Akhain Gazhorn"Yes, a specialist graft." Akhain paused for a second, slightly moving his head side-to-side. "Nope, no side-effects yet. I'll come back to you and complain if any pop up." He flashed a grin at the surgeon, to indicate the joke, before waving a hand. "I'll probably be back again soon. You know how demanding my line of work can be...." Akhain nodded as a farewell, before heading back to his apartment to find a new job.
[6] - 'Quite so,' the doctor replies. 'I'll have a shipment of Sikhet military amps coming in next week I think you might be interested in. Feel free to check in at any time.'
Akhain says his farewells and gets out, mind already on the next mission. He can feel his new implant in the back of his skull, a heavy knot surging with high-grade stimulants and military chemicals. He pauses to consider if he could've just convinced his new higher-ups to let him use Jinan's transmitter implant's stimm boost at will, but it likely had a limited store regardless.
He gets back to his safehouse quickly enough and is satisfied to see the less-honest people in the neighbourhood have begun avoiding him. The area isn't home to large gangs anyhow, but atleast he isn't bothered by the pickpockets, conmen and other low-level outlaws.
Once inside, Akhain settles into his chair and fires up his inbox, checking out the jobs available. The two other offers that were there before seem to have been cancelled, unfortunately, but there are plenty of others to choose from.
The first is a desperate-sounding message from
a warehouse owner who's willing to pay 8000¤ if one of his riverside warehouses is cleared up of the gangers that have taken over and are using it as a drug lab. The gangers are few in numbers but heavily armed, and he advises caution.
The second is from
a Ms. Taune, who offers 10 000¤ to anyone willing to track down and arrest a minor Old Regime official who killed her brothers. The police haven't been able to locate him and don't care enough about a low-level bureaucrat like him to start a real investigation. The girl's only lead is the name of a club owner in the Industrial District.
The third from what is obviously
a front for a crime organization, offering 10 000¤ for tracking down and killing one of their rivals. This 'Three-Cogs' apparently has an army of gangers with him and is holed up somewhere in the Industrial district.
Akhain mistakes the fourth for spam at first, seeing nothing but dubious advertisements and random copy-pasted text fragments, but something seems to draw him towards it. Akhain's vision blurs for a moment and he feels his head spinning, but what happens to the message is much more interesting. Right before his eyes, the text seems to jump up from the screen and rearrange itself into a simple statement;
'First real job waiting. Contact me when able.'Akhain light-headedness continues for a few moments longer, but then he feels the presence in the back of his head ebb away and disappear. Not really something to get used to. He gets the feeling whatever Jinan wants isn't that urgent.
Akhain GazhornHP: 75/75
Equipment: NTT Inferno
(22/26), Thermal Blade (8/8), Snaplock Pistol
(8/8), Paragon Combat Rifle
(10/10)Funds: 0¤
Known Perks: MultiVision Ocular Modification,
Combat Stimulant PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
SystarNot feeling negotiations right now. Normally, more money is better, but I got a bad eye watching me.
Reload the Aurora, and circle back around to the front. If I can sneak up on anyone, blade them- otherwise shoot them.
[6] - Systar feeds another six high-power rounds into his Aurora and begins to double back, moving as quietly as possible. He exits the church once again and, peering around the corner to find the side [1] guarded by ganger talking idly into a handheld radio, keeping his eyes at Systar's end. [3] He pulls his head back as quickly as possible, but hears the ganger stop talking as if struck. An unsure 'Hey!' races down the wide path between the church and the next building, but Systar's already moving. Knowing he has no option but to take out this ganger, he crouches low and prepares to fire.
[5] Atleast it doesn't sound like any of the gangers from inside are coming out of the exit to his left. How many can there be left, anyhow?
EnemiesApproaching around the corner, Close RangeJames AyersHP: 15/15
Equipment: Widowmaker Shotgun
(7/7)Known Perks: Out of ShapeFaction: Bloodhound Gang
---
SystarHP: 34/75
Equipment: Thermal Blade
(5/8), Aurora Revolver
(6/6), Gravity Trap (1/2), Zuche 3 Cloaking Device (2/6)
Funds: 18,300¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech LightningBolt PackFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Consul Mona yl Vsiri (New Regime), Boka yl Vsiri (Crime Syndicate), Bloodhound Gang
Gaosaron"You've got the flechette, so you should take point. I'll keep watch behind us." He looked at the arrow. "The Quarters are probably through the Canteen. Stay sharp; it's likely there will be hostiles in your way."
