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Trinity Universe: Holo Lives


knave

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Before leaving the Aegypt:

Harker will spend most of his spare time reading in his cabin; the books vary from fictional novels to textbooks, sometimes even the Chromatics reports. ::rolleyes

When not reading, he'll walk the corridors of the ship by himself...stopping frequently to look out at the stars through an open viewport. By amazing coincidence, almost everytime Roosevelt goes on a walk, he seems to cross paths with Julie. ::cool

Three Bakhatsu E15s fire launch jets and drop up into the cold dark. ”We’re on hold status now for ten minutes. Please feel free to play with yourselves while we wait,” – Sparks over again the intercom.

Julie grins and even Susan Ngamba smiles at this tension diffusing comment.

The moment drags….

A second truly mind-rending jolt cuts through the Psions.

At the first painful shock, Harker just grimaces and grits his teeth. At the second, a torrent of colorful oaths in French explode from the linguist before he catches himself. Grinning weakly at the others(Julie especially), he apologizes. "I've always thought French was best for swearing..."

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Seated in the drop ship, Hastings glances at the various Psions as they wince in pain. For a moment he looks confused, then realisation dawns, & he comments (to no-one in particular),

"Oh - the famous 'psychic shockwave', right?"

With a glance towards Taka, he adds,

"We'll have to make sure that we all undergo very detailed medical examinations when we get back - just to make sure. It's not like any of us has anything to hide..."

For a moment his gaze lingers on the Asian man, then he smiles, & turns back to his datapad.

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With a glance towards Taka, he adds,

"We'll have to make sure that we all undergo very detailed medical examinations when we get back - just to make sure. It's not like any of us has anything to hide..."

Taka only smirks at the pointed shot.

"Anything you say. You're the team leader, after all."

::sly

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OOC: Sorry to post something like this retroactively, but I'm going to anyway. ::rolleyes

The next time anyone visits their room after the sparring session, they find this message on their bed in stylized and impeccable handwriting:

[name of team member],

Tiger asked repeatedly that we, as members of a team, reveal to each other all of our hidden attributes. He was referring to psionic ability, but nevertheless, I have several to reveal, but had to decline the opportunity to reveal them during our sparring session due to the presence of the Marines, something I did not anticipate. They are not secret, but please use much discretion in choosing with whom you share this information, and dispose of this note.

Many of you have undoubtedly heard rumors or evidence to the effect that my homeland has perfected the science of nanotechnology. This is true, though probably not to the ludicrous degree that some of you may have heard. As a former high-ranking Nihonjin operative, I am myself fitted out with a significant degree of modification. This includes a small laser implanted into my hand, nanofibers worked into my skin that make it very tough and resilient, implants allowing me to see heat and in the dark, make and recieve radio transmissions, and recycle oxygen for up to a half hour, and nanites added to my bloodstream which heighten my healing capacity.

I apologize for what may be considered a deception.

~Taka Rochester

OOC: No, this isn't because I'm worried that Hastings might actually call that examination - I very much doubt if Taka's rank does not carry the ability to bypass such a formality.. ::sly

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>>>Triton Personell Database Listing<<<

Agent Andrew Thomas

Age: 34

Nationality: Australian

Relevant skills:

Electrokinetic (10 years) [biotechnology specialist]

Advanced Biotechnology Engineering skills

Competent Engineering skills

Competent Hacking skills

Competent self defence level

Languages English

Previous Assignments:

Served Proteus Mars 1 year. (refused promotion)

Served Triton InSurv 3 years. (refused promotion)

Served Triton ASDB 1 year. (refused promotion)

Previously served Orgotek: Orgosoft Farms 4 years.

Previously in corporate sector

Mission Profiles [CLASSIFIED]

Daniel Madina

Age: 35

Nationality: Indian, UK, Australia, UAN, FSA

Relevant Skills:

Clearsentient

Demolitions Expert

Trained Investigator

Extensive locale knowledge

Competent self defence level

Languages: English, Hindi, Chinese

Additional Associations: ISRA, Baha'i

Previous Assignments:

Proteus: MARS 2 years

New Delhi Police Department

New Delhi Bomb Disposal and Investigation unit

Mission Profiles [CLASSIFIED]

Special Agent Robert Hastings

Age: 35

Nationality: UK

Relevant Skills:

Covert Operations

Qualified Pilot

Strong self defence skills

Languages: English, Russian, Nihonjin

Previous Assignments:

MARS 3 years

British IIS

Mission Profiles [CLASSIFIED]

Agent Tiger Vaughn

Age: 19/20

Nationality: Brazilian

Relevant Skills:

