Jace looks around, the remains of the Skelebots smoldering near him. He sees his Captain get hit from somewhere in the trees. Looking that direction, he orders his squad. ”Keep me covered, I have to go in after him!”
The Juicer then becomes a blur as he races toward the source of the laser fire, into the trees.
As Whitlock gets closer to the UAR-1, he can see its smaller lasers aiming in his direction as another volley of missiles fire towards the APC.
The lasers hit first, sending Whitlock flying backwards a few feet, but other than melted paint and the smell of singed air, he is able to absorb the hit. The APC, on the other hand, isn’t so lucky. The second volley of missiles hit directly on the side of the vehicle, shattering the cerasteel armor and exploding out the other side. The blast is loud enough to get through your helmet sound filters, but the worst part is that through the flames, you can’t tell if its occupants escaped in time..
Jingu eyes the remaining sky cycles, trying to find the best way to counter them. Seeing that they are too fast to catch, and likely to smart to trick within reach of his blade, he changes his approach. Knowing that with their speed, his Telekinesis could probably never restrain so much momentum, he instead aims for a more vulnerable part of the target; the pilot.
Waiting for one of the cycles to do another run on their convey, he swoops in, grabbing the driver with his mind. Instantly, the driver is gripped with a 1000 lbs of force, moving in the opposite direction from his cycle.
The shock of the deceleration might kill him, but then, he might survive as well. Either works...
Ducking from the flying debris of the APC, Josie sits down in the cab of his truck, and brings the gun round to bear on the walker. Before firing, he plugs his little invention into the power accumulator, in order to give the girl a boost.
Jingu reaches out with his Melliferan power and attempts to take hold of one of the Sky Cycle pilots. The machine is too fast for the small flying Psi-Warrior though and the pilot slips through his invisible fingers.
Josiah is far luckier however as he drills a hole straight through the UAR-1. It takes a moment for it to stand there and then topple over to the ground with a resounding boom. Whitlock can see it still attempting to get to its feet.
Deloso, still flying under his own power, approaches the wooded edge, but can’t see exactly where the sniper might be, but knows he’s in there somewhere.
Jingu reaches out with his Melliferan power and attempts to take hold of one of the Sky Cycle pilots. The machine is too fast for the small flying Psi-Warrior though and the pilot slips through his invisible fingers.
Arsenio spends some time looking for the sniper.
Flying as fast his mind will let him, Deloso dodges from tree to tree. He spots a flash of movement and the armored figure with the long rifle dashing just a few hundred feet a head of him glances back at the wrong time enough for Deloso to spot him.
Arsenio fires a shot at the fleeing target, but he's no sharpshooter; the contrasting speeds and cover are just too much.
Firing into the trees, Deloso reminds the running sniper that he is still there, which pushes the opponent to run that much faster.
The woman in the armor in front of Elias is still attempting to fight off Sun Li’s power, but she is unable to break his formidable mental grasp.
Whitlock sees the UAR-1 attempting to stand up as it struggles from the blast Josiah gave it from the truck.
Sun Li Tao watches as the woman in the armor struggles to stand in front of Elias.
Jace races towards the sniper, sword cleaving through branches as if they weren’t there. As fast as he is, the sniper had a big head start, so he takes out his pistol and fires it into the trees, hoping to hit something.
Like his Captain, though, the trees are a definite obstacle.
Whitlock watches the robot drip and contemplates rushing forward to rescue the pilot but as it begins to try and stand he steadies his stance and fires a burst into it.
[ooc]Three Hits AP:6 22, 6 & 13[ooc]
Sun Li rushes out from the cover he was hiding behind, focusing mentally for a moment to form his own psi-blade within his hand. The purple, psionic energy forms down his hand and compresses into an almost impossibly thin blade of potential violence.
"Cyber-Knight Elias, I will keep watch on this prisoner. Please, support the front line." Sun Li says with an almost unsettingly calmness to his face. Dark eyes turn towards the woman as he presses the blade against the neckline of her helmet. It cuts in with almost no resistance.
