[Saturday, April 15th 2073, 0130 hours; Horizon-BBC World News archive nexi]
<Searching Directory: BBCWorldNews/Field Reports/>
<Opening file: MerodeRinguAttack-04/14/73.hvp>
<Loading Video...>
As the picture comes in, uniformed military personal wearing full chemical protection walk rural streets that are full of motionless bodies lying about. The scene remains eerily quiet until the british accented voice of a reporter speaks up. "Many parts of Africa have always been very familiar to warfare and mass murder due it's history, and last night was no exception. This town and it's large agricultural community in the area of Kaseke fell victim to massed artillery fire allegedly belonging to noted terrorist Merode Ngobobo, however this attack is notable for one small detail..."
The scenery changes from the soldiers tending to the dead to a pale-skinned man clad in navy blue body armor with PRESS stenciled along the helmet and vest, a finger firmly pressed against his earpiece reciever as he stands in front of a large town that is about a kilometer away. "As you can see behind me, the town is almost entirely undamaged and yet the clip we played earlier shows a rather high body count. The reason for this is because the shells fired were gas dispersal munitions filled with nerve gas known as 'Ringu'. This is a state-of-the-art colorless, odorless, gasous chemical weapon that is said to be so deadly that it can kill such paranormal creatures like lesser dragons with terrifying ease. Adding to this, it capable of eroding through typical protective measures such as chemical suits and even some forms of toxin filter augmentations, and it possesses no known antidote as of now. We do not have an official death toll yet, but authorities state that the only likely survivors are those who were well away from where the shells hit."
As the reporter continues to speak, the scene changes to archived footage of Merode Ngobobo's rare video apperances; mostly just him inspecting his troops. "Rebel General Merode "The CEO" Ngobobo is known to various authorities around the world as the leader of an eco-terrorist movement with an anti-corporate agenda. His movement is typically centered around Mount Nyiragongo with constant battles waged to keep control of what was Vurunga and and the Bwindi National Park, wishing to protect the mountain gorillas and various mountain spirits by doing so."
The footage being played changes once more to show corporate troopers performing peacekeeping duties and keeping watch on several captured rebel soldiers kneeling down in front of their captors with hands placed firmly on their heads. "Authorities state that this attack in Kaseke was a bloody reprisal against corporate and Congalese armed forces who were just starting to gain some ground despite the difficult terrain. This was later confirmed when Merode sent an audio recording out to several media outlets claiming responsibility, and insisting that this is not the last time Ringu will be used on towns and cities that quote: 'succumb to corporate greed' should they insist on opposing him, especially now that he intends to expand past his usual territory."
Finally the footage goes back to the reporter standing well outside of the devestaed town. "Although authories wish to move in and take Merode now, they are restraining themselves from more direct measures at the moment in order to avoid provoking Merode into attacking more cities, just in case his claims of possessing much more Ringu are true. In hopes of expediting the effort to bring Merode Ngobobo to justice regardless, the Corporate Court, UNATCO, and various governments within Africa have come to agreement in offering an open bounty of 50,000,000¥ for his live capture, with half offered if he is brought in deceased. There are also said to be many small bounties on any information towards his whereabouts. While the Corporate officials are confident that this will go a long way to solve this matter quickly and efficiently, many others living in Africa instead say that they are needlessly playing a dangerous game."
"From Bryan Stills in the Congo Tribal Lands, this is BBC News."
After that, the image and sound cuts out.
<Replay? Y/N>
[Nineteen days later...]
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2055 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
As the minutes tick by into hours, the blazing sun above the sky of Algeria begins to sink and it's light begins to dim. Unfortuntely, the temperature has yet to dip like the sun has begun to do, and it seems it'll stay hot for another hour if local weather reports are anything to go by, and thus it seems for another hour everyone suffering through the heat will have to suffer their every breath drawing in heated air without a hint of moisture. Though this could perhaps be seen as fortuitous to some; the predators of the night usually do prefer to wait for the heat to die down before venturing forth.
One such group of predatory individuals, a group of armed mercenaries, are currently hiding in the hills and mountains, braving the heat as they squat inside a series of trenches dug into the earth, while camouflage netting adorned with various bits of local flora and earth weaved into it is stretched above to conceal them from casual observance from the world at large. In this dug-in hiding place they have waited patiently, waited for two days and several hours to get a view of their purpose for being here: A lieutenant by the name of Laurent Tshombe, a man who is under Merode Ngobobo's command. This wait, however, has gone for one whole day longer than it was supposed to. The man recommending this plan of action to the other mercenaries, Chris 'Bazz' Maxwell, shows his annoyance at this turnout quite visibly, snapping at everyone who questions the idea of coming here and insisting that they be patient.
While they waited, these mercenaries have been far from idle. In the time they have been waiting, they have taken the liberty of observing the old abandoned private airstrip that lays just over 900 meters to the west of them, the location their target is supposed be at by now. From the looks of things, this airstrip was once private property of the wealthy, judging by the large house just a few hundered meters further off and behind the airstrip proper. The various structures lined up alongside the lengthy, cracked tarmac are mostly intact but they show much age. Whatever paint that was applied has been relentlessly worn away by high winds and course sands, and rust creeps from the corners of metal structures; though said rust is in minute quantities, no doubt because the lack of rain and open water in the area.
In their observance, they have discovered that this airstrip is not as abandoned as it first seemed. After about two days the headcount for these occupants seem to be about ten people; two in what appears to be an Air Control Tower, two people doing patrols around the area, and the remaining six ducking in and out of the large hanger standing at one end of the tarmac. They are all dressed lightly, to the point where they wear no clothing overtop their concealable armor vests; could it be that they are not completely used to this heat? They all seem to be universally armed with some AK-97's and what appears to be Ares Predator pistols holstered at their hips or under an arm; the only deviation from the trend is a Ranger Arms SM-3 sniper rifle belonging to one of the two men sitting in the tower. These guys are at least lightly organized, but their equipment and dress seems to indicate they aren't paramilitary, and they don't seem to be local at all. In fact, after the time spent observing them with whatever long range hearing equipment, they don't speak any of the two-thousand acknowledged languages and dialects within Africa, in fact, it sounds distinctly southeast asian...
These people occupying the airstrip are not the primary target, not even a local african faction, yet they occupy the area that the target is supposed to be in by now. Who are these people? Why are they here instead of Laurent Tshombe?
Full Version: IC: Dangerous Game
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2055 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Addison "Cor" Wells rested on his stomach just below the rise of the hill that was his vantage point. The prickly brush that he'd chosen to conceal himself in itched like blazes, and yet he didn't dare scratch. He needed the concealment. Likely none of the mysterious men on the grounds of the mansion or airstrip almost a full kilometer away would spot him in the dark. Still, he didn't need to go shaking the limbs of this particular scrub, as if to proclaim to the world "Here I am, you tossers!"
He frowned, taking in the scene. His goggles did a magnificent job of bringing the distant panorama into view, the device periodically scanning his retinas in order to adjust the focus on the current objects of his study. Strange. These didn't appear to be locals, and they didn't speak any tongue he was aware of. They were ill-equipped and not used to the climate.
Around and around, his mind went in circles, always ending up at the question where he'd begun: Who in the bloody hell imported these wankers? And did they keep the receipt?
Cor knew good and well that these guys would be pushovers. At least that's what he'd been able to surmise in his study of them since they'd been camped in their current location. Yet, it was always the information you didn't have that caused good men to go early to their graves. And Cor wasn't about to let any of his current team do that.
<<Thinking we need some birds in the sky,>> he subvocalized across his unit's comm channel, a British pedigree obvious in his accent. <<We've let these fellows get cozy in that mansion, and I'm sure it's a hell of alot cooler in there than it is out here. If we can get some tactical recon and intelligence, I think we'll be sleeping in beds tonight. How's that sound to you guys?>>
Cor very slowly extricated himself from the scratching thorns of his concealment and crawled backwards down the slope until he was out of sight. He patted the inside breast pocket of his camouflage suit to make certain his cigarettes were in there. He would only indulge in that particular vice after the mission was done, of course. Still, it was reassuring to know he had some handy.
Addison "Cor" Wells rested on his stomach just below the rise of the hill that was his vantage point. The prickly brush that he'd chosen to conceal himself in itched like blazes, and yet he didn't dare scratch. He needed the concealment. Likely none of the mysterious men on the grounds of the mansion or airstrip almost a full kilometer away would spot him in the dark. Still, he didn't need to go shaking the limbs of this particular scrub, as if to proclaim to the world "Here I am, you tossers!"
He frowned, taking in the scene. His goggles did a magnificent job of bringing the distant panorama into view, the device periodically scanning his retinas in order to adjust the focus on the current objects of his study. Strange. These didn't appear to be locals, and they didn't speak any tongue he was aware of. They were ill-equipped and not used to the climate.
Around and around, his mind went in circles, always ending up at the question where he'd begun: Who in the bloody hell imported these wankers? And did they keep the receipt?
Cor knew good and well that these guys would be pushovers. At least that's what he'd been able to surmise in his study of them since they'd been camped in their current location. Yet, it was always the information you didn't have that caused good men to go early to their graves. And Cor wasn't about to let any of his current team do that.
<<Thinking we need some birds in the sky,>> he subvocalized across his unit's comm channel, a British pedigree obvious in his accent. <<We've let these fellows get cozy in that mansion, and I'm sure it's a hell of alot cooler in there than it is out here. If we can get some tactical recon and intelligence, I think we'll be sleeping in beds tonight. How's that sound to you guys?>>
Cor very slowly extricated himself from the scratching thorns of his concealment and crawled backwards down the slope until he was out of sight. He patted the inside breast pocket of his camouflage suit to make certain his cigarettes were in there. He would only indulge in that particular vice after the mission was done, of course. Still, it was reassuring to know he had some handy.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2055 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Kerrigan was used to sitting still for hours and even days, that didn't bother her much. The heat was a bit beyond pleasant, but even that was bearable for a while. What she couldn't stand was the utter lack of a plan. They were here for this guy, Laurent Tshombe, who should be here, but wasn't apparantly. At least, there was no sign of him. And most importantly, they didn't know what to do with those asian-speaking goons sitting around the place, or even who they were.
<< [Lynx] Anything that brings us forward. We know nothing about them. We don't even really know what side they are on. Their own? Maybe it's a new player? Maybe the terrorists have made some new friends? Any ideas how we could get a reading of how many people are in that hut? Is it just the ten we know about or more? Or how about getting some close-ups of these guys and better voice samples, maybe we can find out who they are? And what do we know about that abandoned airstrip? Is it still in use? Are they, maybe, awaiting some kind of delivery here, that Tshombe is supposed to take in? These guys could be a forward team securing the landing site. Without knowing more, we cannot decide on a course of action. We need intel! >>
Kerrigan was used to sitting still for hours and even days, that didn't bother her much. The heat was a bit beyond pleasant, but even that was bearable for a while. What she couldn't stand was the utter lack of a plan. They were here for this guy, Laurent Tshombe, who should be here, but wasn't apparantly. At least, there was no sign of him. And most importantly, they didn't know what to do with those asian-speaking goons sitting around the place, or even who they were.
<< [Lynx] Anything that brings us forward. We know nothing about them. We don't even really know what side they are on. Their own? Maybe it's a new player? Maybe the terrorists have made some new friends? Any ideas how we could get a reading of how many people are in that hut? Is it just the ten we know about or more? Or how about getting some close-ups of these guys and better voice samples, maybe we can find out who they are? And what do we know about that abandoned airstrip? Is it still in use? Are they, maybe, awaiting some kind of delivery here, that Tshombe is supposed to take in? These guys could be a forward team securing the landing site. Without knowing more, we cannot decide on a course of action. We need intel! >>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2055 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Irish brogue poured through the subvocalization: <<Don't strain yourself milady, we've only been sweltering here for one and fifty hours and I'm sahrtain we won't be budging without proper intel.>> Ace shot a sidelong glance at Cor and added <<I do agree heartily with the idea of bairds in the sky tho. Please contramand me, sahr, if you don't want me tah commence launching our favorite gaseous floating eyeball.>>
With that, Ace began zigzagging backwards through the trench network weaving his way towards the motor pool. Of course, the van and car -- he reflected again that his glorified suburban cruisers were not really warzone ready -- had to be parked farther away and covered better than their position, but the Renraku Stormcloud mini-blimp was charmingly easy to transport deflated.
