Aug 09 108 PA - Refugee's Assault

From Chronicles

This northwest corner of the dregs is wearing a very different face this morning. Most notable the refugee camp is closed up tight with what looks to be thousands manning its walls in preparation to hold off an attack. The second point of note is the clear swath leading from the gates into the dregs. It is clear to anyone that thousands of people have travelled that path recently this morning.

Strala nods, regarding Erica and the other two waiting. "I am. I'll explain the notion for you briefly before we move ahead. Time and lives are in our hands. The force of 8000 that left to engage the gangs earlier, is a ruse. A diversion to keep the gangs most powerful forces occupied while I strike at the summoner of those forces. In that all of you will be tasked with assisting me." She explains, her eyes looking cold and decisive as her stance becomes solid with her halt before those already gathered.

Bartholemew heads over to the big woman that people are tending to gravitate towards. Something that big has got to have its own gravitational pull, thats got to be the reason. As she explains he simply pays attention to make sure he gets all the details he needs.

Seeing as how he's the one without much information, Gabriel remains quiet, listening and not even asking any questions yet about how things are going to happen. Of course, he may make a cliché mother-in-law joke with the radio off, just because the visual and attitude seems appropriate. Otherwise, just soft nods for now.

Erica chuckles a little bit behind her helmet. "Alright sounds like a solid plan. Where would you like me? I'm usually best as air support, but I can fulfill other rolls as well." She asks Strala after listening to what the Rahu has to say.

There is still some question in her minds as Sage comes along. Whether she's committed to joining this venture or simply getting more information, she's come dressed for battle in full armor and the weapons she's allow to bring with her. She considers the scene as she approaches. Ah, familiar people are here.

Strala looks Erica over, nodding slightly. "Well looks like you are equipped to cover my flank. So I ask that you do so, engaging a neutralizing ranged attackers without drawing too much attention. Be sure to find cover when you can." She advises before looking to Bart and gabe to see if they have questions.

Bartholemew is ready to go at the massive woman's word. The cold mirrored gaze of his helmet idly looks over those gathered as he listens to the briefing, so far sounding plain and simple. With the look from the commander, "Any idea what this summoner likes to summon?"

At Strala's statement, Gabriel holds up his own hand. "I've fought with her before -" he nods a helmet in Erica's direction "- and most of my experience has been with quick strikes on specific targets or recon. I can help out from the air as well, and I'd prefer to, as I'm not the best person to get involved in hand to hand combat these days. But whatever you need, that's what I do best."

"Alright I'll cover your flank." Erica says with a quick nod of her helmet. She moves behind the large rahu woman. She cycles through her optics system as she makes sure she is ready to go. "I am also not the best at hand to hand, but I can hold my own if need be."

"Do we know what they're using to power their summons?" Sage interjects into the conversation, "Assuming you guys might be interested in one more." She adds, as if trying to make a somewhat dramatic entrance.

"As long as we don’t start to rival the main force I'll take as many as are willing." Strala note quickly to Sage before nodding at Gabriel and Bart. "Both of you can assist her in that task then. I'm quite capable in melee though I don’t really expect much of it." She tasks them and turns back to Sage. "A number of the captives have arcane talent. They've been siphoning it from them as well as sacrifices and such.

Bartholemew gives a glance as Sage enters into the picture with her question to add to the list. "So basically we're all just watching your back. Well simple enough I suppose. This the team or we got others still showing up?"

"Beyond the obvious problem of summoning, is there anything else to prepare for? I know that you can't see the future, but I know that the gangs have been collecting weapons from all over the continent," Gabriel says with a shrug. Then looking to the others gathered, "Otherwise, give the word. May whatever supreme being we all believe in protect us." He gives the clip in his L-20 as slight smack to ensure that it's completely seated.

"We will do our best to take out this summoner fast. Hopefully that will cut down on casualties." Erica says over the loud speaker in her armor. "Strala do you have a radio? Would make communication a bit easier." She says after thinking for a moment. She raises her particle beam rifle up to her shoulder as she gets ready to move out.

Unlike the others, Sage seems to be a walking arsenal of smaller weapons between her pistols, vibro-weaponry, defensive grenades, and even a bola wrapped around her just in case a snare is needed. The rifle kept safe in a storage container. She nods faintly to the confirmation about sacrifices. "Then let us hope we are able to put those practices to an end." She comments, and she pulls out her laser pistol first to make sure its set on the higher power setting.

Strala nods and shifts her stance, looking ready to move out. "Watch each other backs too, its sure to be quite the scene out there." She advises before she turns to lead them into the Dregs. "I'm on 63.4 radio. And preparing for what awaits, well I would prepare to see horrors you will never likely see again.”

Bartholemew too seems to have smuggled in an L-20 rifle that is slung over one shoulder. Seems a few have prepared for serious battle. Once the frequency is mentioned he sets his radio to keep in touch. Once set he unshoulders his weapon and prepares to follow taking up the rear.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble," Gabriel says quietly, probably only the last half of it being audible as he shifts radio frequencies. He gives his jets a squirt of power to make sure that they're working, ensures that the rest of his weapons are seated properly. And is then apparently at peace with the situation. "Give, and it shall be given to you. For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return. It's time to deal back. Give the word, Strala."

Erica takes out a couple pieces of transparent tape and tapes a silver cross on to the front of her armor. "Let’s get going. I am ready if everyone else is." She says while she tosses Sage her spare rifle.

