Two precise jabs from Ordyt are enough to take down the remaining azer. Flint zooms down and comes face to face with Grunph, who spins around to face him. "There you are. You're a quick one, huh."
|||| STATUS ||||
Mari (14 dmg)
Flint (86 dmg)
Sammad
Ordyt (96 dmg)
Bel (8 dmg)
Green Ifrit
Grunph
Sammad takes a careful step back from Grunph, drawing and getting a bead as he does so. "Can't believe I ever thought you were a smart fellow, Grunph. Let it be said-I tried to spare you from the beating you're about to get."
He then aims at the nuar, calling to Flint as he fires, "Take him down, Captain!"
Leaving the remaining azer with a rude gesture, Mari flips backwards and charges down the ladder after Flint. She peers around the corner to catch sight of Grunph and his buzzsaw. Reaching out through the local wireless networks, her exocortex attacks his weapon directly.
-
-
Up top, the remaining green ifrit lines up a shot against Bel and fires. The laser beam singes her side.
|||| STATUS ||||
Mari (14 dmg)
Flint (120 dmg)
Sammad
Ordyt (96 dmg)
Bel (20 dmg) x2
Green Ifrit
Grunph
As the azer falls Ordyt's mechanical legs reverse and carry him back across the catwalk, which he quickly vaults, using his jump-jets to steer him around behind Grunph. "We offered you mercy, and you rejected it."
His eyes glowing brightly with solar essence, Flint is gashed twice by Grunph's attack, the wounds bleeding red blood and glowing photons in equal measure. Severely wounded, Flint is not yet out and he takes advantage of Sammad's encouragement and Ordyt's distraction to swing hard at this deadly foe!
Staggering back a step, Flint hopes to avoid another extended barrage of attacks from that nasty buzzblade!
"Fine," Mari mutters, annoyed by Grunph's refusal to be hacked. She instead sights him down with her rifle, aided by her exocortex, and takes the shot.
He taps one of his horns with a finger, and suddenly a wall of overlapping steel plates phases into existence, blocking off Grunph as well as the front door from the rest of the room. The steel plates cut right through the upper catwalks and rise all the way up to the ceiling.
Up on the roof of the building, Bel closes into melee with green and lands a solid hit with her junksword. The green ifrit drops his rifle and draws a magmatic blade to fight back. His blade gets past her guard, but the resulting injury is minimal .
|||| STATUS ||||
Mari (14 dmg)
Flint (120 dmg)
Sammad
Ordyt (96 dmg)
Bel (20 dmg)
Green Ifrit (18 dmg)
Grunph (111 dmg)
”Bel, if you can spare the attention Grunph is fleeing out the door we came in. He’s blocked us off, can you intercept?”
At that moment, Flint's haste circuit runs out. Growling in frustration as his capability to chase down the elusive Grunph just took a major hit, Flint spots a location on the new steel wall--hopefully a thin one near the front door--with none of his allies nearby and focuses his solar fury at it. A burst of white-hot flame explodes on the surface of the wall, threatening to locally flash-melt it!
If he is fortunate enough to blow through the wall, Flint will fly after Grunph through the hole. If not, he will growl once more and fly partially up the ladder hole to the lookout tower.
"Captain, save your strength, it's just a hologram or something...let's see if we can move through it to pursue him!"
Sammad reaches out and pushes against the steel plates. If they give, he motions for Ordyt to follow him.
You pass through the steel wall effortlessly, but when you get out the main door, you don't immediately see Grunph anywhere. However, you can hear some movement from the west, likely around the corner of the building.
With a victorious grunt Ordyt plunges through the holographic wall, robotic legs pumping as he immediately pushes into a 90-degree turn, followed immediately by another as he rounds the corner of the building.
As he espies the fleeing nuar, Ordyt skids and drops to one knee, sighting down his scope and opening fire.
With green out of sight and Grunph deceased, you've countered the attack and look to be in the clear! Combat Over!
From their perspective outside the building, Ordyt and Bel can see an explosion off in the distance - likely the anassanoi rebels and your DCI allies running interference against any incoming reinforcements. You know from past experience that the anassanois can't stand up to the Legion in any prolonged clashes. As a result, you probably don't have long before Legion reinforcements break through and reach the detention facility.
Deactivating his jetpack, Flint grabs a med serum and drinks it just in case any of those jagged wounds might be bleeding. As he waits for the others to return, he makes his way to the fallen foes and looks for electronic keys or other security badges that might be needed.
