ShockHelix
Administrator
Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
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Post by ShockHelix on Mar 15, 2014 21:59:00 GMT -5
William listened carefully as Darwin detailed the history of the Enclave, naming groups William had never heard of before. The Brotherhood of Steel and New California Republic were both foreign to him, but it seemed the world was much bigger then he had first anticipated. Interestingly enough, what Darwin claimed these two – supposedly large – groups had failed to accomplish, a single heroic individual had done on his own. Still, all this information would be valuable to his King, and he paid close attention to every tidbit Darwin parted with.
As Darwin continued to detail further Enclave outposts, William grew worried that their original fears of the Enclave should have never been dismissed. With some bases destroyed, large mobile bases, and upgraded armor and weaponry similar to Darwin's, they would be formidible foes indeed if they ever arrived to assault Camelot. Finding them would be difficult indeed, but defense of their home had so far been Camelot's strong point. Of course, they had never fought any truly organized groups such as the Wolves or Enclave before. William still found it strange that somewhat civilized men lived so close to their home, and they were just now discovering one another. He watched as the Wolven 'king' replaced his helmet back atop his head and tapped its comm, wondering what new development had occurred.
"I apologize to you for the timing of our meeting, my friends. It seems several minor issues are calling for my attention. Feel free to enjoy the mansion and it's luxuries as if it were your own. Marilyn and Ghost will see that you are attended to. There are many proper beds and facilities in this mansion. All I ask is that you refrain from attempting to enter the Vault. It's been a pleasure to meet you. I hope you decide to stay so that we may have further palaver tomorrow. If you do choose to leave, feel free to return anytime as my personal guests."
William nodded, and he and Hardwin bowed respectfully as they would with any of their homes lords. As Darwin started towards the door, Marlon and Ordeith stepped aside, saluting ceremoniously when he stopped for a moment.
"If you regrettably decide to leave Roanoke Island, please tell you king that I look forward to another meeting. We have much to discuss, and much to offer each other."
“Of course. I am confident he would be most pleased to do so my lord,” William responded, with another bow as Darwin exited the room. Ordeith and Marlon relaxed somewhat and William turned back to the map. There were a lot of pins, and there was no way for him to learn what all of them meant, but that would be information Darwin could share with the King on a later date. “It seems Lord Darwin has a very extensive knowledge of post war America. Though, he mentioned proper facilities? Aside from the vault of course, do you perhaps have any research, construction, or other fabrication facilities?”
“Do you think a tribal is defined by a spear and a loincloth?" Lange asked the Knights in general. "They are cunning and predacious, with collaborators in the strangest of places. Spotting them can be a frustratingly difficult task, as the Fuhrer knows best of all what the human heart is capable of once civilisation and dignity are abandoned.” Lange took out an old cigarette from his thrasher skin coat and lit it. "But this is all besides the point".
Bronwen held back a sigh at the mans absurdity. If anyone was a tribal, it was the soldier – not her brothers or the Kingdom of Camelot.
"You are not welcome here. If you do not leave our territory, the weapons of our army, however primitive you deem them to be, will be sufficient to plant your little group in the earth."
This 'Major Langes' arrogance was staggering, sneering as though he was in control. Bronwen's temper was rising, and it would not bode well for their negotiations if a fight broke out. She expected the Storm Troopers would not be so receptive to their men being slaughtered as some of the other tribals. Fortunately, she managed to hold her tongue while Walter tried to diffuse the situation.
"Ich bitte Sie*, I sometimes allow my tongue to get careless and get the better of me. However, one must understand our frustration. We traveled all this way for the honor of an audience with your Fuhrer only to be denied entrance without any consideration towards our offers or discussion. Now, I imagine soon enough we will be allowed in. Your Fuhrer -will- want to see us, you could be doing him a great favor by allowing us passage, as you well know I'm sure."
'Careful you don't stretch your words too far, ser.' Bronwen spoke to Walter's mind. 'If your flattery fails, I doubt they'll take it well that we aren't here for any honor, and certainly not with this 'Fuhrer.' Honestly, does he even know what historical figure he's basing himself off of? I can't imagine he picked one of the old world's most hated individuals on purpose.' And yet, it seemed it would not matter, as the commandant from before that had been so high and mighty returned to the gate with his metaphorical tail between his legs.
"I apologise for my insolence, Gäste der Fuhrer, The Fuhrer would be most pleased to meet with you. Follow me. And stay close, my men aren't trustful of outsiders."
"I knew this Fuhrer would be a reasonable man, hmm Bronwen?"
“Indeed Ser.” A look over her shoulder told her that the paladins and knights had all properly stayed in line, not that she expected anything different. Unlike these primitive storm troopers, they knew their place well, as did all of Camelot. Not even the most arrogant magician would turn away such comparatively strange guests before consulting the King himself. None of them would have been so rude either, as these storm troopers had. Perhaps the Fuhrer would see to some proper punishment, since it was unlikely the men would atone for their misdeeds themselves. Kindness was one of the few things she found herself envying from the old world. Outside of Camelot, it seemed no one had any manners at all. At Walter's side, she noticed him flash the king of spades, and restrained herself from shaking her head. This was not a time for his card tricks.
"Make sure the Good Sirs' don't attempt to liberate any of the captive women, as I'm assuming this group will have some of their own. Damsel in distress tales are lovely, but this is not the Queen, nor a Princess. They are wastelanders, as cruel as it sounds."
Bronwen turned her head, and wondered why he'd felt the need to say it aloud, even at a whisper. Giving her a sign that they'd need to communicate would have been better, now that they were in the heart of primitive culture. 'Surely you do not believe they would make such an idiotic mistake after the trials we've been through,' she spoke again, to Walter's mind alone. '
Within moments, they were preparing to move through the camp to their destined meeting. In a moment of idle fancy, Bronwen felt as though she should be anxious about meeting the leader of these storm troopers, but she simply couldn't find the fear in her to do so. Not after the horrors they had already faced on this maddening quest.
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Post by <> MetaWulf <> on Mar 20, 2014 19:49:06 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2014 3:46:08 GMT -5
The Compound
Nachzeher Lange gave the word, and the rickety gates of Nachzeher were pulled open with a creak. He and Volker walked either side of the Knights as they entered the camp. The first thing to say about Nachzeher was it was like any other settlement in the wastes. Men and women working. Elders passing the time of day. Children playing in the streets. It would have been a rather charming scene save for the fact that they were all bald. Every prisoner of every age wore the same dirt stained rags and the same shaved head. Storm Troopers stood on duty all over the camp, proudly wielding laser or plasma rifles like they were but an extension of their body. A particularly long line of prisoners led to a dark and foreboding cave, and was being closely monitored by the guards, but taking centre stage in Nachzeher was the giant sprawling pit in the middle of cap. Prisoners buzzed around it like flies on a wound, and the Knights of Camelot found themselves quickly ushered away from the area. Lange held up a hand, and the group came to a halt at a crude bunker constructed from old brick and tinfoil – a hole in the world. Two of Volker’s Blitzkriegers stood like sentinels either side the door. “None may enter the Fuhrer’s War Room without first surrendering all weapons” one barked. Once the Knights had placed all their weapons in a large iron chest, they were escorted down the wooden steps into the darkness of the war room. “I am the Fuhrer of the Fourth Reich!” Came a cry from the darkness. It was a low, nasal voice with an Arizona twang. “No bullet can wound me! No laser is strong enough to burn my flesh!”“Bang bang!” Came a squealing reply. It was high pitched and full of life. A child’s voice. “There is so! Is so! I win! I win! Bang Bang Bang!”A lightbulb hung from the ceiling. It flickered. The Fuhrer clutched his chest and winced, staggered backward and collapsed on the ground, his thrasher skin leather coat splayed out on the soil. Three five year old children – a girl and two boys – emerged from the desk in fits of giggles and began vigorously poking the fallen Fuhrer. The Fuhrer’s eyes opened, and he saw the Knights of Camelot. He did not react. “All right. All right my Lieblings. That’s enough history lesson for today.”The children gave a collective “aww” on their way out. The girl, apparently not satisfied with the length of playtime, turned her finger into a makeshift gun and turned it on Bronwen. “Bang Bang! I shot you with my Gauss Rifle, tribal! You’re dead! Bang Bang!”“Anke” the Fuhrer chided with a gentle sternness. “Our new friends aren’t here to play the game. Join your brothers.” With an adorable little salute, the little girl waddled out of the War Room, leaving the Fuhrer to pick himself up off the ground with some apparent effort. He indicated that the Knights should sit, before breezing past them and taking his place at the head of the table. A piece of corrugated metal, but a table nonetheless.
“How do you do.” He said. The Fuhrer squinted in the dark war room at the Knights armor. He appeared to be thinking deeply, as he turned his attention to the map of the banks that dominated the table. “Power armour - T-45d model unless my scientists grossly misinform me - as favoured certain Brotherhood Chapters. Although now largely abandoned in favour of the T-45b, it still remains highly coveted. Yet here you stand, in perfectly good T-45d, butchered and disfigured almost beyond recognition. Extraordinary.”He continued. “I doubt you are thieves, and Paladins would sooner lose a finger than take the toolbox to such technology. It’s plausible you found the armor, and being untrained to wear such a thing, modified it to your ends. However, your uniformity and style hints at something more. Something greater. You really do have my most perplexed.”
The Fuhrer stopped himself and smiled. “Forgive me. I often work alone, and find myself thinking aloud. You risked great danger for an audience with the Leader of The Fourth Reich. Well my friends, here he sits. I hope I am not a disappointment. What would you have of me?”Roanoke Island,
Manteo City - Streets Zoller and Scarlett walked through the throng of crowds with the dog. The Commandant had found a piece of frayed old rope to lead the animal around, and gripped it as tightly as he did Scarlett's hand. As they wandered further and further into the crowd of revellers, partygoers and drunks, Zoller seem to become more and more disgusted and agitated. He forced himself to keep control. Such lack of enjoyment could be perceived as odd. Zoller had no idea of the significance of this festival, but he had to look as if he was enjoying it. He gave Scarlett a peck on the cheek. "When we reach the Mansion," he told her, "you will take the radio. You will tell them everything you know about the Storm Trooper spy in Manteo, apart from the fact he is me. Then our business together is concluded - I will take care of myself." Zoller took Scarlett's face in his hands, and gently, lovingly pointed it to the young lovers enjoying the festival. "Should you part company from me before that time, or deviate from this plan in anyway, you shall cost the city of Manteo more than a few lives. Do you understand?The Commandant painted on a smile. "I am trusting you Scarlett." he said simply. "I am trusting that your intelligence and survival instinct are greater than whatever loyalty you may have to these..." Zoller didn't wish to risk getting to close to the girl, but he simply couldn't control himself. "Why do you work for them? You're not one of them, yet you do their bidding. Why? Are you a slave? Zoller was aware that the Wolves were not averse to slavery, and was interested by the idea of meeting one.
Coast of the Albemarle Sound,
Currituck Caverns
Grandma stumbled toward Tigru, her bone cane pounding on the rock beneath. Her trembling veiny hands found the Mercenary's armor, and she laid placed them upon it, allowing the man to take some of her weight. "Ya tek da Wolf Men out nice 'n' quiet now." She whispered for emphasis. "No bullets, no bombs. Thrasher don' be blastin' troo de wetland with no rifle ya know. All ya be needin' is yo' knife and yo'wits for dis job. Anytin' else, and the doggies smell trubble." She patted the man appreciatelvly. "We pay you in t'ings. Guns, ammo. Lost t'ings people don' need no more."She turned to her son. "Amie," she said warmly. "Ya need to wrestle some o' dem thrashers in swamp. We need 'em. The more da better. The hungy li'l critters are gonna get ta work on da bodies once we're done takin' em out."
