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.