| Almost Ablaze |
| Summary: | A party of Marines investigates the possibility of survivors, and Cylons, in Tauron's caverns. They find more than they bargained for. |
| Date: | 26 Dec 2041 AE |
| Related Logs: | None |
| Players: |
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| Tauron - Tywyn's Caverns |
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| Post-Holocaust Day: #303 |
A Raptor has just touched down on a rocky cliff-side, a plateau on the rocks of Tywyn's Caverns in the province of Mycenaedd. Heat signatures were detected here by a planetary patrol this morning. No sign of Cylon activity but, with the skinjobs apparently attempting some manner of stealth in their latest incursion, who knows. A team, consisting largely of Marines, was dispatched to investigate. If there are survivors, they can scoop them up. If there are skinjobs…well, they can deal with those, too. The Raptor has just landed, doors opened, and the team is disembarking now. It's a hike, some of it which will require the use of ropes and other climbing gear, to the caves where the hot spots were detected. The air is cold, wind not too lashing but with a snap of chill to it, the sky blue and cloudless. It rarely rains on Tauron. The day is just dry and cold.
Hauling out of the Raptor, Vandenberg's arms stretch as she approaches the cliff-side. "Richards, grab the ropes bag from under the seats and let's get this motherfrakker rolling." She reaplces the hat on her head with a black kevlar helmet, stuffing the floppy duty cap into a thigh pocket. "Constin! Gimme security while we get this going." Assuming its all coming, Van's going to get to work securing ropes for a climb down.
"Sir," Constin returns evenly to the ordered security, setting boots to stony ground and doing a quick circuit of the Landing zone, assault rifle at the ready, because procedure says to be at the ready until the zone is secured.
"Yes'r," Richard drawls while grabbing the bag, it scooted out towards the hatch first and then slung over a shoulder. If there is any weight to it he doesn't act like it, no attention paid to anything silly like that. It's brought over to where the El-Tee stands where it's dropped unceramoniously to the ground, it kicking up a puff of dust when it impacts. "Can help with the rigging if you need it."
Ryder glances around in interest as he hops out of the Raptor. "You know, we always go to the nicest places," he says with a small grin as he turns to help with the gear. Beyond his normal combat kit he is carrying a bag full of medical supplies, carefully anchored to his back so it won't get in the way while climbing.
There are paths down to the caverns, so it isn't sheer vertical repelling, but they are steep and rocky. In its day, this as a prime spot for Taurians to camp and go sport climbing. A few spots that were used for firepits, not to mention the odd beer can from more than six months past, can still be spotted here and there. The mouth of the cave awaits them below.
"Yeah, you can." Van picks up the sealed end of the bag and shakes the thing lightly until the contents have been lain out into the dust. "Grab these dong-rigs-" the gear worn around the groin and seat, "-and get people laced-up." Vandenberg takes up a huge length of rope that probably weigh one-quarter of what she does and hauls it over to a huge boulder and begins running a loop. "Constin, you're number one down. After that, the Doc. Then Richards. I'm last in case there is a problem up here. Sound off when ya'll are ready." Van drags the coil of rope back to the edge of the cliff and gives it a swift kick to send the unsecured end sailing down. "Yes, sir. Scenic, cold, and full of welcoming people. At least it'll be warmer underground." After everyone else is down, she will be too.
Constin completes the circuit in time to hear the order of march. "Yes, sir," the big man drawls. As Richards was assigned to assisting in putting on the rigs. "Could use a hand with that, Sergeant." Adjusting the rest of his rifle so as not to obstruct the climbing rig, the point man gets ready to descend.
"Ready to dangle, el-tee…" Ryder says dryly as he walks over to the ropes, watching as Constin gets down. He keeps his own eyes on the procedure but keeps his mouth shut, otherwise. Too much going on for there to be a LOT of chatter, after all. He does take a bit of a gander down the side, though. "No worries, the points on the rocks look like a cushy landing."
Richards hmmms softly as he looks over the edge one the rigging's set up, his brow knitting. "Been a long time since I last did this." Here's for hoping his training will come back to him otherwise this will be a whole lot of not-fun. "I like being put into holes," he adds, mostly for his own benefit, "But not without a night of dancing and stuff, first." Crass joke over, he looks at Vandenberg, his expression wary. Yup. This is going to suck.
<FS3> Constin rolls Alertness: Terrible Failure.
<FS3> Vandenberg rolls Alertness: Great Success.