Now she addressed the cavern in general. "Ya bwois got anytin to say bout this affair? G'wan! Git to work! Go with Misser Mercenary and do whaddeva he need!"[Roanoke Island]
[South of Manteo City] The Enclave laser assualt cut down the remaining Storm Troopers. They fell to the ground as smouldering corpses. Worse still, a stray laser beam winged Baum. The Trooper fell clutching his side. Not dead, but badly wounded. Now only Mussollini was left in the game. He grabbed Baum's plasma pistol, whilst grasping his own laser close to his chest. Outmanned and outgunned. No sense in dragging Baum with him. The man was done for. The only solution was to run. But not before ensuring that the Enclave had one less suit of power armor to fill. Using the bushes as cover, Mussollini conducted a one man, last ditch assault on the Enclave. He aimed his guns at the shellshocked Claudia, and taking advantage of the fact that all the Enclave had removed their helmets, opened fire on the woman with both barrels whilst aiming squarely at her skull. Then Mussolini hit the deck. Unsure of Claudia's fate, he scrambled through the undergrowth. It was all over. Either the Enclave would find him or the Wolves would. As the rains tarted to give, he didn't have a preference. |
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Post by Court Baron Butters on Mar 27, 2014 19:11:35 GMT -5
MeatPoochie had unleashed his fatal blow to the opposing forces, and then had lowered his weapon slightly, peering to the bushes where he had been targeting, scanning for any movement, and to his pleasure he spotted none.
"Quit your belly aching boys, Looks like we got him." A twisted grin rose on Alphonso's face, he looked to see Nalania grieving the death of her fallen comrade, and then he looked back to the bushes, just as his attention had turned to this new location had a bolt of light sprung from it the two beams of light aggressively struck towards the distraught Claudia who was lying in prone, the first shot streaked by her head narrowly avoiding contact with her exposed skull, she panicked, but could do nothing as the second shot penetrated her eye socket leaving the contents of her skull scorched, skin lesions formed, and quickly bursted.
Alphonso looked below him, in the direction of Claudia after seeing the bolts streak past him, and then at the desecrated corpse of Robert Three KIA's, and two MIA's, this, without a doubt has been the largest failure of my life Alphonso began doubting himself in his own mind, he hung his head.
He looked behind himself and noticed Stephen was standing, and looking behind the group. "Get the hell down Steve, you're going to get your head blown off too." This was some of the first verbal reasurances of affection Alphonso had ever given to a member of this new squad (however crude it may have been.)
He looked to Meatpoochie, and spoke "We need an opposition head count, head into the bramble, and see how many were taken down if you count any less than who was with us prior to there attack, I am to be the first you alert, i'll be down there to join you in a moment."
Meatpoochie departed for the brush beginning to examine the bodies, also scavenging any spare equipment that could be usable. Alphonso conversely, approached Nalania who was kneeling by the two corpses. As he got close to her he put his hand on her shoulder as he spoke.
"We aren't dead yet, we have to find Omega."
Nalania pushed off his hand, and turned her head away towards the bodies of the fallen wolf, and Robert. "Is that supposed to make me feel better? We aren't dead yet"
Alphonso took a step back, and made a exhaled sharply "We are not here for a vacation we must keep our goal insight"
At this point covered in tears Nalania came to her feet and lashed out against her commander. "How can you be so in-compassionate!"
Alphonso held his hands up in the air. "What the hell do you expect me to do for them? I'm no doctor Nalania"
Nalania crossed her arms, and kicked at the loose dirt below her feet. "I want you to bury them...The wolf too- She was cut off by the retort of her commanding officer.
"Those savages? are you kidding me-" Alphonso too was cut off.
They're people just like me, and you, and I suggest you get to digging, there is a folding shovel in our field pack. I'll get Stephen, and go help count bodies with Poochie."
The two soldiers looked over to where Stephen had been standing in shock...He was gone.
Stephen -unbeknownst to Alphonso, and Nalania- had wondered North of their location in search for the Deathclaw, he came upon a sandy dune which had grass, and brush cover, he shouted, and whistled trying to locate the Deathclaw. "Fido! Come here boy! Where are you buddy!?" He was incredibly out of place wearing an Enclave Scientist outfit.
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Post by <> MetaWulf <> on Apr 2, 2014 20:50:46 GMT -5
Broken Banks - Chapter 5
Round 5-1
[ Somewhere beneath the North Carolina Border ]
The wetland was alive with the sound of insects, reptiles, and the seemingly ever-present howls of swamp hounds in the distance. Most caravans would have turned back by now, weary of the difficult roads and dangerous creatures on the way to the coastal Banks. This caravan, however, had made the journey to the Pitt and back at least a dozen times over the last few years.
Gallow walked quietly down the broken highway, scanning the skeletal vehicles and overgrown sides of the interstate for any possible traps or signs of Natives. It was never completely quiet near the Banks, and that helped conceal the caravans movement. The torches had been extinguished, and the caravan traveled slowly south in the dim glow of the blood moon. Sloshing through a mud puddle, the bovine pulled the wagon free with little effort and continued on. The wagons behind him bumped, leaned, and hopped across the difficult terrain. The brahmin didn't seem to mind pulling the bulky contraptions. Either too strong, complacent, or too stupid to care.
The leader of Gallow Team called to the caravan in a hushed voice. "Five or six hours until dawn. Pick it up. Watch the potholes for leeches and the foliage for hounds." Adjusting his hunting revolver, Gallow eyed the trail ahead suspiciously. He was beginning to feel nervous, and that was very unlike the middle-aged Wolf.
Behind Gallow, Rikki's combat boots were less than stealthy as she navigated the cracks, puddles, and bumps. She then turned and began walking backwards. "You heard 'im ladies, no more jabbah! Keep yer' mouths shut and yer eyes open. If we stumble across any muties, we kill 'em on sight. This package needs to be in Kill Devil Hills by oh-eight-hundred, no excuses." she hissed. Gallow Team nodded as they moved with the caravan, all-too-familiar with Rikki's sharp tongue. Her team members compared her to the Alpha Wolf. Alpha was the shoot first and ask questions later type. Rikki had the same mentality, minus the questions altogether.
The new recruits and the few contractors wore looks of confused intrigue as the woman spun and trudged after Gallow. She adjusted her carbine and resumed shadowing her leader with a satisfied grin. She made some of the new recruits uneasy. Others wanted to bed her. Rikki had little interest in the opinions of others, however.
Lighting a cigarette regardless of Gallow's stern look that followed, Rikki snickered. Racking her weapon, the girl took a long drag of the cigarette before tossing it wastefully into a puddle. She secretly wished they would encounter some mutants to kill. Unfortunately for Gallow Team, her wish would soon be granted.
[ Currituck Caverns, Coast of the Albemarle Sound ]
Grandma stumbled toward Tigru, her bone cane pounding on the rock beneath. Her trembling veiny hands found the Mercenary's armor, and she laid placed them upon it, allowing the man to take some of her weight.
"Ya tek da Wolf Men out nice 'n' quiet now." She whispered for emphasis."No bullets, no bombs. Thrasher don' be blastin' troo de wetland with no rifle ya know. All ya be needin' is yo' knife and yo'wits for dis job. Anytin' else, and the doggies smell trubble." She patted the man appreciatively. "We pay you in t'ings. Guns, ammo. Lost t'ings people don' need no more."
Tigru looked into the sightless eyes of the aging native, unable to help but feel as if she were peering straight into his soul. It was obvious that Amos and Grandma trusted the man to an extent, although he had no idea why. Did they somehow know of his past? Unlikely. Maybe they just saw him as neutral in their book. Either way, it looked like he had one more job to do.
She turned to her son. "Amie," she said warmly. "Ya need to wrestle some o' dem thrashers in swamp. We need 'em. The more da better. The hungy li'l critters are gonna get ta work on da bodies once we're done takin' em out."
"Aww Momma, you know me. Ah already got a pit of tha hungry devils just West o' tha ol road." Amos eyed the mercenary for a moment, then returned his single eye back to his mother. "An' dey ain't grubbed in days, Momma. Not fo' days." he said with a chuckle so deep one might confuse it for the growls of the very beasts in question.
Now she addressed the cavern in general. "Ya bwois got anytin to say bout this affair? G'wan! Git to work! Go with Misser Mercenary and do whaddeva he need!"
Amos gave his mother a look of respect as the other mutants began to shuffle around, regardless of the fact that she couldn't see it herself. The brute knew his mother was nearing the end of her own life time, but even in her diminished state, she was a force to be reckoned with. Amos often thought of how commanding and authoritative his mother used to behave when he was a boy, and the mutant showed a toothy grin at the idea. If she still retained this much control of the clans after her period of absence, the Native could only wonder how many of his kind Grandma used to command before his time.
"Yah herd her!" Amos bellowed as the mutants quickened their pace around the cavern.
Tigru rotated his right shoulder before slinging his weapon onto his back and starting for the moss covered exit. The mutant's smaller left hand shot out and caught the mercenary's shoulder pad. Tigru breathed deeply. He remained calm and turned around slowly, staring up into the devil eye of Amos Moses.
"You set a trap near tha old golf fields. Plenty o' places tah hide around them stuff. Da ol rock-it ships and stuff. It's gotta be a quiet umbush, like Momma said. So keep that gun on yer back, human. And if dem Woofs run, make sure you and tha boys run dem Woofs west through da golf course, cus they gunna have a surprise waiten on da other side. I'll take care of the thrashers. Make sure you don't follow dem if they run south along da highway... if yah wantin' keep yer head. ". Amos said in a low voice. "Take dis." he produced a silenced .22lr pistol. "When you get da chance, make sure da leaders is ded. Dem rest of the Woofs gets scared when you kills they leaders. Like scared swamp hound pups." The mutant said this last part with a chuckle. Tigru only nodded, and as Amos released the mercenary he made his way out of the cavern followed by a dozen or so Natives. He paused for a moment and checked the pea-shooter. The small weapon was loaded, and in fairly clean condition. Tigru shoved the firearm into his vest, wondering just how short of a time it had been since Amos murdered the gun's previous owner. Dismissing the dark thought, he started for the broken highway.
Do the job. Collect the pay. Get the hell outta Carolina. he repeated in his mind.
Amos turned back to his mother, then looked to Eugene. Willy, a tall, lean mutant with an overbite stood near the caverns entrance. Amos nodded to Willy, then spoke to his mother and Eugene. "Momma, I'm headin up to tha spot un git redy. You stay here with Willy and Mista Heart. We be back in a couple o' hours." The hulking mutant departed the cavern with heavy footsteps. Willy turned his attention to Grandma and Eugene while picking his sharp nails with a rusty knife.
[ Banks Peninsula - The Gate to Whalebone ]
The glow of Whalebone could already be spotted behind the great dunes to the south. They had arrived. Light music carried over the dunes to greet Alpha Team, reminding them all of the heritage festival. The soldiers kept a steady pace through the sand, following the power armored woman's lead. Waves crashed against the beach to the east and Carrion Gulls occasionally cawed in the night, accenting the footfalls of the Wolves and the melodies of Whalebone. Lita's mind raced as she led her team down the sloping sand dunes, edgy about her future plans. There was so much at stake. So much to lose, yet so much to gain.
The wind began to blow with rising force. Sand and debris skipped across the dunes and through the haggard tufts of grass as Alpha approached the gate with her team in tow and Rachel Seth in tow. Standing before the gate to Whalebone, Alpha waited exactly three seconds from the point when her entire team had stopped to bark.
"If whoever tha fuck is up there doesn't open this Goddayum Gate by the time I count to ten, the sorry f-" she began to tell Cade before the door rumbled.
