"M-maybe we could convince the, uh, Orcs to, y'know, s-stop attacking? W-we don't even know why t-they're fighting, do we? I-I'm going to try to t-talk to t-them!"
[Run out, waving hands and drawing attention doing her best to avoid seeming threatening and to figure out exactly what is going on.]
(Oh boy, Jenny. What are you getting yourself into?)
Circe was just about to pull the trigger when Jenn ran out. "God damnit." She swore, pulling back quickly. "What do you think you're doing? Get back under cover now!" She hissed to the medic.
(Ok... instead of shooting, just hold back and wait)
((Two important executive decisions: Annerose will be NPC'd until Loli's feeling better. Wish our little Defensive Force for Young Girls to get well.
Decision the second: To keep people from getting bored when they're at Firelight with no EP, you'll be able to explore and clear out any enemies inside of the base. Right now, the only areas available to do this in are Subfloor 1, and Subfloor 12, where the sewers are. Take note, you'll either need a hacking tool or someone with said tool to get everywhere on those two floors.))
Firelight: Barracks (Sub-floor 1); Kalica.
"Well, I am rather bored," The Virtual Representation of Kiera followed Kalica down the hallway, her chest stuck out, arms behind her back, looking fairly proper as she walked, "If you're bored also, we could always try and clear out the southern section of this floor. I'd advise bringing Lieutenant-Commander Reya, however, as she has some more experience fighting."
1 Mile Northwest of Firelight: Carmina Delage's house, Convenience Store; Ashley, Hali and Cassidy
"Then let's go before Engineer Hali is too tired to continue," She said, forcing the red head to drape an arm about her shoulders, ready to help her on the journey back to Firelight. The medic's eyes watched as Cassidy began to skip the wrong way, her mouth half-open to mention the Asari's wrong direction. Her eyes lit up as she saw the woman correct herself, trying to unsuccessfully stifle a giggle. As they went back to Firelight, Theresa tried to get Ashley's attention.
"Did she say how old she was? She acts like a Maiden sometimes... I mean, not that I'd mind if she was out of her Maiden Stage. I like it when they're between that stage of Maiden and Matron."
Firelight Base: Courtyard; Cassidy, Ashley, Hali, Theresa and Kyle
Theresa pulled a very tired Hali into the courtyard, with Ashley helping the Engineer along on her other side now. They maneuvered her to a crate that she sat upon, breathing heavily. Theresa, against her body screaming to wander up to the Asari, instead went over to the Veteran Mechanic, watching as he tried to patch the outer shell of a Gatling Gun turret.
Two Miles Southwest of Firelight: Alliance Assembly Point, Sensor Node; Circe, Anne, Laina and Jennifer.
Combat Rolls
Jenna runs out to try and persuade the Orcs from firing; uses 1 EP.
Persuasion: 20 + 3 = 23 vs. 6 + 4 = 10; Orc Squad Leader Persuaded.
Commander Winters: Fires on Hidden Orc 1 three times and takes cover; uses 4 EP.
Attack 1: 9 + 4 = 13 vs. 11 + 5 = 16; Miss.
Attack 2: 16 + 4 = 20 vs. 8 + 5 = 13; Damage: 2.
Attack 3: 17 + 4 = 21 vs. 2 (Autohit); Damage: 1.
Cassie takes cover.
Circe: Uses careful aim and attacks the nearest Orc and then takes cover; uses 3 EP and 1 MP.
Attack 1: 14 + 4 + 1 = 19 vs. 2 (Autohit); Damage: 3 + 2 = 5.
Orc Grunt 2 dies.
Circe takes cover.
Laina: Follows Circe's plan, running towards the portable cover and using it; Uses 2 EP.
Laina takes cover.
Anne: Fires at the closest female orc 3 times, then takes cover; uses 4 EP.
Attack 1: 6 + 5 = 11 vs. 1 (Autohit); Damage: 2.
Attack 2: 9 + 5 = 14 vs. 8 + 2 = 10; Damage: 2.
Female Grunt 1 dies.
Anee takes cover, using only 3 EP.
Drone 1: Continues to take cover; uses 1 EP.
Drone 1 takes cover.
Drone 2: Rushes out from behind cover and moves next to Laina, taking cover next to her; uses 2 EP.
Drone 2 takes cover.
