just followed orders and wherever they came from, there was plenty of fighting units to replace fallen bots. All defenders had at moment was hope that they can last enough attacks to wore Skarr out because he didn't had steely nerves like his robots. By now Skarr was probably aware about the new Votan leader who was actually a Votan and her attempt to raise her supporters and lead them to the fight. That was an additional tension source for the former Chancellor... The air turned red from the glow of bot's charged lasers which hammered communication centre with mighty blows. It looked like that Skarr was losing hope that he is able to regain his hold of communication lines and now he was just trying to destroy them and massage the masses later if he manages to win. If not then...then it wasn't matter who gets to clean the rubble of Chancellor's palace. Someone once told that one can see the face of the war looking into faces of soldiers, not some portraits of generals in their fancy parade uniforms and shiny decorations. Someone else even introduced audience with the real face of the war. Bloody, muddy, tired and/or frostbitten. That someone was the first modern war correspondent William Howard Russell who spent twenty two months in Crimean War, blacklisted by officers but popular among soldiers because he refused to polish the war and cover up it's not very heroic but rather exhausting side. Unfortunately there wasn't any war correspondents among defenders so they had to survive to be able to tell their stories afterwards.   The face of Volodja reminded an ashy plaster mask because of the dust. He wasn't the only one, though. All faces bore the same mixture of plaster, sweat and tiredness. Even the formerly eager face of the young supply team Corporal looked like some old man's who spent last few thousand years under the ashes of the Vesuvius volcano. Just a moment ago he was struggling under a small gypsum mound when wandering missile hit the ceiling above him, saving him from splinters but burying him up. Now the Corporal was free again. He coughed and spat and let out couple of curses. Voldoja didn't curse. Instead he waited until everything was quiet and peeked over the bullet chewed window sill. What he saw, made him to sigh: "I see troops are gathering behind enemy lines and preparing to give a coup. The question is - whom they are going to attack? Us or them?" |
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Sept 19, 2017 15:26:48 GMT
People in downstairs had their own problems. At least Skarr's henchmen had. They had some serious personnel problems because everybody in Sandy' Bell's tiny striking group did their part to get rid of Skarr's minions. Even Marcel put his hands to work and grabbed some unfortunate soldiers out of their row and knocked them roughly out...
Skarr opened thick metal door and peeked out as a giant angry spider. Seeing faces of his henchmen made him less suspicious about his surroundings and that happened to be a...
"Great mistake, mon ami," said Marcel Lestrange and rose his weapon. During their sneak and take out mission he used pauses between eliminating guards to pick some of his special bullets and used that ammo to load his gun with set of nasties and now he had taken out the last of the guards. Right in front of the Skarr's panic room's door. Now he examined Skarr for a brief moment and pulled the trigger. First bullet sank itself into Skarr's soft flesh.
"Maybe it is your last mistake as well, Skarr," said Marcel thoughtfully. "This shot is meant to paralyse you temporarily. The pullet has bathed in couple of very interesting alkaloids which are meant to keep my targets quiet and steady. Sometimes they have irritating habit to cut in while I am talking. Or trying something else I do not like. I think I should use one of those on Volodja in one good day but at moment I am not talking about that nuisance but other nuisance - you. Protectors ordered you from me but you should feel flattered because you are not only matter of business. You probably have not seen a great book and a film, called "Godfather". People usually remember one quote from that film - "I is nothing personal, strictly business." But I remember other quote about business and personal matters from there. Let me introduce you with that."
Marcel looked into Skarr's hating eyes because all Skarr's anger concentrated there since he could not speak after being paralysed. But that meant that Marcel could speak more now:
"It is all personal, every bit of business. Every piece of shit every man has to eat every day of his life is personal. They call it business. OK. But it is personal as hell. You know where I learned that from? The Don. My old man. The Godfather. If a bolt of lightning hit a friend of his the old man would take it personal. He took my going into the Marines personal. That's what makes him great. The Great Don. He takes everything personal Like God. He knows every feather that falls from the tail of a sparrow or however the hell it goes? Right? And you know something? Accidents do not happen to people who take accidents as a personal insult."
