Myrrhine 2010/12/30(Thu)22:48 No. 267982 ID: c152fb
File 129377809964.png - (9.49KB , 800x600 , 59 GET OUT.png )

Then, at the far end of the room, the squat, ugly man who stands in front of the screens howls, "Get Out!

Heh. Wonder what would happen if you followed his instructions NOW.

Anyway, cover. What's that waist high object in the middle of the room? It might work for cover if someone can put a shot in the guy up on the roof in a hurry.

Machine-gunner heavy sprays three, four guys on the lower floor, Myrrhine shoots the guy on the higher floor with her rifle (Blast, why didn't we grab the semi-auto rifle for her when we had the chance?), and Nina throws her smoke grenade. After that, move in for close combat. We've got two heavies, they have one. I think we can do this.

Oh, and if Myrrhine has them with her, she should probably use the electro-sword or the pickaxe for melee combat instead of her knife. Maybe dual-wield the sword with the USL handgun if she feels confident doing such a thing. (Again, blast not figuring out equipment before this.)

>>267981
Machinegun guy fires a burst on their heavy. Should hopefully get him down or atleast stun him for long enough. Nina also shoots the heavy. Myrrhine shoots the guy on the top of that building.

Then it's time to throw the smoke grenade in among them and take cover behind that waist high thing. Then we reassess the situation and see what's next.

Heavy, spray the ground floor dudes. Myrrine, shoot their commander. Smoke grenade, etc. etc.

Myrrhine 2011/01/01(Sat)13:14 No. 268274 ID: 310377
File 129391645358.png - (12.87KB , 800x600 , 60 Control room.png )

The heavy steamrolls into the room, kicking the doors the rest of the way open. He makes for cover, props the MG and one leg against it, and opens fire on the soldiers on the floor. He uses up 6 bullets. He has 9 left.
One target finds cover behind a nearby monolith. The one on the staircase isn't so lucky, and a bullet tears into his side. He stumbles backward and scrambles for cover. The USL heavy is caught out in the open. He starts to go for his gun but is kicked backward by the force of the bullets The table he was carrying drops to the floor with a loud crash, echoed a moment later by the bookcase Ratton brings to the floor to give himself some cover.

Myrrhine's in next. She fires at the soldier at the balcony, but her shot goes wide. He shoots back, but has no better luck.

Nina flings her smoke grenade in after them. The smoke starts spiraling out of the top. It'll take a couple seconds for it to fill.

>>268274
A nicely timed grenade to flush out the guy from cover burst from the machinegun or a normal shoot should be able to take care of him then. More fire on the enemy heavy, from the machinegun and Nina's magnum.

Myrrhine tries to take down the guy on top of the tower again. Oh, there's probably somewhere around 8 or so scouts who are going to be returning. They might come in as small numbers or the whole lot together. Should probably radio the extra sniper and heavy and tell them to go to the ambush spot to even out the odds a little.

>>268274
Nina, take a shot at the heavy with your handcannon. Myrrhine really really needs to drop that guy on the roof. Other heavy, conserve ammo, shoot at anyone that pokes out of cover. That includes the enemy heavy only if Nina fails to hit her mark.

Hrmm. Machine-gun heavy, shoot at the guy on the upper floor. Myrrhine, get behind cover (Or heck, just Nina, if you need to) and start throwing grenades. Try taking out the heavy, at least.

Myrrhine 2011/01/01(Sat)14:34 No. 268292 ID: c152fb
File 129392127139.png - (20.14KB , 800x600 , 61 Control room.png )

The smoke's starting to get thicker.
Myrrhine and the rifleman on the balcony trade shots again. His bullet smacks into the Heavy's shoulder, jarring his aim off as one of the ground enemies temporarily breaks cover. Myrrhine's bullet finds its target. The wounded rifleman ducks back down behind cover before she can see just how bad he's hit.

The heavy readjusts his aim and fires at his USL counterpart, who is raising his machine gun. He's forced back down by the cover fire, as well as by two shots from Nina's powerful magnum. There's a spray of blood. It looks like at least one of the bullets got through The wounded soldier is trying to get behind Ratton's cover, but the CO is refusing to move, yelling at him. Myrrhine makes out the Sharlo word for 'Coward'.

I learned my lesson last time. Should I be pointing out the "is that a grenade" in the picture? It's pretty airborn, how are you at baseball?

>>268292
Oh fuck, grenade incoming. Ok, either Nina or Myrrhine, grab that fucker and throw it back. Or kick it away. Not enough room for cover and stuff here.

Once the grenade threat has been neutralised then Myrrhine should attempt to flank while the other two cover for her.

