The robot and Jonis maneuver through the river and along the banks, attempting to get closer and find an advantage on each other, but even crashing through small trees and moving past rocks large and small doesn't seem to help.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"I won't lie: he is indeed dangerous, but then again so am I; with that being said, however, he is not dangerous to you, unless you wish to offer violence to the members of my group or the other people from your city."
Burgurk points out an overhanging tree and Jonis pushes it in front of the robot, slowing him down enough for him to have to change direction, but they are much closer now...
The townsperson shakes his head and the hand covering it is removed. The doctor speaks up again. "You can rest assured no such things will come of it."
Jonis smiles when she sees the robot getting closer, and presses her advantage.
Burgurk again focuses his concentration on damaging the pilot's mind :
= 8, a Success and Raise!
= 30 points
Burgurk again grasps on to the man's mind, the pathway already burned through the distance. He can feel the man losing his grip on his thoughts, but he is holding out, for now...
Burgurk attacks again :
Jonis goes for the kill!
Burgurk feels his control slipping as the pilot turns a quick corner to throw you off, but Jonis is faster and knocks a large dead tree branch down in the way of the Forager. He is unable to stop in time and it slams into the chest piece of the machine. Unfortunately it only splinters against the armor and he is able to recover quickly enough to get moving. You can see the edge of town just past the next bend in the river.
Jonis realizes is now or never!
Jonis catches the robot pilot off guard, taking advantage of the momentary slow down from the tree branch, and she and Burgurk are within spitting distance of the Forager.
Jonis tries to tackle the robot, protecting Burgurk as best as she is able.
Burgurk, sensing that Jonis is going to try and tackle the robot, jumps off her hand into the water in order to give her every advantage.
While he is treading water, Burgurk attacks the pilot's mind again :
doing
But the effort of trying to swim and concentrate distracts him, making his attack virtually useless.
Mentally thanking Burgurk for freeing her Glitter Girl's hand, she tries to grapple the robot.
In a last ditch effort to stop the robot pilot from reaching Garnet Town, Jonis flings her Glitter Girl at full speed towards the machine. Its arms manage to keep her away from it, but it is enough to slow him down. His voice comes over the comms.
"It is too late. My job here is done and I will take my leave of you. Let us meet again on better terms. Maybe you'll buy me a drink." With that, he begins to turn the mech away and moves away from town.
Burgurk growls at Jonis, frustrated that his prey got away "Why did he say his job was done? What did he do? Did your sensors just register any release of energy or gas? Do you have any sensors in that thing that can check the environment for contaminants?"
Jonis lets the robot leave, and after he gets out of range gets out of her Glitter Girl.
"I hope he means he didn't get there in time."
She hugs the dripping wet Burgurk.
"To jump into the water was very brave."
She kisses him on the cheek.
"Brave?! Nonsense! It was the logical thing to do, to maximize your chances of success! And keep your lips off of me, you human female! I am a hunter, not a thing to be coddled!"
Jonis smiles and takes a step back.
"Sorry, I got carried away sometimes."
Before Jonis gets out, she does a quick scan of the area. Other than picking up the robot and a few energy signatures that belong to the town itself, she notes that there was a quick burst signal spike that occurred just before the chase ended.
Later, as your companions and the rescued hostages come around the bend, the town seems to have gathered around in the center area. As soon as the hostages are in sight, the townsfolk and hostages surge to meet each other amid cries of relief and sadness. Hugs and handshakes go all around and soon, many of them come to surround all of you, holding out their hands or outright embracing you. Eventually, Lithari, the mayor, makes her way through the crowd to stand in front of you.
"You have done us a great service. Garnet Town will be forever grateful to you and the Tomorrow Legion. We have business to attend to, but for now, I think the town wants to celebrate for the time being."
"Can your suit analyze that quick-burst signal, perhaps extract the message?"
Sharing what they know so far with the rest of the gang, Burgurk ends with "And, why did he need to be so close to the town to send it?"
