Sep 21 107 PA - Old Quebec

From Chronicles

In contrast to her prior, and general, preference, Daeni's arrival to the expanse of the landing field is made from the direction of the deeper city, rather than the wilderness beyond the walls. No reptilian or other carcass is shouldered which might offer a ready explanation, nor does her appearance differ in any significant fashion. That she can avoid the majority of the noise and activity of the strip, proper, is the sole, welcomed benefit of her course.

Celaeno slowly makes her way into the strip fully armoured, helmet already locked in place. After a few moments of eyeing the helicopter from afar, she approaches it with a somewhat forward saunter, so as to double check that this is, in fact, the correct place. Upon confirmation, she looks Daeni over for a moment, giving her the same appraisal as she's done so many times before, and then give a simple, "Hallo there."

Off, further away from the helicopter yet still within light stands Gabriel, his somewhat battered armor... not glittering anywhere. He's armed as if going into battle, but he helmet is hooked at his waist, and it appears as if he's finishing up a heated argument with another fellow. Yes, yes, there it is, he's finished up. A meaningful finger is held, as if disciplining a child, and he then hurries over to the helicopter, greeting the two women already present with a simple, "Good morning, ladies," and an acknowledging nod of his head. From afar, Sage can come, but also wants to try doing some exercise today... and since these things usually last right up until dinner time, its seems to be hard to do both since I didn't feel like exercising before it.

Early morning, the helicopter waiting to take the next band of mercenaries north east to Quebec opens up to signal the time for departure is near. The pilot stands by the door, looking a little disgruntled. Clearly he's still ruffled about the chopper getting shot at last time. The missile scoring remains on the armor plates.

Daeni returns the visual survey upon Celaeno, although the helmet makes identification difficult prior to the woman's greeting. "Are prepared?" This somewhat rhetorical query is subsequently extended to Gabriel upon his arrival. Daeni is presumably so, despite her current lack of donned protection. She does bear a pack, and the travel is not expected to be brief, based upon the prior trip. The awaiting pilot is likewise noted, and Daeni turns to approach the flying machine.

With a little way to Gabriel, Celaeno rocks back on her heels giving the pilot a second wave and another, "Hallo," before turning back to Daeni. "Prepared, enough, enough," she says, shifting the rifle slung across her shoulder. She moves to pull up a seat at the entrance of the helicopter, if it's so possible, otherwise she just leans against it.

The (by now) familiar sound of a hovercycle can be heard as it approaches, and Jackson's form crests the buildings riding one. Dust kicks up in his path as his rides, and finally touches down next to the chopper doors. "Morning Gabriel, Daeni, Miss..." He tells everyone, nodding to the pilot as he hauls his cycle inside. Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Gabriel seems to have taken on his more military stance again, but somewhat more good-humor than last time, at last for now. As he climbs aboard, past the pilot, he comments only, "The engines and transmission in good condition? I hate autorotation." Then he's past, not really waiting for, or expecting an answer. There's a mild wave to the others as he settles himself aboard with a simple strap and secures his weapons against his chest. "Come on, guys. Our fly-boy's getting antsy. Looks like we'll do the intelligence and planning part on the fly. As they say -" he holds up a dramatic hand and raises his voice "-Once more into the breach, good friends!"

The pilot nods in agreement or perhaps reassurance to Gabriel, sconding his gestures for people to board and settle. "Yep, everyone on, I'll tell you whats going down today enroute." He confirms, stepping back into the helicopter himself.

If the pilot is so concerned about his craft or life, he should ensure that both are protected by his assumed skill. Daeni enters the cabin and removes her pack to place it on the seat adjacent to that chosen for herself. "Maybe have more fight, less watch." It still seems rather inefficient to her to simply watch. If the enemies are killed, it matters not where they were. Celaeno shifts over, pulling up a seat as she idly wonders how talking's going to work over the engine - but that's okay, that's okay. "Let's get to it then, hey?" An extra few seconds are taken to shift around her swords so that she can comfortably sit, but her eyebrows lift behind the faceplate at Daeni's comment. "No need to complicate things that don't need complicating," she says brightly, "Pay's the same either way."

Jackson seats himself nearest to the cargo hold and belts himself in before speaking to anyone. His gaze washes over everyone present again, "We're going to recon Daeni, not kill. Try to reign in the killer insinct a little?" He asks her, fully aware she considers herself part animal. "That means watching and reporting back. We fight if we have to. And before you say anything.. IF we get into a fight.. you'll be first to know, kay?"

"If we manage to get our orders straight before we get there, maybe we can allocate responsibilities this time? To be fair, things work out last week well enough, but it never hurts to try to do things better, right?" Gabriel holds up some hands in a gesture of peace... and some pretty good suggestion.

With everyone on board the pilot closes up the helicopter and gets to nod in agreement to Gabriel again. "Military sort?" He asks, his forwn lightening. "You're talking sense, good to have someone on with experience." He encourages before looking to the others. "Yes it is recon, see and not be seen, not be shot. It does well for your survival. Besides, hunting missions pay better. Anyway, today we're going to check out Old bones, the ruins of old quebec."

"Maybe you talk to enemy," Daeni notes towards Jackson as she opens her pack. "Good at make fight." A nod follows, directed somewhere between Gabriel and Celaeno. "If need scout, will scout. Better to hunt." She begins the process of retrieving dark chitin plates and strapping them to herself.

Celaeno just shrugs, giving a brief look at Gabriel before turning her attention forward. "What're we looking for there, hmm?" she asks, pulling her legs onto her seat and wedging herself in. "Watching the troops stomp over the relics of a bulldozed city?"

Jackson laughs a little at Daeni's comment, "Yeah.. yeah.. That I am. Tell you what.. should we get into a shit storm.. I'll take a ride on my cycle, and get their attention, let you go right up their collective asses with those beetle stickers of yours.." He tells the elf, motioning at her swords. "I'm with Gabe, he's not exactly in tune with just what the modern man can do.. but he's old as hell and knows what he's talking about. For the most part.." He tells everyone, reaching over to pat the man on the shoulder.

Gabriel nods to Jackson in an acknowledgement, and quick, "Thanks. For the old part, too." He grins, then raises his voice just enough to be heard over the rotors and directs a few questions toward the fellow who is running the briefing. "This is a stupid question, seeing as how we're the ones doing the reconnaissance, but is there anything that we *do* already know about troop disposition, or even just what our main thrust might be? Or is this just a generalized reconnoiter?" He keeps his question brief and crisp.

