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Post by unit894 on Dec 16, 2013 18:58:15 GMT -5
Mark watched Alec walk away, saw him sit down and remove his helmet...saw the conflict no his face. Mark smiled inwardly, Alec hated him for sure, many of Knights he had...removed during his escape were probably close to him, but Vasmith was still a good amn no matter what had happened. Mark now knew that he had a safety blanket. He was fairly certain Alec would stop anyone trying to kill him. But now there was something else that required considering. The...unknown variable.
This one was an ex-soldier, a survivor. He would not back down from begging or bribes. The only way to escape this situation would to impress the man with a show of masculinity. This also gave Mark a chance to test his hypothesis on Alec. He noticed with a mild amusement that the man was pointing his firearm at Mark's genitalia. Mark put his hands behind hid back and took a purposeful step forwards, so that the pistol was grazing the material of his trousers.
"You believe to frighten me by putting an area of my anatomy at risk. A very logical decision, I am not egotistical, I do not believe myself better than others, but like all humans I have a natural desire to live. The only flaw in your otherwise perfect plan was choosing the place to point your firearm. Most men protect their genitalia very carefully, mostly because of the possibility of reproduction with the opposite sex. This does not interest me. You fire into my crotch, I will not die, not straight away at least. The pain will be excruciating, but no-one understands pain more then I. Your jugular vain will be severed before that pistol stops smoking."
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cl4ptp
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Post by cl4ptp on Dec 16, 2013 19:27:32 GMT -5
Coyote smiles, then begins laughing.
"You see, the issue you've forgotten about is I use hollowpoints for my 10mm. Not including the shock, blood loss, and unimaginable pain you will experience, you neglect to include the residual internal damage that will occur. Not to mention, from where you stand, I'd have five more rounds in your body before you got close enough to threaten me with your knife."
From behind, Alec and company can see Coyote's free hand gently touching his combat knife, knowing that if Mark lunged, he'd have a razor-sharp knife drawn and ready before the weapon the doctor was clearly hiding would be at his throat. Helluva gambit, but then again, Coyote was part machine...
"So tell me, doc. How do you like your odds? Because I have a feeling you can't dodge bullets"
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Post by Possessedcheddar on Dec 18, 2013 16:53:22 GMT -5
Alec sat and watched the two men, locked in their pathetic and ultimately meaningless battle of wills. Alec had once heard a phrase used for moments just like this, a “pissing match”, a hypothetical contest in which two men debate over who can urinate the farthest distance from themselves; it was a contest, much like Mark and Coyote’s, that was completely devoid of any meaning.
He looked at his brothers who were all standing around watching the scene with levels of disinterest matching The Knight Sergeant’s own. It was obvious to everyone present, aside from Banjo, that both Mark and Coyote had been away from the Brotherhood for a long enough period of time that they had now reverted back to a more basic and less refined set of social skills.
The Knight Sergeant Stood up. He was a sergeant after all. An instructor of initiates, a leader of troops and these two men were acting like the rawest initiates he’d ever seen, butting heads over who was more willing to die for their pride. He approached the pair and did what he thought was best.
Alec placed an arm between the two men; he elbowed his way past Coyote’s guard and put his helmeted face right in front of Coyote’s head. The other man wasn’t even looking at him; he had his eyes locked with Mark’s. The Knight Sergeant placed his hand on the slide for Spark’s gun and pushed it away from the doctor.
“What do you think you’re doing Vasmith, this ain’t your fight. Me and the Doc here, we got us something to settle.”
Alec sneered and rasped out, in a voice that broached no argument, “No. I am ending it. We need a sniper, that’s you Sparks, stop acting like a hormonal teenager and get your shit together soldier.” Alec turned to Mark. “I don’t like you brother but your skills will be required and sorely tested in the coming days. Unless of course you prefer having your goddamn testicles reduced to a pulpy mess, in which case hurry up and make him shoot you so we can keep moving.”
Alec forced Coyote’s pistol, hand still wrapped tightly around the grip, into its holster. He pushed the two men apart and said in his still quiet rasp,
“Now. We cannot stay here, the corpses and our noise will attract attention we can ill afford, already the carrion eaters circle. Friends, we need to collect all we have and move elsewhere. This behavior does not benefit either of you. You are professionals, no matter what I think of you personally.” The last line Alec directed at Mark, with a look of distaste. He would never warm to the man, but he would tolerate him, for his medical knowledge was prodigious. Coyote huffed and looked at Alec.
