|
Post by PaladinKOSP on May 16, 2014 8:36:44 GMT -6
Artacus stood silently against the bar counter, listening to Esteban. Udina, a human Councillor trading his own kind to the Collectors. He didn't care about those humans, but children.. that's different. Never, under any circumstance, he would risk a life of a child, human or not. The turian cringed lightly, now having a murderous intent to kill the human known as Udina. He was a disgrace and must be eradicated.
"I am offering 150,000 credits and 50% salvage rights to anything within the base, I trust that will be sufficient."
"That will be fine." The turian responded, shrugged his shoulders. He continuing to wipe down the dirty and rusty counter. He glanced along the group, eyeing each and every one of them for a brief moment. Eric Lysander, Maelstrom, the new guy, that krogan from his last job, and the dark figure in the corner. The turian lifted his dirty rag from the counter and slips it into his pocket, looking down at the clean counter. He leans against it, crossing his arms.
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lysander on May 16, 2014 10:15:27 GMT -6
The pit of Eric’s stomach dropped out as Esteban Bridges relayed his story of Ambassador Udina’s willingness to betray and sacrifice members of his own kind in the name of advancing humanity. At one point a varren trotted up to Esteban carrying a toy in its mouth. He took a moment to scratch its head. It was Parr, the unofficial mascot of the Barce mission.
Then Iskra Narei was here as well.
Eric scanned about briefly at the other patrons in the bar before returning his attention to Esteban. He could not locate her but figured she was watching and listening nearby. Esteban laid out his intentions before the new team: infiltrate the Collector base listed in Udina’s files, gather intel on the Nithians and the Reapers and liberate all prisoners found there. The silver-armored mercenary found himself somewhat reassured that Esteban was taking up a cause other than profit, though his prime motivation was most likely revenge against Udina for setting him up and costing him the lives of his expedition.
“I am offering 150,000 credits and 50% salvage rights to anything within the base," Esteban concluded, smiling slightly. "I trust that will be sufficient."
The team veterans’ responses so far were much like their last mission together. Maelstrom reiterated his desire to lay claim to any weapons he could recover personally and that his personal shuttle Vengeance would only be used as far as accomplishing the mission, no more or less. Meldom was curious about the conditions and intel the team would encounter. Artacus merely accepted the terms with no fuss and busied himself wiping down the section of counter before him. Iskra was still hidden from view; Eric surmised that her concern would be for the Collector captives. Since she had not yet chosen to reveal herself he took his chance to speak before the new recruits chimed in.
“Well,” Eric leaned up on the counter. “The galaxy’s been jam packed with surprises lately, hasn’t it? I knew Udina was a dickbag but I never counted on him speaking up for humanity from one corner of his mouth and selling us out from the other. For a second there I thought this was gonna be a hit job…”
He shifted in his seat. “I hope you’ve covered your tracks, Mr. B. Doin’ the right thing’s not without its problems.” Eric looked over everyone’s faces again then back to his employer. “In keeping with Mal’s spirit of layin’ all the cards on the table, I have a confession to make… a couple of weeks ago I tried reenlisting. My ‘interviewer’ was ready with a deal; I told ‘im to shove it. Then he tips me off that Alliance Intelligence has been keepin’ tabs on me, too. Been tryin’ to reach out to Commander Shepard for a while before I found that out… should’ve known why I was getting the silent treatment… whatever we find I wouldn’t even trust with the Alliance. Who knows who else’s on Udina’s payroll? Shepard’s no turncoat and’s already taken a huge chunk outta the Collectors… the only person we can really trust now…”
|
|
|
Post by Weyrloc Karn on May 16, 2014 10:33:39 GMT -6
"I am offering 150,000 credits and 50% salvage rights to anything within the base. I trust that will be sufficient."
A hefty price for something he practically had no idea about. Collectors, human councilors, these.. 'Nithians'. Expecting an average job, he somehow found himself shoved into a rather.. Massive situation. The information ran through his head, so many things he had no idea ever existed, or things he never really assumed were real, just rumors overall. Karn drums his fingers along the counter as he thinks everything through, all this mess for a giant payout wasn't exactly out of his comfort zone, and the salvage rights were enough to keep him interested with the job.
