Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:11 PM, Redmond
His mental relaying of messages to his watchers done for the moment, Jovan's astral form Spoke again to his windy companion. Yes, let's return to that business. I believe the tower is next on our scouting agenda. Two of my team members wish for an acceleration in travel time, though, so let us travel slowly while they make up their minds. While we 'walk,' why don't you tell me what your take is on all these events? The two set off again at a leisurely pace.
Full Version: IC: Post or Die
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Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:12 PM, Somewhat closer to the Tower in Redmond
Ferret still felt a bit freaked out by the floating eye. Sure he had seen weirder things in the trix, but not in the real.
"Well if it gets us there quicker, I don't mind Zo carrying me. Frag, it won't be the first time I've been carried by an ork. Admittedly the last time, I was getting carried out of trouble with a couple of bullet holes in me after a deal went bad, rather than rushing into it."
Ferret still felt a bit freaked out by the floating eye. Sure he had seen weirder things in the trix, but not in the real.
"Well if it gets us there quicker, I don't mind Zo carrying me. Frag, it won't be the first time I've been carried by an ork. Admittedly the last time, I was getting carried out of trouble with a couple of bullet holes in me after a deal went bad, rather than rushing into it."
QUOTE (Sephiroth @ May 23 2011, 12:29 AM) 
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:11 PM, Somewhat closer to the Tower in Redmond
The watcher-eye had nodded to the ganger's request politely, and after a moment or two Jovan's voice again. "Yes, I can provide assistance in that regard. It is only possible to do so to one of you, however, not both. You will need to carry Ferret yourself. Is this acceptable?"
The watcher-eye had nodded to the ganger's request politely, and after a moment or two Jovan's voice again. "Yes, I can provide assistance in that regard. It is only possible to do so to one of you, however, not both. You will need to carry Ferret yourself. Is this acceptable?"
"Sure I can carry him. I can propbably toss him too if needed." Zo smiles at Ferret.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:12 PM, Somewhat closer to the Tower in Redmond
Ferret indignantly draws himself up to his full four feet.
"Hey, no tossing the dwarf. And anyway, you're not my type." he retorts with an ambiguous wink.
QUOTE (Warlordtheft @ May 23 2011, 03:11 PM)
"Sure I can carry him. I can probably toss him too if needed." Zo smiles at Ferret.
Ferret indignantly draws himself up to his full four feet.
"Hey, no tossing the dwarf. And anyway, you're not my type." he retorts with an ambiguous wink.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:12 PM, Tower in Redmond
Jade Tiger walks over towards the woman on the floor. <<Team: are any of you any good at first aid, there is a fairly sick person here?>> Kicking the weapon away from the woman she bends down to examine the prone form.
Jade Tiger walks over towards the woman on the floor. <<Team: are any of you any good at first aid, there is a fairly sick person here?>> Kicking the weapon away from the woman she bends down to examine the prone form.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:12 PM, Tower in Redmond
<<Professor to Jade: Oswald is our resident medic. He's about to do his medical thing with the woman.>> "Here, Oswald, let me help."
<<Professor to Jade: Oswald is our resident medic. He's about to do his medical thing with the woman.>> "Here, Oswald, let me help."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:12 PM, Cross-Town Mall
"No, I'm just wearing this spiffy white coat because it blends in with all the snow. You have got to be shitting me Tiger. I just offered my services as a medical doctor. I could rattle off my list of degrees and certifications, but the woman would probably die before I finish. Professor, hand me that med kit and be careful. This might be Kriegers eating a woman's brain. Brand new hungry ghoul on the premises, understood."
Oz made sure to scan the woman for threats before he approached any further.
"No, I'm just wearing this spiffy white coat because it blends in with all the snow. You have got to be shitting me Tiger. I just offered my services as a medical doctor. I could rattle off my list of degrees and certifications, but the woman would probably die before I finish. Professor, hand me that med kit and be careful. This might be Kriegers eating a woman's brain. Brand new hungry ghoul on the premises, understood."
Oz made sure to scan the woman for threats before he approached any further.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:12 PM, ??Mall in the?? Tower in Redmond
Professor hands a medkit to Oswald and kneels to help. "Don't mind the old coot, Jade. This is him being nice to you."
Professor hands a medkit to Oswald and kneels to help. "Don't mind the old coot, Jade. This is him being nice to you."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:12 PM, Somewhat closer to the Tower in Redmond
"Ferret, I already had my quota of dwarf ass today---an her ass was my type. I'll introduce her to ya later after the run, she'll treat ya real nice if ya ask politely." Zo laughs "We should get moving, Jovan's spirit should be comming in shortly"
<@Team>What the frag, are we some horizon charity group or somethin? Take her comm an access it. It probably has more reliable info than she does. Put her out of her misery and save the meds for later when we might need it. She might be another member of Viper-12 here to kill us.
Zo begins to move off, leaving the panting dwarf behind. HE stops and says"Ya want me to carry you righ now?"
"Ferret, I already had my quota of dwarf ass today---an her ass was my type. I'll introduce her to ya later after the run, she'll treat ya real nice if ya ask politely." Zo laughs "We should get moving, Jovan's spirit should be comming in shortly"
<@Team>What the frag, are we some horizon charity group or somethin? Take her comm an access it. It probably has more reliable info than she does. Put her out of her misery and save the meds for later when we might need it. She might be another member of Viper-12 here to kill us.
