Germain is quiet for the discussions. Not wanting to promise anything but sort of interested to help. Should the wreakers prove to be pure human blood humans having a safe trade route would be welcome for the transport of chattel.
Plus the furfolk and their purple leader were adorable, it would be nice to help them, but they weren't worth risking her life over. Germain is conflicted.
Bartleby has the Neebo bring the party to a storage room that has enough room for them to stretch out for some rest. It is nearly dawn, but they are all feeling tired from the night's activities.
"I have it fixed so the security bots don't bother us here, but don't go a-wanderin'." Bartleby warns, hopping from foot to foot.
Sherman hugs Bartleby and mumbles "Thankya mon." before crashing out for the night.
Germain quietly observes but tries not to commit to anything. Should these flying foes be too difficult Germain wants to have the option of quitting without feeling any strings attached.
The party gets some rest, sleeping fitfully in the hot ruined skyscraper, their dreams tinged by the distant sounds of Bartleby singing to the Neebo.
They get up in the late afternoon and are presented with a mess of vegetables to eat. There is also some jerky of an indeterminate nature. Bartleby greets them happily and introduces them to a Neebo with brindle fur and several large seamed scars. He is not dressed, but he carries a large bandoleer with a sword and several pouches attached. He also has a bow and arrow.
"Hello friends! I hope you got a good rest. I want you to meet Hawkshadow. He's our best scout, an' I figured he could go along to the tower to help you. "
Hawkshadow bows and chitters in decent Anglish.
"I greet you. I am a good hunter and tracker. I am at your command."
"Excellent. Good seein' ya, Hawkshadow. Hopefully we'll put your skills to good use." Roach squats next to the wall and pulls out a crayon. "Now, if we are here..."
'So adorable' Germain thinks to herself.
"Hello Hawkshadow," Germain says with her enigmatically deceptive smile, "I'm a hunter too, but I suspect that you've got more practice."
"Excellent. Good seein' ya, Hawkshadow. Hopefully we'll put your skills to good use." Roach squats next to the wall and pulls out a crayon. "Now, if we are here..."
Hawkshadow goes over the street plan to the Tower of the Oliphaunt with Roach. It is about ten blocks away, and there is sufficient coverage to remain under cover until the tower is about 100 feet away. The tower is surrounded by a concrete plaza and what was once a wading pool. Now there are large piles of bones scattered about.
Sherman watches with interest, fidgeting with his zippo lighter as the thoughts of upcoming battle build up his excitement.
"Hmmm any other towers nearby that are close to this ones height? Thinking sniper spot."
Eva projects a holographic 3-D image of the layout over top the crayon drawing based on the files downloaded by Bartleby. Eva, follows Roach's and Hawkshadow's expert tacticle advice and runs the information through her database, she agrees with Roach's assessment. I am gonna asume Roach is aiding me in my Plan ability
"Nice. How 'bout this: Chiro borrows Cocaman's artillery piece and flies stealthily to a sniper spot that overlooks the main entrance. Meanwhile, Hawkshadow leads the rest of us there without being seen. When in place, we sprint across the plaza and in through the door while Chiro blows up any vulturoid that fires at us. We then make our way up, killiong bird dudes as we go." Roach looks a little sheepish. "Hard to plan from here and onwards. E.V.A.'s advice will help us here. Chiro joins us once we get a bit up and can reach a window; until then, he snipes at the birdmen. We then keep killing them beakies until they give up and beat feet."
"A plan! I say, we have a plan!"
Germain nods. Killing stuff would be fun. Something other then spidergoats would be a welcome change.
The group waits until twilight and then descends the elevator shaft to the lobby. Hawkshadow scouts ahead then gives the OK.
The sun is setting over the ruined skyscrapers. The sound of various batrachians can be heard from the nearby marshes bordering the Neticut River. Hawkshadow scurries back and forth, checking out every move in advance to assure no surprises.
Ten city blocks later, as a black-pocked moon rises over the mountain ridges, the party arrives before the Tower of the Oliphaunt. The plaza is guarded by a robot similar in construction to Master Blaster, except this one has a turret chain gun mounted to its carapace.
There are several nearby buildings that could make good perches for snipers. Chiro looks about and notes every one.
"If I could borrow your most awesome firearm Cocaman, I will find some camouflage and hide upon a rooftop."
"We need to take that thing out first," Germain says pointing to the big robot with the chain gun, "I don't want to risk sneaking in and having that thing waiting for us."
"Agreed. Also, the gun looks far too dangerous for E.V.A. to try that robo-juju on it - one false move, and she'll be peppered fulla holes. Shame."
"If I could borrow your most awesome firearm Cocaman, I will find some camouflage and hide upon a rooftop."
The distant robaot clanks back and forth in a regular guardian path in front of the lobby doors. As the sun sets there is a raucous clamoring from the tower, as if dozens of raptors were all crying out in unison. The noise fades out as quickly as it comes.
Chiro scans buildings carefully, and then sneaks (Like a bat!)to a good spot.
Chiro scans buildings carefully, and then sneaks (Like a bat!)to a good spot.
Chiro finds an excellent spot, with concealment . It is about 100 feet from the lobby doors of the tower.
"If I could borrow your most awesome firearm Cocaman, I will find some camouflage and hide upon a rooftop."
[ooc]Sherman is still here, just not had anything to contribute for the last several days.[/occ]
Sherman half listens to the plans, knowing full well he is going to be fighting in close combat as part of the plan.
"The I can climb," he offers out in case anyone wants him to do some wall walking.
Coca hands Nixon and a sack of 50 cal ammo over to Chiro.
"Don't break it."
Chiro gently and carefully handles Nixon.
"I shall take very good care of him."
Germain pulls out her own rifle, a sleek looking thing made of plastic, which seems large in Germain's small hands. All of Germain's weapons look almost like toys. Combined with Germain's small stature and childlike looks and attitude it becomes very easy to forget the girl is dangerous. It would be very easy for Germain to lull someone into a false sense of security. None of these tricks work on robots though.
Germain pushes a few buttons on a glowing display panel on one side of her rifle and the panel goes dark.
"Should we try to set up a cross fire?" Germain asks in a tone that doesn't really make her question sound like a question. More like she's looking for concurrence.
'After all there's no reason to give away my position' Germain thinks to herself, 'having silenced weapons is only useful if you're not next to loud flashy boom sticks'
"Nice gun."
Roach nods in agreement. "Crossfire sounds good. We'll need to hammer it into submission quickly and then sprint into the tower."
"Nice gun."
Roach nods in agreement. "Crossfire sounds good. We'll need to hammer it into submission quickly and then sprint into the tower."
"Really? Thanks! My mommy gave it to me," Germain says with that practiced faux sweeter then honey smile of hers, "I like your gun too. It's real shinny and big."
'Too easy,' she thinks to herself.
The group splits and readies to assault the Tower of the Oliphaunt
"I gotta meet your mom sometime. 'Specially if she has more hardware like that." Roach waves at the others. "I'll try to draw the bot over here. If it doesn't come after me, just open up. If it does... Just open up at closer range." He waits until everybody's in position before stepping out of the rubble and chucking a rock at towards the guardian.
Chiro, upon seeing some action start, will begin scanning for targets. Hopefully he will not need to reveal his location before the birds arrive.
The light begins to fade towards true night. The plaza is silent save for the monotonous clanking of the guard robot. Germain, Chiro and Coca scurry to defensible positions.
"Where do you want the I?" Sherman asks Roach, indicating his 4 short range pistols.