The pilot smirks and shakes his head. "Its not as decripid as the name implies. Actually its a free town. Quebec stopped trying to rebuild it nearly 150 years ago due to near by nexi. Since then it has developed into a lawless haven of anarchy. Odd thing that the Coalition forces havent moved in to hold it sooner but looks like they are now. You guys get to acertain how long that might take. We'll land on a rooftop in east ruin, the most run down area. Should be out of lines of fire." The pilot explains, looking to gabriel to see if that answered the question.

Daeni's lips uplift in a smirk at Jackson's words, but she makes no reply. The combination of her preparations and the pilot's words consume her attention for the present. Whether direct conforntation is intended or not, information on the otherwise unknown setting is rather important.

Celaeno is quite contented by the response, "Sounds like a fun little place, hey?" is her response. "Seems like the perfect place to have a bit of an insurgency - especially if you're going to be throwing magic around," she opines without offering anything particularly relevant to the briefing.

Jackson glances at Celaeno, and shakes his head. "Does this mean I'm allowing to let my mind wander? Or do I still have to keep it to myself?" He asks her, cracking just the smallest of grins at the comment. Otherwise he lets the master tactitian and the pilot talk.

Gabriel maintains his attention on the briefer, nodding as he listens, obviously very intently listening, not even wasting a twitch of a nerve, save for a few blinks of his eyes. "Alright, general recon it is," he acknowledges as the man finishes. "Obviously you can't tell me much, but any idea how far away the Coalition forces are? Any known advanced units?" Whether or not he recognized that he used "me" and not "us" will be forever lost to history. A final question to once again interrupt the briefing. "When was the last time that someone saw anything come out of there alive and friendly?"

The pilot shrugs, looking done with twenty questions, especially when some should be common knowledge. "The coalition do things two ways, covertly, or unapposable force. So safe bet they've had spies there for a good long time and will continue to. Now is the unopposable force tactic. Which should be making it to the river as we get there. And all sort of things have been coming out of old bones alive. friendly dpends on what sort you are." He explains as he takes his seat in the cockpit. A moment later the group is off.

"Depends where you let it go," Celaeno's words are grinning, "Never know what's lying around a city like this - wouldn't want it to catch something." She remains lodged in her spot while the helicopter begins its liftoff, humming to herself before shifting gears, "So, how we want to do this, hmm?"

Jackson turns his head away, straining his muscles and people can likely hear his neck crack. A sigh escapes his lips, and he returnes his gaze to the meeting. "If we're going through Old Bones it may pay to let a criminal take the lead. Reason I say this is cuz I used to be Coalition. Granted as a kid. Old Bones wasn't messed with because..we were told.. they didn't pose a threat. If the deadheads are moving in now, then obviously they are a threat."

Gabriel sighs visibly, because quite frankly it's too loud to reference a sigh audibly. He then addresses the others with a bit of personal information that is probably unnecessary: "I prefer to do my snooping in nice, quiet cloth. However, as I've no desire to lose a limb, or be given the opportunity to scratch my back by fishing my arm through a hole in my torso, I suppose I'll need to make due." He takes in his three compatriots briefly, and says, "Ah, well.. nevermind, that would be insulting. You know where we're going, I don't. You know better what we're up against. I have no idea what psychics can do in this situation." His gaze then takes in the entire cabin. "I don't know about you, but being chopped into a busted-ass city that nobody wanted, but is suddenly a high-priority target just doesn't sit right with me. So at the likely possibility of offending all of you, keep this in mind. Enhance our strengths and reinforce our weaknesses by working as a team." His eyes bounce off of the cabin floor for a second, and his palms settle back on his knees. "No doubt all of this is incredibly insulting, it's just that I'm a really big fan of living."

"Maybe land more worth for some. Said has magic." Daeni rolls her shoulders in answer to some of Gabriel's concerns. She may know little on the topic, but the power contained in the massive ley lines is somewhat obvious, even to a comparative layperson. "Lead what know, can follow what not know. Not let Coalition kill us all." That might reassure the other concerns.

"You'll be fine," Celaeno says, in a tone that doesn't quite sound like she means it. "Keep it in mind, we're looking for both Coalition forces and resistance forces. And if you want to take the lead, that's your call, but I don't think they're going to be playing nice to those of us who aren't fugitives, or going for any interrogation. Jackson, keep an eye on Gabe, I'll go off a little on my own, and make sure we stay in visual. If you want to back me up Daeni, that's just as well." She rests her head on her hands, head tilted slightly to the side.

Jackson listens to everyone else, and nods. "Ok good enough I suppose. I'll stick with Gabriel, you stick with Daeni." He announces, seeing the wisdom, and the idiocy in splitting the group but he won't aggravate anyone by being the voice of dissent again. "Between my power and knowledge, I can keep Gabe alive and well, his tactics and instincts can keep me alive. But let's stay in radio contact as well as visual. Just in case, don't wanna spook the locals by being suspicious looking."

A solid nod. "Good, I like it when plans are settled. Two teams, we'll cover good ground." He quirks his head at the other man with a semi-serious, semi-humorous look on his face. "Instincts and tactics? Am I finally being recognized for my true worth? Thanks for the compliment," and his face is split by a wide grin... which vanishes instantly. "Quick question before we land. I'm assuming that we can maintain radio contact? If so, again, not to be pushy, but stay off the air unless you have to. These Coalition bastards must be able to pick up and triangulate a signal."

And after a nine hour silent helicopter ride they arrive at Old Bones. Bellow the battle looks to be bottle necked at the river as the 'disorganized rable' is holding the Coalition forces at bay on a bridge. Its certainly not a sanctioned quebec force though there does look to be a good deal of quebec gear involved. Site is porbably the number one stop for deserters and such. The chopper lands about six and a halh miles east of the bridge on an old building. A nexus looms about a block away. There is another across the river.

Daeni steps off the aircraft to the more comforting feel of solid structure beneath her feet and the ability to move on it. For the moment, the building is as decent a perch as any, although that may quickly change, dependent on the helicopter. She surveys their surroundings while awaiting the others to disembark.

Celaeno's nose wrinkles behind her faceplate at the nexuses, and she shifts from foot to foot after exiting the helicopter. "Well, at least we know which way to start heading, hey?" She says, bringing her rifle around. "We'd probably have a better time blending into the resistance, but I doubt it'll do any good if they spot us."

Jackson shivvers as the chopper comes in to land, one of those near orgasmic shivvers that starts in the toes and crawls up the spine. "Ley line nexus... Can you feel that?" He asks, feeling the energies pricking at that part of himself that holds his mental energies. He shivers again, and unbuckles himself, stepping out onto the roof, and grinning widely at his surroundings, but remembers why they are there and calms himself. "Ok.. lets get this show on the road.. and people.. keep your heads down, no fights unless we have to." He tells the people present quietly.