Yep. That's definitely a grenade. Nina, see if you can knock the grenade away with either your fists, a nearby object, or even your shield. Myrrhine, stay behind the heavies as cover in case the grenade still makes it through. Machine gun heavy, keep laying down fire on that other heavy. Try to keep him down, or better yet, inflict a fatal wound.

Myrrhine 2011/01/01(Sat)15:41 No. 268308 ID: c152fb
File 12939252815.png - (32.37KB , 800x600 , 62 Control room.png )

Nina shoulders her trooper aside, and slams the grenade with her shield. It goes sailing into the ever-growing cloud of smoke. Myrrhine starts moving, but she won't go into the cloud until she hears the bang.
The heavy spends the remainder of the ammunition in the MG shooting at the USL heavy, holding the trigger until the belt goes dry and the gun coughs in protest. Myrrhine can't see how effective it was through the thickening smoke.

She does see the heavy grunt in pain as a shot finds his left shoulder. It looks like the wounded soldier is now standing in the open, firing his pistol with one hand and trying to keep his blood in with the other. Ratton is behind him, firing a heavy-looking SMG.

>>268308
Nina, keep firing on the enemy heavy. Machinegun heavy gets the sword now that he's out of ammo. Myrrhine shoots the injured one who is firing at them.

Give covering fire to the heavy so he can get in close and engage with the sword.

>>268308
Local heavy is wounded and out of ammo. That seems like a good moment to stop standing around, especially with a grenade likely to go off shortly somewhere nearby. Is combat reloading an option on that gun, or is he switching to a backup weapon?

Myrrhine 2011/01/01(Sat)20:50 No. 268370 ID: 506ac2
File 129394385389.png - (38.29KB , 800x600 , 63 Control room.png )

"Drop the MG!" Myrrhine calls, raising her voice over the chatter of Ratton's SMG, the ping! it makes as it bounces off Nina's protective shield. "Take the sword! Nina, cover the-"
She's interrupted by a loud clapping boom as the grenade tossed into the fog goes off. The gurgling scream that accompanies it suggests that it found its original source.
"-the heavy!" Myrrhine finishes. She fires off one last parting shot toward the two men shooting in the control room, then dashes toward the fog, trying to move up and flank.
She's stopped in her tracks by the heavy, who, undeterred by the two slugs Nina sends his way, unleashes a burst of fire blindly into the smoke. She feels an invisible baseball bat thwack into her chestplate, and falls backward, stumbling into cover. She checks herself over. There's a sizeable dent, but no penetration. Her armor saved her.

>>268370
Watch out up top. But go ahead and let them waste their ammo shooting blind into the smoke while you guys are behind cover. :3c

Nice hit on the wounded guy in the office, by the way.

Myrrhine 2011/01/01(Sat)23:34 No. 268406 ID: c152fb
File 129395364785.png - (162.61KB , 800x600 , 64 Purple Haze.png )

"Get to cover," says Myrrhine, scooting to the edge of her wall and peering out. Her head is forced back by a few errant rounds from the machine gun. "Can you see anything?" she asks the heavy, up a bit further forward than she is.
"You got one of them," he says. "And there's a USL body right here that's hamburger from the grenade. Euch." He, too, is forced to duck back into cover. "Oh, and the big guy with the MG is about to-" The gunfire abruptly stops and is replaced with a clicking sputter. Myrrhine hears the enemy Heavy start to crank his gun open to reload.

Advance!

Ah, now THAT'S a sound we love to hear. Take your one remaining grenade, leave the pin in, and toss it in a highly visible arc over the enemy heavy's head.
Then once they are all expecting a grenade to go off, charge in, heavies first. Myrrhine is still in charge of that guy on the roof.

>>268406
Yell out to Nina to take down the guy up above. Heavy and Myrrhine advances and takes down the enemy heavy. Lets see how he likes a shocksword up his arse.

Myrrhine 2011/01/02(Sun)14:49 No. 268538 ID: 506ac2
File 129400858025.png - (76.65KB , 800x600 , \'d.png )

Myrrhine lobs the grenade high, causing the USL Heavy to start to move up into cover.

Her heavy comes charging out of the smoke and sinks the shocksword into his chest, takes a step back to ensure zero body contact, then triggers 250 milliamps of electricity into him. He screams and twitches, oily smoke rising out of the wound.

Myrrhine 2011/01/02(Sun)14:49 No. 268539 ID: 506ac2
File 129400859652.png - (33.43KB , 800x600 , 65 Control Room.png )

Nina moves up, firing the last two bullets in her cylinder at the guy on the balcony. He stumbles backward out of sight. Ratton steps out of cover, heedless of the grenade, and fires a prolonged burst into the heavy's chest, sending him bowling over backward.
"King Ratton! I am KING RATTON!"

