|
The Mountain |
Somewhere out there. |
Day 54 |
<FS3> Richael rolls Mechanics: Good Success. (5 3 7 6 6 2 8 3 3)
Movement through the Reaper Tunnels is tense, moving through the darkness hoping not to run into lights as the team follows the directions of the scouts. After a nerve-wracking hour in the tunnels, however, a pale glow appears ahead, an electric light over a door in the cavern wall. This must be one of the entrances to the feared and fabled Mount Weather. And there above the door is a camera, easily recognizable to the Skaikru, and familiar by description to the Trikru. It is a moment's work to destroy the camera over the door, and then the Skaikru are up. If they cannot get in this door, their mission is for naught and they will have to double-back to one of the other entrances, losing valuable time in the process. Thankfully, Richael is able to take apart the keycard reader and short-circuit the insides, sliding open one side of the airlock door. Inside is a small room, barely large enough for ten warriors, and another closed door.
Britt hasn't been this nervous about a battle in years, but she does a reasonably good job of projecting confidence for the rest of the warriors. Her breath is held for a moment while the tech works at the door, and then it opens. Whew!!! "Expect they will be ready for us when the other door opens. Take what cover you can," Britt warns, motioning for Richael to move forward to start working on the next door. She takes up a position with her bow leaning around the first doorway, arrow knocked and ready but pointed down at the ground for now.
Richael makes short work of the door, which considering that the tech is likely -less- advanced than what was on the Ark, makes it pretty easy to work with. On opening the door, the girl inspects the inside before nodding to Britt and darting forward to check on the second keypad before she calls out. "This one won't open while that door is open, it's an airlock… makes sense if this place was a fallout shelter. Keeps radiation from getting in until this place cycles." She waits for everyone to step in to trigger the doors to shut and cycle, making sure to put the giant backpack she's wearing against the wall to make room. Makes sense, considering she's carrying two bombs and a pistol on her hip.
Taking up position on the other side of the door from Britt is one of the oft unseen Trikru, Grimm. Generally out and about on his own away from the rest of his people, Grimm has only recently returned to aid in this endeavour. He has his bow out and an arrow at the ready, but he hasn't taken aim anywhere in particular since the second door hasn't opened yet. At Richael's word that the second door can't open till the first is closed, Grimm moves through and once more takes up a position next to the doorway.
A mixture of dread and anticipation drives Luther. The tunnels were tense enough, for all that he had already explored them, but this… once he crosses that threshold… he's inside Mount Weather. The warrior has his paired throwing axes out, and nervously flips the handle of one end-over-end so that he can catch it once more, the wooden handle accelerating around the metal head and then striking his palm with a meaty slap. He grimaces at Richael's words, then nods to Britt, hesitating at the threshold for a moment longer, and then shaking his dreadlocked head and moving forward to find a place toward the side, out of her line of fire but taking what little cover is available by the slightly-inset door.
Khesu is a man who doesn't like to be underground or confined to tight spaces. Lucky bastard. But thankfully he doesn't have to come into these dark tunnels entirely alone without a guide. He sweats a little, ears extra sharp for noise as they all move as quietly through the long passages as they are able. Khesu draws a slow, deep breath and waits while Richael works on the door. His dark eyes slip from Pontus to Britt, back to the strange mechanism the blond woman works to overcome. He gives Britt a nod to acknowledge her order and keeps to one side of the passage along the wall. His bow is strung and ready to use, though his preference is for the axe if things get close. And here they go, all of them crowding into the 'air lock'. Khesu tries not to think about the tight space and stays to the right of the door with Grimm.
Lionel moves into the airlock with less hesitancy, although his usually-vibrant personality is subdued somewhat by the dour Trikru around him.
Thesda is kitted, as they say, for bear. She has foregone her bow in favor of a collection of throwing knives strapped to just about every single viable appendage one can manage to stick a blade, with her sword strapped to her back. Presently she has two blades drawn as she crouches at the ready in preparation to release them if needed.
Oh. Well, what do Trikru know about airlocks? That's what the Skaikru are here for. Britt moves to the inside of the doorway then, crouching down, and waits.
Having lurked in the rear for some of the journey, Tuan looks rather skeptical at all of them joining into this airlock structure. However, as others move in he goes to join them keeping comment away which in itself is rather rare.
Pontus has actually spent more time in and under the mountain and among Reapers than he has on the surface at home with his own. After several narrow calls lately the Jigsaw Man was riding on his last few nerves. It was a constant fear and threat that he's not seen in years, and was half worried that he'd all too readily adapt to. Still that crack Scout team, himself included, brokered no complaint and only too readily headed back into the fray covered in ash and oil. Regardless of how he's spent recent days it was not a smell one got used to down here. He thought of his kid at home, Rain, and the family, and knew that if they could do this? Then she didn't have to grow up in a world with them in it. He recovered the majority of his knives though a few were still missing and have yet been replaced. His spear was slung on his back and sword at hip. With a steady breath he looked to check on Khesu and Britt watching their alert for signals, and the other half of him kept Tuan and Thesda on radar so he knew where his own team was. This was it, so far past the Rubicon that they might never look back again, but it had to be one. Anxiously he awaited for the door to open.
<FS3> Richael rolls Mechanics: Good Success. (7 6 4 7 4 8 2 1 4)
The quietness of the one that has been called Amp kom Trikru is pretty much par for the course. He's a Scout and thus being stealthy has been part of his world since he could climb trees. He makes no movements when he's not supposed to move and he makes it perfectly clear that he's here to support and possibly even slay Those That Are Mountainous. His sword is strapped to his back and he doesn't seem to carry any other weapons. The confined space that they are collectively in doesn't make him feel any better about this but Those That Are Mountainous have taken that which does not belong to them. They have taken Trikru: His People. And for that, they will perish on the end of his golden blade. The wild hair marks him as both a Warrior Scout and the Leader of the Undakru (don't ask) but in this moment he is brethren to all those that have been lost and those that surround him at this moment, while they are inside this 'airlock'. His fidgeting looks more like a /need/ to be let loose upon the inside of this vile location. Thus the hunger for danger that rests upon his smirking lips. His eyes are focused on the part of the door that leads to Victory. He will think of it as nothing less than that or else they may all fall. Amp kom Trikru will not allow such things to happen.
Richael waits for everyone to get in as she gets the keypad ready for cycling the airlock. Once everyone has done so, she shuts the outer door and waits patiently as the air likely is cleaned of any contaminants as best it can. Once the keypad lights up green again, Richael looks to Grimm on the other side of the door and just nods to him once before she says, "Opening door." Another few taps and the inner door slides open as Richael pulls up and away from the door to let the others go first.
Once the outer door slams shut, and Richael induces the inner door to start the cycle, there is a hiss from the ceiling above them… and then a jet of cold air blasted down atop them. A hum of machinery around them starts up, and then the inner door unlocks. Once the door opens, it reveals a long hallway with pipes and wires collected at the ceiling. All four surfaces around them are concrete, gray and unadorned, the walls made of cinder blocks and the floor and ceiling poured material. Lights ride high on the walls, although only every other one is lit, and yellow arrows have been painted on both walls, pointing toward the airlock. Words are written alongside those bold triangles, 'Emergency Exit.' The hallway ends in a small room, the base of a set of concrete stairs that ascends into the heights, zigging and zagging back and forth through long flights of some fifty or so stairs.
Once Richael is out of the way, Grimm draws back half way on his nocked arrow and leans around the doorway, taking quick aim…until he sees nothing down the hallway. A glance is spared over his shoulder for Britt, "Looks pretty clear…What's the move?" He keeps that arrow pointed through the doorway, no matter how clear it looks.
Khesu jumps at the blast of cold air from above! He makes no outcry, no sound, but he wasn't expecting that! He eyes that ceiling but then the second door unlatches and cycles open. The hallway beyond reminds him of what a strange and alien place it is, complete with electric lights - something he's learned about recently from the Skaikru. There are the stairs leading up.
Khesu makes certain Britt sees the stairs as he comes up close beside her. He rumbles very low, keeping his volume as low as possible, "We need to go up. Do you wish for scouts to go ahead of us or stay as we are?" That's going to be a long, slow climb.
Thesda's nose wrinkles at the rush of air, but otherwise she doesn't react to it. Eyes are narrowed against the blaze of lights, but at the sound of the word up, there is the tiniest of smiles. Thesda likes up. No, Thesda loves up.
This whole place felt wrong, and now more so. Pontus made a few hand motions looking to Britt effectively asking if she wanted the scouts to poke their head around as they had four of them at disposal. He made no move on that baleful door, but it wouldn't keep him from running in there to find them a hole or a path either. He looked to Thesda and back to Britt seeing how she wanted to play it out.
When that hiss of air comes, Britt's heart stops for a moment, convinced that it's the acid fog and they're all dead. But it isn't, and although a sharp gasp escapes her lips, she takes a breath to steady herself. She stares at the hallway for a moment, taking in the fact that they are now in Mount Weather. Damn. She nods to Khesu. "Everyone forward, scouts in front. We move quickly to the top, but stay spread out a little." She's seen what Skaikru explosives can do to bunched-up troops, and presumes the Mountain may have similar tricks.