Jonis nods at Burgurk.
"I'll try."
K Electronics:
Wild Die:
While you are enjoying your recent success, the dwarven doctor, Duncan, approaches your team. "I don't suppose any of you are medically trained? I could use some help seeing to some of these folks we brought back with us."
Out of her Glitter Girl, Jonis approaches the Coalition officer.
"Howdy! What are you doing? I hope you are not planning to arrest anyone!"
Her warm smile shows she is just joking.
"Unfortunately, Medical training is not among my skills, but I would be more than happy to help out however I can."
Coalition Lieutenant Beehan looks up from what he is doing at Jonis, a thin smile crossing his lips. "Believe me, if I had planned on doing that, the entirety of my unit would be here. From what I hear, you managed to run off a whole gang of demons. Impressive. I'd be curious to know how."
The doctor looks at Auriel and nods. "Just listen and do what yer told and you'll be a medic in no time. Come on." Old Man Duncan leads the way to what passes for a hospital in Garnet Town, a large building with several cots laid out with patients taking up a few of them. He wastes no time in telling you what he needs and where to each of you that choose to help him out.
Burgurk says "I can heal others with the power of my mind. Show me the people who are injured and I will attempt to heal them."
Success
Success
Raise
Success
Success
If he fails on a person, the next roll is on that same person.
You spend some time helping Duncan heal the ones that are badly wounded. He is grateful, as is the town itself. "You have all done good work. It's too bad we don't have more of you in these parts.", Old Man Duncan says as he continues his work. After about an hour, Lithari, the elf looking mayor woman limps towards you, her son in tow.
"It seems that it is time we made a decision as a town. I've put it off long enough. Before I do, from what I've seen, I think each of you may have some idea as to what would be best for a town such as ours. I'd like to hear your thoughts before I make the announcement this evening."
Jonis, candidly maybe, tells Beehan what transpired against the demons, not holding out anything.
"So, if not going to arrest anyone, what are you doing? I wouldn't like for you to do something that put the people at risk... I fear the Coalition has a way of doing damage that I don't want this place to experience."
She is firm but tries not to be threatening or confrontational.
---
At the major's question, she answers with a firm stare, but a friendly voice.
"Only one advice. Don't give up to fear. Do the right thing, even if risky, stand by your principles. If you are true, you will find friends and allies willing to stand by your side."
|
As the danger is passed, and the immediate need turns to healing, Atlas finds himself at a personal crossroads, having had too little honor and also too little firepower and mobility to have assisted in the most recent struggle he...shuts down and takes a nap.
Refreshed, though still not richer in clarity, his deaths-head face listens passively to the mayor as she asks for their opinion.
The part of his brain that deals in sarcasm was replaced with a repair program, so he can only take her literally.
He winds down, having shown no hint of either malice or enmity. It is simply how things are.
"What my companion means to say is that our organization will not want your town to change. Both the Coalition and the Federation will be able to offer you protection, but at what cost? The Coalition will require you to expel or kill any non-humans in your town, and the Federation will likely only want your town as a waystation to get unrestricted access to the nearby nexus, meaning that they will likely only protect your citizens if it protects their own interests and with a likely result that your people would be forced into servitude, if not outright slavery."
"The legion, on the other hand, will protect you, but not try to control your people or your government. We accept people of all races and walks of life, as long as they are willing to pitch in for the common good and help take care of each other."
As he is likely about to be interrupted by one of the other representatives, if not both, Auriel would raise his hand and say " Now, now, you both had a chance to make your case. Kindly allow us the same courtesy."
"In short, the Legion will protect not only you, but your way of life as well. It seems like it's a thing worth protecting, and unless I miss my mark, it is likely something that neither group mentioned. Thank you."
Lieutenant Beehan is on hand, but only listens intently as you entail what it means to be part of the Tomorrow Legion. What is missing however is the representative from the Federation. No one has mentioned as to where he might be, especially as important as this announcement will be. As you begin to question this, the mayor speaks up, attempting to gather everyone's attention. It takes a few moments, but eventually the entirety of the town is in rapt attention to Mayor Lithari.