Gabriel rapidly seats his helmet solidly on his head, and is quickly out the door of the strangely quiet helicopter. Even running on electricity, rotors are tearing through the air at a fairly significant portion of the speed of sound at their tips. But he's not really a tech kind of guy when it comes to transportation that he can't operate himself. Unlike where he came from, there's obviously no opportunity to make a perfectly silent rolling dismount, so he settles for a kneeling-landing, hands on the rooftop to steady himself. The volume on his suit's speakers is more of a distant whisper, heard only enough within about thirty-feet, which makes a lot of sense to him for various reasons. Without looking at any of his comrades-in-arms (even if they may be temporary at the moment), he asks, "Were we slow, or were they fast?" Clearly referencing the opposing troops at the bottleneck.

Her awareness of her comrades is secondary as Daeni focuses on the buildings around them, and one in particular. "Is good spot, but others hide in bottom." A hand lifts to indicate a building only three structures from their current rooftop. It is high enough to offer a suitable vantage point, not so tall as to immediately draw attention, and appears to be out of any current lines of fire.

Celaeno's eyebrows raise, "Doesn't much matter," is said to Gabriel before she processes Daeni's statement, "Oh yeah?" her eyes moving to the building indicated. "To be expected. They look like Coalition, mercs, or bandits?" Once the question is asked, she begins moving toward a route down, "Just so we know how far we should skirt them."

Jackson tears his attentions from the Nexus, to regard everyone gathered around him. "Guards maybe? Either way we need to avoid them, we need to assume Coalition will assume us to be hostile locals.. and assume the locals will know we are not from around here if we don't pass ourselves off well enough. But at the same time, if we avoid everyone.. everyone will know something is up. Our best option is to try to pass ourselves off as locals as long as possible, and considering the Coalition is currently being blocked over at the bridge.. I assume boys below to be locals." He tells everyone, though still quietly.

"Not look warriors. Think hide from fight." Daeni clarifies as she continues to study and consider the building. "If they hide bottom, we on top, is good. If enemy come below, hear weapons, screams, be warned." The death cries of others can make a rather useful early warning system.

The two rifles which had been previously secured across his back are now loosened enough for ready grip but also silent travel. Or at least as best can be done in armor. Gabriel moves around, still crouched, and peeks down the side of the building on which they're on. "Well, now's good a time as any. Faster we start, the sooner we're done. Who wants to check out the bridge?"

"We could always check 'em if they're not the shooting type, pump 'em for information. Not really my cup of tea, but if somebody else wanted," Celaeno says with a shrug while she moves to a ladder. "In any case, let's get moving." After a quick stability check, she'll shoulder her rifle again and see if she can't make her way down without calling any attention." Jackson sighs at the others, and looks at them all in turn. "If you want I can check out the guests below from here. As long as I can see them, so through a window or something. Mostly likely if they are hiding thoughts of hiding and staying safe will be first and foremost among their thoughts. If not, then they will be thinking malicious. Up to you guys." He's not worried about getting down at the moment, basking in the effects of the Nexus, and if worst comes to worst, he can jump off and catch himself on the way down.

Rising to his feet just enough to be in a mobile crouch, Gabriel clearly looks about his options for descent, and will give a little shake to the ladder to check its stability before working his way to the street below. With nothing else answered earlier about the divying of responsibilities, apparently he decides to decide. "Jackson, how about we take the bridge." Then his head dips below the roof.

Daeni makes a partial vault over the edge and proceeds to slide down the ladder more than step. In the interests of time, she ignores the last twenty feet of ladder and allows gravity to perform the necessary work. "Can watch from high, far, or go close." Her own preference on the matter was already stated, so she now looks between Gabriel and Celaeno for confirmation, alternatives, or whatever else might come in the offered opportunity. Barring a direction or directive, she can, and will, move to her first choice.

Once at the bottom, Celaeno turns to the others, "We'll head that way together - just because we're spreading out doesn't mean we're heading opposite ways." She moves a little way away from the building, trying to put a little cover between her and it. "Jackson, check them. Don't get let them see you. Gabe, keep him covered. Daeni and I will go on point, feel out the forward progress. Sound good?"

Jackson eyes Celaeno, wondering just who elected her to be leader of the little band, but the thought remains just a thought. Turning his gaze away from her, he nods. "Gotcha. Gabe, hang tight.. I'll grab you in a second.. Stay near the edge if you would please.." He says, then takes off running, and leaps off the edge of the building and plummets from view. Only to rise back into it a moment later, flying over to the building in question and alighting on the rooft without a sound.

Jackson eyes Celaeno, wondering just who elected her to be leader of the little band, but the thought remains just a thought. Turning his gaze away from her, he nods. "Gabe, you lead. You're the soldier, I'm just the gifted one." He smirks at the man motioning for him to take his pick of the exit routes, then following him, doing his best to stay quiet.

A moment's hesitation, then, someone needs to check the observers. We need to know who they are, and who's side they're on. And if they need to die." His head turns to the female duo. "The two of you seem to be good at that kind of thing." Daeni is acknowledged in particular with a nod. We'll see if we can poke around the edge of the battle, get some eyes on target. The two of you are quieter than I am in this bulky stuff. Does that sound fair? Nobody plays hero. You get caught, you run. Occupational advice, take it or leave it as you will. Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it." But we need to get going.

There is no objection from Daeni to Celaeno's plan, and she takes it and runs with it, nearly in a literal sense. The forefront is where she prefers, although she does attempt to move quickly, quietly, alertly, and unobtrusively, in as much as the chitin plates allow. Her bow is pulled from her shoulder to be held in her right hand, more ready should the need arise.

Celaeno begins moving forward, as the discussion of who does what starts getting somewhat complex. Her path isn't quite approaching the chateau so much as moving past it, moving from cover to cover and keeping things at least moving. "I just thought it'd be a good idea for the man with the wandering brain to reach out and get a read on them before walking up and saying hello. Or not," she explains, "Just stay back and let him do his thing, hey? Make sure nobody starts shooting him." And then she moves to try and keep up with a pace that Daeni finds acceptable.

Jackson grins at Cel, then moves to follow, or lead.. Gabriel down the exit route left open to them. Doesn't really matter which one, as long as it's not Daeni's chosen path and is preferably somewhat hidden. As he descends he tosses words of comfort up at Gabriel, assuming the man follows. "Don't worry.. I know what defenses other psychics have, and if worst comes to worst.. The Coalition will shoot at me first, they hate psychics, 'specially mind melters.. at least those who don't follow their flag."

Gabriel's head shakes a little, and he grabs the ladder by the outside verticals. Like any well-trained sailor or Marine, he just slides quickly down to street level, adjusting his speed by squeezing and releasing as necessary. Very quietly can be heard, "Roving mind? See, this is exactly what I was trying to get everyone to lay out on the ride here. What exactly the fuck we have to work with." Yet when he gets to ground, he turns to face the other man, apparently leaving the women to fend for whatever goal they've set. The visor turns toward Jackson, and a rather ironic, "Lead on, Caesar, let's see what we can find," rolls out.