"I suggest surrendering totally. If I think you're resisting, I will end you soldier." Sun Li says with a matter of fact tone.
Whitlock opens fire with his railgun, but the UAR-1, even on its back, is still one tough machine. The sonic speed rounds make a loud rackets as they tear paint from the armor and little else. His men poured on laser fire with him, but to no avail. The machine makes and effort to stand, planting its massive fists into the ground and pushing itself up and turning to make a retreat, but not before its gunner opens fire, this time launching missiles at Josiah’s truck. The missiles instead target the flaming wreck that was the APC and send what’s left of it rolling over.
Sun Li approaches the downed Mystic Knight, his mind keeping her from being able to do much. Her thoughts answer his voice. ”Resistance is not at all what I had in mind, traitor.”
Elias stands near her as well, unsure whether to end her life or accept the surrender that Sun Li asked for.
Meanwhile, Jingu flits through the trees, attempting to escape the three remaining Sky Cycles bearing down on him. Luckily he has a forest between him and them. The laser fires burns through several of them, but misses the small warrior.
Pouring on what appears to be an impossible burst of speed, the sniper dashes through the trees as quickly as he can, almost vanishing out of sight of both Jace and Captain Deloso.
Burgurk focuses his first attack on the skycycle heading towards him :
And does
= 37
Assuming there's other targets within range (including Medium and Long), he'll attack them next :
Doing
Doing
If there are no other targets within range, Burgurk will ask over comms "Who near me needs any help?"
With fire from his team, Burgurk explodes one Sky Cycle into shattered pieces of metal and plastic. If the pilot survived, it would be difficult to find his body. Another Sky Cycle loses a piece of its rear fairing and turns to retreat from the battle, leaving only the lead rider remaining.
Elias stares down the Mystic Knight on the ground, knowing that it would be dishonorable to simply kill her, especially since she is at Sun Li’s mercy at they moment. He keeps his blade ready, should she move.
Sun Li’s mind is so focused on keeping his blade at the woman’s throat, he doesn’t realize that she has found a back door into his mind. Elias senses something about to happen and…
… is able to move before she can press with her mind.
Elias moves faster than thought and impales the knight through the chest before Sun Li even realizes what is happening. Or at least, he tries to. His psychic blade seems to bend as it touches her. He presses harder though and her chest armor seems to melt as he does so. She collapses to the ground. Elias immediately kneels down to remove her helmet and see if she is still breathing…
"Squad, harrying fire on the aerial assets, I am moving inside that robots firing arc."
+
As he rushes the down bot Whitlock stores the big rail and checks the charge on the vibro blade.
Once at the bot he begins to climb up it.
+
With fire from his team, Burgurk explodes one Sky Cycle into shattered pieces of metal and plastic. If the pilot survived, it would be difficult to find his body. [/ooc]
As he team lays down fire on the last Skycycle, Jingu attempts to pull the pilot free of the vehicle, as he tried an failed with the last one.
Determined to remove rider from vehicle, Jingu focuses hard and even as he feels the pilot's hardened resistance, his own prior failure fuels him and he yanks the man free. As he is suspended in the air, his uncontrolled Sky Cycle careens into the ground, exploding in a massive fireball.
Meanwhile, as Whitlock runs towards the UAR-1, it attempts to target him with the lasers, but he is able to easily go underneath and start climbing up the back of its leg.
The Sky Cycle pilot, dangling in the air, works to retrieve his pistol from his holster and attempts to fire at anyone he can see.
The shot, almost perfect from that height, takes out Apone, one of Burgurk's Simvan squad members.
Burgurk focuses his first attack :
= 11
And does
= 29
Burgurk focuses his second attack :
= 34
And does
= 46
He focuses his third attack :
= 15
Doing
= 34
Arsenio keeps chasing the sniper, pouring on the speed.
