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Post by Naetilia Bolanis on Sept 3, 2017 9:27:02 GMT -6
Naetilia considered the batarian’s words.
Much like the krogan, she had a low opinion of the race, formed due to experiences during her military service. While they may have been strong, their behavior showed a basic incompatibility to act in a civilized manner with the other races.
But Ghorith had so far proved to be different.
Should she trust him now?
“Let us both stay,” she whispered back. “Maelstrom is more than capable of taking care of himself.”
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Post by Ghorith Ghegranak on Sept 3, 2017 9:29:20 GMT -6
Ghorith sighed inwardly at the turian’s response. She was not ready to trust him yet.
He wondered if her lack of trust based merely off what she had heard about his people or if it was in fact based on actual experiences. In either case now was not the time to press the matter; all he could do now was to show her that he was worthy of it.
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Post by Naetilia Bolanis on Sept 3, 2017 9:30:38 GMT -6
Purius did not wonder why its master had chosen to tell it to go with the large one who it recognized as having saved her, nor did it understand why the large one had then told it to look after one of a smaller configuration.
But this did not cause it any stress; it was simply incapable of pondering such deeper questions. It simply obeyed.
The terrain was rougher and steeper than what it was used to operating on, but it had been programmed on how to deal with such difficulties. It turned itself sideways and proceeded to move in an angle perpendicular to the descending terrain.
The one it had been programmed to protect vocalized with another one not much taller than itself but it paid no attention.
The large one it knew vocalized with the pair but it ignored that as well. The large one reduced its height and remained in its position, so the mech followed suit.
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Post by Maelstrom on Sept 4, 2017 20:22:59 GMT -6
[GM Note]
Team A will proceed to the landing pad, taking out guards or doing it with just stealth.
Team B may proceed to the science building (keeping in mind patrols) or proceed otherwise (Lysander calling)
Team C will hold position or proceed, again, with Lysander calling.
Geneenh will encounter competent but worthy electronic resistance and can then join up with the team or remain there.
Lysander is overseeing.
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Post by Joe Fischer on Sept 4, 2017 21:39:29 GMT -6
Watching the patrols, Joe could see that it looked like their presence had not been detected so far.
So far so good, he thought, remembering a similar line from a 20th century vid.
His team was ready to move forward, but the last thing the operation needed was his team proceeding without the others being ready.
He opened up a channel.
"Team Bravo in position," he reported. "Team Charlie, give me a SITREP, over."
[Insert response from any Team C member]
"Good copy," he said. "We'll hold until you're ready, over and out."
He then opened a channel to Lysander.
"Pops, what's the status of Team Alpha, over?" he asked.
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Post by Maelstrom on Sept 5, 2017 0:43:59 GMT -6
"Team Bravo in position," Fischer cracked in overt he comms. "Team Charlie, give me a SITREP, over."
"Just shooting the breeze, here," Maelstrom grumbled. "Talking about taking a nap for a bit."
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Post by Joe Fischer on Sept 5, 2017 9:31:32 GMT -6
Joe blinked in surprise at Maelstrom's response. If there was one thing he could count on, it was the biotic taking everything too seriously.
He wondered if Emily was the reason for his newfound frivolity--and part of him didn't like it.
He pushed that part down and opened a channel.
"Good copy on your last," he said. "Be advised that due to budget cuts we had to let the maid go so you're going to have to fluff your pillow yourself."
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Post by Eric Lysander on Sept 5, 2017 9:34:08 GMT -6
"Pops, what's the status of Team Alpha, over?" radioed Joseph to Eric.
Eric had Izahm and Emily in his scope. “Still in play. Took out a coupla guards including two coming from the lab but the rest aren’t on to us yet. All right, have your team stand by. When the landing pad’s hit that’ll get everyone’s attention. You can use the distraction to enter the lab.”
Eric switched frequencies. “Izahm, Emily – are you go for the landing pad? Team C and I will keep any additional pirates from butting in on your party and from backtracking to the lab, acknowledged?”
[Insert response from Izahm and/or Emily]
The senior N7 then contacted the western team members. “Team A’s hitting the pad – look sharp n’ keep it clear of additional hostiles. I’ve got eyes on you guys…”
[Insert response from any Team C members]
As Eric signed off the comms an unusual feeling came over him for a moment before shrugging it away and aiming his rifle back down ways. Perhaps it was a tinge of adrenaline or an optical effect of the alcohol-laced atmosphere but it seemed for an instant like a large portion of the stars overhead went out simultaneously…
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Post by Geneenh T'Loris on Sept 6, 2017 21:26:12 GMT -6
Geneenh was surprised by the level of cybersecurity protecting the turret. Normally there might be some low-level security programs to protect it from any accidental hacking, but the level of security on the turret rivaled that of most corporate executive computers.
