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(Quest)Safe Zone 21B-A - Phase One Setup -
| > Aethia was in the center in the last armored fan with June driving. The one ahead of them had a roof fixture that allowed a woman to call out on megaphone their intentions. This hopefully to secure the understanding that they were coming in peace and intended to help.
“If only we could have come earlier...”
>Aethia mumbled to herself while watching and listening. The formation was designed for WL security 10 spearhead. The police supported them from behind and around the vans.
| >By now the march was already easing into a stop beside the Energy Station. WL Security was fanning out to secure positions and setup to take advantage of 21B-A's defensible geography. A few lightly geared and unarmed men with two armed escorts quickly approached homes and inquired on their well being.
>'Is everything okay? Do you need any support?' inquired to every new acquaintance. This included interactions with the homeless whom likely were terrified at first.
| > Long lines of WL Security and policemen alike stormed abandoned buildings with high roves to try and obtain decent defensible sniper positions. They wanted to be ready and check for any kind of attempt at the lives of the recovery effort people.
>Meanwhile on the ground the Energy Station was already being prepared as a mobile medical facility. A huge nano-tarp tent flew over the statin's awning. A holographic sign lit up: “ WL Safe Zone Medical Area”
| > [OOC Retcon notice : The police aren't on the scene yet! Apologies!]
| (OOC: So what exactly is going on?)
| >the distinct sound of multiple police sirens blaring off in the distance announces the prescence of a large convoy approaching WL's parked vehicles.
>At the center of the convoy is a large armoured fighting vehicle with a turreted machinegun. Followed by a dumptruck and several police cruisers flanking the front and back.
| >the vehicles uniformly and proudly flash the letters: GCPD
| > A rather loud motorcycle pulls up. The third cylinder isn't firing, so it stutters a little as it powers down. A man in a familiar cybermask climbs off.
> :|
"Sorry I'm a little late, punks took some potshots at me."
| >The convoy comes to a stop near the parked vans. The armoured fighting vehicle taking front-center.
>A lilim officer steps out of the afv, wearing the standard uniform and vest. Holding a tablet in his hand like a clipboard.
>He addresses some of the employees unpacking goods
We'd like to speak with whomever's in charge
| >Aethia was just climbing out of her armored car after June opened the door for her. He heard a voice and quickly moved to body block her from sight. He cut his gaze toward the source and spoke.
"Eh? Who's this?"
> Aethia peeked from around one of June's large arms with a gentle smile. As usual she was dressed in white, but this time it was a long sleeved nano-fiber augmented cheongsam for extra style and protection. There of course was a winter jacket for support.
"No problem!"
| >At Aethia's prescence the back of the AFV opens, officers clad in heavy black armor and visored helmets concealing their faces flow out the back into formation, forming two coloumns of five, holding their assault rifles at the ready.
>At the sides of the convoy, pairs of officers wearing the standard uniform and vests step out of their cruisers onto the sides of the formation somewhat hesitantly.
| >June of course was sure to turn and face the group. Aethia's men climbed out of the vehicle also. Ever protective. Aethia herself remained remarkably calm...she tilted her head curiously and spoke.
"Are you the group with Ferris? There's a bit of a high alert at the moment...So you'll forgive us for being a bit cautious."
> Aethia smiled sheepishly.
| >another officer hops out the turret and slides down the side wearing a different uniform, a white dress shirt with a black tie, a dark green coat and a white peaked cap, seemingly dressed more as a military officer from somewhere in eastern europe than a police officer, she walks over to the front of the formation and addresses the white-haired cat boomer.
Aethia from white lightning right?
| "That is correct~. Am I going to be informed of anything anytime soon? This is a little nerve-racking. I'm not used to seeing this many guns held by that many men in one place."
> The boomer admitted with a nervous laugh.
"Are you...Ferris perhaps?"
| >she smiles a little at Aethia's nervousness
Why be scared of GCPD?
| Anyway...
>She gives a salute
Acting Lieutenant Felicia Ryshlayevskaya. Ferris.
| > Aethia smiled and gently pushed June aside. He didn't budge much. The hulking Lilim was highly protective. Even as she whispered 'It's okay June~.' He didn't budge. But he did relax his shoulders. Untensing he tipped his hat at Ferris.
"Lotta Companies what could 'o tried to join us in th'effort didn't. Means they e'er don't care or they be 'fraid 'o what'll come outta helpin' these folks. Aethia's right to be a 'lil concerned o'er 'm ever comes without bein' clear."
| > Aethia nudged June and stood just a little bit more in view before bowing slightly and moving to aim her right hand at the Lieutenant.
"Pleasure to meet you, Lt. Felicia. Aethia Arlene Weiss of White Lightning. Thank you again so much for joining us. I look forward to making these people's lives just a little bit easier with you."
| "Oh! This is June. He's my bodyguard. Excuse him."
| Then it seems i'd be right to come up armed.
>Ferris glances over at Aethia and smiles
Nice hair. Looks like we have something in common
>She says casually, hoping to ease the tension
| (sent that late, coming armed was about the suspicions of corps bring against)
| > Aethia grinned and theatrically brushed back her snowwhite locks like a movie start---how ironic that she often did just that in a less showy manner.
"Thank you! Pleasure to meet a comrade in the great fair-haired conflict!"
< She joked. She then took on a more sober and thoughtful expression.
"We'll need to secure the roof of the surrounding buildings. I hate to admit it, but June's right. We'd received information recently that someone put a job on stopping us."
| "What an asshole. Who'd want to stop a relief effort?"
>:(
| I see. Well before we get started i could give you a rundown of what we have, in case you might have any words about it.
| >>98665
>Ferris looks over
Hahahaha you'd be surprised at how many assholes you'd find in this city. I know i was
| > Aethia shook her head gently.
"It's not that simple. I don't want to directly admit it, but I believe I can understand their rationale. It's just...I find it disgraceful that the reaction is to suppress someone willing to spend their resources to assist those in need instead of also participating."
> The white haired boomer's eyes narrowed sadly.
" It's...it's absurd isn't it?...Anyway I apologize. Let us focus. Please enlighten me, Lt. Felicia."
| Enlighten?
>She shuffles slightly, unsure if enlighten was the word to use to describe a materiel report, wondering if Aethia even meant the materiel report.
| >Aethia smiled expectingly.
"Yes. I don't know anything about the resources you've provided for the effort on your end except for what you've told me. You've said that you would give me a rundown so...Do so!"
> She waited. Full attention given. Unwavering...Did she say something weird?
| >Ferris straightens up at the clarity
We're a 30 man op. 8 regular officers and 10 heavies armed for the front lines. Rest are support personnel. We've got drones for camera coverage...
>She points her thumb at the dump truck behind her
Also brought a whole lot of concertina wire for walling off the area. Might scare some civilians though.
| >Ferris moves her fingers in the air and traces out something similar to a large gun and chuckles to herself. As if anticipating the chance to use them
We've also got gas hehe. Alot of gas. Tear, smokes, emp... Incendiary...
| "Oh. For a second I thought you meant... Never mind."
>-<
| >A Man arrives by taxi, and begins walks over to Aethia and Ferris. He is wearing a Parka and a shemagh, but one of his arms looks a bit... limp?
| "Concertina wire...Tear gas. Hmm."
> Aethia turned to look at the man on the motorcycle.