Noticing the other woman's motion and offer, Sage tucks away the pistol to catch the rifle. "Thanks." She frowns a little behind her helmets visor at the awkward grip, "Custom?" She asks, before finding the settings to make sure its at the most powerful. She'll switch her radio to the channel specified but she doesn't know much else about the radio otherwise. She takes a breath and lets it out.

Strala leads the way around the refugee sector, following the path the force left earlier. It doesn’t take long for signs of conflict to show either. They are still following the refugee wall when char for weapon fire starts to become common and recent. Shortly after leaving it bodies can be seen in the distance from both sides.

• Outside the refugee territory things immediately turn grim. Weapons fire scares walls frequently here, much of it still smouldering. It’s clear the force that took this path met nearly immediate resistance. Though from the quiet now that resistance was quelled or followed that force. There are certainly enough bodies in the distance to quell a decent sized force.*

Bartholemew gives a shake of his head to the Holy mumbo jumbo, makes sure his rifle is ready and follows the group into battle not really paying any mind to the signs of the previous battle. He keeps his mind focused on the surroundings for any signs of the enemy that may impede their purpose.

Gabriel quickly reaches into one of his conformal packs and pulls out a large-caliber snub-nose pistol - in Day-Glo orange. He lobs it gently in Sage's direction, as if she wasn't carrying enough already. "Flare gun. You need to get out quick, call, fire that off, and I'll grab you." That said, and not really waiting to even see if it's needed, "I'm going' up. High. Good magnification though," he pats the telescopic sight on his L-20. "Maybe give you some warning, if there's anything left." Then he's off and into the air, heading for about a thousand feet up where he's likely to go unnoticed. There is another short psalm.

"I'm going to keep to the ground for now. I don't want to make a target." Erica says over the radio. She keeps her rifle close to her shoulder as she moves her head back and forth looking for potential enemies. She uses her various optics systems to keep an eye on the area.

Whether she grumbles or not at another tossed weapon, Sage keeps it to herself. With the rifle in hand, its a little harder to catch the weapon but she seems to manage well enough before jamming it into a strapped spot where she can keep extra stuff. When they get moving, the signs of a fight are noticed but it isn't entirely unexpected. She has to worry about the here and now instead of what pasted before. She moves along easily enough, relying mostly on her senses.

Still on the very outskirts Strala doesn’t stop or show any hesitation at the signs of battle ahead. she presses on in to the dregs, leaving the force of the refugee's camp behind. From here on in the group is on its own.

Bartholemew, still keeping an eye on the rear of the group makes sure he looks down the side alleys and doorways they pass for any of the enemy that might want to take a shot at their backs. He goes through the different optics of his MOH to be sure no hidden enemies are lurking about.

Using his sight as a monocular telescope, Gabriel's able to see a good distance. "Strala? I think I can see your destination. Battle's raging, real bad, but it looks like your guys have the advantage of numbers at least. Just a second..." There's a pause. "I'm not sure, it's still too far, but there's some enemy troops moving in to reinforce. I can't tell if they're just going to shore up the front, or if they're trying to flank 'em. Doesn't look like anything, uh.. 'demonic' I guess. Not yet." He then adds, "I'm not watching you right now, I'm watching ahead."

Erica continues to follow the group. She is taking the rear and makes sure that no one is tailing the group. She keeps a close ear to the radio traffic. Her helmet keeps scanning back and forth looking for anything that might stop their progression.

With Gabriel in the air and the other two taking up the read, Sage settles for closer to the woman that's leading them. She keeps the rifle in a grip where it isn't far from being ready to fire. The news over the radio is potentially grim, but not completely unexpected.

• The terrain in this part of the dregs is notably different. The transition to different territory is clear. As is the very one sidedness of weapons fire and casualties. Though the path leads between two territories it is clear the attack only came from one. In fact the refugees may have been re-enforced by the other west force.*

Bartholemew takes note of the scene only casually, what may still be moving is what he is more concerned with, don't want anyone jumping out at em. An if their team was reinforced, thats all the better to him.

Given the apparent situation on the ground, Gabriel decides that he can do more than just float along over the heads of those pounding dirt. After taking a moment, to wrap his rifle's strap securely around his arm to prevent an accidental drop, he calls in, "I'm going ahead a short distance. Check the ground for you, make sure no one's waiting to jump you, then see if I can get a better hand on the big battle for you." He does just that, maintaining his altitude and mode of reconnoitre, though being sure to stay well out of weapon range, at the very least, from the primary battle area.

Erica continues her post making sure that nothing is sneaking up on the group. She drops down into a low crouch trying to stay hidden as she moves. Her rifle is kept close to her shoulder in case she needs it at a moment's notice.

Sage moves along with a mild crouch to provide a slightly smaller target without hindering her ability to move around much. There isn't much going on yet for them, but that seems about to change. Her attention considering the area around her.

Strala continues forward, though she seems more cautious an alert as the press deeper into the dregs. There is a distinct feeling of being watched here though no danger is evident to such senses yet.

Bartholemew's not too worried about hiding quite yet but remains alert. Their squad can't be too unnoticed being led by a big D-bee through the streets. Along with the alleyways and doorways, he begins looking to the rooftops as well for any signs of snipers that may be laying in wait.

Gabriel does an excellent job of walking point, doing his job perfectly of noting where the enemy is. Even if it means doing it by having half of his armor blown to pieces. "FUCK!" Not that he wasn't looking through his scope, too. Despite his best attempts to avoid the shots, he fails abysmally, but manages to maintain his position, calling out, "Gangers down there, your area, but they're headed toward the battle. You're heading right into about five of 'em, armed and ready to fight!" Then, due to the fact that had been taken completely by surprise and wearing smoking armor, he backs off to the edge of his sight being useful.