Special Operations Combat

Intrusion

Strong Covert-Ops potential

Strong self-defence level

Languages: English, Portuguese

Previous Assignments:

Proteus: MARS 1 years

UniSec (an FSA Registered company)

Mission Profiles [CLASSIFIED]

Agent Roosevelt Harker

Age: 32

Nationality: FSA

Relevant Skills:

Clearsentient

Xenologist

Xenobiologist

Linguist

Psychologist

Communications Technology Knowledge

Excellent Hybrid Pilot

Competent self defence level

Languages: English, French, Chinese, Qin, Swahili, Spanish

Previous Assignments:

Triton: ASDB, DA: Earth, DA: Space, 6 years

Previous Assignments: ISRA

Mission Profiles [CLASSIFIED]

Special Agent Taka Rochester

Age: 36

Nationality: Nihonjin

Relevant Skills:

Extreme Special Operations Combat skills

Extreme Close Combat skills

Languages: Nihonjin, Chinese, English

Previous Assignments:

Proteus: MARS 2 years

Nihonjin: Special Ops

Mission Profiles [CLASSIFIED]

Agent Talvin Sawhney

Age: 35

Nationality: Indian

Relevant Skills:

Clearsentient

Strong Investigation skills

Strong self defence level

Languages: English, Hindi, Chinese

Additional Associations: ISRA

Previous Assignments:

Proteus: MARS 1 year

Proteus Associate 2 years

ISRA: Al Alif Investigator

UN: Terrorism investigator

Mission Profiles [CLASSIFIED]

>>>file ends<<<

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In unison, Talvin, Roosevelt, Daniel, Andew, Julie, and Susan Ngamba wince and try desperately to maintain their balance.  Somehow Caroline Hsu manages to maintain her placid mask.

Taken a bit by surprise as half the team almost lose their footing, Tiger still helps Sparks support and guide them all on board. From then on he keeps an eye on all of them, prepared in case something similar should happen again.

”We’re on hold status now for ten minutes.  Please feel free to play with yourselves while we wait,” – Sparks over again the intercom. 

Julie grins and even Susan Ngamba smiles at this tension diffusing comment.

::biggrin Tiger grins and lifts the carbine/grenade launcher held across his lap. "Anybody wanna give me a hand? My hands are full..." ::wink

A second truly mind-rending jolt cuts through the Psions.

”That was Himalaya and Europa doing the double act.  Hold tight now children!”

Looking slightly worried, Tiger glances from one psion to another. "You guys gonna be ok?"

Acceleration pushes the characters back in their seats.

”Ten minutes and we should be clear.  I’m getting reports from the leading frigates – doesn’t sound like there is any resistance other than some mining bases in the asteroid belt… Looks like this could be a milk run after all.”

Tiger smiles slightly and mutters "Yeah? Guess that means Murphy hasn't reported in yet..."

Looking over at Julie, he says "Any idea where you're gonna port us? Try not to put us down in their assembly hall or anything like that, ok?"

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Looking slightly worried, Tiger glances from one psion to another. "You guys gonna be ok?"

Susan Ngamba shakes her head in a pained affirmitive. "We will be fine. Just be ready."

Tiger smiles slightly and mutters "Yeah? Guess that means Murphy hasn't reported in yet..."

Looking over at Julie, he says "Any idea where you're gonna port us? Try not to put us down in their assembly hall or anything like that, ok?"

"Noh. It will be outside, near a side entrance. Caroline and I worked hard to find the right place."

::biggrin Tiger grins and lifts the carbine/grenade launcher held across his lap. "Anybody wanna give me a hand? My hands are full..." ::wink

"But of course!" Julie says mischievously (obviously recovering), "but you will 'av to put down your gun long enough to take off your ahmor... Well? what are you waiting for? You're not shy are you?"

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Aboard the dropship 'Duck'

Captain Ndebele’s voice comes through your helmet mics.

“First reports are back from the drop point. It looks like the target area is bigger than we initially believed. The structure that you are supposed to infiltrate is on the side of a mountain that has several biotech plants and a fighter base nearby. Fortunately, our tactics seem to be working… we have already destroyed the fighter base and biotech plants from the air. Our VARGs are deploying against their smaller ground targets now. Good luck.”

Julie and Susan Ngamba place themselves back to back in the two seats of the squat, pod shaped Port Commune device. The team gathers in the space behind them….

