"One, Three has astral, move up to support Five."

Jessie dives behind the bison, using it's armored flank for cover (+8 cover) while peaking out toward the small door, waiting to see what happens.

Sedryk quickly crawls to the side entrance of the tilt-wing where he left his smartgun, the smg is easy to locate, sitting on top of a crate that was being used as a makeshift table. (+2 cover)

Warpaths moves like a ghost through the hangar, rutheium polymer granting him near invisibility, only a slight shimmering as he passes by. He moves quickly, picking up his weapon and loading a mag of deuce-ex and then proceeding to the door.

The machine gun fire continues, tracer rounds rip through the aluminum door briefly illuminating the interior of the hangar. An explosion showers the Bison in sparks as the main circuit for the hangar is perforated by high velocity lead. The hangars lights dim and then vanish. Emergency lights over the small door "click" on, illuminating a small area in poor light (+2 mod), casting deep shadows on the rest of the hangar (+6 darkness mod).

A loud shriek from outside fills the air, the unmistakable roar of burning fuel and a hyper velocity rocket echo through the room. The hangar doors are vaporized in a massive explosion of fire and light (+2 glare). The doors vanish and the shockwave rolls over the inside hangar. The Bison rocks on the shockwave but it, and the tilt wing seemed relatively unharmed.

( Warpath take a 8S - armor)

The now shattered doors wrench and twisted remains fold inward in jagged metal coral. Revealed in the dying firelight is a flat black Ares Roadmaster, parked 50 meters away along the runway. The rain and wind howl in the hangar with a vengeance (hearing checks at +2). The Ares has two turrets, one is mounting some kind of light machine gun, and the other appears to be a dumbfire rocket of some kind, the dissipating contrail from the superheated exhaust leads right to it.

The Bisons sensors go nuts from the optical and thermal over load of the door going critical. Once under control they easily spot the enemy riggers vehicle. A message indicates illumination in the hangar has dropped to zero and the Bison has sustained only cosmetic damage from the explosions. An audible hiss can be heard as the Bisons on board computer automatically engages the enviro seal on detection of the over pressure form the blast.

Danny's body slumps against the wheel of the aircraft as his astral self emerges into space. The hangars is a dead place, the only living things are the people in it. Outside is a torrent of life and light. The van is easy to post,a large chunk of metal on the horizon, a beaming globe of fiery light sits above the van. It appears to be some sort of elemental.

Pulling her predator as she dives, Blackjack slides on the slick concrete floor underneath the tilt-rotor. She comes to rest with the fuselage safely between her and any gunfire. (+8 cover).

Blackjack connects an optical cable from her pocket between the radio and one of her datajacks. Instantly switching the radio to the secondary frequency and engaging encryption, Blackjack sniffs and regains composure realizing that crying isn't going to get her out of this alive. With tears still running down her face, she gets up into a crouching position and says over the radio, "Base, do you have room for one more on your network? I can give you some help with your drones. I'm not much good as a pilot, but two heads are better than one!"

Crouched behind the Bison, pistol drawn, Jesse leans her head out to take a look at the enemy vehicle. Smoke hangs thick in the air from the detonated rocket, and intermittent sparks shower the front end of the Bison. She cycles between vision mods, finds the best one and zooms in on the vehicle.

Through the rain and the distraction she see's three things.

1. The vehicle is brand spanking new.

2. It has recently been painted with the flat black paint job.

3. She spots a Salish Shidhe border pass on the bumper.

Delacroix drops prone in the cockpit. "What the frag is going on?!" ,screams the elf. The words drowned out by the explosions, gunfire and background noise.

Realizeing quickly that his chances of anyone hearing him from inside the cockpit are slim and none. The elf begins to crawl out of the VTOL.

Not really knowing if shes going to be effective, Jessie raises her pistol, takes aim, and fires off a round at the turret controlling the machine gun, before quickly ducking back behind the Bison.

((ooc: simple action aim, simple action shoot, free action duck back behind the bison))

It only takes the barest of moments for Delacroix to make his way out of the planes side door. He rolls down the steps and ends up laying next to Sedryk behind some crates.

Jessie steps out, kneels down, takes careful aim and fires a single shot. The heavy pistol bucks in her hand and she slides back behind cover. The barrage of machine gun fire continues.

The rain and wind continue to howl as the battle rages on.

Sedryk looks over at Delacroix and smiles "I wonder who tipped them off?"

"Base, this is five. Anything we can do to silence those guns?"

Sedryk begins scanning the hanger for anything that might offer better cover than a couple of wooden crates.

"Working on it, Five."

