SLA: Truth of Consequences
Book 1 Chapter 3: Oils Well That Ends Well
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Leadership hurts
Once the squad had gotten all the info they could get, they dropped Crystal off at a spot she designated. She quickly dissappeared into the shadows in an effort to avoid being seen. Dedrick turned the APC and headed towards the section that Mullen walked for his beat. People continued to shy away from the sight of the vehicle, quickly making themselves scarce. After having driven two blocks and seen no presence of a Shiver patrol, they were starting to get a little annoyed. Then they turned the corner to continue the search... and that was when they saw some Shivers. It was a surreal moment at best. A Shiver patrol car was parked on the side of the road. Next to it, on the sidewalk, were six Shivers beating two Shivers. One of them had lost his helmet and looked like the description of Mullen. The Shivers were giving the two a pretty healthy cranial baton massage.
Flaky jumped out in a flash, shape no longer fixed human but bulging with edges an hooks. The only fixed elements were one hand holding a running cam and a spike with her SLA badge. She yelled: "I want to speak to the sergeant! NOW!"
Following Flaky out of the APC, Difference pulled his ECM body suit mask up over his Deathsuit and high tailed for an alley before the Shivers saw Flaky approaching. Over the comm: "Ladies and Gentlemen, it looks like we have an incident. These Shivers seem to be interfering with an Opertives' investigation. May I suggest that Flaky, and HogBoy, and Gore have a discussion with them about said interference and perhaps place them under arrest. Flaky, woud you know if we need any paper work to arrest them? Or perhaps we might threaten them with Death warrants. I will leave it up to you. Misery and I will try and get behind them for a surprise attack if it comes to that. Dedrick, I leave it up to you as to whether you want to stay in the APC or go with the others. Either way, try and support them. Any questions or suggestions?" His voice still held cruel intensity and while sprinting for the alley he pulled out his FEN 603.
As one Shiver glanced at one of the fallen figures Flaky said: "You better have permission to do that. In writing! If not you are all under arrest for assaulting a superior officer."
Dedrick loaded up his rifle and flipped down his helmet. He opened the door of the APC and stepped out. His adrenaline was beginning to pump and he realized this could all go terribly wrong, and he began to smile. He hit his one dose of Rush and leveled off his rifle at the group. He begans to take aim on the Shivers, praying that they test him. "I hope you know what your doing Flaky, if you havent noticed these guys dont give a shit.." Dedrick began to imagine walking up to the shivers with a BLA Revolver and blasting one in the face, that would get their attention. As if by second nature Dedrick hit a dose of Alice, now all his thoughts were real. Flaky began to look like him and there was a BLA in Flakies hand. The BLA was being leveled at one of the Shivers heads and in less then a second brains had painted the sidewalk. "Holy SHIT, I just shot one!"
Flaky blinked at Dedricks remark - No sound of gunfire - no Shivers falling - where was that Frother: his mind was clearly somewhere else.
HogBoy wasn't even a little surprised by Dedrick flipping off. He slowly dismounted from the APC, claymore in one hand and FEN603 in the other. He began to walk toward the Shivers casually. "Anyone care to explain me what the fuck is going on here? And better make it good..."
The six Shivers looked at the squad like they were high (and in some cases were). They dropped their current assignment and charged the bolts on their GA Finishers. One of them, probably the leader of the bunch, addressed you. "Fuck you slops! Why don't you go find some DarkNight to play with... or better yet, some Thresher power suits."
Flaky mumbled in her comm: "Let them attack FIRST!" Slowly her shape returned to 'normal', but she moved calmly forward: "Final warning: you are under arrest for assaulting a superior officer and interfering with a BPN."
Misery completed her formulae and disappeared from where she was - appearing, or better being, slightly behind the Shivers who were to focussed to notice her.
Difference said on the comm: "Keep working them Flaky. We don't want this to turn ugly if we can avoid it." The sound of Difference's voice was slightly breathless as he sprinted down the alley closing on Misery's position fast.
The leader raised his Finisher at Flaky. "Bugger off Slop! This is Shiver business an' you ain't got no right ta interfere!"
Flaky slowly (both to stop happy trigger fingers and to give Difference more time) got the BPN card out of her pocket and held it in front of her. "This says I can." She sighted, shaking her head slowly and said in a fairly friendly voice "Now don't do something silly. We are on a life feed here", she nodded at the cam held waist high, "and what would you think would happen if you pulled a trigger... Even with all those very nice guns you would not stand a change. First you do not have enough bullets to drop him" lookad at Gore, " Second, you see, there is that little thing called kick murder trained operatives, you know the ones trained to kill anybody within a few yards... Two of them are standing behind you... So. Drop. Your. Weapons."
