A New Day

Briefing Room


Sharon shakes her head.  "There is no room down there for the Alphas.  They're just too big.  We'll have to do this on foot.  There's a security station nearby; we can check in there."  She turns and sprints out the door, heading down the hall.


At the security station, there is a flurry of activity as people respond to reports of the enemy boarders.  Sharon snaps out, "Status report!  What's going on?"


One sergeant replies, "Ma'am, we have boarding parties on three decks; one team at deck five, frame 21, the next two are in the Engineering spaces aft, on decks four and five.  We have blast doors sealing off the crew quarters, and are currently responding in force to the engine room where the fighting seems to be focused on getting to our main Reflex Furnaces."
 


Sharon grabs a armored vest with one hand and a rifle in the other.  "You do that, we're heading to the crew quarters.  My kids are there, along with Dr. Crowley's lab.  I think that the true goal of this attack is to get to the doc.  We have to stop them."  Looking over her shoulder at the rest of Hydra, she says, "Gear up.  We have got to move."


At Evangeline's Lab


There is a slight pressure drop, indicating a hull breech, but that must be quickly isolated.  Out in the hall, blast doors slam shut, but not fast enough for four Haydonite Infiltrators to come into the area:


RSB02059-mechanoidtypetwobrute.jpg


These are slow moving, heavy hitters of the Haydonite infantry.  They seem to know where they are going, and as one they turn and head straight towards your lab.
 
Yoshi was about to comment on Orran's boisterousness when the explosion knocked him from his feet and sent him tumbling to the floor. Sparks span before his eyes as his head bounced off the floor and he sprawled in a daze. By the time his senses recovered, Sharon was already issuing orders. Mother telling the children what to do in a crisis. He smiled as he pulled himself to his feet, the soreness in his head blooming to a full headache as the warning klaxons started to send daggers into his ears.


"You heard the lady, Hydra.", he called over the siren's howl, "Gear up and get ready to repel borders!"


With no further words wasted, Yoshi hurried to the security station and started tossing CRV-3 armor to his squad, then started hastily strapping his own on too. He could feel 'Excalibur' almost vibrating with the desire to join battle with the alien robot lifeforms and the same vibration ran through his own body. These walking toasters had caused his wife to be tortured, had caused the deaths of hundreds of REF personnel and now they intended to do ill to Evangeline. This will not stand. He withdrew the blade from its scabbard and it issued a strange, keening note, a metallic warsong that set Yoshi's heart pounding faster than ever. He gritted his teeth as he suppressed the rising bloodlust emanating from his weapon and took his place ready to move and engage the enemy.
 
Orran


He caught the gear tossed at him absently as his entire attention was focused on the sword that the captain had just unsheathed from his back. Having had only seen the hilt, he didn't realize that it was a full fledged weapon. His trained eye noticed that it was a good blade and then it started to keen out in a wail-like tone that reminded him of the Highlands. "Aye, 'tis a proper sword for battle." Suddenly he missed his own sgian dubh. His right boot suddenly felt very bare. He'd have to make a mental note to remember that battle could happen at all times. "And it must be the work of the bloody Fae. Is it Irish then? Cause the Irish have always gotten into their tiffs with the Fae.


The captain just gave him a dry look that needed no real explanation. Sharon had already charged out of the room and was running towards the crew quarters. "Aye, you're right, let's get the wee bairn first, then we'll deal with the invading bastards." 


He grinned as he ran to catch up to the leading lady. He could almost see Efe rolling her eyes and thinking to herself, not this again. She had had words with his seemingly cavalier attitude before but he just didn't understand what she meant but the words 'serious' when it came to war. What was the point of being serious in battle? Life should be lived with laughter until such a time as when it is necessary to wind the sheets for the dead. And then there should be more laughter followed with whiskey and dancing at the wake. The living need to live.


"Ya know," he said conversationally to Sharon as they ran, "even a haydonite can't be fool enough to interfere in the events of two Zentraedi children. After all, we're tough as nails and we hit back."
 
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Crew quarters it was. Corridors too narrow to fit the mecha in, with danger hiding behind dozens of different corners. Instead of shivering in fear like a whelp, Shykrad simply fastened the belts of his armor so that he didn't get completely lost in it, then grabbed a gun someone handed over. He had fought under far worse conditions, with only a few shots left in a weapon that was as likely to kill its owner as the Invid in front of him. The weapon in his paws had a trigger that wouldn't break off the first time he pulled it back and a scope that showed more than just splinted glass - good enough for him to work with.