The gate groaned and began it's slow ascension, sand and debris falling from it's lower lip as it groaned. Wolves enjoying the festival paid little attention to Alpha Team, most having seen them many times before and oblivious to the package they were moving. Others too intoxicated to realize where they were, let alone the team's arrival. A few recognized the Alpha Wolf's presence by giving her a wide distance, fearful of catching a rifle butt to the head. ( Something Alpha was known to do when angered. )
The breeze rushed under the open gate, causing the plentiful lanterns to sway and a few of the candles to blow out. Inside the gate, the people of Whalebone seemed lost in an gleeful stupor for the most part. Or at least that's how Alpha saw it. She scoffed inside her helmet as memories of the original festival threatened to occupy her thoughts. Memories of killing and blood. Good times. Most of these pussies don't know what the Dire Moon really even stands for...
The sniper upon the gate avoided eye contact with Alpha, knowing best to avoid the woman's attention regardless of the circumstance. She was obviously in a mood tonight, and beyond that she had Rachel Seth in tow. The Bandit Queen and the Bitch Queen. The sniper chuckled under his bandanna mask, then returned his gaze to the dark horizon. Best to stay focused when so many others weren't. Regardless of his assessment of Alpha's attitude, her presence always seemed to raise his confidence and remind him of his roots.
Alpha Team entered the town and it's crowded streets, not so much navigating as displacing anyone in their way. Big'Un carried Rachel Seth as though she were a child, his dark arms shielding her from the ominous looks of the more conscious Wolves they passed. In his mind, it was his task to deliver her unharmed to Darwin, and Big'Un was keen enough to sense the murderous looks of the Wolves who knew Alpha Team had Rachel Seth in custody. Thankfully, most of the people on the streets ignored Alpha Team's passing, for the most part, occupied with the festivities. Others were just too afraid of Alpha.
[ Whalebone - The Salty Shark Saloon ]
"I'm stuffed." the young guard said to Thiago, plucking one of the crab cakes from the basket hypocritically and taking a bite. She fought to push the darkness from her mind. "Whaddaya say we finish these tasty morsels here and our drinks, then find tha hotel?" she asked, taking a swill of her Nuka-Cola.
...she brought up the hotel, and awkwardly Thiago rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah… We can do that.” He smiled, glancing over to her wounded arm. “Is your arm alright by the way?”
"Yeah. ...I mean, it'll be fine." Jade said as she looked down. "I might need another hit of Med-X before tha night's over, but tha doctor said it would feel loads better tomorrow. I don't even feel like I'm gonna pass out anymore." Jade adjusted the temporary sling that contained her arm.
Rising from her seat, Jade left a small pile of caps from her pouch on the wooden table. As the server passed by, the young Wolf tapped the wood to let her know the payment was there before joining Thiago near the door. A few of the patrons gave them a glance, but their departure went mostly unnoticed. The girl let out a quiet burp and smiled sheepishly as the lantern lights danced around them and the band played on. "Ready?" she asked.
[ The Streets of Whalebone ]
Jade led Thiago down the street and away from the saloon, her posture a little stiff. "Hold up a minute." Jade said quietly, resting her back against a cool concrete wall. The alleys and side-streets were no longer flowing, but the main streets were still alive with revelers. As the pair stood in the shadows of a side street, Jade removed a syringe from her leather pack. Holding it up and tapping the needle, the young woman pushed her sleeve up slowly. Giving Thiago an embarrassed look, Jade injected the precious chemical into her system. When the syringe had been depleted she removed it and sighed. Finding her bottled water once again and satisfying her sudden thirst, she finally met Thiago's gaze again. "It... helps." was all she commented on the subject, depositing the rig into a trash bin as she made her way towards the mouth of the alley. Waiting for Thiago to join her, the now-buzzing-brunette began to make her way south.
It was just after midnight, and most of the Wolves had yet to retire for the evening. The young woman turned left on a wide street, catching Thiago's gaze once again and smiling as they made their way into the heart of the small city. Suddenly very pleased with life, she absorbed the sights, smells, and sounds of the city neither her nor Thiago had ever been to.
"I guess our destination is tha Charleston Motel, somewhere on Waterloo Street. Doctor said it wasn't tha fanciest place, but we'd like it well enough. I just hope it has a bath." Jade said as they navigated the people of Whalebone once again. "I probably smell like a swamp hound." she told her companion with a chuckle.
[ Whalebone - The Charleston Motel ]
Thiago and Jade foudn their way into the Charleston, Jade nodding politely to the armed Wolf leaning near the doorway. The guard nodded back, giving Jade a dopey smile as he opened something similar to peanut shells and devoured the contents. Behind an aging wooden counter top stood a skinny, pale man with a questionable mustache.
"Haven't seen tha likes of you in Whalebone before. You or tha sweet thing. I've got a mind for faces. New in town?" he asked after looking up from an ancient Grognak the Barbarian comic book. He studied the two of them, spending extra time on Jade's bust. The man licked his chapped lips and sniffed loudly.
"We're from Kitty Hawk." Jade replied as she placed a hand on the counter and drummed her nails across it steadily. "I'm a Gate Guard, and this man here helped Roth Team repel the Death Jaws that found their way in. He has a medallion. I believe Roth has made arrangements for us, and we're tired." the girl said shortly, obviously annoyed at the strange man's intrigue in their origin and her breasts. Perhaps it was the meds. Or the fatigue. Or just the creepy man.
"Yeah, 'spose he did mention." The clerk said dryly, turning to snatch a golden key from a crooked hook to his left. "Here." he said, tossing the key across the warped wooden counter top. "Room 34." he concluded, returning his attention to the comic book. From outside, the sounds of music infiltrated the motel. The clerk did not seem to be enjoying it, however.
Jade took the key in her left hand and turned to Thiago. Adjusting the hunting rifle hanging from her back, she smirked. "Alright. 34. I bet it's down this hall. We don't need this pigrat's help." she said in an oddly cheerful tone, then began walking down a hallway to their left. The clerk did not respond. He was a businessman. The leader of the assault team, however, was one of the highest ranking Wolves. If he offended Roth or his favored, it was likely he would lose his contract for the hotel. Hell, he wondered if he might even have his contractor's permit revoked. As the pair exited the lobby, the clerk decided he didn't like that woman. She'd be getting no special treatment from him. Full price after the first night. Yeah, that made him feel better.
The pair had to climb a set of creaky stairs before finding their quarters. Room Thirty-Four wasn't bad for a wasteland motel room, in Jade's humble opinion. It had been one of the more expensive hotel rooms before the Great War. There was a queen size canopy bed occupying the majority of the right half. The left half of the room consisted of a dusty coffee table supporting a broken television, two chairs that still had most of their padding, and a pile of old bedding. Most of the carpet, albeit horribly stained, remained intact. There was a small kitchen, and although the oven was missing, a toaster sat on the counter top. To the rear of the room was a bathroom. The door had long since been removed, no doubt relocated to some other area of the hotel.
Jade slung the pack off her back, sending it bouncing onto one of the chairs. ( Moments later it fell to the floor, but she didn't seem to care. ) Walking around the bed and running her fingers across the blanket, the young woman smirked.
Turning on the Nuka-Cola lamp beside the bed, Jade stood up and shifted her weight on her hips. "Not bad at all." she said, coated in the dim glow of the lamp. The young woman struck a match, lighting the candle on the kitchen sink and walking into the bathroom. "I know it's late Thio, and your probably as exhausted as I am, but I need a bath and I need to change this dressing once more." she said as she placed the candle on the cracked porcelain sink and turned her back to the fisherman. She twisted the faucet and irradiated water began to rush into the ancient bath tub.
Pulling the tie out, brown hair fell over her shoulders. Jade winced as she pulled her armored leather jacket off and allowed it to fall heavily to the floor. The wound on her shoulder had left the gauze soaked in the girls blood. No doubt the drugs didn't help, fighting coagulation by thinning her blood. The stimpak had probably saved her from bleeding out earlier. Leaning backwards, she removed her boots and the armored leather pants. In a moment she stood in the doorway, sporting on her faded under garments. The girls skin had been tanned well in some areas, with pale lines from the armor across her limbs. A jagged scar ran around her knee cap, and it was obvious she favored the other leg while standing. It was hard to tell how old the wound was.
"I need you to wrap my shoulder in a minute, if you don't mind." Jade said quietly, nodding to her shoulder and the rust-colored bandages. Turning from him and making her way quietly back to the bath, Jade shook a small bit of abraxo cleaner into the water. Seared between her shoulder blades was the mark of the Wolves. The water bubbled and popped as the Abraxo began to work. Not exactly the fountain of youth spa, but it was better than nothing. Dropping her briefs and bra on the bathroom floor as if Thiago wasn't even in the room, Jade tested the water before crawled into the tub. Sliding slowly down until the water was at her shoulders, the woman sighed. The hotel had no water heater. It was room temperature, but that was better than cold. Sinking into the bubbles, she eyed the man from the bathroom.
"Awful brave, what you did earlier. Ever been married, Thiago? Serious women in your life? Kids? Anything like that." she asked as she began to scrub her hair. The water quickly took on a sandy-brown tint.
[ Somwhere near Alligator River ]
Herb and Gerb led Paxton through the swampland, showing him the route easiest to navigate without a boat. They passed thickets of mutant trees and over fallen giants on the journey west. The deformed Natives moved surprisingly nimbly through the region, and Paxton would have to occasionally jog if he wanted to keep up. Herb led the way, while Gerb accompanied Paxton sheepishly.
Herb stopped at one point, extending his finger with one-too-many knuckles and pointing to a silver, sticky loop of thin rope hanging before the trio. It was difficult to see until you were close, nearly transparent from a distance. Shifting his finger, he traced the threaded rope up into the canopy of a twisted tree. Above them hung a hideous looking spider, each leg as long as Paxton's own. The arachnid watched them quietly from the tree top, eager to see them walk into her trap. When they passed carefully around it and the other threads she had hung, the spider lost interest the trio. "Noose Weeva." Herb commented a ways down the muddy trail. "One bite un yer yer blind! Er ded. Er bowf!" he said out loud as he navigated a new series of roots and puddles near a deeper swamp. The brothers seemed to be quite knowledgeable about the area.
Gerb stumbled over a root and nearly fell into the murky , multi-colored water below as Herb snatched the mutant's forearm and yanked him to safety. "Dayum Gerb pays uh tetun!" Herb growled to his sibling, who's only reply was a bashful look to his filthy feet.
The party was about to resume their journey when Herb grabbed his brother and slammed him to the ground. The Native turned his boiled face to Paxton, a look of sincere terror in his eyes. "Det down!" the mutant whispered.
A moment passed as nothing happened. Then, the water round the bend was disturbed. Sleepy ravens took flight from the nearby trees, spooked by an unseen danger. Waves pushed across the dark and slimy water, disrupting the mutant lilys and reeds. Suddenly the swamp foliage seemed to levitate out of the water. It quickly became clear that the plants sat on the head of a titanic alligator. The beast's skull continued to rise from the water, sending a cascade of water droplets raining down from his vegetation covered snout. The monstrosity then released a bellow than seemed to vibrate the very earth beneath Paxton and the twins, who both seemed to be paralyzed with fear.
Granddaddy paused, waiting for a mate's possible reply. When none came, he growled once again. It was breeding season, a period of the year when his metabolism ( and subsequently his need for nourishment ) were abnormally high. In other words, he was constantly horny and hungry.
[ The Streets of Manteo City ]
Alpha Team advanced through the bridge's second gate, finding themselves back home. They moved through the city quickly, and in Manteo they were given a wide berth by the people. Within minutes, Alpha and her men had reached the iron gates of the Manteo Mansion. Slowing her walk for the last few yards, she turned to Cade.