"Now what?" Mari says, checking over Flint's new injuries. "Do we keep pushing? Can we?"
Noting the concern in Mari's tone, Flint pulls out another med serum. As he takes it, he pulls out the new bombast handcannon pistol and says, "We move on--finish the mission. I'll take the rear."
Quickly stripping any readily accessible gear from the nuar, Ordyt rejoins the others inside. "Captain's right, we're pressed for time. Let's do what we came here to do and the get out before the interception team arrives." On his way over to the door leading inside he pauses at Flint's side. "Here Captain, Sarenrae's light guide us both."
2x liquidator disintegrator rifles
4x incendiary grenade IIs
2x d-suit I (w/ jump jets)
advanced lashunta tempweave (black force field, jump jets)
maze-core aphelion laser pistol + buzzblade dueling sword
2x frag grenade IIIs
datapad
steel-plated key card
credstick with 2500 credits
You assemble up on the catwalk and Ordyt opens the way forth. A long hall stretches ahead, ending at a t-intersection. The eastern and western walls of this hall are made of transparent aluminum, granting a clear - if slightly cloudy - view into the large cells beyond. The cells are lined with steel benches against black steel walls. Perpendicular benches project from the outer wall, while narrow skylights allow only dim illumination within. Some of the benches have been converted into makeshift beds, but it's clear this facility isn't intended for long-term detention.
There are no Legion soldiers or guards in view, but you do see that the two cells contain just under a dozen anassanoi prisoners. They look deeply weary, but don't sport any serious injuries, and are dressed in simple grey jumpsuits that have been modified to fit them. Looking over them, none match the appearance that Nyralaen described to you - Mehhren isn't here.
The doors leading to the the eastern and western cells are currently closed, with key-card readers next to them and no other locks or handles. Beyond the T-intersection, two other key-card secured doors lead north. None of the doors are labeled.
Mari leads the way into the room, checking the corners for anyone waiting in ambush, then takes up a position by the door to the eastern cells.
"This'll just take a minute," she says, her attention turning to bypassing the readers. "Keep an eye out for me, yeah?"
Ordyt follows on Mari's heels, giving the prisoners a reassuring gesture and addressing them telepathically.
We'll have you out in a moment. Is designation Mehhren held in one of the other cells?
Flint hands Mari the datapad and the keycard from the pile of equipment liberated from the recently deceased Grunph as she works to counter the prison's security. "Perhaps these will help breaking the security and locating the Protector," he says.
|
Belmarniss shakes her head as she passes Grunph's body.
"If only your sense of self-preservation had been stronger than the profit motive," she says to herself.
She joins the others in liberating the captives.
"We're designations Ordyt, Marisol Welkin, Sammad Al-Fayir, Captain Flint Conners and Star-Knight Belmarniss Rycast. We're allies of the anassanoi people," she adds to Ordyt's questions.
It takes Mari no longer than a few seconds to override the security on both of the cell doors. As she's working, you notice that none of the anassanois within are showing any sign of having noticed you - likely the windows in are one-way mirrors. You swing the heavy doors open and the anassanoi scramble confusedly to their feet and line up. Mental murmurs of surprise and excitement flood out from them as they see you're not Legion soldiers.
One of the anassanois responds to your telepathic overtures "Out? We are finally free? Does the resistance still live?" while another sends a more skeptical "The anassanoi people have allies among the star-walkers?" It doesn't take much convincing before the prisoners are eagerly pushing forward for the exits.
Another anassanoi offers "Designation Mehhren bravely resisted at every turn, angering the guards. Several days ago, the guards committed grave violence against them and transferred them to solitary confinement. The guards said as much in their tongue." If pressed for more details, the survivor admits that no anassanoi that was transferred to solitary confinement has ever returned, and Designation Mehhren is likely dead.
Sammad's expression is grim as the survivor explains Mehhren's situation-and possible fate. "Damn it all...we need to find our way to solitary at once, then. Whatever's become of the Protector, they can't be left here..."
|
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One of the anassanois responds to your telepathic overtures "Out? We are finally free? Does the resistance still live?" while another sends a more skeptical "The anassanoi people have allies among the star-walkers?"
Belmarniss smirks at the last question.
"You do now!" she says.
She nods grimly at Sammad's observation.
"Do you know where the solitary confinement cells are?" she asks the prisoners.
Mari feels nearly overwhelmed by the rush of joy, worry, and fury that all come rushing over her alongside the freed prisoners, and she utterly fails to hide it from her face.