Rooms should not hiss, or blow air at you, or hum. This is fact. Luther starts at the jet of cold air, looking up sharply and hefting one of his axes as if he might throw it. Stupid rooms that do things they're not supposed to. When the inside door opens, he steps out with almost unseemly haste, casting a glance back at the horrible little 'airlock' room and then focusing his attention forward once more. He was just spreading out, that's it. Just spreading out. At Britt's order, he moves forward, stepping aside to allow the actual scouts past, but staying close to the front of the group.
Fortunately being in the back by time the rush of air comes to wash over Tuan it has been diminished some by the bodies in front of him. He still finds himself with goose pimples dotting his arms however. At the orders from Britt for Scouts to do what Scouts do, Tuan flashes a small grin towards Thesda and Pontus, tilting his head and speaking towards them, "<In Trigedasleng> Like at Greenflow River?"
Hissing of air is committed to memory in the same motion of Amp taking a small step back and looking up with the quickness. Even he doesn't realize his arm has raised to place his hand on the handle of his sword. Once things have calmed again he lowers his gaze back to the hallway in front of them and he can feel his leg starting to buckle underneath the 'too much standing still'. "Allow me." is muttered to anyone that is listening when the 'Scouts in front' command is given and the Amp is off into the hallway. Moving with just enough speed to stay 'close' but also to be 'in front' in case of shenanigans. Grounder Sense ready to tingle.
About three steps out from the airlock a hand goes up to check his Trihawk. That air better not have messed up his 'do.
Lionel has found somewhere in the middle of all the Trikru — oh, and Richael — to proceed forward. He is doing his best, keeping his head down, stance low, and butt of his assault rifle tucked right up into his shoulder. He is taking care to keep up near the wall, so he's not in the dead middle of the hallway, and staggers as instructed. His gaze sweeps over the walls, and he blinks a bit. "Emergency exit," he hisses, reading the stenciled words on the wall. "Back the way we came… this should be a fairly quiet hallway then… only used in case something goes wrong." Beat pause. "Which I guess is why we are here… to make things go wrong."
Pontus upnodded to Tuan and dropped the hood back and eyes up the passage. He sized it up and shot a side look to Tuan with an upnod to the Second and falls into familiar formation ready to clear over/under taking up in front of Thesday so she can use him as a shield if need be while Tuan fell into his role and… well Amp was already up there. As it was close quarters it was going to be a tighter formation with machete and knife in hand today.
Scouts in front. Being a scout, and already in the doorway, Grimm looks down the hallway again, mostly to make sure it doesn't shoot cold air at them again. What an odd defense mechanism. Lowering his half drawn bow to a forty five degree angle as he moves through the doorway and then immediately to the right where he pauses and lets the other scouts come through so they can get moving.
<FS3> Thesda rolls Stealth: Success. (1 1 1 4 4 2 8 4 2 5)
<FS3> Thesda rolls Alertness: Success. (5 1 6 1 6 7 5 5)
<FS3> Amp rolls Stealth: Good Success. (8 7 5 7 5 4 2 2 3)
<FS3> Amp rolls Alertness: Failure. (1 5 3 1 2 3 4)
<FS3> Grimm rolls Alertness: Good Success. (7 5 6 4 2 7 4)
<FS3> Pontus rolls Stealth: Good Success. (3 3 5 3 5 1 7 1 7 7)
<FS3> Grimm rolls Stealth: Good Success. (4 3 1 2 3 8 7 7 4 6)
<FS3> Pontus rolls Alertness: Great Success. (6 7 8 3 8 1 8)
<FS3> Tuan rolls Stealth: Success. (3 1 5 7 1 5 3 3 4 4)
<FS3> Tuan rolls Alertness: Great Success. (6 8 7 2 8 1 8 7)
<FS3> Luther rolls 8: Success. (3 3 4 4 4 4 7 2)
<FS3> Raphael rolls Stealth: Good Success. (1 6 4 2 6 1 8 5 2 7)
<FS3> Luther rolls 8: Great Success. (7 8 4 1 8 2 7 4)
<FS3> Raphael rolls Alertness: Success. (5 8 5 3 1 3 4 3)
<FS3> Khesu rolls Alertness: Success. (5 2 5 7 3 2 1 4)
Thesda slithers her way to the front of the group, eyes sliding over Lionel as she moves past him until she settles into the familiar stealth formation. She offers Tuan an upnod in confirmation of his question. Amp, slightly ahead, gets an eyeroll and a mugged expression at his back, but there is no halt as of yet in the forward movement.
They seem to have enough scouts with them so Khesu stays back near the middle of their now spreading out group as he's not needed there. Instead he looks around for more of those cameras and when they find another one pointing back towards the exit, he reaches up and rips it down either by hand or by using his axe. The Mountain people need not see any more of them coming than he can help it. Otherwise this dark haired and bearded Trikru warrior moves quietly and stays alert, watching and listening for signs of the enemy or signals from the scouts who have gone up ahead.
Richael follows the formation silently as it moves keeping her hands free just in case they need her to open another door or mess with anything else. Mostly she's making sure behind them all that some door hidden in the concrete doesn't open and unleash a horde of armed assailants. That would be bad.
Pontus paused and nudged Amp so he didn't' move too far too fast. He was looking up. He looked to Tuan and and Thesda and relayed something back to them indicating that 'something' was above them. He took the time to roll step on teh outside of his feet so the rubber soles of his boots didn't stick on teh ground. After that he looked for any opportunity for openings above and looked to Thesda. It was up and that was well within her wheelhouse, not his.
Britt offers a grim smile to Lionel's remark. "Very wrong," she agrees. As the scouts move forward, she says to Richael, "Try to stay near the middle. Once we're in the stairs, they could come up behind us too." This said with a look towards Grimm in the back, making sure that he heard that as well. A quiet nod is given to Khesu when he takes down the camera. "Smash any that you see.”
Luther is happy enough in the midst of the group, keeping relatively quiet even if the scouts are up ahead. When he reaches the stairwell, he looks upward, his brows lifting. He gives a breathless little whistle, next to no sound, really, and shakes his head. A building as tall as the capital in Polis… all inside. Will wonders never cease?
Amp really should be more aware being a Scout but this is uncharted territory and he's feeling as though nothing could really go wrong. Besides, he has to make sure his Trihawk is intact. The nudge makes him turn around and walk backwards with a bit of a smile on his face. "See? Nothing to fear." Amp may be getting a bit ahead of himself with his words but the lack of having his weapon drawn may just help prove that he's not as worried about this Mountain as he should be. Which may or may not be a good thing. Amp just continues to walk backwards as he leads the way. Scouting. Really.
Tuan tilts his head upwards with a halting motion of his hand. A shake is given and he steadies his eyes at Thesda to 'speak' without words. Hand comes up across his chest then he holds up an empty fist to her. There's a small, but somber, grin on his lips as he is looking at her before reaching down to fold his hands over one another.
Richael nods to Britt as she moves up closer to the middle of the formation. Britt's the leader and Richael does know how to follow orders. Unlike some Skaikru. She looks around the hallway around her, but says nothing unless directly addressed. She doesn't want to be the one chatting when the alarms go off and they get caught. Although. "We do need to move quickly. If they are noticing those cameras going out, they will realize something is wrong."
Thesda's eyes flick to Tuan and Pontus, her mouth curving in a feline smile. She makes a gesture, as if to caution people to get back and out of her way, and then with a few feet of running start, launches herself toward Tuan. They must have done this before, because the timing is perfect as her foot lands firmly in the basket his hands create and she is hefted upward.
They will realize something is wrong? Those are not the words anyone here wants to hear. Grimm definitely didn't want to hear them. He moves along with the group, keeping rear guard. He still has his bow half drawn but he's turning every few steps to check their rear, walking backwards and then turning again to make sure he's keeping up with them.
Britt nods to Richael. "Yes, it may draw their attention but I am more worried about the future.” She doesn't really expect that they'll be able to sneak very far into the Mountain one way or the other. If folks are not already moving forward after the scouts, Britt ushers them along. "Keep moving - we must not linger."
"Aye, we must keep moving. Quickly." Barely audible. Speed was impressed up on Khesu and they have a good distance to cover. With the scouts moving up ahead, he stays watchful of any corridors, or doors that let off from the stairs that may need to be covered as their team moves past. He also keeps a sharp eye out for more of those cameras.
Pontus made a motion to Amp with a finger over his lips. This was not a talking mission. Not unless we were kiting danger which was not the intent in a take em by surprise maneuver. Quickly and efficiently he pressed forward, crouched low with knives in hand trying to stay low.
As the group ascends the first flight of stairs, painted on the wall of the first landing is the number '8' in faded yellow paint. Up ahead, the scouts have gathered most of the way up the second long flight of fifty-odd stairs, speaking among themselves with gestures.