>>268539
Oh fuck he's badly hit.

Tell him to hit the deck and take out the madman. Then we're going to need to get some field dressing on our heavy friend.

Open fire on ratton!

Myrrhine 2011/01/02(Sun)15:22 No. 268554 ID: c152fb
File 12940105207.png - (10.14KB , 800x600 , 66 bang.png )

Myrrhine steps out of cover and shoots Ratton in the chest.

Myrrhine 2011/01/02(Sun)15:22 No. 268555 ID: c152fb
File 129401053090.png - (9.95KB , 800x600 , 67 click.png )

"I..." says Ratton, wobbling, taking a step back. Myrrhine loads in another round.

Myrrhine 2011/01/02(Sun)15:22 No. 268556 ID: c152fb
File 129401055632.png - (10.05KB , 800x600 , 68 bang.png )

She shoots him again, in the head.

He's dead before he hits the ground.

>>268556
Ok, time to see how your heavy friend is doing. Tell Nina to try to convince the last guy to surrender and give up. And to keep an eye out for any movements from him if he refuses.

Check to see what the last dude is doing. It's not over yet.

Also yeah check on your wounded.

Myrrhine 2011/01/02(Sun)19:30 No. 268716 ID: 506ac2
File 129402545971.png - (10.25KB , 800x600 , 69 Bless those Ewoks.png )

Myrrhine sprints over to the downed heavy while Nina calls up to the man on the balcony in Sharlo.

"Are you okay?" Myrrhine says. "Are you awake?"
The heavy nods, and coughs wetly. Myrrhine checks the wound. She can't see how bad it is in all the armor, but it looks like only one bullet got in. The bleeding's bad, of course, but it's not a sucking chest wound, and it could be worse. She predicts it will take two uses of the med kit to stabilize him, and even then they won't be able to move him for a while.

Nina gets no response. "I think he might be dead," she says. "I got him twice."

"Ma'am, I hate to put pressure on you, but we've got multiple contacts on the horizon, moving this way. Looks like the scouts are back," says Alexei over the radio. "Requesting permission to deliver some high-caliber discouragement."

Administer medical attention to wounded heavy. We can keep him here, all the enemies are dead anyway.

Tell Alexi he can fire at the most prime opportunity but not to forget about the explosive. Heheheheh.

After stabilizing the heavy (or hell, whoever's available during the treatment), rush around and check to see if there's anything immediately obvious that would help in a combat situation. Then let's go down and help.

Check out that gun 'His majesty' had, it pierced a heavy's armor, it might be a vault artifact.

>>268716
Get Nina over and start working on stabilising that guy. Radio the last heavy and sniper and tell them to head down to the ambush team to assist them. Tell Alexi that you're sending the ones you can spare over to him, but you got shit to do here so you can're really go there to help him personally right now. In the meantime he's encouraged to discourage them.

Myrrhine 2011/01/03(Mon)19:07 No. 268988 ID: 506ac2
File 129411045626.png - (16.29KB , 800x600 , 70 smg.png )

Myrrhine sits the Heavy up and leans him toward the gunshot wound. She instructs Nina to get the heavy armor off him and check for an exit wound. "Move him as little as possible and put pressure on the bleeding," she says. "There's not much else I can do until we get him out of the tin can."
While Nina's helping the Heavy out of his armor, Myrrhine walks toward Ratton's body. "Feel free to send a few rounds their way, Alexei," she says over the radio as she walks. "Anyone available, go help him out." She bends down over the dead Sharloian and picks up the SMG.

Myrrhine 2011/01/03(Mon)19:17 No. 268991 ID: d96936
File 129411106914.png - (24.00KB , 800x600 , 71 right click.png )

Myrrhine looks down along its sights. It's not a Vault item, unfortunately, just a USL weapon. A well-balanced, obviously effective one, but nothing supernatural about it.
Myrrhine finds three magazines on Ratton, each containing 32 bullets. If she wants more, she'll have to request USL ammunition from HQ.

She sees a door next to the bank of TVs, leading further into the Vault.
"Opening fire," says Alexei over the radio, curtly.
Does Myrrhine
Help Nina with the wounded Heavy
Help Alexei fight off the scouts
or keep exploring the Vault?

Give Nina a hand with the heavy. The sooner you can get him stabilized, the better. Then, once that's done, you can go with Nina to further explore the vault.

>>268991
Ask Nina if she's ok on her own. If she is then go help Alexi immediatly. If not then help her treat the heavy and then go see if Alexi still needs some help.

If we're staying with the heavy or going to help Alexi, barricade up the door, since it looks like it opens into the room you're in, and the wounded heavy -should- be safe enough.

