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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Mar 29, 2015 16:35:19 GMT
It was time to move, so Volodja spat out his chewed straw, got up to his feet and...saw Erika the Great moving towards the park gate. Volodja felt responsible for Erika. Although their first meeting was not very polite and almost cost him set of family jewels and a magic wand, he learned to like Erika and thought very highly of her and her principles. Their opinions differed usually in discipline matters. This time Erika used direct rout to get to their destination. At least it seemed to be like that from Volodja's point of view, which was about to change, because Volodja was on the move as a next thing, leaving his old views behind. Every road leads to Rome and people have right to choose, which one they prefer.
Volodja himself preferred more delicate approach, so he cloaked, run across the street, jumped into a ditch, he spotted earlier and landed quietly. Ditch was perfect hideout for him, except it was WET. To save EGO energy, Volodja started to crawled carefully towards park. Sometimes he moved on crouching stance. Only when coast was completely clear, he raised to his full length and run quickly to his next hiding spot, he looked for himself right after reaching to previous one. Couple of mind controlled toy soldiers passed him, when Volodja hid behind dumpster, which reeked as bad as diapers he was changing earlier. Maybe this dumpster was used to store them, but Volodja was not going to lift the lid and check it out.
When soldiers left the area, Volodja dared to move on and spotted Erika at park gates. Unfortunately she was not alone. Red armoured sniper had took position on high atop of nearby building and was busy targeting her head. Volodja grabbed his Ranger. No time to hesitate, so he rose his sniper rifle, pushed it against his right shoulder, caught sniper's head in middle the cross-hair and took the sniper out with two shots. After that he hid quickly, made sure that nobody noticed sniper falling and continued to park in most cautious manner. Reaching to his destiny, Volodja stopped by Erika and said calmly, keeping his voice as soft as possible: "Detected a sniper position, so we better take cover now. It's not a suicide mission after all."
At least for most of them it wasn't.
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Raizar
Junior Batman Sidekick
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Post by Raizar on Mar 29, 2015 16:41:37 GMT
Raizar just shrugged looking at Belle who was running away quickly and then he said leisurely: "Guess we'll have another damsel in distress rather soon. Um, well, but two bosses is too much for me. And it's Taffer who pays me scrip. Or at least promises this. Hey, Taff, how's about a new plan? Should I maintain this distraction as well or should we rush to the base while that nicey gal is luring attackers to the chase after townsfolk? I think we should hurry and switch off those collars until those townfolks get killed due that kind-hearted girl's actions. It's the best way to save them in my humble opinion."
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Post by Taffer on Mar 29, 2015 17:29:58 GMT
"Same plan, Raiz. Keep those puppets at bay, make some noise. If Belle manages to get people to safety, then good for them. But we still need those few minutes for our attack. Go now."
Taffer waited for all others to cross the road then followed them, turning around to make sure no one else paid attention to the group. A familiar sound of a double-shot from a Ranger caught his ear and made him look forward again. He saw a sniper falling and hurried to catch up. He didn't need his Cloak on a rough terrain at night as he quickly sneaked from shadow to shadow when no one could see him. Only his team could see his position marked for their EGO units.
Em Dash informed him of a movement detector attached to a nearby tree and he ordered her to jam it while he crawled up to it and disabled it. Then he climbed the tree and sat on its branch looking around the territory on the park. He noticed four guards, two stationary watching the park gates and two walking around the perimeter. He didn't have a clear view of the Chase's Memorial from there, but it looked like it was the only position for another sniper if there were any. Except other trees of course. He started transferring locations of those patrols to his team so that thy could see them on their radar and HUD. Then he seized the precise moment where the moving patrols were not looking his way, jumped off the tree, landing inside the park's grounds and disappeared in the nearest shadow.
"Volodya, climb the tree I've just used to get in", the team heard his voice in their heads. "We'll get those two stationaries from behind their back when walking ones are away. Then we'll open the gates. Erika and Vo, once you see the gates open, move in and dispatch those other two while we'll be hiding bodies."
