Gash
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – S Emergency Response / Recon Unit – FedB Commando Σ63 – ETA to target 7 mins]

<<@Gash- Sir! Yes Sir! Confirming you want me to support team 2 at the tower. ETA 30 seconds>>

The officer types like that...keeps them happy.

"Legando we move. I'll take point, please provide magical supression"

Unfolding out of the small frail body like a dragonfly unfurling it's wings, Gash's true form appears. An African brave dressed in lion furs with a glowing spear and a raw lightning shield.

Moving as fast as only astral forms can, Gash and Ledgando race to the conflict

On the astral a hemisphere of glowing light appears around the team

Gash manifests: "Private Gash reporting".

Sticks
[22:49 August 22, 2070 – Nimrod 7Ω-9 Matrix Node]

The Agent expires in a flash of pixels and a groan that fills the node with an eerie echo. A digital flurry later and you are back in charge of the Nimrod

<<@Sticks: I have control of the second Nimrod, slaving it to your comm now>>

Armored
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Hobbiton]

Decisions to make! Gash should be on site in the next couple of seconds at astral speeds but it sounds like he is needed elsewhere…

Gash
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Astral space]

You slip free from your body with ease, it’s always the returning that pains you, and streak across the intervening space to your target. The area you are passing through is the grim miasma of the barrens, darkening to a disturbing level near Glow City and the toxic swamp lands around the river.

Passing safely overhead you begin to see the telltale signs of regrowth that the Stillwater Community are apparently responsible for. Magic lingers heavily in the air and there is strong evidence of a recent ritual of not inconsiderable power that you sift through your astral senses. The traces suggest some sort of ritual of concealment, perhaps they intend to conceal the tower, or possibly even the entire community?

The mana laden air has attracted large numbers of spirits that flit backwards and forwards in the astral sphere. None of them appear to pay much attention to you, and at the moment you can’t see any other astral presences, although the background count glare could well conceal them from you at this distance.

Dahlia Bekhit
[22:48 August 22, 2070 – Sultan’s medical bay]

Dahlia frowned as she watched the Captain’s charts. Treating patients who had been through IC was always somewhat…frustrating. Probably because Dahlia couldn’t really sink her hands into the problem. She called up a few protocols on the matter and started looking for anything she could do, or someone to call.

There was a chance that she could wake the Captain. But, that might lead to another disaster, and Dahlia certainly wasn’t planning on being shot. With the rest of Squad Two deployed, she’d be the only target. At least that meant that Medical Bay was much less crowded, even if it was now covered in dirty footprints and some of the equipment wasn’t quite where she’d left it.

Sticks
[22:49 August 22, 2070 – Nimrod 7Ω-9 Matrix Node]

<<@Command Elements: We've reclaimed control of the Nimrods. But I don't know for how long.>>

That said, he loaded a copy of Faraman into the Nimrods, replacing the default Pilot those things usually used. <<Faraman, is that Helicopter still here? Send one Nimrod after it, and we'll redirect the other one totake out the gun emplacements on the tower.>>

Lt Tantilla acknowledges Gash. "Welcome to SNAFU central. But it sounds like the Heavy Squad needs support more. Go run support for them." <<@Sticks: This is Lt Tantilla, can you redirect the Backup Unit to pick up the Heavies. We're going to need them>>

<<Acknowledged. | FB Commando Σ63 Please redirect to provide support and pick up the Outlaw's heavies they dropped of Drek knows where.>>

<<Alright, bringing the Roto Drones to support Squad 2's insertion.>> He redirected all three drones to provide support for Squad 2.

Gash

[22:49 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater tower at lvl 3]

<<@Gash: Sir! Yes Sir! Confirming you want me to provide support for Heavy Squad. Please notify command that serious concealment ritual magic has been undertaken: Recommend room clearing plan alpha 7>>

"Legando we're off again. Usual SNAFU. Still the good news is that we will get to kick some serious butt when we get there"

Once again there is a blur and Gash and Legando zoom to join the action.

Gash manifests: "Private Gash reporting". again

Gash
[22:49 August 22, 2070 – ]Snoqualmie River Floodplain

Gash watchs his struggling colleague Dozer being dragged into the river by 6, no 7, no make that 8 normally large but currently weakened toxic spirits.

"@!%XX!"

"Sarge: trust me on this: throw 1 grenade at Dozer. Neil! John! Narrow bursts on those spirits now!"

Gash
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Astral over the Snoqualmie River floodplain]

Your skin crawls at the polluted atmosphere of astral space around the toxic dump that is the river basin…even in the astral you can see the swirls of petrochemicals and heavy metals. You can read the confusion in the auras of Rodriguez and her team but you are the expert…

“If you’re sure? You heard what the man said? Ok, grenade on my mark, I want short targeted bursts…”

The explosion envelops Dozer and he is flung off his feet, disrupting the spirits around him who wilt under the sustained fire from the two light machine guns. With snarls and whimpers they back off their prey and begin to retreat towards the river

“Frag, his biomonitor doesn’t look great…bastards have melted some of the seals on his shell and the grenade didn’t exactly help…still he’s a tough bastard, he’ll live with a bit of medical assistance. I’m gonna give him a shot, Gash, keep those fraggers off us!”