“Don’t you ever fucking lay your hand on me again to interrupt my own business Vasmith, it ain’t your place to decide who lives and dies out here. You pontificate at the Doc about thinkin’ he’s better than everyone, well, you might wanna’ take a good hard look at yer’self before you hop up on your high horse.”
Alec let the words wash over him, in a disinterested manner; he knew Coyote was angry, he’d seen his chip-on-your-shoulder types before. Sparks would calm down eventually, but until he did Alec would tread lightly around his friend.
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Salvahkiin
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Post by Salvahkiin on Dec 18, 2013 17:41:35 GMT -5
Banjo and James ignored the scuffle, both of their morals said to not get involved, but they both looked when the Knight Sergeant went to interrupt, they watched with held breath, it looked like there was gonna be a scuffle. Banjo hadn't yet formed opinions of these men, but James had, he knew that Aussenhiemer was a cruel man, and should be put down. He wouldn't mind if one of them did it.
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Post by unit894 on Dec 18, 2013 19:24:49 GMT -5
Mark stayed stock still, staring at the man. He wasn't particularly keen to get shot, but to back down would be to show weakness, and weakness was not something he could afford when surrounded by enemies. When the power armoured man barged between the them, Mark ticked a small box in his head. So Alec will save him if necessary, a useful piece of knowledge to know. Even the mighty Knight Sergeant had weakness.
"I am ending it. We need a sniper, that’s you Sparks, stop acting like a hormonal teenager and get your shit together soldier.”“I don’t like you brother but your skills will be required and sorely tested in the coming days. Unless of course you prefer having your goddamn testicles reduced to a pulpy mess, in which case hurry up and make him shoot you so we can keep moving.”
Mark nodded curtly. "I am not your brother, but you are correct in your summary". Mark walked back to the fire and retrieved his satchel. He took his Plasma Defender from his pocket, checked the wiring and returned it to it's holster. He walked back to Alec and Coyote, to find them fighting.
“Don’t you ever fucking lay your hand on me again to interrupt my own business Vasmith, it ain’t your place to decide who lives and dies out here. You pontificate at the Doc about thinkin’ he’s better than everyone, well, you might wanna’ take a good hard look at yer’self before you hop up on your high horse.”
Mark turned his dead eyes on Coyote once more.
"I thought you were a member of the Brotherhood. In case you have forgotten, a Knight with his...i suppose the phrase is 'head stuck up his own ass' is not an uncommon sight. They are so much better and more civilized then us savages, remember your basic training? You are correct, the brotherhood are no better than myself. They patronize and look down upon anyone outside of their own number."
He turned to Alec. "We are not so different, you and I"
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cl4ptp
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Post by cl4ptp on Dec 18, 2013 22:06:08 GMT -5
Coyote sighs, holstering his pistol and retrieving his rifle. He quickly dons his sunglasses, then looks to the group.
"I'll scout ahead. If I'm not back in 2 hours, head southeast and don't search for me. All likelyhood, I'm dead."
Coyote sprints off, heading due south, his image becoming part of the background darkness as the night becomes heavy as T-51d Power Armor.
It was best that he left. He saw the group that was forming, and minus Aussenheimer, he saw use in this group. Too long had he walked the wasteland alone. It was a decent change of pace to have "allies." But Mark just rubbed him the wrong way. Maybe it was the unnecessary butchering of those he once called brother, or maybe it was because he saw a piece of himself in the mad doctor. Quickly shaking that thought from his mind, he found another spot: an old abandoned police station. The place was inhabited by measly two-bit thugs who hadn't even bothered to open the door. The two were arguing over a singular can of Cram.
Well, ain't this peachy. Perhaps I may have found a location that could prove quite defensable. At least the scum that's trying to get in has failed to enter. Well, Best to clear out the riffraff...
Coyote lined his scope, locking it on the first of the two.
Breathe in...
He accounted for distance. 300m far enough to blanket his location. He pulled back on the rifle, jamming the buttstock into his shoulder, pulling the tripod so it could minimize the recoil.
Breathe out...
Coyote adjusted for wind. 3 miles an hour to his left flank downwind. He aimed into the wind by a few degrees.
Breathe in...
He focused on slowing his heart rate, finding the space between breaths. His finger gently began squeezing the trigger.
Breathe out.......
The shot rings out, the sound obscured by the wind and the distance as the first thug drops dead. The second begins panicking, drawing his pistol and firing precious ammo in random directions. Without a blink of emotion, Coyote let loose a second shot, making its mark with ideal precision.
