Richter
Veteran Member
Posts: 1,870
|
Post by Richter on Jan 3, 2016 2:56:01 GMT -6
Those last 8 minutes were frantic ones. The firebomb stalled the Fire Angels only long enough for them to realize that he was throwing something they were insulated against, rather than a fragmentation grenade. When it hit the metal rails and fire spilled out, they resumed pouring up towards him. Covering fire stalled them a little, but blinding lights began to flare like strobes. Enemies with shields had finally begun to arrive. They drove in front and center to absorb the bullets for those without, the chunky rounds burying themselves in their armor if not winding up deflected by the curved armor they sported.
The ambush proved much more effective, and it essentially forced their incoming forces to split and try to cover both sides. The team on the ground floor mostly amounted to taking pot shots for the moment, but it was a threat that couldn't be ignored. Several of the gangers hung back and poured their own attacks back down on the enemies, who did not have the advantage of cover from the catwalks. Rivets, hammers, bricks, all sorts of stuff rained down on them while they took cover up above.
James diving straight into their formation was not something that they had expected. The lead Angel hacked at him with her sword, but James was able to effectively parry it and smash his sword into their center of mass. Whether or not they died, it carved a deep fissure into their chest plate and sent them tumbling to the ground. Anger and bloodlust drove the rest on after them, with several others moving forward over the dead to try their hand at laying him low. Some did better than others, but they were stalling at best. They sported saw-swords or maces in one hand and dome-like shields in the other, reinforced by 8 strips of metal riveted to a central steel core. One thing could be said about these people though, they had spirit. Most of the portion still fighting James and his assault team focused fire on him specifically, those rivets were slow enough to get through a shield and still prove deadly, but armor would go a long way to protecting him. All of this did make a fine distraction for him to get his men to ground level, where the ambush team were more apt to help drag out their wounded comrade.
Klaxons began to sound somewhere deeper in, and along with that came flashing red warning lights that alerted everyone to what was going on. Definitely a good time to move. After striking down four enemy soldiers on his own, the enemy morale had finally started to tank to where they peeled back. They dropped smoke bombs to cover their retreat against the fire and melee. But looking ahead, it appeared a lot of trouble was coming their way. For one, they had got that crane he sabotaged earlier rolling, and it was coming straight towards them.
James would see Shikoto bailing out of the vent bunker out of the corner of his eye, but the smoke he was hoping for didn't seem to come. One minute, two minutes...it almost looked like the techie had screwed it up. At 5, the vents shook like the bats of hell themselves were roosting in there, and thick, oily black smog spewed from grates all across the refinery as the jarring noises reached a crescendo, like the bilious vomit of a plague victim.
Looks like their escape would be covered after all, and they'd pulled off the mission to boot.
|
|
Rabite
Veteran Member
Emperor of H
Hey, look over here.
Posts: 1,887
|
Post by Rabite on Jan 3, 2016 3:41:31 GMT -6
Not only was his large cleaver a weapon, but it could be used as a shield just as well thanks to it's large size. The numbers are being quite bothersome, and so does those roaring saw blades. However he did have quite some respect for these determined fighters that dare to fight him rather than backing down, that alone ranked them quite high on his personal scale, compared to Shikoto who seems to have taken 5 extra damn minutes to get that simple job done.
That extra five minutes brought him quite a few scratches, nothing serious but it could all build up in the long run. But finally they got the job done, with the smoke screen up they could take the opportunity for a full retreat, and seal off the tunnel as they go. So with a series of swings to force back the enemies and temporary fight off anyone that's still coming at him, he begin to fall back. With James' order, he and one of the free assault team each grab a pair of the Fire Angels members and dive back into the tunnel, preferably with their equipment still on them.
Once in the tunnel, the group began a full retreat. Any injured members would be supported by a teammate, while if there are any deaths their corpses would be carried out as well, no one will be left behind in one of their operations. If any Fire Angels managed to chase after them their numbers would be limited by the tunnel, and setting chase after them won't be a fun thing to do either in this kind of condition.
