PHD #147: EVENT - It Lies in Odd Numbers, Part II
It Lies in Odd Numbers, Part II
Summary: Battlestar Cerberus launches a daring assault on a Cylon research base in high orbit above Sagittaron, which — if successful — may cripple the toasters' activities in the Cyrannus System. This comprises the CMC, Deck, Engineering, and Medical portion of the show.
Date: 23 Jul 2041 AE
Related Logs: It Lies in Odd Numbers, Part I
Players:
Coll Constin Kadena Kincaid Ryker Samuel Sofia Tucana NPC 
Cylon Orbital Station - Above Saggitarion
Spidery. Black. Foreboding.
Post-Holocaust Day: #147

In the short history of this ugly, bloody war, human victories have been marginal at best, and few and far between. That all changed just a short time ago as the last known remaining Colonial battlegroup scored an unquestionable victory against highly unfavorable odds, clearing the airspace around the spidery, black, foreboding form of the Cylon facility above Saggitaron. The Cylon prisoner apparently fell in the process of aiding the human forces, but to anyone's knowledge, she has made good on her offer of aid. For now, the black space above the fallen colony is clear of Cylon space forces. Well, /intact/ ones, that is. The flotsam of destroyed enemy wreckage now joins the scattered, long-abandoned husks of burnt out Colonial ships that were destroyed in the initial attack on warday.

The facility itself is a good bit larger than your standard Colonial anchorage. It took some effort to deploy here. How fast it was set up/transported is a testament to the abundance of Cylon resouces. Truly, this is like spitting in the eye of a giant. The forces of BS-132 have already spit in its eye, however. Now it is time to sink the blade in.

The plan is simple - both intelligence provided by the late Eleven and reconnaissance photos have confirmed several docking ports - the largest one is conveniently just a little off the center of the station. Three Raptors have been dispatched to board the facility, each with a fully stocked fireteam outfitted with some sweet hardware (A LMG and a G48 recoilless rifle, for the squad's Grenadier. These are BIG GUNS) as well as a designated demolitions operative. The plan is simple - get in, assault the center of the station, and take it out. This squad is designated for deep penetration in case one squad has to stand and defend. One of the other squads will stand guard on the rides home - just in case everyone's luck does not hold. But it will, right?

As the Raptors land in the docking bay without incident, it has become abundantly clear that this place - was never touched by human hands. It is a strange, cavernous structure with a hardened, organic resin-like surface lining the sleek black walls like a cave glistens eerily in the ambient light from outside. A large black blast door stands closed and foreboding, as several engineers affix a hard seal to it. It's your show.

Col. Pewter's final words were given to the team /personally/ for this briefing. "We do not know the exact disposition of the enemy forces within this facility. We have never successfully boarded an enemy spaceborne structure before so we do not know entirely what to expect. What we /should/ expect, however, is heavy resistance. Gods' favor upon you all."

Awaiting the seal to be broken and the door to the assault team opened, Sergeant Constin instructs curtly, "Upon breakthrough, Fireteam forward, with rifles and grenadier the front line. El-Em-Gee," Ryker is indicated, "Second rank. Heavy Arms-" Coll is pointed, "Will move with the support personnel- stay the frak out of the line of fire until called up to hit. Bravo Team-" the second Raptor team, "Will advance in support of us, so don't sweat the backfield. Rifles first in when we break, READY!" he prompts aloud, prepped to move in immediately upon the hatch being opened.

Being one of those lugging the heavy artillery, Coll is in some borrowed Marine gear. Helmet cinched tight, she's packed herself down with mission-priority items. Backpack full of Deck stuff, combat webbing packed full of large shells. She's handling a Karlstov G48 with very few smiles, though. Last time she was on a facility like this, it didn't end well. Once off the Raptor, she cracks open the rear of the gun tube and manually loads one of the huge shells. It slides in with a metallic -thunk- and she closes the hinged rear of the gun, locking it in place. Someone read the instructions pretty well. Constin's words are listened to carefully, a curt nod given when she is pointed to. "Aye, Sergeant. I'll be on call." She glances to the sealed hatch, hefting the big recoilless rifle to her shoulder.