Marcel looked into Skarr's eyes again and shot another bullet into his flesh. Then he spoke: "You did wrong to certain ladies and that makes is personal for me. If you were just an ordinary piece of shit, I would have killed you instantly. But you wronged wrong people. Your plan with ticking singularity bomb actually gave me an idea my own. Since you like excitement and tension, I wanted to offer you some. That is why I decided to use my special tool kit on you. With the first bullet you are already familiar with. That second bullet, I planted in you, contains poison which begins to kill you as soon as i contacts with your tissues. Slowly but steadily. Just like your singularity bomb, mon ami! And the fun part is that you can never be sure when you take your last breath. Maybe after minute. Maybe after hour. Maybe even after a year. All you have to do is wait and I do believe that waiting will be like a miniature hell to you. Uncertain time factor and those nasty symptoms, you know. That should pay the bill for doing wrong to ladies. But there will be a bonus round for you."
Marcel grinned devilishly and explained: "Do you know where I saw the "Godfather"? Of course not! It was in a slave camp in occupied France. I was held as a slave there. You might wonder why I am sharing that memory with you. It is easy to explain. If I would let anyone else to deliver your coup, then it might have been a hand of a Votan that delivers it. Since I know that you are quite...mmmm...rigid about castes and humans are not your higest appreciated life forms, I thought that maybe the former human slave would be the most suitable executioner in your case, Skarr. I have reached into rightful heights after that life period but still it should remind you about...mmm...something sick...sic...Oui! "Sic Transit Gloria Mundi." as Volodja would say it. Now it is downfall time to aristocrats and rise of oppressed masses."
Speaking of masses...Marcel grabbed Skarr's spider legs into his grasp and begun to drag his massively body after him. Once they reached into the portal room he examined portals carefully, studied their destinations thoroughly and made his pick after some cosnideration. Then he pushed Skarr in front of the portal he chose to be the door of Skarr's resting place and said:
"As the consolation prize I would suggest you a small travel. Climate change might do some good to you, since you look so pale. Some nice lonely place where to meditate. A separated place as well. At least after I seal the exit. If you excuse us now then we have more important matters to deal with than you. Bon Voyage!" He pushed Skarr into the portal and turned it off after Skarr's spiderlike body disappeared into it, commenting his actions:
"I believe that I have fulfilled conditions of contract. Skarr will be dead at some point. Maybe it is the poison which does the work. Maybe that paralysis powder because I am not sure how long the effect will last and if there is some arachnophage waiting for a lunch. Maybe all together. But an easy death is something that cochon does not deserve. He does not deserve even a decent boss fight."
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Post by Sandy Bell on Sept 20, 2017 0:02:04 GMT
As the firefight in the Chancellor's Palace began, Sandy Bell noted many Synths writhing on the ground holding their heads as her assault rifle blazed fire nanos at those few who fired at her, ordering her team, "Don't kill those on the ground, and I mean you Lena! Atika must have the blocking beam working, although it looks like the transition from enemy to friend is not without pain!" Lena Marr was acrobat-ting her way through those adversaries who were obviously Skarr's loyal minions, her twin blades deftly cutting tendons and arteries of her enemies whichever suited her whim as she ginned wickedly answering, "Got it Boss lady, or is it bossy lady, don't kill unto others unless they kill unto you!" Atilla and Whitney did their part too, the former shooting his weapon with controlled bursts and the latter directing frosty blasts through her rapier touching her foes before freezing them in place with elegant hand gestures. Suddenly Whitney spotted Marcel Lestrange getting in position for his shot at Skarr as Skarr peeked out from behind an iron door. Whitney's ice blue eyes grew wide as snow began to flurry around her white maned head and she raised her rapier pointing it at Marcel as she gasped,"NO!" Attila was closest to her and grabbed her from behind with both his strong arms, but she merely shrugged of his grip as if it was nothing, leaving his arms frost bit and numb as she muttered while raising her rapier again targeting Marcel, "I love him still..." Lena Marr rolled her sky blue eyes heavenward as a grimace crossed her pretty chalk white face. Lena knew she could swiftly cross the room to Whitney with one swift acrobatic somersault before the Synth girl could fire her cold blast and just as quickly slice off Whitney's head with her twin Bowie knives as she had the Synth captive earlier. Lena had studied Synth physiology with religious vigor knowing she might have to know their weak points sooner or later. Problem was Lena liked the young Synth girl and had plans for her in their future, but Marcel was Lena's better half as she liked to call him and she would not let any harm befall him.  