Light…. Noise… Smoke… Endless Space… The inside of a drop ship….A murky river floods by… An alien world of blue grass and purple oceans… Every molecule crashing about within…

reality

Smoke - acrid and black - like that from old non-degrading plastic. Explosions in the distance….SSSSSSSSSSSSSS laser light flashes brightly from a nearby crater.

Someone in the group is screaming – and then there is only the sound of an armoured body hitting the ground and thrashing about… small bits of equipment are thrown about.

The shock and blindness of the rough travel quickly fade, revealing the scene. The group is in a rough gully on a mountain slope. The sky is red and cloudless overhead. The rocks are a dull white colour. The sun is closer and ruddier. A wave of pure, dry heat strikes the characters with force making breathing difficult for those not tapping suit supplies. Above their position, where the laser flash came from, is a large smoking crater and the remains of what may once have been a large weapon emplacement.

Amidst the group…

Andrew’s thrashing begins to subside. Bio and Hardtech devices lie scattered about his fallen body. The very top of his helmet and its contents has been diagonally sliced and burnt away – the piece of his brain is now a seared, acrid smelling, scarlet haired lump beside him, nestled in its melted plastic holder.

A locust and two E15s howl past overhead. Explosions echo in the distance.

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Andrew’s thrashing begins to subside. Bio and Hardtech devices lie scattered about his fallen body. The very top of his helmet and its contents has been diagonally sliced and burnt away – the piece of his brain is now a seared, acrid smelling, scarlet haired lump beside him, nestled in its melted plastic holder.

Feeling the bile rising in his throat, Roosevelt quickly turns away, squeezing his eyes shut. Taking a few seconds to suppress the overwhelming urge to vomit, he forces himself to turn around and quickly examine Andrew's equipment, trying to determine if the ChromiecatorIII is still intact.

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Roosevelt scrambles over the loose rocks to the corpse. He finds the ChromicatorIII projector undamaged and still eZeGLUed to the remaining piece of Andrew's helmet (from which seared brain is slowly oozing). The mini-comp attatchment also appears intact.

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"But of course!" Julie says mischievously (obviously recovering), "but you will 'av to put down your gun long enough to take off your ahmor... Well? what are you waiting for? You're not shy are you?"

::biggrin "Shy? Me?!" Tiger laughs at the idea. "Not even close. But I try to keep control of at least one of my guns at all times. ::wink It's kind of a personal guideline in my life... Never drop your weapon just because a sexy woman says so." ::cool

Later...

Feeling the bile rising in his throat, Roosevelt quickly turns away, squeezing his eyes shut. Taking a few seconds to suppress the overwhelming urge to vomit, he forces himself to turn around and quickly examine Andrew's equipment, trying to determine if the ChromiecatorIII is still intact.

*Man down already! SH!T!*

Tiger briefly considers throwing Harker the MedKit attached to his pack, but a glance at the rests of Andrew's headgear brutally exorcises the idea. Seeing that Harker is busy checking Andrew's gear, he turns back to watching and securing the crater and the rest of his own sector.

Adrenaline pumping through his system, he still takes a few calm breaths of the canned air of his closed combat suit, and says "Harker. Is the harness intact?"

Tiger quickly scans his field of vision and runs a motion sensor test of the immediate area, all senses alert for added danger in this vulnerable situation. Anything that looks like it's about to move on more than two legs gets perforated.

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"Harker. Is the harness intact?"

Swallowing as he stares at the helmet, he answers. "Y..yes." Clearing his throat, Roosevelt closes his eyes and concentrates on his task. "The harness is intact, but the projector is adhered to his helmet. It will take me a moment to remove it."

He takes a deep breath, exhales...then grabs his toolkit and selects the solvent needed to unglue the projector, taking great pains to avoid touching any brain matter. ::crazy

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Hastings stands with a coil carbine holstered to each thigh, insulated cables running from the gun's ECSs to his helmet. He gives the group & the surroundings a quick glance then talks calmly into the group's comm-link, sounding for all the world like he's totally unaffected by the setting & the death of Andrew,

"Tigger - time to put your money where your considerable mouth is, old boy - go scout us an entrance. You Clairsentient chaps, warn us if anything like that", he casually indicates Andrew's corpse, "is about to happen again. Taka - I suggest you protect our Telepathic lady as a first priority."

The Englishman checks the twin anti-Chromatic dart guns he's been issued & sighs, shaking his head slightly,

"Ok gentlefolk, let's go bag us a Witness."

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"Tigger - time to put your money where your considerable mouth is, old boy - go scout us an entrance.."

"Sir! Yes, Sir, Special Agent Hastings, Sir!!" ::tongue

If the immediate area is safe, Tiger takes the point position and moves in the direction of what looks like an entrance.