<FS3> Ryder rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Richards rolls Alertness: Success.
While the trip down isn't too arduous, one does need to watch one step on the cliffside trails. The terrain remains quiet for now. No charging Centurions. No grateful surviving Taurians. Not immediately. But these are deep caves, and perhaps their presence has yet to be detected. Or something is hiding within the mouth of them.
Vandenberg simply shakes her head at the commentary. "Been a hot second since I've done this, myself." Which probably means about a year or maybe even less. She rigs up with nary a hitch in the rigging and simply hops backwards over the edge to drop down. She's got no qualms about covering big distances with each push-off either. She hits the ground easily and unclips, eying the terrain around the cave. The Marine Lieutenant turns to the group: "People have been in and out of here. Maybe recently. Richards, you're on point. I'm number two. Captain Ryder, you're behind me. Sergeant Constin will bring up the rear. We get into this cave, I want NVG's and noise discipline. The first sunuvabitch to raise his voice above a high whisper will personally meet the business end of my bootknife. I have seen yelling bring down tunnel walls and crush them under a thousand tons of rock. Bear that in mind, gentlemen. Watch your corners and remember this is a three-dimensional battlespace. Any deformation in the rocks over you and look for a hidden entrance. Expect tripwires and animals." Anyone who has met the Lieutenant in more than passing knows about her TunnelRat tattoo and the scars with it. This is what she did for most of her career. "Saddle up and shove the hell off." She'll be in with the rest, bringing the NVG's down in front of her eyes.
Constin travels down the face of the rock, descent spoiled at several points by slips that thud his weight into the uneven surface. Teeth gritted to prevent an epithet, the sergeant reaches the bottom wearing a bit more rock dust on his blacks, and with a solid scowl on his face as he works to unhook the carabiner at the end of the line, before readying the hanging rifle. "Yes, sir," he mutters quietly, nodding once as he takes up rear guard.
Ryder also notes the signs of travel down the rocks, wincing a bit at the idea of doing so without equipment. Desperate people do desperate things. "If anyone fell, people surived to bury them, after…" he notes darkly. Taking his place in the lineup, he readies his rifle and his NVG's, pausing only to give a thumbs up when he is ready to go."
Richards' own descent is fairly uneventful which has him as happy as anything by the time his boots hits ground. Once done with that he unshoulders his weapon and moves up front, taking the designated position with nothing said about it. Vandenberg knows her shit and he's not about to do anything against her orders, suggestions or threats, the lady Marine obeyed fully, one hundred and ten percent.
As they pass through the entry to the caverns, there's a high-pitched, shrieking squeak noise, and a flurry of bats promptly skitter over their heads. Such is the warm welcome these caverns bring. It's dim inside, and only grows darker, but the opening at least is large enough for even Constin to stand fully upright with room to spare, and not yet claustrophobic. The opening gallery is spacious. There's the faint some of water, of all things. An underground spring, perhaps.
Vandenberg stoops a little at the squeeking and just tilts her head to the side as the bats swoop past. "Just brush them off," she whispers. As they enter the galley, Van keeps close on Richards' six to back him up, barely inside arms length. Her rifle skims the room and she taps her rifle twice to get everyone's attention. "Water. Bad. Potential flooding under us. Walk softly. Also means potential people," comes another whisper from her. "Keep moving, Rich."
Constin ducks instinctively at the rush of noisy bats, teeth clamping together and nostrils flared with an intake of air. A slow exhale follows as the big sergeant gives ear to Vandenberg's whispered words. Nodding once, and adjusting his grip on the rifle, he says nothing.
Ryder chuckles low as he ducks the bats. Life was good… where bats could live, there was food, if someone was hungry. However, where bats still lived, they hadn't been all eaten, meaning either people had supplies… or were dead. Another thumbs up to Vandenberg, if she cared, and he moved on, trying to watch every shadow at once.
"Damn," Richards says while looking up, unflustered by the bats but that doesn't really bode too well in his opinion. "Hopefully this doesn't mean there won't be a build-up of ammonia further in," he whispers. Looking back over his shoulder, he shrugs once before moving forward, as cautious as always, if not more so, each step placed carefully as he doesn't want to cause…issues for them.
<FS3> Richards rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Ryder rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Constin rolls Alertness: Great Success.
As they move further into the cave system, Van hears it. She reaches up and claps a hand to Richard's shoulder as if indicating for him to hold and take a knee. The Lieutenant goes very quiet to see if anything repeats itself, but she doesn't say anything otherwise.