"We'll get them out," she says, drawing her zero rifle from its mag holster. She takes a deep breath before continuing. "Can you all move? is anyone too hurt to walk on their own?"
The anassanoi prisoners don't seem significantly injured and they're all mobile enough to start moving. In fact, they seem very eager to get out of here. One anassanoi responds to Bel "I was awake when the guards came to take Designation Mehhren away. The guards did not mention where the solitary confinement may lie, but they took Designation Mehhren down the corridor that way." They point down the northern end of the main corridor.
Speaking in their native language, Flint says, ”Go ahead and make your escape. Strip what equipment you can from the dead guards as you go to help aid the war effort.”
Turning to Mari, he says, ”Let’s keep moving and see what we find. Perhaps there is yet hope.”
"There's always hope," she answers, already moving.
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Smiling a truly genuine smile, Flint says, "The Burning Mother smiles on us all, Belmarniss." He follows along towards where they hope the Protector clings to life.
With the anassanois running out the way you came, Mari leads the way onward. At the T-intersection, you turn west first, then try the first door. Although it turns out to be securely locked, its relatively easy to unlock for Mari. She opens the way in.
The room beyond is dark, with no built-in lights. A dirty, stained blanket lies crumpled on the floor near a crusty, dark splotch. The dark, steel walls are dull and unblemished. There are no other objects or furnishing within.
"Looks clear" Ordyt murmurs over comms, stepping into the room for a closer look into the cell. Is anyone here? We're here to extract designation Mehhren, he offers telepathically.
Ordyt steps into the steel clad cell and looks around. His telepathic broadcast receives no immediate response, but after several seconds there is a muted telepathic murmur from somewhere to the east. It isn't coherent, and doesn't appear to be coming from anything in this room. You head over to check the eastern room, finding it unlocked.
In the eastern room, the metallic smell of blood hangs heavy in the air. The room contains three uncomfortable-looking chairs and a metal table, all of which have been pushed against a wall to clear a large space at the north end of the chamber. A rack holds a wide array of torture implements, all crafted from brass and some glowing with intense heat. At the rack’s front, hanging from brass chains, is a set of spiked manacles designed to hold a victim suspended off the ground.
A muscular anassanoi - Mehhren - currently hangs unconscious in those manacles. He looks bruised, but lacks any obvious serious injuries. However, you notice that his breathing is labored, his blood vessels are bulging, and his eyes seem swollen behind closed eyelids. In front of Mehhren, trying futilely to open the manacles with her bare hands, is another anassanoi who also has seen better days. She sports a recent laser burn to her arm, but her most terrible injury is to her face. Her entire head is a tangled web of scar tissue and the lower part of her snout appears to have been severed and healed back that way.
The room's final remaining occupant is an ifrit soldier, lying face down near the entrance. He appears to be the same one Bel was fighting earlier.
The female anassanoi notices you and starts backing up a few steps. She picks up a rifle before she seems to realize you're not with the Legion. "Please help. Designation Mehhren needs aid. They have done something, to him." Her telepathic speech is slurred and clouded with pain.
”I have a few healing serums and a medpatch, if that will help,” offers Flint, ”But whatever we do, it needs to be quick—we have mere minutes before legion reinforcements arrive.”
Taking in Mehhren's swollen condition with alarm, Ordyt slings his rifle over his shoulder and looks about for a way to lower the anassanoi to the ground. Do you know how long he has been like this? Or who did it? It may not be a purely medical condition, he asks the scarred woman. I am called Ordyt, my companions and I came from beyond the Burning Mother to help, when we heard your people's cry. What is your name?
The scarred anassanoi nods to Flint, then answers Ordyt's questions "No. I awoke bound to a chair here not long ago. Designation Mehhren was already in this state... I know only that he seems to be suffering." Her slurred telepathy seems to ebb in strength "Please, take us to the resistance base, so their doctors can do... help..." Her stance begins to sag.
As both adrenaline and strength leave the scarred anassanoi's body, Ordyt examines Mehhren's condition. He's not able to tell exactly if there's a magical root cause behind it.
Handing a healing serum to the scarred anassanoi, Flint says, ”Drink this and help us carry him away from this place. I fear we do not even have time to assess his injuries, much less heal them.”
Flint aids in getting everyone moving, looking to retreat the way they came if possible.
Horrified, Mari immediately stows her rifle and moves to render aid to both of the prisoners.