Sedryk looks to Delacroix then charges to the Bison, grabbing the bumper he uses his momentum to slide around the side of the armored truck. Seemingly tracking by motion the machine gun swivels and sends a volley of fire in his direction.

Warpath, taking the opportunity since the gun seems focused elsewhere, whips his cloak wide, bringing his Alpha up to his shoulder, sighting in and opening up. The Alpha barks in his grip and spits fire 3 feet long. A hail of EX-EX rounds slam into the side of the Ares truck. A ripple of miniature explosion roll down the side of the truck as Warpath walks the riffle fire down the length of the vehicle.

In response the rocket launcher on the back of the truck belches fire as another AVM launches. The missile speeds through the air, particles of rain vaporizing in it's wake. Narrowly missing the tilt wing and zeroing in on the Bison, the missile shoots through the hangar!

The massive explosion vaporizes the REAR wall of the hangar. The missile skims by the top of the Bison, thrown off course by Grendels ECM. The fireball illuminates the entire hangar sending flames, and shrapnel, in all directions. The shockwave rolls through, throwing Jessie, Sedryk and BlackJack around like rag dolls, and bounces the Bison around like an amusement park ride.

As the concussive wave settles, the Bison remains upright, over the comm. a cold, calculating voice broadcasts in the open, "My turn".

A Novatech made, series 4 Anti-vehicle Missile, launches from Grendel Bison like the trident of Neptune. The missile immediatly fires a solid rocket propellant that ignites the air around it. By the time it exits the hangar it hits 400 miles per hour. When it slams into the cockpit of the Ares Roadmaster it breaks the speed of sound. The resulting fireball lights up the entire airport and sends a mushroom cloud 200 feet into the sky! Shrapnel and parts fly in all direction as the remains of the Roadmaster falls from the sky landing in a heap on the runway.

(OOC: Jessie and Sedryk ressist a 8S, BJ ressist a 4S)

Blackjack begins bracing for the explosion a split second before the projectile hits. Her arms are barely covering her head and neck when the deafening blast shakes the hangar. Blackjack looks up and realizes that she is ok. She was far enough away from the Bison that the blast was absorbed by the armor of her camo suit. It feels like someone just kicked her, but otherwise, Blackjack is unharmed.

Seeing the now exploded Roadmaster, Blackjack says over the radio quietly, "Is everyone ok?"

The digital voice comes across the comm. "Four, check. Going wide."

With that, his weapon vanishes under his cloak and he slides out the door using the burning wreckage as cover. Whatever that was, he's pretty sure that the Roadmaster was remote controlled. The controller has to be around somewhere.

Jessie takes a moment to get her bearings strait after that explosion.

"This is Two, I'm ok. Base, can you get some surveillance out there for us?"

((ooc: taking a first simple action to observe in detail, will hold off other actions until I get a reply from this.))

Peaking out again from behind the blackened flank of the Bison, Jessie looks around. Her eyes pick up several details.

1. A burned, blackened, and broken body among the flaming debris of the roadmaster.

2. The smell of diesel fuel permeates the air.

3. The runways seems to be burning even though it is raining.

Warpath moves out into the rain like a cat in the jungle. Staying low, and keeping his eyes peeled, he scans the horizon for more enemies. None are readily apparent.

Sedryk shakes his head, trying to get his ears to quit ringing. Slowly he rolls to his knee and aims the Smartgun toward the reckage.

"Five here, are we clear?"

"Base, you picking anything up on Sensors? Everyone keep your eyes open. Two has the rear. And don't go lighting any matches guys, I can smell gas all over the place."

Jessie quickly moves towards the back wall, hiding as best she can within the rubble and takes a look to see if there are targets in that direction.

Grendel scans on active sensors, combing through the electrostatic hash of the storm for the telltale echoes of incoming drones or vehicles. The port rotary launcher whines, spinning to place a fresh AVM in the launch tube in case the trouble isn't over.

"Two, Base, stand by."

Danny's Astral form pulls up short near the hangar doors just as the Roadmaster explodes in a burst of bright energy. The brilliant flash from the explosion is not enough to drown out the glow emanating from the Elemental near the burning wreck though.

He concentrates for a moment, then sends a sparkling stream of magical energy at the unknown Elemental.

The bolt of Mana rips into it's target, gouts of lava like material spray from he wound. The elemental screams in agony from the hit. But it does not respond, other than to to turn and flee.

Within the blink of an eye the elemental has left the area. All that remains is the burning wreckage of the Ares Roadmaster.


(OOC: Combat is over)

After watching the Elemental disappear into the ether, Danny returns to his body, but not before ordering the Watcher accompanying him to keep watch for any other Astral threats. He groans softly as he once again takes up possession of his physical form, stretching out his limbs and working his jaw a little before reporting in.