Advancing the few steps forward to close distance, Constin draws even with Ryder before whispering to Vandenberg, "Sir. Female voice, calling for help. Sound's bouncing all over in here, but pretty sure it was from that way-" With those last words he motions toward the right hand side of a looming fork in the passage.
Ryder hears the voice, and then notes as Constin gives his better explanation. With a low sigh, he waits for orders.
Just about to signal to the team to stop, Richards blinks when he feels the hand as it's clasped to his shoulder, it getting him to stop and take to a knee immediately. The ground is soft, undoubtedly thanks to the guano that is gathered there, it getting him to groan. His weapon is leveled towards the sound but not fired, not yet.
Van turns her NVG's towards the indicated tunnel and waits for another few seconds as if maybe she hadn't heard Elf. Finally, though, she taps Constin and slices her hand towards the opening. "Const, point. Richards, swap to rear. Watch your steps. We're no good to her if we're dead. Captain Ryder, be ready to move up with that medical kit - but not til I call for it." She swings her head to look at the four. "Move it." She'll be right up behind Constin on this one.
Constin nods once, moving forward in a combat crouch necessitated by caution rather than low clearance. The sergeant moves forward at about the pace of a walk, never turning his eye in any direction without also pointing the rifle. the most frequest direction the gun is pointed is at the ground before his feet, but the attention is constantly moving as the marine moves closer toward the percieved source of that call.
Ryder nods, moving to the side so as to have as clear a view as possible if support becomes necessary. The safety on his rifle is off but it is not pointed at anything yet. Just ready, waiting.
Getting to his feet, Dick scrambles to the back, frowning. Yeah, this isn't good. Something has Vandenberg seemingly alert now and he knows her well enough to know that this probably means something bad is going to be coming down the pipe fairly soon. Gritting his teeth, he looks around, eyes narrowed, fully prepared for the shit to hit the cavern walls.
<FS3> Constin rolls Alertness: Great Success.
<FS3> Vandenberg rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Ryder rolls Alertness: Great Success.
<FS3> Richards rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Ryder rolls Religion+25: Good Success.
With the illumination of the lights the party has brought along, the figure laying, semi-collapsed against the cave wall, would be easy to spot. A woman, extremely thin with long blonde hair, dressed in tatters of an old sweatshirt and jeans. Her head rolls toward the approach party, and she opens her mouth to croak another cry for aid again. Her left leg is bleeding, that much is obvious, as she's used an old bandana to make a makeshift bandage. It's now stained clear through.
There are also drawings on the walls as you get deeper in, though those might be of less immediate note than the woman. Old cave paintings, symbols of fish and storm clouds and other such things mostly.
Van doesn't see the scribbles. Her focus is on the bleeding woman lain on the ground. She lifts her finger to her mouth as they approach with a 'Shhhh!!' gesture, the accompanied sound very quiet. "We're here to help." Vandenberg nods for Constin to look her over quickly before motioning for Ryder. "Captain? She's all yours." Van kneels beside her, lifting the night vision goggles from her eyes and looking to the girl. "Who hurt you and where are they?"
Constin approaches the semi-slumped woman, letting his rifle hang only after scanning for weapons and after looking over the surrounding ground. Sagittaron left the MaA a bit paranoid, and he goes so far as to check for booby traps that moving the woman might set off. A short look back and nod of 'clear', to Ryder.
Ryder moves forward quickly, flipping the safety of his rifle back on and shouldering the weapon while he unslings his medical bag. Giving a nod to the el tee and sarge, he kneels beside her and starts doing his his standard check. The obvious wound first, then as complete a diagnosis as time and space permit. The talking he leaves to Vandy, he hears she's good at that.
Richards looks behind them in the way they came from and then around the area, once again keeping himself alert. The drawings were noticed but went mostly ignored, those holding no meaning to the Marine. The one thing of absolute interest to him is the woman they've happened upon, she watched as well.
"Oh thank gods!" The woman is crying as she says it, weeping with near desperation. "We thought they were gone. We hadn't seen any for months. Then *she* came…with the frakking toasters…they shot Gabe and Lex…I ran…it hurt so much…" As Ryder unwraps the handkerchief around her leg, it's sporting a fresh gunshot wound. She tries to say more, but chokes off into unintelligible weeping. "Did you…bring them…back…why…gods, why…?"