As Arsenio flies faster than is probably safe among the tree cover, he splits his concentration to form a concentrated ball of heat and warmth, then lobs it at the sniper; it explodes just ahead of him like a flashbang!
Burgurk, seeing his comrade go down, doesn't hesitate and focuses his mind on the suspended in air Sky Cycle pilot. His hatred is turned into a visible wave as it reaches the man and rips him into shreds. His armor and body crash to the ground, just as his Cycle did. Without more thought on the matter, Burgurk turns to the next biggest target, the still reeling UAR-1, with Whitlock climbing aboard it. Sending a wave of thought that way, it collapses the chest of the great machine and it starts crashing towards the ground.
Meanwhile, in the forest, Doloso and Jace race to take down the sniper running away. As Jace gets closer to it, he nearly succumbs to the stun blast that his commander sends towards the enemy, but neither one is affected by it.
Jace continues his run, attempting to catch the fleeing sniper that shot at his captain.
Catching up to him, he tackles the man to the ground, getting him in a headlock quickly, he attempts to remove his helmet. The sniper puts up quite the fight though.
As Whitlock and the UAR-1 go crashing to the ground, the two pilots attempt to get out of their wrecked robot, both of them putting hands into the air. It is apparent that they are both hurt from the crash.
The sniper and Jace continue to wrestle on the ground. A quick jab with an elbow to Jace's face and the enemy rolls over and is free from the Juicer's grasp.
Elias, seeing that she is still alive, looks up at Sun Li Tao. "I will take her to my people. She needs to be dealt with, our way." He takes out a pair of manacles and puts them on her. He then helps her up and begins to take her to the truck.
As the bot comes crashing down Whitlock dives to avoid becoming crushed.
Sun Li Tao watches as Elias binds the Mystic Knight and starts walking her towards the truck. He releases his mind from hers and looks around for any other still combative targets. He readies himself for the next incoming attack.
Burgurk continues to blast any nearby enemies :
But nothing happens.
Doing
= 32
Doing
= 24
The two pilots, looking worse for the wear, keep their hands on their heads and walk slowly towards you.
Whitlock stands out of the mud and draws his pistol. "Is your reactor safe?" he asks pointing back to the downed robot.
Sun Li will go with Elias to assure that the prisoner is secured and begin collecting information on losses on the battlefield.
Arsenio, frustrated, unleashes a flurry of rapid fire bolts on the sniper, hoping to bring him down and end this.
Burgurk fights his racial bloodlust to kill the two pilots who blew up the APC, and keeps repeating to himself, "We are the Legion, we don't kill people who are surrendering..." :
= Success
and forces himself to take no action.
Deloso, his fiery anger getting the better of him, blasts the sniper with all his might, setting a few trees on fire in the process. Jace, being a Juicer, and a Hyperion one at that, is able to get out of the way before he too is fried. The sniper rolls on the ground, attempting to put the flames on his armor out. He starts throwing pieces of it off as it melts. ”Alright, you win this round, just put me out!”
The two robot pilots keep their arms up as they approach slowly. ”The reactor automatically shuts down once we exit. Safety protocols and all that. It’s not going anywhere for a while though.”
The Mystic Knight is silent on the way back to the truck, Elias having her in manacles and whatnot. Still though, the APC is in ruins and there are some casualties to be found.
Sun Li finds Specialist Jimenez, blood running down her face and her arms burned, hunched over another body. You can barely hear her quivering voice. ”I.. I couldn’t save him. I tried, but it hit us so fast… She breaks down into tears at this point.
Burgurk wants so much to avenge his fallen Simvan brother in arms, Frost, the other, is chomping at the bit to kill any of them, but he awaits his squad leader’s command.
"You survived Specialist Jimenez. This is relatively unexpected, I had considered the crew to be a complete loss." Sun Li says softly, if coldly. Her tears brought very little reaction from the psychic, who regarded her calmly before he looked back over at the APC. "You did well, above and beyond your service. Pull yourself together and form a perimeter. The smoke may attract unwanted attention."