"Alright. Where are they?" Erica asks as she moves forward, trying to stay hidden as best she can. She raises her rifle up into a firing position as she gets ready to hit the gangers when she spots the.

Once the first hint of the fight come is announced, Sage's first instinct is to find a little cover that she can wait for the plan to be decided upon. "What's the plan from this point on?" She asks simply over the radio.

Strala raises her hand to call a halt at Gabriel's information, clearly wanting to open consider the options. "Well then it would seem we have two choices. We can continue and face this force for a quick route the the junkyard. Or we can head south and duck under the refugee army. This will allow us to avoid further conflict but it will also take longer, costing lives. Though if we do not survive the short route, even more lives will be cost. Not knowing all of your capabilities I'm going to leave the decision to you." She relates over the radio.

Bartholemew goes into cover mode. Bouncing from places of cover one by one to the next, making sure to watch the backs of his squad as they move forward. Rifle at the ready to take the shot when the enemy finally pokes its head out of hiding. When Strala calls a halt he moves up to hear what she has to say before continuing. "Your in command, make your move. It's only five bangers against trained professionals. " he says over the radio. "Hey Gabe, Can you be a guide for two of us to circle around them to out flank em?"

The older man's assessment is rather cold, but honest. "Screw gangers versus professionals, they're still people with lethal weapons," Gabriel states over the radio. "If no one's left alive or at least functioning and able to take out the summoners, then none of this entire battle will have mattered at all. Take the slower, safer route. Some must die so that others may live. That's the point of having deployed the damn screening force in the first place. Whether they knew they were being a deception or not, someone sent them out to die." Gabriel's shrug cannot be seen, but his tone might. "If you die, it was a pointless slaughter." He doesn't move in space other than to turn his optics on the slower route, his own experienced suggestion having been made.

"I think we should be able to take out the five gang members fairly quickly. We should stun them then hit them hard. A blinder might take out the whole group." Erica says it offer her own perspective. "I think we can take them out with a quick strike then move forward again. Let's try to sneak up on them." She remains in a crouch trying to stay hidden as best she can.

"Are we sure that there aren't any other things we'd run into in the junkyard? At one point there were strange creatures there." Sage mentions, "We could probably take the five gang members, but I think Gabriel has a point about getting there as full strength as we can."

"No, of course nothing is sure." Strala points out as she considers the points given. "And though I'm the leader, a good leader is considerate of the desires and capabilities of their followers." She notes to Bart before she seems to come to offer an option. "I could go in ahead to draw their fire, the rest of you follow to set up behind cover and take them out. I'll delay close combat until you are in for a blinder."

Bartholemew comments over the air waves with a hint of obvious sarcasm, "So I take that as a no on the guidance." and maybe a bit of a chuckle that gets cut off, "You’re the boss." commenting back to Strala as he readies himself to follow the big woman into combat.

As this is suddenly a democracy, Gabriel has no option but to prepare himself to support the assault. However, he does it by taking a moment to delicately exchange his L-20 for that large-bore laser rifle that has otherwise been keeping him company. As it has its own set of qualiy sights, he moves closer, doing his best to move somewhere that he wasn't. "Ready."

Erica takes out one of her blinder grenades and holds it in her hand. "I'm ready. Lets do this quick. The longer we take the more lives are lost." She mentions as she keeps hidden as best she can while moving into position. "Take their fire and we'll get them."

Sage digs out her own blinder grenade figuring that assuming another's grenade will do the trick might be a deciding factor in how things go. It does mean that she has to hold the rifle more casually than ready for battle but she should be able to blind any attackers so there's a trade off there. She gets ready to move on. "How close are we?" She asks simply, trying to decide when to put up her body field.

"About a block away." Strala notes before leaving the group to do her part. She touches something on her armor and it shimmers momentarily before she draws two of her spears. With that she's gone to pick a fight.

Nearly in the deep dregs now sounds of battle are prevalent as it would seem a very large one is happening a block or two away. As such this area is far from deserted. Forces are constantly coming and going from the battle and scavengers hang on the tails of both. Weakness is definitely not a desirable attribute here. Strength in numbers is enough to give the rarely armored scavenger pause though.

Bartholemew moves following along the edges of the buildings along the way, making sure he has plenty of cover, looking for a good spot to play sniper from while Strala goes to draw there fire and attention.

This time, as they continue to move east, Gabriel taps his own scorched breastplate and lowers himself to the ground, taking cover behind whatever seems to be the sturdiest thing in the area. His pack is shut off to keep the whine of jets being obvious, and he lays that non-cannon cannon of his in Strala's direction, ready to pick. However, perhaps unusually for him, the only thing that he says to notify anyone is, "On the ground."

Strala is up ahead, alone and engaged in battle with five people north of her position. She's taking a fair bit of energy fire but the enhancement to her armor seems quite capable of taking it. She hurls a spear at one of her opponents, the deadly instrument surely capable of piercing the partial armor they wear.

The force she is fighting returns fire, though one of them has already been run through, pinned to rubble behind him by one of Strala's spears. One of the members o the group though appears to be undergoing some sort of transformation.

Gabriel hates it when things transform. However, he also likes it when things *don't* transform because they're usually easier to kill. "Finally," comes a word over the radio, probably referencing the fact that he paid out a significant amount of coin for this weapon for a job that never happened. "Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none." He sights in on the head of whichever fool seems easiest to hit.