Vandenberg reaches a hand down off her rifle to clasp the other woman's hand. "Doc Ryder here is a surgeon. We're going to get you all taken care off, Miss. How's she look, Captain?" She glances to him before looking between Elf and Richards. "Skinjobs. Be ready with hollowpoint rounds just in case." She then notices the stuff on the walls. "Anyone recognize this?" Then back to the woman, "Who was 'she'? Describe her. Where are your friends and where did this 'she' go?"
Constin nods once, but doesn't look back to Vandenberg at the confirmation. He draws a breath, but as Vandenberg begins asking for a description, lets it out unspent. A brief glance aside at the drawings precedes a shake of his head. god-scribbles are for the decoding eyes of others.
"Beyond being shot, the usual. Undernourished, probably at least some rad poisoning." Ryder looks up at the scribbles and shakes his head. "Didn't you lot ever go to temple school? This is a Natural Poseidon Shrine. You can find 'em along nearly every ocean in the colonies, they're usually among the oldest worship sites on any planet."
The 'artwork' is looked at again and then, with a shake of his head, Richards listens to Ryder before lifting a shoulder, indifferent. "Not from a religious family," he responds to them all as a whole, his gaze flitting to the injured woman when he speaks. There is soemthing odd about this entire thing and he shifts restlessly, causing his gear to be drawn up over his shoulders more.
For a moment all the woman can do is choke and cry. She's not in the best mental state. "She killed them…she was with them…they're all dead…" A little nod to Ryder as he describes the caves, and another sob. "We were…the lower galleries, water was there…we thought it was safe…for months…then…they came last night…they blasted out the walls…I ran away…I had to run…Gods, I'm sorry…"
Vandenberg snorts lightly and glances to Constin. "Ain't a lot of coastlines where Constin and I are from. Temple schools, neither. Let's just get her the frak out of here and back on up to the surface, doubletime." Vand slings the night vision gear back over her eyes, clipping it back to the helmet. Then the woman talks about the lower galleries. She snaps her fingers to get Elf and Richards' attention. "Possible contact real soon. We're going hunting. Richards, get the chalk out of my rear pack and mark our exit route as we descend. We might be ex-fil'ing faster than a fat man through a buffet." She turns her back to Richards. "Captain? You want to help her to the surface or see if she can be stabilized for our return?"
Constin gets a dry curl to his lip as Ryder asks of temple school attendance. That is the extent of his comment. Another curt nod as talk of lower galleries and recent gunfire drives the grin from his face. "Yes, sir," he voices quietly.
Ryder's hands fly as they treat her wound, cleaning it and rebandaging it. The whole time he talks to her, soothingly. It is religious talk, words of peace and help. "We'll get you to a safe place, dear. Now I'm going to give you something for the pain. Just wait near the entrance, and we'll get you out on our way back." He looks up at Vandy. "If you think I'm leaving you lot to get shot up without aid, you're out of your mind, lieutenent. She'll be fine for a hunting trip. She's not getting up that rope without help, though." He administers the pain dosage, enough to calm her without knocking her out, and then gets his rifle ready again.
The chalk is gotten and the first of what'll be a series of Xs is marked upon the wall, Richards respectful enough to do so on a place that does not have any of the religious scribblings upon it. He keeps it in hand as it will be used often as they head forward. There's no sign of joking, no smile or humor in gaze or expression, Dick's mind reeling too much to even think about cracking a grin let alone make good with one. Ryder's assessment gets a faint snort but that's all the reaction he'll get from the most junior member of the team.
The woman smiles at Ryder as he administers her a shot for the pain. Tears quieting, she relaxes into a happier daze than she's probably felt in months. As for the road ahead, it's dark and scattered with more symbols of fish and sea. Strange things to see on the largely dirt-covered rock that is Tauron. The sound of running water will grow louder if they move deeper in. They have a ready trail to follow almost without Richard's Xs. Drops of blood from the path the woman ran, stumbled and dragged herself upward on are easy enough to follow back. Deeper and darker. The soft shrieks of the bats hanging on the roof are amplified by the cavern walls, mixing with the rustle of water, sounds bouncing off the walls in an eerie echo.