Being in charge of the Zasta M80 makes Ryker feel gooood. The MP got out of the Raptor and started looking around. He takes a deep breath and says "Fantastic, we are inside a gigantic vagina…." He presses his lips after this and moves his attention to Constin. "Shoot tin cans, got it, boss" A nod is offered and he tilts his neck from side to side, moving to check the M80, making sure that it's ready to fire some heavy ass rounds.

Kincaid may be wearing Lance Corporal pins on his battle armor, but that's really just a remnant of Colonial Marine personnel practices; more education means more rank. But that doesn't change the fact that Donut is on his first combat engagement where he might fire his P-90 rifle in anger ever. He doesn't banter. He just steps out of the Raptor, rifle at the ready.

Samuel nods a little bit at Constin's words, and makes sure his weapons are ready before moving out with the others as soon as they move out. Ryker's words make him comment though. "Isn't that what you've always wanted?"

As fun as lugging heavy artillery might be, Sofia is on the support end of things. She nods and listens to Constin's instructions. Snipe's trained to listen to whomever leads her about. She smiles at Coll, relieved the Crewman is about and - whoa. That's big. She feels a bit odd, then blinks at Ryker, "How would you know?" She blurts out, almost automatically - worried about being stuck in a giant hoohah at his comment. There's little mirth though. She's got support in mind and keeping her eyes open (Maybe pinging a toaster or two out of revenge). She smiles politely at Kincaid in passing, but it fades. All attention is on the task at hand. She's got a few vials for samples if needed, but for now - she watches patiently.

Constin brings the assault rifle to his shoulder, voicing, "Fireteam forward, support do not round a corner or expose yourselves until the all-clear comes. Move!" he calls, moving in the slight crouch universal to combat personnel as the marines lead the way. He doesn't comment on the team's banter, as long as everyone is where they're needed.

The nurse who is part of the party is rather under-armed and entirely unarmored compared to the others in the party. Being wary of contamination, Kadena has opted for being practical over everything else, hence her biohazard suit, it looking remarkably out of place compared to the armor the Marines and others wear. To further the seperation between numbers, she has but a pistol, the mag loaded within it filled with AP rounds. "Frakkers," she hisses out over the coms as she bounces, trying to shift the awkard and semi-heavy field pack so it rests upon her back more fully, her left hand occupied by a kit that is brought solely for the purpose of bringing samples back if possible.

Ryker looks at his peers in silence, but his attention is stolen by Samuel as he addresses him "Indeed, now I just have to strip naked and cover myself in lime jello…" He shows a faint smirk and then he looks at Sofia "Well, you see some weird shit being a stuntman…" Yeah, he'll leave that one hanging. Gods know what poor stuntmen have to do. And now the order comes from Constin and he nods "Yep, time to go to work." He lifts the M80 a bit more and takes a couple steps forward, to the gates of doom.

"Oh. /Damn/." Private Hal Morrow piles out of one of the other Raptors and works to assist his team with making sure the seal is secure, stopping only to deliver the faintest of chuckles in Sofia's direction. His squad's Sergeant stands a silent vigil over the process. "This is Constallation Team. So far everything's green. Across the board. Get that acetalyne torch on that thing, Norris!" He barks while adjusting his assault rifle.

"Yes sir!" the torch man responds eagerly, as the tool is readied and bites into the smooth, black metal of the airlock. Sparks fly, metal sizzles, and then —

The seal is applied. "Way's clear. Alpha, this is Constallation-Lead. We'll be holding down the fort here. Don't try to have all the fun." The other boarding party starts to pile on in the breach as well, and lo and behold, they're inside.

Coll keeps the huge gun shouldered, but her little finger off the trigger. Yeah, that could end badly. Ignoring the banter, Coll takes up the lead for the last few people. Men up front for this op, apparently. The Crewman doesn't seem to care, though. She's off with everyone else.

And what is inside, one may ask? Narrow, cramped, dark. Black corridors made out of that same sleek alloy, with dim purple, blue, and red lights shining in neat banks on the walls. They're sloped like an A-Frame. So far it's a straight shot inside. There are no markings, no writing, no indicators anywhere. The nearest turn looks to be some 20 meters away.

Torches. Sofia looks uneasy about it. She has her biohazard suit at least and a pistol loaded with AP rounds. Mercifully, she's wise enough to bring a light. Either way, she smiles at the others in passing. It's almost reflexive. She follows along, keeping an eye on Kadena and snickers at Ryker. Poor fellow. All business though, now, looking for anything she might need to gather or pull apart.

