Korbinian successfully removes the cannon in little time. Moegan arrives soon after. He'd decided - once they'd heard the gunfire - to go ahead and collar Schultz....
When he sees the fallen masked foe... "So you got the kibbitzer twins and their contact." He pulls the mask and sewn-in bishop's mantle-like cowl... the face is hideous - deformed and wasting, Moegan groans.. "Looks like he was bobbin for apples in an acid vat."
"Here... lemme show you somethin." He lifts the masked man's gauntlet, and extends the thumb "..push and twist", and pulls off a "cap" to a mini compartment... there is a slight indentation of a rune "Starts their thundercycles. Sure his is nearby."
"We're running out of time. Why don't you go on ahead. I'll see what I can find out here... I'll find his wheels, and catch up." He pulls a book from his vest pocket, tucks a map inside, and hands it to Korbinian. "Just in case. I marked the stuff you'll need." He points to the cannon removed from the steamtank. "If you can do that in twenty minutes, you should have no problem with that water pump."
"Bovis knows the way. Be sure'n let'em know you bagged one of Lectordine's Nohshogi. Hope your up to driving on your own now."
Knowledge local
"Salty crackers what the devil is goin on?", Bovis barks as you return. "Heard gunfire so I got to tossing our gear in Mariah... and what do I find? A bag full of mad squawkin baby bagpipe birds."
He finally seems to notice the cannon Korb had lifted from the steamtank, and eyes Korb taking the driver's seat. He realizes things have changed.
"Don't even wanna know... If we're goin as is, pull on out and hang left. Runnin late to meet our next contact."
Ommka smiles at Bovis' characterisation of the birds.
"Those would be mine. Take care not to harm them, friend Bovis!"
With that, the botanical returns to a half-crouching lean on the side of Mariah bow blade and guns within easy reach on a ready harness...
Jimara scratches her head not really understanding Bovis' information but takes out her quill and jots down in her log book as per usual.
"Good the throat is healed, eh? Well, let's get a move on." Korbinian says, and assesses the controls of the Mariah once more to see about driving her off.
"Aye." Bovis points out the way - heading further eastward. After Korbinian gets on the main road and settled into gear there's a brief quiet before Bovis snarls "So whoo's gunna tell me what in the flamin'ell you been up to?"
He swats Korbinian, and jerks his thumb toward the cannon, and nods approvingly. "If y'ask me... only part a the blasted thing we need."
From what i can tell, the tank crew went south and Moegan decided he wanted the business end of the tank. So we took it. On with the mission."
Ommka grins the wolf snarl smile.
"Moegan sent us, yes. Shulz was not to be found, and apparently, no longer to be trusted."
Jimara writes down everything in her journal book with question marks around things she is interested in.
"Mmm... we'd been warned thar may be a turncoat among yuh. I o'course assumed not one'a you were. Spies try t'not be notice'ble, y'know." He looks over the diverse group. "Heh..."
The steamwagon hits some rough and hilly road... rocky ruts, and exposed roots from the trees on either side. Bovis complains after a few hard bumps "Beating'ell outta me already flat arse." He fiddles with the seat for a while, gives up, and asks to switch with someone next stop. "... long as y'can keep yer birdys buttoned up."
As you reach the top of the highest of the hills, you spot a steamwagon or like vehicle coming up behind you. It appears to be moving a bit faster than you are.
vs DC 14
"We're being followed, and they're gaining."
Ommka wheels around suddenly, the wolf-tooth gin turning more feral, if that is possible...
The botanical jumps to the back of the covered wagon, and begins to string an arrow to the thunder bow...
Bovis cautions Ommka "Ease up there, Lad.".
As the steamwagon pulls closer, you hear an airhorn. The driver pokes his head from behind the glass windscreen and yells "Clear the road!" He continues to gain on you - within 60 feet.
The vehicle is a smaller (maybe civilian) version of personnel carriers used by Urbana military.
Ommka favours Bovis with the inscrutable eyes and glistening brown spikes that pass for teeth as the botanical clearly considers the oncoming vehicle with trepidation...
"String is eased. But my arm is ready..."
"I don't see any weapons, but they all have matching buzzcut hair. Personnel carrier."
Korbinian turns the wagon to allow the other to pass. "Where are you headed?"
The driver slows a bit - intending to ride side-by side long enough to voice his appreciation, and respond. "Much obliged. Taking emergency aid workers to this-"
"That's enough." The rider nearest the driver in the back cuts him off... "Keep driving. Full steam."