Ice
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower]

You can see dim figures outside the doors to the outer terrace on the level below you. Moving into ambush positions on that level you see some of the CyWolves lead by the massive form of Feather and across from you Sandman is indicating where a couple of others should deploy themselves. He nods to you and indicates a hold until the enemy make their move. It is at this point that the intruders detonate charges on the doors and lob smoke and flashbangs through the breach…

Armored
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Hobbiton]

There are hostiles taking up position ahead of you but before you can react to their presence a manservant drone steps out of one of the side tunnels behind you causing Gibson and Harvey to spin back to face it. You can’t help but feel it was an attempt at a deliberate distraction because from ahead of you comes the chatter of burst fire and rounds track back, ricocheting along the tunnel walls

Sticks
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Back in the e-Ther]

Your virtual control room unfurls around you and you settle back in to your commanding position to update yourself on the changing tactical situation. Your Nimrod drones show up as wonderful green icons, streaking towards their intended targets. One of the Optic-Xs is limping along but otherwise the other one, the Tower and the Armadillo are all reporting normal operating parameters.

<<Confirm target helo on the pad. Authorizing safeties off. Engaging. Confirm air defence drones targeted. Rockets away, rockets away…>>

<<@Sticks: FB Commando Σ63, acknowledged, diverting to designated coordinates>>

Everything seems to be back on track…except just at that moment the designator for the crawlers accompanying Squad 1 through the tunnels begin to wink out as they are systematically overridden. It would seem your jamming isn’t reaching that far and those bloody hackers are back on their game…you need those eyes and ears dammit to project the TacNet ahead of Armored and his team.

Dahlia Bekhit
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Sultan’s medical bay]

Over the comm channel for Squad Two you hear the sound of gunfire, it seems as though the mission has engaged the hostiles inside the tower at last. Still, you should be nice and safe in here…until Reid flashes you a message

<<@Sticks & Bekhit: We’re loosing drones again? Damn, it’s going to be another ten minutes or so before the Heavies can get here now. Squad Two have engaged hostiles and I want them to have those rota drones in support and we can’t risk them being turned against us. Sticks, once those Nimrods have taken out their targets I want you in the field with LOS to your drones, I will run Overwatch from here with your field input. Take Bekhit with you, we need medics where the action is, her current charges will be fine in the support modules.>>

Joshua
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Fed Commando Σ63 – Diverting to Heavy pick-up]

You feel the plane tilt under you and the rotors change pitch as you begin a swoop down towards the river glinting below you. Time for some action, it will be good to go into battle again. Your bow groans softly to you as you tighten the string and engage the counterweights.

Gash
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Snoqualmie River Floodplain]

Gash breaths a sigh of relief: that was close, and that was a lot of very tough spirits. Good thing they are not combat troops and occasionally do crazy things just for fun.

Hmm I cannot cleanse this but... Astral thunder and lightning crash out of the sky as Gtash raises his hands and the toxic residue becomes less obvious. The toxic background was still present, but so was a much more healthy looking crackle that the toxic spirits really wouldn't like.

Gtash moves in the form of a cross, leaving a trail behind him: "Papa Legba opener of ways, guard this place." The astral crossroads glowed and sparked, visible against the background

"Legundo we are holding them off. We are not holding to the death: retreat when it seems prudent to do so"

"Stand behind me Sarge, real close. Don't waste your fire unless they get really close, then full wide bursts will work. This should hold them until reinforcements arrive. "

Sticks
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Back in the e-Ther]

<<Cpl. Kemp. You feel up to running Jamming? Or would you rather slave your commlink to me and let me run it for you?>>

Sticks scowls at Reid where he can't see. <<Miss Dahlia, I need your help switching Cocoons.>> Sticks opens up the cocoon he's in and sits up, wheezing slightly. His Horseman with it's personalized cocoon is idling next to him, but he just can't get in without help.

<<Kit, you keep the homestead bright and beautiful. I'll be back soon as I can.>>

<<Yes Seargent, I'll be johnny on the spot. Come on Miss Dahlia, time to go earn our pay.>>

As he settles into his Horseman the interface for his custom built nexus pops up, and Sticks literally slaps himself in the head. "Well, Drek, I forgot about this thing." It's totally not Deep Watch standard, by any stretch. It's main agent is Gremlin, and the interface is customized for handling Drone management. Sticks get a big grin, and transfers the TacNet over to /this/ bad boy. <<Well, things got a bit easier.>> Sticks swaps fibreoptic cables in his datajack, using the Horseman as his jack in point.

It takes him a few minutes to bring all the software up and running. He slaves his personal commlink to the nexus and turns all of it's resources over to jamming.

As the reality filters kick in, <<Grems, give me a status report.>>

Sticks' icon changes into one of A Dwarf in rune covered platemail. The area around him changes to a vast Stone Hall, teaming with Dwarves and Goblins of all types, scurrying about. Sticks sits on his Stone Throne and as he does the Displays pop into existance as Floating Orbs. Reaching out Sticks arranges them just so. As he touches each one, it changes in tonel and hue depending on it's priority and status.

<<We're rolling out, Squad Two, please provide escort and fire support.>>

<<@Armored: L-T. If you would pick someone to slave their commlink to me, I will initiate Jamming at your location, providing you with significant protection.>>

Ice
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower]

As the grenades come into the facility, Ice kicks his goggles into Thermal, and counts on the flare compensation to help dampen the impact of the flashers. He braces himself against the bang, and puts on the gas mask that the CyWolves tossed up to him, lest they use gas instead.

After the explosions cease, he'll reorient and scan for hot targets. A brief pause to aim, and then fire. Wait for the next round to chamber and repeat.

Ice
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 4]

Automatic fire rattles beneath you as the intruders engage Feather’s crew near the central core. A figure carrying a light machine gun lays down a withering hail of fire that gives the others time to deploy to various points of cover. Their marksmanship will quickly sway this fight unless you can even the odds a little.

