Nov 16 09:00:33 108 PA - Arcadia Defends Against Its First CS Assault

From Chronicles

Nov 16 09:00:33 108 PA.

OUTSIDE THE CITY GATES

The sun has just dipped below the western horizon, and two Mountaineers bearing gifts of frantic Arcadians are rumbling outside the city gates. The miners are frantically waving down anyone passing by who owns a weapon, begging for help fighting the Coalition. Not many people are interested. A lot of them seem to think that Prosek's possibly impending defeat at Tolkeen is good enough. A small mining town? Not worth the time. The man from many weeks ago who had come for more passive assistance is the loudest, standing up on top of one of the enormous vehicles, shouting for help. The skies are completely clouded over, and the ground is damp with the remnants of a previous storm - but for now, the skies are dry.

Of course Fizzlesnoot comes to help the Arcadians defend their village, he has taken them to heart for some unknown reason since hearing the troubles early in the game, can't let em go down without some sort of fight.

Course Bella's all interested. It's somethin ta do. Stuff ta find. People ta play with. 'N she's maybe helpin people too! She comes walkin in up the road. Ain't yawnin but she looks a li'l tired. Maybe had too much fun too late th'other night. Or somethin.

Jaxain comes running in and skids to a halt, breathless, hands on his knees. He raises a hand. "I'm here."

Tek comes walking up looking around to see how he might best assist in this situation.

Jack hops down from the roof of the Mountaineer and immediately starts herding together the people who even vaguely look like they might be interested in helping. It's about twelve people, all told. Some of them more well-known than others. He gives Fizzlesnoot's hand (?) a hearty pump. "Thanks for coming." Moves down the line to Bella, takes her in for a moment, then pumps her hand too. "Ah... thanks for coming." It's much like that the rest of the way. "Anyone who knows how to fire a weapon, drive heavy equipment, or is a medic, please hop in!" Then, without even waiting to exchange names right this moment, he starts packing everyone into the vehicles. The heavy diesels are already spouting dragon-like smoke.

Fizzlesnoot hops on up into a truck happy to be apart of the David and Goliath event. "Good to be here Jack." He gives a friendly smile to Tek and Jax, being he already knows both of them pretty well, but even Bella gets a tip of his hat in passing to the trucks.

"Least we ain't gotta walk." Bella looks to find her butt a spot. Spots Tek comin in. Grins. Maybe she's gonna wait ta see if he finds a good spot first. If he don't maybe Jax will. "How far we goin anyways?" That's fer anybody. Kinda good stuff ta know.

Jaxain climbs into the first vehicle, where Jack is. He ends up next to Fizzlesnoot. "Hello," he says to both, now that he's caught his breath.

Tek gives a nod and you hear through a small speaker him say, "Hey there Fizzlesnoot thought I would come along and see where I could help. Then looking to Bella and grateful his face is covered he says, "Hi Bella, good to see you as well." and even gives a nod to Jax before climbing aboard.

Jack raises a brow as the vehicles close their hatches, noting that the more well-known people from around town have for some reason chosen to cram into the first vehicle. Except for Bella. He holds the hatch open. "We'll drive full out, it'll take about two days to get there. Got some spare drivers, so we won't have to stop this time. Blasters, too." Whatever the last means, that's for him to know.

Fizzlesnoot tucks himself into a corner of the vehicle using his carpetbag for a pillow, "We're not stopping for any patrols this time are we?" asking Jack, the leader of this rag tag group of heroes.

Bella hmphs. Looks like ev'rybody piled inna one. Oh well. Just means more laps fer her. She heads in 'n grabs the first one't ain't Fizz. She might squish him. 'R poked when he smiles 'r talks. "Great. Hate long rides. Gets borin most times. Least we ain't stoppin." Ok. Maybe she can find somethin ta keep from gettin too bored.

Looking around for comfort, Jaxain finds himself a spot in the other corner across from Fizzlesnoot. Tek moves in and asks Jack, "What kind of blaster? I am pretty good with weapon systems."

Jack shakes his head at Fizzlesnoot. "No, we're not stopping. Can't even go that way, obviously." One might wonder which way they will go. He watches as Bella finally seats herself, and slams the hatch shut. The diesel immediately roars even louder, and the ATV jumps north. Tek is told, "Some mining equipment that we modified to clear a path, since it'd be stupid try to to take the normal Whykin route. Plasma-based cutting torches, but beefed up to work harder for a few hours before they burn out."

Fizzlesnoot tilts his hat to sit just above his brow, slightly covering his big bulbous eyes which he closes as he scootches himself into his place all comfy like. He opens them again when he asks Jack in response of his reply, "I'd like to know how bad has it become? Is it really as bad as it sounds? Are soldiers actually in Arcadia?"

"Yeah." Bella figgers that's good ta know too. "What's goin on there? What're we lookin 'tseein when we get there?" She wriggles a li'l ta get comfy. Since it's gonna be a long ride. Jaxain grumbles as something pokes him in the back, but murmurs some kind of agreement with Fizzlesnoot and Bella.

Tek nods approvingly and raises the visor on his armor up, "That sounds like an impressive modification." he stresses the next word, "'When' we fend off the attack and have some breathing room I would love to take a look at them." he then takes a seat next to Fizz and stays quiet also interested in hearing the condition of the town.

"Soldiers are mostly on the outskirts," Jack says in answer to Fizzlesnoot's question. "There are some in the city, but they usually learn pretty quick that even old men and women swinging a pick and shovel can hurt. It's only been the... what's it called? Infantry? Guys on foot. Coupl'a guys in the air, flying things. Power armor. They've hit our buildings pretty hard... we don't think that they're hitting as hard as they *could* if they wanted to." A woman up driving waves something to Tek. "Yeah, if we're alive!" The ATV column continues to blow north. Not that they've gotten very far yet.