As Ace went through the preflight ritual of activating the auto-inflater, checking the rifle and laser mic and ensuring that his prior maintenence hadn't missed gasbag holes, sensor blind spots or spotty wiring his thoughts wandered, as they often did, to William Butler Yeats.
I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above;
The drone puttered to life and Ace marveled at it as he did with any aircraft; a little miracle kicking up dirt in front of him. Ensuring there was sufficient brush and tree cover, Ace started the dizzying ascent of the eye-in-the-sky through AR. The thing wouldn't have a lot of hiding spots high in the air, but the underside was darkly colored and a speck in the sky rarely attracted attention. Hopefully that would be enough to stay out of sight of the current targets.
Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I guard I do not love;
Of course he wouldn't fly over and risk blowing cover without order more direct than the one he manufactured. So he watched the drone spiral upwards, carefully reading his sensor suites, as the mini-blimp prepared for its upcoming fate and as he listened to the ensuing network chatter.
Irish brogue poured through the subvocalization: <<Don't strain yourself milady, we've only been sweltering here for one and fifty hours and I'm sahrtain we won't be budging without proper intel.>> Ace shot a sidelong glance at Cor and added <<I do agree heartily with the idea of bairds in the sky tho. Please contramand me, sahr, if you don't want me tah commence launching our favorite gaseous floating eyeball.>>
With that, Ace began zigzagging backwards through the trench network weaving his way towards the motor pool. Of course, the van and car -- he reflected again that his glorified suburban cruisers were not really warzone ready -- had to be parked farther away and covered better than their position, but the Renraku Stormcloud mini-blimp was charmingly easy to transport deflated.
As Ace went through the preflight ritual of activating the auto-inflater, checking the rifle and laser mic and ensuring that his prior maintenence hadn't missed gasbag holes, sensor blind spots or spotty wiring his thoughts wandered, as they often did, to William Butler Yeats.
I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above;
The drone puttered to life and Ace marveled at it as he did with any aircraft; a little miracle kicking up dirt in front of him. Ensuring there was sufficient brush and tree cover, Ace started the dizzying ascent of the eye-in-the-sky through AR. The thing wouldn't have a lot of hiding spots high in the air, but the underside was darkly colored and a speck in the sky rarely attracted attention. Hopefully that would be enough to stay out of sight of the current targets.
Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I guard I do not love;
Of course he wouldn't fly over and risk blowing cover without order more direct than the one he manufactured. So he watched the drone spiral upwards, carefully reading his sensor suites, as the mini-blimp prepared for its upcoming fate and as he listened to the ensuing network chatter.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2055 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Cor grinned when Kerrigan followed him onto the comm channel. As he scooted back down the rocky hillside, he listened to her extended listing of observations, contingencies, and hypothetical situations. Cor admired this one, so similar to himself in many ways. While he didn't try to pry overmuch (some people were a little resistant to invasions of privacy, as he himself should well know), he still had enough knowledge of her to figure that she was, perhaps, Awakened. Not like a full-fledged magician, such as the ones licensed by Her Majesty back home, but perhaps more like him, where the effects were a bit more... subtle. If she wanted to balance those God-given talents with artifice, well, that was her business.
She was so gung-ho and assertive, Kerrigan was. Almost like she had something to prove. He'd picked up driblets of her history, and his heart was melancholy for the knowledge that gender exclusion kept promising young soldiers like this one from more prestigious service of Queen and Country. Maybe she was trying to prove to herself - and others - that she really had become the soldier she was always meant to be. In that case, she had absolutely nothing to prove to Cor. He knew talented soldiers at sight, and she was one such.
I'm damn glad she signed on with us instead of with some other company, Cor mused. Proudly.
When Ace came on the channel and put forth his plan of action, Cor looked over at the man, nodded, and made a forward gesture.
<<I'll not contramand what is a wise course of action. My only concern is that the tower they're in is more than just decoration. They could have radar or other gadgets in there, and I worry they'll pick up our floating friend. Get as close as you dare with it, though, and see if you can get a sound feed with that microphone of yours. If you can pick up voices, patch them through to me. I'll try and figure out what they're saying.>>
Another good soldier, this Ace. Maybe not a proper countryman, given that he was a Tir ex-patriate... but close enough. He lived up to his nickname with his drones, and he was a bit of a tinkerer to boot. Cor reckoned that all that aptitude went to his head at times, for Ace had cultivated a rather healthy self-esteem. Even so, a competant and self-motivated soldier was worth his weight in orichalcum. Especially this one, who didn't fall into the usual pitfalls of specialization, and could hold his own on the ground with or without his toys.
I do wish he had more discriminating taste in music, though, Cor thought with a grimace.
Cor grinned when Kerrigan followed him onto the comm channel. As he scooted back down the rocky hillside, he listened to her extended listing of observations, contingencies, and hypothetical situations. Cor admired this one, so similar to himself in many ways. While he didn't try to pry overmuch (some people were a little resistant to invasions of privacy, as he himself should well know), he still had enough knowledge of her to figure that she was, perhaps, Awakened. Not like a full-fledged magician, such as the ones licensed by Her Majesty back home, but perhaps more like him, where the effects were a bit more... subtle. If she wanted to balance those God-given talents with artifice, well, that was her business.
She was so gung-ho and assertive, Kerrigan was. Almost like she had something to prove. He'd picked up driblets of her history, and his heart was melancholy for the knowledge that gender exclusion kept promising young soldiers like this one from more prestigious service of Queen and Country. Maybe she was trying to prove to herself - and others - that she really had become the soldier she was always meant to be. In that case, she had absolutely nothing to prove to Cor. He knew talented soldiers at sight, and she was one such.
I'm damn glad she signed on with us instead of with some other company, Cor mused. Proudly.
When Ace came on the channel and put forth his plan of action, Cor looked over at the man, nodded, and made a forward gesture.
<<I'll not contramand what is a wise course of action. My only concern is that the tower they're in is more than just decoration. They could have radar or other gadgets in there, and I worry they'll pick up our floating friend. Get as close as you dare with it, though, and see if you can get a sound feed with that microphone of yours. If you can pick up voices, patch them through to me. I'll try and figure out what they're saying.>>
Another good soldier, this Ace. Maybe not a proper countryman, given that he was a Tir ex-patriate... but close enough. He lived up to his nickname with his drones, and he was a bit of a tinkerer to boot. Cor reckoned that all that aptitude went to his head at times, for Ace had cultivated a rather healthy self-esteem. Even so, a competant and self-motivated soldier was worth his weight in orichalcum. Especially this one, who didn't fall into the usual pitfalls of specialization, and could hold his own on the ground with or without his toys.
I do wish he had more discriminating taste in music, though, Cor thought with a grimace.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2055 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<< @Ace [Lynx] No worries, just offering some thoughts on the situation. Apparantly, things aren't quite as straightforward here as we thought, so we got to see how we can make the best out of it. >>
<< @Cor [Lynx] Absolutely! It must be our first priority to remain undetected, because if they realize someone's here, whatever is going to happen here, won't be happening anymore. >>
Of course, everyone knew that already, but it never hurt to repeat some really important details.
<< @Ace [Lynx] No worries, just offering some thoughts on the situation. Apparantly, things aren't quite as straightforward here as we thought, so we got to see how we can make the best out of it. >>
<< @Cor [Lynx] Absolutely! It must be our first priority to remain undetected, because if they realize someone's here, whatever is going to happen here, won't be happening anymore. >>
Of course, everyone knew that already, but it never hurt to repeat some really important details.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2055 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Hatfield lay in the trench watching the other foreigners guarding the airstrip. Why would a native warlord hire outsiders to do anything? Especially what should be guard duty. At that they could even be doing the same thing we are, just dumber. Bah, no use guessing, we need something real to go on.
<<Has anyone checked on the house? I haven't seen anyone around there but that doesn't mean much if the goons are all working out of the hanger.>>
This group seems to know what they are doing. Professionals all if a bit eccentric at times but then again, most hundred percent sane people don't choose this life and they all seem to have chosen it. Whats that say about moi'?
He switches over to astral again to see if anything has changed on that front. Judging by the state of these yahoos they probably don't have any astral security at all but just in case I'm glad for the foliage.
Astral perception
[edit addition due to lack of time this morning]
Hatfield lay in the trench watching the other foreigners guarding the airstrip. Why would a native warlord hire outsiders to do anything? Especially what should be guard duty. At that they could even be doing the same thing we are, just dumber. Bah, no use guessing, we need something real to go on.
<<Has anyone checked on the house? I haven't seen anyone around there but that doesn't mean much if the goons are all working out of the hanger.>>
This group seems to know what they are doing. Professionals all if a bit eccentric at times but then again, most hundred percent sane people don't choose this life and they all seem to have chosen it. Whats that say about moi'?
He switches over to astral again to see if anything has changed on that front. Judging by the state of these yahoos they probably don't have any astral security at all but just in case I'm glad for the foliage.
Astral perception
[edit addition due to lack of time this morning]
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2055 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
There's a grin on the lips as Lynx starts to bitch to the Captain. It's all the things he's heard before from someone anxious to get waist deep into the action, even if the girl sees the world through a set of crosshairs. Perhaps it was time to stop looking to see if the hibachi had been set up yet and get to work.
Sleepin' in a bed sounds right nice, actually. A quick sub off, and--
<<Simmer down, pet. 'M tryin' to listen in.>>
The voice is unabashedly British, deep, and slow. It belongs to an Ork that looks like he's sleeping in one of the camoflauged trenches, a modified assault rifle laying across his chest, and goggles over his eyes. A shock of black hair can be seen underneath his Kevlar helmet - one of the old style they don't use anymore, that one could pick up for ten nuyen at a surplus store. The commlink on the Ork's wrist, however, is one of the new Battle Buddy Basics - custom fitted with an OS, stocked with programs, and in Sniffing mode. Most telling is the shit-eating grin on his face; someone should not have that much fun needling their fellow employees.
Especially if they've got a long range rifle.
From Loony's - that's the Ork - perspective, the harsh desert and scrub took on a deeper twilight hue. He was busy looking at the ivory streams of data that signified wireless transmissions, from the ones he designated coming from the rest of the PMC- Bazz still hasn't set up that damn hibachi - to the ones from the area he'd taken to calling Charlie Zulu. He'd been watching the transmissions for a few days now, little blips he could only assume were 'All Clear' in not-English, longer blips that he could only assume were 'It's fucking hot' in not-English, and lengthy blips that he enjoyed assuming were 'Goodbye, everybody / I've got to go / Got to leave it all behind and face the truth.' Again, in not-English (though whoever was on imaginary guitar was sodding fantastic). There hadn't been a terrible amount of traffic from these amateurs - which is what they were, only two men and a sniper/spotter on three-sixty overwatch? - and to tell the truth, Loony had been bored.
<<Goin' to a bit of cryptoanalysis on one of these lads. Someone be a dear and leave out the lead pipe in case we have to do it the fun way, yeah?>>
Time to get busy. Sunk into VR, Loony unpacks a virtual butterfly net and a lead pipe, searching to Capture a Wireless Signal and then Decrypt the little bugger before sleazing his way onto their little network.
I see a little silhouetto of a man...
There's a grin on the lips as Lynx starts to bitch to the Captain. It's all the things he's heard before from someone anxious to get waist deep into the action, even if the girl sees the world through a set of crosshairs. Perhaps it was time to stop looking to see if the hibachi had been set up yet and get to work.