The leader laughed: "They're ain't no live feed here! Captain seen to that. And I ain't gonna call yer bluff by lookin' behin' me!" Two of the rear Shivers however, slowly turned and looked to see Misery standing behind them. She had the grinning look of a psychotic killer etched plainly on her face. Then they saw Difference sliding up on her right. "Shit boss. They are behind us."
The leader slumped his shoulders. "Fuck. Plan B." With that, he ripped a grenade off his maghold. Nobody was close enough to do anything, but most of the squad had time to close or shield their eyes before the flash grenade hit the ground and exploded with roughly 300,000 candle power.
Visible Problems
Everybody - even with flare protection - was blinded for a moment and there was the sound of running feet. Misery was a mere meter away and went ahead trying to take a swing at one of the Shivers, mostly out of anger at being blinded. She missed.
As sight left Difference, he swore to himself and immediately began a rolling dive backwards. Blindly trying to make his way back to the cover of the alley. He then slowed down to a crouched stop, razor wire in hand. His other senses reached out through the rain trying to get a hold of something, anything that could threaten him.
Dedrick, being on Rush, slightly convulsed when the flash went off. His entire grip on his rifle tightened, and this included his trigger finger. Everyone heard a burst of 10mm rifle rounds go off. Flaky could feel the whizz of the rounds zip past her a little too close for comfort. This was followed closely by a scream of pain and the sound of someone collapsing onto the sidewalk.
The squad then heard the car doors close and the Shiver patrol car taking off bumping on and off the sidewalk.
'Well at least I've got an official confession that a Shiver captain has blocked transmissions in this sector,' Flaky thinks, while running forward trying to body block the Shiver speaker, as she dropped the cam behind her. She trusted on her hearing to pinpint him, but the rifle burst close by distracted her. She did hit someone and drove him onto the sidewalk.
"AW HELL, THey're fuckin EBBS!" Dedrick was unable to comprehend the flashing light as something a human was capable of. He assumed they were EBBs. Things only got worse, as the Rush had kicked in and his adrenaline pumping, these things must be worse then EBBs. They must be some kind of Karma experiment gone awry that were capable of controlling light and possibly even time itself. "Kill those fuckin KARMA inbred bastards, AHHHHH"
Although Flaky has been very close to the grenade, her quick reactions and morphing abilities had shielded her eyes from most of the flash. Her vision returned quickly and she saw that she was on top of the Shiver to the leaders right. He lay sprawled unable to get to his guns. Over the comm: "Dedrick what the hell are you talking about? Keep them alive! Diff', Misery look at Mullen."
Dedricks had dove behind the APC and when he looked again he saw a blob eating a prone Shiver. Another Shiver lay about 15 miles further on a enourmous ridge with his leg squirming to get loose from his body.
HogBoy visor cleared and he quickly picked out an individual Shiver staggering about in the street. His arms were stretched out as if he was trying to feel for where he was going. His rifle was slung and he had no weapon in hand.
Difference, still blinded, heard someone struggling on his right, as well as someone whimpering in pain. He also heard someone ahead of him moving very quietly. Finally, way off on his left he could hear the shiver patrol car driving off.
Gore had been looking at the object the leader slapped of his vest, so he was looking directly at the grenade when it went off. The visor of his helmet had gone completely opaque to keep his eyes from being damaged.
Slowly Flaky shifted her muscles to give more strength and less speed, trying to keep the Shiver pinned: "Hi, you've got two choices: stop resisting, or wait till the Malice has time to remove a leg of yours, to make sure you won't run away... Do you know how much meat a 313 of that size needs each day? Oh we can't do that because Control... Ohh, that's right: no Control..." The Shiver she was on top of went wide eyed with horror, to the point of peeing in his armor. "No, Please no. I'll... do whatever you want."
Gore growled in displeasure and ripped of his helmet. As his head covering clattered onto the sidewalk, he took aim on the retreating patrol car and fired a burst. The rounds impacted into the rear of the car, which swerved and bounced off a trashbin before correcting and disappearing around a corner.