"Sir. I'd like to ask two things of you...Could you introduce yourself to us? Secondly...I'd like for you to give me insight to how you'd take all of this as a civilian. What preferences would you have about the Concertina Wire?"
| >ferris also looks over at the man
Oh hey anomeat
| > Aethia turned her attention to AM as soon as Ferris acknowledged him. June was VERY quick to stand between her and the parka wearing man. She blinked in surprise.
"Oh. You've joined us, AM~!"
"What're yeh doin' 'ere? Ain't cause'n no trouble, righ?"
"June...He offered assistance."
"..."
| Looks over at the man in the taxi)
| "Oh, sure! I'm IN1. About the wire... I'd use it, but not before warning the civilians about it so that they don't freak out."
| "Don't worry June, I'm disarmed."
>AM lifts his sleeve, showing that he is missing an arm.
"Officer, I don't believe we meet..."
| "IN1! Well met!"
| The gas and the wire'd help alot in a riot situation no?
| >Ferris smiles slyly at AM, all the way to her eyes, like holding in a laugh
You're right. We haven't
| > Aethia glanced between the group and smiled awkwardly before nodding gently to IN! >>98751
"Indeed. That appears to be the plan. I will see to it that PR thoroughly explains the situation with the wire and other resources to the residents here. I need to remove their fear that they'll be harmed in any way. Which is good...I can begin the opening moves on negotiations and consent toward allowing us to use their resources if they're willing."
>Aethia turned to face AM.
| "What on earth happened to your arm?!"
| >nodding her agreement and waving her leave to the rest of the party ferris steps out of the group's conversation
ALRIGHT LET'S MOVE
| "Uhhh.... Industrial Accident?"
>AM looks around, hoping everyone believes him
"Does anyone have a phone we can borrow? I just need to make a phone call or 2."
| > Aethia turned and nodded while fishing in her winter jacket. But June quickly intercepted with his personal phone. He aimed it at AM and turned to look at Aethia.
"Les' just 'ave me handle 'at, eh? Ain't wantin' nuttin to get th'wrong idea 'bout you."
>Aethia smiled sheepishly and nodded before turning to look at everyone at work. She smiled watching the progress of the Medi-tent.
"...Good. We'll be able to help people soon. *Sigh* A good start at least."
| >Ferris can be heard continuously shouting orders in the distance
/Unload the truck/
/Arm lives unless told otherwise/
/Set up control in the energy station,i want the drones up and out in 5/
/Secure the perimeter, start setting the razorwire/
/Spread out the cruisers/
/Dont be assholes to the civilians/
| >AM takes June's phone and begins a call instantly.
"Hello, AM here."
"Alfa-Uniform-Victor-Zero"
"2 buffets, International."
"I'll pay in Continental."
>AM ends the call, and begins another.
"Hello. It's AM."
"I want a tour guide, with some friends."
"It's at the Safezone."
"Yeah. we are good now."
>AM hangs the call, and deletes the numbers from the recent calls, and returns the phone to June.
"Sorry about what happened at the party, had to figure some things out."
| > June accepts his phone back and slips it into the inside pocket of his coat.
"...Next time y'gotta figure things out...Can we get alot less you shootin' at me? I ain't sure 'bout Thomas 'cause after 'at debacle 'e ain't th'bloke I thought 'e'd be...But I ain't into bein' shot ifin' I can 'elp it."
>Fortunately Aethia had already left to check in on the Medical tent and how it was being set up. She was out of earshot. Her other guards were escorting her the whole way.
| "For the record, I was shooting at the car. Ah, look here is my backup."
>AM explains to June. The group sees 2 trucks move in to the nearby parking lot, followed by 2 vans. The doors of the vans open and you see 2 squads of men come out of the truck, looking combat ready. While both squads move to the trucks, One man rushes over to AM.
"Scout Actual, reporting for duty."
| "Alright. One squad deal with logistics, the other squad go and secure the outer perimeter, and look for locations close to the safezone to set base in."
>AM commands the Scout, and walks over to the trucks to take inventory. The Scout Leader rounds up half the men, and they head out to explore the area.
"You heard the boss, double time!"
| (Quick question, is AM's liaison to Aethia June? or can he contact Aethia directly?)
| (please use the discord for ooc to keep things clean)
| >Just then, some men began shouting from the White Lightning communications tent set up earlier.
>A White Lightning troop runs out to Aethia and the rest of the group, exasperated.
"Ma'am! Somebody wants to speak to you in the radio tent! You may want to take this call!"
| >A figure approaches the safezone out of the mists, their tall form obscured by thick layers of beige trenchcoat, a peacoat underneath, and what you can only assume is a suit underneath that. The bottom half of their face is bare, showing a square jaw, fixed in a permanent partial-smirk. They wear a fedora in a matching color of their suit, and walk briskly toward the encampment.
| >AM notices the suspicious man approaching, he signals to his men to focus on the man, and moves in to greet him.
"Hello, would you be in need of directions?"
| > Aethia turned slowly to look at the one approtching her. Her guards also turned.
"Oh? Sure. Lead the way. I'll speak with them immediately. Bryan, Lance...Let's go~!"
> With a smiling expression she headed for the communications tent.
| >>99396
"Certainly, young man," >The fedora-wearing man says, with an accent reminiscent of some old black and white holovid,
"Would you happen to be the commanding officer of the forces here?"
| "I am the quartermaster, and the Commander is busy, But I can handle any requests. And please refrain from calling me a young man, I am 44 after all."
>AM replies, doing the last sentence in a monotone fashion.
| >Inside the communications tent, a large screen was up against one wall where video calls could be done, along with a computer, radio and microphone on a table in front of it.
>On the screen was a notification of a call from an unknown caller. The area code suggested a governmental agency: 999-XXX-XXXX.
"We think it could be aid ma'am, although from who we have no clue. Nobody else should be able to contact us, they shouldn't have our info."
"Should we answer is, Miss Aethia?"
| >AM turns his head towards the logistics crew, and shouts.
"We have someone requesting to see the commander! Relay the info!"
>One of the men breaks away and messages the radio tent to relay the information further.
"Sorry about that, we prefer to keep transparent to the public and ourselves."
| "Mmm. Close all but one port to this IP and deny any suspicious entry requests on our end. If they send anything attached do not accept it unless it has the official hash-pattern. If any weird losses happen on our connection cut immediately and request that they call again at a specified time."
> After Aethia gave her orders she brushed back her hair away from her eyes and sighed softly as it merely fell back in place.
"We'll take the call. Just prescan it."
| > Aethia turned as one of her men made her aware of another someone trying to contact her. She sighed softly and bid June go to deal with it. She was dealing with government matters.
"If they can't wait or June isn't suitable enough to send the message back to me...Tell them to wait after IDing them. I'm afraid I am uninterested in meeting an unidentified man at a partially secure Safe Zone. Tell them that."
| "Yes ma'am!"
>A radio technician on the computer adjusted the settings before accepting the call.
>Then, on screen, a female Hybrid with augmented cybernetic flashes of metal streaking through what was clearly a VERY scarred face showed up. She wore white armor that was somewhat reminiscent of White Knight armor, but clearly more advanced and upgraded to higher levels of technology. The room she was in was clearly a professional meeting room of sorts, with others sitting at a table
| >All of the others sitting around the table were wearing the same armor, but in different colors and different augmentation levels.
>One sat in pitch black armor, clearly dedicated to heavy combat. She was a Cat Boomer.
>Another sat in purple armor, seemingly a medic of sorts. She was a human.
>Another one sat in green armor that seemed camoflaged, a scout/recon unit of sorts. She was another Hybrid.