Orc Squad Leader: Moves from behind cover and grabs Jenna, pushing her back towards her allies; uses 3 EP all together.
Orc Squad Leader takes cover.
Enemies Turn
Hidden Orc 1: Makes unknown movement(s).
Orc Grunt 1: Continues to take cover; uses 1 EP.
Orc Grunt 1 takes cover.
Female Grunt 2: Runs and takes cover near one of the cement barriers; uses 2 EP.
Female Grunt 2 takes cover.
Before the plan can be put into action, Jenn runs out into the middle of the battlefield, yelling and waving her arms, "Stop! Everyone, stop, please!"
And for a second, the firefight did come to and end, with all eyes on the lone medic, staring at the timid healer in body armor. The silence seemed to last forever, but in reality it was only a few seconds before the Commander gave her orders: "The sniper is out of cover! Take her out, now!" And with that, the Commander and Marine both stepped out of cover and fired at the only intact building, before dropping back against their protective barriers. Circe waited no longer to carefully aim at the grunt closest to Jenna and put it down, giving the order to Laina; the mechanic nodded and ran with her hands over her head to the red metal barrier, a drone quickly moving in next to her. Anne took her shots at a female orc, dropping the combatant quickly, as the orcs scrambled around to try and get a better vantage point. The Commander could be heard over the radio as she glanced over her cover.
"Shit... The sniper isn't at her window anymore... I don't think we put her down-
"Enemy incoming!" She shouted, the Orc Squad Leader jumping over the red barrier he was behind, rushing across the field of battle. In just 8 strides he was standing right next to Jenn, the tall, green creature nearly three heads higher than her. The medic looked up at him, mouth agape, with literally no time to scream before he picked her up by the waist and lifted her up. Instead of carrying Jenn off to Gods know where, the Squad Leader bounded back towards the area where she came from, dropping the medic on her ass in front of her friends. The orc was quick to push his back against the mostly destroyed wall, glancing left and right as he took out a red metal pistol, just like the one Circe had picked up from the other armored orc.
"...So do we or don't we shoot this one?" Anne asked.
Seeing the large creature come around the corner, Circe began to go for her pistol before she saw it take cover next to her. "I don't know, keep an eye on him." She said to Annerose while reloading.
"Commander, did I hear there was a sniper? Where at?" Stepping around their sudden ally, Circe took aim at the orc he just left and fired.
((Reload, move around Bigga, fire at shorty. 3EP. Cover's for wimps and people with more EP.))
Safely reaching the piece of cover, Laina raises her pistol to take out the other female orc.. only to see her enemy had moved out of sight and into a new spot. Sprinting around to the other red metal barricade that had recently been vacated, she fires a couple of shots at the now exposed enemy and takes cover.
"Sn-sniper?! You could have told us about that sooner! I just ran through a wide open space.."
(Run to the top metal cover thingy, shoot twice at the female orc, and then take cover.)
*tapping her chin lightly she smiled at the idea presented and nodded some.*
"that does sound like a better idea...and i Reya here? i dont remember seeing her on my way through the halls. hell if she is lets grab her and start securing this place a little more.."
"I can get her down here very quickly, Runner Kalica," Kiera said, "I was merely playing Chess with her up in the Command Center. She'll be happy to help, since I was winning... Uhm, if you wouldn't mind heading back to the Freight Elevator, Runner Kalica? That's where the Lieutenant-Commander will be waiting."
The virtual representation of Kiera followed Kalica back towards the elevator, the doors opening to reveal Reya. The Marine took a step out into the corridor, looking to Kalica.
For a second, Jennifer just fell onto her butt and sat there, looking at the Orc that had brought her back to her friends in wide-eyed amazement. Then she let out a loud whoop and jumped to her feet. "I knew you guys weren't all bad!" she cheered. "What're the chances we can persuade the other guys to be nice? And of course we're not going to shoot him!" Thinking quickly, Jenn peeks out past the wall at the other Orcs before glancing back at her savior. "Um," she says hesitantly, "h-how much of what I say do you understand?"
[If Mr. Orc here in any way suggests that others can be persuaded, Jenn will try to persuade them. If he doesn't say anything at all, she will stay behind cover and use her Meditool to give as many people as she can more AP. If he somehow suggests that they can't be convinced, Jenn will shoot her pistol once and duck into cover.]
