Taric TaiserviLook for additional jobs, then check the black market.
[4] - Taric looks through the available jobs. There's a new offer, though the one from the Republic is no longer possible to take.
The first message is from a group of
'honourable businessmen' for a bounty of 15 000¤. Capture and delivery of a judge named Garak Lakh, who apparently fears for his life and has hired a group of mercenaries to guard him. He's told to be discreet and not link their name to your actions. Lakh lives in a villa just outside the city.
The second comes from
the new government. The industrial hub of Sechon up north is being terrorized by Sebastian yl Terra, the so-called 'Black Baron' and his private starship. He always manages to escape his pursuers and hide away somewhere in the area. The heavy storms in the area seem to be interfering with orbital scans and radar, and his hideout remains out of reach. The workers are refusing to return to the factories, fearing more attacks. Killing the Baron will net Taiservi 25 000¤, but just locating his hideout gets him 10 000¤.
Taric TaiserviHP: 75/75
Equipment: RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(13/14), Frag Grenades (3/3), First Aid Kits (4/4), Thermal Blade (6/8)
Funds: 16,000¤
Known Perks: Focus Improvement PackageFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Cain (Claymore Gang)
Akhain GazhornFrowning, Akhain sent out another flurry of emails to his contacts, this time requesting where he could find transport out to the desert.
[4] - Gazhorn sends more messages to his network, asking for transport. After a while, some offers come in. Unfortunately, they all want to get paid, the cheapest being 2000¤. [5] Luckily, she's willing to wait until Akhain gets the bounty for her payment. This seems like the best option, though he could still do some more searching.
Akhain GazhornHP: 75/75
Equipment: Zuche 3 Cloaking Device (6/6), Zuche 20 Shock Mine (4/4), RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(14/14), Thermal Blade (8/8)
Funds: 500¤
Known Perks: MultiVision Ocular ModificationFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Father Kosh (Old Regime)
SystarDammit, that could have gone better. I need to get off the streets.
Take back alleys and cut through sewer tunnels to make it back to the hotel. Rest up, change clothes, and collect reward.
[6] - Systar disappears inside a restroom and returns a few minutes later, his bloody coat packed away and his wounds and the blood stains on him washed. He hurries into the express elevator, seeing half a dozen security guards rush towards Stjepan's apartment. The elevator trip seems to take an eternity. Systar walks calmly across the lobby, careful not to attract any attention. It's easy to disappear in the crowded area, and he's outside in a few seconds. His escape was perfect.
Systar wonders if leaving the woman alive was smart. This was technically a murder, and one the authorities might actually be interested in. The last thing he wants is trouble with the law. He decides to take a longer way home, heading down into the sewers.
[1] Systar tries to get through the sewage quickly, not wanting to stay down there any longer than necessary. Unfortunately, the sewers are usually gang territory, and the gangs like to leave little surprises for any trespassers. He hears a faint 'click' as he steps on a RUS8 HE Mine. [Dodge:4] Systar jumps, using the damn thing as a springboard to get away. He lands with a crash - thankfully, on an elevated platform and not in the sewage water. The mine detonates behind him in the tunnel, splashing the water everywhere.
Systar gets up, quickly scanning the area for any ambushers. The platform juts out from the wall, overseeing a T-shaped section of the sewers. There's a metal door in the wall behind him, obviously used to get to the platform. He hears laughter and running steps from behind the door. Damnit. He's in no shape for another fight, even if it's just some fucked-up gangers.
SystarHP: 45/75
Equipment: Thermal Blade (5/8), Aurora Revolver
(6/6), Gravity Trap (2/2), Zuche 3 Cloaking Device (5/6)
Funds: 25,000¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech LightningBolt PackFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Stjepan Milic (Bounty Hunter)
GaosaronClearly, the shotgun was not working, and it was staying in too close to really use it effective. That left only one option. He went for the mechanical blade, trying to thrust it up into the creature's throat and sever the spine.
[4] - Right, the chainblade. There was no point in trying to use a ranged weapon in a melee anyhow. Gao feels around for the mechanized blade with his other hand, finding it safely at his side. The beast is simply staring at him, clicking its jaws together. It likes to play with its prey. A mistake Gao would make it pay for. He tightens his grip on the Golgo Blade, closes his eyes, and thumbs the activation button. The chainblade wakes with a roar, and Gao swings it upwards with all the strenght he can muster.
[Dodge:2][Damage:16] The creature leaps off him with a hiss, fleeing from the teeth of the blade. Glittering, yellowish blood fills the air, trailing behind the alien predator like smoke from an engine. Gao pulls himself up, forcing his weary body into a defensive posture for the inevitable counter-attack. [1] The beast moves closer with an air of confidence, circling Gao almost lazily. The 'sudden' attack is slower than earlier, and Gao notes that the creature is suffering from the wounds inflicted. Good. He deflects the first attack with the flat of his blade, turning the beast's charge away again.
[4][Dodge:5] The beast springs into action again with unnatural speed, bouncing right off the floor Gao guided it towards. Gaosaron is ready, however, and steps back. The creature's jaws close around thin air. [2] Gao continues moving away, looking for a better chance. Neither combatant gets a strike in.
[4] Without a warning, the creature abruptly turns away and flees, running back into the corridor. [8+1=9]vs[7] Gao rushes after it, ignoring his wounds and complaining body. He realizes the thing is heading for the opening to the Steelworks. He can't follow it to the roof. There might not be another chance, he has to catch the thing now.