Vandenberg keys her radio, whispering into it. "Cerberus, Dog Actual reporting: One civilian whiskey-india-alpha. Need evac team to bring up to the Raptor." She proceeds to tell them how to get to the cave mouth. "Civilian reports possible Cylon activity further into the caverns. We are investigating. Expect contact. Will report in as capable. Dog, out." She then looks back to Ryder and dips her head. "Understood. Get her walking and let's ruck-up. Constin, back on point. Everyone hold your fire unless fired upon. Absolutely zero lights. NVG's only. Go." Assuming the woman is being sent off, Van's going to push the team on down, right behind Elf. As they move, the Lieutenant seems to get more on edge. She's not freaking out but her movements become much more purposeful, each step calculated. Her half-crouch right behind elf has her rifle covering high on the walls while the man up front watches for traps.
Constin takes a moment to let his sight adjust to the NVG, before starting onward. The short officer at his back covers high, and the big enlisted covers low as the team advances. No words, and as little sound as can be managed, beyond the scrape of boots on bloody stone.
As they move, Ryder keeps a hand to the wall, touching various drawings and engravings and whispering appropriate phrases as he does so. His med bag is slung again, and his Rifle back at hand, with the safety again switched off.
Stepping up to Van's left, Richards whispers into her ear, his voice kept purposefully low. "How do we know she's not one of those skinjobs, sir?" Not that he wants to be an alarmist but those Cylons are a bunch of sneaky fraks. Once they are ten feet from the first X he'll place a second, same level and same size so it will be difficult to miss.
Getting a proper Medical evac Raptor team down to deal with the woman won't be too much bother, though it will involve parking in the same remote area and climbing down the same way the Marines came. Cerberus replies to Vandenberg in short order that they are on their way. Not fast enough to provide back-up for…whatever else might be lurking in those caves, but you can't have everything.
"We don't, Sergeant," Vandenberg whispers, her focus never coming off the walls. "But its unlikely a skinjob would starve itself that badly just before getting shot on the remote chance a Marine patrol decided to check these caves. I'd also rather not think everyone I meet is a skinjob. Except you. I could deal with you being one, Chris." It probably isn't terribly hard to pick out the smile in her voice, despite the whisper. Moving on deeper, even with her lighter tone, Natalie seems to have taken on something robotic of her own with her movements.
Constin's tone is absent, the big man remaining as quiet as he can in continuing the descent into darkness. Breaths drawn in and out are the sum total of his commentary as the point man continues into the complex of caverns, this 'natural shrine'.
"Salt meets sweet and forms a rip, wind meets water and forms waves…" it sounds like a rote, only barely audible as Ryder walks on. "Lords of Kobol, hear my prayers, and shepherd the souls of those who died here, waiting for rescue that came too late…"
Richards grins himself, now able to thanks to how Natalie's jest puts him a little bit at ease. "That's just because you want me to be some kind of hot robosexmachine," he says, running the last three words together to make it sound sleezier than it might if he kept them seperate, that being his own little joke. A third X and then a fourth are added to the wall, the chalk scraping loudly against the stone face which causes him to wince. "Gods…"
<FS3> Vandenberg rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Richards rolls Alertness: Great Success.
<FS3> Ryder rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Constin rolls Alertness: Terrible Failure.
Deeper and deeper they go. The air gets mustier here. Farther below ground. Less circulation. And the sounds gradually change. The soft lull of water, the faint shriek of bats, mixes with sounds of movement. Heavy, metallic movement. Most along have enough experience to ID the noises Centurions make. They aren't precisely stealthy creatures. They are holed up in a gallery that branches off from the main passage. A natural fissure, but it's been modified obviously by human hands. The paintings are far thicker here, and it's arrayed with benches and even shelves. Theoretically for comers to sit at and contemplate. Scrolls once covered those shelves, and a tall statue of Posiedon once stood beside the natural pool that empties into this gallery. But the statue has been broken by the toasters. The scrolls torn from the walls. The Centurions stand a sort of 'sentry' duty as a human figure, a dark-haired woman, sits in a corner sorting through some of those scrolls. She is quite clearly a Model Five.
Vandenberg waves her hand up and down in a huge arc to get everyone's attention but fails to get Constin's because, well, he's up front. Earplugs go into her ears fast and motions for the others to do the same. This will get loud from the Centurions. She flicks the safety off her GMAR and lifts the suppressed rifle up to her NVG's. "Take 'em. Don't hit the scrolls," she whispers. "Constin, two o'clock," Natalie urges, standing and taking aim to squeeze off a round or two as she moves to a pillar for cover.
Ryder snarls as he spots the toasters, and quickly draws a bead on the first one he sees, sidestepping to get some cover. "Abominations…" he growls, and pulls the trigger, sending a full burst.