You are poised, breathing calm, target locked, and squeeze…

Sticks
[22:51 August 22, 2070 – Virtual Control Room]

With Dahlia’s help you manoeuvre yourself into the Horseman, feeling the satisfying thrill of connecting to your personal nexus and its impressive processing power. You’ll show these hacker bastards what it’s like to tangle with a real rigger!

You spread your jamming web wide and hope that it will knock those buggers off their perch and return any lost drones to your command. As you watch your displays you see the satisfying telltales that report the Nimrods have both struck their targets and are reporting them effectively neutralised…it’s time to bring the rota drones to the fore…

Dahlia Bekhit
[22:51 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

The combat ahead of you is fierce and unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. Even the most realistic of sims don’t have the intensity of that raw disturbing sound…and they want you to walk over there and start patching people up!

Two members of Squad two have peeled back to escort you and Sticks into the fray

Gash
[22:52 August 22, 2070 – Snoqualmie River Floodplain]

You can feel the disgust emanating from the diseased spirits as they retreat before the physical onslaught, the purity of your spell and the apparent strength of Legundo. Although your spell dims as it washes over the pollution caused by Dozer’s aura you hold it firm in your mind, pushing them before you. Although they grow stronger once beyond the effects of the astral hazing they do not seem inclined to challenge you further.

In the distance you can hear the heavy rotor sound of Outlaw returning, presumably they will take Dozer back for medical attention, and you’re sure that your ride on to the target zone will not be far behind.

Joshua
[22:54 August 22, 2070 – Fed Commando Σ63 – ETA to target 5 mins]

The pilot banks the craft hard and the airframe shudders as the rotors switch to vertical lift.

<<Touch down in thirty seconds. I want a combat spread while we pick up the Heavy squad, let’s not tangle with any of these spirits unless we have to, we have more important places to be!>>

Dahlia Bekhit
[22:51 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

Dahlia sighed, blood still covering her gloved hands from Lee’s operation. Running all around the place again? She wasn’t exactly the athletic type, and this was starting to get a little silly. But, that was the nature of the job, now wasn’t it? The woman discarded her gloves, requisitioning medkit supplies and starting up the cleanup procedures on the various drones in Medical through VR. No one wanted to come back to a dirty scalpel.

It took a few minutes for Dahlia to re-arm, since some of her personal weaponry was lost in her previous encounter with hostiles. In a fray like the scene before her, it would have been stupid to have a medic unarmed. At least the medkit could move itself, otherwise it would have been far too heavy for the woman to move on her own. Once Dahlia found herself and Sticks being escorted by two members of Squad Two, she began looking around for her first patients.

Ice
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 4]

Ice's takes a breath, holds it, and fires on the exhale, the round spiraling out the barrel at supersonic speeds, the smell of the cordite and other propellants filling his nostrils as the brass flies gracefully through the air and the next round clacks home.

Joshua
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 4]

Joshua strings his bow. For others it would hard, a 2000 lb pull is challenging for most people. Glad that Dozer's OK Not many people like Dozer, but Joshua has fought many times on his side, and respects him.

"Hope those spirits try something " he mutters under his breath payback would be good. Still the real targets are the ones that put his friends in danger: those pesky Technomancers.

Gash
[22:50 August 22, 2070 – Snoqualmie River Floodplain]

Gash thinks hard The defender's have a plan. This ambush was part of the plan. A rescue pickup is something that the defenders could easily predict would happen. Do they have a second ambush waiting here?

"Legundo please conceal the Outlaw. If you see anything attack the Outlaw please slow it down"

Dahlia & Sticks
[22:51 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

As you cautiously approach the breach point there is a sudden rattle of comm traffic

<<Sniper! Sniper! Upper level. Squire is down, repeat, man down! I want grenades on that balcony, air burst, combat spread, now!>>

Ice
[22:51 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 4]

You watch almost lazily as your round streaks towards the intended target. As it left the barrel you knew it would strike true and that the target was out of the combat, if not dead outright. The intruders seem stunned briefly but then they react with brutal force…you hear the thwomp of multiple underbarrel grenade launchers and the air around you is filled with whistling shards of frag…

Gash & Joshua
[22:55 August 22, 2070 – Fed Commando Σ63 – ETA to target 4 mins]

The engines strain under the extra weight of three more hard shells but you lift away from the fetid swamp of the river basin and are once more en route to the target zone…

Gash
[22:50 August 22, 2070 –Fed Commando Σ63 – ETA to target 4 mins

Gash's astral form heads high above the Outlaw, above the toxic haze.

"Legundo we have done well this day, but the battle is not yet won. May I request some further help?". Legundo clashes his sheld. "Thank you my friend. I will go and find where we are needed"

With a sigh Gash sinks back into his wizened body.

<<Private Gash available for astral support>>

<<@medic- low priority request: My physical body is showing the effects of drain, please assist when Dozer is stable>>

Sticks
[22:51 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

Sticks really didn't like being in the field. It was part of the job, but he hated feeling so exposed.


Sticks brought up an orb displaying the information as seen, sensed and felt by his Horseman. 'Gremlin my old friend. Keep us within formation. Warn me if I become seperated from the squad.' With that done, he turned his attention to the roto drones. The three of them flew into the breach created by squad two and requested further instructions.

Sticks directed his attention to the roto drones. Organizing them into an assault pattern he had them round the corner.