Samuel shakes his head at Ryker's words, and moves forwards with the others now, looking around rather carefully. Keeping quiet for now.

Constin moves into the first corridor with the rest of the fireteam, advancing at the pace of a rapid walk, even as his rifle is aimed at whichever bank of lights, bit of plating, and organic rafter occupies the Sergeant's attention at any given instant. No time to waste, on this mission. "Corridor clear," Elf states curtly, indicating the support team is clear to follow as the vanguard nears that first bend in the corridor.

[Into the Wireless] Constin says, "Constellation, Alpha-Lead. Primary corridor clear, moving in."

Kincaid is in the middle of the small group moving towards the first corner, hunched over, his P-90 out in front of him. Just like training; just like training. "We're going to need some breadcrumbs to get our way back," he murmurs half to himself and half to his fireteam.

Kadena tucks herself carefully into as near to middle of the pack, having to rely on the Marines for protection. Using other humans as body shields goes against the training and ethics she was taught but there's no way around it. They are better suited for combat and their armor offers much more protection than the vinyl garment she is wearing. As they move, so does she. When they stop she stops, her motions jerky as if the person in front of her is tugging on a rope like a child guiding a toy duck by a lead.

Since Constin is throwing info to the rest of the team, Ryker remains in silence, continuing to move forward. M80 at the ready. "Reaching first turn…" quietly calls out Ryker as he continues to move. Now, this is going to be interesting, as heavy resistance always is. To silent mode he goes again, steady feet, slow walk, narrowing eyes to adjust to the lights around.

"Hey Wolfe," Coll whispers, glancing over her shoulder to the other Crewman. "I got some duck tape in my pack. Pull it out. Mark our way out with arrows, yeah?" Coll has her hands full for the moment.

Peer. Sofia's green eyes are wide and alert, almost like a lean dog on the prowl or something snuffling in the trash. She peers at Coll as she's addressed and nods. "Good idea," She murmurs. Sofia will fetch said duct tape and tear off a little series of pieces to make a bitty arrow accordingly.

And Team Bravo piles in just behind Team Alpha — currently there is only one way in. The sleek, featureless, creepy corridor continues without presence or sign of life, organic or artificial until right here. There's a diagonal fork, one path leading right, another left. The ceiling contains a ribbed, accordion structure in both paths. Alpha has the lead, obviously. The Sergeant in charge of Team Bravo looks towards Alpha expectantly before waving his own force up.

Those iridescent lights continue to flicker.

"It's too quiet…" Samuel mutters to himself, grimacing a bit as he keeps on looking around carefully.

Constin continues the rapid crouch-walk toward this first fork, moving to the right-side corner and listening a moment- pointing at Samuel and indicating he do the same for the left, before stealing a quick look down the right side fork.

"I wish we knew what we were facing," comes Kadena's voice although not over the coms, the rasping of the regulator she wears over her face under the bulky hood muffling her commentary to the point of it almost being unheard all together.

Ryker stops along with the forward them and moves a knee to the floor, waiting. He spots the signal that Constin gave Samuel and then he looks at the other man. Nothing to comment for now, he just nods in silence to what Samuel said and takes a deep breath.

Kincaid isn't sent up to look, so he lines up behind Constin, pressing against the wall on his side, rifle up. Ready to strike, should, say, something pick off their team leader.

Sofia looks to Kadena and blinks. She opens her mouth. Closes it. A little shrug and an arrow along the way. Sofia is a good follower, skulking along like a rat down an alley way.

Nope. Both forks are clear. But they proceed in quite a distance. It's going to lead people in vastly opposite directions. "Bravo will take the left." The Sergeant's fingers gesture in precise hand signals.

Samuel nods a bit as he sees the signal, and moves slowly over to the left corner. Back towards the wall, he listens for a few moments before he leans out slightly so he can look down that fork of the way very briefly, then ducking back.

Constin nods curtly once. "Alpha-team, advance right," is the given word as Elf steps around the corner and motions the rest of the squad to do the same. The order of march remains the same: Rifles in front of the LMG, support following the CMC shield.

