Turn 8
CallaJust try to let them know what's up, screw the fellowship's selfishness these people need help if it can be got
In the end, you do what the Fellowship would never expect you to do. Hoping the soldiers don't have orders to shoot on sight, you take a deep breath and step out to the open street.
Searchlights snap to you at once, several overlapping shouts of 'halt!' barked out simultaneously. You shield your eyes, taking a step to the left so they can see you properly. Someone shouts into a megaphone, [6] and you reach out and pick the language out of the soldiers' minds. In a few seconds, you've absorbed even the finest nuances of the Portuguese language like you'd have spoken it from birth.
'...get down on your knees with your hands where we can see them. You are trespassing on-' the megaphone voice continues, finally making sense.
'Look! She's bleeding! She's hurt!' another cuts in, your enchanced senses clearly picking up both. You glance down at your wounds, but they're still far from killing you. In fact, they seem to have improved somewhat.
The megaphone voice pauses, though you pick up comments spoken to the side. Then, after a moment's pause, four soldiers exit the barricade and approach you on the street. Their leader seems to be a lieutenant or equilevant, from what little you've picked up from Fellowship ranks.
'Miss? You shouldn't be here. The evacuation center is on the other side of town,' he says, more gently. The others have their weapons lowered, seeing no threat from you. They look so soft, so unprepared for what's coming. 'Do you require medical assistance?'
You think on what to say. While they obviously have some intel on the Deep One, given the extreme response - a Fellowship of their own working with the government? - you're not sure how much he's been briefed. [2+1=3] His surface thoughts are confused and focused on you, mostly, so it's hard to tell either way.
[6][5+1=6] But you don't have much time in any case. You realize that while they may or may not believe words, you have other means to transmit information.
'I'm sorry this is the way I have to do it,' you say softly. The lieutenant frowns, opening his mouth for a question, but you cut him short.
You sift through your mind, visualizing the memories you want the soldiers to know. You start with your identity, knowing masking your nature is impossible in any case, paint an unflattering image of the Fellowship and its involvement in the world, then snap the vague warnings from their minds and link them with the fall of the Fellowship HQ and the sheer impossible size and presence of the being Gaugathun, seeding through fear you hadn't realized you still felt. Last, you plant a crystal-clear image of the artifact and your burning need to get to it to save the city.
You stumble back, caught in the backlash of their shock and innate disgust at being invaded in this manner. You feel part of the same, oddly enough.
'You can't stop it without the artifact,' you say, though they know the truth of it - or atleast your belief in it - already. 'I have to get up there.'
You realize the soldiers have all gone pale, staring at you still in shock. One clutches his head, muttering a silent prayer. None are pointing their guns at you, atleast not yet. They don't seem to be in any state to do anything, so you begin to push past them towards the barricade [5] - when you feel an arm on your shoulder. You turn to see the lieutenant, his features blank.
'We have a car. It's faster,' he simply says. Then, like he'd never been influenced, he begins barking orders again. This snaps the soldiers out of their stupor - and by the time you've crossed inside the barricade you see an armoured jeep with its engine already running.
'I won't pretend to understand what just happened, but-' the lieutenant starts as you approach, but pauses abruptly. His hand goes to his ear and you pick up words on the edge of your hearing from his commbead. Slowly, he turns towards the sea.
A few moments later artillery emplacements on the hills above you begin firing into the night. You follow the curve of their shells as they make their way across the city sky and into the glistening ocean surface.
The night is lit up by an impact flash as one shell hits something. In the fragment of a second it lasts, you make out all-too familiar black carapace climbing out from beneath the surface.
Calla - Abyssal Hybrid
Health: Torso: Moderately Wounded!
Inventory: Empty
Traits and Powers:
*Beyond Human (As an Abyssal half-breed, you possess incredible physical and mental capability. You are capable of mental 'psychic' warfare and considerable thought suggestion, and of easy genetic manipulation by touch on-the-fly, even to fatal extremes. +1 to mental power, +2 to mutation and genetic alteration)
*Aura of Terror - INACTIVE (You share the Deep Ones' incapaciting presence, which causes deep fear and anxiety in the mortal psyche. You are currently suppressing your aura.)