Sleepin' in a bed sounds right nice, actually. A quick sub off, and--
<<Simmer down, pet. 'M tryin' to listen in.>>
The voice is unabashedly British, deep, and slow. It belongs to an Ork that looks like he's sleeping in one of the camoflauged trenches, a modified assault rifle laying across his chest, and goggles over his eyes. A shock of black hair can be seen underneath his Kevlar helmet - one of the old style they don't use anymore, that one could pick up for ten nuyen at a surplus store. The commlink on the Ork's wrist, however, is one of the new Battle Buddy Basics - custom fitted with an OS, stocked with programs, and in Sniffing mode. Most telling is the shit-eating grin on his face; someone should not have that much fun needling their fellow employees.
Especially if they've got a long range rifle.
From Loony's - that's the Ork - perspective, the harsh desert and scrub took on a deeper twilight hue. He was busy looking at the ivory streams of data that signified wireless transmissions, from the ones he designated coming from the rest of the PMC- Bazz still hasn't set up that damn hibachi - to the ones from the area he'd taken to calling Charlie Zulu. He'd been watching the transmissions for a few days now, little blips he could only assume were 'All Clear' in not-English, longer blips that he could only assume were 'It's fucking hot' in not-English, and lengthy blips that he enjoyed assuming were 'Goodbye, everybody / I've got to go / Got to leave it all behind and face the truth.' Again, in not-English (though whoever was on imaginary guitar was sodding fantastic). There hadn't been a terrible amount of traffic from these amateurs - which is what they were, only two men and a sniper/spotter on three-sixty overwatch? - and to tell the truth, Loony had been bored.
<<Goin' to a bit of cryptoanalysis on one of these lads. Someone be a dear and leave out the lead pipe in case we have to do it the fun way, yeah?>>
Time to get busy. Sunk into VR, Loony unpacks a virtual butterfly net and a lead pipe, searching to Capture a Wireless Signal and then Decrypt the little bugger before sleazing his way onto their little network.
I see a little silhouetto of a man...
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2056 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
((@Hatfield)): Shifting over to the astral plane, the dimming light of the mundane world gives way to the soft glow that the manasphere radiates. It doesn't take a skilled observer to see there's a lack of true magical activity within that airstrip. No spirits(outside of the odd wild one that passes by in a flash), no active wards or spells, and it doesn't look like any of the people within this airstrip that you have observed for the past two days show any magic talent. Almost seems odd, anybody who was planning to secure this place for a long period of time would at least rent a few spirits if they didn't have a mage amoung them...
After a few moments of matrix chatter, Bazz pipes up, his scottish accent filling the airwaves: <<Oi, ya people need to be calmin' down a tad. We been here two days and ya frettin' like we just walked into an ambush. I be sayin' it all again in that I know intel is light on this one, but before we started searchin' none of ya had an idea of where to look.>> The scottish man peeks his head up from the trench to take a look at the airstrip in the distance, <<Though I give ya one thin', it does seem might bit strange that these people are just standin' around waitin'. I too wonder if they be waitin' for our man.>> After ducking back down in the trench, he notices the glances given to him by Loony. "Hey... What are ye lookin' at me like that for..?"
((@Loony)): After launching your programs at the first signal you see, it doesn't take long before any encryption is soundly beaten and you have a captured signal. You've only got the signal from one commlink of theirs, but as luck would have it this guy seems to be in the middle of a text chat, which reads out like so shortly after you copy the text:
<<紅色五>: 在哪裡這個人？應該昨天在這里。>>
<<紅色一>: 說它是引擎。 那這不好。>>
<<紅色五>: 因此他不去來這里？>>
<<紅色一>: 不，他來這里。 應該在所有分鐘現在飛行。>>
Fascinating! Though you still have no idea what they are saying. At least you got some text, maybe it could somehow be used to figure out just what bloody language these wankers are speaking.
((@Hatfield)): Shifting over to the astral plane, the dimming light of the mundane world gives way to the soft glow that the manasphere radiates. It doesn't take a skilled observer to see there's a lack of true magical activity within that airstrip. No spirits(outside of the odd wild one that passes by in a flash), no active wards or spells, and it doesn't look like any of the people within this airstrip that you have observed for the past two days show any magic talent. Almost seems odd, anybody who was planning to secure this place for a long period of time would at least rent a few spirits if they didn't have a mage amoung them...
After a few moments of matrix chatter, Bazz pipes up, his scottish accent filling the airwaves: <<Oi, ya people need to be calmin' down a tad. We been here two days and ya frettin' like we just walked into an ambush. I be sayin' it all again in that I know intel is light on this one, but before we started searchin' none of ya had an idea of where to look.>> The scottish man peeks his head up from the trench to take a look at the airstrip in the distance, <<Though I give ya one thin', it does seem might bit strange that these people are just standin' around waitin'. I too wonder if they be waitin' for our man.>> After ducking back down in the trench, he notices the glances given to him by Loony. "Hey... What are ye lookin' at me like that for..?"
((@Loony)): After launching your programs at the first signal you see, it doesn't take long before any encryption is soundly beaten and you have a captured signal. You've only got the signal from one commlink of theirs, but as luck would have it this guy seems to be in the middle of a text chat, which reads out like so shortly after you copy the text:
<<紅色五>: 在哪裡這個人？應該昨天在這里。>>
<<紅色一>: 說它是引擎。 那這不好。>>
<<紅色五>: 因此他不去來這里？>>
<<紅色一>: 不，他來這里。 應該在所有分鐘現在飛行。>>
Fascinating! Though you still have no idea what they are saying. At least you got some text, maybe it could somehow be used to figure out just what bloody language these wankers are speaking.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2056 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Scaramoush, Scaramoush, will you do the Fan-dan-goooo...
Loony knew it - not-English. It was just long enough to have the right lyrics as well. He reviewed the texts, his battered lead pipe left onto the virtual landscape where it rolled back into his bag in a swarm of pixels. The butterfly net did the same.
He reached into his virtual bag once again and removed what looked to be a small Yorkshire terrier. It wagged its little tail and yipped in delight and glee.
"Awright, Saint Crispin. Go fetch what language this is, and we'll work in a translator on the fly so I can see what's goin' on, yeah? Daddy's got a commnode to break into."
The Yorkie looked at him, yipped once, and said, "You're not the fuckin' boss o' me."
"The hell I'm not! Get your arse to work, boy!"
"I can't get to the Matrix from here!"
"BUGGER ALL!"
With a growl, it was gone - Loony blinked from VR to AR, then sat up to fire off a sub.
<<Makes me want mu shu. Think they're from the Chinese mainland, lads. Gonna need a fucking signal repeater to pirate a translator program. Get me a spool of copper wire, an antennae off one of the cars, and a battery. Gonna extend my range to town, I am.>>
Scaramoush, Scaramoush, will you do the Fan-dan-goooo...
Loony knew it - not-English. It was just long enough to have the right lyrics as well. He reviewed the texts, his battered lead pipe left onto the virtual landscape where it rolled back into his bag in a swarm of pixels. The butterfly net did the same.
He reached into his virtual bag once again and removed what looked to be a small Yorkshire terrier. It wagged its little tail and yipped in delight and glee.
"Awright, Saint Crispin. Go fetch what language this is, and we'll work in a translator on the fly so I can see what's goin' on, yeah? Daddy's got a commnode to break into."
The Yorkie looked at him, yipped once, and said, "You're not the fuckin' boss o' me."
"The hell I'm not! Get your arse to work, boy!"
"I can't get to the Matrix from here!"
"BUGGER ALL!"
With a growl, it was gone - Loony blinked from VR to AR, then sat up to fire off a sub.
<<Makes me want mu shu. Think they're from the Chinese mainland, lads. Gonna need a fucking signal repeater to pirate a translator program. Get me a spool of copper wire, an antennae off one of the cars, and a battery. Gonna extend my range to town, I am.>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2056 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Ace crawled back into the trench network, set his rifle across his chest and laid down in the same culvert as Loony, his eyes shut and suddenly his body was abdicated and a tiny Wright Brother's biplane zipped into the matrix. Before docking in the Stormcloud's node, Ace carefully inspected the local spectrum. Sophisticated energy detectors and decorrelators multiplied matrices of dizzying size at rates he could only perceive with his brain directly supplemented by no less than three different computers.
As the radar and network scans came back to him he subvocalized <<Eye-in-sky going live. Do watch my back digitally, physically and astrally.>> while carefully maneuvering the drone between the airfield and a wispy cloud with its bottom shadowed by the setting sun.
Just need to get close enough to shoot the mic ... the blimp drifted artfully across the sky.
Ace crawled back into the trench network, set his rifle across his chest and laid down in the same culvert as Loony, his eyes shut and suddenly his body was abdicated and a tiny Wright Brother's biplane zipped into the matrix. Before docking in the Stormcloud's node, Ace carefully inspected the local spectrum. Sophisticated energy detectors and decorrelators multiplied matrices of dizzying size at rates he could only perceive with his brain directly supplemented by no less than three different computers.
As the radar and network scans came back to him he subvocalized <<Eye-in-sky going live. Do watch my back digitally, physically and astrally.>> while carefully maneuvering the drone between the airfield and a wispy cloud with its bottom shadowed by the setting sun.
Just need to get close enough to shoot the mic ... the blimp drifted artfully across the sky.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2056 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
((@Ace)): As the drone ascends, your pre-flight scans for assorted wireless activity report no hidden nodes. All detected nodes seem to be either active or passive; these guys must really not be expecting interlopers at this time of night to be for them to be so sloppy. There also seems to no radar pings coming from the tower or anywhere else within the airstrip, meaning the Renraku Stormcloud is unlikely to get detected through that method any time soon. Furthermore, no active drones are detected, meaning they really have none or they are all turned off for whatever reason.
With this information in mind, the approach to the airstrip goes on without too much trouble. It was a bit shakey when you were getting close, but thankfully nothing happened that would encourage people to look up and see the miniature blimp hovering above them(no doubt thanks to the mostly silent propulsion) and you make it into range of the laser microphone after a short wait. Your quick glances about the area through the optical sensors of the drone confirm that nobody seems to be aware of the Stormclouds presence as of yet.
The attempt to listen in on the tower works flawlessly, not only did you manage to get a clear reception, you could almost hear the individual breaths of the two occupants whenever they were not engaged in idle chatter. Unfortuntely, you still cannot quite understand the exact words they spoke, but it still got recorded into the drones data storage for you to translate later on.
Attempting to eavesdrop on those within the hangar didn't go quite as smoothly, but you still managed to listen in through use of the fiberglass skylights. What you receive sounds a bit distant, but you nonetheless manage to make out some conversations. But as luck would have it, these guys are also speaking that chinese nonsense that seems so popular with this group, but regardless the sounds are recorded just in case.
((@Ace)): As the drone ascends, your pre-flight scans for assorted wireless activity report no hidden nodes. All detected nodes seem to be either active or passive; these guys must really not be expecting interlopers at this time of night to be for them to be so sloppy. There also seems to no radar pings coming from the tower or anywhere else within the airstrip, meaning the Renraku Stormcloud is unlikely to get detected through that method any time soon. Furthermore, no active drones are detected, meaning they really have none or they are all turned off for whatever reason.
With this information in mind, the approach to the airstrip goes on without too much trouble. It was a bit shakey when you were getting close, but thankfully nothing happened that would encourage people to look up and see the miniature blimp hovering above them(no doubt thanks to the mostly silent propulsion) and you make it into range of the laser microphone after a short wait. Your quick glances about the area through the optical sensors of the drone confirm that nobody seems to be aware of the Stormclouds presence as of yet.
The attempt to listen in on the tower works flawlessly, not only did you manage to get a clear reception, you could almost hear the individual breaths of the two occupants whenever they were not engaged in idle chatter. Unfortuntely, you still cannot quite understand the exact words they spoke, but it still got recorded into the drones data storage for you to translate later on.
Attempting to eavesdrop on those within the hangar didn't go quite as smoothly, but you still managed to listen in through use of the fiberglass skylights. What you receive sounds a bit distant, but you nonetheless manage to make out some conversations. But as luck would have it, these guys are also speaking that chinese nonsense that seems so popular with this group, but regardless the sounds are recorded just in case.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2055 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Listening to the chatter on her com, Kerrigan remembers the mods made to her Growler, in order to make it fully operationable in remote spots. If there was no proper Matrix connection available here, the satellite uplink should certainly be able to provide one.