Thesda advances up the staircase swiftly but cautiously, eyes narrowed as she keeps her gaze focused on what's ahead. Which is somewhat difficult, but time is a factor, and so Thesda keeps on pumping her legs.
Lionel is getting nowhere near the scouting expedition, so he stays close to Britt and the others. He suddenly wishes for hallways, corners, anything. It feels like a slow march to doom as they head up the stairs. He glances toward Britt, murmuring under his breath, "You ever lost someone to the Mountain, B?" His brows lift slightly, sharp blue eyes giving away his nerves and the way his stomach has been knotted since they got in range of the Mountain.
There's time to roll his eyes before Amp just quiets himself down. He can listen when he needs to listen and right now he needs to listen. He too continues with the moving on to see if they can't make some actual headway on this mountain of stairs within the mountain. He may even attempt to be a little bit more alert to things. It's taking all of his energy to /not/ take these steps two at a time. Good thing he's a team player.
Britt has never been in a place quite like this before, and there's a wary curiosity in her eyes as she ascends the staircase with the group. She nods absently to Lionel. "Yes," she answers softly. "A few." She looks forward and back, keeping tabs on everyone. Watching for cameras and any signals from the scouts.
Richael nods to Britt's reply to her and as they ascend the stairs, she has to move a little faster to keep up with the others, owing to the weight on her back. But still, she doesn't complain. When she hears Lionel's question to Britt, she listens to the reply, but makes no sound of her own.
Lionel grimaces, nodding silently. He searches the stairs as they continue to advance. "A few," he repeats under his breath. He looks around at all the Trikru, and it dawns on him how much this is about their people as it is about his. In fact, it may even be more. His throat tightens a bit, and Hal's advice yesterday seems to not be helping. He can't seem to find his calm; he can't seem to slam the door shut on the voice inside his head screaming to run, get out, and get on the first rocket back to outer space.
Staying silent as they move, Grimm is the last one up the stairs. From this point out, he'll be pointing his bow back down the stairs and moving up them mostly backwards so he can properly keep rear guard. He looks at the painted 8. Just 8 more levels to go.
They are steadily moving up, and up, and upwards. Khesu relaxes and makes himself not focus on the lowly growing ache in his calf muscles, or his healing wounds like the gash in his forehead. Lots and lots and lots of stairs all the way up through the mountain. What happened to elevators, people? He keeps his silence, ears and eyes sharp as they rise through the levels and meet nothing - so far.
After having given Thesda the boost upwards, Tuan slips to start making his way up a more traditional way to provide coverage for his First. He glances at Pontus, a tilt of his head as team ninja Trikru continue to make their way.
<FS3> Pontus rolls Stealth: Success. (7 5 1 2 6 2 2 3 6 4)
<FS3> Luther rolls 8: Success. (7 3 3 2 3 5 6 3)
<FS3> Raphael rolls Alertness: Good Success. (2 6 5 4 1 7 7 5)
<FS3> Thesda rolls Stealth: Good Success. (7 3 4 4 5 3 4 5 2 7)
<FS3> Luther rolls 8: Success. (3 2 2 3 6 7 3 6)
Pontus pressed his back to teh wall on their side of the switchback, poked his head around and pulled it back just as fast. The quilt-scout was glancing up doing some math in his head and looked to Thesda. He held up five fingers and gave his hand a waiver. Maybe five-ish? It wasn't a confident number. and motioned for Thesda to look and made room for her to do so taking his spot. Relaying the info back to khesu and Britt he made some gestures indicating armour to the neck?
Patience. That's the name of the game for search and containment. Fortunately, that paid off… and it doesn't take long for Raphael to start doing hand signals to the rest of his men. 'Tango spotted. Toss FB down then light it." Now comes the interesting part as Raphael preps his assault rifle, taking cover.
Britt glances over at Lionel. "Take a breath," she advises, in a calm, quiet voice that has reassured many a young warrior. "You did fine against the Reapers. These are only men." Seeing the word passed back from the scouts, Britt passes it further down the line. She moves up to Khesu to gets his opinion, whispering, "Charge them? We cannot linger to fight or we will get pinned down."
Moments after Pontus glances around the corner, there's a soft tink-tink-tink… and then a small metal cylinder comes bouncing down the stairs, spinning into the far corner of the landing before it explodes in an avalanche of light and sound, the explosion echoing up and down the stairwell. It's not a great throw, and those not on the landing only get the reflected brilliance, but it's still dazzling.
Khesu looks up the stairs as one of the scouts makes gestures to indicate … perhaps 5 people ahead? He looks to Britt and frowns, keeps his baritone very low, "Even better if we could slip past. A diversion?" A faint negative movement of his head, "I do not know if they are on the stairs or off a corridor." It doesn't look like any of the scouts are going to fall back and inform them exactly what they've seen. "I agree, we must keep moving. But if we are seen, we also do not wish for them to take word and bring more behind us." That into Britt's ear.
Luther watches the gestures of the scouts, a frown deepening on his features. He looks up at the ceiling, as if he could see through the concrete to the flight of stairs above. And then there is a roar of light and sound, and he staggers back a step, raising up one hand and blinking to try to clear the spots dancing in his vision. "<In Trigedasleng> Explosives!" Yes, he's experienced them before. At the hands of Delinquents. Not quite like that, however.
Richael hears the clinking and has enough time to wonder in her head, 'what is that?' before the flashbang goes off, causing her to close her eyes against the brilliance of the blast. As she waits for her vision to clear, she reaches down and pulls the pistol she was given out of the holster. Clearly they've encountered hostiles that know they're here.
Britt nods to Khesu. "Getting there is the most important." More important than getting back out again, as far as Britt's concerned. Any further planning is cut off by the grenade. Even though it's not right nearby, she ducks. What the HELL? Like Luther, she had seen them before, but watching from bow range across the field is very different from being close by in an enclosed tunnel. HOLY SHIT. To her credit, she recovers pretty rapidly, waving a hand forward. "Go! Take them quickly." So much for stealth.
Amp hides behind his hair. Okay, not exactly that but he does perform the ancient dance of celebration that is historically known as The Dab. All this in an effort to keep his eyes from feeling the effects of what may be some flashing lights of dazzling death. He knows not of what things of this nature do but he does know that protecting the face is always of the utmost importance. Here's to hoping his hair absorbs the bulk of the… whatever happens then grenades go boomy.
"Only men," Lionel repeats Britt's words, looking up toward the woman with a slight nod. He is starting to prepare for the charge, because that means he's probably giving suppression fire. Then he hears the slight tinking of metal on stairs, and something about it sounds strangely familiar. What is that… what does that remind him o— "Fuck!" He hisses as the light explodes, and he ducks his head, shielding his eyes. "Flash grenades," he shouts in instinct, informing those around him, because what's the point of hiding at this point. He provides the information, but is already moving to get to the landing. Apparently he wants to get into sight of the Mountain Men, despite how his belly is still twisted with nerves, but there's no room to worry about that now. Move it, move it.
FRAK him! What the hell was -that-?! It's like a sudden lightning strike at almost point blank range! Khesu throws himself back against the wall and throws an arm up to shield his face. But it's the scouts up above them that take the full brunt of whatever just happened. He starts to move at once as soon as his eyes clear and he can see, hearing Britt's orders. The warrior needs no encouragement, though that bang worries him. There may be more yet.
<COMBAT> Security1 attacks Grimm with Assault Rifle - Moderate wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> Security5 attacks Luther with Assault Rifle but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Lionel fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Raphael with Assault Rifle - Serious wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Raphael with Assault Rifle - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Security1 with Assault Rifle - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Cover) (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Security2 with Assault Rifle and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Security3 attacks Khesu with Assault Rifle but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Security2 attacks Luther with Assault Rifle but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raphael fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Pontus with Assault Rifle - Serious wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Pontus with Assault Rifle but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Pontus with Assault Rifle but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Khesu with Assault Rifle and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Khesu with Assault Rifle - Moderate wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Security4 attacks Britt with Assault Rifle but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Khesu has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Pontus has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raphael has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raphael spends a luck point to keep fighting!
<COMBAT> Khesu spends a luck point to keep fighting!
<COMBAT> Pontus spends a luck point to keep fighting!
As the firing begins to start and bullets are flying, Tuan throws his eyes over to Thesda before moving closer to her. "<In Trigedasleng> A way around to their flank?" He asks, trying to recall the scantily drawn maps they had access to, eyes shifting up as well to see if there was any of those above head tunnels that were mentioned.
Pontus winces and ground his teeth down. He almost fell backwards down the stairs trying to spin out of the way running up reminiscent of a running back trying not to be tackled by the enemy defensive line. Only in old world football they didn't shoot you in your arm with that rippling sting that made the brain was to zero out and shut down. But he didn't look like he did for a reason and that was because the tenacious Trikru never knew when to quit.