Relaxing, he cleaned up his brass and headed down, the cold reaching a bitter stage in the dead of night. He quickly looted the bodies, then moved the corpses to a nearby dumpster. Maybe here, they wouldn't draw attention. However, Coyote saw the door's lock and worried slightly. Should this door not open, his companions'd likely succumb to the bitter embrace of the winter.
Quickly drawing a lockpicking kit, he began gently teasing the lock. Several agonizing minutes pass, and he finally hears the final tumbler click into place. Slinging the rifle, he heads inside, to clear the building out...
Coyote enters the building, flashlight on and pistol in hand, ready for anything. To his surprise, the building was nigh untouched by time, with the odd skeleton of a poor individual who failed to escape the bombs littering the floor. Well, it was best that this building not go to waste. Quickly exiting after making sure the building was clear, he set up a single landmine near the door, so if someone who wasn't affiliated with him stumbled on this find, they'd have a helluva surprise.
Making haste, Coyote marked the location on his map and beat feet back to the overpass. With any luck, they'd still be there and hopefully, nobody.. or nothing had showed up. He prayed he wasn't too late...
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Post by Possessedcheddar on Dec 19, 2013 0:13:34 GMT -5
Alec waited two hours for Coyote. The man had not yet returned. When he had watched Sparks go he had decided that it was for the best, the soldier had needed some time to himself. Now the Knight Sergeant wasn’t so sure. He looked around the camp and saw everyone packing up what few belongings they owned. Alec saw that his brothers had taken up guarding positions at regular points, with Banjo up on top of the crumbling overpass keeping watch with his rifle. He decided to join the man.
“Do you see anything, any sign of our wayward sniper?”
Alec rasped as he climbed up beside the other man, his armor clanking and scraping against the battered stone of the old broken road. Banjo shook his head almost imperceptibly in response to the Sergeant’s question, not taking his eye away from his sights.
“No sir, ain’t seen nothin’ cept’ fer them big ol’ ugly yeller’ fellers out there past the blown up buildin’.”
Alec was slightly alarmed “How many are there Banjo?”
The old hunter pulled his gun back and licked his thumb. He then slid his moistened thumb across the front sight post of his rifle.
“Ah saw it in a ol’ film somewhere, don’t rightly remember where to be honest.”
Alec looked at him for a moment. “Sergeant York.”
Banjo’s haggard, time worn face lit up and a crooked smile split his features. “That it was, ah remember now. Ya’ll brotherhood types get all the good stuff, don’t ya’.”
Alec didn’t respond, instead looking back out towards the buildings, knowing that Coyote could be amongst the Super Mutants milling about down there. At that moment Banjo seemed to remember that he’d been asked to count the number of mutants in the distance, he diligently sat down and braced his rifle against his raised knee, just like an old soldier, Alec thought.
“Ah count leven’ of them nasty buggers, Maybe you ought’a lick yer’ sights too, Sergeant. It ain’t gonna hurt nothin’ I don’t imagine.”
Alec thought, eleven was quite a large concentration of super mutants, more than he really wanted to tangle with. But to get to Coyote, he needed to get through them. He was going to need help, and he needed someone who could remain quiet, composed and assist in medically attending to him or Coyote if the need arose.
There was only one logical answer, Doctor Mark Aussenhiemer, The Knight Sergeant was about to make a deal with his devil.
He decided that licking his rifle sight might not be a bad idea. After all, Banjo was right,
“It ain’t gonna hurt nothin’”
Banjo looked up at the Knight, “You say sumthin’ sir? Ol’ ears ain’t like they used to be. Bit of advice from an old timer like myself, don’t you go getting’ old Sergeant, it ain’t a lick of fun.”
Alec smiled behind his helm, not even realizing he’d mumbled what the hunter had said before,
“No Banjo, I didn’t say anything important. You did well; keep an eye on the mutants while I go speak with the good doctor. Thank you for your help Banjo.”
As the Sergeant walked away he caught the tail end of a muttered few sentences from the old hunter “…nothin’ good bout’ that’un Sergeant. You best be watchin’ yer’ back. I know I will.”
The Knight Sergeant had rather taken a liking to the old hunter and was glad to have the man watching over his back.
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Salvahkiin
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Post by Salvahkiin on Dec 20, 2013 2:50:04 GMT -5
Banjo still couldn't see anything while up on the overpass, but he had to keep looking, for the sake of spotting Coyote. The Super Mutant group would be hard to get past, but Mark would be the most likely one, what with James and Alec being in power armor.