<< @Loony [Lynx] I might have just the right thing for you. My bike has satellite communication installed, that should give you a decent connection to wherever you want. Go ahead and use it, I will open it up in a sec. Just leave it where it is, please.
>>
Activating the camo tech on her suit, Kerrigan carefully heads back to the bikes, in order to set up the satellite uplink and then opens up a channel for the team to make use of it.
Listening to the chatter on her com, Kerrigan remembers the mods made to her Growler, in order to make it fully operationable in remote spots. If there was no proper Matrix connection available here, the satellite uplink should certainly be able to provide one.
<< @Loony [Lynx] I might have just the right thing for you. My bike has satellite communication installed, that should give you a decent connection to wherever you want. Go ahead and use it, I will open it up in a sec. Just leave it where it is, please.
>>Activating the camo tech on her suit, Kerrigan carefully heads back to the bikes, in order to set up the satellite uplink and then opens up a channel for the team to make use of it.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2055 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<<@Team: More of the same ladies and gentlemen. At least we've got a closer look at any surprises they may try to plan. :Tower_Chatter.audio,Hangar_Chatter.audio>>
After ensuring the drone was well positioned to avoid being spotted and to continue microphoning the structures, Ace started planning the proper ways to take rifle shots at the tower while leveraging his digital speed to ask
<<@Team: Thoughts on how to move forward captain? We're quite able to storm the place, but until we know what they're saying I don't think it will do us much good.>>
<<@Team: More of the same ladies and gentlemen. At least we've got a closer look at any surprises they may try to plan. :Tower_Chatter.audio,Hangar_Chatter.audio>>
After ensuring the drone was well positioned to avoid being spotted and to continue microphoning the structures, Ace started planning the proper ways to take rifle shots at the tower while leveraging his digital speed to ask
<<@Team: Thoughts on how to move forward captain? We're quite able to storm the place, but until we know what they're saying I don't think it will do us much good.>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2055 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<< [Lynx] Heck, from how it looks I could do that alone. But I doubt that storming the place would help us at all. If we take these mooks out, then whoever is going to do whatever it is here surely won't show up anymore. No, I'm afraid, we have to stay reactive rather than proactive on this one. Best we can do from my perspective is figuring out from their gibberish what they might be waiting for. >>
<< [Lynx] Heck, from how it looks I could do that alone. But I doubt that storming the place would help us at all. If we take these mooks out, then whoever is going to do whatever it is here surely won't show up anymore. No, I'm afraid, we have to stay reactive rather than proactive on this one. Best we can do from my perspective is figuring out from their gibberish what they might be waiting for. >>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2056 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Staying in astral for a while just in case something new pops up Hatfield misses whatever is sent over text. Even knowing to look for it the blimp is almost invisible in astral. I wonder how close Tucker could get to that house... No, I still don't like that house. Maybe there is something else around, something more native. He looks around for a small animal, a bird maybe. This many people around probably not but they might be use to us being here my now.
Staying in astral for a while just in case something new pops up Hatfield misses whatever is sent over text. Even knowing to look for it the blimp is almost invisible in astral. I wonder how close Tucker could get to that house... No, I still don't like that house. Maybe there is something else around, something more native. He looks around for a small animal, a bird maybe. This many people around probably not but they might be use to us being here my now.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2056 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Cor frowned when he heard Ace refer to him as "Captain." Some wounds never truly healed properly. Oh, he was certain that Ace and the others meant it in a respectful way, but Cor felt as though he had no right to that title any longer.
I've left that old life behind me. There is nothing to be done about it, and so I move on.
With a shake of his head that brought him back to reality and the mission at hand, Cor began subvocalizing to his team.
<<We're going in there tonight, but we are still going to take our time. Let's use the next few hours to gather intel. I want as much of a layout as can be had from the environs. Ace and Loony, patch through any and all feeds you are getting from these blokes. Let me worry about trying to understand what they're saying to each other. It'll take me a few hours so keep the lines up. And see if between the two of you if you can find any sort of security systems on the premises. I'm assuming Hatfield is a bit preoccupied as of yet, so we'll let him get back to us with an astral report. Kerr--, erm.. Lynx: I'm going to be distracted with trying to break this language barrier. Assist our mates in coming up with a plan of attack. You're a more seasoned combatant than I am so you know how to crack nuts like these, as soft as this one may be. And I don't need to say it, but I will anyway: everyone be on your toes. Something seems amiss, and until we have all the pieces let's assume we know bugger-all.>>
Cor frowned when he heard Ace refer to him as "Captain." Some wounds never truly healed properly. Oh, he was certain that Ace and the others meant it in a respectful way, but Cor felt as though he had no right to that title any longer.
I've left that old life behind me. There is nothing to be done about it, and so I move on.
With a shake of his head that brought him back to reality and the mission at hand, Cor began subvocalizing to his team.
<<We're going in there tonight, but we are still going to take our time. Let's use the next few hours to gather intel. I want as much of a layout as can be had from the environs. Ace and Loony, patch through any and all feeds you are getting from these blokes. Let me worry about trying to understand what they're saying to each other. It'll take me a few hours so keep the lines up. And see if between the two of you if you can find any sort of security systems on the premises. I'm assuming Hatfield is a bit preoccupied as of yet, so we'll let him get back to us with an astral report. Kerr--, erm.. Lynx: I'm going to be distracted with trying to break this language barrier. Assist our mates in coming up with a plan of attack. You're a more seasoned combatant than I am so you know how to crack nuts like these, as soft as this one may be. And I don't need to say it, but I will anyway: everyone be on your toes. Something seems amiss, and until we have all the pieces let's assume we know bugger-all.>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2055 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<< [Lynx] The question we need an answer to is not how we get in there, but why we should be getting in there. I still don't see how it would benefit us at this point. Unless they happen to guard something in there that would be helpful to us, all we will do is alarming them and thus prevent Tshombe from coming here at all. As far as I can see, there are three things that could happen not including the option of them spotting us, that is. Nothing, then we could still decide to get in there later, but have more time to gather intel. They pack up and leave, at which point we can still stop them. Someone arrives, who might be Tshombe or at least someone important enough to know something about him or what is going on here. >>
<< [Lynx] The question we need an answer to is not how we get in there, but why we should be getting in there. I still don't see how it would benefit us at this point. Unless they happen to guard something in there that would be helpful to us, all we will do is alarming them and thus prevent Tshombe from coming here at all. As far as I can see, there are three things that could happen not including the option of them spotting us, that is. Nothing, then we could still decide to get in there later, but have more time to gather intel. They pack up and leave, at which point we can still stop them. Someone arrives, who might be Tshombe or at least someone important enough to know something about him or what is going on here. >>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2056 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<<That'll do the job. I've got Saint Crispin takin' care of the translation, I'll be patchin' in their network.
Sah, I've got translatin' covered. 'Leastaways I hope I do.>>
As fast as Lynx had gotten the satlink activated, Loony sent his Yorkie up the pipe to find and translate the communications. The very moment the agent had departed, Loony turned his attention back to the signal he'd been drawing from, following it to the source.
Out of his bag came a set of lockpicks, a magnifying glass and a top hat, which he then fashioned to look like an asian peasant's hat - his miraculous disguise. He started examining the commlink for a way inside - he had an hour to sneak on in.
<<That'll do the job. I've got Saint Crispin takin' care of the translation, I'll be patchin' in their network.
Sah, I've got translatin' covered. 'Leastaways I hope I do.>>
As fast as Lynx had gotten the satlink activated, Loony sent his Yorkie up the pipe to find and translate the communications. The very moment the agent had departed, Loony turned his attention back to the signal he'd been drawing from, following it to the source.
Out of his bag came a set of lockpicks, a magnifying glass and a top hat, which he then fashioned to look like an asian peasant's hat - his miraculous disguise. He started examining the commlink for a way inside - he had an hour to sneak on in.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2122 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
((@Loony)): It wasn't long after sending out Saint Crispin that he came back in posession of a basic, freeware linguasoft for Mandarin-Chinese. With this new 'soft in hand you and everyone else are finally able to make sense of what these guys are saying... Though the translation is pretty rough; most of the sentances make sense but the words are placed in a very awkward way that almost requires a person to read things twice to understand.
For the most part, all the recently captured chatter between these guys indicates that Tshombe was supposed to be here yesterday, but for some reason was forced to delay that. The chinamen have been complaining ever since, wanting nothing more than to do their deal with Tshombe and go back home, though they haven't yet mentioned what this deal is or where specifically from China they hail from. Tshombe is supposed to arrive tonight, but they don't seem to have an exact time.
About twenty-two minutes into your probing attempts, however, a burst of chatter from your captured wireless signal gives you the idea that Tshombe's arrival is getting close to about now:
(The following text messaging is translated with care by your new freeware linguasoft))
<<Red1>: Got message. Man come now soon. Patrol, throw flame on landing belt.>>
<<Red5>: Obtains it. Now goes.>>
Regardless if they are listening to the matrix chatter or not, everyone in the trench can easily see that something is going on for sure. The two-man patrol that's been going back and forth now runs to a certain spot on the runway and starts pulling out a number of flares, lighting them, and tossing them onto the ground in a rough X-pattern before retreating a short distance to one of the scrap piles that sit close to the runway.
Something wicked this way comes... Likely from the sky, no less!
((@Loony)): It wasn't long after sending out Saint Crispin that he came back in posession of a basic, freeware linguasoft for Mandarin-Chinese. With this new 'soft in hand you and everyone else are finally able to make sense of what these guys are saying... Though the translation is pretty rough; most of the sentances make sense but the words are placed in a very awkward way that almost requires a person to read things twice to understand.
For the most part, all the recently captured chatter between these guys indicates that Tshombe was supposed to be here yesterday, but for some reason was forced to delay that. The chinamen have been complaining ever since, wanting nothing more than to do their deal with Tshombe and go back home, though they haven't yet mentioned what this deal is or where specifically from China they hail from. Tshombe is supposed to arrive tonight, but they don't seem to have an exact time.
About twenty-two minutes into your probing attempts, however, a burst of chatter from your captured wireless signal gives you the idea that Tshombe's arrival is getting close to about now:
(The following text messaging is translated with care by your new freeware linguasoft))
<<Red1>: Got message. Man come now soon. Patrol, throw flame on landing belt.>>
<<Red5>: Obtains it. Now goes.>>
Regardless if they are listening to the matrix chatter or not, everyone in the trench can easily see that something is going on for sure. The two-man patrol that's been going back and forth now runs to a certain spot on the runway and starts pulling out a number of flares, lighting them, and tossing them onto the ground in a rough X-pattern before retreating a short distance to one of the scrap piles that sit close to the runway.
Something wicked this way comes... Likely from the sky, no less!
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2055 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<< [Lynx] Alright, guys. This looks like we might be having our beds tonight, after all. Get ready, as soon as we have visual confirmation, that the target is, indeed, there, we can begin our approach. >>
Kerrigan heeds her own advice and prepares herself for the arrival of Tshombe.
<< [Lynx] Alright, guys. This looks like we might be having our beds tonight, after all. Get ready, as soon as we have visual confirmation, that the target is, indeed, there, we can begin our approach. >>
Kerrigan heeds her own advice and prepares herself for the arrival of Tshombe.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2122 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Not long after Loony had picked up the freeware linguasoft that Saint Crispin had brought back (tail a-wagging), he'd distributed amongst the team's links as the captured signal continued to stream gibberish - as well as the translation if he'd wanted it - to Cor. Figuring they had at least a dozen other lads and ladies to monitor the communication and were bored enough to do so, Loony busied himself with poking into the commlink firewalls.
At 2122, Saint Crispin started yapping incessantly as a coded burst was captured, decrypted, and translated.