Aaaannnnddddd up the stairs charges Khesu, bold as a bull! He's never in his life faced firearms being shot at himself and the noise that erupts in the confined space of the tunnel is about deafening! He tries to make himself as difficult a target as he can, but he's a large man and he's also intent to get UP those stairs. The assault rifles open up and something hits Khesu's neck! It causes the Trikru warrior to hit the wall and almost fall, but determination makes him grab and arrow - it's a good thing he changed his mind and slung his axe to save it until he's closer. Bleeding at the neck, he pushes that bow out and draws back his right arm until his knuckles reach his ear, the string of his bow snapping to with the quick release! No waiting to see if it hits before he's running up those steps again, breathing hard and knowing he may well be about to die.
<COMBAT> Security2 attacks Luther with Assault Rifle - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Security1 attacks Grimm with Assault Rifle - Serious wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Khesu attacks Raphael with Bow but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Britt attacks Security4 with Bow - Moderate wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Grimm attacks Security1 with Bow - Critical wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Security4 attacks Britt with Assault Rifle but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Raphael fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Pontus with Assault Rifle - Serious wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Pontus with Assault Rifle - Serious wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Pontus with Assault Rifle - Critical wound to Head.
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Khesu with Assault Rifle - Light wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Khesu with Assault Rifle but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Lionel fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Raphael with Assault Rifle - Moderate wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Raphael with Assault Rifle - Light wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Cover) (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Security3 with Assault Rifle - COVER stops the attack.
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Security2 with Assault Rifle and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Security5 attacks Luther with Assault Rifle and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Security3 attacks Lionel with Assault Rifle and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Grimm has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Security1 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Grimm spends a luck point to keep fighting!
Lionel is pushing forward, taking the corner a bit more so he can get a better shot. He has passed off a flashbang to Pontus, and made it clear with, "Throw carefully, because if it comes rolling back at us, we're fucked." Then he sights on the Mount Weather security, and he sets his jaw a bit as he picks his focused targets. The trigger is pulled tight, shot after shot ringing out in the stairs. He stays behind cover as he continues to fire, only edging out once he has peppered the upper landing with twenty bullets. Oh baby. He notes the scouts hanging back, and he hisses, "Hey… guys… we could use some support here. If we all drop dead in the stairwell, the mission fails. Just… an F.Y.I."
When the bullets start to fly, Grimm is initially caught off guard. He's heard gunfire from a distance. Not in an enclosed space like this. A bullet grazes his left hand and he nearly drops his bow as he jerks back and away. With a growl, Grimm starts to weave up the stairs towards their attackers. Apparently, weaving is not a good defensive tactic. Just as he looses an arrow at the Guard who fired at him, a bullet slams into the side of his neck. It was through and through, and low, near the collar bone. He isn't spurting out blood, but he does crumple to the ground on impact. Luckily that arrow he shot was dead on target. It slams into the front of the guards throat and the guard collapses, gurgling on his own blood.
Grimm is already starting back to his feet and stumbling forward, another arrow pulled from his quiver and readied against his bow string to loose upon another guard.
At Britt's order, Luther goes charging up the last stairs and toward the corner, right toward the explosion of sound and fire of the flashbang that went off just a moment ago. He ducks and darts side to side, sticking to the left-hand side of the tunnel to give a clear lane of fire for… the explosion of sound from ahead and from behind causes him to jump, nearly missing a step. He has to put one hand on the wall a moment to steady his racing feet and to keep from falling. Bullets whine around him, chipping concrete, but it's mostly the sheer racket that assaults him. Until one of the bullets slips past the armor of his jacket, catches a metal plate and ricochets off, painting a line of fire along the left side of his rib-cage.
As his charge builds, Luther lets out a wordless roar of sound, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!"
Britt has been in countless battles, but this? Charging into a hail of gunfire, with more gunfire coming from behind? Fucking hell, that's terrifying. And deafening. Only men. She repeats this mantra to herself as she follows the warriors forward, barely even feeling the ache in her injured knee and thigh. She weaves back and forth up the stairs, firing a wild shot that somehow finds the helmet of one of the Mountain Men. Seeing Pontus riddled with bullets causes her to suck in a sharp breath. Shit. She hasn't quite noticed that the scouts aren't following. Little distracted at the moment.
*Click* "Tangos engaged at bottom of tunnel, send backup." With that, Raphael gets into position…. *CLACKCLACKCLACKCLACKCLACKCLACKCLACKCLACKCLACK*… then another. Pontus and Khesu both get bodies full of lead as the ambush is set. Rounds fly through the air from both directions. Raphael pours on the lead for a few seconds…. and *OOFS* as he gets hit all over from the Arker. "One has firearms, repeat, firearms in field." Then he gets another round…. and he's disengaging, "Hold them here and wait for reinforcements. Bleed them much as you can for the next unit, disengage when necessary." He sets off.
Richael has not been privy to the sound of so many guns going off at the same time, much like many of the Trikru. Oh she's heard the sound, even fired one herself. But the sheer racket? It's a bit overwhelming. And given what she's carrying on her back? Big mistake to poke her head out as she holds up, weapon in hand, before she curses before she slugs off the backpack containing the explosives and sets it down behind her. They need help, per Lionel? She's going to try as she moves to hunker down near him to provide firepower.
Thesda keeps herself pressed to the platform. This doesn't look good. They were waiting, and she doesn't know if it's because they knew they assumed they were coming, or knew they were coming. She keeps a hand out, as if to hold Tuan back even though he doesn't need it. He knows his training. "No other alternatives. We need to try to move." She opts to turn the corner then, now that some bullets have been discharged.
Pontus took the flashbang from Lionel and spun back around. He was deft. Very, very deft, and he took on four reapers on a bridge and came back lightly scratched. What he hasn't done until now was have Raphael snipe his ass down in a tunnel.
The first bullet ripped through his chest, then the second which stumped his advance sending him back a step. Those slate grey eyes looked at Raphael and saw that glass eye of the barrel scope looking back atop that assault rifle. He pushed Khesu away from him seeing he was targeting all the damage before having that bullet slam into his head taking a chunk of him with it as a souvenir. He lurched forward onto the steps. There was blood coming from his face and chest making the floor beneath him slick fast. And then? He looked up.
Seriously he never paid attention in Scout Camp growing up when they taught you how to die. Now? Now it was personal. With what he had left in him he threw the flashbang at Raphael. "<In Trigedasleng> your… fight… ends…" He soughed and the words burned coming through his clenched broken jaw. But his fingers left that flashbang and he hoped.
Pontus spends 1 luck points on Yo, Raph, I think you dropped this, brah….
<FS3> Pontus rolls Thrown-7: Good Success. (2 7 1 7 1)
As everything is hitting the fan and the bullets are hitting his brethren, Amp can no longer stand idly by. He was ill prepared for such shenanigans of death and even curses himself for not coming better armed. But he needs his hands and feet for movement and that's what happens in the next moment. As things are happening above him, Amp spins out of his 'cover' of the landing and starts with the movement that he should've been doing in the first place. Feet hit the stairs, the walls, and maybe even the hint of possible railings that may be on the corners or nearby. He doesn't stop moving (unless, y'know, he's shot in the face or something) but his movements seemed to be designed to get him from one place to the other to another to yet another while the others of the team provide much in the way of 'cover' fire. Or, as it is more commonly referred to as, ranged. Amp, himself, seems to be working on getting close enough to draw his sword… and then some blood. The look in his eyes is a mix of anger and excitement but No Fear.
<COMBAT> Security5 attacks Luther with Assault Rifle but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Security4 attacks Britt with Assault Rifle - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Luther attacks Security2 with Thrown Axe and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Richael attacks Raphael with Pistol and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Khesu attacks Security2 with Bow but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Security3 attacks Lionel with Assault Rifle and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Security2 attacks Luther with Assault Rifle and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Lionel fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Raphael with Assault Rifle - Light wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Raphael with Assault Rifle - Light wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Security3 with Assault Rifle - Critical wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Security4 with Assault Rifle and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Grimm attacks Security5 with Bow - Serious wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Britt attacks Security4 with Bow - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Raphael has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Security3 has been KO'd!
<FS3> Raphael rolls Resolve: Great Success. (7 6 2 7 3 8 7 1)
<COMBAT> Raphael spends a luck point to keep fighting!
The Security Detail unloads down the stairwell… and the Outsiders just keep coming. It's mildly terrifying, but they keep pumping round after round down the stairs. The bullets flying back up the stairs are a surprise as well, and an unwelcome one at that. One of the Security personnel drops with an arrow sticking out of her throat, and another is staggered by an arrow striking his helmet, but they stay in the battle.
"We got runners!" Lionel reports sharply as he comes fully out of cover now, advancing like a madman up the stairs. He digs in his heel, stopping only to fire. All ten bullets hit their mark, and a Mountain Man collapses as his gut is blown open. But, then he's out of ammo thanks to the sharp click. While others are reaching for their arrows, preparing another single shot fire, and throwing their simple — but deadly — weapons, Lionel Weeks shoves his shoulder deeply into the railing of the stairs, and starts to arduous process of flinging a magazine down the stairs and grabbing a full one from his belt. "I've never fucking ran out of ammo before," he hisses between his teeth, tasting the salt of his sweat on his upper lip.