Zo begins to move off, leaving the panting dwarf behind. HE stops and says"Ya want me to carry you righ now?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:12 PM, ??Mall in the?? Tower in Redmond
<<@team: Not a charity, but not wetworkers either. This one is out of it and paying forward is good policy in the long run. As for the Vipers, we have not seen them acting individually, only in teams, so unless we see more here, that is unlikely. Besides, I think we can still pull the Vipers over to a more cooperative stance, in the right circumstances. Viper or not, this one is out of combat readiness for quite a while.
Nevertheless, caution is always a good idea. Thanks for keeping us aware of both sides of the coin.>>
<<@team: Not a charity, but not wetworkers either. This one is out of it and paying forward is good policy in the long run. As for the Vipers, we have not seen them acting individually, only in teams, so unless we see more here, that is unlikely. Besides, I think we can still pull the Vipers over to a more cooperative stance, in the right circumstances. Viper or not, this one is out of combat readiness for quite a while.
Nevertheless, caution is always a good idea. Thanks for keeping us aware of both sides of the coin.>>
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:13 PM, Mall (Not in Tower) Redmond
The woman wasn't talking. Her breathing was shallow. Her lips were chapped with dehydration. She had shed the armored jacket with Ares transport labeled all over it. As Oswald rolled her over, the black uniform shirt fell open to reveal form fit body armor. Her hair was light brown and tangled, cut off at the shoulder and plastered to her face. Oswald noticed a plastic pitcher with murky water and a bunch of wrappers from protein bars. This woman got desperate enough to scoop up some of this sprinkler water and lord knows what kind of chemicals with it. As the medkit started to analyze the situation, the old man already knew she needed water, STAT.
Even at a slow pace, Jovan and his elemental reached Zo and Ferret in no time, the spirit was still talking,"The German man doesn't really fit. He isn't a ghoul, and he doesn't seem like a military type. It's obvious someone is dead, and it's someone your employer was very keen on killing. Does she normally work alone? I saw no escort, or body guard. This also seems strange. I doubt a hired killer is someone she chats with in her spare time."
The woman wasn't talking. Her breathing was shallow. Her lips were chapped with dehydration. She had shed the armored jacket with Ares transport labeled all over it. As Oswald rolled her over, the black uniform shirt fell open to reveal form fit body armor. Her hair was light brown and tangled, cut off at the shoulder and plastered to her face. Oswald noticed a plastic pitcher with murky water and a bunch of wrappers from protein bars. This woman got desperate enough to scoop up some of this sprinkler water and lord knows what kind of chemicals with it. As the medkit started to analyze the situation, the old man already knew she needed water, STAT.
Even at a slow pace, Jovan and his elemental reached Zo and Ferret in no time, the spirit was still talking,"The German man doesn't really fit. He isn't a ghoul, and he doesn't seem like a military type. It's obvious someone is dead, and it's someone your employer was very keen on killing. Does she normally work alone? I saw no escort, or body guard. This also seems strange. I doubt a hired killer is someone she chats with in her spare time."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:12 PM, Tower in Redmond
"OK I will carry the woman out of here. I have found in the past that rescuing people can be very financially lucrative, and having someone in Ares owing me a favor is a very attractive though. I'll leave her in the truck outside so that we can pick her up afterwards."
Scooping up the woman into a fireman's lift position, Jade Tiger heads outside covers her with some of the boxes, and heads to rejoin the others.
"OK I will carry the woman out of here. I have found in the past that rescuing people can be very financially lucrative, and having someone in Ares owing me a favor is a very attractive though. I'll leave her in the truck outside so that we can pick her up afterwards."
Scooping up the woman into a fireman's lift position, Jade Tiger heads outside covers her with some of the boxes, and heads to rejoin the others.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:12 PM, Somewhat closer to the Tower in Redmond
Ferret hustles to catch up with Zo. "Just needed a minute to catch my breath. I think it's best if you carry me on your back. Means your hands are still free if we get jumped by ghouls or vipers."
And means they have to go through you to get to me, he thinks to himself.
QUOTE (Warlordtheft @ May 24 2011, 06:15 PM)
Zo begins to move off, leaving the panting dwarf behind. He stops and says"Ya want me to carry you right now?"
Ferret hustles to catch up with Zo. "Just needed a minute to catch my breath. I think it's best if you carry me on your back. Means your hands are still free if we get jumped by ghouls or vipers."
And means they have to go through you to get to me, he thinks to himself.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:12 PM, Cross-Town Mall
"I'm coming with. Someone help me pop the hood on this van. I gotta get to the water in the radiator. Tastes like tinfoil, but it'll keep her alive. Tablespoon of salt will help her body soak it up faster. Dehydration is a shit way to die. Well, dehydration and trusting Ares are shit ways to die, and it looks like she's caught a fatal case of both."
"I'm coming with. Someone help me pop the hood on this van. I gotta get to the water in the radiator. Tastes like tinfoil, but it'll keep her alive. Tablespoon of salt will help her body soak it up faster. Dehydration is a shit way to die. Well, dehydration and trusting Ares are shit ways to die, and it looks like she's caught a fatal case of both."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:12 PM, Cross-Town Mall
Professor, shorter than most and quite agile at the moment, crawls into the cab of the vehicle and pops the engine hood. While in there, he looks for anything useful.