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Raizar
Junior Batman Sidekick
Posts: 60
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Post by Raizar on Mar 29, 2015 17:58:30 GMT
"Aye, boss." Raizar said. He put on a suggested rebreather and ran to the church cloaked until he made sure he is close enough to enemies and far enough from the team. Then he called his EGO-formed car, some of that temporary cars which can't hold any luggage and can disappear in thin air pushing it's driver into short free flight. But here and now this tricky car could prove useful. Raizar ordered his EGO to prepare Blur, quickly get into the car and gave full throttle making the car to jump high from the nearest dirt mound. He jumped out of the car before it flopped down. Everyone's attention turned to the car and it gave him about two seconds of free time which he used to kill the nearest soldier in red DM uniform. Then, feeling the attention is weakening he shouted "Entertaining tiiiiime!", turned Blur on and started to run and jump among enemies in chaotic manner trying to kill red-uniformed ones and immobilize others but before all trying to maintain a high level of attention to himself. And don't get killed of course. He just had to hold long enough to give others time to switch off the mind control devices, after that everything should go easier... maybe.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Mar 29, 2015 18:16:54 GMT
"Which way?" asked Volodja from himself. "I'd prefer trapdoor actually, but if they are expecting us to come, then it will be most obvious place to use, so it might be heavily guarded." Bloody assumptions a la "they know that we know that they know that we are coming". Volodja was in danger to see things being more complicated than they were. If they had to deal with simple enemies, then using back door is a must. But having a mastermind waiting for them made things look weird. Their enemies liked to play mind games and now Volodja started to play those games with himself. So he shook his head, cleared his mind and decided, that it was no matter which way they use. Enemy might wait them behind both doors. So Volodja sat down in his hiding place and took exactly the same pose as Auguste Rodin's "Thinker", pondering about their possibilities to enter undetected and waiting for others to come.  His mental tortures weren't meant to last. "Volodya, climb the tree I've just used to get in. We'll get those two stationaries from behind their back when walking ones are away. Then we'll open the gates. Erika and Vo, once you see the gates open, move in and dispatch those other two while we'll be hiding bodies," were Taffer's orders. "Something simple at last," thought Volodja. "Just climb the tree and play a jaguar." So he made his way up on the tree, let himself to cling on a tree branch to ease concussion to his feet when he lands, jumped down, rolled himself quickly to other side of the road and hid behind a hedge. He stood there, slightly crouching and tight as a steel spiral, ready to take out his opponent as soon he gets a chance. "On your mark, Chief. And excellent hiding skills, by the way. Didn't saw a thing," was his message to Taffer. |
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Post by Taffer on Mar 29, 2015 19:48:59 GMT
"Don't bother to keep them alive, just do whatever is more silent", Taffer sent to Volodja.
Two Inquisitors in red armor were constantly monitoring the gates but standing out of view from outside, clearly ready to ambush anyone who would enter the park. Taffer noticed Volodja ready to jump on one of those and hid behind the other one, monitoring two other walking red-armored soldiers. When they went out of view, Taffer's voice sounded in Volodja's head saying "Now!" and Taffer emerged from his cloak, hitting one of the Inquisitors on the back of his head with a buttstock of his Heavy Carbine. Seeing Volodja dispatching the other one, he pulled the body and hid it behind the hedges so that it won't be seen by anyone who might be entering or exiting the park.
"Volodya, watch for snipers as I open the gate", Taffer sent and sneaked to the entrance. He raised the bar which was keeping gates shut and opened the gate just enough for his friends to enter. "Cloak and get those other two", he whispered and jumped back to his hiding spot near the Inquisitor's body, checking his conditions in case he was about to wake up and waiting for his cloak to recharge.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Mar 29, 2015 20:10:41 GMT
"Now!" was the signal Volodja was waiting. He jumped behind his target, grabbed Inquisitors neck, pulled Inquisitor down, using his body weight and unexpectedness as advantages and knocked Inquisitor's head with his SMG. After that he dragged unconscious body to his ambush spot and hid carefully. His another task was watch out for snipers, so he found a shady place nearby, crouched and had his Ranger ready for everything. Weak squeaking sound was a signal that Taffer got gates open for Vo and Erika. Rest was up to them, as Taffer planned before, but Volodja remained to his position just in case someone else suddenly approaches. Telescopic sight was a great help there and enabled to spot two more Inquisitors standing on their posts down the road. Volodja calculated distance between them and himself.
"Two Inquisitors more standing there. About 150 meters (roughly 164 yards) down the road," he informed others, so they could take their guys out unspotted. After saying that, he kept to examine perimeter again, looking for more hidden and unhidden enemies.
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Mar 29, 2015 22:11:51 GMT
Erika and Vo followed Taffer's orders to the letter, taking out the two guards as soon as the gates were open. Soon after, Belle blurred up to them and smiled, as they awaited their next orders.
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Post by Atticus Batman on Mar 29, 2015 22:33:44 GMT
As we entered the park, with me cloaked, the team took down all the guards they saw as I headed to our goal. As I am sneaking towards the statue, I spot the two Inquisitors Volodja mentioned. I sneak up behind them and smack their heads together then snap their necks. I then continue towards the statue. As I get to where I could easily see the statue, I realize that there is a cloaked sniper standing precariously on the statue's head. So I quickly move to the statue still cloaked. I climb it's back as quickly as I can. I reach up and grab the sniper. As I yank him down, I smash his head in on the statue killing him, and drop him to the ground. Then I use the panel on the statue's back to open the trapdoor with the help of my Grid's abilities to manipulate electrical frequencies, before dropping back to the ground. I peak in the trapdoor as I send a message to the team.