Constin grunts quietly once to reflect that he's heard her, turning his intent study from the ground ahead of them, to the 'two o'clock' and crouching in place. For an instant he studes the scene, noting the odd appearance of Centurions in low light vision. He hasn't finished the survey by the time the others open fire.
"Well, frak. Seems we have friends," Dick grunts just on the heel of Vandenberg's orders. He can't really afford to take much in the way of cover so he opts to try and take a shot before ducking behind something, a burst of rifle file aimed for the closest of the tincans before he even starts to think about putting something between them and him.
<COMBAT> Richards fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Richards attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Richards attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Richards attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Constin passes.
<COMBAT> Centurion3 passes.
<COMBAT> Centurion2 passes.
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Ryder fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Ryder attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Ryder attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Ryder attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Five passes.
<COMBAT> Centurion1 passes.
The Centurions weren't paying any sort of attention to the Marines before. But the burst gunfire gets there attention. And the attention of the Five. "KILL THEM!" she shrieks, drawing her own pistol and leveling it at the good doctor. To try and do just that. The Centurions fan out in the middle gallery toward the Marines, to engage.
"You know, if you wanted to learn about the Gods, you could have just asked!" Ryder shouts at the five as he hurls himself towards a stalagmite for cover. Still pulling that trigger, though.
"Semper Fi, Do or Die, motherfrakkers!" Vandenberg yells back at the Five, just before the Centurions open up. She was dodging for some cover but fakes to it then away for a stone 'bench' as she flicks to Burst. Teeth grit as the firefight kicks off.
Constin's first thought is disappointment. "That bitch again?" Further ruminations on the regrettable patten of encounters is delayed as the marine opens up full auto on the enemy, adding an echoing, "OORAH!" on the heels of Vandenberg's call.
"Crap…" Suddenly in over-drive, Dick doesn't notice if he hit his target or not, his mind too set on his training and all that to see anything but how it's still standing, prompting him to take another shot. He happens to notice Five after the scream and he blinks once, his expression puzzled. "Oh frak. What the hell…" Yeah. He recognizes the bitch.
<COMBAT> Vandenberg fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Head.
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Ryder fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Ryder attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Ryder attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ryder attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Left Arm stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Richards fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Richards attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Richards attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Richards attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Five attacks Ryder with Pistol AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Constin with LMG Tripod - Moderate wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Centurion1 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion2 attacks Ryder with LMG Tripod - Light wound to Neck (Reduced by Cover) (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Constin fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Five with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Five with Rifle Ap but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Five with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Five with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Five with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap but MISSES!
Constin spends most of his lead on the Five, before sweeping his field of fire toward the Centurion who'd put the first bullet of the day into his right arm. Teeth gritting, a pained grunt escapes his composure as the sergeant fires on.
The Centurions take up a 'defensive' position around the skinjob, who crouches in the background, near the statue. Albeit still adding her own firepower to the little fight.
Vandenberg daves behind the bench just as the rounds start blasting holes in the cave behind them. She growls something under her breath, spitting bits of rock onto the ground. She low crawls to the other end of the bench and rolls out across the floor to fire another burst.
"Gah, frak!" Ryder groans as he catches a ricochet to the neck. Still, he's not dead yet, and sure as hell not going to fall over. "Athena bless my aim, Ares guide my bullets, and Hades pull the lot of you down to Styx to rust!" He sees Constin get hit, as well, but they need all the shooters they can get until a few of these bastards go down.
There's a low snarl from Chris and he starts to put more into his own attack, now making with a single bullet aimed for a specific place upon the same tinner than doing the spray-and-pray act on it. Even as he does he tries to keep a bead on Five, wanting to make sure she doesn't try to do anything sneaky while they're distracted.
<COMBAT> Ryder fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Ryder attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ryder attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Ryder attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Richards attacks Centurion1 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Head.
<COMBAT> Constin fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Five with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Five with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Five with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Five with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Five with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Right Arm stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion2 attacks Ryder with LMG Tripod - Light wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Five attacks Ryder with Pistol AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Centurion1 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Centurion1 attacks Constin with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion1 attacks Constin with LMG Tripod - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Centurion1 attacks Constin with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion1 attacks Richards with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion1 attacks Richards with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion1 attacks Richards with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion1 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion1 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Constin with LMG Tripod - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Constin with LMG Tripod - Moderate wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Constin with LMG Tripod - Serious wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Richards with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Richards with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Richards with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion1 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Constin has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Constin spends a luck point to keep fighting!