Current Effects: None
Location:
Alex follows Theo back to the boat, some what unsure of what to say.
The agent takes your silence as acknowledgement and turns his attention to the others as you make your way back into the boat. You search the horizon for the Titan, but it appears it's too far away for even your advanced senses to pick out. Still, you'd like to get back on solid ground sooner rather than later and say as much. The agents seem happy to comply and soon the yacht is speeding along the coast back towards the harbor. They remain silent for the duration of the journey, even Lucia, who seems to be on the verge of crying.
[5] Mid-way there, you spot local police boats heading for the open sea in the distance. The yacht keeps its distance from them, not wanting to attract any more attention.
You move fast enough for the city you've been staying at to come into view. The driver guides the boat into harbor, and finally, you step on the wharf again.
'We'll need to get to the hotel and ouf of here as soon as possible. I don't know how the Thai government is going to react to everything, but I have a feeling the country won't be overflowing with air traffic soon,' Theo says. The streets are strangely empty, and distant public service announcements blare in the background, coming over the noise of a metropolis. 'Felix, head for the airport. Secure the Foundation jet and see how bad it's going to be. Agent Deronda, try to get Greyson on the phone. He's probably starting to panic, let him know she's alright.'
The two agents and acknowledge. Rodriguez sets out nearly running and Deronda begins hammering away at his phone. A few minutes later he drops it from his ear and shrugs. 'I can't get through,' he says. Theo tells him to keep trying.
Fifteen minutes later, under the expert commands of Theo, you've packed your stuff and ready to go. The hotel staff is nowhere to be seen, so Theo simply leaves the money on the desk along with the key. You only pause to glance at a vague TV news report - nobody seems to know anything yet, but the government obviously hasn't clamped down on information yet either. Chaos is better than decisive action on their part if you intend to get out.
[3] You're on the road when Rodriguez calls.
'I've got bad news for you. Nobody's leaving - I don't know if they've even seen our beastie yet, but from what I can tell this stuff is going on all over the world,' he says. 'It's pretty chaotic around here, though. They haven't officially banned us from leaving yet. If you can sneak in here, we could try to make a break for it, hope nobody flies after us.'
CombatantsTheo
*Unharmed
*Heavy Pistol [4/5 - 2] (Fires one shot per turn, -3 to Damage)
*Veteran Agent (+2 to Combat Rolls, +1 to Dodge, -1 to Enemy Dodge)
*Squishy Mortal (+3 to all taken Damage, -3 to physical Damage)
Agent Deronda
*Unharmed
*Heavy Pistol [4/5 - 1] (Fires one shot per turn, -3 to Damage)
*Trained Agent (+1 to Dodge, -1 to Enemy Dodge)
*Squishy Mortal (+3 to all taken Damage, -3 to physical Damage)
---
Alex Vondgas - Imprisoned TitanHealth: Head:
Heavily Wounded!Inventory: Empty
Traits and Powers: *
Immortal Prisoner (In the back of your mind, ever-raging, ever-moving, lays 'the Fae', a Titan from before the dawn of history. By tapping into its power, you can take on incredible physical and mental capability. The more of yourself you give in, the more powerful you become, but the higher the risk of losing control is. Your current control level is High. +1 to physical damage, -1 to all taken damage)
*
Slow Regeneration (Your control over the Titan grants you slow wound regeneration. Heal all wounds by 1 on a 3-6.)
Current Effects: None
Location: Highway, heading for the airport, Thailand
Turiel breathed deep from his mask and switched on the radio after deciding to head back home. It was a relief to see the monstrosity down and done for, the well-being of the people would continue - albeit stifled by the colossal fissures and 'blood' of the titan. He had to report this, for this was no random occurrence.
He picked up the radio and began his report.
"KOSCHEI fighter inbound, command. Do you read me, over."