Without any more hesitation, Lena started her run leaping into her somersault with athletic grace and crossing the room unharmed despite the crossfire. Her blades glistened with white Synth blood in the harsh light of the room where they battled, but at the last moment Lena reversed her hold on her twin blades. Using the large hilts of her Bowie knives, Lena used one to strike the rapier from Whitney's hand and the other to hit Whitney hard in the back of the neck making her fall to her knees. Then Marcel's first shot rang out. Whitney did not attempt to rise but instead her slim shoulders began to shake violently as she cried uncontrollably knowing what had happened without having to see it. Lena sheathed her knives before bending to one knee putting her arm around the distraught young girl trying to comfort her ignoring the stinging cold radiating from the sobbing Synth Sister. The gunfire had ended, so Atilla moved to stand over both girls who were now sitting on the ground, white tears streaming down the beautiful Synth's pale face as the equally attractive Castithan held her rocking her as one would a hurt child. He vigorously rubbed warmth back into his arms with both hands as he asked incredulously, "I don't get it! I made that ring myself. It should have blocked Skarr's mind controlling beam from affecting her!" Lena looked up at Atilla with angry sky blue eyes, the corners of her lush lips turned down as she scoffed, "Silly man! Love is a type of mind control that can't be stopped by your magic ring," Still holding the crying Whitney, she suddenly saw Marcel re-enter the scene and smiled at him with a slight nod knowing that he had completed his task which he returned impassively, but then the smile disappeared from her alabaster face as she remarked to no one in particular while watching him with unblinking eyes light up a cigarette, "The heart wants what the heart wants - no matter that what it wants will stop it beating in the long run." |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 20, 2017 6:15:07 GMT
While Marcel Lestrange taught Skarr to walk in his victims shoes by treating him just like he treated his victims, Volodja Uljanov prepared his men to withstand another bot attack. They had decent amount of ammunition to do that but they had to find strength to make a decent last stand. Crowd behind bots was threatening because Volodja still couldn't be sure what for they came - for them or those bots.
Bots begun to move again, releasing new wave of bleeps and bullets. Some of bots turned around and begun to approach the crowd. Suddenly one of them burster into flames and exploded. Then the other one. Volodja saw that the crowd was against bots, so now attackers were caught between an anvil and a hammer. Palace defenders were anvil and crowd was hammer and bots were still tough nut to crack. At least Erika's call worked and that meant lesser political complications and claims...
"Stay down and hold on our position!" ordered Volodja. "We got them caught so don't let them inside the house to avoid chasing bots around the corridors. Our fortress has suffered enough and I don't want to increase already high repair budget!"
He heard laughter of his men and saw how bots turned around to face the danger from their rear. Then he rose his gun and begun to harvest closest bot row. His men rose as well and begun to follow his example creating confusion amongst bots who weren't sure whom they should attack now. The earth begun to thunder under hundreds of feet when the crowd begun the storm. When two flood -made of flesh and made of metal - clashed, the hand to hand battle begun. Shooting on palace window stopped. No pint to shoot when you can't differ a friend from a foe. All defenders could do was to watch now how bots got overrun by Votans.
When last bots were crushed and crashed against the palace wall, the massive wave of Votans fell back just like a tsunami, Volodja Uljanov staggered in front of General Kima and gave his report of the situation in his segment of defence and then turned towards Erika, saying:
"I believe that people need some sort of a temporary victory speech, Chancellor! They helped us to win this battle but we still have a war to win, so I am sure that they need some extra motivation. I myself need a drink. Coffee would be nice."