With quick jumps, he not only caught up to the others, but made sure to stay in front, his breath matching the rhythm of his footsteps. "The toughest child can't overcome a trained soldier. I've seen it often enough", he noted with hissing voice, before turning to those who had protected him since he had been as vulnerable as those the others worried about. "Ancestors, hold your protective hand over me." More steps brought him around the first corner, no enemies were in sight - as to be expected, it'd take a while until they got there. "And over Doctor Crowley." She was important. Not only did she seem to be the target of the attackers, but she also was one of the finest "scientists" mankind had - and maybe the one who understood the Haydonitean technology the best. A loss of her was a danger for all of their plans, and by chance Garuda had been on the top of their agenda before this had happened. "And the others." They had promised to help his people, after all, despite their differences. A few more steps while he switched the air composition reaching his lungs once again, the colors turning greyer while other senses, usually at the border of his mind, became more consciously. Undescribable by those who had never sensed them, and still a part of the world like a burning breeze or the steely trigger of his gun. "And protect the children." I don't care that they are Zentraedian decendants, or what they'll do when they're adult. Just let them get there in freedom, so that they'll have a choice. Too many didn't have one. My eyes have seen thousands of dead ones, never understanding what tore their world apart.
 
Efe


She thought she'd be more excited. She had been dying for any chance to vaporize Haydonite armor. But this wasn't battle. Or even combat. This was going to be a massacre if they didn't make it in time.


They ran down the corridors as a team, Shykrad making his damned wise cracks the whole time. As they ran, she checked the weapons the Captain had tossed her. All good. Nothing impressive, but weapons.


The Haydonites. Efe knew them well enough. And the math was simple. Hydra would need to hold out for reinforcements. Hit-and-run tactics would have to be the name of the game. They'd just need to focus on keeping them busy. Recon and clandestine operations were her jam.


"Captain," Efe said as they ran. "Permission to take another volunteer to flank them. It might buy some time and confuse them."
 
Evangeline 


Peering out the door wasn't solving anything but exciting fear centers in her mind which had to be shut off and that was consuming processing power. Quietly, Evangeline shuts the door and calms herself before waving her hand to shut her internal bulkheads and activate security systems. It was a shame she hadn't yet developed a rapid transference system for her mind. Her heavy mech body still gathering dust in the hold. But in this form, there was no way she'd win a straight up fight. The odds of four infiltrators in a shock attack against her reactionary systems were not kind for her. 


Crossing back to her desk and the tank body she knew she had to protect it. It was the representation of her advancement over the Haydonite tech and the symbolic loss alone...She did not wish to run the odds on what that would do to her. Waving her own office blast shutters, she cuts the light inside the lab and begins offloading data to remote servers in at least an attempt to staunch any data drains they would be attempting. Going to the nearest panel on the opposite wall of her office she then plugs in and sets herself to attempt to hack in and alter her lab's holographic control panels. If she could project herself, maybe a dialogue could be established in hope that they'd be slowed. 


@Sherwood
 
Crowley's Lab


With what Dr. Crowley knows of the Haydonite units, her current body stands no real chance to face off against them.  It will require heavier firepower than what you have available to take them down.  What you can do is delay them long enough for allies to show up and save your research. 


Clicking on the holo-displays, three of the four Infiltrators turn as one and blast it the second that your image is visible.  Not a good sign for a friendly negotiation.  There is some good news, however.  Inside your lab is several suits of CR-3 armor and a half dozen Gallant H-90 laser rifles, giving you at least a little bit of extra armor and a chance to hold the intruders off until backup comes.


Speaking of backup, you get an encrypted signal from Sharon.  In the viewscreen, you can see that she is armored up and running through the halls.  "Evangeline!  Are you ok?  What's your status?  Can you hold out for another two minutes?  We are almost there, so don't get killed!"


Deck 5, approaching Frame 21.


The rest of Hydra are finally at the right deck, and are almost at the lab.  You know that there are several Cyclones due to be dispatched to your position to assist you, but it will be another minute before the suits of powered armor are on the scene.  Everyone is in your CVR-3 armor, and you are armed with Valliant Laser Rifles (Yoshi has his sword, of course).  As you approach, you can now see the level of damage done to the outer hull of the ship as the Haydonites made their insertion.  The self repair features of the hull are the only thing keeping the whole area from being in hard vacuum right now, but your sensors on your armor show that the air pressure is a bit low, probably due to a leak.  The heavy bulkhead has been closed, but it has been pried and blasted open, and when you peek through the opening, you can see one of the Haydonite Infiltrators standing guard at the entrance.  With little cover, whomever goes through the hole in the bulkhead will draw fire before they can be able to dodge.
 
Orran


It was fairly obvious that someone was going to have to draw fire. Looking at his fellows, he realized he was the biggest, strongest, and fastest. If anyone had the best chance to dodge bullets, it was him. And with the low air pressure, if anyone lost oxygen, he was best suited to that as well.


"Captain," he said softly so as to not intrude on the man's thoughts, "I volunteer as tribute."
 