"That'll do for me..", he grunted out, still somewhat reluctant at best. He eyes the group a brief moment, noting the more accepting responses to his offer. He sighs out, rubbing his plate a little as he looks back towards Esteban. "Great job, Karn.. You ended up with the crazies..", the sheer thought runs through his head, but who was he to complain? His smirk soon reappears, the money was enough, maybe even the mess they'll get themselves into might give him something worthy to fight, if he didn't die during all of it..
|
|
|
Post by Joe Fischer on May 16, 2014 10:43:06 GMT -6
Hearing Bridges lay out the mission, Joe felt his blood begin to boil as he heard what Udina had done. He knew that politicians were subhuman, but children? Anyone who was willing to do that was no longer a member of the human race, and he was more than happy to punch the ticket on that oxygen thief.
"Funny, isn't it, that those in charge of representing our interests are often more concerned with their own?" he said, his fists clenching. "I'm in. Since we're all laying out our cards here, I'm on the team that rescues the civilians. And if I survive this, I think I'll pay Udina a visit..."
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lysander on May 16, 2014 11:03:22 GMT -6
Fischer looked like he could barely contain his anger. "I'm in. Since we're all laying out our cards here, I'm on the team that rescues the civilians. And if I survive this, I think I'll pay Udina a visit..."
"I'll go with you," seconded Eric. "As far as rescuing civvies. Don't forget there may be non-human prisoners there, too. The Collectors like taking wide samples."
|
|
|
Post by Joe Fischer on May 16, 2014 11:59:25 GMT -6
"Don't forget there may be non-human prisoners too," Lysander said. "The Collectors like taking wide samples."
"Doesn't matter to me," Joe said. "I'm not Cerberus, my loyalty isn't based on race. I'll save whoever I can."
As he spoke, he started thinking ahead. In the Marines, he was trained in "backwards planning", which meant starting with a successful end state and working backwards from there.
"Okay, we'll need facilities and personnel ready to treat any injured, or quick access to them, but before we can even worry about treating them, we first have to get them out of there, and they're going to need a lot more protection than just me and Lysander," he said. "It's going to be slow going, so we need people who can take a lot of punishment."
He looked over at Karn. "You interested in playing some defense?"
|
|
|
Post by Maelstrom on May 16, 2014 13:18:54 GMT -6
Maelstrom cleared his throat. "One thing I hadn't mentioned yet. The Vengeance got a little... upgrade... since we last met. I obtained a heavy turret, currently installed on the port side. Should be helpful for making our entrance. Also very convenient for keeping enemies off our back during an escape if someone wants to man it. My VI can't use it, though, so it would have to be operated by a team member when we get there."
|
|
|
Post by Murchadh on May 16, 2014 14:22:05 GMT -6
Murchadh gave a slight cough to get the bosses attention before replying. " Soonds guid. we'll need tae swin' by Tralfa tae pick up mah mech but apart frae 'at aam aw yoors." He replied with a smile. 150,000 credits could by a lot of drugs that Nelia needed.
|
|
|
Post by Eric Lysander on May 16, 2014 15:02:39 GMT -6
"Doesn't matter to me," Joe said. "I'm not Cerberus, my loyalty isn't based on race. I'll save whoever I can."
“Good to know,” nodded Eric.
The elder N7 smirked as he heard his younger counterpart give suggestions on how to best evacuate and treat the rescued civilians, asking Karn if he could assist as well.
“Appreciate the enthusiasm, son, but at the moment we’re in the dark. No base layout, personnel count or defensable positions,” Eric advised. “And If the Collectors have anything in common with Cerberus… there may not even be anybody to save…”
The mercenary in the Collector armor cleared his throat.
"One thing I hadn't mentioned yet. The Vengeance got a little... upgrade... since we last met. I obtained a heavy turret, currently installed on the port side. Should be helpful for making our entrance. Also very convenient for keeping enemies off our back during an escape if someone wants to man it. My VI can't use it, though, so it would have to be operated by a team member when we get there."
Eric found this point amusing. Then he thought back to the Barce mission, on the battle with the Praetorian.
On River Havens.
“… think I’ll pass on turret duty this go ‘round…”
|
|
|
Post by Weyrloc Karn on May 16, 2014 15:40:00 GMT -6
Karn glances over towards the individual, clad in N7 armor. He wasn't all that interested in the fact of pulling people out of wherever they were going, but he shrugged. "Sure.. S'long as I get to break somethin' for causin' all this shit, I'm game..", he grunts out with a grin. He wasn't all too concerned for civilians, but the topic of children was enough to keep his concerns. He wasn't a man of extreme morality, but he knew his place overall. If it helped him snag some stuff of his own to sell out, it was enough for him to care about it.