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Post by Atticus Batman on Sept 20, 2017 12:58:21 GMT
After Atika had activated her anti-Skarr program she started tracing it's signals back to the source...or actually in this case sources because she realized the signal was pinging from 5 different locations. So she brought up a map of the city on the Bridge's main view screen as she said, "Commander Batman! I am detecting the signal from 5 different locations! Clever. If one is taken down the others will automatically bypass it but keep working. The downside would be that section of the city would no longer be under his control. The upside would be the signal would still remain strong in every other part."
I said to Atika, "And if we take all 5 out?"
She responded with, "That would leave the central signal. However it appears that all 5 towers I was able to locate have an intricate masking signal hiding the main source of the signal........but if we were to take out all 5 known towers, then if they are the only ones that are connected to the main source, that would unmask it and leave it open to attack."
I responded with, "And is there any sort of pattern to their broadcasting signal?"
She smiled and said, "It was hard to discern but I did pick up a broadcasting order. It seems to go North to south East, to West, to East, to South-west and then to North again, always in that order. However it doesn't look like their order means anything other than what order they were originally activated in, but to be safe I think we should destroy them in a reverse order anyway."
I looked back at the city overlay she had on the main view screen, then I picked up a digital pen and started tracing a line from tower to tower, in the order she had mentioned, to see if I could get us an idea of the main source's location. Once I was done, I definitely saw an obvious pattern. So I said, "Interesting...That forms what humans would call a pentagram. So based on that, the main source would be dead-center of the pentagram."
I zoomed in and verified the center would be the Chancellor's palace. So I said, "That makes sense. However with our teams and the followers they are rallying swarming the palace, there is no way we can have the Eagle attack it without risking their lives."
Atika responded with, "Commander even if we were to destroy the original source in the center, the other towers are designed in a way that they would just pick up the slack and strengthen the signal in the process. So it is best to take out the five support towers first, anyway."
I nodded in agreement, then I said, "Alright Yar, I know the 'Ghost-bat' is well armed as I did pilot it, but does the 'Eagle' shuttle have any offensive capabilities as well?"
Tasha Yar responded with, "Yes Commander. While the 'Ghost-bat' is a prototype that Robet and the K'shaas had been working on in their spare time and is well armed and even has an untested cloak similar to that of your EGO's, all of our shuttles do have some sort of offensive and defensive measures just in case they are attacked. The Eagle for example, not only has photon lasers, but it also has a small armament of photon torpedoes. It is also has an alternating shield frequency. Looking at it's specs it's main feature is it is spec'd with a prototype that can be activated for a bionetic bonus to the ammunition and weapons damage output, similar to an EGO's overcharge ...another project of Robet's. So I suppose Captain Bell named it rather aptly, just as you did the Ghost-bat. ---- Actually it looks like we also have a shuttle with a specialized holographic decoy system and one with an engine prototype designed to activate a blur-like feature. We also have several shuttles that he didn't use as prototypes for any sort of experiment."
I remarked, "Hmm interesting. You say the 'Ghost-Bat's' cloak has never been tested, however did he have a chance to test any of the other prototype shuttles' 'bonus' features?"
Tasha responded with, "His notes say the over-charge shuttle works better than anticipated but the decoy-shuttle's holo-emitter keeps shorting out. However the cloak-shuttle and the blur shuttle are both untested."
I replied with, "Good thing the strike team is standing by in the 'Eagle' then. Notify Poe and the strike-team leader of the feature. Then inform the Eagle strike-team that they are to take out five control towers. Atika send the locations to the Eagle now, with your recommended termination pattern."
Tasha contacted the Eagle strike-team and gave them their battle orders as Atika sent the 'Eagle' the tower locations and order to destroy them in. Then she responded with, "Done Commander."
Shortly after the 'Eagle" launched to carry out it's orders. As we got confirmation that they took out the Northern tower, Atika confirmed that her suspicions were correct in that that section of the city was no longer under Skarr's control and that the other four towers just compensated and cut the missing tower out of their broadcast.
Before long four of the towers were destroyed. However Poe contacted us saying, "Commander some daking bots realized what we were up to and formed an anti-aircraft chain around the Northern tower. So we can not get close enough from the air to terminate it. Repeat we can not terminate it."