Over his comm, Difference whispered: "I'm still blinded. Status and location everyone. There is someone moving quietly in front of me, Misery is that you? If the person doesn't idenitify themselves, I will attack." While whispering, Difference unraveled a few more feet of razor wire from its handle in his right hand. The weighted barb sat in his left.
Misery furiously blinked her eyes, trying to force away to blinding sun spot in her field of view. "Yes, that's me... I think. I'm going to check on Mullen."
"Vision, pinned one, second downed by Dedrick." Flaky responded.
Difference continued to crouch perfectly still, listening. If the person moving quietly was moving away from him, he would do nothing. Else... Luckily his vision started to return. He could see Misery had just crouched down to check Mullen and his partner. A wounded Shiver is almost dead ahead of him, only two meters. From his vantage, he could see the Shiver had just injected himself with something and was reaching for a FEN 603. Springing from his crouched position, Difference swung the barbed weight around the Shiver, entangling him in razor wire and pinning his arms at his side. The man screamed out in pain as the razor wire bit through the thin layer between the arm plates and the armored glove. To make sure that he was secure, he kicked the man in the head and continueing his turing movement, pulled down on the razor wire followed by a sweep kick to the man's legs: "Don't move. - I got one Shiver down. Don't anyone fire on him."
HogBoy dropped his claymore to his side, knelt down and aimed his FEN with two hands towards the legs of the stumbling figure he saw through the sun spots in his eyes. He waited a little longer until his vision cleared a bit more. The pistol bucked in HogBoy's hands as the 10mm slug ripped into the stumbling Shiver's left leg, about three inches below the knee. The man went down with a yelp. "Ahh-haa!" HogBoy yelled in excitement. He picked up his claymore and ran toward his target.
Misery came over the radio. "Shit. Partner is dead. Mullen isn't looking well. Applying KickStart." She reached into her Boopa Med Kit and pulled out an injector.
With the immediate threat to Difference taken care of, he took a moment to survey the situation and to make sure there weren't any other threats hiding around. He could barely see the retreating patrol car off in the distance.
Flaky grabbed her Shiver "Turn over, on your belly. Spread eagle. Don't move." She threw away the Shivers gun a couple of meters and then started to strip all equipment. "Ehh, so a few got away, which means... ehh, lot's of other Shivers here soon. So, ehh, we pack all our Shivers in the APC with ducktape - HogBoy and Difference; equipment and comm-gear in a metal box against tracers - me; we gently carry the sergeant inside - Misery and ehh Gore? and we relocate pronto - Dedrick ... Dedrick, hello!?"
Dedrick was standing in the middle of the sidewalk, smoking gun in hand trying to determine if he was in the right reality.
HogBoy heard Flaky real good on the comm. He disarmed the Shiver, sat down on his chest and put his face only inches from the Shiver's. He then shot up more Rush and let the Shiver take a real good look at his wildly dilating pupils. "Stay real still baby, or this could get nasty" He said, while he let his salivary glands release their load on the Shiver's face. Then he began stripping off the Shiver's equipment, starting with his comm.
Volatile Combinations
Dedrick knew somehow that he had to find out what was real. He knelt down and closes his eyes: "Three... Two... One... It's just the drugs. Three... Two... One... It's just the drugs." He opened his eyes and saw Flaky start to meld into the shiver, he glanced at HogBoy and saw blood coming from that shivers leg start to form into another HogBoy made of blood, "Three, two, one, it's just the drugs." Looking over at Difference and he saw Difference swinging from a mans neck. This might be normal but Difference was upside down and about 10 feet up in the air: "Difference, don't let go or you'll fall into the sky... we'll work on getting you down." Dedrick began running towards Difference.
Difference harsh voice cames over the comm: "Dedrick, don't move, I am doing fine where I am. You are a fucking idot for taking so many drugs during combat. For once, control yourself and hit some Flush, you need to sober up fast as we are going to need you to drive in the next few seconds." He led his Shiver by his leash to the APC and tied him up with duct tape and started to strip his gear. He kept an eye on Dedrick the whole time.
Dedrick shut his eyes and counted backwards again. He reached down and hit a dose of Flush. He began to move towards the APC and got into the drivers seat: "How did you get down?"
"It was the drugs, Dedrick and don't you ever do that again. Do you understand?"
"Huh, never used Alice and Rush.. Usually its Blaze and Alice. That works out nicely, also PI and Alice do wonders for each other.. its like an orgy with yourself. Maybe we can shoot up later, then you'll understand." Dedrick didn't seem to understand Differences attitude, but Difference could tell he did.
