[IC] Hijacked - LowInt ops, In Character thread for Low Intensity Options

[LordArcana]

Murphy : Early Morning : Vashon Island, chillin on a beach

Murphy looks at Crispy in the vanity mirror of the sun visor.

"Smart-ass"

He pushes the visor back up and out of the way before continuing.

"I would love to think we should try getting through the gate but its doubtful this utterly inconspicuous vehicle of ours would pass as a farmers utility vehicle. Any chance you guys think we could convince these fine folks to chauffeur us through the gate. Once on the other side of the wall we could subdue them until this is all over. The only real downside of that would be getting back over to this side to get Ricoh's Humvee off the island, considering two of the islands ferry shuttles are currently 'out of service' that may be a moot task for the time being."

[Thanee]

"Seems like we could actually make it out of the car here," Tatjana says.

"But we need to figure out how to get past here, either with or without the hummer. I will try to get some intel on the security procedures here, then maybe we can sneak up and take a look ourselves. Do you think these crazy farmers here could be of some use still? They are pretty nuts."

Nova then calls up her smuggler contact and sends Trish a message.

<< @Trish [Nova] Yo Trish! We made it on the island. But wow, gonna have to tell you that story some day... anyways, we stumbled upon a small problem here, which maybe you or one of your friends can help me with. There's this huge WALL, seperating the northern and southern parts, and we need to get past it. Do you happen to have any idea what kinds of security procedures they employ here? >>

[NeVeRLiFt]

Sanchez fidgets around in the backseat... his anxiety level rising.
It's obvious he is fighting the urge to get out of the Humvee or maybe it's to look at something on his commlink.

[Mach_Ten]

<< @Trish : Yo Trish! We made it on the island. But wow, gonna have to tell you that story some day... anyways, we stumbled upon a small problem here, which maybe you or one of your friends can help me with. There's this huge WALL, seperating the northern and southern parts, and we need to get past it. Do you happen to have any idea what kinds of security procedures they employ here? >>

<<@Nova[Trish] : hey again honey! Wow, you actually got over there? My crew have been trying for... Well .. A while,

Tell you what, how about a deal? I'll buy the beers and you give me the lowdown? I'm sure we can cut a deal, and only young Dragons.

So, the Vashon-istas have gone all old school and segregated the population? Risky but effective I guess.

I've heard a competitor of mine sent some shipments over there before with not much success!
They just seem to always know just which container to open.
And getting stuff OFF never happens.

Look, no promises but if you get some ground level intel to me, and i'll help you plan a con.

Let me know, stay safe!>>

[LordArcana]

Murphy : Early Morning : Vashon Island, chillin on a beach

Murphy looks over at Nova.

"Even if these guys are nuts, they should at least be able to tell us the procedure for going through the check points at the wall. Worst case scenario we subdue them and take their vehicle through the gate but with far less people living on this island than in Downtown Seattle it is possible the gate guards might recognize these guys making things potentially easier to get through."

[phlapjack77]

Yeah, I'm not such a strong swimmer either. Getting past the checkpoint with the help of our new friends sounds like the best plan so far. As chromed as these hillbillies are, I'd rather we had their cooperation willingly...

[Thanee]

"Ah well, it does not hurt to ask, right?" Nova says, and goes back into the astral.

Manifesting inside the car and moving out of it towards Pa and the kids, she approaches them with their questions.

"That worked rather well. Thank you for your assistance. We will have to get further north, and it seems like this wall there is hard to get past. You do not happen to know how one can get to the other side safely?"

[Mach_Ten]

"you want to go up into the Forbidden zone ?"

Pa' seems shocked at your request

"We gotta go back west and get through the wall up there, Ain't nobody in them's right head wants to go the forbidden zone! least, that's what mah Grampy tell't me!"

He looks at his kids, and moves away a few feet so they can't hear him

"There' be a few ways folks have tried before if'n you like,
some tried swimmin' but got gobbled up by great whirlpools and the lighthouse up yonder set machine guns on 'em

some tried boats but them here explosives did for 'em .. they go all out to sea !