Gao and Ratrik head upstairs, Ratrik on point, to the Canteen.
[3] - 'Sure. I'm a bigger target anyhow,' Ratrik says and starts up the stairs. Gaosaron follows close behind, keeping his eyes on the shadows below his feet, excepting another bloodthirsty ball of fur to spring on them without warning any second. The stairs are as eerily quiet as what they passed through before, though, and he begins to relax ever-so-slightly - though whyever these things have disappeared for now, it's probably not good.
At the top of the stairs, the pair take up positions on both sides of the door. Ratrik listens in for a bit, but hearing nothing, pushes the door open with one arm while holding the shotgun ready with another. The room beyond is as silent as dead as the ones before.
The canteen is a simple, square room, brightly-lit and high-ceilinged, if somewhat cramped. The pair can see various tables and a few scattered scraps of food left rotting on them. This area doesn't seem to have suffered from the little aliens' vandalization as badly as the labs, thought there's unmistakeable blood on the floor by the doors.¨
[5] Gaosaron looks around and locates a small camera in the corner. He calls Tarur over and steps into its field of vision. The reaction is immediate.
'Hello? Hello? You in the canteen, can you hear me? I... didn't actually think anyone would really be coming,' the intercomm buzzes, elated. There's a brief pause and he adds; 'Wait, there's just two of you?'
[5] Gao looks around for anything to write on. A simple word or two could probably be written on the canteen trays, but any real discussion will have to be face-to-face. That is, if the camera is high-resolution enough to pick up anything else than vague shapes.
AlliesIn the canteen with GaosaronTarur RatrikHP: 75/75
Equipment: Flechette Shotgun
(9/10), RUS9 Incendiary Grenade (2/2), Thermal Blade (6/8)
Known Perks: AugeanTech FlexiSpeed Aid,
NovaCore Analytic-Reactive Augmentation,
FocusedFaction: Bounty Hunter
---
Gaosaron el-Anaula Ra'VantahinHP: 44/75
Equipment: Widowmaker Shotgun
(4/7), Golgo Mechanical Blade, NTT Inferno
(26/26), RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(11/14), Guard Security Pass, Low-Level Security Pass
Funds: 25,450¤
Known Perks: NovaCore Electronic ModificationFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
Subject 971 and Kaviv Otoli971 motioned for Kaviv to throw his grenades into the group, while aiming at the leader carefully with his shotgun...
Action: Pull out my widowmaker and start firing down at the ganger boss! Keep myself under cover!
Feeling partially annoyed at himself as well as shit-scared, Kaviv numbly tugs the pin from the first of his grenades, obediently hurling it into the group of gangers before taking cover and gripping the shotgun once more.
[4] - Hearing little of 971's words and with kebabs of asskickery spinning around in his head, Kaviv closes his hand around the first of his grenades, which have so far only fulfilled the purpose of banging against his chest when running. Not really realizing what he's doing, the young bounty hunter jerks out the pin and raises the grenade high, marvelling at the killing power contained within the simple grey cylinders strapped across his body.
[2] Then he sends it flying right into the middle of the ganger group. There's a moment of silence when it hits the ground at their feet with a bright cling, with a sharp intake of breath from the assembled criminals.
[Ganger Dodges:3/5/5/3/6/2/5/5/4/2+1=3] A cry of 'Grenade!' is drowned out by a resounding boom and eruption of shrapnel and smoke which races outwards from the detonation and hides the gangers from view. Kaviv was too busy getting back down into cover to see the explosion, but 971 did to his dismay spot several of the gangers roll clear from the blast. He also sees the full grandeur of the explosion.
[Damages:23-24=0/60-24=36/13/65-24=41] One ganger is picked up by the blast and thrown across the room, landing with a roll and, according to 971's visor scan, complete undamaged. Another has the same fate, but is not as lucky - 971 makes out his jaw shattering as it smashes high-speed against one of the machines. A third is sent crashing down and begins screaming, arms swinging wildly in panic.
971 catches the death of the ganger boss the best, unobscured by the smoke. His grotesque mask of teeth and hate is shattered by a piece of smoking shrapnel that catches him in the eye. Remarkably, this doesn't seem to down him and he stumbles back a few steps, snarling, before a large piece of rubble thrown high by the explosion comes down hard on his head. It doesn't look pretty.
He doesn't waste any time giving them a chance to relatiate. [5] 971's Widowmaker barks and [Dodge:1][Damage:30+12=42] a ganger scurrying for cover is blown off his feet, an explosion of red erupting from his elongated lower body.