Yoshi shook his head at Efe's suggestion, "Negative, the Haydonites are here for one thing and one thing alone. They won't react to us trying to draw them off, all we'd end up doing is weakening our forces here. Stay together and let's get to that lab."


He ran on, even as Sharon rigged up a flash comm direct to Evangeline. By the time they reached the section the Haydonites had breached, the location of the lab, he could see the level of destruction. And the solitary sentry defending the only avenue of approach.


Zentraedi, always wanting to be first into the fray. Shogun sighed into his comm.


"Very well, Orran, you lead, I'll be on your heels. Everyone else, lay down maximum fire. Aim for weapons and optics.", he replied.


His blood pounded and Excalibur thrummed in time to the beats of his heart. He looked at the tall Zentraedi warrior and nodded.


"NOW!"
 
Orran


Like a spring-loaded trap the young Zentraedi went into terrible fast movement. His mind was clear as he sprinted towards the hole as only one of his kind could. He knew that some of his race, and some humans, preferred to undergo surgery in an attempt to go all cyborg but the mere idea of that made his flesh crawl.


He counted off the feets and inches in his and nearly grinned. Not even a military education could change his primary thinking patterns. Meters... please, how boring.


He ran on silent feet even as he withdrew his weapon. He'd be lucky if he got a shot off at the lone guard, luckier still if he actually managed to hit something and kill it. He didn't anticipate that though, he had heard about how damned hard it was to kill one of them. His dad might be able to accomplish that but then, his 'just a mechanic' father was anything but. That was like saying Tony Stark was just owned a business, or that that Superman was strong. 


"Don't yell when you're about ta sneak up on a man and send him to hell, lad, all that does is lets the bastard know y'are there and gives 'im time ta make ready for ya. Now, when you're on a field of battle, aye, lad, tha's when ya play the pipes and drums and ya scream as if ta bring the devil down upon your enemy." Good ol' Uncle MacDonald, always had the best advice.


He was less than a yard away and he aimed his weapon even as he made a running leap through the hole. He shot off a round then tumbled out of the way of any retaliation, coming up quickly so as to do his job and divert fire. He nearly grinned as he started to move.


(just discovered there's no dice roller yet. Went online and rolled a 1d20 for the strike: Roll(1d20)+10:
6,+10
Total:16)
 
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The second that you clear the door, a massive energy blast shoots forth from the Infiltrator.  The beam slams into Orran's chest armor, scorching it badly, but the integrity of the armor is still intact.  From the shot you take 30 MDC on your chest.  Your attack manages to hit the Haydonite unit, causing light damage to its own armor.


But, what your actions do manage to pull off is that the attention of the Infiltrator is now solidly on Orran and not on the open hole in the bulkhead, leaving it vulnerable to having more people come through and attack it.
 
Shykrad Lykri


NOW! Exactly in this moment, Shykrad grabbed for his breathing apparature, switching off the air supply from outside. Colors faded within a heartbeat, the world around him turning into a field of perceptions ineffable by human words. The Hin, showing more than humans could ever imagine. Always a part of his world, but only now did he fully embrace it, just like at home. It almost felt as if he was breathing the fresh air of Garuda, the ancestral spirits' whispers in his ears, and their wisdom in his mind. Lifting his gun, he jumped forward through the hole, at one with his surrounding. Ancestors, protect me and my fellows, for that we can make sure every single one of your children can breath the air of freedom once more. Only for a short moment, he looked at his comrades, getting a deeper glance at their souls than ever before. Then he turned around, where the auras of the Haydonites gleamed coldly in front of his inner eyes. "Nothing withstands the untamed power of freedom", he hissed, before pulling back the trigger of his gun.
 
Orran


"Aye ya bastard," Orran growled to keep its attention on him even as Shykrad made his run, "see, this is what happens when ya betray people who thought you were friendly, they get a might irritated. You should have studied human history better than that ya doaty hackit bawface. Humans don't play nicely with Campbellsque scrotes like you. Now me, I'm not human but I am Scottish and I'll rip your fucking face off."


Out of the corner of his eye he saw Shykrad pull his gun out.


"Oh, and I forgot, don't piss of small people, they're right placed for a good kick is the jewels."


He smiled evilly as Shykrad fired.
 
Initiative order:


21 - Shykrad


18 - Yoshi


17 - Infiltrator


15 - Orran


13 - Sharon


12 - Efe


This is all on the hallway. What is Evangeline doing? There are three Infiltrators heading for your lab.
 
Evangeline 


"I am alright Sharon." Evangeline responds quickly with little emotion in her voice. She was in the middle of suiting up in her armor, linking her mind to the rudimentary systems within but it was even more obvious that she was switching off human parts of her mind to cope with the situation. 


"I am currently suiting up and will then be securing my personal project. If that is completed, I will then see to engaging the intruders in combat." All this transmits live from her mind back to Sharon. 