"I don't recall her mentioning her age.... Though she seems a little... Weird now. When we first met her, she was a lot calmer, less flighty, you know? She was being chased by a robot though, so maybe it's just nerves. Anyway, you'd have to ask her if you want to know." Ashley replies to Theresa, after her query about Cassidy, her tone neutral as she continued glancing around them.
When they arrived back at base, Ashley still felt as though she were full of energy, and spoke into her headset; "Kiera, are all the other nodes activated yet? And is there anything else that needs doing?"
"Well for starters I was thinking we go work on the southern section of this floor and make things safer for us. If ya got any other ideas I'm all ears".
*she rubbed her hands together ready to get to work and maybe even shoot something*
A little tired herself.. but damned if she'd display it in front of humans, Cassidy deftly hops up onto the crate beside Hali.. before settling down into a crouch, then dropping her legs over the side to sit behind the exhausted Engineer, placing her own back against Hali's. Just like old friends.
On the inside, though, her mind was racing. The damaged state of the Gatling Cannon.. or at least, the relatively inoperable state it was now in, suggested an attack. Either that, or a most foolish lack of preparation. Shrugging it off, the Asari lifts a self-conscious hand to her ear as she contacts Kiera.
"Miss AI.. You and I both know the uselessness of my internal compass, so.. I don't suppose you could direct me to the labs..? I think I remember enough of my student days to at least be a useful laboratory assistant. Do they still have those white coats, and the cute safety glasses..?"
"Sounds good to me. Kiera, mind opening up a passageway for us to get to the southern section of this floor? We'd like to see if there are any enemies for us to take care of."
"Of course," Kiera replied, following the two over to the Medical office, "I know this room is clear, because Kalica and Ruri came out of here before. I'll be locking the doors behind you though, just to make sure nothing gets into the north section of the base. I do warn you... if you're caught, I'll have to send some others to help you escape. There's nothing I can physically do. If you're still willing to go, please let me know."
Reya looked over to Kalica with a smirk, "I'm ready if you are, Kalica."
Firelight Base: Courtyard; Cassidy, Ashley, Hali, Theresa and Kyle
"Well..." Kiera came over the headset for Ashley alone, "There's one sensor node that hasn't been activated, but Circe and her team have left my radio range, but they were still headed in that direction. I don't know what's taking them so long...
"Still, I don't want you to go out by yourself. You are a Civilian, after all."
At the same time, she was speaking to Cassidy: "I'm a VI, Fugitive Cassidy. As for your internal compass, I thought it may point you towards the mess so you can apparently dance on our non-existent stripper poles. Oh, and I doubt we'd want you anywhere near the labs, with your past history, even if they were available at the moment. The lab floor is currently in lock down until the Commander returns."
Two Miles Southwest of Firelight: Alliance Assembly Point, Sensor Node; Circe, Anne, Laina and Jennifer.
Combat Rolls
Circe: Moves to the corner of the intact building, taking careful aim at the flanked orc and firing; uses 3 EP.
Attack 1: 17 + 4 = 21 vs. 3 (Autohit); Damage: 3.
Circe runs out of EP.
Laina: Runs to new piece of cover, fires twice at the orc, then takes cover again; uses 4 EP.
Attack 1: 17 + 3 = 20 vs. 8 (Autohit); Damage: 1.
Attack 2: 10 + 3 = 13 vs. 4 + 2 = 6; Damage: 1.
Laina takes cover.
Jenn: Runs over to Commander Winters to heal her; uses up 2 EP.
Heal: 3 AP
Anne: Moves up to the sheet of metal and takes cover; uses 2 EP.
Anne takes cover.
Commander Winters: Runs out of cover and fires at the female grunt with Assault Rifle; uses 2 EP.
Attack 1: 4 + 4 = 8 vs. 5 + 2 = 7; Damage: 2.
Female grunt dies.
Drone 1: Moves from behind cover towards Orc Grunt 1 and fires twice; uses 3 EP.
Attack 1: 6 + 3 = 9 vs. 18 (automiss)
Attack 2: 18 + 3 = 21 vs. 4 (Autohit); Damage: 1.
Orc Grunt 1 dies.
Orc Squad Leader: Doubles back around the cover, heading towards the only intact building and takes cover; uses 2 EP.
Squad Leader takes cover.