"Darwin is in the Auditorium, conducting a briefing. We're going to head in there and give him Rachel." her helmet's filter whispered. "Stay sharp, I'm not sure how this is going to play out. Something doesn't feel right." With that, the Alpha Wolf pressed the intercom button near the gate.
- - - - -
Ling raised an eyebrow at the lack of Gallow Team. “Those guys, huh? Don’t they have long runs elsewhere… I wonder if they even know what’s happened.” Ling said passively, before looking around at the streets surrounding them. “You know what, that’s the entire reason I’m out here, rather than following your example and going to sleep in a proper bed. Let’s go get something to drink. I need it.“
He chuckled, looking around at the people of Manteo, then back to Ling. "It's good to be back. And better to be in good company. I have much to tell you, if you care to hear about the Carolina wastelands."
Orlando smiled warmly at Ling and nodded. "The Sixth Street Bar, then? Or the Abemarle Tavern? Or are you thinking Pamlico Jack's?" He chuckled once again, accompanying her in the general direction of all three.
- - - - -
"When we reach the Mansion," he told [Scarlett], "you will take the radio. You will tell them everything you know about the Storm Trooper spy in Manteo, apart from the fact he is me. Then our business together is concluded - I will take care of myself." Zoller took Scarlett's face in his hands, and gently, lovingly pointed it to the young lovers enjoying the festival. "Should you part company from me before that time, or deviate from this plan in anyway, you shall cost the city of Manteo more than a few lives. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Scareltt responded quietly, her fingers nervously working the crimson curls of her hair.
The Commandant painted on a smile. "I am trusting you Scarlett." he said simply. "I am trusting that your intelligence and survival instinct are greater than whatever loyalty you may have to these..." Zoller didn't wish to risk getting to close to the girl, but he simply couldn't control himself. "Why do you work for them? You're not one of them, yet you do their bidding. Why? Are you a slave?" Zoller was aware that the Wolves were not averse to slavery, and was interested by the idea of meeting one.
"A work-contracted slave." Scarlett said quietly as they made their way down a side street lined with candles. Her heels tapped loudly on the wet concrete below. "I was working for a salvage team fourteen months ago. We were attempting to get into a flooded Virginia Beach bunker when we ran into Rico Team. Before words could be exchanged, bullets were." she said with a sigh as they rounded the corner. She had tried to repress the memories of the night in exchange for occasional sleep.
"Most of my team was wiped out. Rico Team uses mostly plasma and laser weaponry. Two of the Wolves died in the scuffle. The survivors of my group, the three of us, were taken a slaves to be punished or repay our dept or whatever."
Huey, one of our gunmen, works down in Ocracoke as a laborer. Shelia, our navigator, is a whore on the east side of Manteo. Not that she was ever much good at navigating... And me? I was the technician and the medic. Now I'm a professional escort... like the guide kind, not the sexual kind, for contractors and non-Wolves of importance..."
"A spy for the Wolves is a little closer to the truth, but they don't pay me in caps. They pay me in certain freedoms and just about whatever I request. It's not bad. I got it better than my companions because I'm perceptive, or at least that's what they tell me." Scarlett placed her hand on the corner of a building, near a red circle someone had recently tagged on the concrete.
"I met Roth shortly after arriving in Manteo. Well... actually I was ordered to service his needs by Amity, a Wolven slave master. Roth has a thing for personal space when it comes to unfamiliar women, so we ended up talking instead. He's the leader of the light assault team, a smart guy. One of the Wolves close to Darwin. He saved my life, more or less. Saw my gifts for reading people, my "spunk", as he called it. He's the one that noticed I was worth more thinking for the Wolves than slave labor and requested I be "hired" as a sort of middle-woman to help close negotiations between foreign parties and the Wolves. A Wolf for the Wolves, as it were. " she said this last part with a bit of strained humor and a nervous smile. She hadn't been completely honest with Zoller, but her story was only missing one small piece, so it sounded genuine. The shaggy dog took the lead, heading down a wide street and in the direction of Manteo Mansion.
As Zoller and Scarlett reached the street and the iron fence before the Manteo Mansion, the woman seemed to be moving so calm it was trance-like. She took a long look at the colossal structure and sighed quietly. The sound of revelers in the background was ever present. She used the moment to recuperate as best she could in the situation. Breathing deeply, she turned to face Zoller. Scarlett had visibly changed, a quality obvious but unspecific. A beautiful gravity had returned to her voice and her face. A magnetism that few wielded so well.
"This is my life now. This place... it's amazing. You just haven't experienced it yet. These people are so driven... so confident. ...As for you, if you will just listen to me I will do as you wish. I want to give you something you may have never had before tonight, my friend. A choice. Call this off while you still can. Return to the apartment with me, take some time to think things over." she cooed earnestly, the green of here eyes nearly glowing in the street's lighting.
"As for your plan, I do not know it's mastery, nor do I wish to for my own sake. If any of the Wolves find you out, though, you'll be brutalized. Tried and hanged. Possibly even killed without so much as a word in your own defense. If they found out I help you, I'll be hanged as well... You can always leave this place, I wont tell a soul. Tell your boss that this city is armed heavier than the Citadel and is crawling with more zealots than is worth attempting to overcome. You've seen the city from the outside, it's a fortress. Every person in this city, man, woman, or child, owns at least a single firearm. Machine gun nests. Snipers. Sweeper Teams. Trying to take this city will bleed you dry of men and supplies, don't you think? Your boss cannot care about his men if he is considering that.."
She leaned her head forward just a bit, tilting her head to the side. "Zoller... please... let's leave before anything bad happens. You're safe as long as you're with me, I promise. I'll bring you back later if you still wish it so. Think of it as a brief pause in your plan for added intelligence on Manteo City, Roanoke Island, and the Vault?" she added with a warm, coy smile. "They'll kill you, Zoller. You don't want to die like this... and you seem like you could use a good nights sleep and a clear head in the morning. You don't want to do this right now... Please..." Why she said such things, not even Scarlett fully knew.
[ Manteo Mansion - Engineering Bay ]
Oxford glanced back to his young assistant with a stern look while tugging on a grey curl of hair. Pointing a finger in her direction, he glared.
"Keep quiet from now on, if you value your freedom. There's no need to be conversing with such primitive bandit types, young lady. Who knows what you would have talked about next, perhaps some of the Wolves weaknesses? You'll find yourself lucky if Meathead doesn't rat you out to Alpha. Now finish running a check on the computers and get ready to switch the circuits. Alpha is on her way." With that, the strange man made his way into the bowels of the egineering lab, shooting her one final look of warning before disappearing.
"Of course, sir." Tila nodded humbly, pretending to scribble on her clipboard. In her mind, she knew they would kill Frederick. It wasn't right. If only there was a way for her to stop it...
Oxford voice echoed on as he traveled below the lab. "I mean honestly, I have a sentry bot to repair, the Poseidon project isn't even ready to see testing, Alpha needs all that shit for the Vault "earlier than yesterday", and that's not even the tip of the proverbial ice-b..."
[ Manteo Mansion - Observatory Room ]
“Of course. I am confident he would be most pleased to do so my lord,” William responded, with another bow as Darwin exited the room.
Ordeith and Marlon relaxed somewhat and William turned back to the map. There were a lot of pins, and there was no way for him to learn what all of them meant, but that would be information Darwin could share with the King on a later date. “It seems Lord Darwin has a very extensive knowledge of post war America. Though, he mentioned proper facilities? Aside from the vault of course, do you perhaps have any research, construction, or other fabrication facilities?”
Marilyn turned to the newcomers, a smirk on her face. "We do. An industrial complex, a construction yard, various small fabrication shops, and a centrol hub of data, research, and communications... we have acquired some necessary tools for the advancement of our people. The problem then becomes troubleshooting, raw material, and manpower. Repairing some of the old equipment has proved difficult as well. If it wasn't for Oxford and Darwin teaching some of the Wolves technical skills, we'd be even worse off than we are today. There are plenty of laborers here, but we still have a limited number of skilled craftsman. Hence the contracting of outside specialists. But even on that aspect, the ones with considerable skill are few and far between." she said, looking as if she were in deep thought.
"We have more warriors than we do tradesmen, not that soldiers aren't important, but for many Wolves fighting is all they know. Darwin and I have formed several programs to educate the Wolves in various subjects. Some catch on quickly. Others don't." Marilyn sighed, looking back to Angel and Chau. Running her finger through her golden curls, the woman in the violet dress yawned. "Excuse me. It seems I haven't been getting enough sleep lately." the woman said honestly, placing her hand gently on Angel's shoulder. The clock on the wall read "12:32".
"We have many spare rooms here in the Mansion. Stay the night at least. Get some rest, and we can make arrangements in the morning if you wish to leave right away. Should you decide to stay a little longer, we have much to show you all. For now, Ghost will show you to your rooms. I hope to speak with you all again tomorrow, my new friends." Marilyn said softly. She gave the strangers a graceful nod before moving towards the doorway. The remaining guard joined Marilyn, Chau, and Angel as they left the observatory room. Soon only the Knights and Ghost remained.
"There is a large bedroom on the second floor of the East Wing. It should suit your needs for the night." the Wolves' stealth captain said in his signature matter-of-fact tone. "Four beds, two bathrooms, running water, a stove, and a view of the courtyard. Probably not as nice as where you come from, but we don't have enough fabric workers to outfit the place with new curtains, rugs, or bedspreads just yet." he said. It was hard to tell if it had been a joke or an abstract observation. Ghost was difficult to read, as he often concealed his thoughts and feelings from others.
[ Manteo Mansion - Auditorium ]
The auditorium quickly filled with Wolves, and before Frederick knew it, he was surrounded by dozens of the tribals. Most in attendance of the meeting were Wolves of high ranking, but some contractors and a single slave could also be spotted. Darwin stood patiently at the podium, his power helmet forever wearing the expression of a demon.
Judas found a seat near Frederick and proceeded to relax with his weapon still aimed in the former-bandit's general direction.
"Too bad you never got involved with the Storm Troopers. If you had something Darwin or Alpha wanted, maybe they wouldn't be planning your execution." the man in the metal wolf mask snickered.
Helia scurried around the stage, positioning objects and running power cables. A Wolf of large girth sat on a chair towards the back of the stage, his stubby fingers racing across the ancient RobCo keyboard before him. The atmosphere in the room began to turn serious, and all of the hushed conversations quickly silenced. Darwin looked out among the Wolves and Frederick. A woman in custom blue leather armor sat beside Frederick, ignoarnt of his status. Metal Face didn't seem to care, focusing on his leader before them.
"Regretabley, we overestimated Kitty Hawk's defenses today. A number of our brothers and sisters were lost to the savages. The necessary measures have been taken to prevent any similar episodes in the future." Darwin began, his lenses focusing on various Wolves around the room. "Kitty Hawk's eastern and northern defenses will be reinforced to equal that of Manteo City's walls. As an added precaution, the construction crews are currently adding one sniper tower and two machine gun nests to the Gates, ensuring that any mob, even armored, will be cut down before reaching the Gates. In response to my request, Oxford is sending a fully functional Sentry Bot north as well, and this robot will stand guard outside the gate. We must rebuild Kitty Hawk's damaged west side, and it has already begun reconstruction. " Darwin paused for a moment, scanning the Wolves reactions. Many seemed pleased.
"On the other hand, we've successfully apprehended Rachel Seth and eliminated most of her bandits. Alpha Team is escorting her here as we speak. Rachel's medic and brain happens to be in our possession, as well." Darwin added, sweeping a gauntlet in Frederick's direction and pausing for a moment.
Many of the Wolves looked to Frederick. Some of them wore looks of murder, other's one of curiosity.
"Cat's out tha bag now, Freddy." Judas cooed, his voice muffled by the mask. "I wouldn't be surprised if one of these folks tries to kill you after the meeting." It was unclear whether he was being serious or fucking with Frederick.