HogBoy was getting worked up about Dedrick's little speech to Difference. He addressed Dedrick: "Yeah, PI and Alice. I'ts like one plus one would equal three. Good stuff! Haven't done it recently myself. Nowadays I'm more into mens drugs."
HogBoy was forgetting that he was talking to a Frother on combat drugs, probably because he himself was currently on a high streak.Dedrick tone became very serious: "Ok HogBoy, if you think you have what it takes" Dedrick pulled out a dose of Alice and hands it to HogBoy: "We'll see how well you can handle Alice with Blaze.. Oh wait, that would imply that you shoot up something other then Rush. Seems like your nothing more then a insecure HUMAN." Dedrick pulled out his dose of Blaze UV and then handed that over to HogBoy as well. "Anytime you wanna shoot up, lets see if your WEAK frame can take it."
Flaky was busy securing both the captured Shivers as well as their equipment and said: "If the two of you would get your bodies and minds - at least what's left of it - out of the syringe, the we might be able to complete this BPN." She went back to pick up her cam.
"Blaze and Alice, hmm... Never thought about that. Might as well give it a go... in next combat. I wouldn't wan't to waste good UV outside combat." HogBoy mused.
Difference turned to HogBoy, the expressionless bone mask just inches away from HogBoy's face. "Don't you dare shoot that up during the next combat. It made Dedrick act like a total idiot not a great warrior that the Frothers claim they are. If you want to learn to be a real Frother, you will learn to control the drugs not have the drugs control you." Difference's voice was full of venom and HogBoy sensed the muscles in Difference arms and legs flexing as if itching to act.
"Ehh, can you, I mean..." Flaky stops trying to get them under control. Instead she started storing the Shivers equipment and weaponry where the squad could easily get to for checking and, in case of an emergency, using. This included the dead Shiver as his equipment was SLA property and his body was forensic evidence. She left it to Misery to take care of sergeant Mullen.
Misery and Gore ignored the drugs discussion and carefuly got Mullen into the APC. Even with their cautious movement, Mullen still cried out in pain more than once. "Ok. We're in," Misery reported over the radio.
Finally turning away from HogBoy, Difference took a look at Mullens to see if he could help him with the pain. "Let us get out of here Dedrick before the Shivers come back with some backup."
HogBoy said to no-one in particular: "Might as well get it over with" He loaded up the doses in his dispersal unit and pushed two buttons at the same time. *Pfffht, pfffht* HogBoy was looking at Difference. Difference's Death Suit's symbols and forms were coming alive in HogBoy's vision. He was reminded of an other Ebon in the group and looked at Misery. Same thing happened with her, but this time Alice was kicking in more forcefully: the Death Suit's writhing was more powerful and started to form into a familiar sight to HogBoy... "Mum... What are you doing here?" Gore was growling in his displeasure of not doing more serious damage to the patrol car and HogBoys attention turned to him (it?). Looking further, but the sight of Gore had already imprinted itself on HogBoy's conciousness and he saw vicious Gores everywhere. HogBoy's face contorted with horror and he shouted: "No worries mum, I'll save you from the monsters!" He charged with his claymore at imaginary enemies, cutting nasty holes in the pavement, nearby buildings, and thrash cans. His movements were unfocused and the squad realised that he should be really easy to take down without causing much damage.
Misery didn't like sergeant Mullens condition and decided to use another Kickstart. She then saw HogBoy stagger around and turned to Difference and Flaky: "Can I kill him now?"
Flaky looked at the guns they empounded and at HogBoy's back as he carved up the street. She looked again, shook her head in negation at Gore and Misery and jumped out. Carefully getting in HogBoy's rear she pushed him around against the APC. If it got scratched, well, Flaky could certainly live with that. On the rebound she pushed him inside the prisoner locket and closed the hatch quickly. Once inside she turned to the two ebons: "Let's agree: you use weird, unreliable, and silly powers, and we," she nods to Gore, "are vat grown monstrosities. But at least all of us aren't drug junkies."
Difference nodded: "Agreed, we are witches with silly powers and you are vat grown monstrosities. But both are alot bettter than being a f###d up junky. I wish we could just kill him."