EnemiesRunning down the main corridor, Close RangeUnknownHP: 17/50
Equipment: Teeth (
2d12 Damage]
Known Perks: Fast RunnerFaction: None
---
Gaosaron el-Anaula Ra'VantahinHP: 18/75
Equipment: Widowmaker Shotgun
(6/7), Golgo Mechanical Blade, NTT Inferno
(26/26), RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(14/14)Funds: 20,000¤
Known Perks: NovaCore Electronic ModificationFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Unknown Lifeform (No Faction)
Subject 971Call Dalia, tell her to send more paramedics...
Go 'borrow' a car from some helpful citizen, telling them I'm in pursuit of a dangerous criminals-everyone knows who I am, right? If they don't want to give it willingly, jack em, stunning with the flare gun is absolutely needed.
[6] - 971 gives a short explanation of the situation to Dalia and cuts off. Fashuk is getting away, he needs a car. He runs around the corner, and hits the jackpot. He spots someone getting inside his car, the engine already on and the door open. 971 shouts for the man to wait and runs up to him.
'Whaddya want? Wait, you're that big hero guy of the new government, aren't you? Well, I've got some complaints I'd like to make. First of all, I'm still wa...' the man begins ranting. 971 thanks him for his help and gets inside his car. He takes off before the man can object.
[5] Luck is with him today. Fashuk hasn't gotten far, his cab still speeding towards the river. 971 zooms in with his visor, confirming it's him. He follows his target from afar. Fashuk continues along the river, only leaving the stream of traffic after following it for a good ten minutes. 971 follows. He realizes the diplomat is heading for the Habiri residential district just behind the Old District. He can actually see here from home.
Fashuk lands, and 971 follows his example after he's down. The smuggler begins making his way down the crowded main street.
The bounty hunter stands at the entrance of a vast, maze-like district. Zigzagging roads disappear into a mess of sprawling multi-level Habiri tenements, their once-white walls covered with dust and trashes. It is a far cry from the Old City just beyond the hill.
A side alley seems to lead up the hill, where he could get a good view of the entire district and follow Fashuk's progress with his visor. On the other hand, that way he could easily lose the smuggler in the crowds. It might be the best to just follow him down the street.
Subject 971HP: 75/75
Equipment: Flare Gun (4/4), Zuche 13 Gravity Trap (1/1)
Funds: 1650¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech FlexiSpeed AidFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Fashuk il-Maldas (Sikhet Federation), Fashuk's Files
ZaraZara activated the cloaking device, and sneaked up to the man after this he stapped him through the heart with his knife.
[3] - Zara turns on the Cloaking Device, which envelopes him completely. Thankful for the fact that the cloak muffles sounds, Zara begins his approach down the stairs. Fortunately, they aren't particulary dusty and he leaves no footprints. When he's just a few steps from the guard, the alien starts sniffing the air, perhaps smelling him. No matter. It's too late for him anyhow.
[5][Dodge:2-2=1] Zara pulls up the chainblade and presses the activator. It wakes up with an almost deafening roar, and Zara drives the clumsy weapon against the Guard's chest, hoping the alien's heart is there. [Damage:12+9=21] The armor holds for a second, then gives away, fragmenting and breaking open. The teeth of the chainblade digs into the screaming alien's upper body. Thrusting with such a weapon is idiotic, though, and the blow doesn't enter very deep. [1] He pulls the blade out, too slow to attack again. The guard snaps out of it and pushes his invisible opponent away, [3+2=5] slashing blindly with the Combat Knife. [Dodge:6+2-1=6] Unsurprisingly, Zara has no difficulty avoiding the blows.
[6+2=6] Despite the fact his attacker is cloaked, the discplined soldier has no intention of losing this fight. He steps forward, slashing with the Knife in a wide vertical arc. [Dodge:2+2-1=3] The weapon finds its mark in Zara's arm. The soldier smiles, seeing the blood on the blade. [Damage:10-3=7] Zara hisses, [1] but has no chance to counter-attack. He has to deal with this guard quickly, before he alerts the rest.
EnemiesAt the bottom of the stairs, Close RangeFuhon yl EosHP: 19/40
Equipment: RUS2 Accelerator Carbine
(14/14), Frag Grenades (1/1), Combat Knife
Known Perks: Training From Hell ---
ZaraHP: 68/75
Equipment: Widowmaker Shotgun
(7/7), Golgo Mechanical Blade, Medkit (1/1), Zuche 3 Cloaking Device (6/6)
Funds: 20,000¤
Known Perks: AugeanTech LightningBolt Pack,
InvisibleFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: CSC Database
Achutugu-oshaHead over to the place the woman mentioned!
[3] - Achutugu drives to the place that was mentioned, a casino of some sort. A Republican Guard beckons her to a side alley. The other bounty hunters area already there. The woman and the Guard leave. She asks the other bounty hunters for info, and they're more than glad to tell her. Apparently, the casino owner knows where to find the fellow the group is there to kill. They need to go in and interrogate him. The place is filled with guards and has an extensive security system.
After the explanation, the hunters begin bickering about the way they want to do this. A few just want to go in through the front door and shoot their way in. Others want to negotiate a meeting. Some suggest looking for an alternative way in, heading through the roof or climbing up the walls. The group doesn't know too much about the place, though some have pulled up blueprints and info from online and are looking through it. Achutugu wonders if she should share her opinion.
Achutugu-oshaHP: 115/115
Equipment: RUS4 Snaplock
(7/7), Aurora Revolver
(6/6), Widowmaker Shotgun
(7/7), Frag Grenade (2/2)
Funds: 100¤
Known Perks: 'Juggernaut' Athletic GraftFaction: Bounty Hunter
Target: Slomon yl Eos (Old Regime)
---
Derp, now I keep slipping into past tense. Hnngh.