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Post by Joe Fischer on Oct 8, 2017 19:17:14 GMT -6
"Bravo in position, attempting entrance now," Joe replied. "Once entrance is secured, me and the old man will begin Operation Bullseye."
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Post by spartan560 on Oct 9, 2017 18:24:02 GMT -6
Izahm was just beginning to scan the pad for good avenues to slip through when the silence got too long. Lysander hadn't followed up on his previous update nor had he called in a status check. The silence was slightly unnerving but he didn't let it distract him. Izahm needed absolute ficus for this next part as he resumes his visual scans while considering opening a channel. He thought on it but this close to enemies they might pick up the signals even with tightbeam.
Izahm then hears Maelstroms voice ask for a status check. Emily tenses up but remains quiet looking at him. He makes the decision to check in anyway then turns to face Emily and makes a shh sign then clicks his comms twice in acknowledgement of Maelstroms communication. He then motions for Emily to follow close as he notices an opening and ghosts forward steps light and cloak on as he slips between two of the three dropships out of view of the four guards.
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Post by rulaan on Oct 10, 2017 18:26:26 GMT -6
Rula'an finished his download of the data then put his back to the wall on the right of Joe. He checks his Tempest then summons first his defense drone then primes his combat drone subroutine in his right Omni-tool while his left has his heavy overload primed. He then readies his Tempest and says, "Ready to breach."
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Post by Joe Fischer on Oct 10, 2017 19:52:25 GMT -6
"Good job," Joe said to the quarian. "Is there anyone inside?"
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Post by Ghorith Ghegranak on Oct 12, 2017 20:11:40 GMT -6
Ghorith became concerned when Lysander failed to follow up on his report on the new arrivals but at the same time he was not surprised. A worthy goal would not come easy; it had to be worked for.
All the same he hoped the human was not dead.
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Post by Naetilia Bolanis on Oct 12, 2017 20:15:53 GMT -6
As Lysander's fate became more apparent, Naetilia became very aware of the tactical situation. They were three small teams, each numbering five or less, going against very difficult odds--and if their presence had been discovered, something she strongly believed was the case, not only their chance of success had dropped dramatically, so were their chances of surviving.
She found herself gripping her SMG a little tighter.
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Post by Maelstrom on Oct 14, 2017 10:11:31 GMT -6
<GM Post>
"Is there anyone inside?" Fischer asked.
Rulaan explained that cameras only appeared to be in key areas, but they showed two unarmed and unarmored asari in the main lab, being guarded by two salarians, a volus, another asari, and two humans. A heavily-armed krogan stands at the front entrance. By the back entrance is an armed and armored human whose gear is not immediately identifiable, with bulky plates and strange protrusions).
Also, power seems to be drawn from the grid but not connected to any computer systems.
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Post by Joe Fischer on Oct 15, 2017 20:33:24 GMT -6
Joe frowned as he studied the individual guarding the lab's rear entrance. It was a humanoid in armor, and that was all he could discern from the video feed.
That bothered him. He made it his business to know about every new weapon system, piece of armor and modification accessory that came out, even if he wasn't planning on using it; knowing an item's capabilities let him know what he was dealing with.
But the humanoid was an absolute mystery; there were a number of mods and accessories on his armor, none of which he could identify. So either they were of the wearer's own design or they were so cutting edge as to border on the experimental, which meant he would have to improvise more than usual in the upcoming firefight--not that he minded, he just preferred to deal with as few unknowns as possible.
He sent the feed to the others and briefed his concern on the humanoid.
"Okay, me and Thrak will go in first, take out as many of the pirates as possible," he said. "Xan, you follow in behind us and mop up what's left along with whatever gadgets Rula'an deploys.
"Our primary objective is taking out the pirates, not saving the scientists," he said, echoing the sentiments he expressed during the planning meeting. "If the pirates try to use them as shields, avoid harming them if you can, but if not..."
He shrugged.
"...I've been chewed out before," he said.
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Post by XanDorak on Oct 15, 2017 21:05:14 GMT -6
"I..." and inopportune inhalation, prompted by his outraged emotional state, "object! I can handle the front line just as well as any krogan!"