Kadena purses her lips before daring to speak, this time over the coms. Nervousness causes her voice to wabble slightly, belaying the butterflies that flutter about, making her feel sick to her stomach almost.

Fun, let's split up, that'll throw some new odds to the table. At least that's what Ryker is thinking about right now. The man nods to Constin's orders and says "Right…" yeah, he has never been one to follow the correct communication protocols. With that said, he stands again and heads towards the right.

"On it. Alpha-Two up." Kincaid pulls around the right corner and steps out in front. Rifles are in front of the LMG, and Kincaid is the rifleman on the squad today. He takes the first rank, moving swiftly down the corner. No Cylon. No Cylon. No Cylon.

[Into the Wireless] Kadena says, "Remember…if you can, do not destroy anything that can be studied. Doesn't matter if it's samples of whatever they're making or those fleshy things we've heard about."

<FS3> Ryker rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Constin rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Kincaid rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Coll rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Sofia rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Kadena rolls Alertness: Success.

The teams have split up. Alpha continues along their path steadily for what feels like forever as the path proceeds in less of a straight arc and more of a gentle curve. But there is just nothing here. The smooth walls, the eerily flickering lights are featureless, alien and generic at the same time. Except for one detail.

[Into the Wireless] Ryker "Define…'destroy'" quietly asks Ryker over the com.

[Into the Wireless] Bravo's Sergeant breaks radio silence. "Alpha team, this is Bravo-Lead. Reading no contacts. This place is - - deserted. It's like a ghost station."

Coll moves along the center of the corridor with the G48 pointed towards the wall beside them. All this weight is a real bitch and she's started sweating a little. Too much time in Sickbay, damnit. But she narrows her eyes at the wall panels. "What the hell?"

"I wouldn't leave anything useful behind though," Sofia counters into the com quietly. She shivers at the flickering lights. She blinks "Huh?" Peer. "They - really don't seem to use normal doors?"

There's a soft 'huh' from Kadena as she pauses at regular intervals, once ever five meters. She reaches for someone and tries to tap them on the shoulder so she can get their attention.

[Into the Wireless] Constin says, "Bravo, Alpha-Lead. We have what appear to be a series of doors spaces approximately five meters apart, set into the walls. Over."

[Into the Wireless] Kadena says, "There seem to be doors here or something. Definitely breaks in the walls. Lines….they must be leading somewhere."

Ryker looks at the mentioned doors, then at the corridor again, and then back to the doors. He speaks something over the com and then presses his lips together. This, is not, good.

[Into the Wireless] Ryker says, "Narrow corridors, set of doors. This reminds me of a jail."

[Into the Wireless] The Sergeant responds after a long pause. "…is Bravo-Lead. Yeah. We're seeing them too. Can't find a way to open them. I don't suppose asking nicely's gonna work. Let's keep moving unless we can find something."

Constin frowns as he studies the door shaped cutaways. "We have negative on any control panels," the sergeant drawls, studying the walls intently, albeit briefly. "Lets keep moving. Kincaid, take rear guard behind the Support personnel," he adds, before the squad resumes it's curving trail down the cylon rabbit hole.

"Could just try pushing on them?" Coll muses, mostly to herself. Constin wants to continue on, though. She places her left hand lightly on one as she passes. If there was a Big Red Button, she would probably press it.

Sofia too, will peer at them, as if there were any way to open them. "I wonder if they open by talking to them," Sofia considers. "I mean, if /I/ were a robot, I'd do that." Sofia would be a lousy robot. Little work ethic. She follows though, eyes wide and intent.

There is a brief second of contact, and at Coll's touch, one of the doors shoots open with a 'hiss' revealing a sleek black gap in the bulkhead, approximately four feet wide by four feet deep. In terms of height, it reveals a chasm stretching as far as the eye can see each way. Suddenly there is a 'whirr' sound from below and a large platform, embedded in the wall looks like it's shooting upwards to meet the team. It's an elevator of some sort? It's large enough to transport several Centurions at the very least.

Samuel blinks at the door opening, glancing around the rest of the area for a few moments, then back to the open door. Keeping quiet for now.