James kept sitting, repairing his plasma rifle. If only he had some glass to fix his helmet. He didn't speak a word to Mark, he was an evil man, a man that James didn't want to associate himself with. He looked up at Alec as he walked past.
"What's the verdict, sir?"
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Post by unit894 on Dec 20, 2013 4:12:17 GMT -5
Mark was checking the blades on his scalpels, running them smoothly along the whetstone. He had no water to spare, so he wet the blades in the snow after every stroke. Satisfied with the condition of his blades, Mark sat down on a lump of concrete and rebar, and pulled a medical journal from his satchel and flicked through it. He found an interesting article of the use of Med-X in extreme conditions, and settled down to read.
He noticed Alec stomping over to him, but he ignored the power-armoured man. He had nothing to say to him, and cared very little for anything the self-righteous oaf desired to spew at Mark.
Mark idly scratched at his sleeve, under which was the scar. He wished he was back at Stumpy Point with the Fuhrer. He had not met another spy for months, and had no idea how the war was going. He turned his mind away from such things, and continued reading.
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Post by Endicott on Dec 23, 2013 15:46:01 GMT -5
The dying day was laden with an old foreboding mist, like that of thick awkward emotions between old, long-forgotten friends.
Knight Sergeant Krawiec had just departed from the Broken Bow of Rivet City, a third-of-the-way-empty bottle of Scotch in his left hand and his custom assault rifle being dragged by the other. Something felt bad in the air; tasted bad... like dead snakes left in a jar too long. Adan dismissed it as the cold air on his alcohol-fueled breath.
Through the white, icy mist he saw a group further down the road up ahead. He dropped the bottle and it rolled down the bank and into the water.
'Damn' he mumbled.
He held the Assault Rifle at the ready and aimed out in front, slowly creeping down the road. Among the group was man in power armour, although the mist was too thick for Adan to identify him or her. Grabbing a nearby rock, he pulled himself to his feet and stood tall amount the dying grass and plants beside him. The servos of his weathered t-45d model were going berserk with the cold temperature and all it's busted wires.
His pace increased, and he ducked behind some nearby debris and peered around to look at the group, who were now barely a few steps away. He was able to identify them all now. Knight Sergeant Vasmith was friendly face, so his discomfort slowly faded... for a while. He looked closer and saw him.
Mark Aussenhiemer, If ever Adan had had a son, he often thought that he'd want him to be like Mark. At least he thought that way up until the brutal murders of some of the initiates. Now, he felt more discomfort than ever and froze on the spot. Slowly, he began to stand and shivered with fear.
"M-.. Mark! Is that you? God, it's been years. How... how..."
Was it worth it? Would any amount of small talk keep the inevitable, overpowering truth at bay?
"Well, it's nice to see you after all these years..."
He emerged from behind the debris and approached the group, his old, cheery smile put on his face to hide the innate fear he felt.
"And hello to you too, James and Alec. Nice to see a frien-... nice to fellow brothers-..."
It was pointless. Every sentence he could think of reminded him of Mark, and the sadness and sorrow he felt in relation to him. He stopped and awaited some responses, seeing as whatever he said felt like another thorn in his side...
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cl4ptp
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Post by cl4ptp on Dec 24, 2013 1:43:23 GMT -5
Coyote runs as quickly as he can, hearing the conversation of the muties near his friends' position. Quickly circling ahead of the muties' position, he pulls the remaining mines and grenades he looted from the thugs. Thinking quickly, he sets up trip lines and the mines, preparing for the onslaught, then doubling back to the overpass.
Returning, from the snow is the figure of Coyote, the thin veneer of frozen sweat on his face.
"We have to run. Now. Follow me. If you can't keep up, stay behind and cover our flight. And try to keep up."
With that, Coyote peels off, leaving a visible trail to his comrades, leading back to the abandoned police station.
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Post by Possessedcheddar on Dec 25, 2013 3:39:25 GMT -5
Alec paused in his approach to the doctor, watching Adan stumble through a pained greeting. A breathless Sparks ran up and bid the entire camp to follow him. Everyone had been packing since Alec had broken up the argument and they were all ready to go in short order.
It was good that they were able to mount such a rapid response, as Coyote ran off quickly in the direction he had came from. He did not even bother to stay and guide the group, he just expected them to follow his trail in the snow. Adan walked up beside Alec, both Knight Sergeants looked at each other.