"We have other matters at hand, my friends. The second priority caravan reached Kill Devil Hils at nine-fifteen this evening. The cargo was undamaged, intact, and exactly what Bill requested." Their Leader continued in his helmet filtered voice, motioning his gauntlet to a tall, lean muscles man standing in the corner. The man nodded, then continued stroking his beard. Helia took notes on a clip board. The Wolf at the terminal continued typing furiously.
"Gallow Team is inbound with priority caravan number three. Once it hits Kill Devil Hills, we have all the necessary supplies to begin testing the Poseidon project." he said, lifting a bottle of Nuka-Cola to his helmet and quickly draining it. The Wolves in the auditorium murmured, some of them smiling darkly at Frederick. One Wolf, a woman wearing light leather armor and a blue bandanna, pecked away at a Pip-boy 3000. It was one of the few possessed by the Wolves. She seemed to be working on some schematics. A Wolf behind the stage handed Helia a piece of paper which the woman quickly read. She trotted across the wooden stage and handed the paper to Darwin as he tossed the empty bottle away. "It seems Alpha Team has already reached Manteo City. They will arrive soon. In the meantime, I'd like to address one more area..."
"Security in general. The security will be double for the next week. Between this regrettably unforeseen attack on Kitty Hawk, the attempted sabotage of the bridge, and a general increase in Storm Trooper activity," several Wolves gasped or growled at his, "...we are taking new defensive measures. I will also be sending Roth Team to rendezvous with Gallow Team in order to ensure the caravans safe return." The briefing continued.
[ Manteo Mansion - The Master Bedroom ]
Marilyn nodded to Chau and her guard before entering the bedroom with Angel. Chau was obviously displeased at this, but said nothing as Marilyn closed the door quietly in front of him, turning a heavy lock. As she returned her attention to the large bedroom, Marilyn walked across the room to a small table and poured herself a small glass of wine.
"Would you like a glass?" she asked the the Pip-Boy wearing psyker before drinking her own. "I know you have your own room, Angel, but I ask you to stay with me if you can tolerate it. Your... the closest thing I have to a real friend... I..." Marilyn trailed off as she looked out the window. The blood moon looked back to her, filling her with memories. "I don't want to be alone tonight."
Motioning to a luxurious couch in the corner, Marilyn poured herself a second glass of wine. It seemed she had regained her composure quickly. "You can sleep on the couch if you want some privacy." Taking a sip of the new glass, she crossed the room and placed it on the mantel before starting a fire. "You can also sleep in the master bed there if you wish. Darwin wouldn't mind. My husband sure as hell doesn't take advantage of it, and I won't be getting much sleep tonight myself." She commented as she removed a fire-poker from the stand and rearranged the burning wood.
It was obvious the woman's thoughts were troubled, but exactly what was bothering her would be hard for Angel to determine. Marilyn's thoughts were radical, consisting of many fears and anxieties. Most of these related to the Wolves, but a few orbited around the idea of her husband's safety. Normally Angel could read Marilyn's thoughts fairly easily, not that Marilyn knew how to resist it, but tonight her mind was filled with so many random thoughts it would become difficult. It was mostly fractured thoughts that Angel could pick up on. Feelings of curiosity, fatigue, stress, danger, resentment, fear, and rage to name a few.
The blonde rose from the fire place and crossed the room to her wardrobe, kicking off her heels in the process. She dug her toes into the soft carpet as she searched through the peeling piece of furniture. Producing a silky red nightgown, Marilyn walked behind an ornate changing shade. Angel could only see her outline as she undressed on the other side.
"Angel, did you know Alpha is planning a violent rebellion to overthrow my husband?"
[ Sunken Highway, Outskirts of Manteo City ]
Chup stood like a statue on the edge of the highway, staring blankly into the lapping and churning salt water below. Earlier in the evening, she had tossed a chunk of asphalt over the edge. It had taken three seconds for the former piece of road to plunge into the dark depths. The girl absent mindedly wondered if she would fall the same speed as the chunk.
As the evening grew late, the girl sat down on the edge of the broken bridge, placing her sandals on the rusty rebar that jutted forth from concrete. The clouds parted for a moment, allowing the pink moon's rays to touch the Banks. Below the overhang, Chup could see shadows in the water. Shadows of the collapsed highway, and other shadows that moved slowly between the submerged ruins.
She focused on the horizon across the dark water. Across the Sound stood a forest of strange trees and dangerous swampland. Chup was forbidden from leaving Manteo City ( although at the moment she was breaking the rules anyway ), and thus had never been on the mainland. Her older brothers had told her that it was a "nasty shithole full of mutants", and that had seemed to be the general consensus among most Wolves Chup had asked. Still, she grew more curious about the mainland's secrets each passing day.
Glancing behind her at Manteo City's lights, Chup sighed quietly. The evening wind flowed across the dilapidated and broken bridge, sending the girl's hair across her face. She did not seem to mind, and eventually closed her eyes. The occasional gusts would sometimes drown out the sounds of revelry echoing from Manteo, and for this Chup was glad. The blood moon hung ominously overhead, and the girl lost herself in it's crimson glow.
[ Roanoke Island - South of Manteo City ]
Stephen -unbeknownst to Alphonso, and Nalania- had wondered North of their location in search for the Deathclaw, he came upon a sandy dune which had grass, and brush cover, he shouted, and whistled trying to locate the Deathclaw. "Fido! Come here boy! Where are you buddy!?" He was incredibly out of place wearing an Enclave Scientist outfit.
Echo Team advanced across the dunes of Roanoke Island, dodging twisted trees and obscure foliage as they ran. Echo's own helmet goggles glowed faintly in the night as she adjusted them to the beach's gloom. She then stopped suddenly and held up a fist, causing her team to take a knee behind her, training their weapons across the horizon. Someone was on the southern dunes. And they were calling out. And she knew it was neither Ding-Ding nor Jive.
As the team of Wolves crested the largest dune, far below them walked a man who appeared to be calling for someone. After a moment of observation, she spoke to them. "Bird Dog." Shouldering her Chinese assault rifle and twisting her hand twice, Echo advanced swiftly down the grassy dune Stephen. They had split in half, five Wolves following Echo, the other six disappeared across the dunes before Stephen would notice the armed soldiers' approach. Fortunately, their footfalls were muffled by the sloshing waves. Echo had no idea what the strange man's uniform meant, but she suspected it was related to the Storm Troopers. As they approached him, she aimed at his head.
"You there! Hands up! No sudden movements." Echo growled as she approached Stephen. She jogged the last few yards until she stood before him, the assault rifle's green laser now trained on his gut. Flipping her goggles up to the top of her helmet, the woman studied the stranger as the other five Wolves encircled him. Some held shotguns, some service rifles, and some were toting SMGs. All looked lethal. They waited for their leader to move. Echo grunted as the cool breeze caused a rogue lock of black hair to dance around her forehead. There was then a long silence as she paced around the man. The soldier slowly looked around rolling island dunes, then back to Stephen. "Who are you, who shot that flare, and where are my gate guards?"
[ Roanoke Island, Vault 121 ]
The atomic reactor of Vault 121 hisses and sparks. A single screw, one made of saturnite, is suddenly launched across the room with enough force to put a divot in the wall. The rusty plate, having long since lost it's inner lining, is rocked open. Behind it, an exposed transistor comes in contact with the salt water seeping into the open gap. Rogue bolts of electricity arc to nearby conduit pipes as the ambient radiation increases dramatically. Three gauges light up red near a rotting control panel. The hum of the nuclear heartbeat becomes labored, and the lights in Manteo City flicker twice.
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Salvahkiin
Archer
My Siren's name is Brick, and she is the prettiest.
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 4
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Post by Salvahkiin on Apr 25, 2014 22:19:55 GMT -5
"Too bad you never got involved with the Storm Troopers. If you had something Darwin or Alpha wanted, maybe they wouldn't be planning your execution."
Frederick was about to retaliate to the Wolven Soldier, then he remembered his place, insulting his captors would not be the way to show he was worthy. He took a deep breath, and muttered "Indeed.". His eyes darted to the blue-armored woman that sat next to him, only his eyes, not his head. His head stayed pointed at Darwin.
"Regretabley, we overestimated Kitty Hawk's defenses today. A number of our brothers and sisters were lost to the savages. The necessary measures have been taken to prevent any similar episodes in the future." Darwin began, his lenses focusing on various Wolves around the room. "Kitty Hawk's eastern and northern defenses will be reinforced to equal that of Manteo City's walls. As an added precaution, the construction crews are currently adding one sniper tower and two machine gun nests to the Gates, ensuring that any mob, even armored, will be cut down before reaching the Gates. In response to my request, Oxford is sending a fully functional Sentry Bot north as well, and this robot will stand guard outside the gate. We must rebuild Kitty Hawk's damaged west side, and it has already begun reconstruction."
"On the other hand, we've successfully apprehended Rachel Seth eliminated most of her bandits. Alpha Team in bringing her here as we speak from Whalebone. Rachel's medic and brain happens to be in our possession, as well."
The eyes that looked upon him either wanted to kill him, or study him. He nervously looked around, and then back at Darwin, wanting to avoid eye contact with anyone.
"Cat's out tha bag now, Freddy."
"I wouldn't be surprised if one of these folks tries to kill you after the meeting."
"That'd be a waste of a valuable asset."
Darwin began to spoke of things that Frederick had no idea of, and what he comprehended was simple words, nothing like Poseidon, or Gallow Team. He tried his best to listen, however.
Commandant Volker escorted the Knights silently through Nachzeher, he kept a straight and tall posture about him, a proud posture. Many eyes were upon him and the Fuhrer’s guests while they walked, all of them too scared to approach, mostly because of the unknown Knights.
Upon reaching the door to the War Room, Volker opened it, and let one of his men instruct them, and then walked in himself, and took his place next to the Fuhrer after the kids left his side.
Volker’s elite unit, the Blitzkriegers, lined the room, ready to pounce on the Knights should they do anything. Volker listened his best to the Fuhrer, and understood all of what he said, suprisingly, one thing he was grateful of for his Enclave history.