>And sitting in cobalt-colored armor...Sei Asagiri, at the end of the table!
| >The Hybrid in white armor began speaking:
"Hello! My name is TJ Shinzaki, and I am the Community Representative of the Phoenix Corps. We are looking to speak to Aethia of White Lightning Fiberoptics. Is this her, or is she nearby?"
| "Indeed! This is she. Pleasure to hear from you, Ms. Shinzaki."
> Aethia greeted with a bright smile.
"We weren't expecting you! What can I do for you today?"
| >Evelyn quietly moved through the group in the tent and took her place next to Aethia.
>Being one of her bodyguards, Evelyn had the full WhiteLightning armor on. Despite it looking like winter wear, it was stuffed full of bullet and blast proof plating. Evelyn's coat was black with white buttons and a buckle on the folded high collar that when done up, would cover her mouth completely. She had black gloves with rivets on the knuckles, showing her love of punching rowdy punks.
| >Evelyn watched the screen with a blank stare, a look shared between her regular eye and her heavily augmented one. The armor that the lot on the screen were wearing was rather interesting to say the least. She brushed her semi long white hair out of her face. It had some red streaks in it so she didn't look exactly like Aethia.
"When you have a minute ma'am, I'd like to speak with you."
>She quietly muttered to Aethia so as to not interrupt either party's talk.
| >The Fedora wearing man continued to wait, seemingly in no hurry whatsoever. Their head moved slowly back and forth, observing the fortifications and the slowly increasing armaments of the zone as he waited for June to arrive.
| "Well, we heard you were in need of some assistance in bringing the dark districts of Glitch City back online after the Riots. We would like to provide some of that assistance. Simply put, we believe we can fill any holes and gaps that the GCPD and White Knights cannot do. Whatever you need us to do, our trained specialists can do it better and faster than anybody else can. We want to help Glitch City rebuild itself, and we think what you're doing is important, so we want to help."
| >TJ smiled as she advertised the Phoenix Corps services.
"And we'll do it for free as well. No payment from you is required. We simply want to aid you in your ventures. Like I said, we are ready, willing and able to do anything you need us to. Do you accept our offer?"
>The all-female room of officers watched the screen in wait, all seemingly excited about the possibility of doing good things for the people again.
| "Expensive," >The fedora-wearing man comments.
"Hard to believe that all of this," >He gestures to the Zone with his hands,
"Is at the hands of a single corporation. No. This is a coalition of some kind."
| >>99931 Aethia turned her attention to Evelyn temporarily and nodded once. Her good natured smile remained as she gazed up at the screen and quickly became one of gratitude.
>>99957
"That'd be wonderful! We could absolutely use some more feet on the ground and medical support. While we do have foodstuffs we still need help for the planned improvised soup kitchen. Really all I could manage was a few tents and everyone pitching in to purchase futons and some cheap medical equipment.
| " Right now we're using our communications equipment and other specializations to communicate with civilians, help them find lost loved ones along with setting up a place for them to rest and wait for medical attention. We've commandeered the Energy Station on 21B-A for that purpose and plan to expand around this block for now. 10 acres and only temporarily."
| > June got the call from Aethia's men to see about a man in a fedora. The tall, muscular Lilim straightened his jacket and wandered over. A light glance slipped to AM and then back at the waiting man while his hands slipped into his pockets. The closer he got the larger he'd notice the bodyguard to be.
"...Ain't th'commander but m'one 'o 'er bodyguards. I can tell 'er whatever needs be told to 'er. What cannae do fer yeh?"
>June being June couldn't help but find the guy suspicious.
| >Ferris glances over at Aethia and the people around her and speaks into her earpiece
We'll need some insurance over at T.A.
| /the drones are out? Good/
/Prep the batteries for the wires/
>Ferris barks a few more orders, before leaving and heading to the direction of the food supplies
| >AM excuses himself to check on his work, without answering the man's questions.
"Alright, what do we have in stock, I want a paper list!"
>He gestures for June to come over.
| >>100060
"I represent a number of Concerned Businesses in the immediate downtown area, who as you may be aware were affected greatly by the riots and mass protesting a few weeks ago," >The man begins, seemingly unresponsive to the lilim's imposing size.
"As such, while we certainly welcome your efforts, we must discuss the issue of territorial boundaries in the immediate Downtown area..." >He raises his hat and looks up at the lilim, his eyes glowingly slightly underneath.
| Excuse me sir
>A pair of armoured GCPD officers approach the Fedora-wearing man, one lifts up his visor to show his face
| "...preferably not with a mere bodyguard."
| >>100168
>Mr. Fedora does not seem to notice the officers at first, but then turns his head toward the one that spoke.
"How may I help you?"
| >>100169
If it isn't any problem, we need to check you for weapons sir
>The officer with his visor up says respectfully
| >AM Gets a nice big list of tools he can work with now. He thinks about what is needed and stats commanding.
"Get me a desk, terminal, tent, and chair. Let's setup shop!"
>He sees GCPD come over to the man, hoping that she would disarm the situation
| "We got proper channels fer that. Most businesses 'ould know y'can just call 'n give yer inquiries."
> June replied casually dismissing the man's own dismissive words.
"As far's territorial boundaries go tho' th'safe zones'll be temporary till 'veryone's been 'elped. But a'right. Yeh can talk with th'business folks 'bout territory. Just make sure yeh call at 800-XXX-XXX, 'n request th'business line. You'll make yer appointment 'n we'll book yeh soon's possible."
| >>100178
"Go ahead, gentlemen. You'll soon find that I have no reason to carry firearms on my person," >He says, opening his trenchcoat. He looks back to June, his expression unchanged.
"Unfortunately, that will not be acceptable; for one thing, I am not making an "inquiry," Mister bouncer..." >He steps closer to you, looking up at your face.
"This is a demand."
| > As AM's station is being set up, though his radio comes a voice.
"Alfa Lead reporting in sir! We found to potential sites, and have not encountered any resistance yet. ETA 3 hours, Out."
>AM responds.
"Copy. Stay safe out there. Out."
| >>100192
Thank you for your cooperation sir.
>The first officer steps behind the fedora man, and begins to pat down his chest, waist and legs for any hidden weapons
>The other officer takes out a portable metal detector
Do you have any augmentations on you sir?
| >>100207
>You discover not so much as a pistol or knife on the man's person after a quick pat down- only a wallet.
>As way of answering your second question, the metal detector beeps almost immediately- all over the man's body.
"In a manner of speaking."
| >>100207
If you wouldn't mind, we'd like to see.
And if you can tell us.. type and model.
Sorry, Lieutenants orders.
| >>100196
>As the troopers near a block of apartments which appear to be blacked out, a series of green glows appear in the windows, lighting up one after another.
| "Battle pairs, NOW!"
>Alfa Lead tells the rest of the group, and they scatter for cover
| "Demands, eh? N'what are yer demands? I'll go 'head 'n tell yeh straight. Yer goin' 'bout this all th'wrong ways. Ain't nuttin' gonna happen but a shit-show th'way yer cruisin'"
>June replied while taking a slight step back as if to prepare to turn. Though his knees bent and the Lilim squared up just in-case.
"'ll 'ear you out..but if yeh realleh wanna talk t'the head 'o this effort yeh'll wanna change tactics real quick like."
| >>100218
>The man smiles.
"A Type-23 REC-S model humanoid drone," >He says,
"Equipped with a tailored micro-pulse proton cortex bomb, connected with both a low-band remote detonation trigger and a deadman's switch," >He says, smoothly.