There is a slight pause before you're answered.
'Yes, we read you, Operative. Please stand by. We are transmitting image data,' the reply goes. After a while, your cockpit computer lights up with several images. A few seconds later one of them fills the screen. Despite the poor lightning in the image, you make out a vast semi-humanoid shape of cragged rock, like a massive rock sculpture, standing inert in a vast artificial cavern. Several other images confirm this soon enough. It looks all too familiar. Before you can say anything, the first images are replaced by another batch - you see dust-covered carapace-like hide covering a massive cylinderical shape - you notice buildings and tiny specks of people in the corner and realize it must be kilometres long. It's followed by a featureless, elongated humanoid skull made up of what seem to be thousands of tiny bio-mechanical components.
'Did the... enemy correspond to any of these general types?' Ark Command asks. Surprised, you confirm the first image. There is a muffled curse from over the channel.
'Thank you, Operative. Now, tell us what you can.'
[5] Your report is thorough, stressing the effectiveness of your boosted Nexus Field in improving the missiles' bite. You explain how the unupgraded fighters did manage to damage the Titan despite losing two of their number, allowing you to finish the job. You note the strange shut-downs caused by the giant's roar and throw a guess on its effective radius. You mention this and other things as you make your way back to the Projekt grounds and begin your descent.
'Excellent work, Operative. Was there anything else you wanted to mention? Any questions?'
---
Status: Unharmed
Location: Russian Airspace, Western Siberia
Equipment: *
30mm GSH-30 Cannon [-] (Fires three shots per turn. -3 to Damage)
*
RUS Guided Missiles [2] (-2 to Damage, -1 to Enemy Dodge)
Special Traits: * Field Booster (Capable of co-opting and considerably enlarging a pilot's Nexus Field.)
* Fragile Machine (+2 to taken Damage)
Turiel - Star God HybridHealth: Unharmed
Inventory: Empty
Traits and Powers: *
Beyond Human (As a Star God half-breed, you carry within your veins incredible physical and mental capability, but more importantly, innate knowledge of Star God technology and powers, including rudimentary control of your Nexus Field.)
*
Nexus Field - OFFENSIVE MODE (You have the power to control a personal force field that can be used to redirect and turn away attacks, supercharge fired projectiles, energy weapons and physical attacks, or knit together wounds or mechanical damage. Only one mode can be active at once. Defensive: +1 to dodge. Offensive: +1 to damage. Regenerative: Heals all wounds/damage by 2 on a 3-6.)
Current Effects: None
Location: Inside the cockpit of the KOSCHEI Modified Jet Fighter, Western Siberia
Alexei sighed. His superiors usually gave a heads-up about reinforcements exactly due to the fact an unit involved in a high-risk was prone to shooting first and asking questions later, which meant high probabilities of any unexpected reinforcements having to fight it out against the previously sent forces.
But even so, only two people did not form a squad formidable enough to be a counter-attack against them, unless there were more operatives in the hiding. The supersoldier rose an eyebrow.
Call the HQ and ask information about the people in front of the doors. If they have no idea, take a picture with any special device (agents should have something along the lines of a silent high-definition camera) and send it to HQ to analysis.
If the men try to enter the warehouse, call them out.
[2] Alexei, still unsure on who the new arrivals are, decides to call for instructions. Agent Rotov takes up a guarding position towards the doors. You begin fiddling with your comms and wait for the familiar click of connection, but there's nothing. After a few tries, you have to give up.
'I'm not getting through,' you mutter aloud.
'Is that normal? Sorry, I guess not. Stupid question,' Rotov says, giving a little forced laugh.
You abruptly realize the Society might not want you telling too much to him. You've noticed that they're often reluctant on sharing information with Moscow even though you're supposed to be allies. You don't know if this is a good thing, but the Society is always right in the end.
You consider possible reasons. It would be easy to jump to conclusions and claim interference, but it might just be that the lines are busy, so to speak. You're not sure if that would happen from anything short of a planet-wide apocalypse, though. Or perhaps they don't directly want you to contact them - someone could be listening.