Jimenez seems shocked for the moment, not saying a word at first. Then she takes a hand and wipes her tears, smearing blood on her face and standing up. ”Ye.. yes sir,” she stammers out. She then takes up a rifle and starts to survey the wreckage and then moves further out.
"If you keep you heads about your selves you will make it out of this just fine, remember some of people have lost friends, at your hands, but no more lives need be lost today."
Opening his comms he calls. [/b]"Capt. I have two prisoners, The pilots from the UAR. Where do you want them?"[/b]
"Restrain them and make sure they can't get away. I've got another live one here, so long as he cooperates." Arsenio says, pulling the fire off the sniper and slowly circling it around his body.
"We need to question them. Then we'll figure out what to do with them."
He turns to the sniper.
"Get up and walk. If you make me carry you I might make sure you're lighter first." he threatens, seething. He's partly angry at the attack, but mostly at himself for his sloppy orders.
His usual coolheaded nature and self-control begins to waver. The flames whispering at him to burn everything isn't unusual, but the temptation to actually let loose for once and do so...that much certainly is.
Jingu takes quick survey of the area from the air before landing, making sure they didn't miss an observer or scout. He switches his optics through thermal imaging to help spot any unusual heat sources through the foliage.
Once done with his survey, Jinju lands by the destroyed APC, in order to see if there is anyone he can help or provide healing for.
As Captain Deloso and the rest of you start to secure the prisoners, who at this point seem cooperative, Jingu takes to the air to scout the area. It is difficult with all the emanating heat from the burned out buildings and the recent fires from the weapons fire and crashes, but so far, he sees no other signs of movement.
You secure the prisoners as best you can, taking their weapons and leading them back towards the truck. As you approach, you can truly see the damage the UAR caused when its missiles hit the APC. There is little left of it, save a burning shell. Some of the Legionnaires try to see if there is anything salvageable, but they shake their heads.
As Jingu returns from his aerial scouting, he sees that Frost has gathered up his dead comrade, Apone, and is preparing to perform a Simvan prayer of remembrance.
The others are looking towards the body of the APC’s driver, Junior Legionnaire Casey. It is apparent that Specialist Jimenez attempted to bandage his wounds, but from the way his head is turned oddly away from his neck, it is obvious he probably died almost instantly from the explosion.
Specialist Jimenez is absentmindedly walking the battlefield, picking up spent E-clips and surveying the forest away from what’s left of the town.
Focusing his rage over the death of his fellow Simvans, Burgurk walks over to one of the soldiers that fired on the APC, grabs his shirt collar and lifts him up, puts his face nose-to-nose with the guy, bares his teeth and growls "You killed my people. Tell us everything you know about the mission you were on, or I will eat you. Alive."
= 10
Perhaps it is the heat of the fires , or perhaps the fact that Burgurk is in his face, the robot pilot is sweating profusely. He stammers a bit as he speaks, the idea of being eaten alive pervading his thoughts. ”It weren’t personal. It was just business. Orders were to raze the town and keep everyone else out until further notice. You showed up and we followed orders. Judging by your uniforms, it appears you were doing just the same, following orders.”
"Ok, so *why* were you ordered to raze the town and keep everyone else out?"
Perhaps it is the heat of the fires , or perhaps the fact that Burgurk is in his face, the robot pilot is sweating profusely. He stammers a bit as he speaks, the idea of being eaten alive pervading his thoughts. ”It weren’t personal. It was just business. Orders were to raze the town and keep everyone else out until further notice. You showed up and we followed orders. Judging by your uniforms, it appears you were doing just the same, following orders.”
Deloso bites back his instinctive response to such a stupid question, deciding it's not worth it to argue with a dead man.
Since Burgurk has already built a "rapport" with the man, he stays back lets the mind melter do his thing.