A less experienced hacker might well be thwarted by it, and even against her skills it resisted her for a full minute--not much time in the real world, but in the electronic world, it may as well have been a century.
Once the security was defeated, she accessed the targeting parameters and reconfigured the turret to fire on anything not broadcasting the team's IFF signal--definitely something to give the pirates something to worry about besides letting her and her teammates escape.
Before leaving the turret, she added in one more thing to slow down the pirates should they attempt to regain control of it: a trojan virus designed to shut down the life support of anyone or any ship making the attempt.
*****
Her work done on the turret, she carefully scaled her way back down to her teammates. Ghorith and Naetilia were there, apparently in some effort to provide aid to her should she need it, while Maelstrom had moved on to secure the waypoint.
The three of them slowly made their way to the human biotic.
"Their turret is working for us now," she reported.
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Post by spartan560 on Sept 16, 2017 9:48:03 GMT -6
Izahm opens the same tightbeam encrypted channel he used before and replies, "Solid copy, we're just about done setting the charges on the dropships," he pauses to watch their surroundings alert for danger then resumes, "we'll hit the pad after that." Izahm then goes very nearby Emily his back to her to ensure she's covered by both his heavier armor and if need be Omni-shield.
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Post by Maelstrom on Oct 6, 2017 0:23:21 GMT -6
[GM Post]
Team A- To move things along, they're at the base of the landing pad. They may proceed completely by stealth or taking out baddies. Any posts should be done as declared actions or run by GM for approval first.
Team B- In position to take the science building. All is well, and their cover hasn't been blown.
Team C- In position to take the habitats from behind. All is well, and their cover hasn't been blown.
Lysander- Still in position and directing the teams. May scan the area with his sniper rifle for additional details (provided by GM in a private message if desired).
Sorry for the gap between posts. Houston was worse than expected. Basically a lot of people made homeless that I'm still trying to help sort out, though I finally have time to breathe again.
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Post by Joe Fischer on Oct 8, 2017 8:16:55 GMT -6
Much to Joe's surprise, he and his team made it to the buildings housing the science lab without an alarm being raised.
While he was certainly pleased with how the mission was going so far, he reminded himself that getting in was the easy part; rescuing the hostages, getting them out and securing the data would be much more difficult. Experience told him that sooner or later their luck would run out and the bullets would start flying, though the longer that was delayed, the better their chances would be.
Stepping up to the entrance, he activated his omnitool and scanned the interior of the building. He was at the age where he preferred knowing about surprises before they happened--especially the lethal ones.
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Post by Geneenh T'Loris on Oct 8, 2017 8:26:15 GMT -6
Geneenh and the rest of the team stood outside the base's living habitat, and she was mildly surprised that the alarm had yet to be raised.
Either the pirates were more incompetent than she thought, or they had triggered a silent alarm and even now the pirates were closing around them.
She thought the second possibility was more likely. While she had dealt with pirates, and a majority of them were short-sighted morons, she had survived only by anticipating the worst and coming up with plans to deal with them.
They had reached the living habitat, and if she was a pirate this was where she would spring her trap: the presumed target at the heart of the base.
Determined to hold off the springing of the trap as much as possible, she approached a control panel for the quarters and easily hacked her into the systems. While interior scanners wouldn't be able to warn her about any traps, she would be able to at least find out who was inside.
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Post by rulaan on Oct 8, 2017 9:04:41 GMT -6
Rula'an was somewhat surprised that they made it to their targets entrance without being spotted or alarms going off. He chalked it up to fortuitous planning and a little bit of forethought. He watched Fischer begin to scan the lab but decided he could get a more comprehensive layout himself. He maneuvers quietly over to a nearby panel and cycles it on. He then hacks his way through the mediocre firewalls using his backdoor access and begins downloading a full layout of the lab including sensor tripwires and camera viewpoints. He opens a tightbeam comm to Fischer and says, "I should have a full layout of the base including sensor trips and camera viewpoints. I can then hack into the camera feeds to see what kind of opposition is where in the lab."
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Post by Eric Lysander on Oct 8, 2017 9:40:22 GMT -6
The two mercenary teams were so far able to reach their positions without much difficulty or raising alarms. Eric scanned about the kill zone through his scope after receiving word that the explosives were ready to be planted and the site's AA guns were now the teams' control. Joseph's team was at the door to the science lab and Gennenh had just arrived at the barracks.