Erica looks over to where the group is attacking from. She throws the blinder grenade she had readied over at that group. As soon as she tosses the grenade she takes a quick shot at the creature that is transforming.

With the blinder being thrown by Erica, Sage makes sure she isn't looking directly towards the spot where its thrown just in case. The scene in front of her makes her hesitate from throwing her grenade as the body language speaks volumes. Instead, she picks out the one moving with confidence. The transformer. She doesn't worry about the grenade and takes up the rifle to shoot at the transformer.

Bartholemew takes the cover of an old building foundation and assesses the situation with the enemy as he lines up for his first shot waiting until Erica and Sage can toss off their blinders to incapacitate them. Then he'll start taking off arms and legs, maybe a head or two, after all can't fight with no limbs or a head. Taking aim at one of the helmetless gang bangers, looking to pop his head right off. He takes his time though, making sure he's lined up just right, don't wanna squeeze off that shot too early.

With most of the opposition now blinded Strala can really clean house. She doesn’t hesitate to move in an quickly do so. Her four arms wielding dual spears with deadly proficiency against one than another blinded ganger.

Both are decapitated. This leaves just the transformer, who has sprouted orange fur and claws so far. But seeing the situation isn’t favourable he runs into a nearby abandoned building to buy himself some more time.

As the human gangers seem to be blinded, Gabriel frowns inside his helmet and has to burn a few seconds exchanging his high-powered sniper rifle for his absurdly large NTI pulse rifle. The laser weapon isn't stowed for now, in the interest of speed. Just set gentle on the ground. Sure, a few months ago he probably would have lobbed his own grenade right in front of Strala in an attempt to help, but he is not that many any longer. At least, he tries not to be. The NTI comes around, but he still needs a moment, and moves around to make sure that his own piece of debris is still between him and the new hairy thing.

Erica runs in after the creature that is hairy and transforming, not wanting to give it any time to call for help. She tries to keep him in her sights as she uses her speed to keep up.

As a very good powerful shot hits the fleeing creature it becomes clear they are not having the effect the should be. Or any effect actually aside from the physical impact pushing him further ahead.

While Sage initially moves to attack the fleeing creature, she does pause at the result of the weapon first. It seems unlikely that her own rifle will have any more effect. "Let's just keep moving now... longer we stay here, the more they can react." She advises before she goes running after the beast. It might get away, but perhaps she can just confuse the heck of out of it so that it isn't able to relate what's going on.

Bartholemew squeezes off his shot looking to take the guys head off so he can move on to the next target. Shoulda wore a helmet today, bad day to go without a hat.

Erica takes a flash bang from her where they are strapped to her. She pulls the pin on it and chucks it at the transforming creature. "Sage try to overcome it's mind or something. Strala come support." She calls out over the radio before she throws the grenade at th hairy thing.

Gabriel is none too pleased to see something that doesn't respond to high powered energy weapons. Again. "Why can't things just get killed?" Comes over the radio. Last time this happened, kinetic energy weapons worked, so he levels his NTI rifle in that direction, unwilling to run into the darkness to confront it. It's unfortunate to waste time waiting, but running and tackling Sage seems a poor choice of action for everyone. Sometimes combat just sucks. He waits for something to shoot at.

Strala is shortly behind Erica, spear in hand to peg the creature they are chasing with, though Sage may have a point, I may be better to leave it to the main force and move on. "Fall back and move ahead, we've wasted enough time." She orders on this logic before making her throw. But it is rather off, hitting nowhere near the beast.

Sage isn't going to waste much time with this as the battle of wills can turn into a stalemate quickly. She'll only pursue as far as she can before trying assault the creatures mind with confusion. Regardless of the result, she'll fall back with the others to continue to the objective. The fight didn't last long at least.

The beast looks to be pout of places to hide and much larger now. So large the the building it ran into is getting cramped. So large the covering a 12 foot span is a step or two. But not large in height, its still only 6 feet tall at the shoulder. Its the 15 feet in length fron snout to but that should worry you about a weretiger ready to rip one limb from limb.

Bartholemew moves from his place of cover to the outside wall just near the entrance where the vicious orangutan, that turns out to be a tiger, went into the abandoned building, not wanting to just rush in blindly. First he takes a look inside, trying to locate his new quarry as he switches from his L-20 rifle to his shotgun. He don't need the range right now, but the power yes. Besides, what lasers don't hurt, silver usually does. With the call to fall back he holds his position guarding the entrance until everyone is out of the building and clear.

Erica is amazed that the creature seems to be able to ignore everything thrown at it so far. The size of the creature shocks her, and it takes her a few minutes before she is able to move. She fires up her jetpack to get out of reach of the invincible creature.

Gabriel might be getting up to speed on things, but he's still a babe in the world. His rifle is slapped into its place, and he does his best to mimic Erica. If she's leaving, it's probably a good idea. Still, Sage was awfully close when that thing came out. At whatever best reasonable speed he can handle, his only intent will be to jet over, grab her and find safe haven in the sky. "Sage, grab my arms," is the only thing that there is time to say.

The beast that had been corralled into the abandoned building looks to have swiftly turned the tables on its pursuers. Prey and hunter have been redefined as it leaps at Strala to tear her apart. And she can’t do a thing about it either, the shock of the transformation has her completely immobile.