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Post by Zelus on Apr 29, 2014 11:57:42 GMT -5
[ Whalebone Gate ] Cade silently watched the gate, glancing over at Alpha every now and then. “The party’s keeping the gulls up. Either that or they’re being opportunistic and stealing the scraps from the food.” He smirked, more to himself as he came to a halt behind Alpha. He watched her for a moment, knowing how little she would wait before getting angry. Sure enough she started warning the guards indirectly, and three seconds later, the door started opening. “Time to hand over the prisoner, I guess.” Cade muttered, as he began to follow Alpha, gazing over at the Wolves. He almost chuckled to himself, being quite humoured that they were too busy partying to realise the queen of the bandits was being carried by Big’Un. Every now and then he’d start laughing at the idea, before settling down and becoming quiet. Every now and then they’d stumble upon some group who’d recognise Alpha and her team, as well as Seth. It was then he became somewhat uneasy, knowing that it only took one idiot to cause some trouble, and get Seth killed before they delivered her. Though, thankfully most were too scared of Alpha to do anything. Still, the idea that someone would have the balls for it, gave him a slight uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. ----- [ Whalebone - The Salty Shark Saloon ] “If you’re sure your arm will be fine,” Thiago had said as he got to his tired, but somewhat rested feet. “Though, if you need to stop, don’t hesitate to tell me. I’d rather you weren’t in pain, than suffer in silence.” He smiled, brushing the back of his hand against his scraggily beard. He then leaned down and placed his sheathed knife back onto his chest, before checking it was secure. He then pulled on his big padded coat, and fastened it up. Once his gun was on his back, held on with the strap he was ready to go. As he walked past the bar, he gave a nod to the staff, and then headed over to the door. He gave one glance over the crowd, before giving Jade a smile as she came close. “Yeah, let’s get out of here,” with that said, Thiago pushed open the door, and stepped out into the fresh, cold air. He held the door open for her and let it go once she was out. [ The Streets of Whalebone ] “Ah, alright.” Thiago said stopping suddenly as Jade stopped him. He followed her into a side street and watched her as she took a syringe up. He winced a bit, not being overly used to other people self-medicating. “Do… you want help with that?” he asked, taking a step closer with concern. It didn’t look like she needed it, hell, being a guard she was probably used to patching herself up every now and then, though Thiago had no real comprehension upon how dangerous the walls around Kitty Hawk were… Though if previous events were to be considered, it was probably pretty dangerous. “I’m sure it does help” was Thiago’s response to her reaction to the medication. He gave a sort smirk at her, before turning and following after her. “It’s nice here.” Thiago grinned. “They sure know how to party at the very least.” “Charleston Motel, huh?” Thiago mutted, having absolutely no idea what sort of place it was, hell, he didn’t really care. He lived on a rusted boat that smelled of rust, salt and the sea. Anything was gonna be nicer than that place. He didn’t hate his home, in fact, he loved it, but he knew it wasn’t luxurious, but then, nothing about Thiago was luxurious. “You smell fine Jade.” He stated rather simply. “Though I’m sure you’ll wanna get that wound cleaned nonetheless.” [ Whalebone - The Charleston Motel ] As Thiago walked into the motel, he glanced over the man behind the counter for a moment, before narrowing his eyes a little. He adjusted the strap of his spear gun, and let Jade take the initiative. He thought it was for the best, ‘cause otherwise Thiago might’ve said something about the guy’s wandering eyes. He really wasn’t fond of that kind of behaviour. As she spoke about the deathjaws , he modestly looked at his feet. “It was nothing, really.” He muttered, as he pulled out the medallion from his inside pocket. “Here it is.” He growled before depositing it back securely in his inside pocket. “34, huh?” Thiago muttered to himself, as Jade took the key. He chuckled as she called the clerk a pigrat, and followed after her. He glanced around at the walls. Wasn’t too bad afterall, he supporsed Roth had stayed there before. He wondered how much work had gone into the place to get it in ship shape. It was probably quite a bit; having something that looked decent was good for business, even if the owner was a bit of an asshole. When they got into room 34, he glanced around at the room, and made a “hmmm” noise, before walking over to one of the chairs. He quietly took off his gun and placed it into the seat and then started removing his coat again. He smirked a bit at Jade, as the bag fell off the chair. Automatically, he leaned over and grabbed up the bag, and placed it back into the chair and continued removing his coat. “This place is quite nice” he grinned, with his back to her. “What? Oh, right yeah sure whatever.” He smiled waving his hand dismissively. “Go have a bath, and clean the wound, I’m fine.” He kept his back to her as he unloaded his stuff. As he took the knife off, he dropped it down by his gun and stretched a bit. It was nice to take the weight off his shoulders. He rolled his shoulders and then sighed a bit, taking a glance around the room. “Oh, yeah I’ll help you-“ Thiago started, before glancing over at her, his mouth slowly fell open. “I uh… huh.” He muttered under his breath, eyeing her form awkwardly, before distracting himself with the other side of his room, his back to her. “I… hm.” Thiago whispered, looking at the floor, asnd rubbing his hand through his hair. He slowly moved over to the chair, and dropped his things to the floor, and moved the chair to keep it’s back to the door-less bathroom. “What?” Thiago asked, turning his head as Jade started asking him about women and kids. ”Well, uh… No… ‘fraid not.” Thiago said, leaning his head on his elbow, which was propped up on the arm of the chair. “I had a girl a long time ago, back when I was with my family… Never got married or nothin’, she’s long gone now. As for kid’s… if I do, I don’t know about them. Probably not though,” He wasn’t entirely innocent, but his so called ‘conquests’ had been few and far between. He seriously doubted he had kids, but the possibility was there. He was an honest man, brutally sometimes, so he wasn’t exactly going to hide his previous behaviour from her. “How about you…? Got a guy somewhere?” ---- [ Manteo City Streets ] “It would seem we have quite a bit to talk about, alright then.” Ling smirked, before looking down the street. “I uh… I think the sixth street bar’s the closest, and although I’d prefer Pamlico Jack’s, I think we should go to the Abemarle Tavern, see what’s going on there. We can always go to Pamlico’s later on if we feel like it.” She smiled, before heading off. Ling calmly reached behind her, adjusting the kitchen knife she carried behind her back like always. Not many would know about the knife, not unless they slept with her, or her kids. The knife was never out of her reach, and she was always armed, No one ever managed to get her away from it. Even in bed, she kept it under her pillow. It was sharp as ever, and very clean. “So how’s duty been keeping you? Got any new scars?” she asked as her eyes scanned the crowd for faces she recognised. Those that knew her gave respectful nods, or pats on the shoulder, which she returned in kind. One girl gave her a particularly embarrassed look, and tried averting her eyes and attempted to avoid Ling’s attention, but she’d seen her already. “Excuse me for a moment Orlando.” Ling growled, before walking straight up to the girl. “I know you’ve been with Grey.” Ling flatly began, “Now, I’m not mad that you’ve been with my so n, but, I believe it is about time you two consider moving out and get settled yourselves. Tell Grey when you see him next that if I come back from training his brother anymore times and you two have been messing around in my house, I’m going to kick him out into the streets. Other than that, welcome to the family.” Ling gave the girl a small smirk, before turning on her heels and then walking back to Orlando and continuing on, |
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Post by Ambassador SteelPlate on Apr 30, 2014 16:35:57 GMT -5
(I don't know if you have anything in your WP that includes, Angel or Paxton, Meta. Am I good to post, or should I wait for you?)
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Post by Ambassador SteelPlate on May 8, 2014 22:20:57 GMT -5
Angel Bentworth didn't just sense a person's mind, she experienced it. And not just in the way that she "saw" what the other person was "seeing" in their mind. Whatever they "saw", she could "see", whatever they "felt", she could "feel". It had been that way ever since she had first retrieved her powers from the experiments forced onto her by the Enclave.
So...she managed to survive?
Yes sir. So far she has also seemed to maintain civility. Unlike some of the...other subjects.
Good. Keep an eye on her though. We'll need to interview her to see if the F.E.V truly enhanced her mental prowess. I want some soldiers in the room in case she snaps.
Yes sir.
Isolated thoughts that were foreign to her. Feelings of morbid curiosity that was not hers. She did not understand why such alien experiences were happening to her. It was not later that she realized that she was accidentally peering into the mind of other human beings. It was later still, after learning of the demise of her family, that she learned the control that she had over them.
So, when Marilyn's own mind began to fill with memories, it was only natural that they seep into Angel's mind as well. She could push them away and block them out, and, in some regards, she was sort of supposed to. Darwin wasn't always too keen on her reading minds without reason, especially when it came to his own. But, Marilyn was one of the few people that Angel truly considered a friend. And, ever before the woman said pretty much the same, Angel knew that Marilyn though of the pysker equally. Right now, Angel could since something bothering her friend emotionally...but she was having a remarkably difficult time trying to decipher it. Often the mind was like a jigsaw puzzle, with the pieces scattered all as the person tries to put it all together, something which was sometimes hard and, worse, painful at times.
"Angel, did you know Alpha is planning a violent rebellion to overthrow my husband?"
Angel was both surprised and not surprised by these words. Alpha, as a general rule, did not like Angel, and her mind closed up like a clam shell upon even seeing her in the few times that they met. Angel, whose feelings towards Alpha were mutual, avoided her like the plague.
"No..." Angel shook her head, a bit of disbelief showing in her voice. "How could she? Why would she? I thought that she respected Darwin? Does HE know about it?"
_____________________________________________
Paxton was not really paying attention to anything that Herb and Gerb. The two of them actually had to hold Paxton back as he tried to go towards the giant spider. It was laughing at him, and saying that his mom was ugly and that he was stupid and smelly. The Schizophrenic was going to, quite literally, shove a grenade up its ass (assuming it had an ass). It would not be the first time he'd done something like that. He had done it to brahmin, Geckos, an injured Yao Guai, a few Raiders....
As he was thinking of his past of shoving explosives up the asses of random living things, something came out of the water before him and Herb and Gerb. Whatever it was, it was big. Really big. As it raised it's head, bringing out a small forest of foliage with it, it's wide jaws yawned open and released a bellow that shook the Earth under his feet.
Paxton had never seen an Alligator before. Had no idea what an Alligator could even be. Hadn't even heard the word either. A sane man, regardless on whether or not he knew any of these things, would still run from the great beast. Paxton was not that man. Only a few things actually scared him. Death Claws, confined spaces, toasters (lord knew why), and the Ghost Lady. Everything else didn't bother him...even if it would have been beneficial if they did.
"SHUT UP!" Paxton yelled at the giant monster. "YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN BE LOUD! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
No way he was going to lose a screaming match with a stupid whatever it was. The Voices often challenged him, and, more often than not, he won. He couldn't kill them (even though he'd tried). So, he usually just killed something else, and that would silence them.
Paxton screamed at the Alligator. Screamed at him with all he could.
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Post by <> MetaWulf <> on May 15, 2014 20:26:15 GMT -5
( It's been a week since it was Endi's turn, and he was messaged about it. We're going to move on, and at this point Endi is out of the posting rotation. Message me if you care for the details, Endi. )( Ghost, you're up. )
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Post by GuardsGhost on May 19, 2014 19:08:49 GMT -5
[[So sorry for the wait fellas, I'll get started on my post]]
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Post by GuardsGhost on May 19, 2014 19:45:49 GMT -5
'Surely you do not believe they would make such an idiotic mistake after the trials we've been through,' she spoke again, to Walter's mind alone.
Walter merely gave her a look, a small grin shining beneath the shadow of his hooded head, which found itself at a tilt. He turned back to the way they were walking, not saying a word. The Magician shut himself off to his own thoughts, and began to muse on what they were seeing in the camp.
Were it not for the shaved heads, everyone in the same clothes, and the heavy guarding of what was obviously forced labor, Walter might have been reminded of his own home in Camelot. Everyone there works after all, and everyone here works...but not for the same reasons I suspect...no...not for the same reasons at all... His eyes lingered over the great pit that they passed, only snapping back to the front after they began to be ushered away by the impatient Storm troopers and their laser rifles. He looked over at Bronwen and nodded silently, giving the woman the indication she had sought earlier that they needed to speak. The pit had interested the man immediately, and even more interesting was how many of the captives seemed to be working for their new fuhrer in the giant pit.
The cave as well might prove interesting....
Of course, as interesting as it may have been, Walters attention was soon focused on other matters. Such as when they were ushered into the seeming lair of the Fuhrer himself. The magician raised a brow underneath his hood, listening quietly at the sound of children laughing and playing their game. He couldn't help a brief smile that grew across his face, and he even held up his hands in mock surrender when the girl pointed her finger at him, then dragging one hand down to his chest as he was 'shot'. "Ouch..." He muttered as the girl left, glancing at Bronwen with an amused look on his face.
It quickly disappeared when the Fuhrer addressed them, and he bowed his head in response to the mans 'how do you do', and then waited for the man to speak up again as he saw the look of great thought come upon the leader.
“Power armour - T-45d model unless my scientists grossly misinform me - as favoured certain Brotherhood Chapters. Although now largely abandoned in favour of the T-45b, it still remains highly coveted. Yet here you stand, in perfectly good T-45d, butchered and disfigured almost beyond recognition. Extraordinary.”