[1] You're cut short regardless as Rotov mouths a warning and raises his gun, shifting to a more stable position. You put your hand to your gun as well, though you're potentially more deadly without them.
The front doors, several rooms away from you, fly open. The first man to come in is the big one. Concealed in shadows, you can't make out his features. He gestures towards the elevators and two others move in with assault rifles. You motion Rotov to stay low and take step forward, raising your hand. You're confident you can move aside if they turn hostile.
'Stop right there!' you shout, feeling somewhat unsure of what to say, 'Who are you? Why are you here?'
The big man turns to you, and you can see his smile even in the darkness. He gives quick orders to the two others, who disappear from your sight.
'Agent Zielkov,' the man starts, his voice low and deep. 'Good to see you. Tamaz Glazunov, A2. They thought you might need some back-up - I told them you could handle it, but they were insistent. My apologies for the abrupt entrance, I have a... dramatic flair, of sorts.'
He grins broadly, eyes passing Rotov behind you. You look him over - I2 is the second line of supersoldiers produced by the Society, still the early stages. They refined the process many times after it, eventually culminating in your I5. He looks like it, too, a giant of man that would stand out anywhere. He's still nowhere near your enchanced physique.
'What's the situation? Where is Doctor Tourigny?' he asks.
Combatants (Altar Chamber)Agent Zelenko
*Unharmed
*Heavy Pistol [2/5 - 1] (Fires one shot per turn, -3 to Damage)
*Trained Agent (+1 to Dodge, -1 to Enemy Dodge)
*Squishy Mortal (+3 to all taken Damage, -3 to physical Damage)
Agent Kaminski
*Unharmed
*Heavy Pistol [3/5 - 1] (Fires one shot per turn, -3 to Damage)
*Trained Agent (+1 to Dodge, -1 to Enemy Dodge)
*Squishy Mortal (+3 to all taken Damage, -3 to physical Damage)
Agent Darkin
*Unharmed
*Heavy Pistol [3/5 - 2] (Fires one shot per turn, -3 to Damage)
*Trained Agent (+1 to Dodge, -1 to Enemy Dodge)
*Squishy Mortal (+3 to all taken Damage, -3 to physical Damage)
Agent Mihailov
*Unharmed
*Heavy Pistol [3/5 - 1] (Fires one shot per turn, -3 to Damage)
*Trained Agent (+1 to Dodge, -1 to Enemy Dodge)
*Squishy Mortal (+3 to all taken Damage, -3 to physical Damage)
Agent Rotov
*Unharmed
*Heavy Pistol [5/5 - 2] (Fires one shot per turn, -3 to Damage)
*Trained Agent (+1 to Dodge, -1 to Enemy Dodge)
*Squishy Mortal (+3 to all taken Damage, -3 to physical Damage)
---
Alexei Zielkov - Experimental Superman
Health: Unharmed
Inventory: Compact SMG [18/18 - 2] (Fires six shots per turn, -3 to Damage), Heavy Pistol [5/5 - 0] (Fires one shot per turn, -3 to Damage), Flashbang [1]
Traits and Powers:
*Genesculpted Superhuman (Your extensive genetic modification and training have made you superior both physically and mentally to any other human being alive. The Shackled, on the other hand, are another matter entirely. +1 to all Damage taken, -2 to physical Damage, +1 to Dodge.)