"Tell me, officer, how much is your life insurance policy worth?"
| "Eh..Th'hell?!"
>June's attention unfortunately switched toward the odd noises emanating from the block of would-be blacked out apartments.
| >>100234
"I already gave my demands, Mr. Bouncer. I wish to speak with the commanding officer of this coalition of aliens and greenhorns," >He says, his tone even.
"We will -not- be playing phone tag."
| >>100218
>the officers shudder completely shocked, taking a few steps back
L-Lets not get hasty here now..
| >>100242
"Yes, let's not. Drones are expensive, and these rioters have already cost us a few million nuyen," >He says, looking back up at the lilim.
"Have I made myself clear?"
| >AM calmly walks over to one of the trucks, and picks out a electric smoke grenade from a crate
"NO, FUCK OFF OLD MAN"
>AM throws the grenade and pulls his gun out, and starts firing EMP shots at him.
| >the pair of officers take distance
>Emp sniper shots fire at the man repeatedly
|
| EVERYONE GET BACK
>Ferris's voice booms out of speakers
>Most of the officers start running away into cover, pulling WL personell along with them
| >>100247
>As the smoke clears, you watch as the EMP shots don't seem to faze the man at all...
>>100253
>Unfortunately, these rounds, fired from a a sniper rifle, *do* faze him- as in, they penetrate the man's intentionally thin synthetic skin.
"...Amateurs," >The man says, before his eyes glow a bright red!
>The epicenter of where the man was standing suddenly ignites in a massive, blinding light as he detonates!
| >>100231
>Gunfire rips out of the apartment complex and begins to cheese the ground and your cover as coordinated strikes rip through not just the building you spotted the glowing eyes in, but in several others as well. Crunching metal and grinding gears fills the air as a ten foot mech deploys from behind a building, where it had been sitting in wait.
| >A booming noise resounds throughout the night- the sound of a 60mm cannon firing- explosives ripping into building foundations and ground as dark forms all over the city light up.
| >>100271
"Pop smoke!"
"Yane do your shit!"
"Marlowe, suppressive fire!"
>Alfa leader barks orders to the team. AM is going to give him a raise after this
| >The ground quakes as a wall of hidden and well armed lilims begins to move in tandem within the city streets, lit up by their green visors. They seem to be making their way toward the Safe Zone!
| >Marlowe begins firing at the advancing troops, forcing them in to cover. While Yane fires 40mm grenades at the advancing soldiers.
| "Charlie Charlie, This is Alfa Lead, we need reinforcements, Over!"
>Lead shouts in to his radio.
| >midway through a sandwhich, ferris chokes at the sound of the bombing, and hostiles popping up all over the map spotted by the camera drones on her eyepiece hud
Oh shit
>She presses on her radio
Everyone rendezvous on defensive points A through E. Support squad man the AFV
| >the officers begin taking various defensive positions inside and outside buildings
Good thing we armed live
Fire at will
| >The feed cuts from the Phoenix Corps, just after TJ finally says:
"WE'RE ON OUR WAY! HOLD YOUR GROUND!"
>Many, many Phoenix Corps troops begin to mobilize in Levicars and Levibikes, on their way to the coordinate site of the Safe Zone, with heavily armed troops ready for war if need be.
| >Evelyn puts a finger to her earpiece... Immediately her eyes widen and her cat ears flatten. She becomes blanketed in horror. No longer caring about being polite she leans in close to Aethia.
"Ma'am, we need to move. NOW. There was a suicide bomber... Casualty count is in the air at the moment, and apparently there's a practical army of not-so-friendly Lilims encroaching on our current safe zone. We need to go."
>She cleared her throat and looked around the room.
| >Alfa Lead tries to contact the phoenix corps, but struggling to hear anything from the gunfire.
"Copy, 2 by 5, please repeat, over"
| >Armed with shitty AK-98s fireteam Alfa slows the charge on their position
>Meanwhile, AM is limping back to a truck to grab a new gun...
| >taking a few breaths to calm herself, Ferris continues to talk to her radio
This is Lt. Rys. Task force 17 is under heavy fire. I repeat HEAVY FIRE
ARRANGE CAVALRY FOR ATTACK AND EXTRACTION
| >addressing her troops through radio
Alright men. Take whoever you can and hold defensive positions on the radial. Backup's coming soon
>She then takes out a phone and moves to her contact for Aethia
Where are you? Are you ok?
| >>100298
>A soft "kachunk" can be heard attaching to the underside of the Levicars. Suddenly, you see a grappling hook pop on the top of the vehicle from the passenger side window!
| >>100308
>A pair of men wearing goggles climb onto the craft as it flies toward the chaos! One of them reveals a sledgehammer and begins to wail on the vehicle's roof!
| >>100305
"Well hello there."
>Evelyn bitterly chirps into her earpiece, having hers being able to take calls from Aethia's.
"My name is Evelyn, I'm one of Aethia's bodyguards. At the moment... besides probably her ears ringing for the next week and some windows being shattered, we're alright. I'm going to attempt to get her to a safer place as soon as I can. Please, keep me updated sweetheart."
>She taps the earpiece to turn off the microphone and sighs to try and relive stress.
| >>100290
>Your heavy weapons manage to stall some of the marching lilims! Three, then four drop from the blast, while the rest take cover and continue to fire in your direction. The ground trembles as something walks into view- it's a ten foot tall bipedal mech, armed with a chain gun and a large cannon!
>The air rumbles as the cannon fires at something in the distance, the surroundings split by a thunderous crack!
| > When the sonic boom of the explosion tore through the tent and shattered the glasses on their map desk, Aethia felt her center of balance lurch out of her control. She quickly grabbed hold of Evelyn, since she was the first person/thing she saw she could grab hold of. The table was next. Her eyes flew wide in horror and everything fell into chaos.
"W-What on earth?!"
> When she heard her bodyguard's words she stared in disbelief.
"A WHAT?!"
> Dazed she could only follow Evelyn.
| "Artillery! Marlowe with me! Evie with Lane! Fire and Maneuver! We got to take it!"
>Lead shouts commands as Evie drops a few combatants with her EBR, and Lane fires indirectly with her GL.
| >replying to her men on the radio
Lilim? WELL LOAD EMPS Мудак
| >>100318
>You manage drop several more lilims, but a few that hit the ground appear to only have lost their legs, and they return fire, hitting some of your men (whether they survive or not is up to you). The wall of lilims continue to march onward, following the path cleared by the bipedal tank.
| >>100309
>One of the Levicars begins to spiral off course.
"I need backup! I need backup now!"
>One of the parallel Levicars had a Lascannon on top of it, and it began firing lethal bursts of lazers at the ones on top of the friendly Levicar as they began driving through the air towards the Safe Zone.
| >>100330
>One of the shadowrunners is hit square in the face by the lascannon! They are VERY dead!
"Awww shit, they geeked Freddy!" He says, as he struggles to hold on, ducking another laser blast!
"Time for plan B...."
>He sticks a bomb to the underside of the vehicle and lets go, letting himself fall to the buildings below!
>As he falls, the bomb on the underside of the vehicle blows!
| "Charlie Charlie, We got 2 men injured, Our position is SWW from the Safezone, 1 km out, OVER"
>Lead is slowly seeing it go ploin shaped, Evie and Lane got caught by the advance, made it out, but not without injuries.
"Everyone, Retreating firing line, Grenades!"