Daeni sets a brisk, yet manageable pace. If she will be forced to remain still and merely watch, she intends to allow her limbs to move as much as possible beforehand. Also, the bloodshed awaits ahead, so the more rapid her approach, the more quickly she is able to witness, if not particpate. The final, tertiary benefit is that the debate, uncertainty, and confusion are left behind.

In the hoolowed out reception of the once grand building a hafl dozen people sit, waiting for the sounds of the battle happening down the road to end. They look to be common people of this area, little or know armor, always homespun. The show little reaction to others coming or passing, armed and armored. So long as its not cs armor right?

Celaeno does her best to keep up with Daeni, though it's certainly not easy - especially while trying to maintain the semblance of stealth. But eventually she calls over the radio to hold up, and she sets up a small waiting zone. "Call if you need it, or if you'd like us to continue on, just say, over," she says merrily, sighting her rifle on various things.

Jackson chuckles at Gabe once they hit dirt. "What she means it, I can send my mind out to wherever I want. I can read minds and view places I've only seen in photographs.. My full roster of capabilities is extensive and quite frankly while I see the benefit of everyone else knowing just what it is that I can do, I'd prefer to keep a few things in the dark.." He tells the man, setting a very casual pace, not wanting up upset the locals they pass or who might see them. Up until he reaches the building in question.

Upon hitting the street and taking a look into the darkness, Gabriel unslings his L-20 and wraps the nylon strap around his right arm so that it can't come off and be knocked away, well, unless something really bad happens. There's a nod to the other man, "Yeah, well, you certainly showed yesterday that you're more than a walking deck of Tarot cards." He's keeping a very easy pace with the other man.

"Wait?" Daeni is both surprised and displeased at the thought, yet she slows to a halt with Celaeno. The pause does allow a more thorough survey of the conflict further afield, at the least, presuming that her line of sight is not blocked. A glance is also made towards the men, to guage their progress, or lack thereof, as the case may be. "Pick your path out, make it something hard for you but easy for me," Celaeno says off-radio, as she continues sighting random things at her rifle. "There will be plenty of time to get moving once they give us the 'okay we can handle this and not have you retreating into a hornet nest' signal."

Jackson peeks in through a window at the half dozen men and women sitting around. "Tell the women to go ahead, I can handle any major league problems that might come up.. but we're fine right now. Now.. let's see what's on thier mind.." He mutters, the last bit more to himself. His eyes gleam as he turns his head to look at the people inside, and his mind leaps out to theirs, picking out the most capable looking, and the least capable looking.. in that order, touching thier minds gently.

Gabriel hurries up to Jackson's position and silently presses himself against the wall, rifle held vertically at his chest, the muzzle at the level of his forehead. His helmet and eyes turn inside to gauge the situation. Six or so people, who look normal enough but could be mind-fuckers, or whatever it is that people like to call themselves. As information is currently more important than destroying things, and his partner seems to be momentarily locked inside his own head, he slides back to what he did against those motherfucking Nazis in Italy. He collects.

Locating a path that is difficult for herself, much less also easy for Celaeno, is no small task for Daeni. She defaults to the path with a fair combination of direct and discreet, as travel could always be made more difficult via a number of means. "How long wait?" Yes, she is impatient. If nothing else, the view is substandard.

Celaeno responds to Daeni's question with a, "Just until they..." before pausing, nodding, and replying, "Can do. Feel free to join us once you've finished up here, over." And once again off-radio, "Not long at all, now let's have at it, hmm?" She moves to follow Daeni, once again doing the best she can to keep up and remain discrete.

Jackson returns to his own head and blinks a few times to clear the images from his immediate sight. "They're not a threat. They are waiting for someone, but not us. I say leave them be." He reports to Gabe, as Gabe has the radio. After reporting to Gabe he pulls away from the wall and moves to rejoin the women, if only because that's on the way to the bridge, which is their next assignment.

Gabriel shakes his head, glancing back into the window and feeling as if he's completely missed something, but lowers his shoulders and pads off after the other man, feeling quite inadequate. Out of practice after only two months? Really. His stride will rapidly take him up to the other man, asking, "Get anything?" Very succinct.

Daeni does not require further incentive to move on. Should she gain an excessive lead, her pace is slowed by the occassional superfluous detour around or across an adjacent building or the remnants of one. It is not until they near the bridge and the conflict upon it that she slows more significantly. Celaeno follows along at her own pace, though she perhaps pushes it slightly to keep up with Daeni - she does her best to keep an eye out for any people milling about, or perhaps even a camouflaged tent or two that might be stumbled upon. But ultimately, they're here to see something, and until that point they have to keep moving.

Jackson moves with a purpose now, but he does slow down to let Gabe catch up. "I didn't get much, but what I did get.. they are civilians, neither merc nor soldier. Waiting on someone to come for them. My guess is they live here but are hiding from the conflict, no need to involve them." He tells the other man, but his gaze, and his attentions.. are on the streets and the people in them. He's fully aware that if things go wrong, Gabe's life and his own rely on his ability to intercept the incoming shitstorm.

The man padding easily alongside Jackson may be new to this physical world, but not new to the ways of the world. He skulks along quickly in he shadows, asking one question: "Can you tell how the girls are doing?" Yeah, "the girls." Go figure. Then an clipped and efficient question. "Don't go any farther than you can feel a tickle of what we're looking for. No need to rush headlong into things. Fortune favors the bold only when the bold don't have a damn thing left to lose." It obviously can't be seen, but the smirk on his face is readily heard in his voice. "Unless someone tries to kill us, let's be gentle."

The bridge is quite the scene, and its quite clear where the safe line is. First of all there is no one actually fighting on the bridge. No both forces have smartly kept to the prospective sides to preserve it from the battle. Making it a purely ranged battle to anihilate the other side. This is diecidedly difficult with the leyline from the earlier nexus running along this side of the coast. Old Bone's forces are showing not restrain in the mystic associations in tapping it for defence, and offence. Across at the Coalition side they look to know this game all to well. They are keeping constant suppressive fire of plasma artillery to burn through the nearly limitless energy from the Old Bones defence. Its easy enough to tell this will last well through the night at least.

"Will be long fight." Daeni snorts her appraisal as she crouches to lessen her profile. "None strike at other, only try weaken. Is stupid." If the defenders wished to truly delay the assault, the bridge would not exist, and their focus would be upon those that could cross the gap. Or perhaps they would delay and demolish the bridge when the Coaltion attempted to cross. She is no great tactician, but that much seems reasonable. "One with more weapons will win. Should attack enemy, enemy's weapons."

