Akhain Gazhorn and SystarContinue with the wait.
Systar gritted his teeth. He could see enough to tell that if there was anyone in there, it wasn't many. He was hurt, his blade was about gone, and who the hell knows what had been compromised... but running wasn't an option. Undoubtedly they were watching the terminals- he doubted he could get a legitimate flight off the planet, and he didn't have the credits for otherwise- plus, he had thousands more worth of gear in the room. He was stuck.
Returning to his hotel, he got to his door. Taking out his pistol in one hand and the incendiary grenade in his other, he hoped whoever was in there didn't have a death wish.
Return and enter, pointing with the pistol and ready to prime/arm the grenade. Demand to know what the hell is going on if anyone's inside.
[3] - There's no running from this and Systar knows it. He hurries back, marching straight into the lobby, up the elevator and to his door. Breathing deep, Systar takes out his pistol and a grenade, and [3] fumbles to open the door with his ID, after briefly considering kicking it in.
[3] Inside, Akhain is stirred out of his stupor by the sound of the lock deactivating and raises his gun anew. [3] Systar also forsakes his earlier plan of bursting in by shouting from the doorway.
'Who's there? What the hell is going on?'
Hurid yl BassdromHP: 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: Free Republic
Target: None
SystarHP: 34/75
Equipment: Thermal Blade
(1/8), Aurora Revolver
(4/6), RUS9 Incendiary Grenade (1/1), Zuche 3 Cloaking Device (2/6)
Funds: 25,300¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech LightningBolt PackFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Consul Mona yl Vsiri (New Regime), Boka yl Vsiri (Crime Syndicate), Bloodhound Gang
Gaosaron"...I can't believe I'm saying this. It's probably going to get me killed." Gao sighed. "Ratrik, you take our buddy here and try to get him and his people out, OK? I'm going to try and make my way to the mainframe and see what I can do. Get clear of the station; I'll radio you when it's safe to come back and get me. If it isn't, well, I imagine the big ass explosion will give the game up." He turned back to the 'bot. "Lead the way. Know a safe route to the core, or am I going to be burning through ammo on this trip?"
[2] - 'Alright,' Ratrik says. 'I'll get these people to the station entrance and hail the freighter that brought us in. And call our employer, let him know what's happened.'
He turns to the survivor, who nods, eyeing the bot once more warily, and leads the bounty hunter inside. Gao is left alone with the AI's messenger and lets it know he's ready.
'I believe the maintenance tunnels will offer us some protection from the creatures. The doors only open for those with high-level security passes, like the one in your possession. However, some of them may have grasped the use of the cards. Also, this shell may not be able to accompany you the entire way through. I will let you know if it is in danger of losing power. It may be possible to unlock areas of this station the creatures have locked me out of.'Gao acknowledges this, still wary, and follows the bot as it buzzes out of the room and back the way they came. The bounty hunter stays alert for any signs of the blue aliens, [4] but with the speed the bot is moving it's hard to listen. Still, it seems quiet enough. Presumably they're at the reactor core like the AI said.
Gao swipes the door to the maintenance tunnels open with his Guard Pass. The AI doesn't lead them the way they came, but into the twisting depths of the station, narrow tunnels of radiating heat with barely enough space to move in. As you come to an intersection, the bot suddenly stops.
[3]
'My signal is not getting through well,' it says through heavy static.
'I am giving this bot rudimentary directions for you to follow. However, you will not be able to communicate with me until you reach the landing bay the labship is located in. If there are any control terminals on the way, you may be able to reconnect them to me.'
With that, the voice dies away and the bot's lights dim. With [2] a groan of servos and a few sparks, it rushes towards one of the tunnels and crashes down, skidding along the floor until its' power cuts out completely. Gaosaron studies the inert form for a few moments, then, with nothing better to do, heads down the tunnel it started upon.
[2] The tunnel goes straight for a while, but soon several other diverge from it. He heads straight onwards, but then the tunnel comes to another intersection - [1] with no signs or any of the control terminals the AI talked about anywhere in sight.
AlliesLeading the survivorsTarur 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
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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 OtoliAction: Collect some weapons, ammo and equipment from the gangers. Maybe that MG that shot the crap out of me so many times?
Then, time to get healed, and grab a drink and a burger with an old friend.
>Follow after 971 and our new companions, trying not to dwell on recent events.
>Help carry loot if necessary.
[3] - After some more reminiscing and banter, Ink takes a look at the picture and shrugs. 'I think I saw him around before all the shooting started, but that's all. Boys?'
971 holds the picture aloft for the others, but if they know anything, they don't talk.
'He probably had the brains to run. But anyway, those guns. Let's grab what we can. And don't worry about my op, we'll figure something out.'
[4] The hunters and syndicate thugs spread out to loot the fallen. Nobody stops 971 from heading straight to the bastard with the Golgo and picking the heavy weapon up. The ganger didn't carry any extra ammo - though he did leave the other thug with a Golgo outside - but it should still prove useful in a tough spot even if he doesn't acquire more. [1] 971 also picks up a Widowmaker clip from one of the gangers, while [3] Kaviv is offered a Frag and a Snaplock clip.