Some tried walkin' in the front door, dint' see them again neither

I heard tell there's the irrigation tunnels, but them s be flooded regular to flush out the ...."

A cry goes up from behind him and a gun-shot rings out in the quiet night air
"PA'! .... CRITTERS! .. We got CRITTERS !"

[phlapjack77]

At the sound of gunshots, Crispy went alert and still, seeking out the source. Once he realized it was the locals nearby firing outward, along with the shouts of "CRITTERS!", he searched the night darkness for the enemy. He wasn't sure how to proceed, as he didn't really think rolling down the windows or (even worse) getting out of the truck would be advisable. Frag it! If we're going to get help from the locals, we're gonna hafta help them with whatever's out there!

[Thanee]

Looking towards the source of the commotion and sudden surge of emotion, Tatjana tries to figure out, if she can do anything from where she is.

If those critteres happen to be awakened and dual-natured, she might offer some assistance.

[LordArcana]

Murphy : Early Morning : Vashon Island, chillin on a beach

Dropping the visor on his helmet, Murphy turns towards the commotion. Using the vision magnification of his cyber eyes he locks in on what the locals are calling 'critters'.

[NeVeRLiFt]

Sanchez has some might powerful cybereyes... he tries to put them to good use right now and get a visual on what is attacking the locals.

Hearing the gun shot snaps Sanchez alert and he almost opens the door... he looks from team member to team member and says What are we doing? Do we get out or do we sit tight?
(Sanchez wearing his ballistic mask must surely look alien or very strange or fearsome.)
https://www.google.com/search?q=ballistic+m...920&bih=974

[LordArcana]

Murphy : Early Morning : Vashon Island, chillin on a beach

Murphy looks over at Nova unconscious in the driver seat, her body and mind separated by the astral realm. He slips her milspec visor down on her helmet locking it in place before turning to the rest of the crew.

"You boys ready for a bug hunt?" Without waiting for a response Murphy unlocks the door and steps out of the vehicle. Standing to the full height of the armor, just over seven feet, he turns turns towards the one called Pa. The visor on Murphy's helmet polarizes becoming mirror like. He draws the Colt M22A3 from the passenger seat and then closes the door behind him. Turning towards the gigantic locusts in the field he levels the weapon using the hood of the Humvee as partial cover to stand behind.

[NeVeRLiFt]

HELL YES! LET'S ROCK!

Sanchez burst out of the Humvee and slams the door shut!
He quickly scrambles up on to the roof of the vehicle and stands ready with his Ares Alpha looking to shoot the first bug he spots.

[phlapjack77]

Crispy sat indecisive for the briefest of moments. Sure, they were supposed to be subtle here. Sure, they were supposed to be sneaking in, and gunfire probably didn't help in sneaking. Ok yeah, the locals started firing first...maybe the guards on the wall were used to this kind of behavior. Nova seemed safe from the gas and other things if her body stayed in the truck, and there wasn't much he could do to help her with her mumbo-jumbo stuff. And he needed to provide fire-support for his teammates. His mind made up, the merc decided that tactically he should join the party.

Realizing that this situation wasn't ideal for the...louder...types of fun, wearing a sad expression on his face Crispy mentally thumbed the switch from "Full-Auto+Grenade'Splosion" to simply "Burst-Fire" on his F'n Scar. Then his face lit up again as he swung out of his door with the rifle raised, searching for his first target as he braced on the roof of the truck with his body still inside the vehicle. He wanted to have some cover in case things got weird...well, weirder than they already were.

[Mach_Ten]

The blasts of four shotguns ring out in the warm night air,

in the moonlight, the team taking tactical positions can see the foliage blasted apart.

some nearby bugs take clean hits but seem mostly unperturbed by being peppered with buckshot.

the Crops are being decimated at a horrendous rate though, as their massive mandibles, jutting from humanoid mouths buzzsaw through the greenery.