I ordered Poe to pull back to a safe location and standby. Then I contacted Sandy via private channel saying, "Commander Bell, we detected the secondary sources of the control signal, and ordered the Eagle to take them out. However the final support tower to the North of the Chancellor's palace has been fortified with anti-artillery so the Eagle can not take it out. We need you to send a team to take out the anti-air artillery so the Eagle can destroy that last support tower. However the Main signal is located somewhere on the palace grounds and can not be safely destroyed until all of it's support towers are taken out. So once the final support tower is down, Atika can isolate where the main source location is and send it's location to you. Then you can have a ground team disable or destroy the main source at that time. In the meantime Lodja also has a small team of volunteers being led by Chancellor Cael awaiting confirmation that they can advance. So I will notify them of what parts of the city Skarr's synth control signal is no longer being broadcast in. That way they can work on getting Cael back to the palace where he belongs."
After Sandy responded, I notified Lodja (on one of the untraceable hailers I had given him) to inform him that it was safe for Cael (under Kabule's control) and his party to enter the city, as long as any Synth in the group avoided the Northern and central sections of the city until the final two towers were destroyed by my strike-teams. I also told them the estimated range of each support tower, that way Kabule could make sure to have his team stop before they got too close to the Northern or central tower broadcast ranges, if he had more synth teammates than working anti-Skarr-control devices. After Lodja disconnected with me, he gave two of the three untraceable hailers to Cael/Kabule. Unfortunately...or was it fortunately?...only four Synth volunteered as most of them didn't want anything to do with going near any Skarr's range of influence.
Actually one of the Synth that volunteered happened to be Apparition as he wanted to help end Skarr's reign and return leadership to the rightful Chancellor. So when Kabule handed out the 3 devices, Apparition pointed out that he didn't need one because he had already broken free of Skarr's control and then to make sure it stayed that way Atticus had had Lena remove Skarr's control-implant from him as well. So the devices were handed to the other three Synth, and only one Irathient (who had left the city as he grew tired of it, but preferred to see Cael in charge again) had also volunteered. Then Kabule and his small group of Volunteers left Lodja's encampment.
When Kabule's group finally entered the City it was from the Southwest-side. From there they stuck to the shadows as much as possible and worked silently toward the Palace. Once they had gotten just outside of the center tower's estimated range, they surveyed the area to decide on the best approach. Once a path was decided on, Kabule handed one of the hailers to Apparition and kept the other, saying, "There are 6 of us. So we form two groups of three. The two groups will stick to the shadows and work their way to the Palace. You will lead one group and I the other. So you need that hailer just in case your group and my group get separated from each other. If you three get to the palace first, give that hailer to Erika Widowmaker and tell her that I am on the other end to verify that you are who you say you are."
From there the two groups slowly worked their way closer to the palace with Kabule and Apparition communicating with each other via hand signals whenever they were in visual range. As they got closer Kabule saw an Synth sniper aiming a rifle up at the Palace window, where Kabule could just barely see Erika (Cael's mother). So Kabule motioned Apparition to watch for other snipers. Then he aimed his own sniper rifle and blasted the head off the sniper in his view. From there both teams worked their way toward the palace, with both teams terminating in opposition in their way, while also avoiding any large groups that were between them and the palace as Kabule felt it was best not to draw attention to their groups or him; specifically him and Apparition as Apparition was a symbol that Skarr's control could be fought if the Synth wanted to bad enough, and Cael of course as the rightful Votan Chancellor threatened everything that Skarr had taken by force and manipulation, and therefore Skarr and his most faithful would want both men annihilated. Kabule of course doing any takedowns necessary assassin style, with quick merciful execution. Apparition and the others preferring to subdue those they could and only killing if the opposition was an imminent and mortal threat to their safety or the safety of those that opposed Skarr.