Professor, shorter than most and quite agile at the moment, crawls into the cab of the vehicle and pops the engine hood. While in there, he looks for anything useful.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:40 PM, Cross-Town Mall
Trying to stabilize the woman was challenging. She took all the saline drip the medkit could offer, then it was up to Oswald and Professor to force the water from the radiator down her throat. The woman was weak and incoherent. She passed back out for a few minutes and her breathing evened out a bit. The Professor didn't find much in the cab of the truck, but he did find two Ares ID badges, neither of them matching the woman in the mall.
Ferret and Zo had finally caught up with the others and Jovan took off with his spirit to the tower to continue scouting.
Trying to stabilize the woman was challenging. She took all the saline drip the medkit could offer, then it was up to Oswald and Professor to force the water from the radiator down her throat. The woman was weak and incoherent. She passed back out for a few minutes and her breathing evened out a bit. The Professor didn't find much in the cab of the truck, but he did find two Ares ID badges, neither of them matching the woman in the mall.
Ferret and Zo had finally caught up with the others and Jovan took off with his spirit to the tower to continue scouting.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:13 PM, Soon to be much closer to the Tower in Redmond
Jovan's ethereal eyeball-messenger silently faded from view, and an unusually strong wind blew in without warning, seemingly from nowhere. The gust of wind surrounded the pair, swirling around them like a birthing mini-tornado. The change came suddenly. One moment, the two felt like rocks standing against a storm; the next, it was as if they were made of the very air currently swirling around them. It was a kind of lightness, a kind of bounce in their step, that could only be acheived by unearthly means. With every step, it was as if the very air itself compressed itself in front of Zo, and the air behind him expanded outward. The ork's newfound speed was more than a little exhilerating. The tornado-like wind did not fade until the pair and their astral followers had reached Pheonix Mall in Cross-Town.
Jovan's ethereal eyeball-messenger silently faded from view, and an unusually strong wind blew in without warning, seemingly from nowhere. The gust of wind surrounded the pair, swirling around them like a birthing mini-tornado. The change came suddenly. One moment, the two felt like rocks standing against a storm; the next, it was as if they were made of the very air currently swirling around them. It was a kind of lightness, a kind of bounce in their step, that could only be acheived by unearthly means. With every step, it was as if the very air itself compressed itself in front of Zo, and the air behind him expanded outward. The ork's newfound speed was more than a little exhilerating. The tornado-like wind did not fade until the pair and their astral followers had reached Pheonix Mall in Cross-Town.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:40 PM, Cross-Town Mall
Professor steps out of the cab with the two ID badges. "Looks like there were at least two other Ares personnel along with this woman. Their ID badges are here. Wonder where they are."
"Oh, look. The others are arriving. Pretty quickly, too. Seems as if they have some help as well. Must be Jovan's work."
Professor steps out of the cab with the two ID badges. "Looks like there were at least two other Ares personnel along with this woman. Their ID badges are here. Wonder where they are."
"Oh, look. The others are arriving. Pretty quickly, too. Seems as if they have some help as well. Must be Jovan's work."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:40 PM, Tower in Redmond
jade Tiger bows to the incoming group members. "I greet you. I am known as Jade Tiger, and am pleased to be working with you.
Is there any information that would be important to discuss before we enter the building, or shall we enter now?"
jade Tiger bows to the incoming group members. "I greet you. I am known as Jade Tiger, and am pleased to be working with you.
Is there any information that would be important to discuss before we enter the building, or shall we enter now?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:40 PM, Tower in Redmond
"Wheeeee!" cries Ferret as the speeded up pair zoom through the broken up streets. "This is almost like being in the matrix. Just a bit more grimy!"
Arriving at the van, Ferret clambers down from Zo's back and gives a wave to Jade Tiger "Hi, I'm Ferret. Finder of digitial secrets. Er, I mean team decker."
He points a thumb at the van. "Found anything interesting?"
"Wheeeee!" cries Ferret as the speeded up pair zoom through the broken up streets. "This is almost like being in the matrix. Just a bit more grimy!"
Arriving at the van, Ferret clambers down from Zo's back and gives a wave to Jade Tiger "Hi, I'm Ferret. Finder of digitial secrets. Er, I mean team decker."
He points a thumb at the van. "Found anything interesting?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:40 PM, Cross-Town Mall
Oz held the tube filtering water to the inside of the woman's cheek with one gloved hand. He kept pinching and releasing it so that the water glubbed out slowly.
Oh god, she's introducing herself again to people she just met 4 minutes ago. If this is the best that humanity has to offer on this job, I think I'm embarrassed to not be some kinda troll creature right now.
"..Yeah. We found a makeshift jammer, a couple of blood trails that we never finished following, and a lady who was dying of thirst behind a nice ass gun encampment. Apparently there was also a spirit or something, but it's gone now. Gun encampment's still there if you wanna call dibbs on it, Greenbean. I recon it's worth a look. It's one of those old bullpup rifles like from James Bond. The AUG or something. Looked pretty fancy."
Oz held the tube filtering water to the inside of the woman's cheek with one gloved hand. He kept pinching and releasing it so that the water glubbed out slowly.