>>268991
Meh, spray-and-pray weapons. Stick with the rifle. Go help Alexi. We want to regroup before advancing, no?

Myrrhine 2011/01/04(Tue)17:30 No. 269197 ID: c152fb
File 129419104421.png - (20.53KB , 800x600 , 72 Make you feel better.png )

Myrrhine puts away the SMG for now. It's wieldable by her, Alexei, or one-handed by Nina.
"How's he doing?" she asks, rejoining Nina the Heavy. He's taken off his breastplate, and Myrrhine is relieved to see the wound beneath is not as deep as she had feared. It's still bleeding quite a bit, though. She finds some gauze in the first aid kit and wraps him up. "Should we get the bullet out?" asks Nina.
"Cutting him open would not help," says Myrrhine. "We'll let a surgeon do that later. Right now we just need to keep him from going into shock. Keep him sitting there, don't move him, and keep applying pressure. I need to check with Alexei."
"Will I be okay?" asks the Heavy.
"Maybe," says Myrrhine. "Yeah." She heads out the door to the elevator. "Probably."
"You'll be fine," Nina reassures him as Myrrhine sinks from sight.

>>269198
Treat him. You need them to be somewhat functional. And the dead USL guys should have some supplies you can loot. Leave Alexi and his snipers out here to watch the front gate while you take the remaining mobile heavy to explore and see what you will find further in.

Myrrhine 2011/01/04(Tue)17:37 No. 269200 ID: c152fb
File 129419142667.png - (36.66KB , 800x600 , 73 so much grey you think i was tozol.png )

"Howdy, Priestess," Alexei greets her as she walks outside. His snipers are perched like gargoyles on the rocks around the entrance. "Turns out when USL deserters get shot at by folks really far away they can't see, they desert all over again."
"It's over?" asks Myrrhine.
"Yup," Alexei casually flicks the safety on his rifle off and on. "It all went fine,"
"Except Alexei's arm is all fucked up," says one of the snipers, taking a bite out of a granola bar. "The grenade he took earlier."
"Shut up, Pius," says Alexei. Myrrhine notes the fresh blood on his uniform and on the butt of his rifle. "The girl's just got a kick. Sort of opened up my shoulder again. I'm fine." Myrrhine notes for the first time the strain on his voice, and the sweat beaded on his forehead. But if she treats his arm and the Heavy doesn't stop bleeding soon they might run out of medical supplies. If she were to call in for pickup now it wouldn't arrive for an hour or so.

Myrrhine 2011/01/04(Tue)18:40 No. 269231 ID: 310377
File 129419524769.png - (16.40KB , 800x600 , 74 Arm stuff.png )

Myrrhine gets to treating Alexei's arm.
It looks like there was some shrapnel embedded in Alexei's arm, but he used his combat knife to get it out. It was an accurate cut, and the wound isn't too bad. The kick from the rifle must have opened it up again, but it isn't deep.

Myrrhine 2011/01/04(Tue)18:41 No. 269232 ID: 310377
File 12941952994.png - (16.50KB , 800x600 , 75 Arm stuff.png )

Myrrhine estimates that all they really need is some gauze and a pad to keep the wound snug. Alexei's arm is muscular enough that the shrapnel didn't get to any sort of artery or delicate area. Judging by his scars he heals fairly quickly, and no wonder. It really is a well-muscled arm.
"Should I be charging admission for this?" asks Alexei.

Myrrhine 2011/01/04(Tue)18:42 No. 269233 ID: 310377
File 129419534753.png - (16.48KB , 800x600 , 76 Arm stuff.png )

"Hm?" says Myrrhine.

"You're squeezing my arm pretty hard, ma'am," says Alexei.

>>269233
Tell him to stop being so smug about it while probing it a bit extra hard. It's just to make sure it's not bad and you're putting pressure on it for the gauze and stuff. Apply the dressing and then tell him to get dressed again. He's to stay there and keep an eye out for anyone trying to get in. Meanwhile you and the heavy goes back in for more searching and looting.

>>269233
Clearly the best course of action is to command Alexei to give you proper firm snogging and snugglings when you get back to base and not a second later.
Delicious Brown Boytoy acquired.

So, here's what I'm thinking we should do in order:
1, radio for a pick-up now that the Vault has been cleared of enemy combatants. We've 2 lightly wounded and one severely wounded.
2, order Pius and Thom to stand watch at the entrance and to report and if possible, deter any enemy combatants.
3, take Alexei with back in with you and try to stabilize the Heavy soldier (learn the man's name too, he did a hell of a good job).
4, leaving Nina to watch after her man, equip Alexei with the SMG and explore the rest of the Vault. There are still things to be found.