(Lyrics for: 'Opposition' By: In The Midst Of Lions)
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Post by Lady Christianna on Sept 20, 2017 21:28:54 GMT
"It is never too late to be what we might have been." - George Eliot***** Atticus Batman said from the Command Chair on the Vigilant's Bridge to Sandy Bell down in the Chancellor's Palace on a private EGO wavelength,"Commander Bell, we detected the secondary sources of the control signal, and ordered the Eagle to take them out. However the final support tower to the North of the Chancellor's palace has been fortified with anti-artillery so the Eagle can not take it out. We need you to send a team to take out the anti-air artillery so the Eagle can destroy that last support tower. However the Main signal is located somewhere on the palace grounds and can not be safely destroyed until all of it's support towers are taken out. So once the final support tower is down, Atika can isolate where the main source location is and send it's location to you. Then you can have a ground team disable or destroy the main source at that time. In the meantime Lodja also has a small team of volunteers being led by Chancellor Cael awaiting confirmation that they can advance. So I will notify them of what parts of the city Skarr's synth control signal is no longer being broadcast in. That way they can work on getting Cael back to the palace where he belongs." Lady Christianna sat quietly in a much smaller chair next to her husband secretly monitoring his communications even when they were on a private EGO channel. It certainly wasn't because she didn't trust him or that she was angry because he was keeping secrets from her. The mind of the Castithan teenager never worked that way. It was that she was a habitual watcher and listener to other's actions and unnoticed by others for she had a habit of being socially invisible while doing so. People as a whole just didn't notice her so they said and did actions they might not have done if she was indeed seen there. When she got her EGO, she found she could even listen to private chats and didn't think twice about it. She never revealed what she heard or saw unless someone might get hurt if she kept quiet so she saw no harm in doing so. With her husband, she felt even more free to listen in because... well just because! Hearing the message Atticus sent Sandy, a pretty pout formed on Lady's chalk white face as she thought to her EGO psyche, "Could have destroyed the north tower with my Crimefighter Shottie all by myself. But didn't ask..." "You now he loves you! He's just protecting the mother of his children Dearie," Answered her EGO psyche MOM, adding with a mild rebuke, "Besides you lost your powers. Oh wait... you haven't told him yet, have you?" "Nooooo," Admitted Lady begrudgingly to her EGO psyche, "Tried to make flowers for the village children. Failed." "So why haven't you told him" Asked MOM already knowing the answer for MOM lived in Lady's mind. "Harbinger of Life should be just as powerful as Harbinger of Death. Ying to his yang. Not me. Not loser me." Bemoaned Lady in her thoughts, "Keep losing my powers - while his just keep getting more powerful. Won't be long until he realizes how useless I am." "Balderdash!" Exclaimed MOM, "Atticus loves you for you, not for how powerful you are or are not! He fell in love with you when you had no powers and he will still love you if you don't regain them, which I'm not sure will happen. Fate has a tricky way with dealing with such things!" "Guess so... " Answered Lady to her EGO psyche with an internal sigh, watching her husband work confidently from his Command Chair and feeling worthless as she did thinking that if she still had her nature powers she could end the war with Skarr all by herself. ***** Volodja Uljanov said to Erika Widowmaker, "I believe that people need some sort of a temporary victory speech, Chancellor! They helped us to win this battle but we still have a war to win, so I am sure that they need some extra motivation. I myself need a drink. Coffee would be nice." Erika smiled slightly as she answered, "Volo, I'll go back into the Palace to the Communications Room so that all of Capital City can hear it." "Not without guards, " Grumbled General Kima, "There may still be Skarr followers in the building, and we have no idea where Governor Skarr himself is." Erika's jade eyes grew narrow as the smile disappeared from her scarred red clay colored face, "The war still rages around here and you need your soldiers General to win it. My EGO informs me that there is a Protector Strike team in the Palace, so I'm sure that if Skarr is still in there he is already dead or in custody. Now, I have a speech to make so I'll see you soon." The General reluctantly agreed after Erika pulled rank on him so the tall muscular Irathiant woman quickly strode confidently into the building making a beeline towards the communications room. As she walked there, Erika contacted the leader of the Protector's team, Sandy Bell, via their EGOs informing her of her intentions. "Yes m'am," Replied Sandy, "My team and I will meet you at the door there!" Erika was not surprised to see Sandy had beaten her there and was waiting at the door for her, although the