"Taffer, I am at the statue. I opened the trapdoor, but it looks too narrow for somebody of...my build to fit in. So I should be the main force and enter through the elevator. Since they know I am part of the team they will be expecting me, given my reputation. So it might help all of you sneak in through the trapdoor of Belle's. I will wait here for all of you to catch up, and for you to decide from there. If you want me to disable the park lights from the statue's control panel while I am here, just give the word, and I will. However once inside, I am going for Lady and can't guarantee that I will follow the team." I then step into the shadows near the statue and wait for the team, where I will not be seen, as my cloak wears off.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Mar 30, 2015 5:25:55 GMT
Hearing Atticus's message made Volodja grin. Sometimes solutions were so simple. If you can't choose one way in, then use both ways at same time if you have enough man power. Those poor bastards at the elevator will be facing some really unpleasant mixture of pain, agony and violent death, when angry Giant rushes in. As long as he keeps his anger focused and won't get carried away he is invincible. That mastermind better keep their girls untouched, because if Giant gets into a rage, then Belle's place will look like a butcher shop. Actually - that base won't last for long anyway, if Belle succeeds with her plan, so aesthetics didn't matter, but nobody from their team must not get hurt. Except Belle and him. He promised to be there with her and ever since they met at their base, he...cared about Belle deeply, so he will join her and tries to talk her out and if he won't succeed, then he deserves to die in really good company, although their...opinions about each other weren't mutual.
Too much thinking won't bring any good. Usually it leads to angst or adapting some really...interesting ideas, which will change face of the world entirely and not in a good way. 20th century was full of examples, what might happen, when people start to follow those ideas by the letter.
And too much thinking didn't bring any good to Volodja either, because during his sneak, he met two more hidden enemies and while he was struggling with one, the other started approaching to them, holding a sword in hand. Looked like that Inquisitor wanted to demonstrate to Volodja, how sharp was the blade and do it in a way, which was too direct for the poor Fool. Maybe someone comes to help him out, like Erika... Volodja was too busy with slamming his opponent's head to the ground to no notice that and even if hid did it would not helped him, because first Inquisitor didn't liked idea of getting knocked out and fought back, keeping Volodja occupied. Sophie spotted danger and screamed: "Behind you!" but it was too late. Second Inquisitor raised the blade already to strike...
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Post by Atticus Batman on Mar 30, 2015 6:39:36 GMT
As I wait in the shadows, I see Volodja smashing an Inquisitor's head into the ground, then notice an Inquisitor approach Erika from behind. I raise my Calling bird, quickscope and fire. The head goes pop, Erika gets a blood shower and the body hits the ground.
Then I look around and shoot a Sniper from a tree near her as well. |
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Post by Taffer on Mar 30, 2015 9:01:43 GMT
Once the team got to the statue, Taffer got busy with the code lock on the front door, monitoring the situation around only by his radar and EGO calls. When Belle arrived, he assumed townsfolk from the Church were safe as Belle was never to leave innocent people in danger.
"Raizar, move the attackers away from the Church if you can, and catch up to us. We've got to the Monument safely.
Atticus, I'm working to let you in through the front door. Good idea to attack from both entrances, but same as Belle, choose a partner to go with you. And please report your position through EGO to avoid friendly fire."
A sniper appeared behind the tree, aiming at Taffer's head, but quickly eliminated by Vo, who ran up to him in blur and shot him in the head with his shotgun. Then Vo stayed next to his friend guarding him while he worked. He smiled to Belle when she appeared at the Monument, but quickly got back to his duty.
Taffer finished hacking the lock and the door opened, he and Vo were ready to shoot at whoever comes out of it but there were none. Taffer launched a Decoy through the door and Vo immediately warned him of a hissing sound as if the gas was pouring into the room from somewhere. Taffer held his breath and quickly put the rebreather on, Vo did the same.
"The door is open but expect more traps down there", he sent to the team as he turned around to see if everyone is ready to enter.