Current Effects: None
Location: Main doors, Warehouse 59, Vladivostok
Erik Tourigny - Abyssal Hybrid
Health: Unharmed
Inventory: Empty
Traits and Powers:
* Beyond Human (As an Abyssal half-breed, you possess incredible physical and mental capability. You are capable of mental 'psychic' warfare and considerable thought suggestion, and of easy genetic manipulation by touch on-the-fly, even to fatal extremes. +2 to mental power, +1 to mutation and genetic alteration)
*Aura of Terror - INACTIVE (You share the Deep Ones' incapaciting presence, which causes deep fear and anxiety in the mortal psyche. You are currently suppressing your aura. -3 to Combat Rolls around you, fear checks every turn)
Current Effects: None
Location: Inside the altar chamber, Warehouse 59, Vladivostok
Numerous thoughts ran through Alfonz's mind as he tried to form a plan to stop the mutations before him, taking a deep breath he began to try and gain the attention of the Reaper trapped in his mind as he thought, 'Hey you lazy bastard now would be a good time to help me out, give me a bit more of your power so I can destroy these damned things, or would you prefer to die along with me?" Not waiting for an answer he began to look around for anything he could use as a weapon.
See if the Reaper trapped in my mind is willing to grant me a bit more of its power even if it costs me some of my control over him, and then search for anything to use as a weapon (Pipe, knife, etc.) and imbue it with the life force.
You've used to talking to the thing in your head, if not aloud. [1+1=2] But you are most certainly not used to it answering. It's not speech in any sense of the world, but for a passing second you know it is aware of you and awake, like you'd just given it full control. Unreadable, vast thoughts and emotions assault you, but you can make little sense of them. Then, just as soon as it began, it's over, and the Reaper recedes. You take a wavering step back, forgetting you were looking for a weapon, and try to shake the feeling it's still there, watching. You have to waste time testing your mental barriers to make sure your level of control has not changed.
[6] Gathering your wits, you wrest a piece of bent metal out of the terminal's foundation, crushing a part together to act as a grip. Then you draw in and [4] imbue your makeshift spear with your remaining Life Force, enough to overload and hopefully kill anyone it touches.
[3] You look up at the approaching creatures, considering how to use the half a minute you have before they reach you, when you feel a hand on your shoulder. You turn to see a young woman with blood running down her forehead, her eyes darting wildly. Before you can say anything, she collapses against your back, sobbing - and then, starts giggling, a wavering hand raising to point at the colossal Deep One at the end of the half-collapsed runway. She begins babbling, in no language you've ever heard.
Looking back into the shadowed terminal, you see others staring or staggering your way too, no sign of sanity left in their eyes. You can see one biting his teeth into a corpse drifting in the shallow water. This can't be natural - everyone cracking at the same time? Screams from further into the building indicate that not all seem to have succumbed.
You consider the pros and cons of staying to protect these mindless husks. They're still people, but they seem to be flocking towards the swarm, and lack any sort of self-preservation instinct. You can't drag them away from here, either - there's way too many of them. It might be best to focus on those you can still save.
CombatantsApproaching Mutation Forms
*Several dozen, varied speeds and times of arrival?
*Multiple types?
---
Alfonz Wulfric - Imprisoned ReaperHealth: Torso: Slightly Wounded! Left Arm: Minor Cut!
Inventory: Imbued Junk Spear (+1 to Damage)
Traits and Powers: *
Immortal Prisoner (Drawing from the Reaper in your head, you are physically and mentally superior to any normal human on the planet. You have innate power over the life forces of living beings, and can draw, give and imbue it at will. Your current level of control is high.)
*
Life Force [0/6] (You can imbue objects and living beings with life force to create more potent weapons and combat constructs. You will regain spent life force automatically over time, and by devouring others - though this bears the risk of harmful energy damaging you. You can also draw the life force of others and imbue it as long as you also include some of your own.)
Current Effects: None
Location: Terminal Doors, Lakefront Airport
"I... I dunno." Aaron frowned slightly, his voice calm as he responded to the girl, Alex Bray. His voice was low, not exceptionally deep, but still deeper than mid-tone. He nearly instinctively brushed his fringe to the side, his eyes surveying the girl. "I was told to go to the briefing room... told to bring others." He blinked, as he said that, remembering that he was meant to bring others. "Speaking of... Mind grabbing anyone else for me?" His voice stays calm, nearly as if ignoring the panic that the girl spoke of. He didn't notice any panic... or maybe he was just too busy thinking about the dreams... the dreams... "Freedom comes..." His voice was a soft murmur, almost as if he didn't even realise he was saying it while he thought it. He paused, looking back and forth for a moment at the hallway he was standing in. "Wait, panic? What panic?" Gray's voice snaps into a stark contrast of his earlier voice, growing prominent and sharper. "Explain, Alex!" His mind snapped away from the dreams, the dark angel and the phrase that he could nearly not ignore, and for a moment, he lost control of his aura, before he quickly stifled it again.