"Just tell your friend here not to blow me up in the fuckin' process.", he chuckles out as he looks towards Lysander.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 16, 2014 17:55:09 GMT -6
Iskra had considered approaching once Maelstrom had made her, the dark helmeted figure starting at the spot she occupied for many a moment before he turned back to the group. Though it was probably better she stay in the shadows, she wasn't sure how many of them would be happy to see her or if she would just be another figure in the background. Besides, she wasn't here to find out why Esteban called them together once more, she had her own reasons of returning to the Valiant.
"Sure they would rip you off here anyways, I should know, have my own tab here I still need to pay off... Still the good thing about this place is if it is poison, you can be sure the guy who wants you dead is also in the bar." Meldom's voice chuckled in her ear.
Living practically alone all these years had made the young doctor bored of small talk, always to the point left no illusions of where she stood. She just hoped that Esteban felt the same way and started the meeting already.
Her eyes picked up movement from the entrance of the bar...More arrivals? No...they stood silent, just out of sight of the door, listening. Her instincts flared up a warning, her gut feeling something wrong. No more sound than a soft breeze, the Drell was flicking in and out of the shadows of the bar, her armor shimmering when touched by light.
A Turian, he stood just outside the door, his omni tool up and recording, she wondered if it was off her comms frequency.
"I believe this is a private discussion, invite only."
The alien jumped and immediately bolted away, his scarred, bare face painted with fear. He had clearly seen the group that was inside, and some of what they could do. But this shadow that had appeared from no where, well, that was not something he had wanted to attract its attention.
Iskra arm glowed in biotic power as the invisible hand grabbed the larger man's body and pulled him back off his feet. The Turian crashing down to the ground as the dark form was on top of him, knife to his neck.
"Please don't kill me! I just thought this was a quick way to make a few creds!"
Her knee pressed into his back as she moved the knife to his arm.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU CRAZY BITCH?"
The Turian started to thrash under her, obviously terrified of some unknown horror he thought she was about to do. With a quick slice into the aliens wrist, she pulled out the small chip that was his omni tool and crushed it with the butt of her knife.
Silently, Iskra raised off the alien turned to walk back to the bar. Leaving him the choice to get out of this business while he could.
|
|
|
Post by Joe Fischer on May 16, 2014 21:45:17 GMT -6
Joe nodded in acknowledgement of Lysander's comments.
"True, there might not be anyone to save, but we have to try, or we're even worse than Udina," he said, then looked over at Bridges. "The old man has got a point boss, some intel on the base and personnel would be good, did you manage to get any of that?"
|
|
|
Post by Esteban Bridges on May 17, 2014 15:02:35 GMT -6
Esteban waiting patiently as the flurry of questions and comments came, nodding to each mercenary as they spoke up to acknowledge he heard. He was unable to answer until everyone finished speaking. He learned early on to never, ever, ever interrupt a mercenary as they spoke. He wasn't being polite as much as differential toward them, showing them the respect they earned. He tried to ignore the scream from the hallway, figuring Iskra was doing the work that only she knows how to do. He wasn't watching the door, so he wasn't sure if she came back in or not...once the Joe finished, Esteban took it as his queue to start answering questions.
He straightened his tie and rolled his head left to right to stay loose.
"I'll address the most pertinent questions first," he said in his normal business-like tone. "Maps of Collector bases do not exist. I could not even find satellite images of the one we are going to hit. I was able to confirm its existence by passively monitoring the communication buoy in the area. Communications used encryptions only used by Collectors. Based on the encryption, everything is coming from one single stationary source, confirming it is a base."
"The base is located in the Pylos Nebula, in an uncharted star system called Avarinos. And as for how we should approach this.." Esteban gestured toward Meldom then out toward where he believed Iskra was at. "I trust those in the group that are skilled at prowling to scout ahead and map the area out while the heavy combatants secures areas. The exact details will be worked out on the way there..."
He cleared his throat.
"I will make sure the ship's stocked with medical supplies and necessary equipment. If anyone has any requests, I will need to know now so I can put in the orders."
|
|
|
Post by Maelstrom on May 17, 2014 16:00:21 GMT -6
"If anyone has any requests, I will need to know now so I can put in the orders," Bridges said.
Maelstrom considered the question for a moment, whether or not he should bother bringing up his unique requirement. He figured it was better to ask and be turned down than to keep it to himself. It was not something he usually brought up, but Bridges was becoming a repeat customer.