>The whole fireteam starts throwing all of their grenades. Frag, Flash, EMP, Smokes are all being thrown.
| >>100332
>The Levicar bursts into flames as it plummets through the air and collides into a skyscraper.
"GET MEDICS DOWN THERE NOW!"
>One of the Levicars and one Levibike break off from the group and follow down to the wreckage while the rest of the group of 4 Levicars and 5 Levibikes continue to fly to the Safe Zone.
>They are now about 20 miles away.
| >>100337
>The flash and emp grenades do little to stop the encroaching horde, but the smokes manage to obscure their vision just long enough for you to get out, and the frag grenades manage to injure a few. Ahead of you, the bipedal tank continues its march, occasionally causing the ground to rumble as its heavy cannon continues firing.
| >Ferris steps out from behind a piece of debris from what was a food van, and makes her way to the AFV firing it's LMG at the approaching Lilim, hoping to find Aethia. Or AM. Even Lubowski
| >>100337
"Alfa Lead, this is Detachment Omicron of the Phoenix Corps on it's way to the safe zone about 20 miled away from your current location. ETA 6 minutes."
| >>100344
>A heavy shell flits through the air and strikes one of the support vehicles in the encampment squarely on the side, causing it to flip over onto another car in the process.
| >A somewhat familiar voice crackles over the radio, familiar to those who were in the riots perhaps.
"Why hello there, I see you've got yourself a mech issue. Need a Two foot hole plowed into it?"
>Despite the direness of the situation, Bunker's mental state caused him to joke like a prick. But nonetheless he spoke.
"I'm the suit of gray Valkyrie armor with the hydraulic piston cannon. try not to cap me."
>Bunker clicked off his outgoing audio so no one would hear him.
| > Armed WL Security have joined into the fray but are mostly attempting to hoard the frightened Civilians that AREN'T dead away from the gunfire. A pair of armored vans are attempting to be used as a blocker to get a small group away from the cross fire. Meanwhile a small squad of WL are providing limited suppression fire and CQCing anyone who gets too close. One in particular 'Raz' seems to be fishing to steal a weapon to provide better fire.
| >>100342
>Fireteam Alfa falls back, but Lane is taking a slow second to pull out a... a fucking mortar? As they move to the alleyways, Lane loads her mortar, and fires.
"I FUCKING knew you where batshit crazy, Lane!"
"Valkyrie, come in, danger close, danger close! Over!"
| >>100352
>The mortar makes a satisfying explody noise as it lands among a group of the armored lilims!
| "Marlowe! Grab some mortar shells pop em, and throw em at that big fucker!"
>Lane calls out to Marlowe, while Evie is providing accurate covering fire.
"Valkyrie, How read copy?"
| >Bunker propels himself off the roof towards the tank. He'd done this enough to know he was going to make the jump. He had managed to cling to what looked like an important part of the mech. Maybe. He wasn't an expert. He dropped down a little and stared at the sea of Lilim below. He shuddered but braced the piston on one of the leg joints of the mech. He pulls the trigger swiftly,sending the piston blasting forward into the leg joint at a disgusting speed.
| >Ferris, staggering. Takes out an S&W .500 from underneath her coat and unloads regular ammunition, replacing them with emps while continuing to look for the white haired cat boomer
| >>100361
>Some of the mortar shells strike the mech, which causes it to shudder and stop in place! It slowly turns around with its turret (full 180 degrees) and begins to face you!
>>100366
>The mech shudders as you pile drive one of its joints! The mech makes a loud squealing noise as sparks begin to fly from it! The mech begins to slowly fall into a crouching position!
| >failing to find her target, and acknowledging bunker's fight woth the mech. Ferris joins a group of men, firing at approaching Lilim.
| I didnt get an answer about those augmented bears. So i guess ill test it out here
| > Aethia is still in the tent at this point unable to do little more than watch the carnage before her. Wide eyed and cowed by the abrupt change of atmosphere she can only murmur---low on the ground after being pulled to cover within the partially collapsed tent.
"I...just...wanted to help..."
>The boomer clearly truamatized by the experience says nothing else. Her bodyguards quickly gather her up by her arms and shoulders. Bryan looked to Evelyn.
"EVELYN! WE'RE WE GOIN', LASS?"
| >>100372
>Evelyn, tightly holding Aethia in one arm, marches out of the comms tent and spots the only person who could be Ferris. She takes off her overcoat and drapes it over Aethia, so as to hide her face and keep her protected from whatever sources she can. However that left her with two layers of bulletproofing, but little to no head protection. Besides her gloves maybe.
"Hey, Ferris, how the fuck are you? We need some evac. ASAP. At least for her."
>She motions to Aethia.
| "Lane, you fuckwit! Stop firing, we got a friendly!"
>Lead spots Bunker fighting the mech
"Valkyrie, repeat! Danger CLOSE"
>Lead finally rushes in and begins pulling Lane in to an alleyway, Marlow throwing one of his last shells at a group of lilims.
"HAHA BOOOOM motherfucker! Take that you fucking turtle!"
>Lane keeps shouting at the mech...
| >AM is still recovering from the blast... He sees one of his trucks flipped.
"Fireteam Bravo Gather!"
>The logistics team gets their guns out and gets ready.
"Flip that truck!"
| >>100390
"Aye, keep your fuckin pants on. I don't want to be here any longer than necessary."
>Evelyn adjusted her gloves and sighed deeply. She didn't want to believe June... Wherever the bastard was. But this was a complete shit show.
| > Some sort of nanocamo, perhaps? Whatever the case, what appears to be ghosts, revealed as men, appear from out of the blue, each armed heavily with weapons normal beings couldn't carry on their own. in an attempt to push back the lilim army, dozens, nearly half of the original safe-zone force crawl from wood works, approaching the front line to assist protecting the safe-zone. Several appear close by the evac with Ferris, dropping a few shields to make sure fire doesn't stray to.
| >>100394
>Bunker clicks on his comms angrily.
"Yes hi. Please stop fucking firing at the bloody mech! This armor us bullet proof, but I don't need yiu adding to the mix! Valkyrie... Over."
>He clicks off comms again and pulls back his pile bunker again, climbing to what looks like a cannon of sorts and cramming the piston into the joint of said cannon and crushes the trigger again. Blasting the joint with the same insane speed.
| >ferris nods at evelyn
We may have a few cruisers running. or
>She points at the AFV firing its lmg in the distance
We could get her and some wounded out in that. Might leave some of my men in a worse positiont though
| >[ OOC Notice : Putting the show on pause! Everyone involved is tired and likes sleep. ;D Let us continue next time on GLITCH...BALL...Z!]
| >Lead finally pulls Lane away to an alleyway, proud of his men.
>Marlowe is last out, sprinting in to the alleyway.
"Thank FUCK for whoever these people are!"
| >A faint chopping of air sound could be heard from the Safe Zone, gettig louder and louder as it approached the urban warzone. Levicars and Levibikes armed for war appeared out of the sky above the battle!
"Alfa Lead, this is Detatchment Omicron. We have arrived."