Arrow loosed, even if Grimm stumbles, the missile meets its mark, slicing a deep cut into one of the guard's necks. Another arrow is immediately pulled from the quiver and Grimm draws back the bow string. He isn't taking cover now, instead stalking forwards towards the guards. "</t> Focus your fire!"
When Thesda begins her advance, Tuan is a step behind her, bringing out his sword from its sheathe across his back on the advance. The volley of bullets having been made for several attempts he is now more comfortable and ready to move with her. It is not quite close enough by any means to engage in melee but the passing time and forward lines does bring that time ever closer.
The Flame burn him, but Pontus takes a bloody hit after hit and Khesu cuts over to try and block anyone else from shooting his friend! There's no time to do anything more for the scout and Pontus is busy throwing the flashbang anyway. Khesu drops his bow and pulls his axe as he closes in. Somehow he's still alive and on his feet. This Trikru warrior runs up to aggressively attack the man closest with a rifle - anything to keep them from shooting Pontus again! "RAWR!"
Luther continues ducking, dodging, and weaving his way up the stairs into the teeth of the rifle-fire, miraculously coming through unscathed once again. It's the bellowing, really. He stops to take a breath, and his side-arm throw of one of the axes comes out awkward, and goes flying over the head of one of the kneeling Mountain Men… or Mountain Women, it's hard to tell under the flak jacket and helmet. As he closes in, the Trikru Warrior reaches down to his left hip, drawing out his gracefully-curved sword with a hiss of steel that is utterly lost beneath the cacophony of rifle-fire in a concrete stairwell.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Richael took a shot at an enemy for the first time in her life in anger. It's a rather sobering moment for the young woman… except that the shot missed. When Lionel charges up the stairs, Richael remains where she is where she can shoot at the remaining Mountain Men. Let Lionel worry about the runner, she'll worry about the ones that can still shoot at her and the remaining Trikru.
Britt is actually huffing a little as she gets closer to the Mountain Men. In part due to adrenaline, in part due to OMG SO MANY STAIRS. Her arrow narrowly misses the one guard's head, but she quickly knocks another. The flashbang goes off and she almost trips on a step. Blink. That was different. A bullet grazes her shoulder, ripping a new gouge in the armored shoulderpad there, but it's not deep and she barely notices.
Pontus stood there like the Thing That Would Not Die(tm) and whipped that Flash Bang up the stairs landing… miraculously where he needed it to. He coughed and it was a horrific sight, He wiped the hole in his jaw and winced. Talking was pretty much going to be off the table. He didn't slow down though. When he looked back to teh sparkly wreckage that was the landing above them he sent hand signals back to Tuan and Thesda with a bloody fist and then slung the blade in his right hand at the fuckwit that was trying to put more holes in Britt. yeah. He was so done with these guys. He was ready to fight til he was burger but the Mountain men? They hid behind doors walls and guns. Time to make some holes.
Pontus understands. Thesda is no coward, she's a scout. A stealth fighter. Rolling up on the front line will do nothing but add an extra body - no, a pair, with Tuan right aside hers. She already knows Pontus will raise his fist, and she's already moving when he does it. Her throwing hand is in the process of retrieving a blade to send it straight into a Mountan Man's heart. At least, that's the hope.
Amp's movements keep him on the move. He's trying to stay on the move but also out of sight but also serve as a distraction… it's a lot he's trying to do right now. His movements are quick as they can be while trying not to get hit by things being thrown or shot or whatever. He doesn't offer any commentary before he plants his feet against the nearest wall and leaps to grab hold of the pipes above. He hangs for a moment before bringing his feet up and he works on spider-crawling along that pipe to see if he can't get closer to these Mountainous Freaks. Here's to hoping the firefight helps him go unnoticed enough to get a better position to crow (don't ask) from.
"ARGH!" The Outsiders can hear the gravelly voice of one of the Security personnel at this point, and see those dead, rusty colored eyes zero in on Pontus as Raphael retreats into the nearest level. "Outsiders can never just leave us alone, then get angry when we defend ourselves." Raphael almost sneers it, but instead disappears behind the door after the observation to his men… which said Outsiders can probably hear at this range as Raphael gets out of sight.
The flashbang coming back at them is a surprise to the Security Detail force, and their shots nearly all go awry as they flinch back from the sound and fury. And then one of their number is down, clutching a gut wound and whimpering, and another is getting knocked around and making for the door behind them, and they waver. They've been drilled on their superiority over the Outsiders their entire life, but here the walking blood bags come, sprinting into the teeth of their fire. Raggedly, they rise up from their kneeling firing positions, starting back with irregular, hesitant steps as they try to clear their vision.
<COMBAT> Luther attacks Security2 with Sword - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Security5 attacks Lionel with Assault Rifle - Light wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> Security4 attacks Britt with Assault Rifle but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Security2 attacks Luther with Assault Rifle - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Richael attacks Security5 with Pistol and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Pontus attacks Security4 with Thrown Knife and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Grimm attacks Security5 with Bow - NEAR MISS!
<COMBAT> Britt attacks Security4 with Bow - ARMOR on Head stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Khesu attacks Security2 with Axe - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
Pontus raises his hand, Thesda brings her throwing knife to bear and as she does so Tuan slides past her to run alongside the blade with long fast strides. A thrown knife hitting true is a dangerous weapon, should it miss the opportunity of its distraction cannot be ignored; which is what Tuan uses it for as he brings his sword to bare upon the target of Thesda's throw.
Lionel almost has his new magazine set, but a bullet meant for him goes wizzing past, knicking across his left hand and leaving a deep groove across his knuckles. He snarls in pain — both from the wound and the burning sensation of a fast-flying bullet. He shakes his hand, splattering blood in the process. "Shit, fuck, damnit, motherfucker…" He clenches his hand, trying to block the pain before he finishes reloading with a soft click. He then begins to get to his feet again, snarling, "Which one of you fuckers did that! I was reloading here." Then he brings up his rifle, preparing to shoot at the remaining Mountain Men.
The next arrow Grimm releases is inches from the guards neck, slamming into the wall beyond him. Grimm grimaces and stalks several steps closer his bow still raised. Another arrow is nocked and he the string is drawn back in one fluid motion. Breathe in, loose, breathe out. It's all he can do at this point. His neck is gushing blood still.
Britt finally gets in close with the security detail, another arrow hitting the helmet of the one she's been shooting at. Shifting her bow to her off-hand, she draws her sword with the other. Letting out an inarticulate snarl (which doesn't come close to rivaling Luther's, by the by), she charges at the guard with her blade upraised.
It is a solid and satisfying blow to strike the armored Mountain man in the chest with his axe! Muscles bunch and roll over the dense bone of his arms with the motion. Khesu snarls, angry that they have so badly injured Pontus. He dares no look to the scout lest he have to see Pontus' face and head all bloody. First, he must kill this man if he can!
Richael grimaces as another shot of hers goes wide, but given the amount of bodies in the area, she has to be careful not to actually hit anyone. Still, the same guard is getting her attentions, even as she spots Raphael slip off and perhaps catches a few of his words. "Come back here fucker! We're not through with you yet!" Her inner Delinquent is showing through it seems, which seems to only get worse when Lionel, her fellow Skaikru, is grazed by a round.
Pontus was hurting more than his brain was willing to realize. Flickering lights, and not even the ones from the flashbang, the ones inside his skull did not want to stop. Ace marksman as he was with a range blade the target moved and his arm was lacking in the agility to accommodate for the variable with a hole in it right now. He raised the other dagger in his fingers and wavered a bit, aimed and would not let up. Boy was in terrible shape and coughing up blood on the stair. He grunted and threw the second one and finally, though it was literally killing him, flagged a hand back to Thesda and Tuan alerting a need for aid. He would try again; hell that was all he knew how to do. Keep moving forward. It just wasn't in his nature to give ground. Stubborn prat.
Luther was not expecting the terrifying Mountain Men to actually retreat. It seems out of character for the boogiemen of his entire life. He also wasn't expecting a flashbang, and so he staggers back as well, and the slash of his sword comes up nearly-short, cutting through flak jacket and cloth, and just a bit of flesh. Blood splashes across the wall, just a few splatters, lost amid the tumult of combat.
Quiet as a mouse with the hair of a Trihawk: Amp kom Trikru. His movements along the pipe above has managed to go unnoticed! Thanks to the way those from below are keeping the Mountain Men busy. He just stays up there on that pipe until he can get into a good enough position to actually make his appearance even better. In fact, he takes a moment to lock his feet between the ceiling and the pipe for a moment while he reaches onto his back to finally draw his sword. His eyes are on the Bad Mountain People the entire time!
<COMBAT> Thesda attacks Security4 with Thrown Knife - Moderate wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> Security5 attacks Lionel with Assault Rifle - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Security4 attacks Britt with Assault Rifle - Moderate wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> Pontus attacks Security4 with Thrown Knife - Serious wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Lionel fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Raphael with Assault Rifle and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Raphael with Assault Rifle - Serious wound to Neck (Reduced by Cover).