Celaeno takes in the scene for a few moments, to take it in, Daeni's appraisal eliciting a shrug. "A few high-risk flanking maneuvers would make things harder on them, maybe a few flyers. Once that wall starts going..." she shakes her head. "Which it will, if this is just the first in a full court press." She clicks. "And I'm sure they're doing what they can without any unification. How close you want to get to see what equipment they've got?"

"Don't discount the defenders. People always fight harder when they are defending their homes. Add to that the might of the Nexus behind them, and this could last for days.. weeks." Jackson tells the two, hearing Daeni's and Cel's comments as he and Gabe approach from behind. "The people in the building are probably cilivians, they are waiting for someone to pick them up. Probably hiding from them.." He tells everyone, motioning at the fighting at the bridge. "Now.. we have a choice. We can gain some altitude.. that building the civilians are hiding in is plenty tall enough.. go up about ten stories or so, and check out the situation with binoculars.. or I can check things out from here. It's within my power to do that, but someone write down what I say."

Gabriel quickly grunts out, "Both. I don't usually push things beyond necessity, but this is a helluva lot more than poking around a blinking beacon," he says, referring to the earlier event. "If Kingsdale's going to lend a hand, we need to know everything that we can, because with all respect, someone, one one side or both has no idea what they're doing. I realize that magic and psychic shit are new weapons, but it doesn't change how some simple application of power could break this stalemate." He taps Jackson's shoulder just make sure that he has his attention. "First we check out the ground, then we look from up top."

Daeni rocks backwards onto her heels and pans her attention to those gathered with a shrug. "Maybe last longer. Not know what Coalition plan, but look stupid. If others fight, like watch Coalition die for stupid."

"If they've got a stockpile of supplies and the Coalition doesn't manage to insert a black ops team, and they manage to keep all their different loyalties in check, yeah, maybe," Celaeno shrugs, nodding at Gabriel. "The fact is, once the deadboys make it across that bridge, they're just going to steamroll all the way down to our little outpost back there." She nods, "Let's move forward, you find somewhere you want to get a look at, take it, gather what you can about the forces across the bridge. But keep in mind that when you go up in the air, everybody can see you, and everybody's got a hell of a lot of guns." She starts continuing her progression, "Otherwise, it might be nice to actually ask somebody who's taking a break from the fight if he wants to have a little chat, yeah?

Jackson shrugs. "I'm not going up, my mind is.. and I promise nobody on either side can see my mind. But I'm playing follow the leader here, the only thing I can suggest is approach from the side rather than directly behind. The defenders might assume we are there to reinforce them and loop us into helping with the defence, and kill us if we refuse. So we go in from the side, far enough away to avoid being hit by stray shots. About half a mile should do it. Nice and close without risking ourselves. And if we do get shot at, I can protect us."

Gabriel turns just enough to comment quickly to Celaeno, "Sure, the weary are easy to talk to, but the thing is they're usually too mentally blasted to give you anything useful." As an explosion goes off close enough to rain pieces of concrete and asphalt on himself and his compatriots, the Marine colonel offers, "I may have been too hasty, Jackson. Close enough right here seems pretty fine." He turns around a little and scans for good cover, finding nothing that he apparently feels good about. Even his consideration for climbing the building seems to have diminished. "Probe minds, my friend." A grip is tightened on the rifle barrel, and he just, observes the battlefield...

"More watch, less time share what learn." Daeni reminds all. While the battle may last the night, or beyond, their return trip is nearly as lengthy, although they could easily report to the pilot immediately. She returns her attention to the battle, namely the forces across the river, to learn what she might. Not everyone requires technological enhancements to read insignia from a mile distant.

"That's true, but as things stand, we don't really know anything that you can't see from the air." Celaeno's gaze goes to the river, to the bridge, to the hail of explosions. "There any way we can get to the other side?" She looks around, taking a few steps toward it and scowling, "Hell, that another bridge?" She asks, moving to check it out. Daeni retracts her focus slightly to the space spanned by the bridges. "Not need bridge to cross. Climb, walk, swim, climb. Enemy watch bridge, maybe not watch below." That alternative seems valid, and Celaeno did request a more difficult path.

Jackson shakes his head. "You ladies do what you need to. Our orders are to recon. Troop numbers and disposition, layouts and battle strategy. I think our best best is to avoid the fight other than maybe grabbing a aguy from the defenders and asking him how we can 'help' while I go through his mind. Maybe finding a safe way across and doing the same to the CS, though that's infinitely more dangerous. I have a hovercycle packed away back in the chopper i can go get."

"No swimming here. Nature just volunteered me to stay on this side." Gabriel, whether or not he's being ironic, sounds very serious and disciplined. "For what it's worth Celaeno, in my experience in cases like this, it's best if you swing wide, take yourself out of the battle, come in from a different direction." He then quickly taps his forehead in acknowledgement of, "But you know your screwy little brain better than I do." There's some battlefield gallows-humor in the tone. His attention is then turned back to the battlefield before him.

Celaeno paces for a few moments, the rocket's red plasma shining in the sky and ground before the group, contrasting wonderfully with the blue of the ley line. "Ah, hell," she grumbles, "Not worth risking getting blown up, hey? Maybe the civvies have a bit more information of their own. Jackson, what you think?"

Jackson turns his head to regard Celaeno, and a small smile graces his lips. "We can find out easily enough. I doubt they have the mental fortitude to resist my probes. If one of you questions them, gently of course.. I can probe them for any deceit and thier buddies too. Perhaps if they have anything worth the effort I can read thier equipment.. see if I get an image of who they are waiting for."

"Need act, not sit, wait." The need may be that of the mission, or simply Daeni's own requirements. She ceases observation of the rather monotonous exchange of fire to participate in the debate. "If done, can leave. If want more, can ask others." With either choice, her general inclinations would be met.

"I'm having a tough time gathering anything from here. It's all the blast noise and flash. Keeps washing out my senses, and I can't get any good counts," Gabriel states. "If you can't get anything from here, Jackson, I'm all for moving forward, if we can find a way to stay out from under theses one-fifty-fives." After a moment's hesitation, he adds in a sheepish tone, "Or whatever the artillery is."

Celaeno just nods, "Lets head back to the civvies, then. Don't think there's a chance in hell that those booms are going to stop dropping," she grunts, "After you, Jack." She gestures to the others to take whatever positions they might in the trek before settling into a much more casual march than brought her here.

Jackson shakes his head. "I prefer to walk in the middle thanks.. that way if we get attacked I can put up a barrier to catch it. Unlike our warrior princess here.. I can't take lightning shocks to the head and walk away.." He tease, motioning to Daeni. "But yeah let's go.."