Fizzlesnoot gives a look that agrees with the driver, "Doesn't sound good. Do you know where they are camped out at or anything? Have you taken any of my advice and taken your things into the mines?"

Bella yawns a li'l. Just for show. Shrugs a lot. "Hey. Long's we know where they is. S'all that we need ta really. Beat 'em up. Scare 'em outta town. Kill 'em all. Any'a those'd work right?"

Jax continues to fuss with his seat, looking for a good spot, but listening.

Tek smiles and just stays quiet for the moment looking around just making the best of the ride.

Jack fixes Fizzlesnoot with a semi-mad glare. "Yes, we did. Some of our important equipment, even some of our people. Mostly those who wouldn't be able to fight." He stops and turns to look up to the cab, where the woman finishes the thought. "That was the first place they hit. Collapsed the entry, maybe more with a bunch of heavy shooting. Not easy even for us to try to dig out anyone during a fight. If they're still alive anyway. Thanks for that." She doesn't sound too happy. Jack resumes, speaking to Bella. "Yes, anything to get them to leave us alone would be just fine, we don't care how it happens." Anyone with a close eye on the road would notice that the little caravan of two vehicles just blazed right by the eastern turnoff, and simply continues to drive north along the old highway.

Fizzlesnoot gives a sad, apologetic look, "I'm sorry if anything bad happened, but if they are deep enough, they should be ok and safe. We just have to survive and we can dig em out." he tries to be reassuring with a hopeful expression. But knowing the man's anger and sadness may be clouding hope, he goes quiet to not stir too much emotion.

"Just gonna make 're own road huh?" Bella's watchin outside. Now 'n then. "Good. Means we get there quicker." Just cause she's got laps 'n boys don't make the trip no shorter. "Oughtta got somethin ta fly ev'rybody there 'r somethin." Cause that'd make it faster.

Jaxain sits and listens, frowning at the part about the cave-in.

Tek sits quietly listening to everything that is going on and draws in his breath when he hears about the trapped people.

Time passes, and eventually a loud whining noise shoots though the air. The front window is filled with pink, and the woman announces, "Here we go." Then *boom* there are horrible noises of trees being shredded, ripped and generally blown out of the way of the two vehicles. Yet somehow one would get the impression that anyone ever passing this way again would never notice. Jack offers to no one in particular, "Well, at least that part's working." Apparently he didn't feel the need to comment on Bella's suggestion. Probably because if the could, they would have.

Fizzlesnoot falls asleep after a bit, napping off the trip, or trying to. The boom of the deforestation jars him awake with a start. "Wha? huh?!" When he finally realizes whats going on he fluffs his big carpetbag and lies back again. But he's up again now.

Jaxain watches out the front, enjoying the noise and colors. He notes, "Wow, we're making good time."

Tek jockeys for a better look at the equipment being used to cut the path with extreme interest, "Wow, now that is cool." looking to Jax he agrees, "Good time indeed."

Such good time is made that bumps along the way may cause bruising through repetitive contact. Indeed, Jack points out that the sun's going to be coming up soon. The train pauses momentarily to swap drivers, then keeps going.

Fizzlesnoot is a tough little guy, the bumps and shakes not seeming to bother him too much except to keep him awake from being tossed about in his place. He does his best to take in all the rest he can, it may be awhile before they all get another chance.

Tek stays watching the clearing for a good long while but eventually finds a more comfortable position to get as much rest as he can.

Jaxain looks at Tek and Bella. "Alright, I have a few basic plans made up." He looks at Jack, "Do they have a base camp? I can make us invisible, so as long as we can avoid thermals we can sneak in. Then Tek can sabotage any of their equipment we can reach, and Bella can cause a disturbance. Then I can help." He grins.

Jack looks at Jaxain with a little amusement "We're *miners*. We don't know much about 'base camps' and so on. However, we're going on the assumption that they're moving from Whykin. You gotta know that the Coalition's equipment. They've been fighting Tolkeen for years! Not much of a problem getting troops around to take us on, I wouldn't think. If they have a 'base camp,' I'm unaware." The two in front grunt in agreement.

Fizzlesnoot continues trying to nap the trip away, not finding too much difficulty being a man who has slept in some bad nasty places when he's had to. Even the bumps and rocking get to be almost soothing until the sudden drop that sends him bouncing up out of his seat for the moment causing him to snuggle back in on his drool soaked carpetbag best he can.

Bella gets lookin outside more 'n more 's things go on. So what Jax's sayin before ain' no big s'prise. "Yeah." Then she grins at Jax "Cool! I'm good't causin trouble." Speakin'a that. "Gonna go see if there's room inna back ta crash first though." Then she frees up the laps. Don't even needa stop the truck. She just sorta melts 'way inta a li'l bitta steam 'n oozes out through the cracks.

Jaxain is thoughtful for a moment. "Do you have any idea where their forces are coming from right now, or is all you know that there are a few forces in the town itself? AND, how many forces are in the town currently?"

Tek stares after Bella as she melts away and then looks back to Jaxain, "Well I need to be within ten feet of something to really be able to disable anything. I would also like to point out that I am not real good in a fire fight I have my pistol and that is it. To be honest don't really know how to use much else."

Unfortunately, what may be good questions go by the wayside as Jack is less than pleased when Bella melts away into steam and disappears. "What the FUCK!?" He looks to the others. "What'd you bring with you?!" He starts to shout to the drivers to stop, words along the lines of, "before we bring some undead bitch into town and make things worse."