Myrrhine 2011/01/04(Tue)19:45 No. 269254 ID: 506ac2
File 129419910365.png - (17.95KB , 800x600 , 77 Arm stuff.png )

"I was checking how bad the injury was," says Myrrhine. "For treatment."

"Yes, ma'am."

"And I was putting pressure on it for the gauze."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Don't let it get to your head, Deacon."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Not until you're certified in combat medicine, anyway."

"Of course, ma'am. Sorry, ma'am."

"It's okay. There's the gauze. Get a shirt on and follow me."

"Glad to, ma'am."

Myrrhine 2011/01/04(Tue)19:45 No. 269255 ID: d96936
File 129419912370.png - (35.88KB , 800x600 , 78 Room Beyond.png )

Myrrhine gives the SMG to Alexei and leads him back into the Vault. They head up to the control room, check on the Heavy (whose name is Elan and who appears to be stable), then go into the next room.

Inside is a large...thing with a panel in front of it. It's completely empty except for two small, coin-sized slots and a yellowing manual written in Vault Tongue. Myrrhine isn't fluent, but she knows some people who can translate.

>>269200
>But if she treats his arm and the Heavy doesn't stop bleeding soon they might run out of medical supplies.
This is what medical supplies are for. They're cheaper and more fungible than people.

How about we ask those people for a translation?

(in b4 character select)

>>269255
Hmm, looks like it could be something interesting. Better call it in, the church is probably going to have to set up an outpost here until they figure that thing out.

Myrrhine 2011/01/05(Wed)14:02 No. 269375 ID: c152fb
File 129426494810.png - (39.09KB , 800x600 , 79 Frindle.png )

>>269256
Of course, but the problem is that the Heavy's wound needs a steady supply of gauze as the old bandages soak through with blood. If they run out, keeping him alive will get a lot harder.
Luckily, Alexei's arm didn't take much to treat. They should be okay.

Myrrhine takes the manual and whacks it against the console a couple times to get the dust off. She'll show it to the Appraiser, see if he can translate it.
"That's all this vault was for? Holding that big giant useless ball thing?" Alexei lightly kicks the base of the machine. "This trip was disappointing."
"We don't even know what it does yet," says Myrrhine. "It might be useful."
"It had better dispense strippers for all the trouble it put us through," mutters Alexei.
Does Myrrhine have anything else to do in this vault while she waits for transport, or should she go back and supervise the heavy until help arrives?

>>269375
Further exploration of the room to make sure they didn't miss anything. And check what the consoles Ratton was near can do.

>>269375
>soak thorugh with blood
>Thats-not-how-first-aid-works.png

Apply pressure to the wound. Bleeding into gauze is in no way preferrable to bleeding... well, bleeding freely.

Myrrhine 2011/01/05(Wed)14:41 No. 269389 ID: c152fb
File 129426730192.png - (24.93KB , 800x600 , 80 Table.png )

>>269379
Yes, it is. They've been applying pressure, of course they have. Nina's far too motherly to let Elan bleed freely into gauze. But it's only been a few minutes, and a bullet wound in your chest is not like a bloody nose. Elan is bleeding badly, pressure can only do so much, and they need a steady supply of extra bandages. There's a very real chance of him not making it. She checks him for signs of shock, orders a blanket put on him, just in case, then moves on to the monitors.

They mostly show various screens of the interior of the Vault. Myrrhine notices no rooms she hasn't yet uncovered. She does find one screen, though, showing a fuzzy, murky image that suggests poor equipment or a large distance between it and this room.

She's not sure what it shows. A desk, maybe.

>>269389
A desk with some documents on it. Could be important documents. Better go search for that table and see if you can find them.

Are you sure there are no other doors or potential exits in that room? There may be a secret entrance somewhere that could lead to that desk.

*And check up the ladder where that sniper was. May be something interesting up there

Myrrhine 2011/01/05(Wed)17:48 No. 269419 ID: 506ac2
File 129427848465.png - (11.24KB , 800x600 , 81 Control Room.png )

Myrrhine and Alexei spend about half an hour searching for another room like the one shown in the camera. They climb up to where the rifleman stood, finding a trail of blood leading to his body slumped against the antenna on the roof. His bolt-action and 20 more USL rifle rounds are here, but otherwise there's nothing remarkable. They note the control tower, and a smaller satellite dish next to it angled off to the North, but other than that there's nothing.
"I have a feeling we've explored this place to completion," Alexei says, starting back down the ladder.