Roto Drone 1: Pilot Rambo (Machine Gun)
Roto Drone 2: Pilot Lobo (Grenade Launcher)
Roto Drone 3: Pilot T-1000 (Machine Gun)

'Rambo, T-1000 suppressive pattern Alpha Niner, Lobo Full Spread Charlie Vector Omega'

Rambo and the T-1000 came flying around the corner in a dual suppressive zone covering the likely angles of the sniper shot, and ground infantry. Lobo, sent a Frag and High explosive grenade towards the likely locations of the sniper(s) while dropping both Flash and Smoke Grenades into the atrium area.

<<Kit, remind me to bitch slap Argus when we get back. The threat level on this place is so inacurate it could have said we were facing a peewee team and it would have been just as accurate.>>

Sticks double checked the now 4 different signal jammers he's maintaining, and does a perimeter sweep of the TacNet, looking for anomolies or surprises.

Joshua
Fed Commando Σ63 – ETA to target 4 mins

Joshua checks the tactical display. No wonder they called for backup, this place is nothing like the briefing. He counts down the minutes until he can get into action. Payback time for Dozer!

Ice
[22:52 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 4]

Dodging back from the flying shrapnel you manage to escape the worst effects of the blast, although your ears will probably keep ringing for a couple more minutes…first lesson of the sniper, never try and fire from the same place twice…

Sticks
[22:52 August 22, 2070 – Virtual Control Room]

Your rota drones buzz like angry hornets as they pass through the shattered glass screens of the terrace and move forward to support squad two. It seems for a brief reprise the enemy have retreated further into the tower and away from the threat of your heavier weapons…

Dahlia Bekhit
[22:54 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

Squad two drag Squire out to you and it is a minor miracle that he is alive given the large hole in the side of his helmet where the high velocity round exited…hopefully you’ll be able to keep him that way long enough to get him to one of the medical modules onboard the LAV…

Armored
[22:56 August 22, 2070 – Hobbiton]

With sporadic bursts of fire opposing you, squad one pushes forwards into Hobbiton and the defenders steadily retreat before your superior fire power, discipline and tactics…but the going has been slow so far without wishing to risk a rushed assault. The buggers are making you work for it that’s for sure!

But perhaps it is about to get easier? From a side passage an unarmed figure gestures to you and facial recog software identifies him as Ricardo, the informer who is the source of the intel on the community. Although that intel seems to have underestimated the threat level it has proven accurate in other respects…

Gash & Joshua
[22:58 August 22, 2070 – Fed Commando Σ63 – ETA to target 1 mins]

<<I want a clean deployment and dust off in 30 seconds…our people are under fire down there. Above all keep Gash safe until we are in a secured location…>>

Gash
[22:58 August 22, 2070 –Fed Commando Σ63 – ETA to target 1 mins

Nearly there. That means the fighting is about to start

Gash's astral form unfurls out of the small frail body. "Time to scout Legundo. There are snipers around. I don't want this to be an Omaha beach landing, so we had better see if we can head off any problems"

Gtash and Legundo zoom towards the tower, scanning to see if they can make out a welcoming committee

Sticks
[22:56 August 22, 2070 – Virtual Control Room]

Secure in the horseman from anything smaller than an anti-tank round, and the intel couldn’t be that far wrong could it? you approach the tower breach point. Your TacNet has reached out and once more made contact with your missing drones in the Hobbiton breaching location, now that your jamming is active there too it seems to have bounced the hackers who had subverted the network. The aerial drones have command of the outside of the tower and your rota drones have positioned themselves in the atrium to cover the upper level and the route towards the central core where the enemy have retreated. Now that squad two have consolidated their hold on this location you can afford to pause and allow squad one to proceed and affect a classic pincer move on the hostiles in the tower.

Ice
[22:56 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 4]

Using a service corridor you move away from the atrium and around towards the central core where you will once more be able to line up a shot on the invaders…the Wolf Pack tactical network is showing you the positions of the incoming hostiles and the trap that is being carefully prepared for them…

Gash
[22:58 August 22, 2070 – Astral plane]

Slipping free of your body once more you return to the astral and the warmth of the air around the tower. The ritual is beginning to dissipate in strength as the mana folds itself into the earth but the residue is still disrupting your strength and perceptions.

Despite this you are able to see the lone figure moving on one of the upper terraces as he positions himself to fire on the incoming Heavies. His aura suggests he is a spellcaster of some sort and the rifle he is carrying exudes power, some sort of focus.

You can also see three figures coming from a side entrance in the western of the tower terrace and stealthily approaching the landed LAV…from the opposite side another three are positioning themselves to attack squad two from the rear and possibly to try and repel your landing.

Dahlia Bekhit
[22:58 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

Squire is slipping but you are determined to hold on to him for as long as possible. The medkit has pumped him full of stabilising drugs but you daren’t remove his helmet just yet, it is quite possible that it is the only thing holding his brains in…

Joshua
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Fed Commando Σ63]

Flanked by the Nimrods your plane comes in to a hover over the level three terrace, the rear ramp and side doors open and you are aware of the inrushing air through the insulation of your armour. Rappelling lines fold out of ceiling panels and the other Heavies each secure themselves for a drop. Once you are on the ground Gash will be able to join you, once he returns from looking into the astral at least…

Gash
[22:58 August 22, 2070 – Fed Commando Σ63]

"Legundo deal with the shooter, retreat if you get badly hurt." Gash heads back to his body with some urgency, while Legundo charges into the Sniper engaging in brutal spirit combat crushing the snipers will beneath his own

<<@Attack squad 2- Private Gash reporting. New enemy group with 3 members designated bandit group alpha approaching from your rear. I say again 3 member enemy group approaching from your rear.>>

<<@Heavies - Private Gash reporting. New enemy group designated bandit group beta approaching from west entrance. Sniper at third terrace designated sniper gamma, 11 o'clock, under my control do not engage Sniper. I say again do not engage Sniper.>>

The essentials done, time to think about getting into the action. Struggling out of the seat, Gash moves to the entrance of the LAV

Dahlia Bekhit
[22:58 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

With the drugs pumping into Squire's system, Dahlia sets down to work. The woman pulls up a full diagnostic, or at least the best she can get, from the medkit's sensors. She does her best to mentally quiet the sounds of combat around her as she begins stabilization procedures. Gunfire fades back from the forefront of her mind. Shouts grow quieter and the smell of gunpowder stings a little less. If someone doesn't do their job of looking after her and Squire during the fighting, she'd take it out of their hide later. Perhaps literally.