Fully snap consciousness away from the dreams, for now, find out what's going on from Alex.
[4] Your confused stream only slightly slows down Alex, shrugging off even your momentarily loss of control on your aura. Living here as part of the project long enough, you get used to the general instability of its subjects.
'What, I don't know,' Alex says. 'I just mean, everybody seems really tense and distracted. Doctor Fisher pretty much walked straight into me. They're telling everyone to head upstairs.'
You nod slowly, focusing at last.
'Anywaaaay...' she continues, motioning towards the top of the stairs. 'We should probably go, right?'
You agree and follow her up the stairs, where you're joined by another pair of subjects, who Bray falls into animated conversation with. You try to maintain interest as the four of you make your way to the briefing room, but it concerns what's going on very little. You're grateful when you settle into an already-crowded room.
You see about two dozen subjects, about half of all in the project. A few overseers and staff mill about, conversing in low tones by the presentation wall. Not that it stops you, or you suspect, anyone else, from picking up what they're saying. You can tell several are trying to look like they're not listening in.
'...best not cause too much panic. Try to downplay the facts we know - I've marked a few photos that might look a bit too shocking...'
You resist the impulse to look into their minds for more information, confident that they'll tell you soon enough. A few minutes later, Doctor Fisher shepherds in a dozen others, including Thomas, in. He settles down next to you.
'Hey,' he says. 'What's going on?'
You shrug, electing him to listen in on his own - he's apparently got a 'Star God' trapped inside his head as part of an earlier project, and lacks your mental powers. His senses are even sharper than yours, though.
Right then Fisher walks up to the others and tells them to start with the majority present. A flickering image takes up the presentation wall, showing something it takes you a moment to realize is a vast spider-like shape rising from a city harbor, its massive central bulk suspended narrowly over the rooftops. Smaller shapes fill the air around it, some heading for the source of the photo. They look like confused masses of bone and sinuous fles.
The staff remain silent as the presentation rotates through two other images, seeming to be taken in different parts of the world, before settling into a poor-quality stream of the city in the first. A panicked voiceover in some foreign language fills the room.
'I am sorry to say we are at war,' Fisher's voice breaks through. 'This is not what you have been trained for, but we have prepared for this possibility. Rest assured we can and will fight back and defend our world.'
He pauses, flinching as a series of explosions races up the body of the creature in the background without any visible effect. 'Err... don't be afraid. These... attacks are far away. You can be sure that in this facility you will absolutely,' he says, a moment before the lights and video feed die and plunge the room into absolute darkness.
'safe...?'
Unsurprisingly, panic erupts.
Aaron Gray - Abyssal Hybrid
Health: Unharmed
Inventory: Empty
Traits and Powers:
* Beyond Human (As an Abyssal half-breed, you possess incredible physical and mental capacity. You are capable of mental 'psychic' warfare and thought suggestion, as well as easy genetic manipulation, especially for war. You have also been blessed with extraordinary toughness and mental fortitude. +1 to physical Damage, -1 to taken Damage, +1 to mental defense.)
* Aura of Terror - INACTIVE (You share the Deep Ones' incapaciting presence, which causes deep fear and anxiety in the mortal psyche. You are currently suppressing your aura. -3 to Combat Rolls around you, fear checks every turn.)
Current Effects: None
Location: Briefing Room, SD Project Main Facility, Western Australia
---
Ah, sorry for the wait. But here it is.
Author
Topic: Their Coming Is At Hand - an Eldritch Horror RTD (Turn 10! Spots open!) (Read 33887 times)