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Daniel looks at the body, and stares right at the oozing brain, amazed by the precision. He checks all his radio equipment, and survival pack before his eyes start to zone out and he idly begans to scan the surrounding area with his expanded senses, sensing for any type of danger as the other men work.

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Andrew’s thrashing begins to subside. Bio and Hardtech devices lie scattered about his fallen body. The very top of his helmet and its contents has been diagonally sliced and burnt away – the piece of his brain is now a seared, acrid smelling, scarlet haired lump beside him, nestled in its melted plastic holder.

Talvin steps up calmly to the body. His lithe body now covered in the intimidating bug suit, he can be heard breathing in and out slowly through his breather on the comm link. His hand drops to his belt producing a bottle. Removing his breather, something is popped in his mouth

*Sorry Andy...your knowing wouldn't have helped...*

Talvin uncocks the safety from his automatic carbine and adjusts the goggles on his helmet before proceeding behind Tiger.

You Clairsentient chaps, warn us if anything like that", he casually indicates Andrew's corpse, "is about to happen again.

*Right...*

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Aboard the drop-ship Duck

::biggrin "Shy? Me?!" Tiger laughs at the idea. "Not even close. But I try to keep control of at least one of my guns at all times. ::wink  It's kind of a personal guideline in my life... Never drop your weapon just because a sexy woman says so." ::cool

”You sink I’m sexy? You are sweet.” Julie’s grin fades. ”Too bad for you.” her beautiful face becomes a bleak mask. She attaches the Port Commune crown…

Chrome Prime: A Gully on a white mountain. Afternoon?

A clearer look

The group is in a rocky gully that seems to descend all the way down the relatively gentle mountain slope. The rocks, where exposed, are a dull white colour, though lichens and scrub-like outgrowths are relatively common. Much further down the slope and to the left (looking down) a pall of smoke is rising and heavy weapons firing and explosions can be heard. Looking up, the gully ends abruptly where a bomb or heavy smart missile hit some sort of bio/hardtech emplacement creating a large (perhaps 15 meter wide) crater with larger rock fragments scattered about its edge. It is the lip of this crater that blocks what is immediately beyond from view. Much further (perhaps five hundred meters or so) up the slope which starts to become steeper - possibly even impassable - stands a large stone structure – a castle of a sort – with raised towering platforms at its edges. Atop the castle, and between these towers and with tendrils connecting to them for support, a dark, smooth biotech dome shimmers with reflected sunlight.

---TIGER---

Tiger quickly scans his field of vision and runs a motion sensor test of the immediate area, all senses alert for added danger in this vulnerable situation. Anything that looks like it's about to move on more than two legs gets perforated.

Tiger scans the immediate surrounds and runs through the various motion sensing settings on his ECS, but finds nothing concrete. The scope’s detection abilities are less than accurate in this sort of terrain, especially when surrounded by friendlies.

---HARKER---

[Harker] takes a deep breath, exhales...then grabs his toolkit and selects the solvent needed to unglue the projector, taking great pains to avoid touching any brain matter. ::crazy

Once the solvent is applied the eZeGLU™ quickly releases the ChromicatorIII’s holo-projector and completely dissipates itself – just like its guaranteed to do in the Infomercials. As quick as this process is, Harker can’t but help notice the way Andrew’s brain is ever so slowly swivelling out of his angled skull, and how clear fluid has seeped out over the fallen Australian’s hair… and how his eyes are wide - staring wide and blue.

---HASTINGS---

The Englishman checks the twin anti-Chromatic dart guns he's been issued & sighs, shaking his head slightly

Weapons – CHECK! ::biggrin

"Tigger - time to put your money where your considerable mouth is, old boy - go scout us an entrance. You Clairsentient chaps, warn us if anything like that", he casually indicates Andrew's corpse, "is about to happen again. Taka - I suggest you protect our Telepathic lady as a first priority."

Caroline Hsu, clad and armoured in a mottled brownish blue (and yet somehow almost formal on her) Legion battle suit, raises her chunky L-K Protector for Hastings to see. ”I noted Special Agent Rochester’s considerable talents in the dojo, Mr Hastings. I’m sure he would be wasted in such a demeaning role.”

---Taka---

Taka takes up a protective role over the group despite Caroline Hsu's protests. He checks his carbine, and nods back to Hastings.

---Talvin---

Talvin kneels at the lip of the crater and reaches forward, touching the shattered rock and earth.