<<Get your head out of your arse, you sad tosser! They're making the road pretty!>>
<<It's not a road, you git. Tell the others-no, I'll tell the others, you'll just muck it up. Keep an eye on the Chinamen.>>
With a graceful log-off, the starry night of the virtual reality coalesced into the starry night of the Algerian landscape. Loony strained his precious ears to listen for the telltale drone of propellers - this was Africa, after all - or for the whooshing thrust of turbojets to signify a more modern vehicle. Maybe even a T-bird. That'd make Ace squidgy with glee.
Lynx was already chattering on the line to get folks ready, and Loony wasted no time chiming in.
<<Way I figure it, sah, we can nab us a sweet aero ride with a little airstrip to handle care and feeding. Trouble is if we kill those Chinamen, an hour later there's gonna be more. Reccome-Er, I mean I'll be on the lookout for wireless traffic. Figure the blimp might be able to get eyes on our aircraft before it comes in. Also figure when they light that strip up, they aren't going to be able to see a thing. Give the word when you want me to start jamming and try to hack their weapons.>>
A half-tick of thought caused a quick message to be sent to Bazz.
<<@Bazz:How'd you find this bloke anyway? Do I need to be worryin' about another tactical net to break into besides this cheap Chinese knock-off?
Sod it all. I'll look anyway. I'll ask about it later when we've got the hibachi set up down there.>>
Now awake, Loony checked the loadout on his rifle one last time before casting out a quiet scan for wireless signals not belonging to the company.
Not long after Loony had picked up the freeware linguasoft that Saint Crispin had brought back (tail a-wagging), he'd distributed amongst the team's links as the captured signal continued to stream gibberish - as well as the translation if he'd wanted it - to Cor. Figuring they had at least a dozen other lads and ladies to monitor the communication and were bored enough to do so, Loony busied himself with poking into the commlink firewalls.
At 2122, Saint Crispin started yapping incessantly as a coded burst was captured, decrypted, and translated.
<<Get your head out of your arse, you sad tosser! They're making the road pretty!>>
<<It's not a road, you git. Tell the others-no, I'll tell the others, you'll just muck it up. Keep an eye on the Chinamen.>>
With a graceful log-off, the starry night of the virtual reality coalesced into the starry night of the Algerian landscape. Loony strained his precious ears to listen for the telltale drone of propellers - this was Africa, after all - or for the whooshing thrust of turbojets to signify a more modern vehicle. Maybe even a T-bird. That'd make Ace squidgy with glee.
Lynx was already chattering on the line to get folks ready, and Loony wasted no time chiming in.
<<Way I figure it, sah, we can nab us a sweet aero ride with a little airstrip to handle care and feeding. Trouble is if we kill those Chinamen, an hour later there's gonna be more. Reccome-Er, I mean I'll be on the lookout for wireless traffic. Figure the blimp might be able to get eyes on our aircraft before it comes in. Also figure when they light that strip up, they aren't going to be able to see a thing. Give the word when you want me to start jamming and try to hack their weapons.>>
A half-tick of thought caused a quick message to be sent to Bazz.
<<@Bazz:How'd you find this bloke anyway? Do I need to be worryin' about another tactical net to break into besides this cheap Chinese knock-off?
Sod it all. I'll look anyway. I'll ask about it later when we've got the hibachi set up down there.>>
Now awake, Loony checked the loadout on his rifle one last time before casting out a quiet scan for wireless signals not belonging to the company.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2122 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Seeing the commotion on the air field Hatfield abandons his search for a little aerial scout and drops out of astral. He catches up on the texts quickly but reading through the translations a couple of times. Backing down below the line of sight to any one on the field he begins his precombat rituals setting his Increase Reflexes spell on it's little grass stalk poppet with a red cross marked doughboy helmet and going over his AK, which he notes ... is much better than the Chinese POS's those grunts are lugging around.
Trying to plan the next half hour or so, because while plans will always fail, planning is essential, (he can't remember if that was from the military or just something he read somewhere) he comes up with a couple of options that will affect everything else.
<<When do we move boys? When the plane is taxiing into the hanger or after it is already in? We have to assume they have vehicles in there.>>
Seeing the commotion on the air field Hatfield abandons his search for a little aerial scout and drops out of astral. He catches up on the texts quickly but reading through the translations a couple of times. Backing down below the line of sight to any one on the field he begins his precombat rituals setting his Increase Reflexes spell on it's little grass stalk poppet with a red cross marked doughboy helmet and going over his AK, which he notes ... is much better than the Chinese POS's those grunts are lugging around.
Trying to plan the next half hour or so, because while plans will always fail, planning is essential, (he can't remember if that was from the military or just something he read somewhere) he comes up with a couple of options that will affect everything else.
<<When do we move boys? When the plane is taxiing into the hanger or after it is already in? We have to assume they have vehicles in there.>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2122 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
While everyone else is discussing their intent to think of a plan, Bazz tosses a few loaded AK clips to the troops that were hired to bolster the numbers of the company and watch your backs. <<[Bazz] Wha'? I jus' asked around with some people, some of which are under the lot of ya'folks speed dial. Learned about this place rather easy all things considered, but we ain't been bombed yet so it be no trap. As for their tactical networks... Uh... I dunno! I mean, these sods are prob'ly straight out of the jungle, meanin' low tech and minimal wireless chatter to track, but we cannae rule out the possibilty that our man may 'ave brought in some boys trained and equipped for urban assault.>>
It's not long before everyone can hear a light hum belonging to large twin-propeller engines in the distance. After a second, Bazz looks over to the airstrip and speaks up over comms, <<Oi, are you sure that drone is hidden from view of an incomin' plane, Ace? There be no tellin' how they might react if they spot it floatin' about during this nonsense. Prolly lose our element of suprise at least.>>
While everyone else is discussing their intent to think of a plan, Bazz tosses a few loaded AK clips to the troops that were hired to bolster the numbers of the company and watch your backs. <<[Bazz] Wha'? I jus' asked around with some people, some of which are under the lot of ya'folks speed dial. Learned about this place rather easy all things considered, but we ain't been bombed yet so it be no trap. As for their tactical networks... Uh... I dunno! I mean, these sods are prob'ly straight out of the jungle, meanin' low tech and minimal wireless chatter to track, but we cannae rule out the possibilty that our man may 'ave brought in some boys trained and equipped for urban assault.>>
It's not long before everyone can hear a light hum belonging to large twin-propeller engines in the distance. After a second, Bazz looks over to the airstrip and speaks up over comms, <<Oi, are you sure that drone is hidden from view of an incomin' plane, Ace? There be no tellin' how they might react if they spot it floatin' about during this nonsense. Prolly lose our element of suprise at least.>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2122 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Although he knew he didn’t look it, Requiem felt old and jaded next to these youngsters who were so eager to go down there and get shot at. He’d spent the last two days more or less alone with his thoughts and trying to ignore the growing niggle that was his need for an escape into Bliss. Whilst the immunity to pain might be welcome before tonight was done the loss of edge would be unacceptable.
Now that there was a promise of action the slough washed away and he felt the first tingling of pre-combat adrenaline. He revved his wires experimentally to check that the bloody things weren’t as creeky as his bones should have felt and checked the AR diagnostics on his suit and weapons getting a solid green light response.
<<If that plane doesn’t taxi inside do we want to disable it to prevent our target rabbiting? Something that can be easily rectified in case we want to borrow it?>>
Although he knew he didn’t look it, Requiem felt old and jaded next to these youngsters who were so eager to go down there and get shot at. He’d spent the last two days more or less alone with his thoughts and trying to ignore the growing niggle that was his need for an escape into Bliss. Whilst the immunity to pain might be welcome before tonight was done the loss of edge would be unacceptable.
Now that there was a promise of action the slough washed away and he felt the first tingling of pre-combat adrenaline. He revved his wires experimentally to check that the bloody things weren’t as creeky as his bones should have felt and checked the AR diagnostics on his suit and weapons getting a solid green light response.
<<If that plane doesn’t taxi inside do we want to disable it to prevent our target rabbiting? Something that can be easily rectified in case we want to borrow it?>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2122 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Cor muttered some choice oaths that he accidentally broadcasted through the comm channel. Once he finally regained his composure, he coughed, then went back on the line.
<<Bazz is right. We need to get that blimp back before we give up our presence here. Let's get down and get hidden. When those chaps come in they'll see a hell of alot more than we're able to from the air. No need to give them a heads up.
The moment the plane lands, I need it hacked and locked down so it can't go anywhere. I think we're going to have to take them now, because we don't know their flight plans, and we don't want them to get settled. We need to catch them off guard. We know there's about ten of those Asian lads: two on patrols, two in the tower, and more in the hangar. We don't know how many are in the mansion, if any, or on the plane. Lynx, I think maybe that sniper rifle of yours would be ace. Taking out those tossers in the tower will benefit us.
I'm thinking that going on foot as quietly as possible and flanking them will be the best course of action. We can cover a bit shy of a kilometer in a short time if we keep a steady pace. We should attempt to quietly neutralize the patrols so we can get into position without causing a stir.
If anyone has any objections to catching these wankers with their pants down, I'd love to hear them.>>
Cor muttered some choice oaths that he accidentally broadcasted through the comm channel. Once he finally regained his composure, he coughed, then went back on the line.
<<Bazz is right. We need to get that blimp back before we give up our presence here. Let's get down and get hidden. When those chaps come in they'll see a hell of alot more than we're able to from the air. No need to give them a heads up.
The moment the plane lands, I need it hacked and locked down so it can't go anywhere. I think we're going to have to take them now, because we don't know their flight plans, and we don't want them to get settled. We need to catch them off guard. We know there's about ten of those Asian lads: two on patrols, two in the tower, and more in the hangar. We don't know how many are in the mansion, if any, or on the plane. Lynx, I think maybe that sniper rifle of yours would be ace. Taking out those tossers in the tower will benefit us.
I'm thinking that going on foot as quietly as possible and flanking them will be the best course of action. We can cover a bit shy of a kilometer in a short time if we keep a steady pace. We should attempt to quietly neutralize the patrols so we can get into position without causing a stir.
If anyone has any objections to catching these wankers with their pants down, I'd love to hear them.>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2055 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<< [Lynx] Yep. The two guards in the tower are priority. If the plane cannot be hacked, you never know with the tech some use here, shooting those props should do the job just fine. >>
<< [Lynx] Yep. The two guards in the tower are priority. If the plane cannot be hacked, you never know with the tech some use here, shooting those props should do the job just fine. >>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2122 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Loony bit back a grin as the Captain made some choice words available over the network, then got his game face on as he outlined a quick plan.
<<I'll start hacking the plane when it pulls to a stop, don't you worry. Figure we should move as it's coming down, the noise means I don't have to try to be sneaky, sah.>>
Loony let his rifle hang from the travel strap as he checked his directional jammer. Everything looked like it was working just fine, all that was needed was the go signal.
Loony bit back a grin as the Captain made some choice words available over the network, then got his game face on as he outlined a quick plan.
<<I'll start hacking the plane when it pulls to a stop, don't you worry. Figure we should move as it's coming down, the noise means I don't have to try to be sneaky, sah.>>
Loony let his rifle hang from the travel strap as he checked his directional jammer. Everything looked like it was working just fine, all that was needed was the go signal.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2122 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Requiem stood poised on the edge of the area they had been camping in for the last two days. The thermoptic camouflage making him little more than a blurred outline barely visible in the darkness…
<<I have point. I’ll skirt round to the south of the landing strip to be ready when that plane lands…>>
Requiem stood poised on the edge of the area they had been camping in for the last two days. The thermoptic camouflage making him little more than a blurred outline barely visible in the darkness…
<<I have point. I’ll skirt round to the south of the landing strip to be ready when that plane lands…>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<<[Ace]The Stormcloud is too slow to get back that fast. Going to have to land it behind the main hangar, on the opposite side relative to the landing strip. Nobody will see it there unless they go through the back door.>>
Not long after the blimp drone softly glides down out of view, the source of that incessant hum of propeller engines comes into view to anyone capable of seeing in moonlit darkness: a Hawker-Ridley HS-950 Skytrain, albiet a rather beat-up one. After the aircraft makes it close to the ground, the nose tilts upwards slightly whilst the aircrafts wings tilt vertically, allowing it to hover into it's road-flare landing spot just a short distance away from the main hangar; naturally kicking up dust and blowing away the flares due to the wind generated by the twin propellers.