He wanted his share of the kills, and it was clear that he was not going to get a chance to prove himself. Everyone thought ill of the volus, and his mission to change that would be even more challenged if he was relegated to a support role in a group like this.
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Post by Urdnot Thrak on Oct 15, 2017 21:37:13 GMT -6
Thrak laughed at the volus' protestations. "Tough luck."
Turning to Jokes, he added, "Ready."
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Post by Joe Fischer on Oct 16, 2017 17:16:14 GMT -6
Joe felt a twinge of sympathy for Xan; he wanted to prove himself on his first mission, and who wouldn't want that?
But the fact of the matter was that all he knew about him was from his profile--words on paper; it would be his actions that proved if he truly belonged on the team.
He looked back at the volus and said, "This isn't about ego, it's about getting the job done. Now I suggest you focus on the job or we may all end up joining the hostages--or worse."
He knew if he ended it there, it would leave things on a bad note with the diminutive alien, so he said, "We'll talk about this once the mission is done--assuming we're not captured or dead. I promise."
With that, he turned back to the entrance, gestured at the door and said to the krogan, "Age before beauty."
Hope you're okay, Pops...
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Post by rulaan on Oct 16, 2017 20:12:52 GMT -6
Rula'an simply nodded his mind going into his battle zen mode. It helped him not panic when he was under fire or doing a particularly hard hack. It wasn't fool proof and he was prone to losing it when under actual fire. 'I hope Xan isn't too upset about guarding me,' Rula'an thinks glancing unseen at tje diminutive but blustery Volus.
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Post by Urdnot Thrak on Oct 16, 2017 23:13:39 GMT -6
"Age before beauty."
Thrak scrunched up his face in feigned confusion.
"Then where do you come in?" Thrak asked. A deep belly laugh followed before he turned to the door and yelled a full krogan battle-cry. In krogan rather than galactic basic, he bellowed, "For Urdnot!"
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Post by Maelstrom on Oct 16, 2017 23:55:18 GMT -6
[GM Note]
Battle erupts on a muted world, as the team begins its assault in earnest. Opposing forces clash, as flesh and metal collide in violence. The pirates fight with as much tact and strategy as ferocity, but the team of the Xiphos have been culled from the best the galaxy's shadows have to offer.
-Lysander's next post will be the first of this round-
Team A- Some charges will be set, but not all. Note that they still have the advantage of stealth, but the enemies are mobilizing and will react quickly to any actions taken by the pair.
Team B- Team B will storm the science building. In this round, they only have to deal with the enemies at the front entrance and in the lab. A tech character may notice interesting facts if completely avoiding combat- if fighting at all, they will be too busy to notice. Each may kill up to two enemies (keeping in mind that there are only seven).
Team C- Team C will begin by taking the northernmost building. If Geneenh chooses to intercede, the group may get some intelligence on the building before breaching. Otherwise, they will experience the building room by room, having to perform declared actions.
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Post by Geneenh T'Loris on Oct 17, 2017 11:40:13 GMT -6
Geneenh frowned as she scanned the interior of the living quarters.
It didn't bother her that both entrances were unguarded. It didn't bother her that a majority of heat signatures were based in the kitchen and bathing areas. It didn't bother her that an emergency subroutine had been tripped, sealing off the bathing area--the most likely location of the hostages--which meant the pirates were the large group in the kitchen.
What bothered her was a power draw off the base's grid that she couldn't identify a purpose for. It wasn't an enormous draw, but it was a noticeable one, and not knowing the answer made her uncomfortable.
She relayed the results of the scans to the rest of the team but kept the power draw to herself.
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Post by Naetilia Bolanis on Oct 17, 2017 11:48:35 GMT -6
As Naetilia heard Geneenh's report on the interior of the habitat, she opened her mouth to say she would go the hostages while the others battled the pirates.
She then closed it.
As much as she wanted to go them, she had to push that desire aside; the pirates needed to be dealt with before the hostages could be attended to.
Not that she doubted Maelstrom and Ghorith could easily handle them. But at the same time, she was not going to gamble with the hostages' lives.