---Daniel---

Daniel looks at the body, and stares right at the oozing brain, amazed by the precision. He checks all his radio equipment, and survival pack before his eyes start to zone out and he idly begans to scan the surrounding area with his expanded senses, sensing for any type of danger as the other men work.

Daniel’s viewpoint expands in waves – more and more of the area becomes apparent. An entrance tunnel ahead – just inside the crater. Rocks strewn about. A biotech factory - no two – at the foot of the mountain on this near side. Smoke…A single Chromatic fighter hybrid weaves desperately as a pair of E15s give chase. A MEL near the factory – unloading VARGS – Silverfish.

---TIGER---

If the immediate area is safe, Tiger takes the point position and moves in the direction of what looks like an entrance.

Having spotted nothing immediately dangerous and seeing no likely entrances down slope (though it is perfectly possible given the ruggedness of terrain), Tiger makes his way carefully over the crater’s lip. Immediately he sees an entrance cave/tunnel at the back of the crater. The entrance is overhung and dark, and appears to have partially collapsed. The crater is a mess of strewn rocks - a pool of greenish bio-acid bubbles away at the very bottom, and three chromatic bodies lie thoroughly ruptured and torn, about a very large, very dead looking bioapp – probably a biolaser cannon. Another look at the entrance reveals a chromatic forelimb reaching out from under the collapse.

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Harker can’t but help notice the way Andrew’s brain is ever so slowly swivelling out of his angled skull, and how clear fluid has seeped out over the fallen Australian’s hair… and how his eyes are wide - staring wide and blue.

"Ugh...poor bastard." Quickly picking up the harness and projector, Roosevelt makes his way back over to stand next to Hastings. "Got it." Taking a moment to glue the projector to his own helmet, he slips the harness on as well. Adjusting the harness, he draws his own weapon, a laser carbine similar to the others. "Ready."

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Talvin's left hand hovers just above the ground surface as he lets the vision engulf him:

Colours swim about before Talvin's eyes… a vague impression of sizzling energy… some sort of weapon emplacement. Something approaches FAST - EXPLOSION… He sees groups of Chromatics scurrying both up and down this gully… As sometimes happens Talvin somehow knows that these are pilgrims. This was perhaps tens of years ago. This mountain is holy…

Ahead, where the crater is now, something is troubling. Once it was an entrance to the inside, but it was altered. Talvin sees a group of chromatics building the gate weapon…

Not long ago -

Talvin sees a single one, battered and bleeding pale blood from where its forelimb has been blown off. Shards of masonry and bioacid from the weapon have torn and burnt their way into its torso. It peers over the rim of the crater at the new flash of light below. Laser light flashes from it forehead, and it ducks down below the crater rim, picking up a rock with its working arm. It struggles, clambers up against a boulder and blends… Tiger crosses over the lip of the crater and sees the half collapsed tunnel entrance… He may just be able to get through there… The wounded chromatic gunner gathers itself behind him.

Talvin abrubtly shakes himself from the vision and looks down the crater at Tiger. Present and future collides. He cannot see but knows where it is...

*shlt!*

A burst of lead is fired where vision and reality meet as the comm link sputters Talvin's voice:

"Tiger jump!"

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Tiger pauses briefly on the edge of the crater, scanning the debris for potential survivors. Not finding any, he carefully climbs down and makes his way towards the half collapsed entrance.

"There's a blown up artillery position with three, maybe four dead chromies. The entrance is half collapsed, but looks pas..."

"Tiger jump!"

Tiger throws himself to the side, his body turning in the air as he brings the carbine to bear on the target point behind him. High speed bullets burst from the weapon as he hits the ground, aimed at whatever threat he sees Talvin shooting at.

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... Adjusting the harness, he draws his own weapon, a laser carbine similar to the others...

Hastings looks in disbelief for a few moments at the gun Roosevelt's holding ::blink ,

"You brought a laser to fight Chromatics? Didn't you read any of the reports man? Go check Andrew's corpse to see if he brought along a real gun you can use..." ::rolleyes

As the sounds of battle erupt from the lip of the crater above the majority of the group, Hastings gives a quick hand-signal for everybody to remain where they are. Over the secure comm' channel he says,

"Right lads & ladettes - that crater will be the best place for us to be, after Tigger's cleared out any resistence - it's less exposed than this mountainside, & our boys aren't likely to be bombing it again any time soon."

"Tigger - give word when the crater is secure - there's a good chap."

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"You brought a laser to fight Chromatics? Didn't you read any of the reports man? Go check Andrew's corpse to see if he brought along a real gun you can use..."