Gash
[22:58 August 22, 2070 – Fed Commando Σ63]

Gash watches as Silhouette possessed by Legundo takes his helmet off, then performs a beautiful swan dive.

Legundo leaves the Silhouette half way down and hovers to check that the "the shooter is dealt with" as instructed

<<@Heavies - Snipers not controlled anymore>>

Joshua
22:59 August 22, 2070 – Fed Commando Σ63]

Joshua dives out of the plane head first, the rappelling rope whooshing through the descender at his waist. Fractions of a second before hitting the ground, his feet swing round, knees bend and absorb the shock.

His comms crackle: <<@Heavies - Private Gash reporting. New enemy group designated bandit group beta approaching from west entrance. Sniper at third terrace designated sniper gamma, 11 o'clock, under my control do not engage Sniper....>>

Joshua pulls his bow from his back and looks up...a jumping sniper how nice. Joshua tracks the falling sniper and unleases an arrow as the sniper hits the deck.

Hmm bandit group beta...where are they. I need more action!

Joshua looks around for the incoming hostile scaning the landscape for places to take cover and shoot from.

Gash
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Fed Commando Σ63]

As you return to your body you are assaulted by the howling down-rushing winds from the rotors as the Commando whip the air not far above your head. Rodriguez gestures to you to approach her and the climbing harness that she is holding out...

"You saved our arses back there...now it's my turn to look after you..."

With no small amount of trepidation you allow yourself to be tied on to her looming form, the angles of her armour being decidedly uncomfortable in the small of your back. You are grateful that you did, however, as plunging out of the plane you see the tell tale contrail of a shoulder launched rocket winging its way up towards the spot you just vacated...

Dahlia Bekhit
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

The hovering Commando above you coupled with the sporadic fire fight going on inside the tower makes it decidedly difficult to concentrate but with the consummate ease of a true professional you manage to treat Squire despite the aggravation...he might even live, possibly without massive brain damage! The sudden hail of fire coming from outside the terrace however is enough to cause you to duck back against the planter that is sheltering you...

Joshua
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – ]

You land with finesse, despite the enormous crunch as your armoured weight crashes in to the terrace decking. Unslinging your bow and smoothly knocking an arrow you follow the tumbling body of the hapless sniper and release the arrow at precisely the moment needed to skewer him to the deck. If the fall didn't kill him your shot certainly did! You track around for the beta targets designated by Gash but they must be approaching from the far side of the landed Sultan, over to your right however you see the crouched forms of two of the enemy rise up and begin a wash of suppressing fire towards squad two and the landing heavies. This to cover the third target who has clearly managed to unlimber a LAW and send the unguided rocket winging its way towards the distressingly vulnerable open cabin to the Commando hovering above you...

Sticks
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Virtual Control Room]

The centipedes have spread out in a wave in front of squad one, passing through ventilation ducts in order to bypass the closed doors. They have clearly identified the duo of defenders who are dug in like ticks and successfully slowing the squad's advance. Over to the right in one of the residential accommodation units there are three more hostiles arming themselves and the designated target Ricardo has approached the squad from the left via a smaller service tunnel leaving the way open for your drones to explore further into the complex web of living units, tunnels and rooflit garden spaces, all built in to the roots of the wood overhead.

In the atrium your drones have suppressed the enemy defenders long enough for squad two to enhance their beachhead and you already have two confirmed kills to chalk on their metal hides when you eventually finish with this mess...

As Gash's warning about the hostiles outside the tower flashes across your display you are able to retask the Nimrods to ground attack the two groups...you are dismayed to see however that the designated beta group have reached the Sultan and for some inexplicable reason the hatch has been opened and they move inside...before you can react to this unexpected twist the alpha group pop a LAW in the direction of the Commando just as Nimrod 7Ω-9 begins its attack run on that trio

Then every spam filter, control channel and every other wifi signal is overwhelmed by a massive signal emanating from the tower

<<You are not welcome here! Leave at once!You are not welcome here! Leave at once!You are not welcome here! Leave at once!You are not welcome here! Leave at once!You are not welcome here! Leave at once!...>>

Sticks
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Virtual Control Room]


Sticks felt really frustrated. <<Kit! You've got enemy on board, stay in your cocoon.>>
If he could move he would be pounding the sides of his cocoon, but instead he's virtually smashing the arm of his Stone throne.
<<Squad two! They're trying to take over the Sultan...>> And then of course, the damned signal overriding everything. Switching to Laser L.O.S. He'd lost communications with Squad 1. This was a cluster fuck of all proportions.

<<if we lose the Sultan we're Dreking dead. Can we get spirit support, or something in there? Maybe a couple of heavies?>>

<<Faraman, what if we took off and did barrel rolls? Would that put the intruders out of commission?>>

Gash
[22:58 August 22, 2070 – Falling from the Fed Commando Σ63]


Legundo sees the LAW streak towards the the vessel Gash has just left. He wipes out an astral throwing stick and hurls it toward the missile as time slows down. The crafted curse spins in the air, but Legundo had forgotten to take into account the twisted mana from the background, and the stick strikes only the tiniest of blows. The missile carries on as though nothing had happened.