Fizzlesnoot jumps awake once again when Jack starts yelling, "Huh? Undead what?" looking around to the others clearing his big eyes of the fogginess and wiping the drool from his chin confused.

Ain' no undead bitch inna truck. Look 'round! Just don' look inna truck trunk. 'R gas tank. 'R whatever other li'l dark hidey spot Bella finds. More hidey the better maybe. Seein as how much yellin there was.

Jaxain laughs at Jack's comment and sudden panic, and shakes his head with a smile. "Nah, she's just some kinda psionic mutant, don't worry about it." He gives Jack a humorous smile and gestures to the road. "Cumon, lets go! And please answer my questions, it could be important." He looks at Tek then back to Jack. "Do you have something he can pilot? If not, we gotta see if we can lift something from the Coalies."

Tek looks between where Bella melted away and Jack with concern but relaxes a bit when Jaxain gives an explanation then adds, "I can control something I am not in as well but again I have to be close, but if I can get into some power armor or a vehicle with a weapon system I can be a pretty good asset."

Jack is not so easily passed off in the face of the undead. The vehicle slows. Doesn't actually come to a stop, but comes to a crawl. He's really fuming, looking between all gathered, but particularly Jaxain at the moment. He draws a hammer from his belt and directs it at the man. "I see her touch one of my people, we *will* hunt you down. I see her bite anyone - even a Coalition grunt, we will hunt you down. I see her feed on a dead body?" He leans in and growls, "We *will* hunt *you* down. Keep your eye on her, for your sake. We may be hicks who can't fight a superpower, but I don’t care what you might be, I promise that we can handle one man." He slaps the back of the driver's chair. "Go." The vehicle starts forward again as Jack slowly puts his little hammer back in his belt.

Fizzlesnoot would pull his head into his shell if he could trying to just hide in his corner with Jack being all pissed and very serious about something he's still confused about, but he ain't gonna question. He gaze flits between the others and when he realized Bella is not to be seen, maybe that’s the issue that’s got the man all in an uproar, still doesn't change his confusion.

That's some nice stuff ta sorta hear. Somethin ta tuck Bella in. 'Fore she goes all day-day for a while.

Jaxain rolls his eyes at Jack, "Wow, a-hole much?" He chuckles. "What, you think I'm her father or something? I didn't invite anyone here, just came to help by myself." He raises his hands in a pacifying manner. "Look, if I saw her bite anyone or harm your people, I'd damn well hunt her down myself, but as far as I know she's a mutie who ain't never harmed a fly. Her powers sure come in handy in a fight though." He gives Jack a hard look. "Now if you are done preachin', can you, please, answer my fucking questions?"

Tek just shrinks back as the men start yelling and him not knowing anyone really well here he decided not getting involved is probably best.

Jack enumerates the answers to Jaxain's questions in a low voice, counting them off on his fingers. Starting by raising the middle one. "I already told you that we think they're just coming straight from Whykin. I already told you that they don't have many operational forces within the town itself. I already told you and even suggested that Tek?" He looks to the other man, "Could drive some of our heavy equipment. We are not soldiers, we don't have fighting vehicles. So does repeating the information sufficiently answer your fucking questions?" He swats the driver again. "All the way, Tom."

Fizzlesnoot remains shrunk back in his corner of the vehicle, the hostile atmosphere making things feel a bit awkward. He just watches back and forth between Jax and Jack until their arguing ceases.

Jaxain lets out a hearty laugh and swats Jack in the shoulder (not hard, however), "You may not be a soldier, but you sure know how to talk like one!" He smiles at Jack, giving the other man a wink. "Damn, I hoped you may have got some new info from some angels during the drive when I nodded off." He ponders for a moment. "Ok, so Fizz?" he looks at the D-bee. "Can you operate any weapons systems? Cuz if you can, sticking with Tek might be your best bet. Bella and I can go out and raise hell, with you guys as a distraction."

ARCADIA

Somehow, these souped-up and self-armored Mountaineers skid into town just after sundown. They took fire on the way in, mostly from the east, but the extra added armor that the Arcadians had long ago placed on most of their vehicles kept the occupants safe. Out the front window can be seen the occasional plasma blast or ion fire. People drop where they stand, likely the victim of a laser. Some people think that lasers can be seen. That's just good movie effects. Very few Coalition soldiers or pieces of equipment can actually be seen, and the SAMAS units overhead are surprisingly calm. The field of battle is ready to be taken. Or not, depending on choices to be made.

Fizzlesnoot slings his bag over his shoulder ready to go, "I'm not a fighter either but can point and shoot just as good as anyone else from this village. I'll do what I can is all I can say." giving an apologetic shrug.

Bella comes back in late ta the party. Same way she left. One minute nothin. Next she comes in steamy like ta show up back in Tek's lap. "So. What'd I miss?" She looks outta window. "Other'n we got 'ere?"

Tek starts to stand and then jumps but stays sitting as Bella appears in his lap, "Whoa... Umm we are here so we are unloading I think." looking around at everyone else to see if he is right. Jaxain has things on his mind, and is a bit quieter for a moment.

Jack opens a door on the west side and rolls out the hatch, running toward one building that has been deliberately painted white, and kept up nicely. Men and women are out in the open with little cover of any kind. At best, their weapons are L-20 Pulse Rifles. Most of the others are simply salvaged Coalition gear, old-style. Clearly, none of them are military types. The oddly colorless battle continues, though with surprisingly few dead Arcadians. Plenty of casualties, though.

Fizzlesnoot jumps out of the vehicle as well following behind Jack as fast as his little legs will allow. He takes a short bit to take in the scene when he can, pulling from his bag a box of bandages to hand off to someone caring for any casualties, wishing he could do more to help the wounded.