"Well then let's get ready to go," calls Nina, still with Elan. He's hanging in there. "We'll probably need a stretcher to move Elan, but I imagine pickup'll have that. Where's the prisoner you guys caught earlier? I wanna talk to him some more, maybe get him to come along a bit more willingly."
"Well, crud," whispers Alexei. "This could get awkward."

>>269419
Tell her he tried to fight back, hit the sniper dude with the legwound and then Alexi had to stab him to death. He just sort of flipped out and yelled something about King Ratton and shit.

She might not buy it but if you're lucky she won't inquire too closely about it.

>>269420
Ehhhh, lying isn't such a great idea. It might turn out awkward, but I think telling the truth is the best choice. Be sure to explain that the guy was a deserter and a bandit, though, as the whole 'war criminal' thing is kinda why we didn't bother bringing him back. I mean, I assume the punishment for that kinda thing is death anyway?

Also: >>269419

Look up at that light closer to the door, up where it's attached to the ceiling, it looks like there's a secondary light source up there or something. Might be something interesting up there.

I wouldn't say it's wise to lie.

Myrrhine 2011/01/05(Wed)19:49 No. 269432 ID: d96936
File 129428575314.png - (10.41KB , 800x600 , 82 bluh bluh bluh.png )

"He was a bandit, Nina. What were we supposed to do? He was a deserter, too, which means if we, say, gave him back they'd just put him on trial and execute him. He was a, a, a war criminal, Nina. You don't capture war criminals. It was probably for the best we just killed him, we decided, so, uh, yeah. He was a loose variable that had to be controlled," Myrrhine says.

"Oh man, Nina, it was crazy! As soon as we disconnected from you, we turn our backs on him for a second and suddenly he's grabbed a rifle and he's going all KING RATTON! KING RATTON! and then he shot Pius in the leg which is how Pius was shot in the leg so I had to jump him while he was reloading and put him down. Oh man, it was just awful and I felt so terrible but war is war and hell and so I did what I had to do. For my boys," Alexei says at the exact same time.

I would laugh, but for the subject material. As is, I feel a little guilty. But, he -was- a war criminal, so not too guilty.

Anyway... Hrm. I think we're about done here, yeah. Maybe check out the bookshelf (I think that's what it is? And that it does have books?) for anything interesting while waiting for transport. And look up at the lights like I mentioned before.

SORRY BOSS

>>269433
Smooth. Try to soothe her feelings with the fact that they were obeying the crazy fuck Ratton, and if the tables were turned they would probably all have been killed after a session of brutal rape. And the dude you had captured would probably not have done a single god damn thing to stop it. After all, Ratton didn't seem to be above shooting his own dudes if he feelt the need to do so.

Jesus Christ, you people, if you'd been strategists during WW2 the Allies would have been all "well, the GERMANS are gassing people, so let's just turn all our POW camps into sausage factories!"

You fucked up. Badly. Brace to take your knocks for it.

>>269489
Oi, there's a difference between what we did and the mass slaughter of real POWs. For that body Myrrhine found early on, who do you think killed him? His 'friends', that's who, most likely because he didn't want to desert. (And don't argue they didn't do it, because there hasn't been anyone else here.) There's a difference between POWs, people who were honestly fighting for what they believed in and were captured, or were drafted and just wanted to get out of the fighting, and these jerks. These guys deserted, then sent out a team of scouts to kill innocent travellers for supplies. They were criminals, not soldiers. So screw them.

(And the Germans didn't use gas during WWII, either, that was the first one.)

Myrrhine 2011/01/06(Thu)17:50 No. 269577 ID: 506ac2
File 129436500087.png - (8.51KB , 800x600 , 84 eff u.png )

"I'm not going to yell at you, because there's nothing I can do," says Nina. "You are my commander. But you know how I feel about what you did, Myrrhine. You didn't have to kill that man."
"He wasn't a soldier, Nina. He was a criminal. Anyone else would have done the same."
"Maybe," Nina turns away and heads back to help Elan. "But no matter how you want to reassure yourself it does not make this right."
"Nina-"
"See you on the ride home, commander," says Nina.

>>269577
Tell her that you can go somewhere else so that she can sulk while tending to her soldier.

Lets go check in the elevator area if we can find the room with the table anywhere near there.

Myrrhine 2011/01/06(Thu)18:14 No. 269589 ID: 506ac2
File 129436645712.png - (17.09KB , 800x600 , Elevator Door.png )

Myrrhine and Alexei give one last halfhearted look for the room, mostly to get away from Nina. They find nothing.
"Well, this was a bust," says Alexei.
"We still haven't translated the thing," says Myrrhine. "It wasn't a total loss."
"But I feel mighty small after Nina reamed us out back there," Alexei puts on a keeningly sorrowful tone. "I don't think I should be alone tonight."
Myrrhine gives him a look.
"It was a joke, commander."
"Work on your routine, deacon."
One of the snipers radios that the transport is here. The paramedics are on their way to move Elan. Looks like the adventure is over.

