|
Post by Maelstrom on Nov 16, 2017 17:45:08 GMT -6
With the krogan still engaged with Ghorith, Maelstrom added his biotics to the fray, allowing the batarian to quickly gain the upper hand and end the giant reptile.
"Obey and retreat. Calm the waters - my men will not assail or pursue you further if you do. You have my word," a new voice added, taking Maelstrom by surprise for a moment.
Everything was silent, and he made a motion for the others to create a perimeter, before getting on his omni-tool to opened up a closed channel to Fischer using the Vengeance as the go-between. Maelstrom found himself pacing, staring at his blue omni-tool, contemplating the situation. He was not prone to giving up on a mission, but he trusted Lysander. Even more, he wanted to see the other man safe. But the pirate complicated things. There was no guarantee that Fortune's Hand would live up to it's bargains.
"Maelstrom, your heart rate and respiration have increased significantly. Are you okay?" his VI asked.
He dismissed the question with a quick hand signal.
"What do you think?" Maelstrom asked the team's other veteran. "Repercussions after the mission aside, I don't know that we can trust this. But Lysander did sound sincere..."
|
|
|
Post by Joe Fischer on Nov 17, 2017 9:15:15 GMT -6
No retreat, no surrender.
In almost every war vid ever made, the leader would say that to his troops right before leading them into a seemingly hopeless battle. More often than not, they would somehow find a way to win despite the overwhelming odds.
The reality, as always, was a bit different. While surrender was never the first choice, it was acceptable to do so if continued fighting against the enemy would produce no serious result.
As for retreating, it was done all the time. Combat was a wildly unpredictable event, and sometimes one’s tactical position was no longer sustainable so a new one had to be found.
Right now he was doing a lot of that.
The mysterious armored figure had switched targets from Thrak to him, trying to crush him with his dual clubs and it was only through blind luck and knowledge of the battlespace which allowed him to avoid serious harm. His opponent had managed to hit him, but it was only glancing blows as opposed to the full contact he had achieved with the krogan.
Even as most of his attention was focused on not getting hit, he was also focused on learning about the suit’s capabilities. Despite its bulk, it was surprisingly mobile due to jet thrusters built into key points, much like those found in the armor of elite turian troops.
With the armored figure being the only remaining opponent, the rest of his team had focused their fire on him and while he was taking hits, he was dishing them out as well, activating a flamethrower and firing what appeared to be a heavy pistol built into one of his gauntlets.
Then Lysander called in.
Relief washed over Joe when the senior N7 finally called in, but then it changed to confusion when he heard the order to abort the mission—mixed in with a healthy dose of concern.
“Bon, analyze Lysander’s last message for vocal recognition,” he said. “Was that really him?”
“Voice pattern matches at 99.99%,” the VI responded a second later.
His concern increased exponentially, completely wiping out the confusion. Between Lysander’s interrupted transmission and this one, it was almost a certainty that he had been captured.
But why call in the abort command? he wondered.
He was tempted to ignore the command, but he knew it was not just him he was deciding for; his decision would affect the rest of his team as well as the other teams.
Maelstrom then called in, asking for his opinion.
“Little busy dealing with pirates,” he said, continuing to dodge the armored figure. “But the old man’s message is bullshit. He’s been captured, and the pirates are trying to use him to make us back off. I’ll bet you my paycheck that as soon as we get out in the open they’re going to kill us. So if this is my time, I’m going to die trying to complete the mission.
“I know fighting means there’s a chance we might lose and get killed, as well as putting the old man in danger, but look at it this way,” he said. “If we retreat, those chances go way higher. But if we win, we already know what our next mission will be: either rescue Lysander—or avenge him.”
|
|
|
Post by Maelstrom on Nov 18, 2017 2:55:34 GMT -6
Maelstrom continued pacing, using his omni-tool to bring up his interface with EM, his shipboard VI. Systems were responding, and he opened another channel, keeping Fischer on an open back line. Contacting their infiltration team, he said, "Emily, please, report. Is the frigate down."
"Confirmed," she responded. "What's our next objective?"