Flushing ::blush , Harker quickly shoves the laser carbine back into it's holster and instead draws the automatic shotgun tucked behind his pack. "Sorry. A bit jumpy, grabbed the wrong one."

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Tiger throws himself to the side, his body turning in the air as he brings the carbine to bear on the target point behind him. High speed bullets burst from the weapon as he hits the ground, aimed at whatever threat he sees Talvin shooting at.

Slo-time... Tiger's body weaves through the air, twisting about, bringing his L-K MAC-803 to bear...

...Talvin's heavy slugthrower is rattling out its staccato music - supersonic rounds flashing into the spot where the field suited youth had stood only moments before...

...Tiger's carbine joins the clamour.

A piece of broken rubble at the edge of the crater erupts in pale blood and and gore... >>>It shimmers<<< and a thoroughly perforated alien corpse falls back into the crater. A hand sized chunk of rock clatters and bounces down over the crater's rim toward the rest of the group.

Tiger dashes forward to make sure of the kill, and Talvin follows.

Once again the crater seems clear. The new chromatic corpse has been riddled with bullets and shrapnel. One of its arms is missing... in fact it could easily be the same arm that, on closer inspection, isn't extending from under the collapsed rubble - it just appears to be.

Checking once again with their ECSes the advance group find the crater clear - and (using their various IR sights / goggles) the collapsed entrance tunnel widens up again after about ten meters worth of what would need to be a leopard-crawl.

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::ohcrap

Tiger dashes forward to make sure of the kill, and Talvin follows.

Once again the crater seems clear. The new chromatic corpse has been riddled with bullets and shrapnel. One of its arms is missing... in fact it could easily be the same arm that, on closer inspection, isn't extending from under the collapsed rubble - it just appears to be.

Talvin nudges the body with his boot

"In case any of you were wondering, we just downed Andrew's killer..."

Kneeling over the body Talvin probes the eyes with his fingers

"Odd looking thing..."

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Checking once again with their ECSes the advance group find the crater clear - and (using their various IR sights / goggles) the collapsed entrance tunnel widens up again after about ten meters worth of what would need to be a leopard-crawl.

A few seconds after the sounds of combat from the crater die out, Tiger's voice is back on the open comm.

"All clear, people. The entrance is clear, but we're gonna have to crawl... about ten meters or so. Hope none of you are claustrophobic..."

Stepping over to the tunnel, he hunches down and looks inside. Glancing briefly at Talvin, he says "Talvin. Thanks for the warning, man. I'll go in and secure the other end. You wait for the others, ok?"

He then drops to the ground and crawls quickly through the tunnel. When he gets to the other side he scans the room and checks the walls closely to see if anyone else is doing the camouflage-trick on him. Adjusting his nightvision to an appropriate level, he takes up position a few meters down the wider tunnel and tries to get a good scan of the cavesystem ahead of him while he waits for the others.

When they're all inside or at least on their way he says "Ok, clears... Any idea where we're going once this tunnel splits up? Or should I just go on gut feeling?"

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Hearing Tiger's report, Hastings orders everyone up to the crater. Once there he takes a look at the collapsed tunnel, then calls Daniel over,

"Can you blow that open? The last thing we want is for our exit to require us crawling - especially if we've got Chromatics snapping at our heels, & a captive in tow."

Glancing back towards the raging battle he adds,

"It's not like the noise will be unusual or anything - just another explosion."

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Daniel looks at the wall, extremely introspectively. "Yeah, I just have an unconscious fear that after I set the explosive, I'll have a vision of myself dying." Daniel chuckles, and opens up his pack, pulling out a slab of Plastic Explosive Putty. He sets it up, around an extremely odd point, working extremely quickly but also skillfully. He finished up, but refrains from putting any detonator into it. "Okay, we gotta clear the area. This blast should send the majority of the crap out to the sides. And out of our way, but they'll be some rock fragments lying around. So I'd advise you all to move further into the compound, I'll blow the exit, and ensure it's clear, no pun intented." Daniel takes out the detonator and carefully starts to set it.

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Hastings calls Tiger on the comm', to explain the big 'boom' that's about to happen, & to suggest that the recon' man heads into the compound until he's out of the way of the blast - & does some recon' while he's at it.

Everybody else he orders back from the tunnel entrance & behind cover.

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Daniel finishes setting the detonator up, and runs away from it quickly. Sighing in relief, that no vision of a premature explosion has come over him. He moves behind some cover, and starts to press some buttons on the remote, to be sure the shaped charge will explode perfectly.