"You all may have your SILLY powers but when the end of the day comes.. all you KARMA guys are just drugs mixed with his", Dedrick pointed at HogBoy, "DNA. And I've seen plenty of EBB junkies, you high and mighties are all the same." Dedrick cranked his boost up on the power cell, draining more power from it, and floored the APC. This was a sight to behold as the APC began to fish tail, finally found traction, and jetted off throwing anyone not sitting down onto their ass. "Chill out HogBoy!!! AHHHHH." Dedrick screamed as he took a corner a bit fast. As he headed down the street he noticed a trail of battery acid and oil that the Shiver patrol car appeared to have left behind.
Flaky held on with some difficulty and looked at the cell holding the punch drunk HogBoy in mock amazement: "Intruder, is that you?
And, ehh, Dedrick, I know you don't pay attention, so I'll repeat: Vevaphon's have a unique DNA sequence, not human at all. And I don't mind humans, they designed me pretty well, a few production errors notwithstanding. I just prefer squad mates who remember that we're paid to do a job, not paid to zonk out."
Difference ignored Dedrick: "Misery, did you give Mullen's enough Kick start to heal him fully?"
Misery looked at Mullen. "Hell, I don't know. I'm a kick murderer, not a medic!" She checked him over and decided to give him a second dose anyway. With that Mullen started coming around.
Flaky picked up her nav system again and yelled to Dedrick: "Start driving normally, ehh first big road to the right, I'll figure out a route soon." as she scrutinised the map.
After about ten minutes of banging sounds from the container space they suddenly stopped: "Umm... Could someone let me out....... please? Pretty please."
"Dedrick, Yo DEDRICK, I said first right! Where are you going? Shit that's the plant. Left, LEFT, Now! Get us out of sight!"
Prelude to the Final
During the ride, Difference questioned Mullen in his overly dramatic and intense way: "So Sergeant, I hope you are feeling any better. We were worried about you when we learned your friends at the Shiver Station are actually corrupt and that you had the BPN go through despite your Captain's orders. Do you want to fill us in on what is going on down here?"
Mullens coughed up some blood as the KickStart continued its work: "Damn Captain's been running this place like it was his own personal dictatorship." Mullen took a few ragged breaths, "He's slowly turned the majority of the Shivers into nothing more than thugs and bandits. Anything they take from people goes into thier personal fund. He sells a lot of it on the black market. Anyone who gets in his way, disaappears, typically at the chemical plant. Word is he disolves bodies in one of the vats."
"Thank you Sergeant, that is very helpful. We are on our way to the chemical plant as we speak. Can you tell us anything else about the plant. Layout, defenses, how many Shivers might be there, weapons they might have, etc. Anything that might help us take them down. Finally, we are going to need proof to convict the Captain. Is there any physical evidence you can offer us or access codes to their systems that we could us to gain incriminating records." Difference tried to be charming but it came out more bitter and sarcastic than charming.
Mullen smiled almost savagely: "Will a video slug do?"
"A video slug would be perfect. Do you have it on you or do we need to pick it up somewhere?"
Mullen reached under his chest plate and pulled out his SLA department badge holder. From it he produced a data slug: "It has his termination of three Shivers who didn't want to play ball. Like me, they belived in SLA and not his dominion over the sector."
"Thank you Sergeant." Flaky held up her hand, "Let's get the facts: names of those involved...." Flaky took over, by getting all the information she needed for an official report. She also taped the interview and made a mirror copy of his and her slug. Flaky's interview style was friendly but impersonal and she tried to get all her fact right and statements accurate. "Sergeant, please note that because of BPN rules we cannot let you actively assist us in our check of the chemical plant. We would, however, appreciate it if you kept watch over these suspects. According to SLA policy we cannot condone the use of illegal weaponry." Flaky said that for the record, but of course several Shiver weapons would stay in the APC.
Gore reattached his helmet and switched his GA Finisher drum that was missing ten rounds with his full spare. He seemed upset about being ambushed and his poor showing against the Shivers. He sat hunched over his Finisher, staring at the floor of the APC.
"Thank you, Sergeant for all your help. You have done a great service to SLA and I am sure SLA Industries will reward you for it." Difference actually sounded sincere. Difference turned to Gore. "Don't worry, there will be killing soon."
Gore looked up after Differences commented and smiled, almost appreciatively.
HogBoy was franticaly knocking on the lid of his cell: "Guys, let me out already, please. I promise to behave."
Difference spoke quietly on HogBoys private channel, "Promises don't mean much to me, Hog Boy. Actions matter and so far you haven't proved your actions to be worth lettting out till we need you to shoot something. Till then, like any other piece of dangeruous equipment, you will be kept safely stored. If you had listened to me earlier and not let the drugs control you, you might be in a different situtation. Unfortunately, now we will never know."