"Guess it's showtime huh?" Bella just got her seat back. Now it's time to get out. She climbs on out 'n looks round. Ta see what she can see.

Now that they are out of the vehicle, Jax reaches into his bag and starts putting on his Environmental Armor, the first time it has ever seen combat. Under that he has other protection, but it won't work with the armor on, so it's moot. He looks at Bella for a moment.

Tek gets out with everyone else and follows Fizzlesnoot and Jack towards the white building. He checks out the surrounding area as he makes his way.

The moonless night is actually a curse to most of the Coalition troops, if their directed fire is of any indication. The Arcadians, however, perhaps because they're used to operating underground seem to have no problem with the darkness - particularly because many of them are equipped with a variety of night vision systems. Mostly common thermal or the old-style FLIR units. For people who are essentially simple civilians, they're doing a wonderful job of holding the line. Still, hundreds are wounded to one degree or another and the doctors, while excellent at fixing everyday wounds and mining injuries, are not equipped for field medicine. They really could use assistance, even just dragging the wounded out of the immediate line of fire. Some people - even children - are running back and forth bringing up the few e-clips that the town had in its warehouses. Jack is inside the council building at this point. Although most of the fire is coming from the line of the 'safe zone' to the southeast, there is a smattering of fire from the southwest as well. The occasional huge blast of a SAMAS rail gun decimates a home, or creates a crater sufficient to chase people away. Women, children and the elderly who were caught out in the open are gathering in the park, while some men are beginning to run toward the loading area, where their heavy moving and mining equipment is located.

Jaxain looks at Bella and waits for a response to his previous question, then looks at Tek and Fizz. "Ok, so shall we go to the area heaviest hit, or try and mop up the smaller areas? We can't do much against the SAMAS unless we get some kinda air support, or we can find one on the ground."

Tek asks Jack, "Is there a way to take a look at the heavy equipment so I know what my options are?"

Bella ain't no doctor. No good with the dyin. Not like they prolly want anyways. She heads thattaways with the others. But looks back at Jax. Smirkin. "Ya were sayin somethin bout makin people invisible? Can maybe see better whatta Coalies're up to if ya hook me up. Ain' gonna be hidin from me inna dark."

Fizzlesnoot pulls out a pistol and a couple of e-clips from his bag tucking them into pockets in his jacket. Then pulls out a few bottles of Moonshine and offers them up to any nearby medics, "It'll substitute for pain killer and antiseptic. It's strong stuff." he says with a shrug.

Jack pokes his head out of the building, having heard his name even though he was inside. His eyes search, but he finds Tek. "Sure, yeah." Amid a sudden hail of plasma fire, he yells to a rather rotund man who's currently operating one of only three rail guns that they have, "Stinky! Show this guy the trucks. What? Yeah, the big stuff, show 'im what he wants! Okay!" He then waves Tek toward the man, calling, "He'll show ya. Northwest, 'bout a mile." The medics smile - and cringe - at the ugly little D-Bee, but quickly take the offered liquor. Judging by the way they handle it, this probably isn't the first time they've used this kind of antiseptic. Even becomes an anesthetic, if dosed properly. Set.

Jaxain swears, "Dammit! I forgot, that freaking spell only works on the caster." He frowns, then smiles again and looks at Bella. "But there is a better way!"

Tek looks to the group, "I am going to go and see what heavy equipment they have. Should we all go there and and decide what is our best option then?"

Bella smirks at Jax. "Think I got't. Can come if ya wanna. But don't getcher pretty face all messed up." She starts off fer the southeast. Where the heavy stuff's comin in from. Figgers she ain' gonna be easy ta see when she gets out inna dark. Most alla that fancy see inna dark shit don't work so hot ta see 'er. 'N they're prolly lookin fer people too. Once she gets a li'l ways off she hunches over. Trades in fingers fer paws. Quicker movin on four of 'em anyways.

Fizzlesnoot tucks his bag away slinging it over his shoulder with all his medical supplies handed out and looks to see where else he can be used. "I'm gonna go to where the fighting is heaviest and try and pull in some of the wounded and maybe pick up some gear lying around that might come in handy. I'm a scavenger, might as well use it to our advantage. Unless there is something else anyone needs first." looking among those still around to catch an answer before jetting off into the field. A last chance to give him something else to do.

Jaxain makes sure his radio is synched with Tek's and Fizz's so they can talk, then follows Tek for now.

Bella's advance is quite easy. She's small, she's unassuming, and the Coalition is more concerned with people shooting back. Plus the notion that they might not have much in the way of thermal or night vision gear anyway, based on their shooting. Various people look up as Fizzlesnoot passes through, but after his medical supplies have been handed out, most people just shake their heads at him, shouting things like, "stretcher" or "get the guns." Things along the lines of rescuing whatever they can before it might be overrun. Stinky is standing out in the open, waving his arms above his head like a cheerleader's halftime routine, trying to get Tek's attention. The volume of fire temporarily decreases from the southeast, and almost entirely abates to the southwest. One fellow in a SAMAS does decide to let fly with a burst that tears a long ravine out of the center of town, dangerously close to the park.

Tek heads to the heavy equipment with Jaxain, keeping his head down and using the HUD in his helmet.

Bella goes off inna trees. Ta go play with guys. With big guns. Inna dark. This oughtta be fun. Maybe she can getta real test of her flamey shooter too. When she's got hands again.

Fizzlesnoot mentions when Jax looks to sync up with him before he heads out into the field, "I have no radio, never thought I'd need one. If I pick one up I'll let ya know. Just keep yours open." then heads out to search for the useful and the wounded on the front lines.