Oh god, she's introducing herself again to people she just met 4 minutes ago. If this is the best that humanity has to offer on this job, I think I'm embarrassed to not be some kinda troll creature right now.
"..Yeah. We found a makeshift jammer, a couple of blood trails that we never finished following, and a lady who was dying of thirst behind a nice ass gun encampment. Apparently there was also a spirit or something, but it's gone now. Gun encampment's still there if you wanna call dibbs on it, Greenbean. I recon it's worth a look. It's one of those old bullpup rifles like from James Bond. The AUG or something. Looked pretty fancy."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:40 PM, Cross-Town Mall
"Bond, was that one of Clines old action trids?"
Zo, upon seeing the Styr AUG checks out the weapon Oz mentions, examining it for identifying markings and its condition.
"I'd take the weapon, Thogg might like the present, but if dis is a Corp op gone bad I'm thinking that the gun could be trapped and liable to explode. Yeah, don't think I'm paranoid--I've seen it happen--. Not good when your buddy's hand explodes after looting a dead corp sec grunt. The bigger question is why dey not come back for her?"
"Bond, was that one of Clines old action trids?"
Zo, upon seeing the Styr AUG checks out the weapon Oz mentions, examining it for identifying markings and its condition.
"I'd take the weapon, Thogg might like the present, but if dis is a Corp op gone bad I'm thinking that the gun could be trapped and liable to explode. Yeah, don't think I'm paranoid--I've seen it happen--. Not good when your buddy's hand explodes after looting a dead corp sec grunt. The bigger question is why dey not come back for her?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:40 PM, Cross-Town Mall in Astral Space
"Why have the other Ares personnel not come back for her, you mean? That is quite easy to answer. They have not come back for her because they are currently being carried around Cross-Town in pieces. If you're so worried about the gun being booby-trapped, why don't you look it over and search for traps on it? You claimed yourself that you're highly perceptive."
Jovan and the elemental moved quickly now toward the sickly-looking Tower. Since it seems that this person was killed fairly recently, and given my employer's keenness on killing the person, it is likely that he or she had something to do with the previous team's disappearance. As for the cybereyed woman... I do not know. It's possible that she is a significant force to be reckoned with in her own right. Did you notice anything that might connect the German man to the ghoul we're searching for?
"Why have the other Ares personnel not come back for her, you mean? That is quite easy to answer. They have not come back for her because they are currently being carried around Cross-Town in pieces. If you're so worried about the gun being booby-trapped, why don't you look it over and search for traps on it? You claimed yourself that you're highly perceptive."
Jovan and the elemental moved quickly now toward the sickly-looking Tower. Since it seems that this person was killed fairly recently, and given my employer's keenness on killing the person, it is likely that he or she had something to do with the previous team's disappearance. As for the cybereyed woman... I do not know. It's possible that she is a significant force to be reckoned with in her own right. Did you notice anything that might connect the German man to the ghoul we're searching for?
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:40 PM, Cross-Town Mall
At Jovan's response, Zo growls "Cause I aint got x-ray vision ya slot. Dey could hid it in da stock or other internal portion of the gun. I figure when she comes to I'll ask her. An you if so fraggin bright, why can't ya figure dat who ever in charge an sent this team just lost about half a million in gear an personnel. I was wonderin why they would not have sent in the B-Team to reinforce or at least recover Team-A. Oz, how long do ya think she's been out here?"
At Jovan's response, Zo growls "Cause I aint got x-ray vision ya slot. Dey could hid it in da stock or other internal portion of the gun. I figure when she comes to I'll ask her. An you if so fraggin bright, why can't ya figure dat who ever in charge an sent this team just lost about half a million in gear an personnel. I was wonderin why they would not have sent in the B-Team to reinforce or at least recover Team-A. Oz, how long do ya think she's been out here?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:40 PM, Tower in Redmond
Jade Tiger says ""I'll check the gun" Taking the gun she moves away from the others into the cab. She shakes it around a bit, puts the gun against the seat where the noise will be muffled and pulls the trigger gently to see what happens. "Seems OK who wants it?"
Jade Tiger says ""I'll check the gun" Taking the gun she moves away from the others into the cab. She shakes it around a bit, puts the gun against the seat where the noise will be muffled and pulls the trigger gently to see what happens. "Seems OK who wants it?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:40 PM, Cross-Town Mall
"You have no idea," the watcher muttered softly and nonchalantly, not particularly bothered by the ork's irritation.
"I can. Either Ares already sent in another squad that may or may not have met its death at the hands of the ghouls and/or Long Legs' hidden traps, they are in the process of sending in another team and have been slowed down up to this point by the required paperwork, or it's a calculated move to allow third parties (like ourselves) to bring out their cargo and the remains of their recovery team for them. In the second case, I would bet that when the next one of us to die does so, it will be when we so coincidentally have a run-in with the second Ares recovery team."
QUOTE (Warlordtheft @ May 27 2011, 02:43 PM)
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:40 PM, Cross-Town Mall
"An you if so fraggin bright,
"An you if so fraggin bright,
"You have no idea," the watcher muttered softly and nonchalantly, not particularly bothered by the ork's irritation.