"This here's Three. Astral's secure...for now."

"Team, Base, let's mount up and roll."

Grendel dismounts from the Bison, his operations on remote, and heads towards the tilt-wing.

Rising from his position leaning against the landing gear, Danny is somewhat surprised by Grendel's order. Squaring his Stetson, Danny steps in front of the elf as he moves from the van to the aircraft.

"Don't y'all reckon we should be lookin' fer clues 'bout who's behind them there varmints?"

"The forensics required to obtain clues from that wreckage will require more time than we can afford to allot. We can put Zoe onto the task if you'd like, but our best option is to clear this location immediately in case back-up forces are on the way. Not to mention our timeline for rescuing the target is winding down. Speed, Three, is life."

Grendel pauses at the hatch of the tilt-wing, multiple decision trees hanging open around him, waiting for the inertia of the team to determine his direction.

"Speed might well be life, but Ah reckon it can also be seen as careless at times. 'Sides, we still got a fair window left for the op." Danny pauses a moment, looking around at the various team members before turning his attention once more to the elf rigger, shrugging. "Your call though omae."

"How long will you need for your investigation?"

"Ah wasn't meanin' to take too much time lookin' into it myself. Y'all had a good idea 'bout callin' Zoe 'n' seein' what all she can dig up. Maybe a couple of us should have a quick look 'round while the others get the rest of the gear a-loaded."

"I will pass the details along to Zoe. Proceed with the investigation. Thirty minutes, tops."

Grendel opens a call to Zoe through his headware.

"Zoe, it's Grendel. We were ambushed at the hangar. One rigger, with drones, and an elemental. Spider drone, AV rockets. We need to know soonest if it matches anyone's MO. Any info, especially if this is just a precursor for a heavier strike. Out."

Warpath continues his sweep of the perimeter. "Roger, base. Finishing recon. Rendevous at the following coordinates." A set of GPS coordinates comes over th comm and Warpath's sweep intersects with them eventually.

The quiet elf stands up from behind the crates. His erie gaze pierces the darkness, as the cornea of his eyes fades away to a milky blue. Allowing the emotions of the world into his body the elf perceives.

Jessie nods. "I agree completely, Lone Star doesn't take kindly to rockets flying around an airport. We need to bail NOW. As for our attacker, I spotted a Salish borderpass on its bumper before it went up in flames, so there is at least one clue for now."

Jessie jumps up into the plane and takes a seat just behind the pilots chair, buckling herself in.

"Come on people, no time to waste."

With that she closes her eyes and concentrates, listening to the area around her, the sound filter in her ear picking out each sound as it goes through her.

Delacroix follows Jessie's lead. Taking a place in the co-pilot chair.

Danny cocks his eyebrow as he watches Jessie and Delacroix board the plane, both of them ignoring the pile of gear waiting to be loaded. Hefting one of the crates, he follows them aboard the aircraft and piles it with the others, before responding.

"Y'all might be right about that, bein' that Ah reckon y'know the situation 'round here better'n me. It seems t' me though, that if'n yer in that much of a hurry t' be gone, it might be a good idea t' get the rest of the gear loaded." He pauses and grins, "'specially if yer a-plannin' t'use any of it."

((OOC: I thought we had loaded the plane already? If not, take back my first action and just leave the dialog.))

Jessie does what she can to help move gear, but not being the strongest in the group, it isn't too much.

Blackjack says over the radio, "Let's get this gear loaded and get out of here guys! Come on!" Blackjack ignores the fact that some of the gear is quite heavy and carries as much as she can into the plane each trip without seriously fatiguing herself, grabbing pieces of gear with each of her four hands and piling it in. Somewhere during the loading, she says to the people standing around, "Start tying that down or wearing it. It wouldn't be good to have it bouncing around the plane. Hehe! Right, Grendel?"

Blackjack makes sure that she secures her portion of the gear somewhere that she can find it in the plane.

The rest of the gear is loaded quickly, it doesn't take to much effort once more than one person get's to it. Within five minutes the distant sound of sirens can be heard, someone must have spotted the fireball of the Roadmaster. Even though the airport is not active, it is still used. Warpath returns from his scout, drenched with rain, but otherwise ok and with nothing to report.

The plane is loaded and ready to roll.

"Team, Base, clear behind the aircraft, APU is coming up and online."

In response to his silent command, the APU coughs and whines to life, a halo of jet exhaust rising towards the ceiling of the hangar. Electrical power comes on the aircraft as the APU generator comes on-line. Grendel runs through his prestart checks quickly, unfolding the wings when hydraulic power is available. The Bison and Westwind disappear out of the hangar, enroute home.