The volume of fire suddenly picks up again, and two SAMAS units make flybys, leaving huge furrows in the ground, one of which drives directly through a group of Arcadian resistors. Jack is standing out on the steps of the council hall yelling into a radio. Two other people whom Fizzlesnoot would recognize are also out and about, lending assistance and suggestions where they will. The snake-headed woman moves off toward the park carrying a few large bags behind her, motioning people to lay down. Stinky leads Tek to a smorgasbord of heavy equipment. Everything from the common backhoe up to some highly specialized mining equipment - some of it obviously customized by the Arcadians themselves. They're miners, but that doesn't mean that they can't also be bright and opportunistic. The fat man points out one in particular. "This is one of our heavy cutters. Goes right through most rock; a twenty-foot plasma stream when it's not impacting something. Two cutters, one left and one right." He indicates the little 'arms' that hold the cutters. "But it's not working right now. If you could get it moving, though? Might.. I dunno, twenty feet of plasma has to hurt, right?" Bella moves into the forest apparently unnoticed. There are more than enough wounded and their equipment to go around.

Tek looks up to see how close the SAMAS are flying before moving to lay a hand on the heavy cutter, "Thank you, you can head back to what you were doing now, I can take it from here." Then looking to Jaxain, "Gimme a sec and I will know if I can get this thing running. A plasma stream sounds like it might be helpful."

Jaxain nods to Tek, "Yeah, that would be incredibly helpful. Plus I can make myself impervious to fire, so if I get in trouble you can just spray any area I am in and not worry about me." He grins.

Fizzlesnoot doesn't have the same problems that the Coalition soldiers seem to be having seeing in the dark, the creepy little creature having excellent night vision with those big bulbous eyes of his. He keeps his head down and keeps to any cover he can find to scan the battle field for wounded and possible gear that can be scavenged for the good guys.

Fire from the southeast remains the same. Smattering across the town, blasting apart common buildings of common structural design. More and more men and women are going down, the line is even beginning to fall back. Occasionally, a Coalition grunt can actually be seen on the treeline. Very occasionally a small bouncing object can be see tackling one of these grunts. A number of ion bursts fly past Fizzlesnoot, one of them unfortunately evaporating one wounded man he'd just passed. The SAMAS units remain quiet for now, as if they're just keeping an eye on things. Set.

Jaxain just watches over Tek as he works, and keeps scouting the sky for any sign of those pesky SAMAS.

Tek unpacks his tools and gets started first on the actual truck part, "I should be done in a couple minutes. Let me know if that SAMAS looks like he is coming this way."

Fizzlesnoot moves quickly to the next wounded person, giving them a quick once over to be sure he's not going to pull off an arm dragging them to safety. Just before going he looks for any of the person's gear nearby, to grab that as well. The little guy is small, but damn strong, the body weight not being an issue in getting them out.

The Coalition fire seems to become more directed. Ironically, not at the people with the rifles, but the people behind the lines bringing ammunition and medical supplies. Even the medics themselves start to go down. There are a good number of grunts out in the open at this point. They're wearing old style gear, and using old style weapons - if people recognized that kind of thing. Nonetheless, they're killing and maiming. The SAMAS continue to circle overhead. Oops, there goes one soldier, just sort of disappears back into the trees like he'd been pulled. The Arcadians are keeping up their fire, but their aim and quality just doesn't seem to be enough against trained soldiers.

Jaxain grows frustrated with his inability to do anything, but can't leave Tek unguarded as his work on this machine could be very important. So, spotting a SAMAS, he jogs away from Tek a good enough distance to not draw fire upon him, takes up a position away from any other allies, and starts firing his Laser rifle at the SAMAS in the sky from a position of good cover. With any luck, it will be destroyed before it even notices it is being hit.

Tek is under the front at this point wrenching away, if you look under you see that there is a three foot robotic extension arm coming off his right arm doing most of the work. Twisting and cranking away his movements are sure and super fast. He scrambles out from under the truck and removes a panel on the side and starts digging in with equal ease, "Stupid... Why would you put that... Ahhh... Wait I can just.. Ok that will work... I wouldn't have done it that way but..." Tek's voice is heard through a small speaker on the side of his helmet.

Fizzlesnoot looks to hand off the wounded's gear to the nearest body able to continue fighting as he drags the guy back to a medic that can help him. The whole time keeping as low as possible to not be caught off guard by a random blast of a weapon, friend or foe.

A number of people run out to help Fizzlesnoot recover the wounded man and his equipment. In the heat of trying to stay alive, none of them are the least bit put off by his rather unattractive image. Tek is being left to his own devices, and Bella... may just possibly be the source of the occasionally disappearing Coalition grunt. Jack continues to call into a radio, though it's impossible to know what he's trying to do. The SAMAS unit that was just shot and heavily damaged by a man on the ground is not happy. Turning to the left and diving, it takes aim at its target and fires a burst from its rail gun. It doesn't care that the name of its target is Jaxain, it just wants it dead. He's probably holding back.

Jaxain swears, "Crap crap crap!" As the huge suit of crazy powerful armor suddenly spots him, and starts zeroing in. "Ummm. I'm immune to your stupid rail gun!" he calls out, pretending to ignore the hail of bullets as they pound into him, vaporizing his AoI but leaving his armor undamaged. He casts a quick spell, changes position fast by a few feet, and fires again. Invisible this time.

Tek finishes up with the engine and moves to the inside where the plasma cutter innards are and starts the second stage of repairs.