QUOTE (Warlordtheft @ May 27 2011, 02:43 PM)
why can't ya figure dat who ever in charge an sent this team just lost about half a million in gear an personnel. I was wonderin why they would not have sent in the B-Team to reinforce or at least recover Team-A. Oz, how long do ya think she's been out here?"
"I can. Either Ares already sent in another squad that may or may not have met its death at the hands of the ghouls and/or Long Legs' hidden traps, they are in the process of sending in another team and have been slowed down up to this point by the required paperwork, or it's a calculated move to allow third parties (like ourselves) to bring out their cargo and the remains of their recovery team for them. In the second case, I would bet that when the next one of us to die does so, it will be when we so coincidentally have a run-in with the second Ares recovery team."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:40 PM, Cross-Town Mall
"I did mention the makeshift jammer in the rear of the vehicle? That ain't an Ares brand makeshift jammer. Someone put it there to keep this crew from getting a signal out. Doesn't need to be much interference to keep a dish from talking to a satellite. Sat's are hard to reach in the first place. That's one of the reason's I don't rely on them. Anyway, that's your missing second team right there. No signal means no backup. A fast response team like this goes quiet, the assumption is they're all casualties. Ares already lost considerable assets trying to recover less than quarter of a million in goods that likely cost them a tenth of that to make. That is, if we're to believe our employer's information."
Gauging the woman's condition for a moment he returned to the conversation.
"She's been here for a while for sure. Looks like she hasn't had a quality sip of water in about 4-5 days. Barring magical x-factors, I'd say she was part of the team that tried to follow Bigs and crew after the truck heist. That they made it this far is surprising, given the reports I pulled up earlier."
"I did mention the makeshift jammer in the rear of the vehicle? That ain't an Ares brand makeshift jammer. Someone put it there to keep this crew from getting a signal out. Doesn't need to be much interference to keep a dish from talking to a satellite. Sat's are hard to reach in the first place. That's one of the reason's I don't rely on them. Anyway, that's your missing second team right there. No signal means no backup. A fast response team like this goes quiet, the assumption is they're all casualties. Ares already lost considerable assets trying to recover less than quarter of a million in goods that likely cost them a tenth of that to make. That is, if we're to believe our employer's information."
Gauging the woman's condition for a moment he returned to the conversation.
"She's been here for a while for sure. Looks like she hasn't had a quality sip of water in about 4-5 days. Barring magical x-factors, I'd say she was part of the team that tried to follow Bigs and crew after the truck heist. That they made it this far is surprising, given the reports I pulled up earlier."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:40 PM, Tower in Redmond
Jade Tiger says "Your thoughts on the jammer are informative, I think you are right. You said that 'you were surprised that they made it this far given the reports you pulled up earlier': is there something I need to know about the threat level of this place? and is their any chance that I can have a little look at those reports?"
"Personally I am unconcerned about a potential Ares presence. Many days have passed since their last effort. The chance of them striking now is low: if they were near they would have rescued the woman. Still I may be wrong, and they may attack us, in which case we will have to kill them"
"We should be aware constantly that this is a high threat area, but the presence or absence of Ares is little worse than the presence or absence of Viper 12. The three main ways of diminishing threat are time, distance and shielding. I propose to minimise the time that we are exposed to threat by exploring the mall, and getting out."
"Now where did that thought-form go" she thought, its about time it reported back.
Jade Tiger says "Your thoughts on the jammer are informative, I think you are right. You said that 'you were surprised that they made it this far given the reports you pulled up earlier': is there something I need to know about the threat level of this place? and is their any chance that I can have a little look at those reports?"
"Personally I am unconcerned about a potential Ares presence. Many days have passed since their last effort. The chance of them striking now is low: if they were near they would have rescued the woman. Still I may be wrong, and they may attack us, in which case we will have to kill them"
"We should be aware constantly that this is a high threat area, but the presence or absence of Ares is little worse than the presence or absence of Viper 12. The three main ways of diminishing threat are time, distance and shielding. I propose to minimise the time that we are exposed to threat by exploring the mall, and getting out."
"Now where did that thought-form go" she thought, its about time it reported back.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:40 PM, Tower in Redmond
Ferret is intrigued by the jammer. He moves to the truck and inspects the device more closely, first checking for traps then the device itself.
"Just gimme a second to take a look at this jammer. Then we can go check out the mall."
Ferret is intrigued by the jammer. He moves to the truck and inspects the device more closely, first checking for traps then the device itself.
"Just gimme a second to take a look at this jammer. Then we can go check out the mall."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:41 PM, Tower in Redmond
Jade's thought form returns,"I have searched the entire structure, but I did not find what you were looking for."
Ferret and Oswald took a closer look at the Jammer. There were no traps to be found. It was a hand jammer connected to heavy duty batery packs and signal amplifiers, and a make shift tower cobbled from an old sat link and steel angle rod, all bolted to the floor of the truck. It looked like a slightly time consuming project, at least an hour or so, and it definately wasn't installed by Ares.
Jade's thought form returns,"I have searched the entire structure, but I did not find what you were looking for."