>>269589
Head on out to the transport and tell them of your findings here and about the room you haven't been able to locate. Also inform them about enemy deserters lurking out in the wastes who might try something if they get desperate enough. And that a somewhat large USL force might be incoming, maybe Ratton left behind some documents about his crazy ass plan.

That should pretty much cover it. Oh, and be prepared to hand over the sword, the hood and the pick. You might get something back for it, but those things are probably not yours to keep.

Myrrhine 2011/01/06(Thu)18:38 No. 269602 ID: 506ac2
File 129436792575.png - (6.73KB , 800x600 , 85 pewpew.png )

Ping!

Myrrhine 2011/01/06(Thu)18:39 No. 269603 ID: 506ac2
File 129436798023.png - (50.58KB , 800x600 , 86 target blastin.png )

Myrrhine's at the firing range in Camp Promethean, a frontier base a few miles out from the Vault. The ride home with Nina was unpleasant. She's been pissed off at Myrrhine before and knowing her she'll probably be back to her own sweet self soon. But her disapproval still stings. She has to get it out of her system.

Myrrhine 2011/01/06(Thu)18:40 No. 269604 ID: 506ac2
File 129436800224.png - (12.93KB , 800x600 , 87 feur frei.png )

The mission may have ended on a sour note, but it went fairly well. Elan is expected to make a full recovery, the deserters are dead, and as an official Vault Hound (that's what Oikalos calls its army force devoted to Vault Investigation), Myrrhine is able to keep anything not judged "of technological or thaumaturgical importance", which in this case includes most everything in the Vault. The bizarre array was claimed by the army, but only because they have no idea what it does. Myrrhine doesn't either, so she's not bothered.

Myrrhine knocks down the last target, noting the precise hit with pride. She sort of wishes her sniper deacon was here to see it.

>>269604
Nice one. So heard anything about what the bi array might be used for? Or anything else interesting?

Is there any indication that your new silly hat is actually a required component of the motion sensing vision enhancement built into it? Because having someone install that functionality into a more fashionable mask might be nice. :3

You able to get the vault items looked at by an appraiser yet?

Myrrhine 2011/01/06(Thu)19:03 No. 269609 ID: c152fb
File 129436942324.png - (13.09KB , 800x600 , 88 hello baybay.png )

The items all got sent off to the Appraiser a while ago. He's over at a plushier camp a few hours away, so the IDs will probably have to wait until tomorrow.
Myrrhine supposes she should head out and reset the targets. There's no automatic stuff here, it's too janky. She
"Slick shooting, sister," says Alexei, making Myrrhine jump out of her skin.
"How long have you been there?" Myrrhine says.
"Long enough," says Alexei. "Me and Sheila" he indicates his rifle "came down here to fire off a couple rounds but you looked so into it I couldn't bring myself to interrupt."
"The range is big enough for the two of us," says Myrrhine.
"No, I'm good up here for now." Alexei grins. "I like to watch."

Neither of them move.

>>269609
Ignore him or get on with the fucking. If you're ignoring him then squeeze off a few more rounds and then head away to do other stuff. If you're going to get on with the fucking then you should probably find a fairly private place before getting started.

Myrrhine 2011/01/06(Thu)20:37 No. 269618 ID: d96936
File 129437503858.png - (31.76KB , 800x600 , 89 target blastin.png )

Have sex? With Alexei? Where did that idea come from? Myrrhine is not going to have sex with Alexei. His breath probably smells like vodka and wolf meat or something.
Myrrhine troops out onto the range and, with overmuch enthusiasm, snaps another target, a larger silhouette one, into place. She starts sinking rounds into it.
"Stadvoskeians have a saying about bolt-actions," muses Alexei after a few shots. Myrrhine ignores him. "Want to hear it?" he asks.
"You're going to tell me anyway, Alexei." Myrrhine snaps another bullet into the chamber.
"Izkra benpher tazen, gethera epher gradzen, pershi andropal herien frauk." says Alexei. "'A youth will not smash his finger in a pointy stick's chamber, and a man will not kill his rival'." He lets that sink in. Myrrhine keeps studiously ignoring him.

Myrrhine 2011/01/06(Thu)20:37 No. 269619 ID: d96936
File 129437506070.png - (14.49KB , 800x600 , 90 ping.png )

"It loses something in translation," he says. "But it pretty much means that the bolt-action is a shitty weapon if you don't know how to use it, and then suddenly when you do it's not."