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Raizar
Junior Batman Sidekick
Posts: 60
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Post by Raizar on Mar 30, 2015 9:55:48 GMT
"Just in time" Raizar thought. Taffer's message caught him just as he was tucking himself against the church wall trying to get his EGO time to heal his wounds but bullets kept breaking his shield. Raizar just needed a few seconds more to hold on under attacker's focused fire until his Blur is ready again. He used all his EGO power steams already and had no time to find another. So he had to wait, not so long, just a few seconds, but these seconds seemed an eternity for him. He felt his clothes were soaked with blood and bullets constantly drumming the wall around him made the liming to peel off on him. EGO's health warning looked really serious. "Deadly serious." Raizar thought and grinned wondering why he is conscious still. Finally Blur was ready again. "Yeah, this was close!" Raizar put Blur on, jumped from the wall and ran from the church shouting "Heeeeey babies!". Now bullets could not harm him while he kept running so his EGO finally could heal him and restore his shield. "That's better!" Raizar shouted, called his temporary EGO-car, jumped in and started to drive away but not so fast giving time to attackers to join the race. Raizar looked over his shoulder and saw that enemies followed him. "Rather angry, yes," he muttered with satisfaction. Seems attackers decided to catch the annoying target at any cost and this was good. Raizar led them away from the church then gave a full throttle to shake them off. A bit later he jumped from the car which disappeared immediately and run back to the main group, cloaked this time. From what he could see and hear those attackers still was trying to find him. "Keep busy guys." He muttered silently. "Have a nice day."
Finally he found his teammates and appeared before their eyes looking like a scarecrow in his clothes spattered with blood, dirt and lime at whole length. "Hey mates! How's it going?" He said with a wide grin on his face. "I'm here and I'm ready! Taff, I definitely think you should add a small bonus for this."
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Post by Atticus Batman on Mar 30, 2015 11:44:35 GMT
I glance at Taffer. "If I must take somebody then fine, but I am NOT taking a paid merc that isn't on my payroll, they are only loyal to those who are paying, and olny while they are sure the pay is worth it and as long as they haven't been paid yet. I'd say Belle, but if both of our "beasts" choose to take control at the same time, they are liable to kill each other rather than complete the rescue, and I may not be able to stop it no matter how much I care for Belle as a loving little sister even if she can be a real haigyi at times, but then what woman or sister isn't on occasion?"
Dinara gives me a virtual raspberry at that, but says nothing else. I ignore her and continue to talk to Taffer and the team.
"You are best leading the team, and Vo will of course want to stay near you and Belle. So that leaves my comrade, the Fool or Widowmaker. Volodja has proven repeatedly that he's got my back and has snapped me out of my rage before. Erika is a capable soldier who has vowed to give me aid whenever needed.
So the logical choice is Volodja or Widowmaker. I am fine with either of the two, although Volodja would be my first choice. So I will leave it up to the two of them to decide which one wants to risk their lives following in my wake and watching my back, knowing I could 'turn' at any time, and knowing it is up to them to complete the rescue and leave me to fend for myself if that does happen." I walk over to the elevator, and what for my partner, whichever one it happens to be.
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Post by Belle Starr on Mar 30, 2015 14:14:48 GMT
As Belle Starr was blurring back to the team, she noticed with her enhanced eyesight Volodja's predicament with the Inquisitor who was about to split his head with a sword. She blocked the Inquisitor's downward blow with the charge blade she was still carrying. Without a second's thought, the Inquisitor swung his sword, seeking to separate her pretty blond head from her armored shoulders, but Belle merely ducked, thrusting her blade forward through the Inquisitor's heart in a classic fencing move executing in an elegant manner that would have made her fencing coach in NYC proud. Belle saddened remembering that her fencing coach too was probably dead from the recent terra-forming of New York as the Inquisitor's body crumpled to the ground, but reached out her hand taking Volos and pulling him up from the ground.  "You got to love a good sword duel! Unfortunately, that wasn't even close to good!" She quipped with a sad smile, then before the loquacious Volo can even give thanks, Belle blurred on to where Vo Kshaa and Erika Widowmaker were standing over the bodies of the two guards, giving Vo a quick peck on the cheek while Erika was ready at the guard with her assault rifle. When Taffer had the whole team gathered, Belle said stoically to Taffer, "Wherever you want me to go, whatever you want me to do, whenever you want me to do it, I'll do it." Erika turned briefly from her guard duty bothered by the tone in Belle's voice, glancing quickly at Belle and raising one purple eyebrow. The tall and muscular Irathient woman had never seen Belle's pretty freckled face look so impassive, as it seemed to Erika that Belle's face was always animated with emotion, and although sometimes it was hard for Erika to read the thoughts behind human expressions, she had known Belle Starr as a friend long enough to know something was bothering her. Erika went back to looking for attacking Inquisitors. She was grateful that Atticus picked Volodja to go with him, for her instincts were screaming that her friend might need Erika to watch her back. Erika noticed some movement at the front gate to the park, narrowing her large jade eyes to get a better view, then seeing a score of mind controlled townsfolk shambling through it and towards them armed with makeshift weapons. "Taffer sir, whatever we are going to do," Said Erika in a calm voice, "We need to do it soon. The natives are getting restless." |
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