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Raphael with Assault Rifle - Light wound to Left Arm (Reduced by Cover).
<COMBAT> Khesu attacks Security2 with Axe - Light wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Security2 attacks Luther with Assault Rifle - Moderate wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Richael attacks Security5 with Pistol - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Raphael fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Khesu with Assault Rifle - Critical wound to Head.
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Khesu with Assault Rifle - Moderate wound to Head.
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Khesu with Assault Rifle and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Grimm attacks Security5 with Bow - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Luther attacks Security2 with Sword - Moderate wound to Right Leg.
<COMBAT> Britt attacks Security4 with Sword - Critical wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Britt has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Khesu has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Security4 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Britt spends a luck point to keep fighting!
Raphael screams at the round goes through his neck, the one going into his left arm not even registering in his mind as he starts firing another burst at these fucking Outsiders. For once, the career military man is getting angry. First they attack when they leave the bunker, then never leave them alone. Now they have the gall to come in their home, their prison? With reinforcements some time away, it's up to them to hold the line and bleed them. "Damned Outsiders…" His rifle is searches for another target.
Britt charges the guard, and he levels his rifle at her. She tries to knock it aside with her bow, which… almost works? The bullet digs a groove across the bottom of her hand, eliciting a sharp cry. But still, it's better than getting shot in the face again. Her sword cleaves down into the guard's neck, spurting blood everywhere. Her eyes lock on Raphael briefly, but he's too far away so she instead tries to stab one of the closer guards.
Ricochets hurt. Bullets creasing your left bicep? That hurts a good deal worse. Luther staggers for a moment, eyes widening in shock, and then he pushes forward, batting aside the assault rifle with his sword and slashing back down into the Security personnel's right thigh, slashing across the front of her leg as she staggers back. "<In Trigedasleng> Feed a tree, Maunon."
Raphael's bullets find at least one of the 'Outsiders'. Khesu scores another hit on the man he's trying to maul with his axe, tagging the Mountain Man in the arm. The tall bearded Trikru brings his axe up, preparing to slam it down and cleave the man in twain when the bullets rip into his chest and head! Khesu is slammed around by the force, throwing him off his feet. His axe clangs on the tunnel landing amid all the gun fire as the Trikru likewise hits the floor. Blood wells up from his head wound and seeps between his armour and his chest. He's down and there is no sign of Benning and Gideon's uncle getting up on his own.
The other guards have turned to brawling, but one is still loosing bullets over and over. Grimm seeks out that target and then takes aim as he draws back on his bow string. "<In Trigedasleng> The end is soon upon you, Maunon…" he mutters quietly, letting the others handle the other two guards as he looses an arrow at Raphael.
"<In Trigedasleng> Go!" Thesda halts her advance as she draws her sword, but seeing Pontus in dire need of assistance, she jerks her sword sharply forward to indicate that Tuan should continue to press. She scuttles forward and grabbing something from her belt, proceeds to try to bind up the worst of Pontus' wounds that she can see. He needs his organs on the inside, okay?
Lionel is about to ask for Gonasleng, but he remembers what he read about this language: it is to be used around Mountain Men. So, he doesn't protest, but just stays oblivious and hopes no one says anything he is supposed to know. He is advancing up the steps, and spots the Mountain Man in the door — and Khesu on the floor. Shit. He snarls. "Hey!" He says, trying to get Raphael's attention. "Didn't expect me, did you?" And he pulls the trigger, sending three shots at Raphael in quick succession, two of them landing with confidence while the other slams heavily into the concrete to his left.
Pontus stayed crouched and leaning against the wall. He looked up to Thesda with those slate grey eyes that spoke in whole conversations to her at a glance though one eye was completely bloodshot from having nothing but a gaping hole on that side of his skull. Heeeee was not going to look any prettier anytime soon. Whether he could even see out of the eye was another story. They were getting the job done, and for his kid, it was worth it, but the look seemed to suggest he was refusing for his fight to be over. Not here, and not in the belly of the beast. His bad eye watered as she efficiently bound his face so he didn't have to fight to keep his jaw attached on that side, his fingers finding more knives strapped to his torso to deliver as a present to those abominations on the landing. With one he pointed to Khesu. There was a bit of a grunt to wanting to leave him abandoned there. Right now adrenaline was his friend and purpose was his fuel.
"BANGARANG!"
That would be the voice of Amp kom Trikru as he is no longer just waiting like a spider-monkey on the pipe above. There may be some slow motion going on as he drops from above, somersaulting down from his upside-down perch with his GOLDEN BLADE spinning alongside of him during what he considers to be a pretty epic level entrance into the fray. No other words than his battle cry as his body spins to aim those feet at the floor and his sword into whatever nearest Mountain Fool is closest to his dismount of death.
Tuan dashes ahead at Thesda's nod, making a beeline towards the nearest Security guard with his blade coming out to melee engage with the Maunon security. An entire lifetime under the shadow of the mountain comes out as he charges, seeking to put down these … things. Monsters. The sorts of individuals that Trikru children have nightmares over. Normal hesitation be damned, the man's blade seeks blood.
Richael shifts from shooting from the cover of the stairs as it seems most of the fighting, with the main noted exception of Raphael, turns to melee, so she gets up and moves to where she can actually put better shots on the Security guards. Seeing as how one of her shots plinked off the armor, she takes aim for the spaces between the jacket and the head. A shout of, "Wrong playground fuckers!" Is Richael's contribution to the shouts and other warcries being done here.
<COMBAT> Raphael fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Britt with Assault Rifle - Light wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Britt with Assault Rifle - Moderate wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Raphael attacks Britt with Assault Rifle - Light wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Thesda treats Pontus:
<COMBAT> Security2 attacks Luther with Brawling - Light Stun wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Tuan attacks Security2 with Sword - Light wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> Security5 attacks Tuan with Brawling and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Richael attacks Security5 with Pistol - Serious wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Luther attacks Security2 with Sword - Moderate wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Grimm attacks Raphael with Bow - COVER stops the attack.
<COMBAT> Amp attacks Security5 with Sword - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Lionel fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Raphael with Assault Rifle - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Cover) (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Raphael with Assault Rifle - Serious wound to Chest (Reduced by Cover) (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Lionel attacks Raphael with Assault Rifle and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Britt attacks Security2 with Sword but Security2 DODGES!
<COMBAT> Britt has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Luther has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Raphael has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Security2 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Security5 has been KO'd!
Evidently, the Security Detail woman was tired of Luther yelling at her, because she plants the butt of her rifle into the side of Luther's throat, sending him staggering back and choking. The Trikru man manages to slice his sword across her stomach as he staggers back, drawing further blood despite the protection of her flak jacket, but then he's gasping for breath, trying to draw in air. He bends over, coughing, and then wheezing, straightening up again, and croaks, "<In Trigedasleng> Panther-shit bitch." His voice is strained, and he looks around, trying to work through his abused throat.
Lionel is on the landing now, firing shot after shot in bursts at the Mountain Man in the doorway. He looks like he isn't going to stop advancing when Raphael falls, but he does stop just before the fallen Khesu. He is almost snarling when the last enemy falls, but then he starts to catch his breath, breathing in quickly despite the heaving in his shoulders and chest. He then swings the rifle up onto his shoulder, and goes for a travel medkit on his belt. "Stairs, clear! I'm with Khesu!" He drops into a squat, preparing to help the fallen Trikru.
In the chaos that ensues the sound of one arrow slamming into the door frame right next to Raphael can be heard. "<In Trigedasleng> Son of a …" Grimm mutters and as the guards all go down, the archer moves off to check on his fellows. Not that he knows how to help them in anyway, but he can to look at them. He keeps an arrow at the ready, bow half drawn as he watches the stairs behind them.
Pontus reached out and clamped a hand on Thesda's knee as she triaged his broken , stubborn self, and gave it a squeeze. It was gratitude. For all the crazy insane times they have done this in the two year war, the field, and now. As the advance moved up he gave Thesda a nod that he was till too stubborn to die or give up, but he didn't advance. He crouched up a few more steps to the landing to cover Lionel while he worked on Khesu. He wasn't leaving them exposed and alone. Job wasn't done yet.
Tuan slides a step aside as a gunn butt comes swinging at him, slashing his sword upwards towards the Security guard's hand with the attack. His deflecting attack delivered the sounds of gunfire echo in his ears then the opponent falls to the ground. A scowl etches over Tuan's face before he looks back towards where Thesda is treating Pontus, "<In Trigedasleng> We cannot rest for others may come."
Amp removes his sword from the chest of such foolish security officers that dare stand in his way and is already back on the move. In fact, it's almost as if he didn't stop long enough to stab that officer because he's moving with a twirl, sheathing that sword and then he's taking a brisk two step jog and somersaulting over bodies in an effort to get to Khesu. To help. Because that's what Trikru do. They help each other.
Another burst, another Outsider down. Then *yet another* burst smacks into his chest… and Raphael coughs up blood as for the first time in his life, the energy just draining from him and he goes cold. They did their job, and the next unit will have a much easier time… but the men and women he'd served with him almost twelve years were falling. Raphael hits his knees with small thud… then *thump*, he slumps against the doorframe. A pool of blood forming beneath him from his many, many wounds.