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Post by Eric Lysander on Oct 17, 2017 20:16:11 GMT -6
Eric could still feel the tingling of the stun rod on his back as he regained consciousness, finding himself seated with his hands bound behind him. He still had his armor and helmet on. He could hear someone speaking in the background as if reviewing something. Slowly, painfully, Eric turned his head to one side to see a table with his weapons and equipment arranged on it. His head then drooped downwards again eliciting a stifled moan.
"He's coming around, my Lord," said another voice nearer to him, one that resembled a heavy, creaking door.
My Lord...?
The first voice paused a moment, then commanded: "Remove his helmet."
Before Eric could muster up strength to lift his head again he found it jerked up violently as the seals on his bulldog helmet hissed open, nearly ripped off his head by an unseen, likely non-human, hand. He spat, snorted and sniffed, shaking his head to clear his vision. "No... it can't be..." said the commanding voice, now recognizable to his captive.
Eric's head steadied, eyes widening for an instant before thinning to threatening slits. The man before him was clad - or maybe grafted was the more appropriate term - in armor that radiated power and menace, with traces of yellow and white still visible through some modifications and additions to it. The head poking out above it was gaunt and chiseled. Eric though he could make out lines on his face that glowed a faint, demonic red yet this was still a face he knew all too well. He was now a captive of the dread pirate lord he had taken down years ago at Wolff Bridge.
"Eric... Ly-sander..."
"Lu-ther Zaicress," returned the bound mercenary. "... you're looking... upright...," recalling that Zaicress was rendered quadriplegic after their last encounter.
"If it isn't the white whale himself," the pirate said, laughing lightly to himself. It might have been a pleasant sound if not for the bone-chilling threat underscoring it. "I'm not sure whether to thank you or curse you..."
Zaicress stepped closer and leaned in.
"I had the long play in mind for my revenge." He held out one of his hands close to Eric's face, twisting and flexing the augmented servos. "I was going to make you suffer... wish you'd never been born..."
He suddenly closed his fist, shrugged and sighed, taking a few steps from the former N7 without turning his back. "But time, fate, moves quickly. And so must I. But make no mistake - you still will suffer. The methods will just be cruder. More direct."
"... I missed you too, Lou..." was Eric's response before Zaicress motioned to someone.
A glistening black shadow passed in front of Eric's head. He felt it lifted upwards in the same ungainly manner as when his helmet was taken. He could make out an outline larger than a krogan but before any more details could be discerned he received a sledgehammer-like blow to his skull that bleached his vision and had his ears ringing. For an instant Eric almost blacked out then he came to again, grunting, squirming, cursing under his breath. The massive shadow stepped back a bit and allowed his victim a better look.
The non-human being was large, lean and black in both skin and custom armor. Its arms were wide, powerful wings with finger-like digits on the ends. It legs terminated in claw feet similar to predatory birds on Earth. Its parrot-like head seated atop a long, saurian neck. Its crown a blood red crest. The being had a weapon clipped to a leg, its handle and trigger configured to be held by one of its feet and perhaps aimed with assistance from its winged "hands." Eric spotted strategically placed mass effect field generators in its armor. This had to be the pirate who had blacked out the stars earlier and captured him.
"Strong, this one," commented the raptor-like being in its creaky door of a voice.
A low warble formed in Eric's throat, growing in volume as the corners of his lips curled. The raptor was taken aback slightly.
"He seems to enjoy pain!"
"... this is great...!" wheezed Eric, his own voice swimming between a hysterical and mocking tone. "Even yer parrot gets an upgrade...! Bet you're the envy... of alll the lil' pirates on your block...!"
Zaicress upheld a hand to stay his subordinate and said "It would not be wise to incur the wrath of my raloi friend Annorto."
"So... they do exist," said Eric more evenly. "Nice... ta meet one in th' flesh..."
"Annorto is from the warrior caste of his people," Zaicress explained. "The best of his clan until he was dishonored. I delivered him from a life of persecution and scorn on his homeworld, giving him a new place of honor within my clan. New warriors... to fight alongside..."