"The Vengeance uses a specialized heavy weapon. The M-1130 Cain. Its ammo is extremely hard to find, but my ship's fabricator can modify M-920 Cain ammo to use in it. It takes a two to one ratio and one or two other items. If you think our objective is going to be heavily fortified, you may want to pick up some extra ammunition... and we may want to bring a gunner along this time too, if no one here's going to volunteer," Maelstrom said.
|
|
|
Post by dargene on May 17, 2014 16:02:41 GMT -6
Meldom listened intently to Esteban as he spoke.
Esteban gestured to him.
"I trust those in the group that are skilled at prowling to scout ahead and map the area out while the heavy combatants secures areas."
Meldom nodded "Should be simple enough, cloaks work against them and with the counter measures we had i can be nearly fully nonexistent to them"
He interlocks his fingers and rests his chin on them leaning back.
He was not sure who he gestured to outside but could assume it was someone trustworthy
"Assuming i wont be only person to be scouting"
|
|
|
Post by Joe Fischer on May 17, 2014 23:36:19 GMT -6
Joe woud be lying if he said he wasn't disappointed about the lack of intel on the base.
Okay, let Meldom do his thing, then we go in and drop the hammer on these guys. I wonder if the base is like the one Shepard took down...
He also wondered about who the boss had gestured to. He had noticed a few glances thrown towards another part of the bar, and judging by the lack of panic or stealthy attempts to draw weapons that it was another member of the team who had decided not to join the rest.
All right, either they're really shy, they really hate people or they're really ugly, and considering this station, that's saying something...
"Getting some more heat sinks wouldn't hurt, Boss, I get the feeling we're going to need them," he said, then looked over at Lysander. "What about you, old man, need some more firecrackers, maybe a walker to help you move around?"
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 18, 2014 11:26:00 GMT -6
Iskra decloaked next to Maelstrom, her hood still hiding her eyes from the rest. She had no illusions that most of them had probably heard the scream but obviously hadn’t cared enough to be worried.
"Assuming I won’t be only person to be scouting"
Iskra frowned slightly, knowing the other person Bridges had in mind for scouting. She started to get nervous about of how comfortable he was becoming with putting her in combat situations.
"Getting some more heat sinks wouldn't hurt, Boss, I get the feeling we're going to need them. What about you, old man, need some more firecrackers, maybe a walker to help you move around?" The flashy one spoke up…Joe…she thought that’s what she heard his name was.
|
|
|
Post by PaladinKOSP on May 18, 2014 12:25:23 GMT -6
The turian remained silent as he listened to the group around him. No map of the Collector base and an unknown number of foes. Artacus has been on ops like these, going in blind and not knowning the consequences. The turian turned his head to the decloaked figure slowly, then back to the counter. "Scouting out ahead is the more logical solution. Going in guns blazing.. is not really wise, unless it's necessary." The turian spoke, kneeling down to his duffle bag and zipping it open.
|
|
|
Post by Joe Fischer on May 18, 2014 12:36:19 GMT -6
Joe barely batted an eye as someone decloaked next to Maelstrom. They were wearing a hood, so he couldn't make out any features; all he could tell was that they were shorter than him and had a slim build.
Okay, make that SUPER shy or SUPER ugly...
He may not have had a degree in psychology, but he hadn't reached his position in the Alliance without learning how to manage different types of people. Regardless of the new arrival's reasons, they were obviously self-conscious about themselves in social situations; any sort of attention focused on them would only make them even more uncomfortable. But he still wanted to acknowledge them in some way.
He gave the new arrival a small nod and wave, then turned his attention to the turian, curious to see what he was going to pull out.
|
|
|
Post by Esteban Bridges on May 18, 2014 23:20:10 GMT -6
Esteban quickly tapped on his left wrist. A bright neon orange glow silently
erupted all over his forearm, his omnitool activating at his command. The hard
light quickly formed curving lines, delineating what appeared akin to a gauntlet.
He raised his arm as he always does, tapping on the holographic interface. He
pressed the necessary buttons to pull up his inventory screen for the Vengeance. And he started typing.
He ordered additional ammo for M-920 Cain, nodding toward Malestrom. He ordered 200 additional heat sinks, to make sure nobody would run out in the middle of combat. He nodded toward Joe to show he heeded his request.
He stopped typing and looked around curious. "Will there be anything else?"
|
|