Once the landing gear is resting on terra firma, the engines shut down and the large rear hatch opens up with a groan, allowing a pair of camouflage-clad troops to jog out and cover the two flanks of the open hatch shortly before six more troops come out. Moments after the soldiers come out, a pickup truck with some cargo covered by a tarp slowly drives out, stopping only long enough for one of the troops with an LMG to climb into the back, then the truck heads straight for the main hangar. Five of the remaining troops follow after the truck, while the two standing by the rear hatch of the plane hold position.
Before the truck and it's footsoldier escort makes it into the hangar, the light cast out from the building illuminates the interior of the truck just enough for any observers with adequete magnification to catch a glimpse of who is in the driver seat; Laurent Tshombe, at least it certainly looks close to the photograph everyone saw within the man's target profile.
With that bit of confirmation, Bazz breathed a sigh as he practically makes the catholic cross gesture while muttering, "Fuck, nearly thought I was mislead..." After clearning his throat, Bazz pipes up on the comm-chatter. <<Right, think tha' be him after all. Don't think they know we here yet.>>
<<[Ace]The Stormcloud is too slow to get back that fast. Going to have to land it behind the main hangar, on the opposite side relative to the landing strip. Nobody will see it there unless they go through the back door.>>
Not long after the blimp drone softly glides down out of view, the source of that incessant hum of propeller engines comes into view to anyone capable of seeing in moonlit darkness: a Hawker-Ridley HS-950 Skytrain, albiet a rather beat-up one. After the aircraft makes it close to the ground, the nose tilts upwards slightly whilst the aircrafts wings tilt vertically, allowing it to hover into it's road-flare landing spot just a short distance away from the main hangar; naturally kicking up dust and blowing away the flares due to the wind generated by the twin propellers.
Once the landing gear is resting on terra firma, the engines shut down and the large rear hatch opens up with a groan, allowing a pair of camouflage-clad troops to jog out and cover the two flanks of the open hatch shortly before six more troops come out. Moments after the soldiers come out, a pickup truck with some cargo covered by a tarp slowly drives out, stopping only long enough for one of the troops with an LMG to climb into the back, then the truck heads straight for the main hangar. Five of the remaining troops follow after the truck, while the two standing by the rear hatch of the plane hold position.
Before the truck and it's footsoldier escort makes it into the hangar, the light cast out from the building illuminates the interior of the truck just enough for any observers with adequete magnification to catch a glimpse of who is in the driver seat; Laurent Tshombe, at least it certainly looks close to the photograph everyone saw within the man's target profile.
With that bit of confirmation, Bazz breathed a sigh as he practically makes the catholic cross gesture while muttering, "Fuck, nearly thought I was mislead..." After clearning his throat, Bazz pipes up on the comm-chatter. <<Right, think tha' be him after all. Don't think they know we here yet.>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Kerrigan has been using the commotion during the landing, to make it closer to the airstrip from the northeast. Close enough to be in a comfortable shooting distance to the tower, the plane, and the hangar main entrance.
<< [Lynx] That makes it nine more, including Tshombe. Likely there is also a pilot still on the plane. We need to make sure that plane isn't going anywhere. I will set up on the north side of the airstrip. >>
Once she has found a suitable position, Kerrigan prepares her rifle and begins to monitor the area, with a focus on the tower.
Kerrigan has been using the commotion during the landing, to make it closer to the airstrip from the northeast. Close enough to be in a comfortable shooting distance to the tower, the plane, and the hangar main entrance.
<< [Lynx] That makes it nine more, including Tshombe. Likely there is also a pilot still on the plane. We need to make sure that plane isn't going anywhere. I will set up on the north side of the airstrip. >>
Once she has found a suitable position, Kerrigan prepares her rifle and begins to monitor the area, with a focus on the tower.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<<Requiem, I need you to support Lynx when she goes to take out those fellows in the tower. They need to be neutralized in tandem so no alarms can go out. This needs done when we are about halfway to the target, so maybe about 450 meters out. Take out what you can on the open field when fire starts. If the fight moves out of sight of your rifles, get in one of the vehicles and move in and join the rest of us.
Everyone else goes in on foot. I'll split the new lads up into two fire squads: I'll head Alpha, and Hatfield will head Bravo. Hatfield knows his way around a battlefield so his guidance will be appreciated.
Ace and Loony: You two are my specialists. I need aggressive hacking and electronic warfare going on as we close in. I need the plane locked down, if at all possible. And if we get into a pinch, don't hesitate to pull the trigger on some of these wankers yourself. Any other tricks you have up your sleeves, feel free to use them here as well.
Does everyone understand their roles? I think this is the easiest way to ensure we sleep indoors tonight.>>
As he spoke over the comm, Cor began using hand signals to round up the majority of the men, most of them fresh recruits into the company who may or may not have seen real action in the past. Even so, Cor liked to think that Ex-Caliber screened out most of the dregs and kept them out of the ranks before they could compromise unit integrity.
Hand-picking four, he silently gestured for them to accompany Hatfield, saving the remainder for himself and signing for them to follow.
<<Alpha and Bravo, lets flank to the west and east of the hangar, respectively, try to pincer their balls in a vice before they know they're getting squeezed.>>
<<Requiem, I need you to support Lynx when she goes to take out those fellows in the tower. They need to be neutralized in tandem so no alarms can go out. This needs done when we are about halfway to the target, so maybe about 450 meters out. Take out what you can on the open field when fire starts. If the fight moves out of sight of your rifles, get in one of the vehicles and move in and join the rest of us.
Everyone else goes in on foot. I'll split the new lads up into two fire squads: I'll head Alpha, and Hatfield will head Bravo. Hatfield knows his way around a battlefield so his guidance will be appreciated.
Ace and Loony: You two are my specialists. I need aggressive hacking and electronic warfare going on as we close in. I need the plane locked down, if at all possible. And if we get into a pinch, don't hesitate to pull the trigger on some of these wankers yourself. Any other tricks you have up your sleeves, feel free to use them here as well.
Does everyone understand their roles? I think this is the easiest way to ensure we sleep indoors tonight.>>
As he spoke over the comm, Cor began using hand signals to round up the majority of the men, most of them fresh recruits into the company who may or may not have seen real action in the past. Even so, Cor liked to think that Ex-Caliber screened out most of the dregs and kept them out of the ranks before they could compromise unit integrity.
Hand-picking four, he silently gestured for them to accompany Hatfield, saving the remainder for himself and signing for them to follow.
<<Alpha and Bravo, lets flank to the west and east of the hangar, respectively, try to pincer their balls in a vice before they know they're getting squeezed.>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<< [Lynx] Do we even have another silenced rifle to take out the other tower guard at the same time? I thought mine was the only one. A loud gunshot would be as bad as an alarm at this point. I can try to take them both out quickly, of course, but it's definitely better to have a second weapon trained at them. >>
<< [Lynx] Do we even have another silenced rifle to take out the other tower guard at the same time? I thought mine was the only one. A loud gunshot would be as bad as an alarm at this point. I can try to take them both out quickly, of course, but it's definitely better to have a second weapon trained at them. >>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<<Wouldn't worry about it, pet. The shot's going to kick the party off. Tuning the smart jammer now, and I'll get the plane locked down as soon as possible.>>
True to his word, Loony safed his SCAR and slung it over his back, tuning the frequencies on his smart jammer and drawing a wicked little machine-pistol as his backup. His AR display popped up with an overlay, minor ARO's showing the location of known hostiles and a Signal search for the plane resulting in a half-dozen 'Scanning...' notices that he wiped out of his range.
While the scan continued, the Ork rolled out of the trench and nearly crab-walked to where Cor was setting up with the initial team - ready to move in with the rest. The moment his AR display said that he'd found the plane's signal, he was forcing his way in.
<<Wouldn't worry about it, pet. The shot's going to kick the party off. Tuning the smart jammer now, and I'll get the plane locked down as soon as possible.>>
True to his word, Loony safed his SCAR and slung it over his back, tuning the frequencies on his smart jammer and drawing a wicked little machine-pistol as his backup. His AR display popped up with an overlay, minor ARO's showing the location of known hostiles and a Signal search for the plane resulting in a half-dozen 'Scanning...' notices that he wiped out of his range.
While the scan continued, the Ork rolled out of the trench and nearly crab-walked to where Cor was setting up with the initial team - ready to move in with the rest. The moment his AR display said that he'd found the plane's signal, he was forcing his way in.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<< [Lynx] Well, the point was not to cause an alarm. If we could take them out silently, we would have some time before they notice, which could be used to get real close and then spring the attack right at the hangar. If we make them aware of our presence, they will have the time we need to get to the hangar from there to prepare. Of course, you guys should be as close as you dare with those tower guards around, before we even try anything. If Hatfield has some magic to spare, maybe he can take on the second guard. I'm reasonably sure, that one bullet will be enough for the first, so I can bury another into the second one as well, thanks to the semi-automatic, but that one will be less precise, of course. That combined with some magic should do the trick, however, and we can approach without them seeing us. There are still the two guards near the plane to watch out for, of course. If we notice them getting alert, we can still rush in then, but once we fire an unsilenced gun, we will surely cause them to. So, that's my proposal. >>
<< [Lynx] Well, the point was not to cause an alarm. If we could take them out silently, we would have some time before they notice, which could be used to get real close and then spring the attack right at the hangar. If we make them aware of our presence, they will have the time we need to get to the hangar from there to prepare. Of course, you guys should be as close as you dare with those tower guards around, before we even try anything. If Hatfield has some magic to spare, maybe he can take on the second guard. I'm reasonably sure, that one bullet will be enough for the first, so I can bury another into the second one as well, thanks to the semi-automatic, but that one will be less precise, of course. That combined with some magic should do the trick, however, and we can approach without them seeing us. There are still the two guards near the plane to watch out for, of course. If we notice them getting alert, we can still rush in then, but once we fire an unsilenced gun, we will surely cause them to. So, that's my proposal. >>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Cor came across the comm channel in a bit of a huff as he led his small team through the darkness towards the hangar. His chatter was slightly breathy but still sounded perfectly collected. Yeah, he could probably still do the course back at Basic. Maybe he wouldn't break any records, but he was keeping a fine pace nonetheless.
<<Lynx, love, don't take it none too personally. I believe you can take both of those blokes out in no time. But you want the doctor cutting on you to have a firm hand. You don't want him all shaky like he's been hitting the bottle. That's why I want two on that tower. I want that one shot you take to be the best shot you can take, without you worrying about how good that second shot is going to be. And I want it to happen at the same time as the shot that's going to get the other. Once you and your assistance take care of those fellows in the tower, then we can move on to those on the field.>>
Cor cracked a grin, which prompted a couple of the new recruits accompanying him to cut curious glances at him in mid-jog. His voice was notably affable and warm. <<Trust me. When have I ever led you wrong before?>>
Cor came across the comm channel in a bit of a huff as he led his small team through the darkness towards the hangar. His chatter was slightly breathy but still sounded perfectly collected. Yeah, he could probably still do the course back at Basic. Maybe he wouldn't break any records, but he was keeping a fine pace nonetheless.