[Thanee]

Hovering above the crops and looking down to the gigantic critters, Nova does not wait for them to jump on anyone nearby. Instead, the mage opens fire with a bolt of pure magic, aimed right at the aura of the first bug.

I wonder, whether it's the crops or the bugs they are growing here...

Next to her, the fire spirit looks angry, but patiently waits for something more useful to do.

[Mach_Ten]

Early Morning : Vashon Island, East Coast beach, in the shadow of a WALL

The ‘pop’ ‘pop’ of the shotguns low power charge echoes around the small bay as waves lap at the sandy shore and the husks of the mines strewn around.

Nova, floating above the ground in her glowing manifested form trains her minds eye on a target of opportunity and lets loose with a bolt of mental and magical energy
Resulting in a quite disappointing “hiss” of expelled air as the creature collapses into unconsciousness without any visible cause.

The Locals, Pa’ and his kids Cheer in unison, thinking they have felled one of the beasts and rapidly reload for another volley of buckshot.

Jumping from the passenger side of the hummer, Murphy leans of the top of the vehicle and sights another creature,
the ghastly glow of the night-sight on it’s part human part insect face, makes it’s features even more horrendous to look at, he pulls the trigger …

Standing above him on the roof, Sanchez hollers and lets rip with raucous booms of his modified weapons, the sound reverberates around the area and all eyes, insectile and humanoid turn to view him, as one of the bugs is obliterated in a cloud of green and red fluid.

Lost in the echoing booms, Murphy’s perfectly aimed shots also have the desired effect, one of the creatures attempts to give flight toward the team, but the bullets rip through it and it crashes to the ground, skidding into a pile a few feet from the locals position.

“I Got one!” He wants to cheer and holler with the locals, but something isn’t right.. the happy buzzing of insects doing what insects do best, has stopped.
Out in the darkness, myriad speckled eyes turn to the sounds of destruction, the smell of blood is in the air, something that they crave far more than plain greenery that they need for basic sustenance.

Atop the vehicle the dwarf looks for another target “Where are they ? .. I can’t .. oh wait .. here one … uh … two… uhh guys ! … GUYS!”

The crop line bursts with an explosion of movement, bodies the size, weight and hardness of Harley Motorbikes charge from the fields,
Their wings look crippled and weak as if they have never been used for prolonged flight,
but they are the perfect aid for short bursts of speed and for at least getting air borne to land amid the crowd and begin eating.

The first wave descend on the locals and the fallen bugs, blood and gore flies like it has been thrown onto BLEND, covering the sand,
Shotgun blasts ring out and horrified faces look up as they weapons they thought had felled something merely bounce off the massive insects harmlessly.

The Hummer is rocked and catapulted forward by the sheer momentum of the creatures, the brakes useless of the soft sand
“Proximity WARNING! - ALERT!”
The vehicle systems call out into the cabin .. not far ahead the points of a land mine protrude from the sand, much more impact from the ‘Critters’ and it’s all over !

with the sudden motion, Sanchez is thrown from atop the hummer and lands on the sand, he tries to stand but several Critters land on or near him.. He batters at them with the butt of his rifle, empties a full burst into another but is enveloped in a buzz of green torso and wings, the scream lost in the noise as the 'Blend' begins.

[phlapjack77]

MURPHY! We're getting overrun! We've gotta get out of here, get back in the vehicle! Crispy barked as he continued to squeeze off quick shots at anything that got too near. In the excitement he had nearly forgotten to put up the tacnet, but with a few mental flicks of switches in AR the feed of data between teammates had started up before the wave of locusts was on them. With Sanchez's bio-readout going a disturbing red and Nova still off somewhere in magic fairy land, he wondered if he should say "Frag it" and start pumping out some grenades. Well, it was too late now, the giant fragging carnivorous paranormal locusts were in amongst them. Nothing for it but to retreat...tactically...