Back at the Chateau the people remain, and multiply. Almost two dozen men and women wait in the hollowed out lobby. A handful of children play in the grounds outside. They look oblivious to the doom looming just miles away. As the group approaches it looks like the back half of the floor has given way exposing the sublevel and a vault.

Daeni rises to move with the group, her attention now upon the path ahead that is decidedly far less predictable than the barrage behind. "Am not princess." Jackson's comment provokes a correction and snort en route. Once the relocation is complete, she surveys the mixture of the meek, naive, and willfully ignorant, as well as their chosen refuge.

Gabriel settles his armored shoulder against the building next to a window, only some bare light illuminating the dull front of his helmet's knight-like visage. He whispers, "Jackson, can you tell why these people decided to stay here? Or come here? Whatever it is? It might be interesting to go in, but not if they're waiting for the end to come, and have the building rigged to fall. Damn Rapture. Let me check something." His face bends slightly more toward the opening.

Celaeno looks over the area, nodding to herself, "Well, well, well," she says with a sharp whistle. "Think they've got themselves a little bomb shelter down there?" She clicks her teeth for a moment, "Let's see what we can find out, hey?" Her voice seems a little overeager, but she strikes out on her own to approach gesturing for the group to, perhaps, spread out a little. Picking a man in homespun armour near the entrance to the vault, she pulls off her helmet with a warm, "Hey there, stranger. How go the bones?"

Jackson shakes his head to Gabriels request. "No. I can't look for specific things. Perhaps if you ask them why they are here, or who they wait for I can get images of their savior.. but all I can get is surface thought. I can't go rummaging. Unfortunately.." He answers the man readily, his gaze turning towards Celaeno. "You do that, ask them. I want to see about that door. Maybe it will talk to me." He tells the group, nodding at the big steel vault door, then walking to it.

"If building, door strong," Daeni notes as she steps to the collapsed opening in the floor in order to make her own assessment of the level below, "may be safe shelter, why others stay." She crouches at the edge and rolls her shoulders before querying Celaeno. "Want open?"

The fellow in homespun armor rolls his eyes slightly as he looks over Cel. Everyone has taken a moment to take in the new arrivals, some hushed whispers among them. "Isn't it a little early for the looters?" He asks her accusingly. "I mean the battles still going over there. This time tomorrow the flanking force will have crossed upstream and made it here to bulldoze this entire city. Surely you're atleast two days early."

Gabriel's head turns to Jackson, and he whispers, "Look, I'm sick of pussyfooting around right now. Bad cop, good cop, but first I need you to tell me if one of these assholes can squish my head with a thought, if it's not too much trouble for you." He turns back to the window, hiding in the shadows, and his fingers clamp down on his rifle. "While you're doing that, let me take a final look at things."

Celaeno just grins over at Daeni, her eyes flicking with a look that mixes annoyance and concern, grinning softly back to the man and putting her hands up defensively. "No, no, no," she says as if explaining, "She's just our brute-force girl. She sees something big like that, she wants to pull it up to see if she can. Don't mind her. We're just passing through on some business. Working for a merc company over around Northern Gun - Just keeping our feelers out, hey? If you don't want to talk to us, that's fine, but all I'm getting from you so far is that there's no room for any work over here. That you're all just standing around waiting to get killed."

Jackson shakes his head, frowning. "I can't get anything from the door. It won't speak to me." He mutters To Gabe under his breathe and focuses his attentions on the man in armor, but speaks to Gabe quietly. "I have no means of telling unless I scan each and every one of them, that takes time and energy, energy I don't want to burn if We get into a firefight. But I can promise that if it happens I'll give them a much tastier target, and nastier death than you can give." He reassures the man.

Everyone except for the children have a knife and/or energy pistol, common sense these days in a town like this. They are certainly not wealthy. No they look quite poor. The either picked the place for the vault, or the nexus.. "Waiting for our ride. A friend of ours is taking part in the battle. When it turns he's coming back here to take his leave and we're invited. Apparently he also intends to leave them a surprise. Something called a Balrog?"

Apparently becoming somewhat more comfortable with his role in this little play, Gabriel steps into the light, where he can be fully seen. His L-20 is still secured around his arm, but it is pointed toward the heavens, and his finger is off the trigger - but close. A small sigh is audible, and what comes next suggests that he'd like to speak without the damn helmet, but is too wise to do it in a warzone when armor is actually available. "Ladies and gentlemen, your forces are eventually going to fall, unless you get some serious reinforcements, and probably permanent reinforcements. When they fall, the bad guys are going to come through, and if they're like ever other army I've ever seen storm a city, they will just start killing everything with a heartbeat, and putting a demolition charge to everything that doesn't. You need to get out, now." The helmet nods towards the kids, and the voice that comes out is extremely heartfelt. "Your children deserve to live. Now why don't some of you men BE men, grow a pair, and get out!" If the steel trap on the floor is important, it seems to have been momentarily replaced with more immediately martial and emotional matters.

Well that made an impression. What was caution becomes celar hostility as some weapons a caressed as scowls turn on Gabriel. Oh yeah, not the best impression. One particularly large man walks up to Gabriel to give him a reply. "You think, that because we do not take out defenseless children out into the wilderness to be prey to the many predators that live there that we are cowards? You think that we woukld last more than a week out there on foot, equiped as we are? I think you have no idea what you are talking about. I think that you would not last a week out there with your fancy rifle and shot up armor. So before you go telling us to man up maybe you should look to the mirror an seriously consider what in this world you can handle."

Celaeno sighs, turning full on to Daeni, "See if Jack or Gabe need any help, would you?" before turning back to the man, a sheepish smile on her face. "Like I said, brute force. Doesn't understa-" she stops, her eyes turning to Gabriel at his outburst, "For fuck's sake... Hold on a second," she says, obviously exasperated. She walks to the hole before yelling at him herself, "If you'd taken a moment to ask, they are! Shit! They're going to be getting out as soon as they can! You want them to try to outrun a skycycle on foot? Shit! Don't go telling them to do anything!" Before walking back to the man, a forced smile on her lips. "They're good people. Really. But, if you don't mind the question, why wait here, that big door down there a shelter, or holding anything important to you?" The last question is asked rather weakly.

Fierce green eyes go wide at the mention of the Balrog and Jackson blinks several times. A small smile at Gabriel's speech, then he steps forward, putting one comforting hand on Gabriels shoulder. "They have planned for that. Summoning a Balrog is no easy feat. And one we don't want to be here to witness. I've heard of these things before. Immensely powerful demons, they stand around 15 foot tall. Highly intelligent, physically powerful and wicked in the extreme. I doubt the CS has anything that can even hurt the thing as fire doesn't harm it. If I remember correctly, plasma weaponry won't even singe it. And they regenerate rapidly If and when the defenders fall back, we all need to leave and quickly." He states quietly, alerting his party to the danger coming swiftly.