<<Lynx, love, don't take it none too personally. I believe you can take both of those blokes out in no time. But you want the doctor cutting on you to have a firm hand. You don't want him all shaky like he's been hitting the bottle. That's why I want two on that tower. I want that one shot you take to be the best shot you can take, without you worrying about how good that second shot is going to be. And I want it to happen at the same time as the shot that's going to get the other. Once you and your assistance take care of those fellows in the tower, then we can move on to those on the field.>>
Cor cracked a grin, which prompted a couple of the new recruits accompanying him to cut curious glances at him in mid-jog. His voice was notably affable and warm. <<Trust me. When have I ever led you wrong before?>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<< [Lynx] I totally agree. Just don't expect them not to be ready and waiting when you enter the hangar. As soon as a gunshot is heard, they will know that something is wrong. Tower guard or not. Of course, we won't have those two guys from their elevated position to worry about then, so it's still the best to take them out first. Just saying that without doing this silently, any surprise element will be lost at that point. >>
<< [Lynx] I totally agree. Just don't expect them not to be ready and waiting when you enter the hangar. As soon as a gunshot is heard, they will know that something is wrong. Tower guard or not. Of course, we won't have those two guys from their elevated position to worry about then, so it's still the best to take them out first. Just saying that without doing this silently, any surprise element will be lost at that point. >>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
The blimp scuttled around behind the structure jets delicately maneuvering it around debris, brush and overhanging structure. The designers hadn't intended the device for flying this low and in this much clutter but the spatial processing provided by his brain was being ravaged by enough computers to keep the blimp gracefully twisting around every obstacle in its path as it settled into the bushes.
Glancing through the contact image enhancers strapped to his meat eyes Ace was able to vaguely ascertain the jeep had rolled out of the plane to the hangar, so he carefully skidded the blimp around the side of the building and up a curved wall to approach the skylight he'd hit with the laser mic before. Repeating the process he piped Tshombe to his team while leveraging the drone's other sensors in more hostile ways.
<<Ace: I've got tairget lock on the southernmost gahrd in the tower. Anyone in need fire support need only say the word.>>
As an afterthought.
<<Do devote one of our new hires to unlimbering the doberman and cars before you cavort into the night. They're not recruited for their brains, but if they can find the on switch I'll be able to run the drone from here.>>
He fretted that it was bad form to do so without pre-flight checking them himself, especially after some cheap grunt frisbeed them out of their hiding place. Not enough good help in the world.
The beeping crosshairs being projected into his brain closed on their mark.
The blimp scuttled around behind the structure jets delicately maneuvering it around debris, brush and overhanging structure. The designers hadn't intended the device for flying this low and in this much clutter but the spatial processing provided by his brain was being ravaged by enough computers to keep the blimp gracefully twisting around every obstacle in its path as it settled into the bushes.
Glancing through the contact image enhancers strapped to his meat eyes Ace was able to vaguely ascertain the jeep had rolled out of the plane to the hangar, so he carefully skidded the blimp around the side of the building and up a curved wall to approach the skylight he'd hit with the laser mic before. Repeating the process he piped Tshombe to his team while leveraging the drone's other sensors in more hostile ways.
<<Ace: I've got tairget lock on the southernmost gahrd in the tower. Anyone in need fire support need only say the word.>>
As an afterthought.
<<Do devote one of our new hires to unlimbering the doberman and cars before you cavort into the night. They're not recruited for their brains, but if they can find the on switch I'll be able to run the drone from here.>>
He fretted that it was bad form to do so without pre-flight checking them himself, especially after some cheap grunt frisbeed them out of their hiding place. Not enough good help in the world.
The beeping crosshairs being projected into his brain closed on their mark.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<<I can send a manabolt at the tower if you need it, but I'd rather save it for the small horde around the hanger.>>
Hatfield led his group generally toward the hanger but a little to the side. Before he gets very far at all he repeated some basic instructions his old Sargent was fond of to the redshirts. Hopefully they will remember to take their rifles off automatic, or at least off of safe. "Remember, short bursts. Two in the chest, one in the head." but as an after thought he added "Just don't kill Tshombe. Injure him if you have to though."
He keeps an eye on the tower and the two man patrol, stopping his guys if any of them look right at them.
<<I can send a manabolt at the tower if you need it, but I'd rather save it for the small horde around the hanger.>>
Hatfield led his group generally toward the hanger but a little to the side. Before he gets very far at all he repeated some basic instructions his old Sargent was fond of to the redshirts. Hopefully they will remember to take their rifles off automatic, or at least off of safe. "Remember, short bursts. Two in the chest, one in the head." but as an after thought he added "Just don't kill Tshombe. Injure him if you have to though."
He keeps an eye on the tower and the two man patrol, stopping his guys if any of them look right at them.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<<I usually favour up close and personal and had intended to take the two at the plane and help prevent it taking off if necessary, but of you want me to take a bead on the tower then I'll do that. Got no scope on this thing though...>>
<<I usually favour up close and personal and had intended to take the two at the plane and help prevent it taking off if necessary, but of you want me to take a bead on the tower then I'll do that. Got no scope on this thing though...>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Hearing Ace's comments on the open line, one of the grunts piped up on the comm-chatter, <<[RJ] I appreciate your high opinion of us, but maybe you should evaluate our mental ability to do something after we get a chance to prove ourselves, sir.>>
<<[Bazz] Quit yer bitchin' and get proffessional ya lousy gits. I'll switch on ya toys, Ace, seein' as I'm the only one stayin' in the trench by the looks of it.>>
((@Loony)): Things look good going in, the Skytrain's node doesn't have a clue you're there as you start pulling apart the code to look for cracks to slip through. However, things suddenly go pear-shaped just as it all starts to look sunny; the exploit utility suddenly reports an error, then another, with more keep popping up until it crashes. It only takes half a second to get it up again, but the damage is worse than you thought: The node is now on full alert due to multiple failed access attempts! Damn pilot is probably going to report it any second...
Meanwhile, everyone that started to sneak out towards the airstrip was able to avoid getting noticed as they made their way. After about five minutes of moving forward from bush to bush in a crouched run, it wasn't long before they were just a short three-second jog from their newest hiding spots before they'd touch the rearmost part of the main runway(that's the southern part of the airstrip), another 80 meters to the nearest side of the large hanger where Tshombe is in, and about 150 meters to the landed Skytrain.
((@Ace)): Before shifting the drones work to targetting one of the men in the tower, it was able to pick up some faint conversation from within the hangar that almost requires the automatic subtitles. At least it's english this time. The first voice speaks with a definate african accent, <<"... I came did I not? You should relax, my friend, what you are paying for is worth the wait. Guaranteed to erradicate anyo- wait a moment...">> There's a long pause before the african voice speaks up, <<"Someone has tried to hack the autopilot of my plane... Why is this?">> Another voice speaks up, this one with a heavy chinese accent. <<"Don't tell me you think I'm trying to hijack your plane?">> <<"If not you, then we may have a mutual problem... Marksman! Find the roof access and get up top! Everyone else, watch the doors! Your men should do the same.">> After that, everything deteriates into each side shouting in their native tongues. Also as luck would have it, the damn active targetting didn't sure-up the Stormclouds aiming reticle any. Oh well, guess you'll have to just trust your natural ability to do it by remote.
Outside, everyone else making their way to the can see the two-man patrol perk up, nodding to no-one in particular and yelling out to the two rebel soldiers guarding the plane. Of course, the sniper/spotter team up in the air control tower are now off their asses and looking about... But nobody has any idea where the lot of you are, they just seem to merely be aware someone is here. Might be able to keep sneaking past, although now they're actually paying attention to their surroundings...
((Everyone who left the trenches to go assault the hangar make an Infiltration test to stay out of sight. Thanee and Aria can keep their old result so as to keep the dicerolling down, besides they didn't really need it until now.))
Hearing Ace's comments on the open line, one of the grunts piped up on the comm-chatter, <<[RJ] I appreciate your high opinion of us, but maybe you should evaluate our mental ability to do something after we get a chance to prove ourselves, sir.>>
<<[Bazz] Quit yer bitchin' and get proffessional ya lousy gits. I'll switch on ya toys, Ace, seein' as I'm the only one stayin' in the trench by the looks of it.>>
((@Loony)): Things look good going in, the Skytrain's node doesn't have a clue you're there as you start pulling apart the code to look for cracks to slip through. However, things suddenly go pear-shaped just as it all starts to look sunny; the exploit utility suddenly reports an error, then another, with more keep popping up until it crashes. It only takes half a second to get it up again, but the damage is worse than you thought: The node is now on full alert due to multiple failed access attempts! Damn pilot is probably going to report it any second...
Meanwhile, everyone that started to sneak out towards the airstrip was able to avoid getting noticed as they made their way. After about five minutes of moving forward from bush to bush in a crouched run, it wasn't long before they were just a short three-second jog from their newest hiding spots before they'd touch the rearmost part of the main runway(that's the southern part of the airstrip), another 80 meters to the nearest side of the large hanger where Tshombe is in, and about 150 meters to the landed Skytrain.
((@Ace)): Before shifting the drones work to targetting one of the men in the tower, it was able to pick up some faint conversation from within the hangar that almost requires the automatic subtitles. At least it's english this time. The first voice speaks with a definate african accent, <<"... I came did I not? You should relax, my friend, what you are paying for is worth the wait. Guaranteed to erradicate anyo- wait a moment...">> There's a long pause before the african voice speaks up, <<"Someone has tried to hack the autopilot of my plane... Why is this?">> Another voice speaks up, this one with a heavy chinese accent. <<"Don't tell me you think I'm trying to hijack your plane?">> <<"If not you, then we may have a mutual problem... Marksman! Find the roof access and get up top! Everyone else, watch the doors! Your men should do the same.">> After that, everything deteriates into each side shouting in their native tongues. Also as luck would have it, the damn active targetting didn't sure-up the Stormclouds aiming reticle any. Oh well, guess you'll have to just trust your natural ability to do it by remote.
Outside, everyone else making their way to the can see the two-man patrol perk up, nodding to no-one in particular and yelling out to the two rebel soldiers guarding the plane. Of course, the sniper/spotter team up in the air control tower are now off their asses and looking about... But nobody has any idea where the lot of you are, they just seem to merely be aware someone is here. Might be able to keep sneaking past, although now they're actually paying attention to their surroundings...
((Everyone who left the trenches to go assault the hangar make an Infiltration test to stay out of sight. Thanee and Aria can keep their old result so as to keep the dicerolling down, besides they didn't really need it until now.))
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2127 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<< [Lynx] Well, so much for the surprise party. Something stirred our little hornet's nest there. Do you want to go now, while they are preparing themselves for an attack, or do you want to wait? As soon as we have a go, I will take out that sniper up there in the tower. Ready if you are. >>
Kerrigan has her rifle trained on the guard in the tower, that looks to be the sniper, ready to squeeze the trigger at any moment.
<< [Lynx] Well, so much for the surprise party. Something stirred our little hornet's nest there. Do you want to go now, while they are preparing themselves for an attack, or do you want to wait? As soon as we have a go, I will take out that sniper up there in the tower. Ready if you are. >>
Kerrigan has her rifle trained on the guard in the tower, that looks to be the sniper, ready to squeeze the trigger at any moment.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2128 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
The assault teams made effort to remain unnoticed as they slowly creeped along, ever careful as they darted out of cover into the next spot. Cor, Loony, and their Fireteam managed to make it far enough along so that the corner of the hangar obscured them from view of the two rebel troops guarding the plane, though not obscured from the tower sniper or the patrol, but those two groups didn't notice them yet. They all acted as if Requiem didn't exist considering how he was given no attention((Where is he btw, Aria?)).
Hatfield and his Fireteam, on the other hand, were making their way to be parallel with the hangar door as per Cor 's plan. Unfortuntely, one of the goggle-wearing guards by the plane managed to spot him when a gust of wind rustled the bushes and exposed Hatfield hiding behind them. With a shout the rebel warned his friends, saying "I see someone over there! Shoot!" before raising his assault rifle and releasing a couple of bursts of tracer fire towards the mage and his team. Just before the bright streaks of hot lead made their way, one of the Ex-Caliber grunts named Mak gave Hatfield a hard kick in the back to knock him down to the ground, while everyone else hit the deck. After another volley wizzed by, the grunts returned fire at the airplane guards while the patrol ran to a pile of scrap to hide behind.
A few exchanged bursts passed between Hatfield's fireteam and the airplane guards before one of the guards took a bullet in his leg, causing him to fall to the ground with a yelp of pain just as the other guy decides the smart thing to do would be to run for better cover than an open hatchway. Everyone else outdoors such as the patrol and sniper, however, was ready to keep up the fight...