Khesu hasn't moved even a little. Unconscious, blood has started pooling beneath his head. The angle of the shot has broken the bone of his skull and slicked his dark hair with blood at his left temple right above his eye and out the side. There's no telling if he's dead or alive without checking for his pulse or breath. Blood also comes from a bullet lodged in his chest, though his armour blunted the damage it would have done otherwise.
Britt draws her sword back to stab at one of the guards, when Raphael's burst hits her. The bullet creasing her hand almost makes her drop her sword, which is probably why the guard has no problem dodging the pathetic strike. Two more slam into her side, and the archer drops like a sack of potatoes, wheezing. The wounds aren't bad - thanks in part to the armor - but damn did that knock the wind out of her. Even so, she's nodding along with Tuan. "Hafta… keep… going…" Breathlessly, clutching her side, she struggles to her knees. Looking around at the broken, bloody warriors around her, her forehead creases with a pain that has nothing to do with her wounds. No way but forward, though. This is why she said her goodbyes the day before.
Richael watches as Raphael and the other guards fall down and she looks to anyone left standing. "Get their weapons. They'll come in handy later." For her part, she goes to the leader, holstering her pistol to check on Britt and begins to tend to her wounds. "Bad, but not as bad as it could be, hold still for a second, make sure we stop any bleeding." That's as much as Richael really knows about first aid.
Luther looks over to Richael, "Trikru do not use guns." The words come out as a throaty growl, and he looks down to the bleeding wound on his bare left arm. "What Britt said. We have to keep moving. If we slow, we die. And so does anyone hit by the missile. Kill them and we move on." It's… mostly a statement. But there's also a question there, right at the end, as he looks to Britt.
Britt nods to Richael as the younger woman tends to her wounds. Also she manages to catch her breath. Hey, it's nice to be able to breathe again. "Thanks." She pulls herself to her feet. Moving over to where she dropped her bow, she gingerly bends down to pick it up. In silent answer to Luther's half-question, she slashes the throat of the nearest fallen Mountain guard. "See if they have more of those exploding things, then we move. Can you use a rifle?" she asks Richael.
Thesda takes a knee next to Grimm, looking over his wounds. Not much she can do about the neck, but she pulls out another roll of clean cloth and binds his hand. "You right?" the normally laconic scout asks of him. "We're about to move."
Failing silent while Thesda works to treat him, Grimm just nods at first. He waits for her to bind his hand and he just wraps a field dressing around his neck, "Yeah, I'm good. Let's get moving."
Richael walks over to Raphael after treating Britt's wounds and looks at the guardsman before she reaches down to pick up his rifle and and magazines on his person. "Leave this one, their leader, I think. Someone to tell the story of what happened here to the rest of the Maunon." She kicks him with her boot very lightly and says, "He'll live if his people find him soon enough, maybe." She also picks up Raphael's radio before looking to see if there are any other magazines she can grab quick before she likely darts back to grab the bombs she left during the battle.
Amp has done his duty and has assisted with the rising of Khesu. With that done, he has shifted into packrat mode and moves about the bodies to see what he can acquire. Perhaps there will be items of use in the coming rise to save the captured Trikru. If he finds any guns, though, he gives those right up to anyone else that can use them because ew. Guns.
"No, he won't," Britt declares to Richael, her voice a low, pained growl. Unless someone else beats her to it or stops her, Raphael is going to get a nice new necklace of blood as well. Maunon bastard shot too many of her people, her included.
Pontus knelt, blades ready to fly in spite of (or maybe fueled by) another brush with death where he's leaving the reaper wanting. It didn't make him stupid though, just stubborn, and he waited for Khesu to get up on his feet. It wasn't in his nature to leave his allies to fall behind, much less a friend at that. He did't talk or try but made a couple hand signals to catch Khesu up. «More coming. We moving. That way.» He looked to Khesu with one horrifically blood stained eye and one that was looking for reason and understanding. Their fight was not over. The guards? Theirs was.
As Thesda steps away from Grimm and prepares to move on, she remarks, "We refused to touch guns because we feared the Mountain's wrath. Do we still?" Which means she may yet be talked into it. But not today.
Richael returns with the bombs in time to see Britt making to slit Raphael's throat, which Richael just watches impassively before looking to Thesda. "Look at these Maunon. They're flesh and blood and just as human as Trikru and Skaikru. Nothing scary or mythical about them at all. Except what they do. If nothing else, collect them for those that might use them later. Never hurts to have a weapon when you might need one." Like this fight for instance.
Multiple pairs of hands help drag Khesu up to his feet. His face is covered with blood on the left side and no telling if he still has the use of that eye or if it's gone. It's certainly no use to him right now. Somehow he's still breathing, his heart not yet giving up the fight. He's not steady on his feet though and it takes him long seconds to prop himself up against the tunnel wall. Somebody or another probably hands him his axe which can get slipped into his belt. His bow he may need to use as a staff to help keep his feet. Khesu tries to focus on Pontus with his good right eye and vaguely nods, but he looks fairly out of it. Have to keep up, in the rear, if he can.
Eyeing his bow and then the guns, Grimm shakes his head and just keeps his bow at the ready, half drawn as he starts to move towards the fore of the group, "How about we get moving, instead of waiting for more guards to show up?" A beat pause later and he eyes the guns once more, distaste in his eyes, "No idea how to use those things…I'll stick with my bow."
Britt glances back upon hearing Thesda's comment. "Take them if you want." She's making an executive decision here. Her eyes drift to Pontus and Khesu in turn, mouth tightening with solemn pride at the way they soldier on. "Let's get moving."
Luther nods painfully at Britt's example, moving over to the next Security Detail person and putting the point of his sword through the man's throat. Richael's suggestion causes Luther to snort, "The coward who fled?" He nods at Britt's words, moving on to the next. Evidently there is nothing of the Security forces that he wants, although after a moment's though, he tucks away his axe, collects the other, and then snags a helmet, perching it atop his dreadlocks. It immediately slides off and clatters to the floor, and he gives a tight grin, shrugging helplessly at his light clowning. "Ready, Britt." Thesda's words and Richael's response, however, wipe out his smile, and he turns a frown to her, "Trikru do not use guns." That's his opinion, at least.
The Guard starts doing what he can for Khesu — which is jack shit. At least the guy isn't looking like he's about to keel over. He looks up at the others, and then grabs his gun… oh and this gun, and this gun, and this gun. But he puts the third back, and settles for two. He starts patting around the now-dead Raphael, tsking at Britt. "I liked his shirt." Then he frowns at the uniforms, looking at them. "Ah, uh… I could…" Then he shakes his head. "Nah, that never really works in the movies… dressing up like one of the bad guys." He does take Raph's helmet. "I'll take that though, thanks." And he caps it over his head. He does start looking over the flak jacket, frowning thoughtfully.
Lionel also digs out Raphael's keycard.
Richael shrugs to Luther and says, "I figured you might want to trade them to my people for things you might want or need. Never said you have to use them." She checks the rifle like she was taught, though making sure it was on safe before doing so. Once she's loaded a fresh magazine she waits for the group to move out.
Thesda lifts a brow at Richael. "I'm not an idiot." she says bluntly. "I know who they are. And I don't know how to handle guns. Take it for your people if you want. I shall not stop you." That's the longest amount of word vomit that's come out of Thesda's mouth as she finishes preparing to move on. "<In Trigedasleng> Khesu. Must we leave you?"
Khesu doesn't speak. He does give Thesda a faint negative movement of his head. Long as he's on his feet he'll keep up. And if he doesn't, they can leave him. with a slow breath he pushes off from the wall and starts to make his way. He can only see with his right eye for all the blood.
Pontus shook his head and slapped Khesu on the shoulder. Yup. Dick move but the pain was focusing and kept them awake. He gestured to teh two of them following. And a pointed move move move. Apparently to Thesda he indicated that they were good to go, and at the very least thanks to her he was getting his second wind. Mind that wind might knock him over and kill him, but he'd fight the wind too if he had to. He didn't leave people behind. Stubborn. The good news was the pair of them were heavily damaged on opposite sides so Pontus moved to cover his and started falling in line. His better eye Caught Britt and there was another conversation there not had. She got a grim not in return. He was in this at whatever cost the wager required. That was just how Trikru do.
In the newmade (relative) quiet, those in the hallway can hear a crackle from a displaced earbud, "We think they may be splitting up. They may be on Levels Five and Six."
"Ready to move out," Lionel says once he's situated. He flashes a keycard. "I got a full access pass." He demonstrates this by flashing it across the open door's keypad, which bleeps softly and flashes green. He dimples brightly, like a kid finding out how to turn off the fridge light without shutting the door. His glee is momentarily snuffed out when he hears the earbud. "Time to go, boys and girls."