"Bad luck Legundo", sighed Gash. Then gradually the gravity of the situation becomes clear to him. "Legundo I see today will be a long fight. Already we have done well and struck serious blows to the enemy. Their will is strong though, and they have been preparing for this for a long time. As a result of their clever strategems, our brave warriors are out of position, but with your help we can move them to a better".


Manifesting Gash shouts to the heavies: "You heard the man, If the Sultan goes down we are in drek. Go faster stripes have been initiated. We can go as soon as Sarge give the word".

Gash looks around again to see if he can find any other surprises

Catherine “Kit” Sharp
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Sultan]

Dahlia was outside supporting a wounded member of squad two, Squire she guessed. Incoming fire licked off the bodywork of the LAV and rather than leave them exposed any longer Kit opened the hatch to allow the pair to stumble into the cabin...

<<Kit! You've got enemy on board, stay in your cocoon.>>

She looked at the internal cameras in time to see Dahlia's features contort in a disturbing manner until the target designated Cypher was standing in the cabin gesturing to the now highly mobile Squire who removed his blood spattered helmet to reveal someone else entirely. With a sinking feeling she watched as they stood aside to allow a third figure in who had been standing in the camera dead zone of the LAVs engine ports...

Elizabeth Rodriguez
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Falling from the Fed Commando Σ63]

She looked in dismay at the spiralling rocket wash as it spun overhead and impacted with the side of the commando...whilst they might just about make it to the ground intact she wasn't so sure about Vicary and Bradley who were following them down the drop lines. The Commando yawed sickeningly as the pilot fought for control of the suddenly unbalanced air frame and she and Gash slammed unceremoniously into the terrace. Blearily she watched as the other hard shells from the response team set off at a run towards the Sultan and over to her right a wash of fire slammed into her as a Nimrod shot in from above and unleashed a rocket hail on the hostiles who had downed their bird...hunched over the unconscious form of Gash she turned back towards the tower as the Commando finally gave up the struggle against gravity and ploughed into the terrace level above them...

Sticks
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Virtual Control Room]

Communications disrupted and hostiles in the command and control vehicle...things could hardly get worse could they? And then the commando crashes into the terrace level above you spitting a whithering hail of broken plane down on the terrace around you. Two of the hard shells that had been dangling from the plane bounce of the side of the tower and add to the mayhem raining down around you. That still leaves Wyrd in the plane above you and hopefully the pilot survived too, it doesn't look as though the cockpit has been shredded...

Armored
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Hobbiton]

Ricardo stands quietly while Archer and West frisk him for weapons of comms and then burst out in a slightly whiny voice which is instantly irratating

"I can get you past them and into the tower proper...there's a way through the living units behind me..."

...and then comms are wiped out by a blanketing signal...

Dahlia Bekhit
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

Things are going to hell in a handbasket but at least you've managed to stabalise Squire for now. You didn't like the look of the way the two hard shells slammed into the tower though, it seems like your next patients are lining up...it's a good job they are paying you well for this nightmare!

Ice
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 4]

The message has come through to drive the intruders into the tower at last...it seems like the Wolves have taken out their transport so it's time to hamstring them and bleed them dry...

Joshua
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

You loft three arrows in rapid succession towards the hidden defenders who took down the commando...the first two strike home with satisfying effect and the third only misses because the target is no longer in sight...then the targets are engulfed in fire as rockets rain down on them from a swooping Nimrod drone. Job done you begin to jog towards the Sultan, the ground protesting beneath your weight...

Gash
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Astral space]

The astral is filled with flashes of pain, both from your squad mates and the defenders. The raw emotion is unsettling but nothing that you aren't prepared to deal with...

Gash
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Astral space]


Gash races to the Sultan. Even moving at astral speed its hard to keep up the supernaturally fast Heavies racing beside him. Gash throws a nod of approval to Legundo.

As they enter the Sultan the see the astral reflections of the enemy. Gash assesses the situation, pointing at the attacker that has got the furthest into the Sultan and nods to Legundo. Legundo and Gash have done this before many times, but rarely has the situation been so desperate.

"I weary Master, but I shall possess this one, and attack the others" says Legundo, and his astral form begins to merge with the attacker.

Joshua
22:59 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3

Joshua pounds towards the Sultan his body moving at impossible speed. As he runs, he knocks an arrow preparing for the fun fight. Others may be worried about traps and plans and the schemes of the enemy, but as the thrill of battle begins, Joshua kicks his music player to heavy thrash and prepares to dance.

Gash
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Astral space]

You pass with ease through the shell of the Sultan to see the three figures moving though the cargo area. Their auras are bright with fear and determination but it is the middle one that catches your eye...he is a young human, barely out of his teens but his aura is highly mutable, some sort of adept you suspect...there is an active spell matrix woven around his head that loops off towards the tower beyond you. The other two, an orc and another human are mundane with the distressing darkening of their auras that indicate the prescence of cyber enhancements.

Legundo rushes forwards to snatch the mind of the leader but his willpower is stronger than the last and although he shudders at the feeling of the spirit reaching towards his aura he shrugs him off...

Gash
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Astral space]


"Farewell Legundo, you have served well. I may call upon you later"

Gash forms a rune in clouded astral space forming a door way. His spear of power stabs at the heart of the doorway, slashing a hole in time and space. Arcane words of power come forth and in the distance there is the sound of drums beating.

"Umballa, Umballa, our need is great. Three times three I summon thee" Gash cries get your ass over here.