"Sergeant!" Coll calls as the door hisses open. All she's got is the G48 so she points it towards the suddenly appeared chasm, turning quickly as she does so. She backs down the corridor, arm extended as if to try and push Sofie and Kadena back behind her. "If I hafta fire, keep down! Beware backblast!" she warns with a stern voice, breathing suddenly much faster. Adrenaline dump.

Touch and you'll get burned, that's what some people say at least. Ryker looks over his shoulder at the sound and half turns around. A firmer grip on the M80 now and he takes a deep breath "Fantastic…" idly says the man. However, he is ready to fire in case he needs to. Altho, the possible angle of Coll's fire in a narrow corridor is something to have in mind, just in case.

And a smooth, shiny platform is all that rises to meet Coll's warning. It's black, and glistens a bit like polished obsidian. It remains there, unmoving.

Kadena glares at the hands-on approach that the Crewman took once the hiss emits from that part of the wall, her brow creasing as she peers down the newly revealed area. "Huh. Wonder what that is," she mutteres to herself. No, she doesn't say anything else, and she doesn't say it outloud, it meant for her ears alone.

Constin whirls about at the whirring sound and call from behind, ever present rifle at his shoulder, ready to fire. "The frak'd you do, Coll?" he wonders as the open door to the moving platform is revealed. Stepping toward the now-open portal, Constin casts a wary eye (and aimed assault rifle) around the 'elevator'. "Big enough for all of us. Let's give this a shot, boys and girls. Fall in." He raises a hand to voice over the wireless..

Sofia blinks as she's nudged a little and nods obediently. "Got cha," She watches though, with wide-eyes, taking it all in. Sofia's never really seen stuff like this before. She takes a deep breath and falls in. "Here goes nothing."

[Into the Wireless] Constin says, "Bravo, Alpha-lead. Our doors appear to be some sort of internal transport system. Attempting use."

"Moving in, Alpha-Lead." Kincaid steps forward and onto the elevator. "Of course, we have no idea where this is headed, but it has to lead somewhere more exciting than we are now." He moves himself to just right of the entrance, hoping that it comes out in the same place wherever it comes out.

[Into the Wireless] It's just a matter of coincidental timing as the next transmission comes over the channel. "Morrow, you're going to lose an arm if you keep that shit up. Alpha-team, this is Bravo-Lead. Apparently the panels respond to touch. We just found that out ourselves. We'll test it out. Bravo-lead out."

Coll doesn't answer. She's a little embarrassed. That'll be the last time she touches something. But the Crewman fro mthe Deck nods obediently and falls in with everyone else. Express Elevator to Hell? She hopes not.

Samuel nods a little at those words, "Interesting taxi, this one," he remarks, as he moves over to get in place. Keeping his rifle ready now, waiting to see what's happening on this one.

Ryker nods in silence to Constin's orders and steps inside the elevator. He examines the thing with a bit of interest and then looks at the others that are already inside. Elevator music here would result in something seriously creepy.

Express Elevator to Hell, going up. There's something seriously strange going on here as the platform does /not/ do anything until all involved parties are upon it. And then it moves. Up. It's pretty slick and rapid, and not a bad way to get around, but anyone with motion sickness might be unaccustomed to how fast it actually /is./ It proceeds for approximately fifteen seconds until it comes to a dead stop and the wall surrounding the tube rises rapidly revealing another corridor, complete with those same eerie purple lights embanked in the wall.

<FS3> Sofia rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Ryker rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Constin rolls Alertness: Good Success.
<FS3> Kincaid rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Coll rolls Alertness: Success.
<FS3> Kadena rolls Alertness: Failure.
<FS3> Samuel rolls Alertness: Good Success.

Kadena is not fond of elevators that move fast and it fairly well discombobulates her by the time the wild ride meets its end. She is trembling a bit and having to close her eyes and brace herself against someone, all while breathing in and out slowly, nose-mouth, to try and quell the wooziness she has had inflicted upon her person.

Coll squeezes in and stares at the walls as the platform goes shooting off. She's got that recoilless tucked close. Its a tight fit with all the crap she has packed onto her. She seems oddly at home with the ride, though. No problem there for her. When the door opens, Lauren just watches the lights on the wall with some mild interest. "Cool. So helpful, ain't they?"