Bartholemew trains his weapon on the huge tiger and fires two silver slugs in hopes to help Strala. But he clumsily drops his weapon after the first shot, I guess not quite expecting such a kick. If only the cursing could be heard under his helmet, the hardest marine would be made to blush.

Erica is amazed that the creature seems to be able to ignore everything thrown at it so far. The size of the creature shocks her, and it takes her a few minutes before she is able to move. She fires up her jetpack to get out of reach of the invincible creature.

The change in the creature is amazing, striking Sage dumb and rigid with the normal psychological response to the supernatural. She helplessly watches as Strala gets attacked by the beast. Once she manages to shake off the effects of fear she doesn't pay Gabriel any mind. "No! Get away from her!" She calls out before trying to smash through the beast's mental barriers to leave only the sweet cruel barbs of fear in her wake.

Strala is on the ground with a ferocious Tiger on to of her tearing at her armor. Effectively no less, she can’t wrestle it forever. And the overwhelming bit of it keeps her from defending herself are a couple moments be for she seems to remember the rather large spear in her hand. A solid thrust is made at the tiger with it.

Whether or not it's a good idea to attempt to rescue Sage can be decided later. Whether or not Gabriel has mastered jet pack flight is decided as he flies past Sage and manage to slam into part of the crumbling building's foundation. Still, he seems to take the impact well with a bit of a roll and an awkward flip. Sure, he comes up shaking his head, but any landing you can walk away from is a good landing. He runs and stretches out his arms, only to discover that the psychic seems to have no immediate interest in running. "C'mon, Sage, we can't save her if we're dead! Just grab on, dammit." He'll do his best to convince, but this will leave all of his weapons and direct ability to fight unavailable.

The tiger continues to tear at Strala, clearly gauging her to be the biggest threat of the bunch as the rest seem to scatter. More armor is torn. One more round like that and Strala's armor will be no more.

Bartholemew, still cursing up a storm, goes for his dropped weapon to lift it and take another shot at the fierce cat working at shredding Strala's armor. Another silver slug rips through the air in the Tiger's direction....

Erica growls over the radio as she watches Gabriel try to save someone that obviously doesn't need saving. "Gabriel do something useful please! Sage knows what she is doing. Stop being a twit." She growls as she slings her rifle over her shoulder and draws out a silver knife. She moves to attack the tiger with her silver knife.

Sage growls softly herself, "We aren't in any danger right now and I can end this is that beast will stop resisting." She glares at the beast before slamming herself repeatedly against the creature's defences. She'll break through or be forced to watch the D-Bee die while trying.

Strala is still fighting for her life and now seems to have her full withs about her. Which is good as it allows her to bring both her spears to bear on the tiger assaulting her with three double strikes. But by the forth blow the beast is clearly dead, the spears tearing into its bodly like any other, the fifth and six blows just further mutilating it in a gesture of her fury.

As Gabriel steps away from the psychic and allows himself a few jets into the air, he calls in frustrated and slightly angry tone, "Damn it, Erica, if I knew what I could kill it with, I would have." He looks around to see if everyone is as 'okay' as they can be, then moves on with the mission. "I'm going back up to check on the battle up ahead, we need to protect Strala. Anyone offering some suppressive for for me as I look around would be appreciated." Then zoop! He's resuming his aerial post, the optics of his NTI puls rifle being just as good as those of the L-20, and also the ones that he happens to already have in his hands.

Erica starts scavenging some of the armor off the bodies of the gang members. She starts making some repairs on Strala's armor as best she can. While she does that she'll look to see what the gangers had on them.

Bartholemew is almost in awe of Strala's rage, glad she's taking it out on the tiger and not him. With the beast dead he turns his attention back out to the streets to be sure no other gang buddies decided to show up in all the commotion. Switching his weapon back to the L-20. He still has a bit to learn with using a shotgun.

Sage nods faintly as if feeling she had some hand in helping the woman overcome the beast, before shaking her head. "Alright, next time before we go into a fight, I'm going to suppress everyone's ability to feel fear... we're bound to run into more scary crap if not worse." She advises over the radio, "Sorry." She adds more towards Strala before she briefly checks to see what equipment is available for taking before getting ready to move on.

Strala recovers fairly quickly, having suffering no injuries to her person. Her armor is a different story though, she readily accepts the salvaged padding to replace her losses.

From aerial post, "Strala, Maybe you should hand off some of your plan, in case, God forbid, you die before we get to the target?" There's silence, then, "Looks like you've got about five grand in the way of your own troops still on the line, but the gangs are fielding some units that... well, I'm not quite sure what they are, but they might be doing a good job of negating the pure numbers. Supernatural shit of some kind. I think you'll roll over the gangers, but... that supernatural shit isn't going away any time soon." A non-verbal growl comes over the radio. "We need to move faster."

Bartholemew keeps watch over the area surrounding the group while repairs and looting occur. Once the word to move is given, he falls in line taking up the rear once again on the march. "Let’s double time it folks. Let's do this!" he offers in encouragement.

Erica swears when she isn't able to repair Strala's armor. She then moves beck into the rear position. She readies her rifle and resheathes her silver knife. She crouches down again ready to follow Strala to the attack.

Sage will move up near where Strala is now that the woman's armor is so compromised, hoping to provide another potential target for anyone looking to stop them. She makes sure her weapons are secure, and carries the rifle for now.

"Well the plan is simple enough. When we get to the Junkyard the target will be behind the front lines, supporting them with spells. We should be able to bypass those lines with such a large force keeping them at bay." Strala explains as she starts resuming her pace towards said strike zone. "Aside from that its shoot and kill, I think.”