"Okay people, we are gonna have some serious fire-works." Daniel presses a few more buttons. "I'm counting this down." Daniel yells out, holding his finger above a redbutton on the detonator remote. "10.9....5.4....2.1" Daniel presses down on the button, and a momentary flash of fire can be seen.

The sound isn't nearly as deafening as it could be, and Daniel quickly runs back to check on the area, and hopefully finds the explosion worked as it should have, and left them a nice clean exit.

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Stepping over to the tunnel, he hunches down and looks inside. Glancing briefly at Talvin, he says "Talvin. Thanks for the warning, man. I'll go in and secure the other end. You wait for the others, ok?"

Still hovering about the corpse, Talvin at first doesn't seem to be listening

"[...] Hmmm? Yes, it wasn't your time. You're welcome. Be careful in there."

Stepping away in search for cover as Daniel places the explosive, Talvin recalls his vision:

A MALE barks enticingly at you, and you approach quickly out of the warmth of the spring, hoping your actions don’t overemphasize your eagerness. Younglight Beast-Hunter is the son of a chief and will give you strong young. Talvin focuses, ‘Witness’, ‘Witness’, ‘Witness’…You have arrived at White Rocks mountain… the inner gallery. You are part of the tribute – the price for Younglight’s cowardice. The Guide is at the high place… The lights of the throng grow dull-quiet. The ancient one’s strange milky fore-eyes open and blink down at you… Its light is blinding – greater even than Younglight when the beasts came raiding. You cower with the rest, bowing before the displayed purity. You are theirs to command; you will be shown to where you can be useful. You will obey… Why did Younglight leave you?

I left the vision in first person, it became confusing if I changed it...besides, you all know these are from PM's...;) I just think I might as well post most of the visions so you don't miss out on whatever I get to see.

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He then drops to the ground and crawls quickly through the tunnel. When he gets to the other side he scans the room and checks the walls closely to see if anyone else is doing the camouflage-trick on him. Adjusting his nightvision to an appropriate level, he takes up position a few meters down the wider tunnel and tries to get a good scan of the cavesystem ahead of him while he waits for the others.

Tiger crawls past the collapse doing his best not to lacerate himself on the broken rock fragments. It is slow going, and he feels his vulnerability – anything at the far side could fry him and he’d have no chance to dodge… and even a chromie could hear his progress. Finally he’s back into the wider section – an enemy free wider section.

Tiger looks about: The passageway seems mostly natural though some work has been applied here and there, but probably just to widen it in places and keep it even. It is perhaps wide enough for two armoured men to walk abreast. He immediately notices that some sort of luminous fungus is growing at the exact centre of the passageway – a Mohawk stripe that stretches its way down the corridor, providing enough light for his LowLites™ to work. Stretching from immediately around the fungus and all the way down to ground level (although not actually on the floor) are what might on Earth be called ‘cave paintings’ – only these have been done with fine laser burns. This ‘art’ continues as far down the corridor as he can see – to where it bears off to the right. The only gist that Tiger gets from looking at the drawings is that it seems to tell innumerable stories of glowing lights and figures bowing – biblical stuff.

"Ok, clears... Any idea where we're going once this tunnel splits up? Or should I just go on gut feeling?"

Daniel’s vision tracks Tiger’s crawl, but quickly accelerates past him down the ‘wierdly glowing’ painted tunnel that twists and turns and opens into a multi-levelled gallery where chromatic lights flash out messages from numerous tunnel entrances. Most of the chromatics gather into one group and head down the ‘downward’ passage – toward the fighting, Daniel somehow knows. The rest scamper about, sometimes on all fours, sometimes leaping ten to twelve foot up to or down from various entraces. Once the large group has left, there are, perhaps, four chromatics passing through the area at any one time.

Daniel looks at the wall, extremely introspectively.  "Yeah, I just have an unconscious fear that after I set the explosive, I'll have a vision of myself dying."

Daniel shivers siddenly as he says this…

Daniel chuckles, and opens up his pack, pulling out a slab of Plastic Explosive Putty.  He sets it up, around an extremely odd point, working extremely quickly but also skillfully. He finished up, but refrains from putting any detonator into it.  "Okay, we gotta clear the area.  This blast should send the majority of the crap out to the sides.  And out of our way, but they'll be some rock fragments lying around.  So I'd advise you all to move further into the compound, I'll blow the exit, and ensure it's clear, no pun intented."  Daniel takes out the detonator and carefully starts to set it.
Hastings calls Tiger on the comm', to explain the big 'boom' that's about to happen, & to suggest that the recon' man heads into the compound until he's out of the way of the blast - & does some recon' while he's at it.