"Support at the center, marines around the edges. Don't know which way this thing'll-" a pause in Constin's speech as the internal transport jets into movement with unanticipated speed. "Shit. Don't know which way this thing'll open up." Blue eyes narrowed as the myriad details of their surroundings are soaked in. "Looks like 'right' is the direction of the day so far- Wolfe? Mark the wall outside whichever door we just came out of." The big sergeant eyes the wave pattern on the walls again, and freezes, eyes fixed in a sudden and severe scowl, as he takes a step closer to peer at something which has escaped in the instant it was glimpsed. "Frak me."

Elevators have that unpleasant way of sending your stomach to your toes. You go up, your organs wonder wtf and try to keep up. Sofia nods, marking the wall with a piece of tape obediently. "Got it, Sarge." She smiles weakly. The arrow is neatly marked, her wide green eyes consider the world around her. And finally, her stomach catches up. Purple lights are pretty but it seems so utterly alien with her idea of Cylon.

Ryker ended up standing pretty much in front of the elevator exit point, which works for him. The sight of the lights brings his attention to them, he looks up at the Sarge and he nods "Guess we follow the lights now" says the man with a neutral tone of voice. The path to the right is eyed for a moment. M80 ready to fire again, just in case. The man takes a deep breath and waits for the next orders.

Samuel nods a little bit at the mention of the right, but blinks a bit as he watches the light, pausing for a few moments, "Did you guys see that?" he asks, after a few moments of pause, expression a bit puzzled.

"Well, we're either getting funneled right to the heart of things or we're getting funneled into the perfect kill zone." Kincaid tensely waits for the order to move out. "Or maybe a bit of both."

Constin looks sharply aside at Samuel when the corporal speaks up. "The seal?" the sergeant prompts, brusquely. "Shit. Let's get moving, team. Same order of march as before: Donut, keep eyes on our rear, other rifles up front. Move."

[Into the Wireless] Suddenly there is a burst of static over the com channel. "..A*BBBRRRSTTTBLAM " "Bravo team." more noise, "Hostile contacts! Guess this place isn't deserted! Holding position. Got bulletheads!"

Coll stares straight ahead and her face darkens at hearing the radio call. Shit. "With you, Sergeant." She glances behind her to Kadena and Sofie to make sure they are with her. Once the others pile out first, she's out next and keeping with the team.

In case anyone was wondering, Kincaid is Donut. He steps out of the elevator first, his rifle pointed to the left of the hallway, keeping it trained on whatever might come that way. "I'm out, Sarge. Go, go, go." He takes a knee, eye trained at his reticule.

Hearing what's sounding over the coms, makes Ryker be more alert. "Frak…" says the man and then looks over his shoulder, nodding at Constin. This time, there is no vocal reply from him, he just moves forward, moving along with the others, staying behind the Rifles as ordered.

"The seal," Samuel replies with a bit of a nod, before he nods again at the part about getting moving. He pauses as he hears the message from the comms, though, grimacing a bit.

There's a gasp from the nurse and she's rushing to keep up, her eyes wide. "Gods…" Swallowing hard, she looks to the other non-combatants in their team, Kadena trying so very hard to gain some kind of calm from doing so. The Marines, on the the other hand, are paid attention to as much as she can while scared.

This level is a bit different. As the team progresses further into the maze of twisty passageways, all alike, it comes to what thus far would appear to be an anomaly, there are two large, open archways which reveal — a pair of large, sterile, dimly lit chambers containing a huge assortment of tables, benches, all human-looking furniture. And some sterile-looking laboratory slabs. Some are empty and bloodstained. Others contain — bodies. Bodies and body parts. Of humans, in various states of dissection. Vats. Jars containing organs. Some of the body parts are hooked up to strange bio-organic looking machines with wires and odd readouts containing that same flickering purple light that looks like it's displaying gibberish. That's not all there is.

There are a couple dissected /Cylon Centurions/ as well that look like they were missing bits of their internal workings, panels open. There's a human-looking heart here, a brain there. But that's not all, still.

Lining the walls are a series of ten-plus-foot-tall tanks displaying the ghoulish forms of — humans. But they look to be not fully human. They're missing things like skin. Sometimes eyes. It's like some kind of clone farm.

Rolling into the room, the G48 lowers as her attention falls to whats in the room. "My Gods," she breathes, eyes wide. There's something between astonishment and anger on her face. Then again, Lauren never saw Rutger Tower. "Whatthefrakisthis?" she blurts, moving closer to some of the machines, looking to make sense of the readouts.