Fizzlesnoot rushes back out the the line once he has the one wounded man back to where he can be helped. If there was more he could do, he would, so while looking for more wounded to grab he also keeps his big eyes open for any opportunity that might be helpful to their side of the fight, like maybe noticing a large tree that might be able to be shot out to fall on a group of enemy soldiers advancing.

Fizzlesnoot actually has a small following now, two women, one man and a teenage boy rushing with him to grab wounded and their equipment. Someone appointed him leader. The SAMAS unit is incredibly not amused. It also has apparently absolutely no problem zeroing in on Jaxain, having passed through and come around from a different direction. Neither does his invisibility seem an issue to him. The first, damaged unit fires at Jaxain - perhaps thankfully not against Tek and his heavy machine. The other unit makes a pass that many people from ages gone by would be called, 'teaching you a lesson.' It fires off two bursts that tear through the women, children and elderly that had gathered at the park. Scores of densely packed humanity - and some D-Bees - die instantly and rather horribly. Small explosions then appear at random inside the compound. Nothing that's doing much of directly killing people, but something that's sending out a lot of shrapnel.

Jaxain takes the hit, gritting his teeth, and returns fire. He's determined to take this mofo out, people like this can't be allowed to walk around free. Both shots hit, but the Powered Armor is still in the air. Gods dammit!

Tek is dug inside the back of the machine, "Owch... Dag nabit... I knew I should have disconnected... But no you wanted to rush it and... Wow now that slid right in. And a twist, and a.... Yeah I think... Yep that should do it. Closing the hatches all back up Tek climbs into the driver's position and cranks it up.

Fizzlesnoot decides it may just help and directs those with weapons nearby, "Fire on the treeline to bring the trees down! Block em or drop em on top of em!" and fires his pistol to hopefully initiate the plan.

The squat D-Bee's fire does indeed bring down a tree. It drops on a few soldiers, but there are more behind them. Only one of the people nearby who could hear him had a weapon capable of felling a tree like that. They're miners. The older man near Fizzlesnoot ducks his head at the smaller popping explosions behind the lines. "Mortars?" But those are almost drowned out by the screams of the wounded and dying in the park. Here and there, a little tiny object darts out of the treeline, only to grab a grunt and drab him back into the forest, never to be seen again. The SAMAS pilot inside the power armor that Jaxain has been firing at is hurting. He fires a snap shot off at the man before turning to head back for Whykin. The second unit makes two more passes over the civilian population, shredding houses and other people not involved in the fight. He moves off over the forest, possibly lining up for another pass.

Jaxain is missed, just barely, but the soldier as he turns around. Grimacing, Jax takes a final shot. He doubts it will do anything, but a man's gotta try... Then he calls out to Tek. "Ok, you ready man? Lets go kick some ass!!" He moves over to the heavy armor, preparing to jump on. "You go mow the fuckers down, I'll provide close support. Sound good?"

The SAMAS unit is hit heavily, falters, then dives out of the sky, exploding on impact. Thankfully, exploding on impact far from any populated location. Just a crater and debris.

Tek Calls out to Jaxain, "Sounds like a plan." after Jax loads up he heads off towards the heaviest fighting but will stop to engage if he sees something along the way.

Fizzlesnoot fires on another tree as he still shouts, hoping more will join in to bring a whole line of trees down in front of the advancing army, "Knock the trees down to block thier way!"

Fizzlesnoot's fire goes wide of the tree he'd aimed for. Of course, the way that modern energy weapons work it means that perhaps a dozen, non-targeted trees were blown down out of sight. The infantry continues to advance, with the Arcadian lines falling back toward the Bobcat Inn. Their dead are being left behind, but for now they're able to keep up with removing the wounded. The second SAMAS unit circles distantly, obviously with an eye on the battlefield, but remaining out of it for now. Jack yells, "Guys from the Knob are trying to come down!" Of course, it's only luck if anyone hears him.

Jaxain takes aim and fires. He doesn't have much hope of hitting, but everything he can do helps. He hails over the radio. "We are on the way to the Inn with reinforcements! We will try to take-em from the side, be aware." He makes sure Tek can hear him say this as well.

Tek is having a blast now as he plows this huge monstrosity across whatever terrain like it was paved, at least in his mind it seems that way, "WooHoo, here we come you scum sucking toads. Look out I am gonna put the smack down. YEEEHawWWW!!!

Fizzlesnoot reaches down grabbing a wounded man by the collar of his coat or armor to drag him along to safety as they fall back. Still looking for opportunities to take advantage of. The tree thing could work, just not enough to firepower to bring enough of em down, so the wounded take priority again.

Some of the Arcadians continue to gather around and assist Fizzlesnoot as he moves. One of them points to the inn as possible refuge. One Coalition grunt just took a hit to the chest, but not enough to knock him down. However, the fact that he paused and looked at his chest in a 'what the fuck' moment meant that some lucky miners managed to plug him enough that his armor cracked and the juicy innards mixed. The SAMAS unit continues to circle, eye in the sky. Parts of the town are starting to flame enough that bucket brigades are starting from a small lake - the plumbing having been long removed from operation. It's not looking good for the Arcadians.

Jaxain trust Tek to know what he is doing. "Ok, lets break up this party!" he calls. "I'll stay close, if you need me just honk the horn three times quick." And with that, he hops off the vehicle and starts moving towards the soldiers. Hopefully both the darkness and his invisibility will protect him as he starts taking shots.

The grunt shot by Jaxain doesn't seem too hurt at first, but he eventually staggers and collapses. Perhaps not dead, but definitely not fighting anymore.

A large tracked vehicle comes plowing into the flank of the charging grunts. A couple large plasma torches are flaring in front of this armored monstrosity. Catching the grunts a little off guard the tank-like vehicle crushes through several crowds of screaming soldiers over a dozen falling to thee sudden attack.