[2/5/2/4/5/2/6] Some of the gangers return fire while running, [Dodges:5+1=6/1+1=2/5+1=6/4+1=5] a lucky Snaplock burst hammering through the light plating and [2][Damage:3] gashing a shallow cut across 971's leg. [4][Dodge:4] He counters with a quick Widowmaker blast that strikes sparks off the machinery behind him.
The gangers begin running for different directions, some heading for the safety of the labyrinthe lines of machinery, some returning fire from where they are, some heading for ladders to the walkways.
Enemies7 Gangers at 15/15 HP, scattering around the factory floor, Close Range.
1 Ganger at 2/15 HP, rolling around the floor in pain, Close Range.
? Gangers, hidden behind the lines of machines, Long Range.
---
Subject 971HP: 57/75
Equipment: First Aid Packs (0/2), Widowmaker Shotgun
(2/7), Thermal Blade (5/8), Aurora Revolver w/ Analytic-Reactive Targeting System
(2/6)Funds: 6250¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech FlexiSpeed AidFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Gutter Hound Gang
Kaviv OtoliHP: 73/75
Equipment: Snaplock Pistol
(8/8), Frag Grenades (4/5), First Aid Packs (6/6), Widowmaker Shotgun
(3/7)Funds: 5000¤
Known Perks: Navigator Uplink PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Gutter Hound Gang
BaraucBlast the damn thing! Afterwards see about getting a new base of operations.
[3] - Barauc curses and draws his revolver, aiming for the little drone before it can escape. [Dodge:5+1=6] His shot goes wild, though the loud boom of the shot sends several passerbyes screaming and running. The machine swoops down and speeds away behind Barauc, heading upwards against the side of the hotel. [5][Dodge:6+1=6] He's in no position to score a hit at this range but tries again, shattering a hotel room window. The drone disappears from sight.
Acting quickly, Barauc storms into the hotel and rushes into the elevator, shoving would-be passengers away and slamming his floor in on the panel. The elevator doors close and it begins to ascend maddeningly slowly, a cheery little tune sounding all the way up. When it finally reaches its destination with a happy ping, Barauc decides not to waste any more time and runs into his rooms.
[3] His gear is scattered around and disorganized, and his bags are stuck away in the closets. Packing up again would take some time - less if he just threw them inside - black market gear is known for its robustness, after all.
Barauc Na'ShalHP: 75/75
Equipment: Zuche 4 Railgun
(1/1), Zuche 3 Cloaking Device (6/6), Aurora Revolver
(6/6), RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(14/14)Funds: 5000¤
Known Perks: Focus Improvement PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Judge Tegarr (New Regime)
LoriaLoria decided to try the gravity trap again. No hesitating this time though. Checking the bodyguard's position one last time, she powered her implant down, in case he had another of those EMP shockwaves ready to go. Grabbing her last mine she chucked it in the direction of the guard, then tracked him with her carbine, opening fire as soon as she had a clear shot.
[4] - Loria forces her implants shut, snaps another Gravity Trap off her belt and lets it fly around the corner with [Dodge:5+1+1=6] desperate aim. She watches in horror as it bounces off the table and activates alone in the corner. [1+1=2] No return fire comes her way, thankfully, and Loria pulls back into hiding.
It appears the two combatants have reached a stalemate of sorts. Either the bodyguard doesn't want to use his implants again, or the EMP was a one-shot toy. Unfortunately, time is on the bodyguard's side - and if she doesn't keep up the pressure, he might inform his masters of the situation. However, Loria is armoured, while the bodyguard is not, though he seems to possess genetically-enchanced or augmented bulk and strenght. However, the man also possesses obvious skill and experience. She's fairly confident she could take a hit or two from the man's weapon, but attacking would be pointless if she can't guarantee a solid hit on him in turn.
EnemiesBehind the couch by the window, Not In RangeUnknownHP: 40/40
Equipment: SychTech Flechette Shotgun
(8/10)Known Perks: Focused,
Veteran FighterFaction: Unknown
---
LoriaHP: 75/75
Equipment: RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(12/14), Zuche 13 Gravity Trap (0/2), Flare Gun
(0/1), First Aid Kit (7/7)
Funds: 4300¤
Known Perks: Navigator Uplink PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Mille Roskank, Anthony
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Turn title; Kaviv's Serious Kebabs of Asskickery. And poor Loria, getting bogged down in an apartment and out of special gadgets. Who knows, they could spend the rest of the game like this!