Constin orders curtly, "Anybody not in a haz-mat suit touches nothing. Lieutenant Macer, gather what you can and do it in a hurry." the sergeant's manner is past cursing, or shock. His expression is the scowling stoneface of pure business. Do the job, think about it all later. "Get cameras and Dee-En-Ay from anything we can- ah want a gun on each of those Centurions while Support does their thing. Move, people."

[Into the Wireless] Suddenly there's an excited shout. "Alpha Team, This is Bravo-Lead. You're not gonna /believe/ this. We took out two, Pace got nicked but he'll walk it off. There was another one we were boxing in with his friend and then this — there was this explosion in the wall conduit. Knocked the other two on their asses and we finished them off. We're ok. What the Hell?"

Ryker just stares in silence at the scene in front of them. The thought of the tortures lived down here crosses his mind and that pisses him off. Anger draws on his features and he looks over Constin now. "Aye" responds the MP, lifting the big ass M80 and aiming it at one of the Centurions. He listens to the com and he arches one eyebrow with at WTF expression.

Kadena steps forward but not before giving the Sergeant a bit of a glare. "I'll decide what we'll take back," she nicely reminds him, the tone at odds with the look she just shot him. "No offense, of course," she tacks on, that being for the sake of politeness. That all done with, she turns on her recording device and starts to look around, every display, container, vat and body parts filmed to be looked at later.

Because Kincaid is taking the rear, he is perhaps the last one to see the horror here. He walks backwards down the hallway, like if a college tour guide slapped on Marine battle gear and was giving a tour of Cylon research facilities. Once he's inside, their rear covered, he turns. And his eyes bug out. "Frak me." It's all he can really say.

[Into the Wireless] Constin says, "Copy that, Bravo. Consider it possible there is a third party presence aboard the installation. Alpha team has located a biological research facility-" Not chamber of horrors, not abomination chop-shop.. a 'biological research facility'. "Support is at work."

A blink at Kadena. "Um." Sofia just goes quiet. She looks to Constin though, seeming to trust the Sergeant. She winces, at the horror show. She puts a hand over her mouth. "Um. "I've got some vials and maybe a baggie or two…" She offers meekly, trying not to loose lunch.

Constin snaps shortly back to Kadena, "Just do your work, sir." In no mood for either countermanding orders or politeness is the big sergeant.

Samuel grimaces a bit as he looks around. Opening and closing his mouth a few times, he seems unsure about what to say now. Keeping his rifle ready, in case something should be happening. Keeping quiet, as that seems to be the easiest thing to do for now.

Coll rolls her eyes at Constin but obeys. For now. She's not pushing any more doors open. "Readouts are a bunch of crap. Can't make heads or tails of this. It'd be nice to grab a hard drive or two."

These facilities are really quite large. Cursory inspection of the one across the hall will contain variations on these themes. A horror show of organic, mechanical, and biomechanical combinations all slapped together in rather disturbing and imaginative ways. This is clearly a research hub. The purple readouts in the walls continue to flicker.

[Into the Wireless] The Sergeant responds again. "Copy that, Alpha. This is Bravo. Right now, I'll take support wherever I can find it. We've — we're coming up on some kind of lab. You seeing this too?"

The kit that Kadena has been carrying around - the briefcase-like one, not the medic's field kit - is set down and opened. Inside are numerous vials, jars, baggies and other containers for specimens along with tweezers, scissors and other instruments for collecting of them. "I want tissue samples - organs especially. I also want fluid samples. You'll find everything you need in here." It'll be easy to figure out which containers are meant for what kind of sample regardless of lack of training.

Once Sofia's instructed on what is wanted Kadena turns to look at one of the displays, something about it catching her attention. "I think we might want this…" she comments to Coll now. "If you can, can you upload it for me or something like that, please?"

"Any 'lectronics look important and portable, holler," Constin advises Coll, looking around for whichever of the fireteam is not presently covering a Centurion, before turning toward the door and voicing over the comms..

Kincaid takes a deep breath and then turns towards the entrance they just came from, taking up a sentry position on the area in case the Toasters should come this way. It's easier than having to stare at the 'biological research facility.'