>Two Levicars armed with Lascannons aimed down at the Lilim army from above, while the command Levicar armed with a Rocket Pod shone a spotlight down on them. The Levibikes all stood beside them in air.
| (OOC: PERFECT place to stop for the Phoenix Corps ;)
|
| >Her voice elated with surprise and relief, Ferris signals her men to fall back
Cavalries here! Fall back along with their push, gather the civilians and wounded and escort them to evac. Anyone who can still fight double back MOVE
| >The GCPD officers fall back as the "ghosts" take position, being sure not to give ground as their line is replaced by fresh, better armed troops. They carry their wounded and direct civilians and WL personnel towards evac as they stagger back
| >AM begins to carry a wounded civilian himself to help out, he caries him towards a secluded part in the evacuation zone.
| "THIS IS THE PHOENIX CORPS! FOR THE PEOPLE OF GLITCH CITY, STAND DOWN OR BE DESTROYED!"
>Like angels from the sky, the female voice of Omicron-1 spoke through a loudspeaker down at the Lilim army from the command Levicar armed with the Rocket Pod. The other 2 Levicars with Lascannons and the 5 Levibikes with twin-linked full-auto Gatling Lasers brandished their weapons fiercely, as if to beg the Lilims to make a move and sign their own destruction wish.
| >A blast occurs behind the GCPD as their forces swap out the fresh recruits- one of the armored cars being used as a barricade tips over as three loud cracks break through the darkness. A series of vehicles, including one Ford Americar with improvised, spiked metal plates welded to its front and sides, along with three Viking heavy bikes, roar down a sidepath!
| >Above the rear bike is a tattered flag, bearing the letters "RR"! Someone pops out of the sunroof of the modified car!
"Tally ho, you fascists!" >The person yells, as they fire a surface to air missile from the vehicle! It strikes one of the support Levicars!
| >Taking advantage of the distraction caused by the approaching shadowrunners, the lilims begin their attack anew, focus firing first on the Levibikes one at a time.
| >>100407
>You feel your pile driver drive itself into the cannon's muzzle, warping the steel!
>The cannon fires, detonating the warhead INSIDE THE BARREL, AND YOU WITH IT!
| "Copy clear Omicron, Great to have you! Over!"
>Lead finally got his team together, deep in to an alley way. He gets Lane to properly set up her mortar
"Omicron, we got indirect fire support ready, over."
>Marlowe and Evie cover the main street, making sure that no stray mad lilim wander in.
| Ayyy Это пиздец
SCATTER! WHO HAS THE FUCKING GRENADE LAUNCHER
>Ferris shouts, a new frustration in her tone, she turns towards the bikes, fishes out a pair of smoke grenades and throws it between the bikes and the wounded, hoping to provide a momentary distraction as her troops and civilians alike scranble for cover
| >AM swaps the civilians jacket for his, and gives his helmet to the civ, telling him its protection. The Civ puts it on willingly, and waits for help as AM goes to find a "Medic"
| >The Levicar that was hit with the rocket launcher was hit directly in the back-right propeller, causing it to swerve and veer down, almost hitting one of the Levibikes!
>As it went down, each of the soldiers inside quickly hopped out of the car, while the one on the Lascannon detached it and jumped off the top carrying it.
>The car itself spun out and hit a building behind the Lilim army.
>Meanwhile, the soldiers slowly descended to the ground using Jump Packs, firing at the bikes
| >The descending soldiers are decked in white Phoenix Corps armor, a significantly improved design of old White Knight armor. The Heavy Gunner using the Lascannon wore heavy-duty armor that was even thicker, and she was colored purple.
>The rest of them had varying weaponry- Driver had a plasma pistol, two passengers had auto-shotguns and one passenger had an arc rifle.
>They chanted a battle cry as they landed and kept firing at the RR bikers.
| >Fireteam Alfa begins moving back up the alleyway, to retake the street. Lane begins popping mortars back, while the rest of the squad begins a slow push back up the street, using dumpsters as cover.
"GET SOME!"
| >Suddenly, a rocket volley fired from the command car at the Lilim army!
>6 rockets barreled down into the group, armed with fragmentation explosives!
>As well, the other Levicar's Lascannon began firing at the RR Bikers in burst volleys, while the Levibikes pressed a hard assault on the attacking Lilims.
"ALFA LEAD, THIS IS OMICRON-1, WE NEED TO GET THE CIVILIANS OUT WHILE HEAVIER BACKUP ARRIVES! WE'VE GOT MORE TROOPS ON THE WAY, BUT HOLD YOUR GROUND AND GET THE CIVVIES OUT!"
| This is Lt. Rys we acknowledge
PULL BACK THE AFV AND LOAD THE WOUNDED AND CIVS
>The afv pulls back from the lilim-barraged frontline into the somewhat safer middle, wounded are being crammed inside while civilians and WL personell are instructed to grab onto the sides
| >the afv speeds off the sides at the moment the bikers and RR americar are distracted
>the few remaining officers attempt to cover the afvs retreat, opening fire at the bikes
>Pressing at her radio, Ferris speaks in a somewhat worried, somewhat commanding tone
Send a hovercar or bike oor whateverthose are to escort the afv!
| "Omicron-1, What the fuck do you expect a fireteam to do against a battalion! we are running low on ammo and half the squad is injured, OVER"
>Lead shouts at the radio in rage, What the actual fuck here they going to do?
| "Oh shit."
>Bunker muttered as he heard the warhead within screeching to a halt on the dent he'd made. The violent blast threw him away like a ragdoll. Sending him crashing through a wall or five into the nearby buildings. His armor helped... Somewhat. Pieces of the armor were warped and cracked, all of the front was torched. He clicked on his comms, hoping his radio was in decent shape.
"Valkyrie down..? Requesting medical help ASAP. Position unknown."
>His comms crackled off.
| "Valkyrie, this is Alfa Lead, turn on any beacons that you have, or fire in the air. We will move to support. Over."
>Lead started to command the team to retreat and regroup to get to Valkyrie.
| > Aethia whom at this point was in such despair that she barely had any clue where she was, remained under Evelyn's coat. Lead to the AFV along with other civilians mixed in and around her. Despondent she'd remained quiet despite the horrifying noises surrounding her...
>How did it all come to this?
| >Bunker sat with his back to a wall, his armor still smoking from the blast. He struggled to move properly, so he remained still and listened to his garbled comms. He heard something about a beacon. All his lights were most likely shattered from the blast. He felt pathetic. Sitting as this smoking heap of broken armor. He switched on his beacon and turned on the E-light on his helmet. It softly pulsed an orange light, that would be visible from the second story building he was in.
| "Lead I got something!"
>Evie pulls away from the binoculars, turning to lead.
"That Might be Valkyie!"
>Lead sees beacon of light, and gathers the team.
"That's not to far from us, lets get going!"
|
|
| > On the top of one of the surrounding buildings the slight flicker of light flashing off the lens of a sniper scope might have been noticed by particularly sharp eyes. A particularly sharp shooter in both senses was prepared to introduce several incendiary armor piercing enhanced sniper rounds into any clear shot that might attempt to hinder the team from reaching the man in the modified Valkyrie suit.
| >AnoMeat finally finds a medic.
"Officer, one of your men is injured back there! He is bleeding fast!"
>As the medic moves to assist, AnoMeat removes his scarf, and stuffs his empty sleeve, to make it seem like he has 2 hands. and throws away the phone he got from one of the logistics crew.
| >>101982
>One of the bikes catches flames as you fire upon it, and collides with a street sign, bisecting one of the passengers and throwing the other to the side as the remainder crashes into a wall.
>>101988
>One of the arc bolts fries a bike and its riders, causing both things to collapse to the ground!