"Standby," he replied. Tapping omni-tool, he brought his channel with Fischer back up. "The frigate is down. I can call in the Vengeance to give us air superiority. We could try applying pressure until they cave. Our stealth team is also back in play. I think we should re-direct them to search the barracks for Lysander, unless you need backup. After we release the scientists here, we'll be in-route to the next barracks."
Activating his external speakers, he added, "Geneenh, can you handle freeing the scientists and securing the building on your own?"
|
|
|
Post by spartan560 on Nov 19, 2017 15:32:51 GMT -6
Izahm noticed Emily pause and waited for her to finish the transmission. "Emily whats the SitRep on the teams?" He asks right hand on his sword after he had adjusted it to instead of be over his left shoulder it was now over his right as his left hand was out of commission until he got to more adequate medical facilities. Izahm starts watching out for enemies as he waits on Emily posture ready to sprint forward either to a new objective defend Emily or at a target.
|
|
|
Post by rulaan on Nov 19, 2017 15:50:45 GMT -6
Rula'an had poked his head up to see how the others were faring only to get a smattering of rounds from a heavy pistol imbeded in the strange humans gauntlet. "KEELAH!!" He exclaims dropping even lower. Rula'an then brings up his Omni-tool and types away bringing up a subroutine that allows him to see what his Combat Drone sees.
|
|
|
Post by Geneenh T'Loris on Nov 20, 2017 21:53:07 GMT -6
Something had gone wrong with the mission, of that Geneenh was sure.
The human biotic, even though they had cleared the building, had begun pacing rather than moving on to the next one—a sure sign of concern on his part. And then he suddenly asked if she was willing to clear the science building and do what needed to be done all by herself.
She wondered if it was all part of some plan to cash in on a bounty on her head. She routinely monitored traffic between all the big name bounty hunters, and while there hadn’t been an active bounty for her in over a century, that didn’t mean there wasn’t one.
She wanted to think that as an agent of the Shadow Broker she was afforded some measure of protection by the shadowy individual—assuming that such a person existed—but she also knew people did things that only served their interests, and the favor of a powerful asari family could easily persuade someone even as prestigious as him to sell her out.
But if that was the case why assign her to the task by herself? To truly make it simple he could’ve assigned the batarian to “protect” her as she performed the task and then turn on her at an opportune moment.
Or maybe they were simply selling her to the pirates in exchange for the scientists and data?
She shook her head to clear it. Such musings served no purpose. If her newfound team members were going to sell her out, she wanted to not only foil such a plot but also find out what the price of their “loyalty” was.
“Of course,” she said. “As you humans like to say, it’s a piece of cake.”
You best pray to your gods this trap works, or I’m going to make sure every last one of you regrets it.
|
|
|
Post by Joe Fischer on Nov 21, 2017 4:19:12 GMT -6
"Yeah, bring in the Vengeance," Joe said after the considering the biotic's ideas. "We can use all the help we can get. And sending the infiltration team to look for the old man is a good idea too, we don't need back up here."
For a guy who doesn't like being in charge, he's pretty good at it.
A thought occurred to him.
"Let's make sure we're not sending off anyone alone," he said. "The old man being by himself is what caused this new wrinkle."
|
|
|
Post by Naetilia Bolanis on Nov 21, 2017 4:24:13 GMT -6
Naetilia frowned.
She knew that combat was a very fluid situation, requiring many split-second decisions being made, but she wondered why Maelstrom would want to send Geneenh off by herself. The asari undoubtedly agreed because she was new to the team and did not want to develop a reputation as someone who did not follow orders.
She approached the human and said in a low voice, "What has happened? And why would you send off Geneenh by herself?"
|
|
|
Post by Ghorith Ghegranak on Nov 21, 2017 4:29:38 GMT -6
Something had gone wrong, and Ghorith was not surprised; a plan involving others inevitably had to be changed based on the actions of the others involved, be they friend or foe.
He was admittedly curious as to why the human would want the asari to go off on her own, but held his tongue; he was new to the team and in no position to question orders.
The turian approached Maelstrom and spoke with him in in a voice too low to hear.