Richael nods to Lionel's assertions it's time to move. When they reach level four, Richael mimes being silent with a finger over her lips and points down. Not that she needs to, with the door opening and excitement below. She get close enough to Britt to whisper to her. "Squad below us and getting sent all over the place. I think our other friends broke in successfully. They'll likely not be watching the higher levels as closely. Most of them seem to be staying on Level 5."
Richael has an earbud in her ear from the radio she took off Raphael. Earwax sucks, but the info is good for now.
Tuan has been ready for sometime to proceed, and with the others finally ready, he has gone ahead at the point for this endeavor while Thesda tends to the injured.
Logically Britt knew the plan involved climbing to the top of the mountain, but somehow she never really realized just how many f-ing stairs would be involved. Crikey. And that was before being riddled with bullets. She doesn't even want to think about how awful it must be for the more seriously wounded guys, but of course - she does anyway. The mother hen is quiet, but constantly alternating between watching the tunnel and watching her teammates in concern. A quiet nod to Richael is given at her report, and she motions for Grimm to keep an eye on their rear in case the guards should come up behind them. But for now? It's still onward and upward.
Trailing at the back of their group, Khesu turns his head to look back. He can't see anything coming up behind them but he can hear the noises below dimly. For some reason there seems to be a ringing in his ears. He manages to remove one of the clothes wrapped around his forearm and stuffs it into his armor against the wound in his chest. Maybe it'll slow his bleeding there, help him hang on. The stairs are going to get increasingly difficult for him to keep up, but doggendly stubborn, he keeps climbing them.
Stairs, a fight, and more stairs. Luther is definitely breathing hard now, even with the clowning pause after the fight. His sword tucked away again and both throwing axes at the ready, he nods to Lionel at his demonstration, then resumes the ascent. The sounds from below draw his attention, and he tucks one axe away to move over to Khesu and offer the man a shoulder to help him further up. "<In Trigedasleng> Your fight is not over yet. Faster, and we can keep our people safe for generations."
Ah. Luther manages to get a nod out of Khesu. Aye, he's trying. The shoulder helps.
OMG SO MANY STAIRS. Grimm walks a lot. A lot a lot. But not up stairs. Not like this. Grimm is luckily still running up the rear, keeping an eye on the stairs, so no one can see how winded he is from all this walking. Never again. Never ever.
Pontus was hurting and mutters to Khesu through a bound jaw and too much air conditioning going through his body. It occurred to him that after this he really need to think about settling down for bit. After living long enough to worry about that, get patched up, take a nap for a month, make sure THAT ONE GUY was dead in particular, and disarm some missiles… in any order really. He'd be kay with that. The stairs though? Pffft he'd take that as a nemesis anyday. He was actually liking them because he wasn't walking so much as falling forward and failing to hit the ground. Made things a little easier. Raph was dead. Shame. Good opponent that one. Right now they had to go neuter the mountain so his kid had a reason to sleep peacefully at night. Man… parenting is rough in the apocalypse.
Level 4 to Level 1 should just be three more flights of stairs… but when they reach Level 1, there is another flight rising above them, and the sound of pursuit is still behind them. It might have even caught up by a flight, now only one floor behind the Outsiders. The missiles are at the top, right? Up they go. Just one more flight. And then they're at Level 0. Thankfully, Lionel's new keycard bleeps the door open, and they are faced with a concrete room filled with pipes, wires, giant vats or drums of… something… and steel-grated ceilings separating the main part of the room from huge, slowly-turning fans overhead. Really, a parkourista's dream. But for the discerning invader, the more important thing is the sign on one of the three doors leading out of the room that reads:
DANGER: Authorized Personnel Only.
Absolutely no admittance.
Blast Hazard During Launch.
Richael listens to the radio, even as the pursuit seems be catching up, she still keeps up with the bombs on her back although her worry for those injured in this mission can be seen, but when they enter the top floor of Mount Weather, she stares at the sign on the far doors and she says, "I think we're in the right place." She does however look around the room at the pipes and vats, trying to see what they might be carrying or holding in them. And hopefully they won't have to fight with whomever is downstairs just yet. Oh and, where is the door controls? They should be up here… right?
Britt actually has to pause at the top of the stairs to catch her breath, hand held at her side. She casts a look around, grimacing and frowning at all the machinery. "Are we?" She's trusting the skaigirl here, a bit. "Where do we go?"
Lionel hates stairs by the time they are done. He hates them. He hates them more than he hates a Grey — and it is really easy to fucking hate a Grey. He is stretching out his back when they finally get to Level 1. He probably shouldn't be hauling so many assault rifles, but there's some trope here about how you can't have too many firearms. He looks at he sign with Richael, and he blinks. "You're kidding… they just… put a sign on it?" He almost laughs in hysterics, covering his mouth. "But, of course they did… they didn't expect the outside to come in. Might as well add a big smiley face," he says while dramatically opening his hands as if to indicate where the face should go, "'Here There Be Missiles.'" He flashes a broad, boyish grin at Britt. "Right through here…" And he flashes his magical pass-go card across the entry pad.
It's not like it's hard to tell where they have gone. Between their several wounded, there will be drips of blood but they keep moving, up and up, and up until they somehow reach the top. Khesu's breathing hard but with Luther's help he finally makes it up into the room last, behind all the others.
Once they are at the top of the stairs, Grimm turns and waits by the entrance to the area. They have company that is following them up, and eventually they will start to move through this here bottleneck. Convenient spot that is. So like a good archer, Grimm moves back a ways and takes up a position to put an arrow through the eye of anyone who comes through the stairway entrance. "Want to leave anyone here to guard this entrance?" he inquires of Britt.
Luther gives Khesu's back a pat, slowed a little by helping the man along, but still pushing the pace as much as his chest and arm — and the other man's multitude of wounds — will allow. As such, he's near the back of the group when they reach the top. Lionel's words cause him to nod with satisfaction. Turning to Britt he nods to Grimm and offers, "I'll stay here? Inside the room. Hold them off? You don't need me to break it." And then he flashes another little grin, "Unless you need me to break it."
<FS3> Richael rolls Mechanics: Great Success. (7 2 8 1 8 7 3 3 8)
Pontus didn't need to be asked and propped himself in the door watching outward. Tech. he knew zero of tech, but he had a good eye, one good working ear, and a whole lot of patience. A hand went up to Khesu then Luther tapping each on the shoulder to keep watch with him before giving a hand signal to Grimm and Britt. Yup. Door? Covered. Walking around playing with computers? Screw that noise. He took a knee and tried to get a feel for the rock this place was built on and tried hard to figure out if anything was moving and where exits might be to their next destination.
Britt nods to Luther and Grim. "You two stay here with Pontus and Khesu." So the two critically wounded ones don't have to zombie-shamble over to the launch room and back. She then motions for everyone else to follow the tech girl.
Yeah, Khesu can lean here and hold this wall up, see? He can totally do that. Back from the doorway, but still coherant enough, he has his bow in hand and draws an arrow to lay over the string. With only one good eye he can probably hit nothing too well, but he might could help keep some heads down when the Mountain Men come up from below. Staying put he can do.
<FS3> Richael rolls Electronics: Success. (7 2 4)
Luther nods at Pontus' hand-signs and at Britt's words as well, although he gestures the wounded man back into the crazy-machine room. "<In Trigedasleng> So we can close the door when they get here. Keep them from shooting us more." In fact, he tucks his own hand-axes back and draws his sword instead.
Richael nods and looks to Britt. "Yes we are. And I know just how to make sure this place never works again." And there is Lionel, opening up the missile chamber to help her out. She looks to Luther and says, "You wanted to break something? See those lines?" She points out the fuel lines on the missile and says, "Cut those please." She walks over to the computer to begin the fueling process and calls out. "Lionel, once those are cut, shut that door please." Once she gets the computer rolling, she drops the backpack and begins to break out the big bomb before she looks to Britt. "It will take one or two minutes, but when this is done, they will never use this place again." She begins to prepare the bomb for use.
A nod to Britt and Grimm keeps his position, bow at the ready. Time to be on sniper duty.
Pontus was keeping a weather eye down the hall. At the word from Luthor the tore up scout gave a small nod. He was starting to bleed through his bandages and had a long way to go. He wasn't going to argue with good planning an d a solid strategy though and made a reverse approach to the door to park where he could roll the rest of the way into the room. Sitting still hurt. The back of his throat had the burn of copper and adrenaline in it. Vision was fading out and he had way too much swelling on his head to tell if there would be permanent damages but right now? He didn't care. He oddly had a craving for mashed sweet potatoes. Huh. He mentally threw that onto his to-do list and kept a watch. Can't stop. The win wasn't secured yet. Fingers went up to inspect the damage finding the sharp pain- yeaup - that was enough to focus him. His eye floated up at the dinging against the door he now had between he and they looking for an emergency map. These people liked to post things on the wall, who knew.
The computer beeps under Richael's attentions, and a slow progress bar reading 'Fueling' begins to creep upward. It will take time… and there is the first bullet ricocheting off the concrete outside the door… and Luther pulls the door shut, closing them into the fuel room… although there are two other doors out of this room (besides the room that is about to be flooded with mixing fuel).