>>102385
>Piercing through the varied noises of yells and gunfire, a soft whistling can be heard- it grows in strength, seemingly getting closer...
| >Shells fall from the sky, striking seemingly at random as some fall upon just outside the encampment, some into buildings, and some into the encroaching lilim horde itself. As the barrage continues, you soon find that the shells had been fired in an arc surrounding the safezone from both front and back, leaving only the direction that the Shadowrunners were coming from.
| >One of the shells nearest the main fighting seemingly opens up, a large "door" cracking open in its side. As the lilims march around it, several fall to the lascannon from one of the surviving Phoenix Corps vehicles, when suddenly the vehicle is shot out of the sky! A loud, distinctive crack comes from the fallen shell- as a heavily armored suit of powered armor appears from it, its left arm mounted railgun dispensing steam.
| >It reveals its right arm, a chaingun, and opens fire on the descending Phoenix Corps troopers!
| >The spiked Americar continues its charge down the path, aiming for the barricades of the SafeZone! It's intending to ram the barricade!
| >One of the heavily armored troops appearing from the fallen shells arrives equipped with an enormous megaphone, which they speak into.
"ATTENTION, INTERLOPERS REPRESENTING THE WHITE LIGHTNING FIBER CORPORATION, AND THEIR ALLIES," >They say,
"YOUR FORCES ARE OUTNUMBERED AND OUTGUNNED. SURRENDER YOUR ARMS AND LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY, OR SUFFER EXECUTION AND/OR LEGAL ACTION."
| >Bunker blinks heavily. Where the hell was the medic? Why didn't anyone else care about him being blasted... Why was he helping... The weak and selfish. He turns off the light on his helmet, and looks at another on his wrist. The one that constricted the membrane underneath. It'd realign his bones again... But it wouldn't tickle. After some agony and pained groans, Bunker got up onto his feet and realigned the piston on his arm. He walked to the first entry hole and looked down.
| >>103769
>The area appears clear of any forces, enemy or otherwise... the lilim and mech seem farther up ahead.
| >These odd fellows with the chaingun arms have the right idea. He waits a minute and puts up his middle finger at where his radar showed someone off in a building. A sniper. He waited for a hoverbike to approach. Phoenix corps on board. Bunker leaped onto the bile and crammed the piston into the face of the soldier driving it.
"Hop off."
>He growled at the soldier. Bunker was done. Fuck corporations. This was all for publicity. They didn't care. High time he did something.
| It's over. As long as the civs are safe there's no reason to keep fighting
>Ferris communicates over her radio, exhausted
>She motions to one of her few remaining officers
Grab a white flag over there, wave and declare surrender
| >>103801
>The lilims closest to the blockade stop their approach and hold their fire upon seeing the white flag, and turn instead to continue attacking the Phoenix Corps!
>...just as the armored, spiked Americar crashes through the barricade with a loud crunching sound, and drives itself straight into a concrete wall.
>Shards of rubble and barbed wire fall on the vehicle, partially covering it.
| >communicating over an open radio channel, Ferris declares surrender
On behalf of the GCPD, and to extent the WL relief forces. We will lay down our arms on condition that we would be allowed to treat any remaining wounded and safely gather and escort all remaining civilians out. Then we will leave with no further resistance. As long as your forces agree to pull back 3 kilometers to assure the safety of our exit
| >>103804
"..." >At first, silence... then...
"We will approve of these terms. You have thirty minutes."
| ROLL
>Ferris, having only a very few remaining officers left, takes a commanding tone towards everyone present. Even the Phoenix Corps
| Check the cruisers, Find any working vehicle you can. Everyone who can, pick up any wounded you find.
| If they aren't stable, call medic
| >Ferris faces, shouting at the Phoenix corps formation
GET THOSE HOVER CARS DOWN HERE AND PILE IN THE WOUNDED
| THOSE WHO CANT, TAKE THE VEHICLES.
THOSE WHO CAN, WE HEAD TO ST. MADOKA!
MOVE!
| >The commander in the command Levicar grunted and hit her wheel angrily as she listened to the comms. Why were they surrendering?! These assholes deserved to pay for what they did!
>Just then, a transmission from command. The commander took a moment to answer it hesitatingly. She knew exactly what command was calling for...
>"...Yes, Ms. Hoshii?"
>"..."
>"..!"
>The commander went pale white.
>"...Y-yes...Yes I...I-I understand..."
>She hung up the call.
"Phoenix Corps surrenders."
| Any more fighting is only more bodies piled onto a scorched and useless ground
>Ferris sneers to herself
| >She spoke over the intercom as well as the internal commlines with the GCPD and WL forces.
"We will lay our weapons down amd follow the standdown orders."
>The Levicars and Levibikes all began lowering to the ground...besides one Levibike.
"H-Hey dude! We're on the same side! This shit ain't worth my life, take the damned bike!"
>The female driver leapt off the bike and hovered to the ground, leaving it to Bunker.
"You'll pay for it later, trust me! You don't wanna take from us.."
| >The Levicars opened up their doors to act as ambulances for the wounded.
"EVERYBODY USE THE LEVICARS TO LOAD UP THE WOUNDED!"
>The Phoenix Corps soldiers all set the seats down and made the inside of the Levicars suitable for ambulance duty, a standard function that comes with the cars.
>Meanwhile, the soldiers on the Levibikes hopped off and assisted everybody else to load up and get out quickly.
>The commander of the Phoenix Corps ran over to the AFV, to see Aethia.
"Miss..."
| (the AFV left a while ago?)
| >AM Gets on to a levicar, and leaves towards a evac zone, with the same wounded man on the back.
>Alfa Squad, after a lot of resistance, finally makes it to Bunker's location.
"This is Alfa, Valkyrie, where are you? Over."
| >The Logistics squad has flipped their truck over, and began loading people in to whatever space they have. they are also handing out various supplies to those in need.
| >Ferris and a pair of officers, direct those that can walk towards the direction of St. Madoka's hospital while also overseeing the handling of the wounded, and their loading into various surviving vehicles
| >A tall, young man walks into the safe zone, carrying all sorts of tech on them. He walks up to one of the volunteers
"Uh excuse me, I'm looking for whoever is in charge here? I'm CN."
| >>103984
>Surprised at a new comer in this situation, Ferris hurriedly informs cn
What the hell? wrong time to come in kid we're pulling out, like, now.
| >>103993
"What you get one bomb and you're giving up already? I can assure you the opposition in this case is just making a show of power this safe zone is far from out of the count. Now considering we don't have a lot of time I'll ask again. Do you know where Aethia is? Or at least someone that can quickly reach her?"
| >>103999
>Ferris's white hair had turned ashy gray from debris and her eyes showing a clear, tired yet worried expression, her voice cracking finally cracked from exhaustion
don't you dare... don't you dare make light of what we... what these men have been through. people died. and we're pulling back. I don't know if the safe zone effort is done for or not... But I'm sure as hell not going to make this an even deeper grave for even more people.
| *Sigh*
But if you're looking for Aethia, I had her evac'd early on in an AFV. She should be at St. Madoka's right now
>Ferris shakes her head and turns to join in the evac
| >>104006
"Sorry I didn't mean to offend, sadly I'm very familiar with the value of human life..."
>There's a strange expression on his face, an almost melancholic look but it quickly passes.
"In either case I'm not stopping your evacuation efforts but given to the restraints I can't head to the hospital. Is there someone who has her number or something?"
| >Ferris stops for a moment and takes out a phone from deep inside her greatcoat.