Umballa, a small black skinned figure with twisted legs dances out of the door. In his right hand he holds a staff topped with the skull of goat. His left hand he holds the knuckle bones of his dead foes which he scatters before him so that as he walks he crushes the bones of his defeated enemies.

"Master you call. Who is to be killed. Whose souls must I crush"

Gash points at the three intruders, and Umballa hops forward.

Turning to the adept Gash starts to chant again: There are magics to dispell

Dahlia Bekhit
22:59 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3

Dahlia frowned. It was all but impossible to concentrate with bullets flying around her, that constant nagging urge to duck and cover. She shoved Squire’s gurney aside and pulled up the next patient, a young woman bleeding from the stump of what was left of a ruined leg. The patient coughed, grasping towards Dahlia with week motions. Setting the other woman’s hand aside, Dahlia adjusted the anesthesia dosage, injected it into the dying mercenary in front of her, and got back to work.

Joshua
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

Joshua zooms supernaturally quickly into the Sultan, arrow already in position on his huge bow. The small, tiny, hatchway designed for midget humans causes him to slow a little, as he enters.

Three he thinks, this could be challenging

The concentric circles formed by his smart bow link pulse from the heart of the closest target. Thwack goes the arrow.

Tossing the bow to his left, Joshua draws his twin vibro blades, continues his movement forwards, moving into melee range with the enemy.

Sticks
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Virtual Control Room]

<<Report when Sultan is clear.>>

Sticks brought up floor plans, and started going over how to best provide support for the imminent storming. This was going to be a blood bath. Sticks reached out to the Wyrd's pilot agent, inquiring to the status of the occupants.

Displays lit up before him, diagnostics and communication checks being run on all the remaining drones. Muttering to himself inside the cocoon, "I'm gonna deck who ever put up the intel on this group."

Joshua
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Sultan's cargo bay]

As you duck through the hatchway you immediatly sum up the situation in the cargo hold and your arrow snaps out with a thrum followed almost immediatly by a sickening thud as it nails its victim to the bulkhead behind him. Satisfied that he is taken care of you move to engage the other two. The younger of the two looks at you in horror as you bear down on him and he holds his arms up over his face in a futile gesture of submission...as you watch his face and then his whole body seem to melt and mere seconds later a small boy, in now vastly oversized clothes, is looking up at you in mute appeal. Behind him the last antagonist yells

"Down, down!" and follows this up with two stacato bursts of fire directed at your chest plate...

Gash
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Astral space]

Although your spirit is not able to get a purchase on the man's mind you are more successful at unravelling the spell matrix surrounding the adept. The glowing tendrils of mana snap away from him and then disipate into the ether. As they do you feel a rippling in the manasphere and two astral beings step into the astral representation of the cargo hold of the Sultan. The first is clearly a spirit, a spectral wolf-like being that growls at you in a decidedly menacing tone. Standing at his shoulder is a mage of some sorts. She is clearly an elf, standing tall and radiant above you and wielding a glittering frostblade...the most disturbing thing is that she lacks a face, what kind of idealised self image doesn't include a face?

She points the weapon foci towards you and the spirit lunges to attack...

Joshua
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

The bullets bounce off Joshua's plated chest, and he laughs. Raising the pair of deadly vibro blades they descend towards the helpless child.

This is really wierd thinks Joshua. I don't kill kids, but what if its a wizard, not a kid.

Joshua trips the kid up with the back of his blade, knocking him off his feet, and steps over the subdued form towards the guy with the gun. Is this a kid too?.

Slashing at the shooters gun, Joshua snarls "Drop it and live, or don't and die"

Gash
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Astral space]


A spirit and a mage. Not tainted either of them. But what is going on here? Children should not be fighting like this

"Umballa you are dismissed. I will call you later". Last think I need is for Umballa to kill some kids.

"Wretched woman, why do you let your children bleed and die for you"

Gash slashes viciously with his spear twice: the first at the wolf spirit, the second at Masque.

Joshua
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Sultan's cargo bay]

The bullets whistle past you, spaning off the pauldrons of your armour and making colourful dents in the interior...you suspect Sticks might have words with you about that..."Drop it and live, or don't and die"

"Frag you!" The orc releases the now somewhat dented assault rifle to the deck and backs towards the hatch into the crew cabin. As he does so he pulls one of two grenades from a loop on his belt "Back off or we all go up!"

The kid you knocked down seems to have returned to the form you originally saw him in and although dazed is using your temporary distraction to scuttle towards the exit...

Gash
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Astral space]

As Umballa disappears your two astral opponents converge on you. Although you strike a telling blow against the mage the wolf spirit moves around behind you to try and savage your metaphorical hamstrings allowing the mage to attack you from the front...

"Bleed and die for us? You are the invaders here...why would they not fight for their home? You call me Wretched?"

Sticks & Dahlia
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

A crackling comm signal comes through to you on the outmoded microwave link that you have for emergencies...it seems that the foresight is paying off...

<<This is Wyrd...can anyone hear me? The pilot is trapped and I'm fragged if nobody comes to fish us out...I can see them approaching the plane now...for frag sake...>>

Gash
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Astral space]


"I am a mercenary. I chose this lifestyle. I kill soldiers and terrorists. I don't kill non-combatants, people that cannot defend themselves. You are terrorists, associated with the AI Sojourner. Last I heard you were blackmailing people with orbital bombardment and biological weapons. Using poorly trained kids, and mass destruction of innocent populations is just your style."