"Not matter," Daeni rises to stand as her eyes move to Gabriel, "if too weak live out city. Die here, die there, still die." Her shoulders roll in a nonchalant shrug of the situation. "Let choose where want hide, die. No waste time on dead."

"The vault? Didn't even know it was here until today. The fighting must have caused the collapse. Cant hid in it, whoever knew how to open it died a long time ago and we are lacking in high tech lockpicking tools." The man tells Cel freely, seeing it of no consequence.

Gabriel's head quirked appropriately side to side as Celano smoothed relations, Jackson imparted interesting information, and Daeni, well, she imparted some very basic and practical knowledge. In the end, his face turns fully back to the angry man before him. The visor tilts slowly from one side to the other, then his left hand comes up, index finger and thumb making an "O" then flicked away at the "eyebrow" in a form of mock salute. "Have it your way. I just have a natural aversion to mass suicide is all." The tone coming from the speakers softens a little. "Northern Gun just called us in, I got dropped here, I expect to get paid when I walk out. But I've no love for the Coalition. How the fuck long have they been hitting you like this? The whole shebang."

Celaeno nods at the man. "Mind if I have a crack at it? Probably doesn't have anything too worthwhile, but who knows. Hate to impose on you like this, but... Might be a good idea to clear this area for a little, just in case there's a booby trap, or security - if there's anything that looks like it might help you get out, we'll give you yours." She waits a few moments for what she assumes is an affirmative before jumping down and gesturing for Daeni to join her.

"I dont think there will be any traps, no power. So as long as you're not going to use explosives and give our location away go ahead." The man confirms, really looking like her cant care less.

Jackson moves to follow Cel down into the hole again, dropping down and rolling with the fall. "Hold a moment.. Let me examine it. The door wouldn't give up it's secrets, but maybe I can find something else of value." He tells the rest of them, pacing around in front of the door. "It may have internal power.." He mutters, examining it. He brushes dirt and debris from around the door itself, seeking any hidden switches or keypads.

Daeni is not a hypocrate, and lives as she advises. Thus, the men, women, and children are left to whatever fate they select for themselves. She follows Celaeno, stepping off the precipice to land and resume her steps below. "Want open, will open." While she has no notion of what, if anything, lies within, the opportunity to forcibly rearrange inanimate objects will likely be the nearest to combat she shall find here. Without further prompt, her pair of highly sophisticated safe-cracking implements are readied for use and plunged into the door. Shee need not open the door, itself, merely create a new window.

Okay, so the man either forgot about him, or ignored him, but Gabriel clearly doesn't care, because what needed to be found in his immediate eyes is found, what needed to be done, done done, and what needed to be said, said. For now, he appears content to observe the goings-on at the giant door... that the elf woman who has for so long seemed like Superman will now attempt to open. As the others seem to fuss around below in one of the rare cases that he probably would have just used a few bricks of high-explosive, the man from the past does in fact start to chat up the man again, hopefully keeping them occupied and unaware. "Who is this 'friend' of yours that's going to drop off a badass demon and whisk you all to safety? Incidentally, now you may have the answer, but why hasn't he conjured up the damn thing already and sent it into battle? Can't control it?"

The man eyes Gabriel, looking to consider ignoring the rude fellow. "You tell me, would you bring someone to fight along side you if you knew that given even the slightest opportunity that he would flay you alive? Regardless of confidence in control and such that just doesnt sound like a smart arrangement. What do you think?" ooc yep, vault and wall

Celaeno, too begins looking over the door and surrounding area for any way to get in - or really anything else of note. She hums quietly to herself before producing her vibro-katana. Another moment is taken in thought, and she moves to cut a hole in the wall, just to the side of the door.

Jackson frowns as he turns up nothing special. "Nothing overly special about it.. just a very durable box with a large very durable door. Let me examine it again.. Maybe I missed something.." He tells the girls as Gabriel chats up the topside man and Cel get's knife happy.

The wall cuts away easily enough. If cut out it will collapse being the weight of the eartch behind it, revealing the side to the vault.

The tenacity of the material was underestimated, leaving Daeni to reconsider the door and the mere scratches. A glance is made towards Celaeno, and the woman's efforts are noted. "Maybe cut around best." Daeni is direct, not daft, and so adjusts her focus slighty. The juncture of mobile door and immobile structure is already the weakest path, by its nature, so she now seeks to follow that path with her blades. Daeni is in no great haste, but neither will she be stymied by a piece of metal or stone.

Yes, years of making inane, hopefully deceptive conversation just might finally be paying off, strange enough. Obviously an eye is kept on things below, even a fool could see that the helmet is dipped enough to observe that, as well. Probably a lot more interesting down there. Nevertheless, failing to maintain a proper rear-guard is a no-no for any soldier, and thus Gabriel just keeps his finger near a trigger and his jaw yapping. "So anyway, look, I was just trying to help. Balrog? No, you want a real beast. Have someone find Godzilla, Rodan, or Mothra. Those fuckers are TOUGH. I've SEEN them." When a shake comes through slightly more intense than the others, he holds still, then offers up an absolutely nonsequitor, "So what are your plans after getting out of here? Where's home gonna be?"

"Lazlo, you?" The man replies, he could not look more disinterested.

Celaeno waves the sword vaguely at the door, grumbling to herself. "All right. Fine," she says, moving to pass it to Daeni. "Have at it. But if you break it, you pay for the repairs, hey? See if you can't go right through the front." She moves to sit down across from it, bringing her rifle around to rest in her lap and reseating her helmet.

Jackson moves the side opposite Daeni and her swords 'o' death, and brushes away more dirt and debris form the sides of the vault door, closing his eyes and trying to open his mind to what the vault may have to tell him, thoughts straining to wring out any little impression or image. "Come on... tell me your secrets.." He mutters.

Daeni declines the offered weapon, if only due to her limitation of possessing but two hands. With shrieks of complaint, strips of shaved metal begin to sprout along her blades as they begin to move. Unfortunately, the movement is extremely slow, and the trip to traverse will require several minutes at this rate, if not a fair portion of the hour.

Gabriel, like any intelligent being, is interested as to what is hidden behind the steel door. But still. The man is disinterested, and that's great. Armored as he is, he makes his way over to the stairway, and offers to his compatriots the sage advice, "Don't get me wrong, I love solving puzzles, but I will point out that we are under what could almost be considered a rolling artillery barrage. You don't blow your way in or whatever it is that you plant to do in the next minute or two, I would personally call it a day, recon accomplished, civilians properly warned, mystery unsolved, yet asses in one piece and perhaps even better, mission accomplished without the enemy knowing that we were here. That's pretty much the pinnacle of recon as I see it." A shrug is given, if anyone was looking, and he goes back to scanning the room. Kind of like keeping prisoners quiet and in one place, but without actually pointing your weapon at anyone.