Here, be quick. Conditions gave only thirty minutes to safely leave
| >Ferris heaves a heavy, slightly irked sigh and takes CN's free hand without trying to interrupt his call
сука we only have what? 10 minutes left. don't stand here and get shot up
>She says as she pulls at his arm, leading him along
| >>104027
>Aethia jumped at the feeling of just her phone vibrating in her pocket. The kind of jump one made if they'd been afraid something was going to blow up in their pocket, not just a mere surprised reaction. She took a shaking breath and fumbled to pull her cellphone out...and when she gazed at the ID she sighed tiredly.
"...H-Hello..?...Oh...CN. No. No I'm not okay."
> After replying she glanced around at the civilians about her making note of their variety of expressions.
| "I created a safe zone...a-and...proceeded to watch as it was blown up, filled w-with corpses, gunfire, and threats of execution. I'm exhausted and miserable. That's what I am."
> She stated...mildly surprised at the calm she'd managed to find in all of this. Maybe it was simply that she was no longer being surrounded by impending death.
| "I guess it w-want's very safe. W-was it?"
| >>104142
"Hey don't give up that easily. Things look bad right now but you can always try again. Now the guys who did this, I know about them. They're mostly just vindictive assholes who are mad their broken toy broke so I might be able to come up with a compromise, but I'll need to ask you some stuff, is that alright?"
| >>104152
> For a moment Aethia surprised herself. She still had just enough energy to feel a spark of anger. She gave a shuddering breath and went completely silent for at least ten seconds. 'Hey don't give up that easily?'
"...I see. In Glitch City this kind of r-reaction is...just 'vindictive'. Okay."
> Her exhaustion out paced her anger. Although she felt the tears burning in her eyes at the mix of feelings those words stirred in her stomach...
"...Ask." > Her voice cracked.
| >>104158
"Yes unfortunately, honestly I personally hate their guts cause they love doing this kind of thing to everyone. They're CrayCo., a property Corp who has strongarmed the small businesses here downtown to getting what they want. They've also been harassing the refugees but that's neither here nor there. I'll do my best to remain objective. Anyways back to the questions. How long were you planning on keeping the safe zone active? Also how much of the area does it cover again?
| "Finally, how much liquid asset would WL be able to use right now? Just an approximate is fine."
| > It was sobering how infuriating CN's words were. Perhaps not in that he could just say them so casually, but the general atmosphere that such was the expected result. Maybe her exhaustion just helped numb.
"...I was planning to provide at least a month of relief. I-It d-depended on the atmosphere. If th-the people w-wanted it, th-the assets were available, and those w-who owned th'property allowed."
| > Aethia took a soft breath and closed her eyes.
"...I h-had intended t-to cover ten acres initially...twenty f-for the first zone. As for th-the assets...I'm not sure. I'm not in th-the best state t-to crunch numbers, CN. You'll have to forgive me."
| >Bunker stopped and thought about things. Did any corp really care about him? All that was going on was a flexing of resources. Lives being thrown into the gutter to try and see who could make the biggest impact.
"No sense taking anything. You've surrendered."
>Bunker sighed as he landed the bike. Was this shit really worth it? Why help out either side at this point. He clicked on his comms.
"I'm fine, I patched myself up."
>He turned to the Phoenix corp soldier.
"I'm Sorry."
| >>104172
"Hmm... okay."
>He pauses, thinking to himself
"Alright CrayCo. Holds a monopoly in the district so they care about controlling land here. I'll negotiate that in exchange for leaving it active we'll decreased the size and time it would be active. Naturally I'll inflate the initial numbers to try to maintain as much as originally planned. Is that okay? I know it's not what you wanted but this way we'll be able to help more people that can't get help anywhere else."
| >>104182
"CN...I'm not paying for anything until I h-have extensive information on who I am d-dealing with. Th-that includes you. Perhaps th-this entire thing is completely normal to you...a-and for that I empathize, but r-right now I am c-currently in emotional sh-shock. I have lost th-the lives of people I cared a-about and a p-people I've attempted t-to help have lost even m-more in th-the wake of all of this. None of this is 'okay'. Th-this situation cannot use the word 'okay'"
| >>104185
"You're right... I apologize. I can't begin to imagine what you're going through right now. I'm sure my attitude sounds callous and distant, but that's only because there's little time left before the ceasefire ends and everyone evacuates. But truth be told, I don't care if you pay me or not, I want to do this so I can do something right to do those who are gone, to the people still trying to make a difference, yourself included."
| "People are gone, that fact can't be changed, as painful as it is to admit, but if we can sustain the safe zone we can help those who still need help. Because honestly, no one else will go out of the way to do something like this again like you have. I'm not trying to be preachy I just... I want to do what I can to make a difference in this city as well, with the skills I have."
| >>104186
> Silence over took Aethia's side of the line again. After a while another shaken sigh left her before she replied.
"Can all of this..t-truly be so simple as a matter of business negotiations? This w-was terrorism. Th-these people are terrorists. I am sorry, CN, but I-I am not yet that strong to just t-turn around and t-try again after what just ha-happened. I need time."
| "...I n-need to regroup before I naively make a-anymore rash decisions th-that could cost even more lives and resources than in-intended."
| >>104203
"I-I see... I understand. I'm sorry for asking you all of this on such short notice. Goodbye Aethia... And stay safe."
>He slowly hangs up the phone and hands it back to Ferris
"Well guess it's time to do something stupid again..."
>CN starts running towards where CrayCo. was and once he's gained a significant distance from the safe zone starts walking with his hands up in the air.
| >>104206
>Almost immediately your face lights up with hundreds of red lasers. Please note that they are aiming at your *face* this time.
"Halt. Identify yourself."
| "CN. I'm a volunteer who came of their own accord to negotiate with CrayCo."
| >>104208
>The lilims do not remove the lasers from your face, but one of the heavily armed drop shock troopers approaches you instead.
| >A garbled, modulated voice speaks.
"We know who you are. You have an odd dispensity for interfering with our operations on this planet. And yet, even you did not show the callous disregard for for self preservation that these morons have."
"At least, not until now."
| >>104215
"Heh, well what can I say, extraneous circumstances make people do stupid things. Like starting a civil war after some riots cause one of your drones blew up. Which, for the record, I do not have one, in case you were worried about that. In either case, what's it going to take to leave these people alone? In case you hadn't noticed they weren't bothering you until now."
| >>104223
"We intended to let them stay, provided that they allowed our forces to provide security and any necessary reconstruction in several business zones in the immediate area, from which they would be barred. After that genius shot our very, very expensive drone... with a rather difficult to obtain explosive charge, I might add... we presumed that their intention was to take over this area, also further assuming that they were backed by the other invading forces in the area.
| "Admittedly, it appears we were incorrect. The ammunition used and costs to replace our scrapped units will be tremendous, but we presume that this will be paid handsomely, in due time."
"Which leads us back to where *you* come in. We are not very familiar with "decking," much less the world of "shadowrunning" proper. You asked what it will cost to convince us to, "leave these people alone,"... "
| "A milk run."
| >>104247
"*You* want to hire *me*? This better be good considering there's no such thing as a milk run."
This thread is permanently archived
| “Don't panic! We're of peaceful intention! This is the WhiteLightning Safe Zone effort. This area has been selected to be a Safe Zone! Phase One will end in five hours!
>A loudspeaker blared as 21B-A Blue Haven RD filled with heavily geared men and women with the WL Logo on their backs marched. Five hover ambulances traveled forward with this security lining them. Six armored vans carrying recovery gear, industrial tent equipment, and various foodstuff followed afterward.