A combat hud appears in her vision, highlighting last known positions of the Haydonite forces. 


"Suggested course of action?" 
 
Sharon manages to multi-task well enough as she gets ready to dive through the opening to fire on the Haydonite Infiltrator and talk to Evangeline at the same time.  "We are out in the hallway, with one of the boarders in our way.  Is there anything you have available to slow them down until we can get there?"


Initiative order:


21 - Shykrad [delay]


18 - Yoshi <====


17 - Infiltrator


15 - Orran


13 - Sharon


12 - Efe


While Shykrad is going into the Hin, he takes a moment to go into combat.  In the meantime, @Captain Hesperus is up with Yoshi.
 
Yoshi stormed up in Orran's mighty shadow but, unlike the reckless Zentraedi, he did not duck aside. Instead, he raised his enchanted sword over his head and swept it downwards, describing a diagonal slash across the Haydonite's body from right 'shoulder' to left 'hip'. Regardless of the results of his attack, he used his attack's momentum to duck under the mechanoid's left arm and rush the room behind it.
 
Yoshi can feel the blade in his hand almost vibrate with excitement as you wield it in combat for the first time in a long while.  It twists in your hands, pulling your arm around to help guide your strike to the most optimal position.  When it contacts the armor of the Infiltrator, it does massive damage, cutting deep into the metal guts. 


In response, it raises up its arm mounted blaster and fires a sizzling bolt of energy at Shogun, trying to cut you down.  From your description of your attack, I'll go ahead and count that as a part of your dodge.  With that, you are able to rotate yourself around enough to avoid being shot.


@The Rose and Phoenix is up with Orran


Initiative order:


21 - Shykrad [delay]


18 - Yoshi [2]


17 - Infiltrator [1] damaged


15 - Orran <====


13 - Sharon


12 - Efe
 
Orran


He grinned like an idiot at the way the captain handled the sword. "I'll be buggered but that's a fine blade," he murmured to himself. Still grinning, he raised his weapon, and took careful aim, sighting his shot so that it would go right into the middle of the forehead. He wasn't quite sure what that would do, but if anything, it would give the captain time to take another swing.
 
Orran takes his rifle and makes his head shot.  The bolt smacks the Infiltrator square in the faceplate, causing some damage, but it is still active.


Sharon powers her way through the gap in the door and charges the Haydonite unit, pushing the barrel of her rifle up against the gaping hole in the armor and fires a burst into the delicate guts of the mechanism.  It seems that the pain and rage that she felt with the Invid taking her arms and legs has now been transferred to the Haydonites.  After all, if it were not for that race, she would have never been taken and put in the claws of the Invid for experimentation in the first place.  She snarls out, "Shogun, go help Spooky.  This one is hurt bad; we can finish it off.  Use your sword to cut them down!"


@WlfSamurai is up with Efe


Initiative order:


21 - Shykrad [delay]


18 - Yoshi [2]


17 - Infiltrator [1] badly damaged/head shot


15 - Orran [1]


13 - Sharon [1]


12 - Efe <====
 
Efe "Hera"


Efe brings up the rear-guard and follows the rest. A quick lunge brings her through the bulkhead. She lands in a roll that ends with her Gallant up and pointing at the Haydonite close to Sharon.


Like a machine, she snaps off as many three-round bursts at the "head" of the behemoth as she can.


"I'll stay with Sharon!" she says into the comm. "Get to Dr. Crowley!"
 
Efe's shot flies out, and while it doesn't manage to hit the head, it does strike the body of the Infiltrator, ripping off a huge panel of armor.  It is on the ropes, and is going to be taken out with one more good, solid hit.


@Captain Hesperus is up with Shogun


Initiative order:


21 - Shykrad [delay]


18 - Yoshi [2] <====


17 - Infiltrator [1] badly damaged/head shot


15 - Orran [1]


13 - Sharon [1]


12 - Efe [1]
 
For a short moment, Shykrad lost track of his surrounding, overwhelmed by the incoming information. Then he took another breath, focused on the most relevant thing out there - the Haydonite right in front of him - and ignored the rest of the pulsing world around him. The aura belonging to his squad leader had bypassed it already, and the Garudanian attempted to do the same - not to run right through, but to turn around with the elegance of a dancer in trance, aiming his gun right at where the aura promised a major weakness. He didn't really care what his barrel was pointing at when he pulled the trigger, all he wanted to see was the aura fading, making space for the others to move on. "Go and find your ancestors."
 
With his mind now fully into the Hin, Shykrad is once more able to act.  Raising up your rifle, you fire a killing strike into the wounded armor, causing the powered armor/mecha to fall to the side, with flames coming up from its core.


@Captain Hesperus is up


Initiative order:


21 - Shykrad [1]


18 - Yoshi [2] <====


15 - Orran [1]


13 - Sharon [1]


12 - Efe [1]
 
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