Ferret and Oswald took a closer look at the Jammer. There were no traps to be found. It was a hand jammer connected to heavy duty batery packs and signal amplifiers, and a make shift tower cobbled from an old sat link and steel angle rod, all bolted to the floor of the truck. It looked like a slightly time consuming project, at least an hour or so, and it definately wasn't installed by Ares.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:41 PM, Tower in Redmond
"Grr!" A faint growl emerges from Jade Tiger's lips. For a moment a shaman's mask of a tiger started to form around her. As she gathered control of herself. Jade Tiger says "Thats annoying. I have searched the tower with my mind and found no sign of the box. Is there any value in going in and looking with our eyes?"
"Grr!" A faint growl emerges from Jade Tiger's lips. For a moment a shaman's mask of a tiger started to form around her. As she gathered control of herself. Jade Tiger says "Thats annoying. I have searched the tower with my mind and found no sign of the box. Is there any value in going in and looking with our eyes?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:41 PM, Cross-Town Mall
"If Big Daddy long legs dead, could your thoughtamthingy find a corpse? We might wann go look cause if it was a pack of feral ghouls, they might have just pulled an eat in run. Not gonna get my hopes up on dat. We should check da garage out at least if dis mall has one."
"If Big Daddy long legs dead, could your thoughtamthingy find a corpse? We might wann go look cause if it was a pack of feral ghouls, they might have just pulled an eat in run. Not gonna get my hopes up on dat. We should check da garage out at least if dis mall has one."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:41 PM, Cross-Town Mall
"I'm pretty sure we're looking for rigs. Full-on 18 wheelers aren't going to fit in most parking garages. There's got to be a delivery entrance for stuff like that."
Jade had indicated some injury to the old man, so he left the Ares woman propped up against the side of the car for a moment, disconnected the kit monitoring her condition and walked over to attend to her.
"I'm getting to be an expert on treating these magic headaches. Let me see what I can do."
A few moments of work set Jade right again, lowering her agitation some before the old doctor moved back to pushing fluids on the weakened woman.
"I'm pretty sure we're looking for rigs. Full-on 18 wheelers aren't going to fit in most parking garages. There's got to be a delivery entrance for stuff like that."
Jade had indicated some injury to the old man, so he left the Ares woman propped up against the side of the car for a moment, disconnected the kit monitoring her condition and walked over to attend to her.
"I'm getting to be an expert on treating these magic headaches. Let me see what I can do."
A few moments of work set Jade right again, lowering her agitation some before the old doctor moved back to pushing fluids on the weakened woman.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:41 PM, Cross-Town Mall
Ferret frowns at the jammer, puzzled.
"Oz, this jammer isn't Ares tech. It looks it's been cobbled together from bits of scrap. Do you think the Ares lady is going to be able to talk soon. I'd like to know if she knew about this."
He reaches out and switches the jammer off, then pauses, head cocked to one side as if listening for something.
Ferret frowns at the jammer, puzzled.
"Oz, this jammer isn't Ares tech. It looks it's been cobbled together from bits of scrap. Do you think the Ares lady is going to be able to talk soon. I'd like to know if she knew about this."
He reaches out and switches the jammer off, then pauses, head cocked to one side as if listening for something.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:41 PM, Tower in Redmond
"Thank you!" Jade Tiger nods her head...the magically induced headache was indeed gone. "I can project forth another thought-form, and search the building. It will be difficult to work out if any corpse found in there is Daddy Long Legs, so I'll set it to look for any corpses, while we look in the garage."
"Thank you!" Jade Tiger nods her head...the magically induced headache was indeed gone. "I can project forth another thought-form, and search the building. It will be difficult to work out if any corpse found in there is Daddy Long Legs, so I'll set it to look for any corpses, while we look in the garage."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:41 PM, Cross-Town Mall
"My assumption is that we're looking at an aftermath here. That's what the standoff says to me. If this woman has been trying to stay awake and on that gun for days, then any dead in this part of the site will be days dead. Corpses will either be ghoul-eaten or ripe enough to smell from 100 yards distant. I say, follow the blood and your nose. Also keep your eyes out for any cookware stores. My kitchen could use a nice set of Wüsthof Classic knives. They're also probably the only thing in an untouched decades-old mall that can be pawned for some real capital..."
Oswald took a moment from feeding the woman water to massage her arms and legs. With dehydration there was a real risk of the lactic acid buildup in the muscles from starvation getting released all at once when the water came back on. The result being a bit of blood poisoning that could mess with a weakened individual in a number of ways. Mostly vomiting, which she couldn't afford. Better to ease it out a little at a time and let the kit neutralize it before it made her sicker.
"My assumption is that we're looking at an aftermath here. That's what the standoff says to me. If this woman has been trying to stay awake and on that gun for days, then any dead in this part of the site will be days dead. Corpses will either be ghoul-eaten or ripe enough to smell from 100 yards distant. I say, follow the blood and your nose. Also keep your eyes out for any cookware stores. My kitchen could use a nice set of Wüsthof Classic knives. They're also probably the only thing in an untouched decades-old mall that can be pawned for some real capital..."
Oswald took a moment from feeding the woman water to massage her arms and legs. With dehydration there was a real risk of the lactic acid buildup in the muscles from starvation getting released all at once when the water came back on. The result being a bit of blood poisoning that could mess with a weakened individual in a number of ways. Mostly vomiting, which she couldn't afford. Better to ease it out a little at a time and let the kit neutralize it before it made her sicker.