Enemy turn
Orc Hunter: Jumps from the window, attempting to grapple Circe and attacking; uses 5 EP.
Grapple 1: 15 + 3 = 18 vs. 15 + 1 = 16; Circe is grappled and can only try to escape grapple or use melee attacks.
Attack 1: 6 + 3 = 9 vs. 10 (Automiss).
Attack 2: 18 + 3 = 21 vs. 5 (Autohit); Damage: 1 AP.
Attack 3: 15 + 3 = 18 vs. 3 (Autohit); Damage: 1 AP.
Orc Hunter is out of EP.
Experience gains: Circe gains 5 EXP and reaches level 3. Increase your AP, FP or MP by 1, or you EP by 2; Feat choices are presented below.
Anne gains 5 EXP, putting her 5 away from level 3.
Laina gains 5 EXP and reaches level 3. Increase your AP, FP, or MP by 1, or your EP by 2; Feat choices are presented below.
Jenn gains 5 EXP, putting her 5 away from Level 2. Feat:
Both Circe and Laina may choose from any starting feat a class has, or may choose from the following list:
Advanced Training: The PC's chosen weapon adds +1 onto the die roll. This may be taken multiple times, but never more than once on the same weapon.
Precise Aim: If combat hasn't started yet, the PC gains +2 for any to-hit roll.
Aptitude: Allows the PC to learn how to use different equipment: Orc Weaponry, Orc Equipment, Orc technology, Meditool, Omnitool, Alien Technology (Any tech not made by humans or orcs), Hacking Tool, Explosives or Heavy Weapons.
Circe may also choose...
Rape Bait: When not wearing any armor or clothes, Enemies will flock towards Circe, even leaving cover to get at her. This feat is always on.
Break Free: Using 4 MP, Circe gain a +4 on escaping a grapple.
Laina may also choose...
Pistoleer: Laina gains +1 to any to-hit rolls and + 1 to damage rolls with a pistol. Costs 1 MP per Shot.
Reinforce: While taking cover, Laina can reinforce her position, repairing any damage to it as well as making it even stronger. This costs 1 MP for every time a position is reinforced.
The Orc Squad Leader looks down at Jenn, stepping over her as he moved around behind cover, leaving the group's sight. Circe takes a chance, running out from behind cover and stopping just below the intact building's window. The Commander glanced up over her cover as Jenn ran over to her, waving her meditool over the woman. Genetic experiments like the Commander were rare, so she gave pause as she saw the rabbit woman keeping an eye on Viola. When the cooling sensation of the tool wash over her, Commander Winters jumped, looking up at the medic.
"Thanks," She said, then looked back over her cover, towards the report from Circe's rifle. "Viola! Get out from underneath the window!" She hissed into her mic, before running out of cover, setting up a perfect flank with Laina, taking out the female grunt easily. A drone doubled back around the bunker, leveling it's pistol as it fired twice, hitting the remaining grunt just once - enough to kill it.
With a sudden roar, the orc leaped from her sniper's nest on the second floor building, easily tackling Circe to the ground. With little struggle, the dusky-colored sniper forced Circe's arms to her sides, before pulling out a magazine of the pink colored needles and slamming them into the Gynoid's chest. She let out something of pained groan, Circe merely struggled in the creature's grip... At least, until Commander Winters put a bullet through the hunter's head.
Having to go further than she had intended to get a clear shot, Circe wasn't aware of exactly where the orc sniper was until the commander warned her. Circe had just enough time to turn as the orc landed on her. As the orc stabbed her with the needles, she let out a cry of pain and when Commander Winters killed the creature, the first thing Circe did was roll over and pull the things free.
"Tch. I got careless." She chided herself, but stayed where she was, knelt on the ground, one hand supporting her and the other at her chest where the orc stabbed her.
With the last of the enemies dispatched, Laina holsters her weapon and jogs over to the group. Seeing Circe kneeling over the dead orc clutching her chest, she rushes up to her with a worried look on her face. "Circe, a-are you okay?"
Jennifer notes the Orc's general location, but quickly refocuses when she spots the downed Circe and rushes over.
"C-Circe? How are you feeling?" Jenn asks as she starts pulling up Circe's vitals on her Meditool and checking her over.
"It would probably be best if you take it easy, at least for a minute or two."