• A huge battle field lays before you as thousands of refugees lay siege to the junkyard. death and destruction is all about as the gangs try and repel the overwhelming forces. Of not in the gangs employ are werebeast and even vampires as well as walking juggernaughts looking to be composed of garbage. On the refugee side there seems to be no shortage of silver ammunition, and water guns. This forces the vampires and werebeast to attack in rushes and then fall back to heal with depreciating returns. The garbage monsters though, they seem to be able to make a new body to assault with in a matter of minutes.*

"The target, it's more than one person, or one really powerful individual?" Gabriel asks as he watches the carnage appear up close and personal. "If there have any vulnerabilities.. or invulnerabilities, that would be good to know. Plus..." there is a hesitation. "May I guess that fratricide is to be avoided, but not so much as it gets in the way of accomplishing the mission? If not, may I suggest it?" Sometimes math is cold and hard, but necessary for a victorious sacrifice. "Take out the casters, not their fucked up infantry."

Bartholemew follows along at Strala's pace easily enough. His gaze flowing over the urban terrain looking for the enemy in any nook or cranny that could hide a would be sniper. Once upon the scene of the meat of the battle he takes it in assessing it in his own mind. He still follows his commander to the primary target.

Erica uses her optics to take in details of the fighting. She watches the attack for a few moments from her crouch. Her heavy rifle is kept up to her shoulder as she moves. "Well let's get this summoner. The sooner we can stop this fighting the better."

Strala nods as she brings thr group to the edge of the fray. "Yes though cover will be important from here on in. The flanking vamps may not have enough in them to fight an army but they could take us out easily enough. So don’t put yourselves in reach of them if you can avoid it." She advises. looking to brace herself for the charge. "There are five mages, one of which is very powerful. They would all be quite powerful on a normal day actually, but i imagine at this point they are stretched a bit thin."

Gabriel remains in the sky, but much lower now, searching for the summoners behind the line. "I don't suppose you can tell me what they look like? My expertise in magic and summoning is less than complete, I'm afraid." The older fellow continues to peer through his sites, searching for anything that looks like Harry Houdini on LSD. "How do you plan to get around the FLOT?"

While the plan is being unveiled, Sage walks about her companions to lightly touch them and wipe away fear's claws that can force someone to lock up in all-consuming fear before looking to do the same to herself. "It wont last long, but if things go bad quickly, we should be able to act normally.

Bartholemew does one last check of his weapon before making to follow Strala into the fray, he plans to stick close to her as she knows the targets she's looking for.

Erica tries to keep a low profile as he follows Strala. At Sage's touch she nods her head once in thanks. She keeps her optics scanning looking for attackers, or ambushes. "Lead the way Strala."

Strala gives Gabriel a look as he asks the obvious. "By going around them from the flank of course." She says before gesturing to a crater in the Junkyard that is their destination. "They're right there." She states, leading them in.

• Welcome to hell. Pour souls are being tortured all around you by fiendish monsters. What would you call it. Another word might be meat grinder. This is where the refugee forces have come and this is where they have stopped. Stopped by five garbage monsters being enhanced by five mages, with hundreds of werebeasts and vampires to make things more tender.*

"I'll stay up top, try to make sure no one flanks *us*," Gabriel offers from the air. He's hovering just barely inside the range of his NTI, about 1,500 feet, being in no mood to get struck by some kind of magic. He's quite ready to fire, but as everyone can see everything he can, he simply defers, "Give the word, Strala. I'll work left to right."

Bartholemew keeps low to keep from getting hit by any stray weapon fire, following Strala, bouncing from one piece of cover to the next. At each bounce searching the battlefield for the mages in question through telescopic sights. All the while trying to remain unnoticed by any roaming beasties.

Erica keeps low trying to stay less of a target. She makes sure her jet pack is warmed up so she can take off at a moment's notice. Keeping her rifle close to her shoulder so she can hit the mages as soon as she gets them in sights. She makes her way in rear keeping an eye out

As she moves into the living hell that is taking place in the junkyard, Sage is quietly thankful that she has her will setup. She is content to keep as low a profile as she can as she moves in. Careful steps and choice of path being in the forefront of her mind. Last thing she wants to do is doom her friends to a fight they likely wouldn't be able to win on their own. Fortunately no one is likely to cry out in dismay from their party. Small comfort. The sacrifices are beyond her help right now. She can only save them by ignoring their suffering for now. The plan seeming to be straight forward now. Kill the mages, and hope to get out alive. She looks for a place for her to setup as things settle towards attacking.

Strala continues forward, intent on getting to the target sooner rather than later. "If you can hurt them from up their don’t hold back on my account." She notes to Gabriel as she continues. But suddenly the ground shifts and upheaves around her and the rest of the group as what looks to be three more garbage monsters get the drop on them by emerging from the junk.

His temporary commander gave him permission to fire, put rounds on target, and that's exactly what Gabriel does. Nobody has yet mentioned anything untoward going on beneath him. As promised, since he knows no other, better reason to pick targets, he starts with the mage furthest to the left, and firest off two big bursts from his pulse rifle, hoping that it'll also knock the guy off his feet.

Sage pauses as there seem to be monsters getting the drop of them, and she turns to look at them getting ready to fire with a curse lurking on her tongue. "Don't fight them! Don't fight them!" She advises, "I think they can help us." She advises, hoping she's right.

Bartholemew is a bit surprised with the junk not wanting us here, raises his weapon to fire. But then Sage's exclamation comes over the air causing him to hold for now even though he has his doubts right now. "You better be right or we're dead meat."