"Are you trying to say something here, Alexei?" says Myrrhine, pushing another stripper clip into her gun.
"No, just observing," says Alexei. "You're good. You got off some damn fine shots Vault side. You'd be a fine sniper if you weren't a priestess. I'd be glad to have you under me." He smiles his wolfish smile. "Well. That phraseology could be misconstrued."
"Can I help you, Alexei?" asks Myrrhine, snapping the receiver shut. "Or are you just here to pathetically flirt with me?"
"As a matter of fact, there is a point to this conversation beyond my special brand of rugged, frontier seduction," says Alexei. "I just paid a visit to the doctor to check up on my arm, and he says that without you helping me out I could have caused some pretty bad damage to it. It occurs to me I never thanked you."
"It was easy," says Myrrhine. "I would have done it for anyone."
"You sure? That little squeeze of yours didn't find anything wrong, then?"

Myrrhine 2011/01/06(Thu)20:38 No. 269621 ID: d96936
File 129437512683.png - (43.29KB , 800x600 , 91 target blastin.png )

Myrrhine covers her blush with another gunshot. "Seriously, though," Alexei says, "Beneath all the machismo and the thick cloud of sexual tension that hangs around us-"
"It does not."
"The light mist? of sexual tension that hangs around us, I really do sincerely want to thank you." Alexei's voice softens. Myrrhine hasn't ever heard him talk like this. "You got me and mine out of there more or less in one piece, and I wasn't lying when I said that was some of the finest warfighting I've seen since my days with the guerillas up in the Stadvoskei foothills. So thanks, Myrrhine."

>>269621
Time to thank him for that with some false modesty. Tell him that it wasn't anything big, you were just doing your duty and what you were trained by the church to do. But you can admit that you like to think you're pretty decent at it and manage to accomplish your duty with a bit of skill.

>>269624
False modesty is never a good idea. Give a smile to him, and thank him for the complement.

>>269626
That can be quite different from culture to culture. Can't really say how it is in that one.

Tell him you're welcome and thanks. Also ask him if he really means that. I mean... really? Finest warfighting?

>>269621
Graciously accept complement.

Well let him know he also did a damn fine job at staying cool and effective even when wounded.

Anyway you should probably take his roundabout advice and look into getting a more efficient weapon, like a repeating rifle. Maybe one of those sniper weapons, but with iron sights or a low magnification scope? You could go shopping with Alexei. Learn from your mistakes in the last mission. Bring along spare medkits and some handcuffs. The handcuffs are for any eventual enemy prisoners. Or maybe Alexei if he gets too naughty...

Myrrhine 2011/01/07(Fri)20:35 No. 269788 ID: c152fb
File 12944613309.png - (10.89KB , 800x600 , 92 bye alexei.png )

"Really? The finest warfighting you've seen? I mean... really?"
Alexei shrugs. "You can think I'm just patronizing you, if you want."
"Are you?"
"Prolly not."
"You did good too, Alexei," Myrrhine turns back and gives him a smile. "Stone cold focus, even when wounded. I was thinking about getting a rifle like yours, maybe with a smaller scope, or a repeater or something. We could swing by the armory later, maybe you could give me some advice."
"Sounds like a plan, sister," says Alexei. "Oh, and ma'am?"
"Yes?"
"About you groping the merchandise without permission..."

Myrrhine 2011/01/07(Fri)20:35 No. 269789 ID: c152fb
File 129446134893.png - (22.23KB , 800x600 , 93 bye alexeiiiIIII.png )

Suddenly the agile sniper is right behind her. His hand grabs her rear and squeezes.
"Now we're even!" he says, in a sing-song voice.

Myrrhine 2011/01/07(Fri)20:37 No. 269792 ID: c152fb
File 129446143519.png - (7.02KB , 800x600 , 94 yoink.png )

And before a livid Myrrhine can turn around, he's out the door in a flash.

Well, I guess we've got some free time. ...What can we spend it on out here on the fringe of civilization?

Myrrhine 2011/01/07(Fri)23:02 No. 269815 ID: c152fb
File 129447016345.png - (60.39KB , 800x600 , 95 Barracks Obama.png )

On not much of anything. There are not a whole lot of diversions here beyond what you take with you.

Myrrhine thinks she will be well and truly occupied with finding that lecherous rat bastard and shoving his sniper rifle so far up his ass he'll be sighting down his nostrils.

The sun goes down on another gory day in the life of Myrrhine XVI.

Myrrhine 2011/01/07(Fri)23:03 No. 269816 ID: c152fb
File 12944701794.png - (35.31KB , 800x600 , Title end remix.png )

Someone in her profession knows the value of every sunset they live to see.

Good show.