Everybody else he orders back from the tunnel entrance & behind cover.

Scrambling back and well away from the entrance, Harker crouches down. Concentrating, he extends his senses into the cavern, trying to keep an eye on Tiger to make sure he's okay.

Harker immediately makes out Tiger making his way quickly, cautiously and silently down the tunnel.

"Okay people, we are gonna have some serious fire-works." Daniel presses a few more buttons.  "I'm counting this down." Daniel yells out, holding his finger above a redbutton on the detonator remote.  "10.9....5.4....2.1" Daniel presses down on the button, and a momentary flash of fire can be seen.

Harker realises something is wrong. Something is coming down the tunnel toward Tiger… something… a small scarred – terribly scarred (almost half its head appears missing) chromatic showing no lights and moving cautiously, but quickly… They have not seen each other yet.

BOOM!

The sound isn't nearly as deafening as it could be, and Daniel quickly runs back to check on the area, and hopefully finds the explosion worked as it should have, and left them a nice clean exit.
Hastings orders everyone to secure themselves near the entrance, & calls for Tiger's report on what's beyond

Harker extended senses reel – TOO LATE!

Tiger and the strange chromatic see each other at the same moment –- the moment of the explosion! Tiger begins to move, but even his reflexes cannot match the alien’s. It ducks, head swaying out- its single forward eye and single sideward-eye blinking rapidly – its body flares brilliantly – Harker knows that Tiger cannot see it as it spins, leg flashing out, catching him just below the knee with such force that he finds himself falling, flipping forward in a roll, coming to his feet painfully, carbine ready.

Tiger’s vision returns with his LowLites™ dropping flare compensation – to reveal nothing… the creature is gone, but as his hearing returns, he hears the scurry tap/scratch of claws on stone - running away - fast - back up the tunnel.

[Tiger is now bruised]

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Tiger in trouble. The thought runs through his head, but he remains oddly calm as he thinks about it, they have to act now. "Okay, Tiger is about to come into some seriously bad company. We need to get to his position now, before he encounters the four chromatics ahead." Daniel pulls out his screamer, what an idiot, and starts to run down the corridor. Not yelling, hoping not to alert the Chromatics to what's going on anymore then he already did.
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Watching Daniel go ::blink , Hastings lays out the plan to the rest of the group,

"Right, we need to take at least one of these Chromatics alive - so that our Ministry friend here can pry the location of the nearest 'Witness' from it's brain. Take all of them alive if possible, but obviously not to the detriment of everyone's health..." ::sly

With that out of the way, he heads off after Daniel, a dart gun [ ::rolleyes ] in either hand, gesturing for the others to do likewise.

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Watching Daniel go  , Hastings lays out the plan to the rest of the group,

"Right, we need to take at least one of these Chromatics alive - so that our Ministry friend here can pry the location of the nearest 'Witness' from it's brain. Take all of them alive if possible, but obviously not to the detriment of everyone's health..." 

With that out of the way, he heads off after Daniel, a dart gun [  ] in either hand, gesturing for the others to do likewise.

As Talvin runs through the entrance, taser in hand, he speaks through the comm

"I believe dat it might be on one of de higher levels. Perhaps not a witness, but certainly a chromie of some importance can be found there. I know where it is."

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Hastings calls Tiger on the comm', to explain the big 'boom' that's about to happen, & to suggest that the recon' man heads into the compound until he's out of the way of the blast - & does some recon' while he's at it.

"Copy that."

::blink *WTF?!? Thanks a bunch, people. You're gonna blow the entrance with me inside? Just my luck... I mean, why the hell am I doing this, when half the team are clears? This sucks.* ::angry

Mentally cursing his job he moves down the hall, not giving the cave etchings a second glance. He gets even more pissed when the rubble behind him blows up and he gets a wounded chromie in his lap.

[...]Tiger cannot see it as it spins, leg flashing out, catching him just below the knee with such force that he finds himself falling, flipping forward in a roll, coming to his feet painfully, carbine ready.

Acting on instinct and training, Tiger sweeps the hallway with a single spray from his carbine before he realizes that the target is gone.

*Sh!t!!* he winces as he flexes his leg a few times, before he reloads his weapon and responds to Hastings' question. "One of the f*ckers got past me! I repeat: You've got one incoming chromie. I think it's wounded."

Having reported, Tiger turns back to the tunnel in front of him. He quickly moves around a bend to get out of the others' line of fire when they run into the wounded chromatic, and proceeds down the hallway until it starts widening and becoming brighter. Looking for the best combination of view and concealment, he waits there for the rest of the team and reports his observations.

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