The rain of bullets coming from the Centurions intensifies. They have no real way to escape the gallery, save going directly through the Marines. One of the tin cans is downed, finally felled by Colonial AP rounds. The Five herself slumps against that statue, bleedingly heavily, but there is no particularly sign she is going to surrender.
-PRANG!- A round glances off the rocks right in front of Van and it skips right up to trap between her armor and the ground. Its enough to make her grunt with the impact but she's otherwise still in the game. The woman rolls back behind cover and keeps going to come back out on the other side of the bench and re-aim on the second Centurion.
Constin pours another hail of lead into the five, adding a few for her friend the Centurion, before taking the inevitable return volley of fire. Staggered with an impact to the chest, the big sergeant reacts as if he'd just been finger-flicked in the forehead by a giant when a pair of bullets slam into his helmet. The broken metal clatters against the rocks, blown loose by a broken chinstrap, and Elf hits with stones with blood already clearly visible streaming down his face. Any worries for the man's continued life are answered by a prompt, "SONUVABITCH!" and labored effort to change clips.
"Gah!" Ryder takes a gasp for air as shot to his chest knocks the air out of him, and some blood as well. Seeing Constin take the hits, he snarls and dives forward, pulling up some bandages to treat Constin's wounds. "Hold still, Godsdammit…" he then looks over to those still shooting. "Drop the Chrome! Save the pea shooter for later!"
There is a faint, vague feeling that those he is here with are getting injured but it's not something he can stop to think or do anything about, not until Dick can be sure none of those bastards are standing. That includes the Five which he has in his sights now. "Die, bitch," he mouths, she now the intended bullet sponge for his rounds.
<COMBAT> Vandenberg fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> Five attacks Ryder with Pistol AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Richards with LMG Tripod - Moderate wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Richards with LMG Tripod - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Richards with LMG Tripod - Light wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Richards with LMG Tripod - Moderate wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Richards with LMG Tripod - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ryder treats Constin:
< Right_Arm (Moderate): successful
< Chest (Light): successful
< Head (Moderate): successful
< Head (Serious): successful
<COMBAT> Richards fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Richards attacks Five with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Richards attacks Five with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Richards attacks Five with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin reloads.
<COMBAT> Centurion2 attacks Ryder with LMG Tripod but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Five has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Richards has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Richards spends a luck point to keep fighting!
And Richards' bullet finds its mark, the skinjob falling in a bloody heap into the underground pool. Its waters reddening with her blood in the dim light. Her chrome friends are not quite finished yet, however.
"GodsDAMNIT! JUST DIE!" Vandenberg yells at the Centurions still firing. She's already plowed a bunch of rounds into ONE of them. No telling how long the last one will take. Another round kicks off the ground and glances against her armor - which really has only one effect: It just makes her mad. She flicks over to full auto and lets it fly.
Constin can't see much as Ryder works his ministrations, loosing the spent clip, finding a fresh one and clapping it into place by feel and habit more than anything else. A few wordless grutns of pain as the first aid is administered and then the sergeant draws himself back up on one knee with another tooth grinding grunt of pain and resumes fire with the muttered words, "Semper Fi, Do or Die."
After pulling the last bandage tight on Constin, Ryder turns and sees Richards get some exciting new holes, as well. "Dammit," he growls, then crawls over to where the sergeant was hit. "Dammit, boy, don't you give up on me now." After taking the wounds into account, he quickly starts treating, putting bandages in place as he ignores the continuing gunfire.
"And….the day started out so well…" Chris semi-gurgles to himself, his face contorted in pain. When the doc comes over to treat him he peeks open an eye and he whispers, "Don't frakking even begin to convince me that scrawny chick's crying and shit didn't bring the bastards," fully convinced that their wonded rescue-ee is to blame, his voice laced with bitterness as everything else.
<COMBAT> Richards passes.
<COMBAT> Vandenberg fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap - Critical wound to Head.
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion2 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Vandenberg attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Ryder treats Richards:
< Right_Hand (Moderate): successful
< Chest (Moderate): successful
< Chest (Light): unsuccessful
< Left_Arm (Moderate): successful
<COMBAT> Centurion3 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod - Moderate wound to Abdomen (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod - Critical wound to Neck (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 attacks Vandenberg with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion2 attacks Ryder with LMG Tripod and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Centurion3 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Centurion2 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Centurion3 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg spends a luck point to keep fighting!