The Fuhrer continued. “I doubt you are thieves, and Paladins would sooner lose a finger than take the toolbox to such technology. It’s plausible you found the armor, and being untrained to wear such a thing, modified it to your ends. However, your uniformity and style hints at something more. Something greater. You really do have my most perplexed.”
The Fuhrer stopped himself and smiled. “Forgive me. I often work alone, and find myself thinking aloud. You risked great danger for an audience with the Leader of The Fourth Reich. Well my friends, here he sits. I hope I am not a disappointment. What would you have of me?”
Walter could almost feel the stiffening from the Knights at the mention of thievery, or that they had butchered the armor. Even he himself felt a bit of resentment towards the man for implying that they had not improved the armor, merely downgraded it. But the Magician had not been chosen for this mission because of his quick temper, he had been chosen for it...well, because people are dicks and he wasn't exactly well liked at times. Regardless of this fact, he replied with all the grace a son of Camelot was expected to maintain, mouth opening- though his eyes and the upper half of his face remain shrouded in the hood.
"You are hardly a disappointment Herr Fuhrer, we have indeed traversed many a mile to see you for ourselves, and the relief at finally having found you is great indeed. We ask your forgiveness for our intrusion into your fortress and interrupting your game with the children, who appear to be learning the ways of their people well." He complimented, fishing up.
"As for our armor? Well, I can indeed see why it might be curious for an outsider...but to us it is as natural as your soldiers armor must be to you. If you'd like, I'd be more than..willing to discuss the armor after we conclude the 'official' part of our business here...that being our role as messengers from our King, long may he live and reign in Camelot. If you are interested in the message, merely say as much and I will relay it with the utmost haste- ah, but forgive me...where are -my- manners?"
The Magician took on a chastened tone, and bowed deeply to the Furher, as if asking for forgiveness again."I am Walter Ambrosius, of Camelot. This is my associate, Bronwen the Brownhood, of Camelot as well. I will allow the Knights to introduce themselves, as they are so fond of doing so."
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ShockHelix
Administrator
Deity of Death
No mercy for the weak. No pity for the dying. No tears for the slain.
Posts: 666,666,949
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Post by ShockHelix on May 28, 2014 15:47:47 GMT -5
As they proceeded through the camp, Sir Adam couldn't help but be bothered by the strangeness of it all. The different worlds beyond the walls of Camelot was something he'd never get used to. Before he had left his home on this horrible journey, he hadn't even understood the concept of slavery. If he was not mistaken now, the shaven-head, downtrodden prisoners were exactly that. Or in the least, some strange form of prisoner. The laser and plasma weaponry was not too much of a surprise, however, though he could only wonder where they had acquired it from. Perhaps he had underestimated this group, but they did not seem nearly skilled enough to have taken on Enclave forces without merely overwhelming them.
As they passed the large pit, Adam saw his leaders exchange a look. He could not be certain, but after protecting them for the last few months, he'd grown accustomed to their method of communication and could usually tell when they were exchanging something important. The pit itself was disturbing enough, though he couldn't imagine what the prisoners or slaves were being forced to do within it's depths. Yet another thing better left for the Magician's to decipher.
Their procession stopped at a crude bunker, Adam held back a scoff at how horrible the thing looked from the outside. Scavenged brick and thin metal, he wasn't entirely convinced the structure would hold up against an actual attack. It would serve its purpose well against some assailants he supposed, but its inside would only be a benefit to any assaulting knights. The hallway would work ideally for protection from forward gunfire, and he was certain even the most untested knight could defeat any of these savage outsiders in single combat.
“None may enter the Fuhrer’s War Room without first surrendering all weapons”
Ser Adam. Ser Killian.
The disembodied voice was like a sudden explosion, and Adam tensed uneasily. Some things you never get used to. The four of them surrendered their weapons unhappily, but were unsurprised at the precaution. The Stormtroopers couldn't steal the Magician's abilities from them, not that they even knew of their existence. It took nearly five minutes for Adam to give over all of his weapons, and he could see from their faces that the more unique of his armaments were completely foreign to the stormtroopers. He handed his massive shield over as well, and it took two men to merely lift it away from the entrance and to the iron chest where their other weapons were stored.
As they descended the steps, the wood creaked under the weight of their heavy armor, and Adam stepped gingerly down each one. The sound of children's laughter was surprising to him, coming from the depths of the crude bunker. Perhaps the Fuhrer was not so great a monster as the man whom he'd taken his name from. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, he stepped to the left of the magician's near the door, with sir Killian taking the right in typical fashion. He doubted the Fuhrer would understand the show of respect, not that Adam felt he deserved it at all.
He could tell from Bronwen's posture that she was uncomfortable as the children left the room and Sir Walter entertained the child's fancy. It brought a smile to Adam's face as well, though if it had been a bullet, Walter would have been completely unharmed. So much for the children being trained to fight from birth here, as they were in Camelot.
“How do you do? …..Power armour - T-45d model unless my scientists grossly misinform me - as favoured certain Brotherhood Chapters. Although now largely abandoned in favour of the T-45b, it still remains highly coveted. Yet here you stand, in perfectly good T-45d, butchered and disfigured almost beyond recognition. Extraordinary.”
It was hardly an introduction, and Adam's mood soured once more over the response. Rather then learn who they were and why they had come, he felt it more appropriate to muse over them and insult them like they were some fancy in a museum. He couldn't be surprised – the overwhelming sense of self importance was common in mainlanders. Then again, the man might consider them worthy of more respect if he understood that one could burn him to a crisp and the other break his mind. Still, they'd not called the armour T-45 in Adam's lifetime. He understood the similarities, but their armour was far superior to that from the old world. As for butchered and disfigured, Adam had helped make his armor himself. There was nothing 'butchered' about it.
“I doubt you are thieves, and Paladins would sooner lose a finger than take the toolbox to such technology. It’s plausible you found the armor, and being untrained to wear such a thing, modified it to your ends. However, your uniformity and style hints at something more. Something greater. You really do have my most perplexed.”
If the man could've seen the intricacy in the designs, perhaps he would not be so quick to question their 'modifications.' His confusion at the Fuhrer saying he would not take a toolbox to his own armor left him as Adam recalled that the mainlanders 'Brotherhood of Steel' named some in it's ranks knights and paladins as well. He hoped that he never crossed paths with the brotherhood, the confusion in names would be more then he wished to decipher.
Adam found himself contemplating the Fuhrer as he apologized for his incredulity and Walter spoke. The Magician most likely exaggerated his impression of the Fuhrer, as Adam felt underwhelmed himself. The man before them did not seem as though he was a great warrior, or even a great leader. With some of the other tribals, at least they had seemed combative, but Adam would be surprised if the Fuhrer would even enter a fight himself.
"I am Walter Ambrosius, of Camelot. This is my associate, Bronwen the Brownhood, of Camelot as well. I will allow the Knights to introduce themselves, as they are so fond of doing so."
Adam removed his helmet and reluctantly bowed as Walter and Bronwen had. The worst part of this excursion was imparting respect to all these uncivilized monsters, when they should be slaying them in droves for the sake of the world. Walter had not imparted their full titles, which Adam hoped was at least some minor insult the Fuhrer would not understand, and at the least he could do so as well. “I am Ser Adam Wilmond, and this is Ser Killian Darktower. It is an honor to finally meet you, Herr Fuhrer.” Ser Killian bowed as well and removed his helmet as he was introduced.
He saw Bronwen give him an approving nod from where he stood beside Walter, not that he had any idea what 'Herr' meant. If the magician had used it, it was safe to assume that it was some form of respect. He was not surprised at the other Magician's silence so far, as they were as of yet unsure of what role women played in the Storm Trooper society, and they had learned before the harshness of underestimating gender roles. A lesson that still gave Adam nightmares.
William stroked his chin contemplatively as Marilyn listed off the different construction facilities the Wolves had on hand. It sounded suitable enough, but he found himself confused at the lack of implementation of the facilities until she mentioned the problems with troubleshooting and raw materials. There seemed to be plenty of people available, based on the size of Manteo, so he was slightly confused by the lack of manpower as well. It was expected that anyone that could survive in this day and age would have plenty of warriors, but the concept of a separation between the two was foreign to him. He loved a proper fight as much as the next Camelotian, but he could not imagine doing nothing but fighting for his entire life. Even the best warriors aged and their bones brittled.
“...Darwin and I have formed several programs to educate the Wolves in various subjects. Some catch on quickly. Others don't."
“Each individual has a niche in which they excel. It is simply a matter of finding the correct place. I myself am not so technically inclined.” It wasn't that William didn't appreciate technology, but rather he just didn't have as high of an aptitude for it like Marlon and Ordeith. It was strange to think of 'forming' programs as well, when every Camelotian began their learning from the time they could speak properly. Even the least intelligent individuals were allowed to choose their path for themselves. A strong belief in Camelot was to find something that makes a man happy, and they'd been successful so far. If people were displeased with their life in Manteo, it could be just as problematic for the cities development as the guns its inhabitants seemed so fond of.
"Excuse me. It seems I haven't been getting enough sleep lately."
“Of course my lady,” William said, offering her a respectful bow as Hardwin and the others did the same. “My apologies, we had no desire to keep you awake.
"We have many spare rooms here in the Mansion. Stay the night at least. Get some rest, and we can make arrangements in the morning if you wish to leave right away. Should you decide to stay a little longer, we have much to show you all. For now, Ghost will show you to your rooms. I hope to speak with you all again tomorrow, my new friends."
“As you wish, I would enjoy so as well. Lady Marilyn. Lady Angel.” He gave them another respectful bow as they departed the room, and relaxed his pose as they departed.
"There is a large bedroom on the second floor of the East Wing. It should suit your needs for the night. Four beds, two bathrooms, running water, a stove, and a view of the courtyard. Probably not as nice as where you come from, but we don't have enough fabric workers to outfit the place with new curtains, rugs, or bedspreads just yet."
If there was a joke, it passed completely over William's head, completely oblivious to such a sense of humor. “Oh, it is more then acceptable, I am sure. Anything is preferable to the ground we would likely have slept on tonight otherwise. I don't suppose you could show us the way?” ((Hope this is okay Meta, let me know.)) William couldn't tell if the stealth captain felt imposed upon and bitter, or if he simply took it stride as another of his job duties, but William followed him out of the room, musing over the demeanor of the wolves. He was surprised to find how difficult it was to read them, closed lipped and distant as each of them seemed to be. They weren't as mysterious as the Magician's, to be certain, but he was far more used to the open honesty of the other Camelotians. Still, Ghost was a soldier, and at least he felt as if he had more of an understanding for the man then the Lady Marilyn.
It was not long before they reached the rooms, and William was glad to set down his massive shield inside the room, though it creaked under the weight of the heavy metal. It was in far better condition then he had expected by some of the other architecture and structures he'd seen in Manteo, and though he would be glad to get some rest, he doubted his mind would allow him sleep just quite yet. He stepped back outside to converse with Ghost. “I thank you again for your hospitality friend. But tonight is a celebration, and while I am not yet familiar with your customs, I find sleep is not yet calling at my doorstep. If I would not impose, I don't suppose you could show me more of your city, and allow me to get to know you better?”