"One second, guys... got a coupla new players on the field," Eric radioed to his teammates.
Eric sighted about the barracks area and noticed a party of four emerge from one of the units. Something about them was different than the patrols encountered earlier.
"Check - four new players. One human, three non. One's a krogan. All carrying some serious gear. Updating your maps... standby..."
Eric moved his rifle aside and accessed his omni-tool after a moment's hesitation, deeming it more important to note where they were than what they could be. The three non-humans formed a protective cordon around the human. The way they carried themselves suggested a sense of authority and control independent of the gear they possessed.
The Big Boss taking a night stroll? That bored, e-
Again overhead, to Eric's disbelieving eyes, many of the stars overhead went black. The next thing he felt was a sharp prod on his back followed by spasms and crackles of electricity.
Then everything else went black.
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Post by Joe Fischer on Oct 8, 2017 10:37:33 GMT -6
Joe stepped back from the entrance, grateful for the quarian's offer to scan the interior; he figured the tech expert would be able to get far better results.
He tensed up when Lysander alerted the teams to the new arrivals and tensed even further as the delay on the report on them grew.
"Pops, if you want to tell us more about them, you'll have to activate your radio, that's how it works," he said.
There was nothing on his scanners, but his instincts--honed through years of experience--screamed at him something was wrong.
"Bon, adjust shields to maximum strength and scanners to maximum sensitivity," he ordered his VI as he made his way towards one of the lab's corners. "Thrak, keep your eyes open--maybe something, maybe nothing. Rula'an, keep doing what you're doing. Xan, watch his back.
"Bon, prep distraction protocols," he told his VI.
"Done," came the reply. On his command, his suit's lights would switch over to white light set at maximum illumination and music would blast through the suit's loudspeakers at maximum volume.
"Song choice?" his VI asked.
He pondered it for half a second.
"I'm feeling indestructible," he said.
"Got it," came the reply.
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Post by Maelstrom on Oct 8, 2017 11:43:35 GMT -6
Alarm started flaring inside him, as the silence on the radio channel lingered on.
"Pops, if you want to tell us more about them, you'll have to activate your radio, that's how it works," Fischer joked over the radio, Maelstrom thought as much to mask the man's own worry for their comrade.
More silence.
"Lysander? Lysander, check in," Maelstrom called over the channel.
Nothing but silence.
"Team Charlie in position and weapons-ready. Team Alpha, report your status," he commanded, fearing to let the team linger in a state of doubt and worry. After the reply, he said, "Team Bravo, report your status."
He took a deep breath. "What's our play, then, people. Give Lysander another couple minutes or go hot?"
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Post by XanDorak on Oct 8, 2017 11:46:58 GMT -6
"Xan, watch his back," the tanky human replied.
"I'm not a babysitter," Xan grumbled before another forced breath from his respirator. Checking his assault rifle one more time, he added, "But I'll certainly take the chance to make some... what do you humans call it?" An unfortunately timed breath, "Swiss cheese while he has his back turned."
Heat sink was full. He was ready to go.
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Post by EmilyMoore on Oct 8, 2017 11:55:46 GMT -6
Emily stayed close to her sole teammate and was taking his leads and orders, so long as they did not compromise their stealth. He was senior member of the pair, after all, despite what had happened earlier. Not to say that she was a submissive partner, giving her fair share of heads-ups and silent indications of pertinent details. The earlier rush of adrenaline was still pumping through her veins, and it was enough to keep her going.
And then silence nearly stopped her in her tracks.
No. That's not right. That's not the plan. What's happening? she thought, suddenly in a panic. Damn it, Lysander. Why aren't you answering?
When Maelstrom's voice broke over the comms, she felt some relief, though not as much as she expected. She was tempted to respond to his call for their status herself, but it was not her place. Instead, she looked to her teammate, knowing seniority trumped personal closeness in such situations.
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Post by Urdnot Thrak on Oct 8, 2017 12:01:04 GMT -6
"What's our play, then, people. Give Lysander another couple minutes or go hot?" Smiley called over the comm, though it took Thrak a moment to place the voice without the accompanying visage. If only humans did not have to sound so damned alike...
"We go," Thrak said, somber, staying off the comms and looking to Jokes directly. He let out a sigh that sounded more like an avalanche of a grunt, "For Stick to go silent... Something's taken a turn. Even if it's just a fall that's knocked him out... we can't wait on orders from a downed battlemaster."
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