Zaicress returned his full attention to his prisoner and activated his omni-tool. It projected a holographic screen in front of Eric containing more people familiar to him.
"Those would be your men outside," Zaicress said "The ones who destroyed our drop-ships... impressive... credit where it's due. I hope you realize how pointless it was, though. My cruiser has just entered the system. Something I relieved the Illusive Man of after he rebuilt me. State of the art vessel. I know you have a frigate in orbit as well... with its own stealth capabilities... rather... expensive piece of hardware... too good for you. I'd be happy to take it off your hands."
Zaicress switched off the screen and motioned to Annorto who set Eric's skull ringing again with another blow. He then moved in to squat down before the N7's low field of vision.
"Someone gave it to you... I'm not surprised. Every dog needs a master. Not Cerberus, I think... not your style. And besides, I know you at least have a krogan with you... So who is yours? The Council?"
Eric recovered enough to summon a defiant sneer. “Wha...? Tell you more.... o’ what you already know…? Don’t feel like it…”
He closed his eyes, nodded and braced for the inevitable retort, delivered once more by the raloi. Zaicress laughed as the N7 snorted and shook his head to keep conscious, riding out the pain.
"Such spirit. Such... de-termination. It won't help you win."
Zaicress moved in close and low in front of Eric once more, this time holding a small communicator by his head.
"I give you a choice... your last choice. I'll let you get on the comms. Tell the men with you that they can't win... to surrender... and I'll let them go. You have my word. After all, a pirate is only as good as his reputation... thanks to you I have some work left to restore mine... of course, they'll only go after they see what I do to you."
"Or you can tell them to fight. Or you can just stay silent and sneer some more while I lay their corpses at your feet. Dead eyes will stare at you, accusing you while I repay you the attentions you've shown me so many years ago... I'll make sure to capture a couple as well... let you get a good look at your future. So... save them? Or betray them? What... do you choose?"
Zaicress sported a satisfied smirk, unwavering in the glare of his captive's wrathful stare as he awaited his answer.
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Post by Maelstrom on Oct 17, 2017 20:45:55 GMT -6
Maelstrom could hear the determination in Fischer's voice. His team would attack. Knowing that keeping the effort coordinated was their best chance at success, Maelstrom got on the comms and said, "Team Alpha, blow the charges."
Across the ravine,he heard a krogan battle cry in the species' native tongue.
He turned to the other members of the team,then closed the last few meters to the back entrance. He held up three fingers and waited. When the night shook with deafening explosions and illumimated the vista like it just experienced the first day in its history,he began the coumtdown.
Three.
Two.
One.
Breech. The doors opened, and he rushed inside gun-first.
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Post by spartan560 on Oct 17, 2017 21:31:00 GMT -6
Izahm was just about to tell Joe that they hadn't finished setting charges when the team he and Emily had accompanied made their presence known quite spectacularly. He then hears Maelstrom order them to blow the charges. His left hand clenches tight on the handle of his sword but he remains calm and composed as he opens a very short burst tightbeam comm link to Emily. "Emily blow the charges but we stay silent as much as possible," he says, "Maybe we can get inside that frigate and wreak havoc inside it. Maybe even use its weapons if we can." Izahm then nods to her and unsheathes his sword silently held in a downdraw position in his left hand while his right is free for any situation.
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Post by EmilyMoore on Oct 17, 2017 22:35:33 GMT -6
Emily responded with a quick two clicks. She did not try to stay by Izahm's side, instead weaving her own path across the pad. The intense glow of the burning hips lit her way, though it also threw long shadows across the pad.
She kept her hands free, one gauntlet wielding her omni-blade, the other clad in a phantom's mass accelerator weapon. Her goal was not taking out the enemies on the pad, though. Her goal was to reach the small frigate.
As it came into sight, she realized that its thrusters glowed dimly, a startup sequence that would likely take a minute or more to complete. Still, she did not have much time.
Tapping her comms, she said, "The frigate is trying to take off. The bulkheads are probably sealed, but if we move quick, I think we can set charges in some key places before she takes off."
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