Friday, Sept. 11, 22071, 11:41 PM, Cross-Town Mall
The translucent floating eyeball had been drifting silently among the group, at times peering over shoulders and heads in a manner not entirely unlike that of a voyeur, at other times focusing its empty non-Euclidean hole of a pupil on various things in their surroundings in a paranoid sort of way. Suddenly, it turned sharply towards the newcomer. "That will be quite unnecessary," it said. "I am already thoroughly investigating the tower as we speak, and watching me while I work would be rather... detrimental to you. Your spirit servant would be of more use to you thoroughly exploring and securing the remainder of the mall. Certainly I can't be the only one here who is a touch concerned about that signature in the truck. Try searching the mall for more such mana signatures."
Meanwhile, Jovan and the air spirit continued to peruse the exterior and interior of the Cross-Town Tower in all its toxic misery.
The translucent floating eyeball had been drifting silently among the group, at times peering over shoulders and heads in a manner not entirely unlike that of a voyeur, at other times focusing its empty non-Euclidean hole of a pupil on various things in their surroundings in a paranoid sort of way. Suddenly, it turned sharply towards the newcomer. "That will be quite unnecessary," it said. "I am already thoroughly investigating the tower as we speak, and watching me while I work would be rather... detrimental to you. Your spirit servant would be of more use to you thoroughly exploring and securing the remainder of the mall. Certainly I can't be the only one here who is a touch concerned about that signature in the truck. Try searching the mall for more such mana signatures."
Meanwhile, Jovan and the air spirit continued to peruse the exterior and interior of the Cross-Town Tower in all its toxic misery.
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:41 PM, Tower in Redmond
"I like your thinking Jovan: I will move to that task immediately.
Focusing her mind Jade Tiger sends her existing thought form to search the Mall for any traces of the astral signature.
"I like your thinking Jovan: I will move to that task immediately.
Focusing her mind Jade Tiger sends her existing thought form to search the Mall for any traces of the astral signature.
Friday, Sept. 11, 22071, 11:41 PM, Cross-Town Mall
Zo took the AUG Styer from Jade. Looking at the woman, he shook his head. "Oz, how long till da corporate joygirl comes to? Could she be one of Big Daddy's team members, just donning an Ares outfit or an illusion of one? Strange drek man she sitting out here for 4 to 5 days. Ya figure she would have moved out her own order'd by ares or not. Not too many people I know of dat would die followin such a suicidal order---but den again da difference between stupidity and bravery isn't much.
Zo looked around at the machine gun nest taking a look at what was left around it.
"Ferret was dis machinegun nest on da trid? when da ghouls came in?"
Zo took the AUG Styer from Jade. Looking at the woman, he shook his head. "Oz, how long till da corporate joygirl comes to? Could she be one of Big Daddy's team members, just donning an Ares outfit or an illusion of one? Strange drek man she sitting out here for 4 to 5 days. Ya figure she would have moved out her own order'd by ares or not. Not too many people I know of dat would die followin such a suicidal order---but den again da difference between stupidity and bravery isn't much.
Zo looked around at the machine gun nest taking a look at what was left around it.
"Ferret was dis machinegun nest on da trid? when da ghouls came in?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 22071, 11:41 PM, Cross-Town Mall
Oz checked her pupil response. The combination of starvation, dehydration and sleep deprivation had made his woman a complete flaming wreck. "It's possible she's a sole survivor. Walking out of this place alone isn't how I'd like to die, but yeah, after a day or two, a guy would generally try something besides holding tight. It's possible she had her mind fucked by a mage. Not an encouraging prospect. Seemed to be some sorta spirit parked on her when we walked in. Maybe that had something to do with it. I did remember to tell you about the spirit, right? Supposing it belonged to someone besides itself, dusting that little spook could mean we've got more trouble on the way."
Oz checked her pupil response. The combination of starvation, dehydration and sleep deprivation had made his woman a complete flaming wreck. "It's possible she's a sole survivor. Walking out of this place alone isn't how I'd like to die, but yeah, after a day or two, a guy would generally try something besides holding tight. It's possible she had her mind fucked by a mage. Not an encouraging prospect. Seemed to be some sorta spirit parked on her when we walked in. Maybe that had something to do with it. I did remember to tell you about the spirit, right? Supposing it belonged to someone besides itself, dusting that little spook could mean we've got more trouble on the way."
Friday, Sept. 11, 22071, 11:41 PM, Cross-Town Mall
Professor looks around astrally. "I don't see anything or anyone at the moment."
Professor looks around astrally. "I don't see anything or anyone at the moment."
QUOTE (Warlordtheft @ Jun 2 2011, 04:33 PM)
Friday, Sept. 11, 22071, 11:41 PM, Cross-Town Mall
"Ferret was dis machinegun nest on da trid? when da ghouls came in?"
"Ferret was dis machinegun nest on da trid? when da ghouls came in?"
Ferret keeps part of his head scanning the ether for a signal that might have been jammed by the jury-rigged device. He starts working on taking the device apart, figuring the hand jammer might come in useful in the future. His thoughts are interrupted by someone talking to him.
He looks up at the big ork, trying to remember what he said. Something about 'nests' and 'trid'. No 'machinegun nests'.
He reviews the footage he snagged from the mall camera, looking for the images of the unconscious woman.
"Checking." he mumbles as he returns to the task at hand.