Falling back into the hummer and slamming his door, Crispy fumbled for the AR controls of the truck to get it started and moving away from those mines. 'C'mon baby, don't be like that! Don't be mad! Just get us started and outta this drek...'

[LordArcana]

Murphy : Vashon Island, East Coast beach, in the shadow of a WALL

Hearing Cripsy calling for a retreat sounded like a fair assessment at first. Sanchez was down and being torn to pieces by a swarm of critters. There was nothing that could be done for him unfortunately. The locals however still had a chance to survive and they were still needed if the runners were going to get passed that wall. The next wave of critters swoops in on Murphy standing there as the Humvee gets pushed back towards the mines.

<<@Team:[Murphy]: Crispy get that Humvee out of here before it sets off one of those mines. Try to bring it over to the locals truck and buy me some cover. I'm going to try to save them.>>

He stands his ground at the oncoming wave of critters launching a flash-bang grenade into the swarm which detonates in their faces. The creatures apparently dislike the light and sound as they quickly try to get around the effect. While they are distracted, Murphy makes a mad dash for the farmers vehicle using it hopefully to provide a means to block line of sight from the creatures that were honing in on him. Dropping one knee into the sand near the door of the farmers truck he brings the Colt up preparing to rain hell on the bugs.

[Mach_Ten]

Hijackers: Vashon Island, East Coast beach, in the shadow of a WALL

<<@Team:[Ricoh]: Hoi Chummerette's ! Are you fraggers at the dropsite yet? We're on the clock here girls ... Hammer is enroute in a few and us expecting to arrive at a safe zone. We need info from that VTOL too. But if you wanna go for a scenic moonlight walk ? Well don't let me stop ya! >>

[LordArcana]

Murphy : Vashon Island, East Coast beach, in the shadow of a WALL

<<@Team:[Murphy]: Oh hey Ricoh! Sorry about the Humvee.>>
++Mute subvoc User: Ricoh++

[Thanee]

Tatjana moves her astral form higher to be far enough away from the critters, which surely can jump quite high.

From there, she aims another spell at the next of them.

I really need to learn a spell, that covers more of an area.

[Mach_Ten]

Hijackers: Vashon Island, East Coast beach, in the shadow of a WALL

Leaning over Tatjana's recumbent form, Crispy mutters a quiet apology as he grabs the vehicle controls.

Slamming it into reverse he tries as best he can to give it enough force to counter the impact of several bugs.
one of which overshoots it's landing and impacts another mine ahead of the hummer sending a plume of sand and flame upwards
"I think we lost the element of surprise"

the explosion rocks over the vehicle sending the occupants rattling around
the torso of the bug slams into the windshield, smahing it into a laminated pane of glass squares, impossible to see out of and the engine stalls, sputters and dies.

The locals are still under the impression they are winning, the grenade from Murphy driving the critters back a few feet giving them respite enough to aim and shoot the shotguns,
which are mostly ineffective against their hardened carapaces but small pieces of bug are blown away.

overhead, regardless of the danger to her physical form, Nova
continues to send blast, after magic blast, culling their ranks one by one..

a sensation in her astral perception makes her glance down at herself where her aura begins to pulse and glow in a green and black pattern, like a bruise.

she wipes her metaphysical brow on reflex with the strain of continued casting, looking back up, the crops seem alive with more forms, there's only so much time before the scent of blood catches them and they descend upon the team.

[LordArcana]

Murphy : Vashon Island, East Coast beach, in the shadow of a WALL

Set in his kneeling fire position Murphy takes aim at the closest bug in the swarm attacking the locals. A massive explosion from near the Humvee propels sand through the air pelting the surrounding area. He focuses on the target and gently pulls the trigger. The short burst of explosive ammunition obliterates the creature covering Pa in bug goop and bits of chitin. Sweeping slightly to the right the next creature to line up in his sites was about to take one of the younger boys off his feet. With perfect timing another short burst from the M22A3 turned the creature into what resembled an explosion of sickly green and yellow paint. This is almost too easy.