After making sure all remaining weapons and ammo were secure Flaky said: "We're not going in with the APC: the mine suggest that they might have some heavy weaponry and the APC is a nice big target."
"Agreed, no APC. We are going to go in quite and surprise them with a quick and hard strike. Misery and I will go ahead and infilitrate through a back way. Once we are in position the rest of you will make a quick and hard strike through the front. Coming in as quickly and quietly as you can. Once inside you will split up into pairs and make your way through the factory. Priority is taking targets down and moving on. We don't know how many are in there and we don't know if more are on their way. Speed is our only real advantage.
We are going to keep in pairs so everyone has a backup. Misery and I, Flaky and Gore, Dedrick and Hog Boy. No one goes off on their own.
Sgt. Mullen, may I see your comm set for a second. I will adjust it so you can listen in on what is happening and if things go badly, you will know to run." Difference took Mullen's comm set and gave it access to the squad's general area broadcast channel. He also discretely disabled and locked all outgoing channels on the comm set so Mullen's couldn't contact anyone. "Any questions or suggestions. We are still learning each others cababilities, so if you feel I have overlooked something please feel free to contribute."
"Flaky, I have 3 injectors of Kick Start and 2 of Pain away if need be. Also, I have 1 shot of Ultraviolence... just in case", muttered Gore under his breath, but loud enough for Flakey to hear. Then he growled: "maybe we should bring the landmine with us? Return their gift?"
Difference shook his head: "I like the idea Gore but there is too much chance of collateral damage to SLA property."
"Mmmmmmmmmmmmm", rasps Gore, "You're right.... explosives in a processing plant...not good.""Listen, we do not want any unnecessary deaths! We do not have extermination warrants, we're on a blue BPN, so proof of what makes shivers disappear.
That's it.
If we get a Gray afterwards to clean this mess up - fine by me, but till then careful.
However, more proof of illegal activities can't hurt our case. Control isn't going to be happy anyway when we return so let's make sure we did it by the book." Flaky stressed.
Dedrick finished parking the APC out of sight, stepped out and released HogBoy. HogBoy handed one shot of Blaze to Dedrick: "I owe you an Alice. Remind me tomorrow, never to take an A&B combo again. Sh*t that was intense!"
"Yeah, no Shit Hog Boy A&B can be a bad combo, at least you didnt shoot one of us or yourself", Dedrick chuckled, "Alright Difference, I know what your expecting from us and I gaurantee we will deliver-no one dead is the word and thats how it will be."
"Do you think we should get a Search Warrant for the factory?" Difference thought out loud, "It would at least legitmize our entry and would justify any force we have to use as overcoming resistance to the execution of our warrant."
"Without control?" Flaky replied, "That would mean drive back to Suburbia to get a connection, sometime before we can convince Control we're not crazy, and the drive back. What do you think we'll find then... nothing They'll cover up, have paperwork backdated that we assaulted those Shivers, doctored the slugs and are general subversives. We need to have proof: a lieutenant who orders Shivers to fire on us - without any action from us, a partially desolved Shiver in an acid tank... I don't care as long as can show it to Control."
Difference nodded thoughfully to Flaky's answer: "Okay, well that answers that question. We go in with only our few leads as justification and we try not to kill anyone."
Hog Boy was trying to be nice to Difference, so he answered: "Affirmative, boss. Self-defence only."
Difference ignored Hog Boy at first: "Dedrick, please park the APC somewhere out of sight, then everyone suit up and we will get going." He did a quick check of his weapons and equipment. Once the APC was well hidden, he pulled the ECM mask over his his bone carved face, his IR/UV goggles were perched on his head for easy access. "Hog Boy, remember, action not words. Are you ready, Misery?"
Dedrick began to arm up: he only took his Claymore, a smoker, and, of course, lots of Kickstart and Blaze UV.
When Misery confirmed, Difference slit out of the APC into the rain, his dark crimson suit once again fading into splotches of blacks and grays. Like phantoms, he and Misery started moving through the back streets towards the factory, keeping a close watch for any people or traps. He also monitored for radio signals using his Oyster and comm. "Misery, will you monitor for motion, while I check for radio signals. Everyone else, please set up a position from which you can strike the factory. Stay hidden though. Don't take any chance on being seen. Good hunting."