Fizzlesnoot continues to drag the man to safety, though safe havens are getting scarce with the way the Deadboys are firing into non combat people. He does make sure that the person he has, is gotten to where he can get the help he needs. He cheers as he sees the tank come onto the battle field taking down a group of the bad guys.

A woman crashes to the ground next to Fizzlesnoot - a nurse type, thankfully. Although her words are likely somewhat incoherent, it's clear that she's quite thankful for the man being delivered. Even if she doesn't have time to offer a smile. It would appear that because of the D-Bee's efforts, the man is going to live, and not just live, but make something close to a full recovery. The arrival of Tek and his mining drill-turned death machine has gone a long way toward turning the tide. Strangely, though, many of the grunts continue to fire into the town. The sad part is that they're starting to run out of targets, at which point their weapons fire is directed at the vehicle. Built for mining, it's strong - but it's not built for combat, and each blast takes off a significant chunk. Bella remains in the woods, presumably and probably having her own brand of fun. As for Jaxain, he is the invisible man that no one cares about. Much the same as his first date considered him when they went to Homecoming.

Jaxain can't take nearly the punishment that the huge vehicle can, so decides his efforts would be better spent... putting things in it's way. He quickly slings his weapon back over his shoulder and utters an incantation which makes him as strong as a towering dragon (or, a towering blacksmith...) and rushes into the thick of the fight, shoving and pushing grunts left and right into the path of the huge mining cutters. Thank the lords he's immune to plasma himself, currently, or he would have been vaporized himself a number of times as he gets hit by Tek's wildly moving vehicle of death.

Tek can almost be heard over the sounds of the big diesel engine and the screams and cries coming from those dying in his path hooting and hollering like he was riding a roller coaster, "Yea... Git Some... Ohh and you too??? AHhhahahahahaahhaa!!!!" The mining drill turned tank keeps careening through heaps of oncoming grunts. What the plasma cutters don't finish the steel treads definitely do.

Fizzlesnoot waves those with him to continue gathering the wounded as they have been. He, however, makes his way to where the grunts are going down looking to upgrade some of the gear for our side by coming up behind the tank to grab some of the dead to drag back with their carried gear. Keeping low and being as careful as can be not to get noticed in his task.

Now that the steel monstrosity has not just appeared, but is now mowing down their comrades, the grunts are making split decisions. Some of them are falling back, firing as they go. Some of the are attacking, charging toward the machine. Three men are actively climbing its side, sidearms drawn. From the north in the direction of Pilot Knob come about twenty men - Arcadians - carrying... drills? Maybe? Hard to tell. They look like jackhammers, but without the hammer part, and it's glowing white-blue at the tip. They'll be on scene in moments. Jaxain's tossing people under the bus is impressive to anyone who notices - which many don't in the heat of battle - but not terribly effective. The SAMAS in the distance lets off two long bursts that once more tear primarily through crowds of defenseless people, rather than those on the line. Fizzlesnoot is left to his own devices. From within the trees, it sounds as if more men... and possibly something very large... are approaching. It's Tek who may have turned the tide of this battle, assuming that nothing turns it around again.

Jaxain sees he is needed far more on the vehicle, protecting Tek and his machine of death, than anywhere else. With an easy leap, he covers the dozen feet to the vehicle and *snikkit* out come the vibro-blades. He doesn’t have another sword, so he just uses his hand. But hey, he's pretty strong right now, so it's not that bad.

One unfortunate Coalition grunt gets hacked and pummeled to death, his armor crushed, and starts to slide off of the vehicle.

Tek is still having a blast piloting this beast, yanking back and forth at just the right times it seems the drill seems to just obliterate oncoming soldiers left and right. The increased smell of burnt flesh has now spread across most of the battle field.

Fizzlesnoot searches the dead Coalition grunts for grenades and e-clips to bring back to the Arcadian militiamen, easiest way to do it, grab bodies and drag em back if they got em on em. So the first two bodies he finds with gear still attached, he drags em back to the good guys side of the battle field, one in each hand.

The woman who had arrived near Fizzlesnoot frantically gestures to him. "Please, get to the Moose, they have more bandages!" She then returns to helping the wounded as best she can. Looks like she might a little bit of psychic ability in her. The grunts who continue to be mowed down by Tek's antics are now besieged on a different side. This time by the twenty men with the glowing jackhammer-type things. Although they're quite clearly heavy, the brawny miners lift them with ease and aim their bases. Twenty bolts of electricity lick out and start to dance over the remaining infantry - doing a good job of leaving them smoking. However, there are soldiers on Tek's tank who just watched one of their own get inexplicably pummeled, and they open fire on empty space. Bella appears out of nowhere, tearing one man away and into the forest. The remaining grunts are falling back, but in a strange formation. A loud thump-thump-thump can be heard from the forest.

Jaxain knows what he has to do, and that is protect Tek. He takes any shots coming at him, for now, because what's being down is more important than just him. Slash, punch, slash! Punch! Among more flailing and punching, there is a sudden, "OH CRAP!$*$@!&%." From atop the vehicle, as an invisible dummy waps his hand against the vehicle right beside the man he was trying to punch, drawing even more attention to himself. Why is the air swearing??

One more man is pummeled, but doesn't actually go down. He slides off the side of the vehicle and decides to run into the trees, but he remains very much alive. Kept his weapon with him and everything.

The vehicle of death makes a tight loop to the left as a group tries to swarm in. From in the cockpit Tek can be heard singing one might think, if you listen close you think it might be a song by a local metal band that plays at the N&B. Another score of men are incinerated. The dings and dents, chunks in some place are becoming more and more visible on the makeshift combat vehicle.