"These people of the Tomorrow Legion speak many things that we have discussed before and time will only tell if they are true to their word. From what I've seen, I have no doubts that the Tomorrow Legion will uphold these promises. Our main concern has always been the nearby nexus point and though the firepower of the Coalition would be a welcome vanguard, we simply can not afford the cost. The Federation would be more accommodating, but giving them free access to this area would indeed spark a conflict with the Coalition that we would be stuck in the middle of. I can't allow this. So, if you are willing, we will sign in support of the Tomorrow Legion."
A rally of cheers goes up and you see Lt. Beehan shake his head as he heads back to his tent. No sooner this happens though, a plume of fire and energy explodes to the northwest of the town, lighting up the dusk sky. "That's the nexus!", someone yells. "It's opening!", adds someone else.
The mayor looks at you. "I think it's time you show us what more the Legion can do."
Jonis nods to the mayor.
"We won't abandon you. Please make the townspeople take cover, and keep them safe while we investigate."
She runs towards her Glitter Girl, biting her lip.
Auriel was already running full bore when the announcement was made about the Nexus opening.
You race to where the nexus Rift has begun to open and your hairs (for those of you that still have them) stand on end as you see an immense opening and feel intense heat coming from the Rift. Standing there in a circle is all of the demonic Brodkil you saw before and their leader, Agor. Standing near them is Symon, the mage you saw before, but he now has horns and a long tail... he turns to face your direction.
"Well, well. It seems you have forced my hand. If the Federation can't have this nexus, then Garnet Town is useless and it will burn!"
At that moment, you see a demonic creature starting to emerge from the Rift...
Auriel will activate his Sword and Shield, Keen Senses, Vampire Protection, and Armor
With a growl, Burgurk moves towards the demons in order to get them within range of his mind.
|
|
The assault mech stomps uncaringly through the wall of the nearest building, a sense of purpose and righteousness building within him. He always knew that one said or the other would go peaceably.
He was just surprised it was them.
He finds a suitable fighting position of cover at the corner of the building. IF he doesn't have a good firing port through the wall, he just RAMS his vehicle-class rifle through the wall to make one.
That done, he loads a full spread of grenades and aims at the nearest demons, ready to fight their hell with some of his own.
Jonis follows the other, making a small prayer for them all.
Each of you quickly take positions as the demons begin to turn your direction and growl in menace. Any chance for a parley is gone as Symon screams, "Kill them all!"
|
|
"Request acknowledged," Atlas quietly intones in a rare show of sarcasm.
He sends an armor piercing grenade at each of the three nearest identical demons, then concentrates on the winged insect-looking one just to their East.
He pulls the trigger just as the first grenade is hitting it's target.
= 26
The explosions churn the ground and the air rips with machine-gun fire as the full power of an assault mech is brought to bear on the invading horde.
Like thunder that rolls across the desert, accompanied by the lightning flashes, Attie's assault lights up the night sky even more than the Rift itself. As the grenades hit home and explode against the chests of the demons, you realize the true power of demonic strength as one of them seems to absorb the round. One of them doesn't fair as well and the explosion knocks it back a bit. The third loses a large piece of its cybernetic armor and part of its arm as the round literally tears right through him.
Then Attie's autocannon slams high velocity shells against the skin of the larger demon coming through the Rift. As they do so, you can almost see them melt on its skin. The demon just laughs. "Fools. Tremble before the might of Gar'Thul. Your weapons can not harm me."
The leader of the smaller ones that Auriel took on before lets out a guttural battlecry and charges towards you.
Jonis, using the sight enhancers on her Glitter Girl, trembles at the lack of effect Attie's attack had.
"Attie! Do you think I will have better luck attacking that big demon?"
She decides better to attack the still not engaged Cyborg demons.
Total Shooting 13
Total Damage 31 AP25