*Dedrick makes sure to engage his FOOLish (tm) security system on the APC, this will also prevent any shivers inside from stealing it or any one from breaking into it... He then turns all his attention to Hog Boy once everyone has broken up into their 2 man teams.. He pulls aside his com so no one else can hear.* "We move fast and we move hard.. Stay behind me and clean up the mess. NO Decapitations. Only limb severing. I swing at one, you swing after me, and we move on.. Agreed?" if Hog Boy wants to lead I have no problem with that either.. Just trying to set up tactics with him. "If shit goes bad I wont leave you behind, and I expect the same from you.. thats how FROTHERS act." *Dedrick pulls the comm back to his mouth and puts his helmet on.* Once we are ready to go in Dedrick hits the Blaze(or Blaze UV), as soon as they spot a shiver he hits 2 doses of kickstart and charges. ooc: Dedrick has the comm ear piece in his good ear, so anything else going on he doesnt hear very well or at all To Gore "Oke, those two", nods to the humans, "will draw attention, the ebons will make them doubt were the others are, so we're going to find whoever is in charge. So we're going in on stealth, listen and look what they are trying to protect or destroy, and intervene. Then I vid it and take evidence. Hmm, I might confuse the matter some more..." "Sure Ded, you lead the way and soak up the bullets first. We'll switch if you need Kickstart." GM Note: Flaky, you could wear one of the suits of Shiver armor. Dedrick pulls the APC into an alley about a street away. The alley looks like it hasn't seen anyone in it for years, so it at least seems pretty secure. From there you guys move out. The chemical plant is rather large. About the size of twelve football fields stacked in the 3x4 arrangement. The plant still has most of its fencing intact, although finding a break in it isn't difficult. You easily slip through the fence and into the compound. You try to move quietly into the factory, which could go a lot smoother if Hog Boy didn't find every loose peeple to step on or kick about. After a stern look from everyone, he starts moving much quieter. You move in between large vats of who-knows-what. The acrid smell of chemicals is heavy in the air and the thought of some flesh-disolving sludge pouring out of the vat from a bullet hole intrudes upon your thoughts. Finally, you come in into the main building. The back door leads into a hallway with a set of four open doors (two on the left and two on the right). The doors appear to lead into offices. You can see vats about three meters high in the center of the large building, with a catwalk about two meters up surrounding the vats. Flaky starts moving towards the entrance with the Shiver armor on as everyone else starts to find a hiding spot. GM Note: Flaky. You are moving up to the main entrance for the plant. You can see three patrol cars, one of which has a trio of bullet holes in it. You walk passed the cars and up the steps leading into the entrance for the plant. There are two Shivers standing in the lobby talking. When they see you approach, they give you a proffessional nod and go back to thier conversation. "Oh it was hillarious. This SCL 10 Op starts giving me lip about how I have to provide him with proper backup in clearing out a den of subversives. I told him he could fuck off, especially since it wasn't in my jurisdiction." GM Note: They both start laughing quite loudly as you continue passed the lobby and into the plant. The main building itself is quite large. A number of smaller vats are arranged near the rear of the building, and the front area appears to be a final processing and distribution area. A Shiver APC bearing the number of the missing unit sits in the distribution area as well. A catwalk arrangement surrounds the small vats, all of which are open. You can see a group of six Shivers talking with a man in a Shiver officers uniform. The bodies of six Shivers lie on the catwalk in front of them. "I told you to dispose of the bodies immediately. Now we have a group of Ops snooping around and you STILL haven't accomplished that simple task! Get it done!" The Shiver he is yelling out saluttes crisply. "Yes sir, captain sir!" One of the Shivers leans in close and whispers something to the captain. The captain smiles and turns to Flaky. "What. Do you operatives think us Shivers are too stupid to count?" Flaky, you hear the bolts of two GA Finshers charge behind you. You also see six more Shivers pile out of the APC. The captain shouts out loud. "Perhaps the rest of your team would like to come out peacefully? Or we can riddle you freind here full of holes."Rock and Roll