<<[Ubik] Fuck, we're screwed without cover! We need help out here!>>
((Hatfield's Direct Fire bonus has expired. Now I suppose this means initiative time, folks. Roll it!))
The assault teams made effort to remain unnoticed as they slowly creeped along, ever careful as they darted out of cover into the next spot. Cor, Loony, and their Fireteam managed to make it far enough along so that the corner of the hangar obscured them from view of the two rebel troops guarding the plane, though not obscured from the tower sniper or the patrol, but those two groups didn't notice them yet. They all acted as if Requiem didn't exist considering how he was given no attention((Where is he btw, Aria?)).
Hatfield and his Fireteam, on the other hand, were making their way to be parallel with the hangar door as per Cor 's plan. Unfortuntely, one of the goggle-wearing guards by the plane managed to spot him when a gust of wind rustled the bushes and exposed Hatfield hiding behind them. With a shout the rebel warned his friends, saying "I see someone over there! Shoot!" before raising his assault rifle and releasing a couple of bursts of tracer fire towards the mage and his team. Just before the bright streaks of hot lead made their way, one of the Ex-Caliber grunts named Mak gave Hatfield a hard kick in the back to knock him down to the ground, while everyone else hit the deck. After another volley wizzed by, the grunts returned fire at the airplane guards while the patrol ran to a pile of scrap to hide behind.
A few exchanged bursts passed between Hatfield's fireteam and the airplane guards before one of the guards took a bullet in his leg, causing him to fall to the ground with a yelp of pain just as the other guy decides the smart thing to do would be to run for better cover than an open hatchway. Everyone else outdoors such as the patrol and sniper, however, was ready to keep up the fight...
<<[Ubik] Fuck, we're screwed without cover! We need help out here!>>
((Hatfield's Direct Fire bonus has expired. Now I suppose this means initiative time, folks. Roll it!))
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<<Trust me. When have I ever led you wrong before?>>
Loony couldn't help it. The hack was going swimmingly, there was no possible way that anyone was going to see it coming, and this bird was in the bag before he could even turn his head. So he grandstanded, just a little.
<<There was that one bird in Tblisi, sah, an' you were positive wouldn't 'deny service', if you catch my meanin'-->>
The AR display lit up as a batch command executed - Denial of Service Attack. Fuck! Loony scrambled to diagnose as the exploit program cascaded a series of login attempts with brute-force password cracking procedures. A blinking status symbol explained what had happened - The ID-10-T module had been activated when he was screwing around watching the Matrix traffic, and it had activated the voice command module. A rookie fucking mistake. Last count of login attempts before he was able to shut it down: 4,679,152.
<<Sod it all! We're made, sah! Shutting the hack down and going passive.>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2128 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
In the five minutes since his cockup, Loony had snuck in with Alpha, dodging the patrol and evading the "eagle eyes" in the tower. He kept his machine pistol at the ready, attaching 'hostile' ARO's to the targets he could see on the field and waiting for a consistent enough transmission from the pilot to the plane so he could take it over and get in. Alpha made it into position when Murphy reared his head again and let forth a mighty belch.
Loony's observation of the tacnet showed that Bravo went prone - Mak a hairsbreath behind the others - and the night started to light up with automatic fire. Amongst the yelling on the TacNet, Loony activated one of his other toys; a directional jammer that would cock-up the enemy's transmission lines while keeping their own clear.
Loony would follow Cor and Alpha's move - jamming all the while.
<<Trust me. When have I ever led you wrong before?>>
Loony couldn't help it. The hack was going swimmingly, there was no possible way that anyone was going to see it coming, and this bird was in the bag before he could even turn his head. So he grandstanded, just a little.
<<There was that one bird in Tblisi, sah, an' you were positive wouldn't 'deny service', if you catch my meanin'-->>
The AR display lit up as a batch command executed - Denial of Service Attack. Fuck! Loony scrambled to diagnose as the exploit program cascaded a series of login attempts with brute-force password cracking procedures. A blinking status symbol explained what had happened - The ID-10-T module had been activated when he was screwing around watching the Matrix traffic, and it had activated the voice command module. A rookie fucking mistake. Last count of login attempts before he was able to shut it down: 4,679,152.
<<Sod it all! We're made, sah! Shutting the hack down and going passive.>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2128 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
In the five minutes since his cockup, Loony had snuck in with Alpha, dodging the patrol and evading the "eagle eyes" in the tower. He kept his machine pistol at the ready, attaching 'hostile' ARO's to the targets he could see on the field and waiting for a consistent enough transmission from the pilot to the plane so he could take it over and get in. Alpha made it into position when Murphy reared his head again and let forth a mighty belch.
Loony's observation of the tacnet showed that Bravo went prone - Mak a hairsbreath behind the others - and the night started to light up with automatic fire. Amongst the yelling on the TacNet, Loony activated one of his other toys; a directional jammer that would cock-up the enemy's transmission lines while keeping their own clear.
Loony would follow Cor and Alpha's move - jamming all the while.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2128 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
As soon as the first automatic bursts break the silence, Kerrigan pulls the trigger and fires a bullet with deadly precision aimed at the tower sniper's head.
Afterwards, she takes the time to assess the situation, looking for the two-man patrol and the two guards near the plane.
<< [Lynx] Tower sniper eliminated. Proceeding with the other threats. >>
As soon as the first automatic bursts break the silence, Kerrigan pulls the trigger and fires a bullet with deadly precision aimed at the tower sniper's head.
Afterwards, she takes the time to assess the situation, looking for the two-man patrol and the two guards near the plane.
<< [Lynx] Tower sniper eliminated. Proceeding with the other threats. >>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
With the flurry of fire ringing through the air Requiem raised his rifle and squeezed two controlled bursts at the tower spotter, almost without pausing in his jog forwards towards the plane. Just to be on the safe side he modified his route to hopefully avoid any incoming fire based on his muzzle flash.
<<Tower spotter neutralised. Proceeding to the plane...>>
With the flurry of fire ringing through the air Requiem raised his rifle and squeezed two controlled bursts at the tower spotter, almost without pausing in his jog forwards towards the plane. Just to be on the safe side he modified his route to hopefully avoid any incoming fire based on his muzzle flash.
<<Tower spotter neutralised. Proceeding to the plane...>>
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
<<[Ubik] Fuck, we're screwed without cover! We need help out here!>>
<<[Requiem] Tower spotter neutralised. Proceeding to the plane...>>
<< [Lynx] Kyu, I shot the mans! >>
I have got to fix this sodding ID-10-T. That's not even supposed to be in there!
One thing that was working was his AR overlay regarding the jamming device in his left hand. He pointed it towards the hangar and tapped the 'Active' button. The display spat back that he was now actively jamming all communications save his team's.
Red ARO's showed the patrol firing on Bravo, and Bravo's icons were flashing yellow for 'You bloody moron, we're under attack!'. Loony brought his machine pistol to bear on both patrollers, even as they took cover, and sent six rounds downrange.
<<[Ubik] Fuck, we're screwed without cover! We need help out here!>>
<<[Requiem] Tower spotter neutralised. Proceeding to the plane...>>
<< [Lynx] Kyu, I shot the mans! >>
I have got to fix this sodding ID-10-T. That's not even supposed to be in there!
One thing that was working was his AR overlay regarding the jamming device in his left hand. He pointed it towards the hangar and tapped the 'Active' button. The display spat back that he was now actively jamming all communications save his team's.
Red ARO's showed the patrol firing on Bravo, and Bravo's icons were flashing yellow for 'You bloody moron, we're under attack!'. Loony brought his machine pistol to bear on both patrollers, even as they took cover, and sent six rounds downrange.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
So Cor was a bit put out with himself, as he always was when his grand plans fell apart right from the beginning. However, it wasn't his meticulous planning that usually pulled his men from the jaws of defeat, but his snap decisions and on-the-fly tactical decisions that helped in turning the tide of battle. He scanned the terrain and saw Bravo across the strip, in an advantageous position to combat the guards by the plane. While trudging onwards closer to the corner of the hanger, he barked orders across the comm channel:
<<Bravo! I need concentrated fire on the blokes over by the plane! Neutralize them quickly, or keep them pinned until we can get to you!>>
When Cor got to the edge of the hangar he held up a fist, halting his men's advance. Then he flashed his hand open, fingers splayed outwards, ordering Alpha to spread out and put a few meters in between each of them.
So Cor was a bit put out with himself, as he always was when his grand plans fell apart right from the beginning. However, it wasn't his meticulous planning that usually pulled his men from the jaws of defeat, but his snap decisions and on-the-fly tactical decisions that helped in turning the tide of battle. He scanned the terrain and saw Bravo across the strip, in an advantageous position to combat the guards by the plane. While trudging onwards closer to the corner of the hanger, he barked orders across the comm channel:
<<Bravo! I need concentrated fire on the blokes over by the plane! Neutralize them quickly, or keep them pinned until we can get to you!>>
When Cor got to the edge of the hangar he held up a fist, halting his men's advance. Then he flashed his hand open, fingers splayed outwards, ordering Alpha to spread out and put a few meters in between each of them.
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
As the battle rages, the stattaco of automatic fire fills the air. The shots fired by Requiem smash through the aged dirty glass of the air control tower and riddle the spotter with lead, sending the man to his knees. This causes the sniper to jump upwards in a suprised jolt, ruining Lynx's perfect headshot... Instead it blasts a large hole through his neck, letting loose spurts of blood out of his now open jugular. The enemy sniper soon falls to the ground, unable to breath or feel anything below his chin due to both his windpipe and a piece of his spine being blasted onto the walls thanks to a high caliber rifle bullet belonging to Lynx.
Elsewhere, Loony's quick bursts of machine pistol bullets sent the two chinese patrolmen reeling, and their yelps of pain could just barely be noticed over the echo's of gunfire ringing out. However, nothing seemed to spray out by the looks of it via thermovision; the bastards armor must be stronger than it looks.
Cor orders were interupted in short order as one of the plane guards, the wounded one by the looks of Bravo's video feed, started opening fire again. Luckily, none of them seemed to get hit and their biomonitors proved this. The other guard, however, decided to crawl underneath the plane and open fire at Requiem after noticing, yup, the muzzle flash from his rifle.
((Requiem, gimmie dodge at -5. Cheeky bastard went for a wide-long burst.))
As the battle rages, the stattaco of automatic fire fills the air. The shots fired by Requiem smash through the aged dirty glass of the air control tower and riddle the spotter with lead, sending the man to his knees. This causes the sniper to jump upwards in a suprised jolt, ruining Lynx's perfect headshot... Instead it blasts a large hole through his neck, letting loose spurts of blood out of his now open jugular. The enemy sniper soon falls to the ground, unable to breath or feel anything below his chin due to both his windpipe and a piece of his spine being blasted onto the walls thanks to a high caliber rifle bullet belonging to Lynx.
Elsewhere, Loony's quick bursts of machine pistol bullets sent the two chinese patrolmen reeling, and their yelps of pain could just barely be noticed over the echo's of gunfire ringing out. However, nothing seemed to spray out by the looks of it via thermovision; the bastards armor must be stronger than it looks.
Cor orders were interupted in short order as one of the plane guards, the wounded one by the looks of Bravo's video feed, started opening fire again. Luckily, none of them seemed to get hit and their biomonitors proved this. The other guard, however, decided to crawl underneath the plane and open fire at Requiem after noticing, yup, the muzzle flash from his rifle.
((Requiem, gimmie dodge at -5. Cheeky bastard went for a wide-long burst.))
[Thursday, May 4th 2073, 2123 hours; approx. 14km South of Illizi, Algeria]
Requiem watched with calm detachment as the guard under the plane filled the air around him with the whistling shriek of full auto fire. He allowed his wires to take over his actions and they smoothly sent him in to a diving roll and back to his feet once more, hopefully enough to miss the incoming lead…
Requiem watched with calm detachment as the guard under the plane filled the air around him with the whistling shriek of full auto fire. He allowed his wires to take over his actions and they smoothly sent him in to a diving roll and back to his feet once more, hopefully enough to miss the incoming lead…
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