Fortunately they were able to get out before more enemies arrive, so they were able to get out of the tunnel without anymore problems. Once out, James had the team split up to avoid attention, traveling in smaller groups back to their ship where the wounded could be tended. The slaves of course have their equipment taken back one by one, as their roles are more like peasant levies, they don't get armed unless called for service. The captured Fire Angels have collars places around their necks before they're up, and also receive medical treatment... that said they still only have those tiny amount of resource that would likely be drained from this operation. But hey, at least they'll get paid now.
Many of the crews would be talking about the fight, and just as many of them were heard bragging about how well they have done during the operation. James himself personally goes up to a few of them and give them a pat on the shoulders for a job well done, including the wounded assault team member that was recommended for his guts and courage. However one such member was not nearly as lucky, as James goes over and punches him right at the face.
"You! What have I told you? I wanted everything done in 15 minutes, and not only did you take an extra five to do it, you left your post before your teammates!"
It was true, perhaps as a slave he did not feel the need to help out, but Shikoto did not try to help out at all for their injured team member. He also seems to have forgotten to get the smoke screen up, at least it was what it looked like. Next he grabs the slave by his shirt and slams him by on the wall.
"I don't care if you have skills or not, I don't care if you're my crew or just a slave. If you dare to mess up your job and leave a brother or sister behind, it won't have a next time ever again, did I make myself clear?! Tsk!"
He finally lets go of the thinner man and turns to exit the ship, leaving Shikoto alone with many of the crews that fought in the battle looking at him funny. It's quite hard to fight together if the guy beside you won't lend you a hand, so they might have to reconsider if they really want to be friends with this guy or not. Though of course in the end he still finished his task if just a bit late, but in this life of dirt and bloodshed, credibility is very, very important. Perhaps something that the formerly high status slave did not realize.
-
After getting himself clean of the dirt and blood from the battle, he took a few crew members and head on back to Big Shots. This time rather than heading for the counter he went start back to where he met Seabach.
"Here you go, just as you asked, might have caused just a little more ruckus then originally planned though. How about it? Is it enough or do you want me to give it another run?"
He was quite sure that was more than enough, he himself personally killed more than just a few of those guards already, and that successful prong attack would have brought some news to the asteroid too. A battle, in the middle of the Fire Angels' own base, and they lost to a new and nameless group, now that's not something you hear everything. If it wasn't for those new scratch wounds and the light scene of blood around him, you would have thought it was a joke. This man led his team in battle and personally fought many of the enemies, something that clearly takes more than just recklessness to do.
"I trust that those bits of information weren't too much of a problem to find? My group were too busy to look for them, I just wish I have the kind of manpower that you do... friend."
He might just be one man, but who knows how far he is determined to reach. In combat, in wealth, and in power.
|
|
|
Post by Pitman on Jan 3, 2016 4:01:58 GMT -6
As they arrived back to the ship Shikoto was in deep thought the entire way, about what occurred inside and why his smoke screen took forever. Potentially the way it was intended didn't work as he thought it would be was a miscalculation. Arriving back he was back to his usual job and turning in his weapons, he had no choice after all he was just a slave. As he took off the suit and now back into his normal clothing he turned to hear the Captain come and rush at him. It felt like a truck hit him hard and quite frankly hurt like hell. Being crushed by the man as he gave his words to him was like a bully giving a temper tantrum. Then talking about brothers, wait when was anyone on this ship even brothers to him? To him they were not brothers but simply abusive warmongering brutes who only go for the highest dollar. So his respect? In the negatives, being a slave under them for so long only thing he had was resentment to everyone on this ship. Really only the Engineer he somewhat trusted and backed him up to not be killed or even sold away to god's knows where. Still being taught a so called lesson he suppose to take to heart which he didn't.
"Crystal... Captain.", Shikoto muttered to the man to get him to release him and stop being crushed.