Erica keeps her rifle trained on the monsters. She doesn't shoot, but she makes sure she has her shot aimed. She lets Sage, who seems to know more, take the first step.

Strala is glaring at the Creature in front of her, spears ready. Though it doesn’t look like they would be very effective against its garbage armor. "Ok we're not attacking.. now what?"

The creatures for the moment just hold their position as if equally uncertain if the beings before them are friend or foe.

It's satisfying to watch those bursts hit the mage, though less than satisfying to see him not explode. Gabriel hears the radio call from below as Sage says something about friendlies, but he knows what his target is. As long as the friendlies don't start shooting at him, he doesn't care who they are. He keeps his weapon levelled at that person on the left. "But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." The trigger is twice more pulled on the same target.

Sage takes a moment to try to recall what happened, before nodding to herself. She doesn't seem to pay much mind to the other's questions initially. "I think they were more interested in my friends that were mages." She comments, likely not being very re-assuring. "Lead a horse to water?" She asks simply, hoping she remembered right or this will be one of the worst decisions ever. She begins to move on, making a waving gesture as if wanting everyone to follow her.

Bartholemew backs away following Sage's lead, but not giving up his line of sight should they decide to take a whack at him.

Erica follows Sage trusting in the other woman. She keeps in a low hidden stance still trying to keep a low profile. She looks ahead to where the mages might be.

The creatures seem to hold a basic understanding of what’s being said and make no aggressive action. Though they hesitate to follow Sage immediately. One steps up, a dozen tentacles emerge form its maw. Something that is definitely unnerving, aggressive debatable. It seems to use the to gesture. one set point to the mages and pulls back hesitantly, then the others come in, and finally all the tentacles gesture towards the mages. Strala frowns, not understanding. "Anyone else make any sense of that?"

"They know I'm here!" Gabriel is specific to use the singular, not plural. "Left hand guy's getting hurt, but it's eaten damn near half my magazine to do it, so if you could move along? That would be just fantastic," he says with a touch of healthy irony in his voice. Still keeping that fifteen-hundred foot range, he picks out that same mage and nurses the trigger twice. "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them."

At first, Sage doesn't want to look back in case she's wrong as they'd likely be in a horrible world of hurt very quickly. In short, she's trying to inspire confidence in her decision. She glances back towards to see what the other woman is talking about. "Let's hope it means the horses have seen water." She comments, deciding to leave it at that. "Now, without further interruption, let all Hell break loose." She comments, aiming towards the closest mage and opening up with the rifle.

Bartholemew watches the creatures strange gestures eventually turning to follow them to see what they seem to be pointing out. Being they aren’t attacking, Bart moves away from the creatures and goes back to targeting the mages. Once the closest is in his sights he opens fire with a barrage of laser fire.

Erica takes to the air moving up where she can get a better shot at the mages. Once she is up a little in the air she takes a shot at the more distant of the spell casters. “Well I guess our weapons are again useless. Well I guess shouldn't have hired a bunch of soldiers for the job."

Strala moves forward as people start shooting and the creatures seem to follow her in the charge. Apparently they just didn't think they could win alone. Those as a few of the shots have no effect she has to call out. "Energy immunity, blinders and stunners."

"Their armor’s regenerative! Everybody shoot at the guy on the left, I've already taken 'im down once. If we divide our fire, this is going to be *real* bad," Gabriel offers what is some excellent advice, and loud. "Someone drop a frag grenade on em! One of those flash-bangs, that's not energy. I'd do it but trigger finger is a little fucking busy!" Short pause. "For Christ's sake Erica, you could at least flash your tits and try to distract 'em, get in the fucking game!" To be fair though, he adds rather angrily to Strala, "This information would have been useful earlier when I asked about vulnerabilities. Anyone know how to fire a handgun?" The last may (or may not) reference the fact that he's carrying a heavy NTI pistol with him.

Bartholemew charges for the one called out by Gabe, ready with his grenade once in range. "Gotcha fly guy." he answers back noting the armor thing.

Sage gives a faint chuckle to the Strala's advise, "Who wants to live forever?" She asks, as she starts to run for the mages. With the strange creatures on their side, she can only hope that it'll be the difference in the fight. Still, a little healthy paranoia is useful as her body field snaps into place around her. If it draws the attention of the creatures that are on their side, we'll see can only hope they don't have ADD.

The creatures that have sided with the group charge headlong at the mages but they are big an not very fast. It will be a few moments before they got into the game.

In the mean time the mage Gabriel knocked down with his last attack recovers and seems to spend a second respelling himself. While the other four each seem to take focus on a target and start to chant before energy beams shoot from their hands at Gabriel, Sage, and two of the charging creatures.

The bolts have quite the range as one even reaches Gabriel at his altitude. And they are very hard to evade. Another singes against Sage's mental protection and the others slightly scratch the armor of the creatures. Strala is still closing as well, charging as fast as she can.

Erica however seems to think the situation is untenable and activates her jetpack to flee the scene, leaving you all to your fate.

Another substantial energy impact sends Gabriel for a short loop, as he is entirely unable to avoid it. Seeing as how he's blown his wad as far as ammunition, he allows himself to fall to the ground and land as gently as possible in the safest possible place he can be. Even if he can't actually see the line of combat, he needs time to think and change out his rifle's magazine. "Keep ganging up on 'em, guys. I'm down for a minute. Let the garbage patches pick their targets, you work on a different one. They'll distract the mages." He finally adds with a grunt, "Please throw some Blinders!"