composition of Sandy's strike team did shock her somewhat although she was a master of concealing such emotions. Erika was not surprised that Attila Constantine was there, for the lanky Irathient lad and his twin sister were quickly becoming indispensable members of the Protectors' team, much to her great racial pride. However, the additions of the diabolical duo as they were know in Fortress Kshaa, Marcel Lestrange and Lena Marr, to the team was a great surprise until she saw the situation through her brother's, Atticus Batman's, eyes. To be sure, if Atticus couldn't be personally present to make sure of Skarr's demise, which he probably couldn't because of command issues, then he would send those who could do the job in his stead. Still, to see Lena with her arms around the young and incredibly sad looking Synth Sister Whitney made Erika want to ask questions that she knew she had no time to hear the answers to so instead she nodded to them collectively as she and Sandy went into the communications room together; Sandy to make sure it was safe and she to do a speech of reassurance to the Votan Collective's people. Sandy ordered her team to guard the only door into the room, then grinned as she turned to Erika who was readying the communication equipment and said jokingly, "Heard my man was Chancellor before you - all for about five minutes! Got to admire the brass balls on my husband believing a human could be Chancellor of the human-hating Votan Collective!" Just then Sandy got Commander Batman's private message to her and she replied via her EGO after briefing him on the current status of her team and his sister agreeing, "I'll take my strike team north to destroy that tower as soon as Erika makes her speech as Interim Chancellor to the Votan people and we get her back behind safe lines! You can count on me sir! Over and out!" As Sandy grinned basking in the glow of her apparent battleground commission to Commander by her superior, Erika was still trying to decipher the meaning of her human friend's slang reference to her husband. Shrugging and dismissing the great mystery of human humor, Erika began speaking confidently into the microphone of the headset she had donned, beginning with, "My fellow citizens of the Votan Republic, we have won a great victory this day! We - " Suddenly a curved red blade appeared from the center of her still smiling friend's front light armor breastplate, then the smile disappeared as Sandy's blue eyes rolled into the back of her head and she crumbled to the ground, revealing the small red caped figure of her attacker behind her. The short Synth Envoy Ruby stood cackling evilly over Sandy's body holding a large red and now bloody scythe in both her small pale hands and wearing a gold spider mask whose fangs dug into her cherubic cheeks as its metal legs speared into her skull through her raven black hair. "King Skarr sends his regards usurper - but to kill you now would be too kind!" Yelled Ruby in a childish screaming voice. As a pool of blood began to spread under Sandy, the diminutive figure disappeared in a blue flash of teleportation, leaving the scene as quickly as she had arrived before Erika could even unholster her Magnum pistol. Erika quickly knelt by Sandy's side getting the medic kit off Sandy's belt as her EGO psyche Amber consulted with Sandy's Sarge and Erika bound Sandy's wounds while Sarge opined, "I don't think Ruby was trying to kill Sandy, at least her subconscious wasn't. Ruby's scythe stroke wasn't close to any vital parts, although Sandy won't be firing any guns soon. Far as I can tell, the wound was more to incapacitate than to kill; although truth to tell, it was really painful so I'm pumping in the meds to numb the pain as fast as I can, and the Captain will probably still be asleep by the time we get back to Fortress Ksahaa!" "Hell of a honeymoon," Muttered Sandy before snoring loudly. "One other thing," Amber added in a worried tone to Erika through the telepathic link they shared, "I got a quick scan of a list in Ruby's positronic brain before she left. I'm pretty sure Skarr programmed her as a fail safe plan with a hit list with the Protectors' names on it in the event something happened to him. In some perverse logic, I saw Captain Bell on the bottom of the list and you and Atticus' names at the top, with the least important to Skarr being killed first to make those above on the list suffer more, however I didn't get a clear picture of who is next after her. The others need to be warned for next time I'm not sure Ruby's subconscious will be able to control her conscious for I could feel her losing control even as she avoided killing Sandy." Erika didn't waste any time letting the other Protectors know what happened and Amber's warning, especially Sandy's husband, Volodja Uljanov, and Erika's own brother, Commander Atticus Batman, who although would undoubtedly be the last attacked should have to be told as the leader of the Protectors. However, since she didn't consider the diabolical duo Protectors, she didn't warn them not because of maliciousness but because of a lack of foresight. Inadvertently then, Erika may have aided Skarr's plan in an unexpected way.  |
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