Falling to the ground and catching his breath he saw the Captain leave and then looked to the others of the room who gave him looks he seen before. No Shikoto was not their brother, just a slave, a slave who only reason is alive is because he had skills they didn't. If the Captain got someone he liked who could replace him, he would in a heartbeat. After all Shikoto was disposable and only to be used until he died or managed to buy himself out of slavery. He just need a break any break that would get him out of this predicament and off this god damn ship.
"What... I am a slave, so its expected.", Shikoto soon stated as he left the room as he had a choice.
As he walked the halls he went straight to his room or what actually is a cell for slaves, at least they had decency to give him a bed and a small light if he felt like tinkering. Walking up to it he laid down with soreness all over, his cell full of pieces of hard ware unfinished or even a working radio he managed to fix. He soon turned it on and simply laid on his bed and looked at the only picture he had left of himself and his parents. 8 Years of hell, will it ever end?
|
|
Richter
Veteran Member
Posts: 1,870
|
Post by Richter on Jan 3, 2016 4:18:38 GMT -6
On the way out of the tunnels a number of new noises could be heard echoing back towards them. Actually, they could more feel it as a sort of bass rumbling that was made all the stronger by being in water. It was a series of explosions from back the way they had came, no mistaking it. Screams, hoots, and hollering were also very, very faintly audible on the way out...
-
Back on the ship spirits were high, they'd got in a good scrap, were getting paid, and the chef had a meal waiting right here for them by the time they got back. Still warm. Say what you want about that man, he knows how to plan. Lots of meat, lots of greens. High energy food. Everyone had worked up a pretty crazy appetite from all the adrenaline. Even the slaves got some (smaller portions, but still) due to the event. After the mutiny, it was the first step on their hopeful upswing.
If it'd last was a big question, but for now everyone lived for the now.
As for Shikoto, Briggs 'bumped' into him as he walked back to his cell. After changing out of his suit and into his clothing he'd be surprised to find a couple of painkillers tumbling out of his pocket, from the chief engineer's private stock. He felt kind of bad for the kid, like a dopey younger brother or something. And he was useful. Not so useful with a splitting headache and broken nose. If nothing else it'd give him a few hours of high and something to get him to stop being a buzz kill for a little while.
Just hope Raffle didn't find out. Hoo boy.
So maybe he wasn't totally without allies here after all. But with his harsh outlook, the irony was that he was he was digging his own hole. Their lot were moving up in life, James intended to see to that. Shikoto was going along for the ride like it or not, would he continue to drag himself down instead?
-
Back at the bar, there was someone waiting for James, but it wasn't Seabach. In fact, quite a few of the Black Talons were gone, and most of the reserved tables were taken by others. In addition to a few other grunts, the Captain would recognize one member of his inner circle. Putting two and two together, the pirate could probably guess what was going on here. A young man with steely eyes and a lean, athletic build, he graciously waived their contracted fighter over when he came looking for payout. He was fast in delivering it too, handing over the promised clusters wrapped in a sprawling sheet of parchment that held some data he wanted to know. It was painted in a flowing cursive hand that, if it belonged to Seabach, would identify him as much more well learned than one would expect from the average cad. But that info could be looked over later.
"Glad you made it back, some nice work, more than enough for the coins. The Boss sent me here to tell you he's impressed, didn't think you'd pull it off. I didn't either." He said. One hand remained tucked in a pocket of his cloak the entire time they talked, leisurely and not in the way one held themselves when hiding a gun, the other sported one of the claws that noted him to be an actual member. At the question of the info's acquisition, he raised a hand to signify that it wasn't even worth talking about. "No big deal. We did what we could, as promised. You know. Things are changing around here, merc. Might be able to do some business again if you want to be at the front of it."
He smiled in a decidedly sly manner, and repeated that last word James said. "Friend."
It seemed that his earlier prediction was spot in, it was not going to be a boring year at all. Around the Kalron Sector men and women of ambition were stepping up everywhere and seizing new destinies amongst the ruins of the past. How James and his crew would fit into that scheme remained to be seen, but one thing was for sure. He lived in an interesting time.
|
|