[3] The wounded thugs and the hunters gather outside, while Ink makes a report for his boss, keeping mention of the bounty hunters to mininum. From what they can hear on this end, he doesn't sound too happy - though 971 knows that if Mr. Eyes was really angry, there would be no emotion at all in his voice. After Ink ends the call, he sends his men to find their way home and to medical attention - apparently they've stashed a vehicle somewhere nearby.
'Right,' he says as he approaches the hunters. 'Let's head out.'
[2] The shopkeeper has, as they find out when they swing by, closed for the day, but 971 leaves him a message about the completion of the mission.
Kyrhawk Cafe is still standing, and is still open. It looks like McGurson's daughter has done some renovating, lighter colors and a fancy new logo greeting them above the door. Still, they recognize old tables, old music, old machines. McGurson's daughter recognizes and greets them warmly, calling for drinks on the house. Soon three ice-cold Antolan Brews and steaming burgers are waiting in front of the three heroes of the revolution. The two veterans fall quickly in conversation, Kaviv feeling somewhat out of it, not recognizing many of the topics.
'So,' Ink asks after his third Antolan, 'don't suppose Dalia's mentioned me in, uhh, a while? I sort of... told her what I'm doing these days and she... she got really mad, y'know. She called me all sorts of things. I hit back, y'know I'm not one to take that, even from a friend. Things sort of escalated from there. I don't, uhh, suppose you could talk to her on my behalf?'
---
Subject 971HP: 27/75
Equipment: Golgo HMG
(14/22)[/acronym], Widowmaker Shotgun
(7/7), Thermal Blade (5/8), Aurora Revolver w/ Analytic-Reactive Targeting System
(3/6)Funds: 6250¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech FlexiSpeed AidFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
Kaviv OtoliHP: 51/75
Equipment: Snaplock Pistol
(8/8), Frag Grenades (4/5), First Aid Packs (6/6), Widowmaker Shotgun
(6/7)Funds: 5000¤
Known Perks: Navigator Uplink PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: None
BaraucSneak a Aurora and head up into the pit
[6] - The trainer doesn't care or notice Barauc dropping an Aurora down his shirt as he leaves his gear and armor for him to carry away. After he's done, practically only his mask remaining, Barauc heads to the arena entrance to wait for the previous match to end and the next to start.
After a few minutes, the doors at the top slide open and the lithe alien returns carried by two guards, his head dangling unnaturally to the side with nothing to hold it in place. Barauc can see bone sticking out.
'Alright, you're up. They're putting someone called Sina against you. Fight hard and remember what I told you,' the trainer says. You acknowledge him and head up the stairs into the arena.
Though the place is not quite what you imagined - a large room with a round, fenced center, the audience in rows around it - he is instantly reminded of a few entertainment flicks he's seen in his youth. From the other entrance comes a muscled alien, pandering to the audience with a showmanlike gestures and smile. His smile continues even as he begins to check Barauc out, approaching slowly. The bounty hunter is still considering his chances when a dull boom rattles through the chamber, presumably the go signal, and his foe surges forward.
[5+1=6] His first blow, coming fast and hard with his right, [6] is easily sidestepped by the experienced bounty hunter. He uses the opening to [3] plant an [Dodge:4-1=3] accurate left hook into the alien's stomach, though the man moves to turn away most of the blow. [Damage:1-2=0] Barauc recognizes he did little damage and [5] follows up with a solid right that [Dodge:6-1=5] finds only air. Barauc stumbles and is open for a counter-strike, [2] but it never comes.
His opponent dances back and so does Barauc, the two men circling eachother while the audience whoops for blood.
---
EnemiesSina Detauny HP: 15/15
Equipment: None
Known Perks: Hardened FighterFaction: Unknown
Barauc Na'ShalHP: 35/75
Equipment: Zuche 4 Railgun
(1/1), Zuche 3 Cloaking Device (6/6), Aurora Revolver
(6/6), RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(14/14)Funds: 4500¤
Known Perks: Focus Improvement PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Judge Tegarr (New Regime)
LoriaLoria grabs a couple knives, secreting them in various locations before heading to the cab with Teodosio.
[2] - Loria finds a pair of good, balanced knives from the kitchen and hides them in the recesses of her dress. Satisfied, she heads back up.
It takes some time for the cab to arrive, and even more for it to arrive at its destination at Financial. The pair is let out on the top floor and head for the luxuriously-decorated double doors to this crime bosses' office. Looks like the PI, or his employer, has managed to get a meeting arranged.
'Right, before we go in, any last-minute things you need to go over?' Teodosio asks.
---
LoriaHP: 35/75
Equipment: Miniaturized Pistol
(5/5), Sharp Knives (2/2)
Funds: 4300¤
Known Perks: Navigator Uplink PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Mille Roskank, Anthony
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