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2014 14:11:46 GMT -5
[Flooded Woodland - Roanoke Island - South of Manteo City ] Reinhardt pissed into the bloody water. With a deadly browning gun was built into steel plated combat armor, the woman looked like some kind of human/tank hybrid. Her Secret Police, keeping watching several feet back in the underground, whispered speculations regarding what the woman was actually pissing from. Many in the Troopers suspected Reinhardt was either a man or something else entirely, but such rumours were closely guarded. Nobody wanted the Fuhrer’s second scorned. Not with her vile pet squelching around… Shraeger the severely mutated Swamp Thrasher was having a wonderful day. During the course of his daily floundering, he had stumbled upon a Thrasher nursery in the long reeds of the flooded woodland and was currently snapping up the young in his grotesquely swollen jaws. Even for a brute beast like Shraeger, a total lack of eyes simply enhanced the taste. The pale mutant gator frolicked, turning the water above him into a foamy carnage. “Frau Commandant?”Reinhardt did not turn around, nor did she stop pissing. This was done to discomfort the speaker, Eigelmann, a somewhat disillusioned Brotherhood Outcast and the current Captain of the Fuhrer’s Secret Police. He was a grizzled old soul in his late forties, with the strength and stamina of a man sadly so much older, sagging under the weight of a scratched Heavy Incinerator. “Apologies for the intrusion. We have spotted laser and plasma discharge sixty clicks to the east.”The woman’s continued silence didn’t actually scare a man as flat and dulled as Eigelmann, but it was a little unsettling. With a sigh, he continued. “Probably nothing, but it’s rather close to Hauser’s squad’s last radioed position.”The stream of piss dried up, leaving the filthy waters eerily tranquil, coloured by the sunken Thrasher's monstrously disfigured shadow. “All fifty of the secret police are patrolling these waters whilst I feed my fucking reptile,” Reinhardt spoke with the threat of a cocked gun. “And it took one of you to tell me this information yet none to act on it?” She turned, deliberately bumping Eichmann on the shoulder. “Ready the bikes. Have the Secret Police flank us from the shadows. Raus.”[Roanoke Island - South of Manteo City] Five old dirt bikes roared through the rain. Headlights blazing against the dark, the Commandants' bikes formed a perfect pair of wings with Reinhardt as its lynchpin. Shraeger was bound to his mistress's vehicle by a chain, and was keeping pace surprisingly quickly for a six foot beast. Meanwhile, the other forty five members of the secret police were crawling through the wetlands, their bellies pressed against their heavy weapons, flanking the Minister of Truth under cover of mud and undergrowth. Eigelmann's radio crackled. With a muted sigh, the Secret Police Captain took his hand of the handlebar and picked up the call. He could hardly made sense of the transmission. It seemed like such an unlikely scenario. The officer on the other line must have misunderstood. Eigelmann would have asked for the man to repeat himself a third time, but could feel the slow burning glare of Reinhardt's low level optics and thought better of it. "Frau Commandant," he began slowly. "Our spies report some sort of -skirmish- up ahead. Hauser is dead. The rest of the squad are gone. Some sort of plasma explosion. Worse still, there's Enclave in this territory. Freshly intercepted by a Wolven death squad. We're heading straight for them." Reinhardt didn't react. She was so still that Eigelmann wondered if the rain was scared to roll down her helmet. "Frau Commandant!"The reply was simple. "Take the Enclave alive. As for the Wolves. Order Sechs und Sechzig applies."For Reinhardt, the seven minute bike ride was a mere crescendo to a great battle. No doubt the faraway revving of motorcycles was buzzing in the ears of Stephen and Echo as the Secret Police approached. Their lights were mere specks at this distance - flickers in the trees - but they were about to get a lot larger. The Minister of Truth unclipped the safety from her Browning's giant barrel, relishing the touch. The other secret police were a quarter of a mile away, scattered around the far reaches of the wetlands. She smiled to herself the tiny figures in her peripheral vision seemed to hurtle towards her. This was her first direct contact with Wolves. First Contact. First blood. From behind her mask she gave the order, loud enough for Stephen and Echo Team to hear. “Order Sechs und Sechzig.” Reinhardt rumbled. “No survivors.” Mussolini was bloody. Mussolini was drained. Yet with the familiar drone of the Commandant's motorbikes, he found himself the energy to stumble upward out of hiding, and run blindly toward the bikes. "Don't shoot!" He cried. "It's me! Mussolini! Hauser is my Sargeant! Zoller is my Commandant!"But the tri-beam lasers blared. The Browning fired. A volley of bullets and energy discharges hurtled towards Stephen and Echo team, And for the second time that day, Muussolini hit the deck... [ The Streets of Manteo City ] Zoller kept walking, listening to Scarlett’s story with a face of impassion. He sighed a little at the word “slave”. The Storm Troopers may force their interned prisoners to labour but they drew the line at exchanging human beings like caps. He imagined how this bright young woman’s time had been squandered in some dingy holding and shook his head almost imperceptibly. One phrase in the girl’s story stuck out among the others. “I [was] "hired" as a sort of middle-woman to help close negotiations between foreign parties and the Wolves. A Wolf for the Wolves, as it were.”“It sounds easier on the ear than “slave” I suppose,” replied Zoller darkly. “I am sure your gunner friend Sheila wishes she had your talents.” The Commandant bristled irritably. Antagonising a compliant captive wasn’t exactly a smart move, but slavery just rubbed him up the wrong way. How could this girl come from such cruelty and hardship yet be afraid of her liberator? This wasn’t the time or the place to pitch the Fourth Reich to Scarlett. But Zoller found himself doing just that. “If a Storm Trooper Squad had discovered your party instead of Rico Team, you would have been taken for questioning with minimal casualties,” explained Zoller. “Most likely, your team would have been placed in the ghetto of Nachzeher, where they would be allowed to operate small businesses for the Troopers stationed there. Your gifts would make you an excellent teacher. Most likely you would be tasked with educating the children and determining their future duties. If you were fortunate, a Commandant would make you his fraulein. would share opulent chambers and want for nothing. Chems, wine, books. All the documented knowledge of the Wasteland laid down in tomes just waiting for you. I would enjoy debating with you, you have a keen mind.”Zoller paused. He realised how unappealing that sounded. "It wouldn't be a life how you imagined. Or perhaps what you would choose. But it wouldn't be the wasteland. It wouldn't be the wasteland."They neared the gates. Scarlett was pleading with the Commandant now, gently and softly, but the urgency of her words didn't escape him. He did his best to divorce the words from the girl's emotions, and merely let them wash over him as the dog lead him ever closer to the Mansion. Yet she talked, attempting to persuade Zoller to calling things off. “Have you ever seen the grotesque Shamblers who wander the Wetlands?" Zoller intoned quietly with an eerie calm. "Or the festering glowing ghouls who lurk in the swamp? They are men. They are women they were children. Prisoners of Nachzeher, tribals and deviants and those who displeased the Fuhrer. They are sent to the Rad Chambers, said to contain….said to contain something evil, glowing green in the dark. It changes men into monsters and kills all humanity. That is the punishment for failing the Fuhrer. The loss of the soul.”"Every person in this city, man, woman, or child, owns at least a single firearm." Scarlett persisted. "Machine gun nests. Snipers. Sweeper Teams. Trying to take this city will bleed you dry of men and supplies""The plan is not to take the city," Zoller snapped, revealing a little more than intended. "Our intelligence suggests that Dar-win's Commander is discontent with his leadership. Infiltration - kidnap of a significant Wolven tribesmember - will make the ground fertile for revolution. We will walk through Manteo's gates on the eve of it's first civil war. Ein Volk. Ein Reich. Ein Fuhrer." He paused, eyes darting under his helmet. "I'm afraid merely knowing this puts you in danger," Zoller explained. "Needless to say, should the Wolves take me alive I will attest to your collaboration with my efforts." He at least had the decency to shoot Scarlett an apologetic look for this. Finally they were at their target. The Manteo Mansion. As its ominous shadow stretched before them like a crooked man, Zoller looked wildly around him. No sign of Hauser. Almost frantic, he pressed the radio on his hip, but nothing more than static greeted him. Between the sour faced guards, the total lack of his squad and Scarlett's kind eyes, Zoller was faltering. What chance did he have? Manteo was at peace. The Wolves had guards and weapons to spare. The place was a tomb. Scarlett promised to bring him back later. He didn't believe a word with it. But he was tired and unfocused and a long way from following orders. The dog looked up from the dirt, glancing at Zoller almost accusingly. "Scheiße" spat Zoller, as he gripped Scarlett's hand in his and took her and the dog wordlessly back to the hotel. [ Currituck Caverns, Coast of the Albemarle Sound ]
Grandma listened to her son’s plan with no small amount of pride. As he was laying down the law to Tigru, she squeezed the big mutant’s hand affectionately. Yet there was a certain amount of sadness in the old woman as she heard Amos’s wheezing breath quickening with excitement. She was an old woman, with leathered skin and aching bones. Even with all her chems and potions, there was a high likelihood that some day soon the Broken Banks would claim her life, and Grandma would join all swampfolk kin in the creek in the stars. Amos would be left alone in the world, and what he would do without a family to keep him acting like a man was a thought that kept old Grandma up at night. When the time came to say goodbye, she pinched Amos's cheeks and gave her son a fond hug. "Gawd speed, son'o'mhine". Grandma whispered. She turned to Tigru with a gummy grin, and with a knowing nod managed a hoarse "y'all com back now, y'hear?" before turning her attention to Willy and Eugene. She clapped her hands together decisively. "Raht!" She cried, digging a bulging bag of Buff-Out from her pocket. "Dis here buff stuff mek a man strong lahk a Deathjaw an' twahce as mean! Y'all need to forage me some shroom and a lil' broc flower to gentle the nasties down some and make it go further. We got a lotta boys to feed, and we want 'em big an brusin! Now get!"[ The War Room, Nachzehrer ] The Fuhrer noted the change in mood, and cracked a sunny grin that was somewhat at odds with his sombre, dusty black uniform. “My friends, I sense I have offended you.” He began brightly. “This was never my intention. For a member of the Fourth Reich, to see a suit of power armor without hearing the click of servos is…odd. Rather like using a plasma rifle as a blunt object." The guards at the Fuhrer's backed tensed and shuffled, their eyes fully trained on the Knights. "But I'm sure we seem equally strange for you." He added by way of appeasement. The Fuhrer nodded his head benignly as the knights introduced themselves. He smiled politely through Walter's flattery, quietly inspecting Camelot's representatives. It wasn't until Adam spoke that the Fuhrer felt the need to respond. “I am Ser Adam Wilmond, and this is Ser Killian Darktower. It is an honor to finally meet you, Herr Fuhrer.” "No it isn't." replied the Fuhrer with a small contrary laugh. "My lords, unless you possess the finest spy network in the East Coast Wasteland, you haven't seen or heard enough from me to be honoured. Indeed, what you must have seen of my Storm Troopers on your way to this room no doubt filled you with mistrust and caution, and that ladies and gentleman, is the most natural thing in the world. So let our two societies meet in these walls as friends, and have no more talk of honors or flattery or any such tedium"The Troopers behind the Fuhrer continued to shuffled awkwardly, their glassy eyes stuck on Bronwen and her party. A couple of them whispered to each other from the darker corners of the War Room. The unmistakable creak of leather could be heard as the Troopers gripped their guns closer to them. Aware, the Fuhrer merely held up a hand and smiled at the knights apologetically. "Nerves" The Fuhrer explained dryly. "I would love to talk to you all day. It's not often I get visitors, but as you can see, my men get a little restless when I am sitting around idle. That's the trouble with a dictatorship. However benevolent it may be, it makes one awfully dependent."He chuckled at his little funny, then stood up. "So my lords and ladies. I say again. To what do I owe this pleasure?" |
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Post by Court Baron Butters on Jun 3, 2014 23:38:33 GMT -5
((OOC: Hey Harry, Stephen wandered towards Fido who ran in the opposite direction of Mussolini (which I say in a different post before the explosion goes off, about the same time the skirmish starts) so I don't think its very likely that in the time Stephen made it to echo team that Mussolini would manage to get all the way around Squad Epsilon Iota, and over to echo squad, and Stephen, but thank you for the gesture of distracting the wolves. With love - The Boots.))
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