Bartholemew lets the frag grenade fly, followed up by a stun grenade right behind it as he gets into range. Hopefully this will knock the wind out of em a bit.

The energy blast directed at her is surprising to Sage but she doesn't seem to think she can get out of its way as she seems content to rush right through it. The rifle is exchanged for a blinder grenade. For when she gets close enough to use it. It seems that Bart has been able to get two a couple mages based on the grenades going off. She looks for mages that weren't near the explosions she noticed to see if she can wreak a little havoc.

The slayers and Strala are still charging and the mages refocus as grenades pound their position. Three of them look very disorientated and clearly can attack. The other two focus on the grenadiers hounding them with two more massive energy blasts.

Gabriel slaps in his magazine, then takes some deep breaths. Not to calm himself, but to focus his mind. "I can't take another hit like that, guys. Maybe one, if no one else decides to shoot. Fuck!" His gauntled fist slams into the broken concrete that he's sitting on. "Those Blinders working?" He peeks his head up just enough to use the optics of his rifle, but otherwise remains behind cover, just surveying the battlefield, trying to figure where he can best be used. In fact, "If anyone has any bright ideas for me, I'm open to 'em!"

Bartholemew takes a hit after a meagre attempt to dodge, that doesn't deter his forward advance drawing his Vibro sword to go at it up in their face.

Four of the five mages are blinded now, and Strala and the slayers are closing fast. A few more seconds and the gap will close permanently. Or would, if not for the sticky magic forming near the blinded mages. They fall back after casting the sticky goo, vying for time.

It might not look like the bravest thing to do, but when you have a huge set of nearly-smoking scars all over your chest, you tend to stay behind cover if possible. Still, people need to die, and Gabriel takes out his three-burst rage on the blinded man who he'd been fighting with earlier. Bartholemew slows his charge not wanting to get stuck in the sticky goo they throw out to protect themselves. He takes this opportunity to toss a couple of stun grenades at the fifth mage still alert.

As Sage runs, she notices the defensive attempt the mage erects. A quick glance around shows no easy bridge material. No sense in letting them regroup. This has to stop. She times it to use her telekinesis to leap over the magical defence, intent for the time being on the fifth mage. "This won’t hurt much." She comments, ready to charge him with neural mace ready.

The slayers soon find themselves mired in the trap, Strala, seeing Sage float over it makes to leap over it, readying tow of her spears and throwing them at the nearly dead mage at the same time.

As one mage goes down, Gabriel mutters a soft prayer for protection, then stands and engages his jets. He grips his rifle like a child, not taking time to stash it in a proper carry location. "Time for years of football to payoff," comes over the radio as he launches himself toward the remaining active mage intent on doing nothing more intricate and exciting that ramming him as hard as he possibly can to put the guy on his ass.

Bartholemew goes around the goo the old fashioned way, run like hell to get around it. As he runs he draws his stun stick in his off hand to go at em sword and stunner.

The three slayers are stuck, negating their presence beyond hungry growling cheers for the good guys. Three of the mages are still disorientated, and probably won’t recover in time while the forth is recovering from Gabriel's charge to look very annoyed. "Why don’t you hold your breath till you pass out?" He suggests to Gabriel, making an odd gesture as he does.

Oh sure, Gabriel has to steal Sage's thunder by ramming the guy into the garbage. A glance across tells her that the big D-Bee has come with her over the goo. Well, her spears will probably make short work of the blind mages. She begins to move towards the mage that's still active, intent on whacking him a couple times with the neural mace. The salesman said it should work wonders.

That worked exactly as planned! Sort of. The knock down part, not the whole "I can't breathe" thing. It's clear that Gabriel has some dangerous intent levelled at his attacker, his eyes shouting things that his Lord wouldn't look kindly upon. Nevertheless, as a good soldier who's used to endurance runs, he knows that the best thing to do is collect his wits, stay conscious as long as he can, and hope that someone kills the bastard and breaks the spell. If that's how it works. He still doesn't really know.

Bartholemew keeps hauling ass around the mess of goo, he's determined to get there to get at least one whack in on em. Almost there.

Well, for now, Gabriel will have to settle for Sage trying to play whack a mole. After all the man's a little to close for comfort to start swinging freely with her vibroweaponry.

And another mage is nearly incapacitated. Looks as if he was about6 to cast something similar on Sage when is speech turns to gurgles and drool at his nerves being scrambled. Meanwhile Strala has recovered her spears and is starting on the blind mages. though the are nastily recasting their armor.

Not much to do really except to try to send a Morse code message of 'thanks' via blinking at Sage. Otherwise, Gabriel just lays there and tries to hold his breath, not knowing when he'll feel like stopping.

Bartholemew takes on the first mage in the arc of his weapons. Swinging his sword first and following it up with his neural stick.

From there the forces of evil start unravelling rapidly. Without the mages support the refugee army starts significantly cutting into the supernatural forces arrayed against them. With each mage that falls so does one of the garbage monsters, as if tied to their lives or will. And with the strike team wielding such debilitating weapons the mages do not last long against the assault. In the wake of it all Strala recovers to dash of into the crater where the refugee prisoners and dead have been kept. Followed shortly by the refugee forces all are quickly freed. A number lay in dire need of medical attention for with Sage is most aptly suited.

The vampires and werebeasts that came to the mage’s aid seem to scatter to the winds with the fall of the mages and their creations, clearly holding no intention of dying for a lost cause.