Friday, Sept. 11, 22071, 11:42 PM, Cross-Town Mall
Ferret scans through the footage he has from the mall, but the spot where the girl was hold up didn't show on the cameras. That probably wasn't an accident.
Ferret scans through the footage he has from the mall, but the spot where the girl was hold up didn't show on the cameras. That probably wasn't an accident.
Friday, Sept. 11, 22071, 11:42 PM, Cross-Town Mall
Zo--waiting on ferret. "So what is the plan at this point? go to the garage an check it out? Oz..ya want ta find a bolt hole to stick the lady in till she comes too?"
Zo--waiting on ferret. "So what is the plan at this point? go to the garage an check it out? Oz..ya want ta find a bolt hole to stick the lady in till she comes too?"
Friday, Sept. 11, 22071, 11:42 PM, Cross-Town Mall
"We're here now. I'd hate to have to come back later because our search elsewhere was fruitless."
"We're here now. I'd hate to have to come back later because our search elsewhere was fruitless."
Friday, Sept. 11, 22071, 11:42 PM, Cross-Town Mall
"Garage is probably a bust. Trucks are too big to make those turns. There's gotta be some kind of delivery bay on that map I put together. Bolt hole sounds like a good idea though. Keeping the Ares girl in restraints shouldn't keep her from recovering."
"Garage is probably a bust. Trucks are too big to make those turns. There's gotta be some kind of delivery bay on that map I put together. Bolt hole sounds like a good idea though. Keeping the Ares girl in restraints shouldn't keep her from recovering."
Friday, Sept. 11, 22071, 11:42 PM, Cross-Town Mall
Ferret's eyes lose their thousand yard stare as he focuses on the real again.
"The lady doesn't show on the feeds that are still working. Either she got lucky and avoided them or she knew which ones were still working when she ended up here."
"I agree we should take a look around here before heading to the tower. There should be delivery bays for the stores somewhere. Besides, Ares were here; not at the tower. If we strike lucky here, we get to avoid playing hide and seek with the ghouls."
He plucks the hand jammer from the jury-rigged assembly. "There we go."
Ferret's eyes lose their thousand yard stare as he focuses on the real again.
"The lady doesn't show on the feeds that are still working. Either she got lucky and avoided them or she knew which ones were still working when she ended up here."
"I agree we should take a look around here before heading to the tower. There should be delivery bays for the stores somewhere. Besides, Ares were here; not at the tower. If we strike lucky here, we get to avoid playing hide and seek with the ghouls."
He plucks the hand jammer from the jury-rigged assembly. "There we go."
Friday, Sept. 11, 2071, 11:43 PM, Tower in Redmond
"I'll remind you that I don't think the boxes we are looking for are in here. But I don't have a problem looking around: I would hate to have to come back here! OK lets do this thing. I'll go first in case there are any ghouls" Jade Tiger starts heading into the building, keeping a good look out for snipers, ghouls, crazies and other unpleasantries.
"I'll remind you that I don't think the boxes we are looking for are in here. But I don't have a problem looking around: I would hate to have to come back here! OK lets do this thing. I'll go first in case there are any ghouls" Jade Tiger starts heading into the building, keeping a good look out for snipers, ghouls, crazies and other unpleasantries.
Friday, Sept. 11, 22071, 11:42 PM, Cross-Town Mall
"Fine wit me if ya wanna go first Jade. But I'd prefer ta be in front. I got an eye for these things, plus my AK has an ultrasound site. Which good for spottin invisible and otherwise camo'd stuff. Well lookin at the map Oz provided, an at the mall were in--dat area looks like a good place ta start lookin for a truck." Zo places an ARO of an X on Oz's map of the place for the loading doc of the nearest ex-department store tuned warzone.
Zo starts to head off towards that section of the mall. Seeing the group hesitate he pauses. "Com'on guyz do ya wanta live for ever?" I never thought I'd get to use that ol Neil the Ork Barbarian line..
"Fine wit me if ya wanna go first Jade. But I'd prefer ta be in front. I got an eye for these things, plus my AK has an ultrasound site. Which good for spottin invisible and otherwise camo'd stuff. Well lookin at the map Oz provided, an at the mall were in--dat area looks like a good place ta start lookin for a truck." Zo places an ARO of an X on Oz's map of the place for the loading doc of the nearest ex-department store tuned warzone.
Zo starts to head off towards that section of the mall. Seeing the group hesitate he pauses. "Com'on guyz do ya wanta live for ever?" I never thought I'd get to use that ol Neil the Ork Barbarian line..
Friday, Sept. 11, 22071, 11:42 PM, Cross-Town Mall
Ferret rolls his eyes at the much abused quote.
"What is it with you guys and Neil the Ork Barbarian? Throgg used to quote that all the time when a meet went bad. Is watching the entire series some sort of initiation ceremony to get into the Crush?"
He tucks the jammer into a pocket and draws his machine pistol, trailing after the big ork and the shapeshifter.
Ferret rolls his eyes at the much abused quote.
"What is it with you guys and Neil the Ork Barbarian? Throgg used to quote that all the time when a meet went bad. Is watching the entire series some sort of initiation ceremony to get into the Crush?"
He tucks the jammer into a pocket and draws his machine pistol, trailing after the big ork and the shapeshifter.
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