It's about that time that things become very weird. The grunts apparently decide to retreat, half of them slinging their weapons over the backs, the other half laying down what is suddenly some amazingly intense, amazingly accurate cover fire. Far better than they'd been doing for the rest of the battle that has apparently lasted for days. Tek's vehicle continues to incinerate Dead Boys, while Fizzlesnoot and Bella are away doing their own special brand of mischief. Jaxain has managed to scrape two men off of Tek's mining piece, at damage to his own hand. The men with the electric beams are moving forward. Suddenly, the remaining SAMAS begins to make passes from extreme altitude, just smashing the town. The thumps heard from before become two genuine Coalition Spider-Skull Walkers that walk close enough to lay down a huge volume of fire that prevents any sane person from thinking about anything save for diving for cover. A few massive rail gun blasts tear apart the engine of Tek's repaired monster, and it goes silent, its huge plasma torches flickering out. When all is said and done, when the smoke clears and the curtain of fire is raised, the only evidence that the Coalition had ever been there is the damage. No bodies. No scorched armor. No weapons. Just gone, and a silence broken by the sounds of flames, terrified children and screaming wounded.

Jaxain gets up, his face shocked behind his magical invisibility... He helps Tek out of the wreckage, then goes to check the town hall, looking briefly back at Tek. "I'mma go try to help the trapped people... see what you can find out here. Get a radio and contact me. What the fuck just happened?" He stumbles off, towards the collapsed cave.

Tek scrambles out of his broken victory machine and looks around pistol drawn. After seeing that the deadboys have gone for now he says, "A radio? From where? There is not a dead body or scrap left on the field. I am coming with you to help with the rescue."

Jack and a few other men quickly round up every able-bodied person they can find, and everyone races off to the collapsed mine. The town's leader calls to Jaxain, "I have no idea. The important part is that they're gone!" As the group moves, he continues to shout orders about putting out fires and searching for wounded. It takes a while to get to the mine, but it's done. The open face is no longer open. Collapsed rock all over, practically turned to glass.

Jaxain says, "Stand back!" As he starts in on it, pounding on the rock carefully, then moving massive chunks that must weigh a few tonnes or more, and rolling them to the side. He's able to smash, lift, and move, more than any machine ever invented. Until his spell wears off.

Tek moves in and seeing Jaxain going to work how he is he finds who he thinks might be in charge and asks, "What else is around that can dig? If there is something that might not be working right now I might be able to fix it. He will not be able to keep that up for too long and I want to be ready with something else if he does not make it through."

Jack just allows Jaxain to go about his superhero announcement, not terribly impressed by throwing around rocks. As a miner, he's probably used to throwing around rocks. While other men are now attacking it with everything from common picks to ion drills, Jack points Tek around a corner. "Excavator back there. Engine's good, but they shot out part of the arm. If you can get it here, that'd help."

Jaxain continues to dig and move rock. Massive boulders that seem impossible, the ground often straining under the weight that he manages to shift. At one point he has what seems to half the cliff face a few inches off the ground, waiting until everyone is clear to shift it out of the way. He's got rocks, folks!

Tek hurries off to find the Excavator. When he finds it he lays his hands on it first to find out what is wrong with it.

The tunnel is starting to open. Not that there is any visible opening, or hint of ventilation. Shouldn't take a skilled person much time at all to get the excavator going. Everyone's working frantically.

Once they get the initial wreckage and massive melted cliff-face out of the way, Jax will of course let the more experienced diggers take the lead so they can shore up as they go. He is on call to help move any heavy objects they can't get any machinery around, or for delicate places where a supernatural strength squeeze would do better than a stick of dynamite.

Tek goes around scavenging here and there to get what he needs to put together the arm on the excavator so it can be the most effective anyone near him can hear him muttering to himself, "three point two.... yea I think that will do. For the compensator cupl... Yea see that fits nicely."

The digging continues, with Jaxain's efforts being highly effective. Indeed, by now the townsfolk are completely in awe of his powers. Perhaps it was just too much before, as if a fluke - but now, it is a proven fact. He gets many stares, some of them nearly worshiping. Unfortunately, the mine remains closed.

"Damn! How deep does this go!" He wipes sweat from his brow and pauses a moment to re-cast his spell of strength (though that only aids his powers of object movement by a factor of two point five, it is still a great help). "Is there any way to drill a hole here? A controlled hole to get them some air?" He asks desperately as he continues to help the effort as best he can.

It doesn't take Tek much longer to get the machine up and running. Even with Jaxain's supernatural efforts, Tek's machines and the miners' know how, it takes three more hours before the mine is breached. The sad part is that many of the people who had taken shelter inside the mine are dead of suffocation, particulate inhalation and thirst. The mine was dropped nearly a week ago, and some people just can't last more than three days without water. All told, the Arcadians and their community lost more than one-thousand dead, and at least as many wounded. The town itself was heavily damaged. Ironically, it was better to be in the isolated outlaying areas than it was to be where everyone gathers to head for the mines, eat and so on. One of the most heinous crimes was the merciless killing of the helpless people in the park, including the snake-headed woman Tyaany of the Council of Five. The small community managed to fight off a Coalition raid, thanks to intervention from Kingdale - particularly Tek's efforts - though time will tell what the end consequences may be. As the citizens go about putting out fires, Jack keeps mumbling things along the line of, "Did that seem right to you?" Even if no one's around to listen. The mining town has very little to offer those who had come to help. Just some raw iron ore. After a few days of taking care of as many wounded as possible, everyone is delivered back to Kingsdale. The last words from the Arcadians? "Please be here if we need you again."