"I don't like it Adan. Those mutants down there and our sniper just running off like this, it all seems wrong. He's supposed to be quiet and careful right? He's found something. Something that has him in a state of agitation."
Adan nodded his assent and checked his scouting rifle, glancing often at Mark with a fey look in his eyes. The Knight knew that out of everyone, Mark's change of heart and had hit Adan the hardest. Alec hoped that his devotion to the man who had butchered his fellow brothers would not impair his ability to fight if need be.
Alec pulled the charging handle back on his rifle, looking into the exposed breach and inspecting the rifle's action. All looked to be in order and the Knight let the bolt slam home, pushing a round from the magazine into the chamber, ready to fire at any time.
Banjo came down from his perch and warily walked towards the two men "ah don't mean to question mah betters but he seems a right bit fired up about somethin'"
Adan surveyed the man with obvious disinterest but Alec hung his rifle I the crook of his arm and pointed down the trail the sniper had left and said "he is in a rush. We just decided we didn't like it either, Banjo." The old man nodded, satisfied he wasn't the only one that felt this way.
Alec made sure everyone was in tow. And then said "Staggered line, maintain your distance. I don't want one surprise rocket or grenade taking out the whole column. We'll be easy targets and very visible as we move across mostly open terrain so keep your eyes down range and your weapons ready. We will only engage enemy targets who represent a direct threat to our advance. The column will move out on me. I'll take point. I want one Brother in the middle and One walking drag. We're moving out in five."
With this Alec did a final check of his equipment and ensured that his empty magazines were turned with their feed ends up so he could tell the difference from the loaded magazines in his pouches that he kept upside down. With three magazines of spare ammunition for his rifle and one spare magazine for his sidearm, he was confident he would be capable as ever to see his charges safely led on their journey.
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Salvahkiin
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Post by Salvahkiin on Dec 26, 2013 19:57:42 GMT -5
Banjo got down from the overpass, and stood next to Alec, he grabbed his spare clips, and made sure they were loaded, he put one into his hunting rifle, and switched the safety off. The mutants would be hard to get past, but Banjo's done sneaky stuff before so he'd be capable of getting past, the rifle was just a precaution. Banjo climbed the hill to get a look. This was more then he'd fought in a group before, but Banjo had his Brotherhood buddies now, they'd have a good chance at defeating them. Banjo crawled back down to the group, just in time for them to leave.
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Post by unit894 on Dec 27, 2013 12:55:08 GMT -5
Mark carefully closed and rolled the magazine up, and placed it in his bag. Since Coyote had failed to return on time, Mark had been prepared to slip off into the night and leave his companion to their fate. Before he could ready himself however, Coyote came sprinting out of the darkness, snow flying from his boots.
"We have to run. Now. Follow me. If you can't keep up, stay behind and cover our flight. And try to keep up."
Mark stood up, stretched, and slipped his satchel back over his head. He pulled his Plasma Defender out of it's holster and checked the electronics for cold damage. He opened his satchel and checked the blades on his scalpels, saw and clever one last time.Satisfied his weaponry were in perfect condition, he walked over to Alec.
"Staggered line, maintain your distance. I don't want one surprise rocket or grenade taking out the whole column. We'll be easy targets and very visible as we move across mostly open terrain so keep your eyes down range and your weapons ready. We will only engage enemy targets who represent a direct threat to our advance. The column will move out on me. I'll take point. I want one Brother in the middle and One walking drag. We're moving out in five."
Mark kept his face completely straight, but he was sneering on the inside. "I find your tactics...a bad use of my abilities. I move faster and easier on my own. I shall run ahead as a scout. Any threats I shall dispatch myself, or report to you. I shall meet you...wherever Coyote is leading us".
With that, Mark strode off into the blackness after coyote.
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Post by Endicott on Dec 30, 2013 13:36:43 GMT -5
Adan was uncomfortable with this shady character leading Alec and himself, but nevertheless he complied. He unfolded the stock of his assault rifle and crouched, aiming into the bleak, murky fog for a second, refamiliarising himself with using it. Like Mark, he was more of a scout and would make more use on his own... although, "like Mark" is the last way he'd like to be categorised.
"I'll scout ahead and position myself so that I can provide support when needed."
And with that, he began jogging towards the mass of debris beside the place where these mutants were apparently holed-up. After a few minutes of climbing, he was able to get a good vantage point of the mutants through his telescopic scope and waited for the others to start the onslaught...
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