Bending over, Jenn carefully gathers the needles. "Pink... seems better than black or dark green, I guess?" She begins to look for any remaining traces in or on the needles to sample and, if necessary, use to concoct a counter-agent.
She eyes the needles hopefully, glancing nervously at Circe.
Cassidy leaps to her feet with an expression of mock anger, raising one hand to jab a threatening finger at.. thin air. She also replies to the VI in her headset out loud..
"Firstly, I don't believe that. Secondly, there is a reason our stripper poles are non-existent, you fun-spoiling-no-life robot! Third.."
And of course, she raises a third finger, having lost count somewhere between one and two, but now catching up..
"..I totally -wouldn't- break anything! The damage of that incident was highly overrated!"
With that, she spins on her heel, and makes as if to storm off in a huff.. before quickly realising there's no real place to storm off to, in Firelight. Apart from the maze of corridors that made up the inside, which seemed an even worse idea. Sulking, the azure woman sits back down, beside the panting Hali.
"...Fine. Just.. when is this Commander of yours going to appear, anyway?"
(Rest, I guess.. and chitchat with our resident AI.)
"I'm fine." Circe said roughly, pushing the two girls' hands away and standing up, revealing a small, reddish location where the needles struck, but little else. "Was that the last one?" She asked, kicking the female orc's body. "And how are the commander and the other soldier?" Her face had a reddish tinge to it, but weather it was due to the needles, or some embarrisment for having been caught like that, it was impossible to tell.
"Alright," Kiera said, letting the door to the medical bay open so they two could enter, "I'll try to keep an eye on you... but most of my sensors in the base are down. You can try to fix them if you want."
((Alright, so this is how 'exploring' the base will work: Consider it a battle, where you and enemies will be moving in turns. Gray means an unexplored room; Green means a room you or a PC are in; Yellow is a room already explored, but Kiera can't see into; blue is an explored room Kiera can see into, and red is a room that you can't get into (locked).))
"Well, let's get going," Reya said, working the action on her rifle.
Firelight Base: Courtyard; Cassidy, Ashley, Hali, Theresa and Kyle
Kiera continued to speak with Cassidy.
"I'm not a robot, nor am I an AI. Please, Cassidy, I've given you proper credentials to pass by anyone here at Firelight if they decide to look into you.. Just hope they haven't read the news lately. As for the Commander, I have no idea where she is; she could be halfway across the Galaxy and having a fun night at Azure for all I know.
"...Speaking of which, I'm sure she'd love to meet you. Again, that is."
Two Miles Southwest of Firelight: Alliance Assembly Point, Sensor Node; Circe, Anne, Laina and Jennifer.
"Tch," Cassie stood from her kneeling position, slipping the assault rifle to her back, "Such a disappointment compared to the real Viola. I can't believe that bitch decided to make pathetic recreations like yourself." With that, she went towards the bunker, the marine woman standing up to look at Circe.
"I thought you all did pretty well..." She said, rubbing the back of her neck. The rabbit woman spun around, glaring at her Marine.
"That's borderline insubordination. Not like it matters, since I don't think there's really any court I can marshal you at," The black rabbit said. pushing back some of her hair and her floppy ears, she went to work tapping in the code to open up the bunker.
Jenn was suddenly surprised as she saw the orc squad leader standing right next to her. The medic let out a little eep as his rather dominating figure towered over her, somewhat afraid he might just take off with her... but instead, he dropped three of the odd, silver discs into her open hand.
"Holy shit!" A scared voice exclaimed. Everyone's attention was suddenly on the bunker door, where five other people were piled around - four civilians and one mechanic, it looked like. The female mechanic stared up at the tall orc, "There's still one out here, Commander!"
"It's on our side," The commander said, ushering everyone out and locking the door behind them, "For now."
Circe fixed an icy glare on Cassie. "I apologise Commander, if I don't live up to your expectations. I am, afterall, only a bionoid modeled upon Viola." Although her words were polite, her tone was as cold as her gaze.
Taking a look around the group, Viola looked in the direction of the sensor node. "Commander, there's still a sensor node of the Firelight base's VI that is down. I would like to take the mechanic Laina to reactivate it. Annerose, Jennifer and the orc can escort you back to the base." Circe suggested, then added on a little belatedly, "Unless you have other orders, sir." Her mannerisms had returned to the typical, no-nonsense, soldier persona she usually had.