Knowing he had nothing meaningful to contribute, he positioned himself by the main hallway leading into the room and kept an eye out for any more pirates.
|
|
|
Post by Urdnot Thrak on Nov 21, 2017 7:40:39 GMT -6
Thrak fired at the strangely-armored human again and again, having to reload his thermal clips multiple times. Most of the shots hit, but his enemy was maneuverable enough that an uncomfortable amount of his projectiles simply lodged themselves in one wall or another. The whole time, the human stayed fixed on Jokes.
Thrak took a good deal of fire too, his omni-shield and barrier just barely absorbing the fire. He wanted to charge in with his war hammer, but he knew he would be just as likely to hit Jokes as their opponent.
|
|
|
Post by XanDorak on Nov 21, 2017 7:44:06 GMT -6
Xan cursed under his breath, as his assault did not seem to slow the pirate in the least. Only top-grade gear offered such sheer offensive and defensive power, and the volus found himself pondering whether Fortune's Hand was just that successful or if someone in Council space was their backer.
|
|
|
Post by Maelstrom on Nov 21, 2017 8:17:19 GMT -6
Maelstrom nodded at Fischer's suggestions before snapping back into order-giving mode.
"Emily," Maelstrom called, while using hand signals to call in the Vengeance, "you and Izahm should start looking for Lysander. We believe he's in one of the other housing units, being held captive. Keep to stealth as much as possible. We want him secured before we start shooting everyone in the area."
Turning back to the others he was currently with, finishing up his instructions to Vengeance via hand-signs, he added, "Naetilia, you should go with Geneenh, just in case any of the scientists here are injured."
Starting for the back door, Maelstrom added, "Ghorith, you're with me!"
|
|
|
Post by Ghorith Ghegranak on Nov 29, 2017 21:14:57 GMT -6
Hearing Maelstrom call for him, Ghorith made his way over to the biotic.
Noticing that Geneenh and Naetilia made no move to join them, he looked back at the human.
"What's going on?" he asked.
|
|
|
Post by Naetilia Bolanis on Nov 29, 2017 21:18:44 GMT -6
Pleased that Maelstrom had changed his mind, Naetilia went over to Geneenh.
"Looks like we will be working together," she said to the asari. "I promise I will do my very best to ensure our success."
|
|
|
Post by Geneenh T'Loris on Nov 29, 2017 21:29:32 GMT -6
Geneenh stared at the asari. In her experience, the surest sign that someone was about to turn traitor was an assurance that they weren't.
The fact that the speaker was a turian and a doctor meant absolutely nothing to her. She had been around long enough to see the dark side of both groups of people.
"All right then," she said. "Let's get to work. Like the humans like to say, this situation isn't going to take care of itself."
If Naetilia kept her word, all fine and good. But if not, she would make sure to take her out.
|
|
|
Post by Maelstrom on Dec 6, 2017 15:47:36 GMT -6
"What's going on?" the batarian asked.
"We're clearing out the next barracks on our own," Maelstrom said, starting for the rear door to the structure. He could never understand why defenses always seemed concentrated near the main entrance of a structure, but it was near-universal. He appreciated such predictable weaknesses.
"Feeling up to it?"
|
|
|
Post by EmilyMoore on Dec 6, 2017 15:54:24 GMT -6
Emily waited breathless until Maelstrom's voice came back over the comms, even dismissing Izahm's question with a wave of her hand. She would probably have to apologize later, but the momentum of the mission seemed to be turning, as was her stomach.
"Proceed to the northwestern-most habitat and look for Lysander. Clear it if you can in either case, but don't get yourselves in trouble. We've got these groups split up about as much as we dare right now. We won't be able to spare anyone for backup," Maelstrom called before closing the channel on her.
Turning to Izahm, she said, "It looks like we're clearing out one of these buildings on our own." Waving, she added, "This way."
|
|
|
Post by spartan560 on Dec 7, 2017 4:24:07 GMT -6
Izahm arched an unseen eyebrow at the casual dismissal but remained silent. He figured it must be important so he bided his time scanning for any threats until Emily turns to face him and says, "It looks like we're clearing out one of these buildings on our own," she then pauses and waves him to follow her "This way." "Affirmative," Izahm says falling in behind her alert for anything, "I'm on your lead."
|
|