<COMBAT> Vandenberg passes.
<COMBAT> Richards passes.
<COMBAT> Ryder treats Vandenberg:
< Chest (Light): successful
< Abdomen (Moderate): successful
< Chest (Moderate): successful
< Chest (Moderate): successful
< Neck (Critical): successful
<COMBAT> Constin passes.
Close quarters fighting is a brutal affair, and this is no exception. Their 'leader' gone, the Centurions finally go down in a hail of Colonial bullets, though they spread a hail of their own around in passing. That med evac Raptor should be here by now, if they can limp back to the upper galleries to meet its personnel.
Ryder thumbs on his mic while he works on Vandenberg, giving initial treatment. "Ryder to Raptor, we've got some hurt, we should be there in a moment." he then looks to Constin and Richards. "You two grab all the scrolls you can fit into your packs and pockets, and mine as well."
Well, that'll show 'em. Sort of. Vandenberg's hail of rounds slam into the first target and blow the head clean off with a shot to the face before she just flips targets and unloads the rest of her rounds into a staggering other target. The last burst of fire from the Centurion is wild but may as well have been aimed. It crashed into the Lieutenant and she grunts for a medic as her rifle is dropped and she rolls onto her back. One hand cluthes her bleeding neck and the other under her bodyarmor to her chest. OW. Once Ryder gets to her, she makes a face up at Constin. "Search the bitch! Better be frakkin worth it!"
Constin pours fire in the direction of the most intact Centurion, focusing the full stream of lead on that one, and doing his best to keep the cluster tight with each bone jarring jolt of the rifle against his shoulder. Lurching to feet, the sergeant sweeps the rest of the gallery, before grinding out, "Clear." Staggering toward the downed Cylons, gun trained on the blasted remains. "Yes, sir."
"I'm telling you Van…" Richards gets up fter he's told to grab some scrolls, using a familiar shortened form of her name to address her. "That so-called victim? I doubt she's as much of a victim as we believe her to be." Grumbling, he begins with the snatch and grab, whatever scroll he can get ahold of and have a place for secured upon his person.
Constin tests out the depth of the waters with a probing boot, before stepping in deep enough to get hold of the blasted Five and drag the corpse back up onto stone for searching. "Shit," he grins out through clenched teeth, as a wave of dizziness. forces him to hold still for a moment. "Search the corpse, load up the paper, get the hell outta here. Got it."
"I'm treating a bullet to your neck, el-tee. So shut up." Ryder grumbles as he looks over at Richards. "You mean my patient who was shot and starving, sergeant? I'll go ahead and give you a recommendation for a transfer to intelligence." He looks her over with a shake of his head. "As soon as we're loaded up, we go."
With a shrug, Richards approaches the dead body once he has what he can take on his person. "I didn't say I was Intelligence. But we can't just assume she's in the clear until we can determain that she is." Crouching, he winces when one of his wounds catch but it doesn't stop him from rifling through whatever the expired Five is wearing, her clothing and body patted down with a lot more force than what is necessary.
Apart from her gun, there's not much of interest on the Five. She was rifling quite furiously through the scrolls to Poseidon she'd swiped from the walls, but she hadn't pocketed any of them. They lay around her body, some splattered with blood now.
Constin lets the soaking corpse lie, with a grunt of, "Sergeant. If you'll hold off pointing out the obvious, lets grab this shit and get gone." 'This shit' at the moment referring to the holy scrolls scattered around the body and those remaining on the shelves. A short exhale. "Who's got video?" he wonders aloud.
Vandenberg lifts a hand but doesn't speak, motioning to her pack with a couple of weak gestures. She then makes a motion with her hand like she is trying to snap pictures.
"Right," Ryder says, gently removing her pack to get the camera. "I'll take some images. And I wouldn't worry, Richards, she'll probably be processed just like I was, and then put on the Civvie ship. Standard policy for all survivors." he frowns. "She mentioned others… do you see any other bodies?"
Looking at the corpse and then the Doc, Richards doesn't see Natalie's gesture, meaning it'll be up to someone else to take the pictures. "Yeah." Shrugging, he grabs the last of the scrolls before straightening. His right hand is bleeding so the scrolls are tucked in under his left arm at the same time he goes to see how his commander is. "Hey, Lieutenant. You look like crap," he teases.