Noting the progress, Celaeno simply shrugs and says, "Well, keep at it, I guess," before moving to return topside, patting Gabriel on the shoulder. "They don't care about here right now. They won't press on until they take the bridge. I don't think our friends would appreciate the noise that would cause. And anyways, how long did that hike back and forth take, hey? We can spare an hour or two. Just sit back and don't make too big an ass of yourself," she grins behind her faceplate before turning to the man with a, "So, you guys got some cards or something? Gotta be something we can do to pass the time."

Jackson smiles as the box gives up it's secrets, or at least a few of them. "It holds art. And saftey deposit boxes from the hotel this building used to be.. I don't know if it's still being used or not." He tells people, instead looking up to the man in armor that Gabe was speaking to, and he narrows his eyes in concentration. His mind leaps out towards the man's seeking information.

Thirty minutes later a slow groaning sueal ends with the solid thug of the vault door falling to the floor. A waft of stale air coms with it and the vault contents are revealed. Several paintings, the deposit boxes, and a mask...

The reverberating impact is a most welcome sound to Daeni's ears. "Is open." She can claim more accomplishment than merel observation, as well as some phsyical exertion. Curiosity now comes to the fore as she steps within to survey the interior of the vault.

Gabriel finishes his wandering circles of the room, watching for people reaching for weapons - with no excitement, which is always good. A strange sound comes from his armor's speakers. Strange because a sigh sounds a lot like white noise. But in good humor, he calls down, "You know, when they were excavating the Egyptian tombs in the Valley of the Kings, many of them were booby-trapped. People actually did die, it's not just a myth." A pause, then, "So, you broke into the Wells Fargo, Old Bones branch. You going to distribute it to the peasants, or are we all going to start making loaded trips to the chopper?" He holds his hands out harmlessly. "I'm good either way, as long as things don't start falling down on top of us." As we falls silent and waits for a response, there is one last, very strange phrase that comes out: "Eh, I've seen more."

At the fall of the door, Celaeno disengages herself from the conversation with a simple grin, her hand going to her ear. She collects her helmet - it had been removed for ease of communication earlier - and moves to join in the rummaging. "Probably just the one trip, I imagine," she calls to Gabriel. "I have a fondness for locked boxes, personally..." she begins, shifting her backpack around and producing what looks to be a small pistol-like thing, "But I much prefer them to be unlocked."

Jackson had been eyeing Celaeno after his telepathic probe failed, positive that she was the reason, as he'd used his powers on or around both of his other companions with no effect.. but around her.. nothing. He tucks this little nugget away and approaches the mask inside, examining it for any obvious traps.. a recessed resting place, any wires attached to or near it.. glass case.. He's not so much worried about money.. as he is artifacts. But he doesn't touch it yet.

Of all that is readily visible, it is the mask that catches Daeni's eye, for several reasons. She steps to it for further, detailed examination, which amounts to lifting the item from its perch and reviewing it more closely.

Gabriel's helmeted visage nods once or twice, and he monotones, "Yeah, it's a mask. They had a whole mask exhibit go through the Smithsonian. Honestly, though, wasn't worth the price of admission." He looks back over the room, listens to the continued distant artillery, and then says, "So, recon complete, vault broken into, booty stolen... mission remains incomplete until we return with our information. Spies who learn things and die before they can tell you about it are useless." Instructional, or just a statement?

Celaeno sighs as the boxes don't turn up anything of note, "Oh well," she mumbles, returning the lockpick to her pack before eyeing the rest of the contents. She moves, quite simply, to collect the next most valuable looking thing in the Vault to her - whatever art happens to be the shiniest, or apparently most 'artfully' done, getting as much into her pack as she can. ...And just one more lockbox, which she doesn't bother to open. "Grab what you want, and let's get out of here. We'll divvy it up, sell it, and do whatever back home, hey? It's not exactly a long jaunt to the pick up," she says with a grin to Gabriel before she goes to wish the civilians luck with their retreat.

Jackson frowns as he watches Daeni just snatch up the mask, which was the only thing here to have caught his interest. He glares for half a second, the turns, leaving her to figure the thing out, and deal whatever malevolent spirits it might possess. "Let's go before they summon the Balrog.. As I said we really don't want to be here when they do."

Daeni examines the exterior and interior faces of the mask, although it is the latter that seems to draw her moreso. In the course of a closer inspection, the placement of the item to her own countenance is such that it is an unintentional side-effect, or a casual decision made without her realizing it. Following that touch, the wood and feathers bend and mold of their own accord, conforming to Daeni's features a moment before it simply vanishes. Her blink and widened eyes of surprise are easily apparent.

Gabriel does a really, REALLY good job of not being shocked out of his pants the thole "Daeni-mask-melding" thing. He's either very easy-going, frightened out of his mind, or somehow got stoned when no one was looking, because his only response is to watch, shrug, and say, "Huh." Then he turns on his heel, looking up at the ceiling as he slowly pivots, his wrists on his waist - the international sign of a father trying to decide what to say as a rebuke to a child out of line. Yet whatever he may come up with goes unsaid, and he just reseats his rifle. In a tone that is more likely that not going to insult and piss everyone else off, he states flatly, "Everybody back to the fucking helicopter, we're going home now before we manage to find a third way to try to kill ourselves."

"Make sure you're out of here when the Beastie's summoned," Celaeno says with a pat on the man's shoulder, shrugging. "Fine with me. Let's go," is all she says, moving to wait for the others instead of taking off on her own.

Jackson doesn't see the Daeni-Mask bonding moment, as he is currently climbs out of the hole, proceeding to the edge of the building, and peering out of the window,looking for obstacles to the building the chopper rests on. "I seriously suggest we leave now.. We DON'T want to be here when the demon arrives.." He tells everyone, moving towards the doorway.

"Are quick give orders." Daeni makes a curt assessment of Gabriel, even as she returns to ground level with a single upward leap. "May be warriors here, but not -your- warriors." She subsequently strides for the street, her course as was suggested yet her pace intent to keep her from any semblance of follower.

Gabriel stands near the door as the others exit the building, gives a half-hearted salute to the men and women who have chosen to stay behind and die, in all likelihood, despite promises of salvation, and brings up the rear of the little Kingsdale military quartet.

And with that everyone returns to the helicopter with their choice of loot. Some of which can be exchanged fro credts later. Others are more 'unique'. All in all though it was a good endeavor.