Gash moves his spear through a complex sequence of patterns too fast for the eye to follow, then strikes hard at Masque, while twisting to avoid the attacks from Masque and the wolf. I sure hope this taint is causing them as many problems as it is me

Joshua
22:59 August 22, 2070 – Fed Commando Σ63]

Joshua taps his chest. "This is good armour kid, I can take that and laugh about it afterwards. Can you?"

Joshua is actually a little worried: this armour has a limited edition space invader logo on the right shoulder. If it takes too many more grenade blasts it might get scratched.

Sheathing his swords, and reaching for his bow, he gestures to the doorway.

"Out. And if you throw that I will kill you".

Gash
[23:00 August 22, 2070 – Astral space]

Your blows rain down on the mage and her aura visibly trembles but it is hard to concentrate on both targets at once and although you block her sword blow, the strength of it is worrying if it were to connect, the wolf spirit nips at your heels and you are uncomfortably aware that back at your body blood has begun to pool in the bottom of your shoe

"Enough, AI's are a myth little man! Is that the pretext you use to attack us? Come and face me in the meat, then we will see..."

With that she and the wolf streak back towards the tower at the speed of thought...

Joshua
[23:00 August 22, 2070 – Sultan's cargo bay]

"Yeah right, I leave here and I die...the only thing keeping me alive is this grenade...I'm sure you wouldn't want your buddies back there to get cooked..." he gestures back through at the rigger cocoons behind him "You give me your word that I live if I surrender and I'll put this on the deck all gentle like..."

Sticks
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]


<<Wyrd, stay calm. We'll get you some help.>>

Sticks does a quick count to see how many of his creepycrawlers are still in circulation and are near here. 5 or 6 would be about perfect.

Diverting one of his copters and a Nimrod to create an interdiction shield around the downed ship, Sticks tries to get help up to the pilot and Wyrd. <<Sgt Chan, can you break away to do a rescue? I'll cover you with the drones. But we're gonna lose them both if we don't manage something.>>

Gash
[22:59 August 22, 2070 – Astral space]


As Masque flees, Gash calls to her "We do not seek your death, only proof. If you were not involved, let us see, and we will leave. There is no need to fight"

Fat chance of that lot of eco-terrorists listening to reason Gash though, still its worth trying. She fought well though. Its about now I am glad I got that pain editor

Seeing that Joshua seemed to have the attack on the Sultan under control, Gash headed back up out of the taint into the clean astral space.

Time for some healing: that Lady hits hard, and I think its time to get Legundo's help again

The astral winds warp and flutter as Legundo appears again "So soon Master, it seems that the fighting is over near here". "The fighting is just beginning Legundo, this tower reminds me of the time we fought the Hive. Fanatics defend it, and that concealment worries me. Still, it just means that we will have to be better than them"

Taking the time for a last astral scan: these tower people were sneaky buggers, Gash heads back to his body.

With a gasp, his body shocks awake again, his wound reopening from the strain of summoning. Looking upwards at Rodriguez. "<cough> Hi Sarge! thanks for looking after me. I think the Sultans back under our control. Where are the others? "

Joshua
22:59 August 22, 2070 – Fed Commando Σ63]

"Deal" Joshua says. He's feeling succinct.

Closing the door to the sultan, he disarms the kid and demonstrates one of the many fine uses of duct tape.

<<Joshua here, Sultan's clear. One dead, one prisoner, one runner>> Damn this static, don't know if that go that through

"Can't leave you here" he says, tossing the kid casually over his shoulder, closeing the door of the Sultan behind him as he lopes towards the others.

[23:02 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

Time to consolidate before pushing on into the tower. The threat to the Sultan seems to be passed without undue incident, blood spatter aside, Joshua has another live one and a combatant this time so potentially a better source of info on the workings of the community.

Stick's drones are flying interference, buzzing over the downed Commando on the level above you and in the open atrium area infront of the initial breach. The area seems secure enough for you to make you way up to the downed craft to extract Wyrd and the pilot. You have four Hard Shells capable of movement and they are more than able to form a breaching party ahead of the remainder of Squad Two. Worryingly all contact seems to have been lost with Squad One so there's no opportunity to coordinate a pincer attack through the tower.

Dahlia has stabalised all the wounded and they have been repositioned off to one side on the terrace secured from incoming fire by the planters and water features in that area and guarded by the rather disgruntled Corporal Vicary who is nursing a broken leg but otherwise capable of combat.

From his previous view of the tower from the lofty heights above the background count Gash is sure that the inhabitants have retreated inside the structure rather than face the heat of your onslaught...now you just need to go in there and root them out, which will almost certainly be harder than the threat assessments might have lead you to believe. With your potentially reduced numbers there is a lot of ground to cover in there...

...so who has a plan?

Gash
[23:02 August 22, 2070 – Stillwater Eco Tower Level 3]

Gash looks around at the scene of devastation <<Private Gash Reporting - orders please>> The only response was static. Bah useless tech, and not an officer around. Well that means it up to us. Well time to end this.

"Sarge, can you carry me to Dahlia, I'm going to see if I can talk some sense to these guys"

Gash heads back to the Astral, and up and out of the hideous taint.

"OK Bobangi, we are are approaching the end game. Either we can talk to them, or we will destroy all they have built. I hope they listen to reason. Come forth again so we can finish this".

"Master" Bobangi bows.

"Lets find that mage Masque. She went that way. Gash's powerful astral form points in the direction that Masque and fled in. Seek and find her. I will be looking too. If you see her, tell her that I would talk to her, and will meet her over there" Gash points at a little hillock near the tower. She has my word it isn't a trap."

Nodding, Bobangi dives into the tower. Gash manifests a white flag on the end of his spear and follows