"Engines coming up."

First the left, then the right turbines spin to life, six bladed, constant speed propellors driving a relentless wash of air through the hangar.

"Rolling."

Grendel brings the brakes off and angles the rotor discs forward, generating enough power to overcome the tilt-wing's inertia. The sleek aircraft taxis out of the hangar, deftly avoiding the wreckage of the Roadmaster. Once clear, he applies takeoff power, lifting the aircraft into a five meter hover to cross check power, before nosing over and accelerating into the night.

As Grendel prepares the tilt-wing for take-off, Danny recalls the Watcher Spirit he had previously assigned to guard duty, along with one of the others that he'd summoned earlier. He then proceeds to instruct them to follow the aircraft from the Astral, keeping watch for any intruders or presences on that plane.

@ Grendel, your call to Zoe alarms her, "ambushed? Drek, tell you, I don't know how they found you, unless they traced the aircraft. I'll do what I can from here. Have a good flight omae."

The wind buffets the twin engine aircraft as Grendel increases the power. The plane fly's strait and true heading west out over Puget Sound and then turning North toward Seattle. Grendels body is motionless as his mind sinks into the computer that controls the air craft. The visibility is nill but the Rigger uses senses far beyond eyes to navigate the airspace.

Blackjack sits back in one of the seats on the co-pilot side, with her gear next to her. She tries to rest and recover from any ill effects of the manual labor of loading the gear onto the plane. She also pulls out the gold crucifix from under her camo suit and begins playing with it thoughtfully, alternately flipping it in her fingers and staring at it by degrees. She appears lost in thought to the observer.

Danny, sitting on the pilot's side close to the window, leans back and tries to shake off the side effects of his earlier spellcasting.

"Hey Grendel, what all's our ETA?"

After the fight, Sedryk quickly dustes himself off and gathers his gear, making sure to wipe down the area he was preping in. Quietly he crosses himself before boarding the plane. For the first few minutes of the flight, he rocks back and forth, shakes his leg, and generally acts like a street sam ready for a fight.

Grendel stretches his senses, feeling the aircraft respond to his desire. The densely packed storm cells appeared in false color on his vision, the on-board AI painting a safe course through them. The windshear was extensive, bursts hammering the tilt-wing with side and downwards accelerations exceeding fifty knots. The twin Pratt and Whitney turboprops howled in protest, straining to respond to his power demands. The edge of the envelope was close, he could feel it like a knife edge against the back of his neck. Barely two hundred meters below them, the dark waters of Pudget Sound flashed past, surface whipped with angry whitecaps. Status displays scrolled across the edges of his vision, waypoints, speeds, and times responding immediately to his inquiry.

"Three, Base, ETA is fifty two minutes. Correction, fifty three minutes. The storm is limiting speed over ground. ETA might improve once we break free of the front."

"Gotcha Base, thanks. If'n y'all can gimme a heads-up in about 20 minutes, Ah'll see 'bout callin' up a li'l extra assistance."

Danny leans his head back against the wall of the plane, closes his eyes and pulls the brim of his hat down to cover his face.

After sweeping the area for about five minutes, Warpath returned to the hangar and moved his Brumby to a more discreet location before coming back to board the plane. He buckled himself in to one of the jump seats in the back and proceeded to hold on for dear life.

Jessie takes her seat on the bench, just behind Grendel. Not feeling all that steady, she buckles herself into the four point harness. Shes then says to the team over her comm, "Great work back there team. Lets just hope we can deal with future problems with the same professionalism." After a glance around, Jessie turns her gaze out the front window to watch the storm rage around them.

Sending her thoughts over the comm, Jessie asks, "So whats the flight plan, Base? And how are you doing dealing with the storm?"

"Originally, Two, I was going to file VFR to an airfield north of the island, but this isn't VFR weather. Not only that, but as low as we are, they're going to have a difficult time of picking us out from the storm cells. We'll be fine as long as we don't run into any icing or downbursts that overstress the airframe. ETA 44 minutes."

Jessie nods, more to herself than anyone.

She then reaches into her bag and pulls out a small flat vid screen with some attached micro speakers. She plugs a optical cable into the screen and takes the other end and plugs it into her datajack. The screen flickers for a second and then a video feed of the entire combat scene starts to play across the screen, both audio and video. Its obvious to everyone that Jessie has a full spectrum of eye and ear modifications. She replays the scene over and over, trying to pick out anything that could give them a clue to who was attacking them. She pauses when her view goes to the Roadmaster, looking it over for anymore details, zooming in where she can to pick things out.

"Can anyone see anything that could help us figure out who attacked us?"