Ok, we've got the proof - now it's time to survive. Comset: "UV" Flaky moves [Dex13], full speed, towards any cover or the captain, whichever is closest, trying to keep the cam protected. If she gets hit by more than 3 bullets she'll relax immediately, dropping to the floor and probably sliding a bit - playing dead. She will then twitch a bit to hide the fact that she's shifting again: getting her head (mostly) out of the helmet without it dropping off: this will make her 'blind' and it will be tricky to stand up again, but these guys feel like the 'finishing headshot' types. With two rifles behind me and the captain in front I try to get/keep him in the line of fire: automatic weapons are dangerous but a not all the bullets are going to hit me running full tilt, so they might very well hit their friends GM Note: Flaky, with a simple move, you can slip under the catwalk, getting easy cover. Moving towards the captain would put you within line of rought 8 rifles and no cover. While Flaky moves deeper into the building, Difference and Misery will try and find a way to quitely infiltrate the building. High windows, vents, roof access, etc. What ever way might be promising for a quick but unnoticed entrance. You know what: Flaky prefers the cover! Flaky tries to draw some fire or at least attention to give Gore and the others the change of a first strike. Flaky told her squad about the two guarding the lobby - hoping that the squad managed to bypass them (Misery certainly could, Difference might) before she entered the main building. If they have to take out those two first, the Shivers here could create a killing ground near the entrance. GM: How strong would I have to be to tilt one of those acid vats? Or would holes from a 603 on burst be enough? After a brief discussion with Misery, I think we will take the front door and try and sneak past the lobby guards and into the main room. If I need to fold to past them I will. GM Note: Just to clarify things. You've come up to a back door while Flaky went around to the front as part of her disguise. Flaky. the vats are heavily bolted into the concrete. There's no way to move it short of industrial grade explosives. Your 603 might be able to penetrate the skin of the vat but your not sure. So we break in through the back door. Making sure no one is on the other side before sneaking through. I wait for the order to commense hacking knowing full welll that I will take the brunt of the bullets. Once I get the order I hit my Blaze and wait for it to kick in, once it has I hit 2 doses of Kickstart and charge in. You easily move into the back door. The lock is broken. It appears someone bashed through the door a long time ago. A hallway extends down about fifteen meters before spilling out into the rest of the warehouse. There are two doors on the left and two on the right. All are open and appear to have been for offices at one time, and now are just a wreck. You can see some of the vats within the main section of the building from your position when you hear the captain yell to come out peacefully. That's when Flaky gives the command and shooting starts. Difference whispers over the comm, "Keep to your teams" He immediately starts sprinting down the hallway towards the main warehouse, his footsteps barely making a sound, his FEN 603, HEAP loaded, in his hand. Once out of the hallway, he will break right. Keeping an eye up at the catwalks for enemies as well as amoung the vats. "Hog Boy and Dedrick, go left, Gore go find your team mate and back her up." Difference breaks into a run, breaking right at the end of the hallway. Misery is right behind him, her fingers starting to grow into long, wicked talons. GM Note: Difference can start to see the missing APC as he comes up on the end of the vat arrangement. Flaky quickly moves under the cover of the catwalk quicker than the Shivers can train thier rifles. 10mm rifle rounds ricochet off the steel catwalk, making impressive sparks. None of the rounds even come close to hitting her. The captain takes a couple steps back, pulling out a BLA Blitzer in the process. Flaky is filming as much as she can while she tries to get stay near the entrance where Gore should come through. Her plan is to keep their attention to give her squad the time to move into ideal positions. Hog Boy also hits the Blaze button. Taps Dedrick on the shoulder and says: "To the left. In three, two, one... GO!" Both humans rush off towards nearest enemies, power claymores drawn, yelling a fierce battle cry (and frothing:D). Dedrick and Hog Boy going running around the corner, taking the left flank, screaming at the top of thier lungs. A squad of four Shivers comes out of thier hiding spot in an attempt to engage the two. Dedrick cleaves into the first man, cutting his left arm off. Hog follows right in behind, cutting the leg off the next man right at the knee. Both men go down, screaming and writhing in pain. The third man in line screams in shock as his team mates arm bounces off his armor and shoots Dedrick. The burst hits the Frother in the chest, delivering three hits and a wound (reduced from Blaze). The second man is so in shock at seeing his buddies cut down, he fires a burst into the man that just shot Dedrick, wounding him in the process. Meanwhile, the Captain fires his Blitzer at Flaky. The HEAP round penetrates the catwalk, but the round fails to penetrate the Blocker armor (thanks to the catwalk absorbing part of the damage). GM Note: Flaky takes no hits OR wounds. :P Gore goes charging towards Flaky's position and is still enroute to being able to see anyone shooting at her. Difference keeps moving hunting for enemies. After it become obvious that no one is shooting down at them from the catwalks he will swap out his 603 for his razor wire. [[END-PAGE-5]]| Prev | The story of Illusive Death. |