The driver obediently faces forward, and pushes the lever fully forward. The personnel carrier wagon moves on ahead, and you see the serious-faced riders in the back - seated facing each other, but eying you. Their uniforms look like unadorned military khaki's. As Korbinian mentioned, no weapons are at the ready or within sight.
"Yeah, something tells me that we will see them again." Korbinian says, somewhat bothered.
Bovis nods - his troubled look echoes Korbinian's concern.
It is near evening when you reach the farmlands. There is a 10 foot sign "welcoming" you to McMiggen Fields. Countless acres of wheat and corn on both sides of the road - the condition of which suddenly improves greatly. Several large tractors chug along the rows of crops.
Further down, there are pole barns and modest homes in a lightly wooded area. There are side roads beyond this - with signposts labelled with crops, processing facilities, storage, and distillery. Bovis gestures straight ahead.
The terrain then declines into fields of red. "Cranberries... all this use'ta be swamp, I hear." A few men stand at the edge by a machine pumping water into the field through a huge tube (in diameter and length) which draws from a nearby pond. A polished steel harvester machine rolls toward the area as you drive by.
There is another wooded area "Slow here. Contact should be right up ahead on our left... before the next turn-off."
"The marvels of technology..." Korbinian says, proud of what society has bolted together.
****
"Contact? Ambush?"
Jimara soaks in everything and smiles with her hooked Kite and musket ready, locked and loaded.
"E's ready" says Jimara with vigor.
Emcee takes in the scenery, though what the botanical makes of it is anyone's guess.
At the mention of the contact and Korbinain's comment accompanied by Jimara's readiness Ommka nods and brings the thunder bow to bear.
"So far as events have transpired, Contact should mean Ambush. Be ready."
Korbinian has his weapon ready with a round in the chamber.
Bovis checks the round in the chamber of his rifle, points to a clear area at the side of the road - before the next turn-off "Meh... pull off here."
He looks around, sees no one, then whistles sharply "Sisk!"
Suddenly standing up, and steppping from behind a bush appears an outlandishly caparisoned figure. It appears to be a rapacian, though bright coloured feathered plumage covers whatever scaly hide the creature has. An assortment of matching gauzy and bedazzling garments cover the creature from head to toe, though fairly sombre webweave armor and a well-honed greatsword belie the festive appearance.
The creature licks its lips - whether from nervousness or habit.
"Hail Bovisss. Moegan. These the new recruitss? You're late..."
The creature pauses momentarily.
"Alssso - I had an unssettling encounter.... with Nohshogi - they offered a bribe. I took the filthy coins, but I'm still sssolid."
After spending the night in the settlement within McMiggen's lands, McMiggen's right hand man tells you it's likely those who've taken over the facility (your destination) are the same group (or at least connected) to those who have secured McMiggen's airfield and a sizable perimeter around it. It was an invasion of "well-armed bandits", his men fought against them until he called them to fall back. He then sent for assistance from Urbana. The Urbanian soldiers who'd arrived met with the invaders, and by all appearances have begun to work together.
An Urbanian commander has now taken over McMiggen's office, and many of his lost workers have been replaced by soldiers with hidden weaponry. He's been told nothing, and warned repeatedly not to ask any questions.
Bovis's only comment to the info, is that McMiggen's airfield is the closest to the Aqiribast Facility.
You reach the walled-over transfer to the other network of mines. The first blast from the cannon removes the rough "cave-like" earthen wall - revealing and marring the worked stone underneath. You now see the support beams on either side of the stone block wall. After inspection, Korbinian is confident blasting the 20' of wall in between the supports will not trigger a collapse.
The second shot does a great deal of damage to the wall. You could probably take it from here moving blocks by hand... an hour or so of work would make it passable. A third shot would be quicker.
After the second boom however, you hear the hiss of steam escaping the boiler... a puncture the size of a bullet hole.
Jimara looks past Sisk, and spots figures approaching from the way you'd come to the west... already within 90 feet by the time she notices them.
Sisk peers into the gloom, but makes out little. The preening, gaudily dressed Rapacian draws his great blade, at such variance to his raiments and murmurs.
"Looketh like company my new friendss. Shall we give them warm welcome and spill their claret?"
In a low tone, Korbinian gives clues to the others. "Noshogi in front, three behind. Back center is a big boy. Crab, go."
His crab moves while Korbinian readies his weapon.
Korbinian
Crab