[Into the Wireless] Constin says, "Copy, Bravo. Be advised, ah'm stepping out into the main corridor, and we have a sentry on the door. Keep advised of any enemy contacts."

"Yes sir," Sofia nods and will diligently set about tweezing and collecting. Eat your heart out, entomologists. She is quiet while she works, studiously trying not to damage anything.

Coll looks to Sofia and then Constin. "You want me to futz with these computers, Sergeant? Wolfe says she has something I might want." The woman just stands there in the middle of the room surrounded by this entire mess, doing her best to look at the people that she arrived with and not the one's littering the room.

Samuel keeps his attention mostly on one of those Centurions for now, grimacing a little bit as he glances around the room rather thoughtfully, then back to the Centurion.

Kadena has no need for the electronics herself. Just someone to try and get some information saved so she can read up on it once they're back home. The display is motioned to again as she looks at Coll, a brow raised. "Is something wrong?"

"Anything that looks valuable and portable, Coll," Constin repeats in reply to the named Crewman. "Cut the wires and light the fires. Make it quick."

"Huh?" Sofia blinks, seeming surprised. She looks to Coll and tilts her head. She is working diligently though.

<FS3> Constin rolls Alertness-30: Failure.
<FS3> Coll rolls Alertness-30: Success.
<FS3> Sofia rolls Alertness-30: Success.
<FS3> Kadena rolls Alertness-30: Bad Failure.
<FS3> Samuel rolls Alertness-30: Failure.
<FS3> Kincaid rolls Alertness-30: Terrible Failure.

Futher investigation will note a black machine in the corner, sleek and without obvious readout or input. It is hooked to a slumped Cylon centurion, its red eye off and up against the wall. There's something clearly odd about this thing, though. Around its neck is something that dully glints in the ambient light of the room. Maybe it was easy to miss at first. But they're unmistakable. A set of Colonial dog tags.

Lauren glances to Kadena from under her helmet. "You mean other than being here in a room that smells barely less awful than it looks? Peachy, sir." She doesn't wait for an answer. Still gripping the G48, she turns back towards the computer readouts. But when she does, she doubletakes to a slumped Centurian in the corner. "Holy.. no. Way." Lauren moves slowly towards it but the readout flashes something. Her head spins back towards it. "Sergeant! Readouts are pretty plain about something happenin'. Its warning us. No idea what."

"…? A warning sign?" Sofia tilts her head. She squints at the machine in the corner. But the purple readouts catch her eye. Caution? "Caution? Caution like what?" She blinks. "I wonder if it's saying something about the conditions or -" Hmmm. "Maybe to wear your eye goggles in the lab…" Even Cylons can lose eyes right?

Constin looks back sharply at Coll's curious report. "Copy that, Coll- Team! Pick up stakes and move fast. What you've got is what you're gonna get, we are extracting as of now. Fireteam to the door, let's clear out. Move, people." He punctuates the words with a relay over the wireless..

[Into the Wireless] Constin says, "Bravo, Alpha-Lead, be advised: we are clearing out, do not recommend further progress, over."

Whump. Whump. Whump. Coming from the opposite direction that they were heading, there is a familiar sound that starts to carry through the silent corridors. It gets closer. It's the clank of a Centurion, or Centurions plural, all right.

Coll nods her head and moves to the slumped Centurion first. She kneels beside it and lifts the dogtags off the killer robot. The Deckie barely has time to read them before hearing the sound of Centurions that are actually mobile. Oh hell. She pockets the set and looks to Constin. Orders?!

Things are getting, a bit more creepy right now. Ryker is in complete silence, and his silence is just stopped when orders from Constin are thrown to the pile. He looks at the man and nods "Sure thing" Always with that type of response. Secure grip on the M80 again and he makes his way to the door. "Frak…" comes after the sound of the Centurions is heard "We've got some company here"

"Frack." And here Kincaid is, on point. But still, he has his orders. "Moving out! Donut on point!" Might as well sing it out proudly. He begins his movement down the hall, at the front of the Marine column. Contact imminent.

"Damit…Give me those, please." Kadena takes what she can and puts them in the case which gives off a hiss once it's closed and the locks are latched, that meant to keep whatever contagions they might have picked up during their visit and following sample gathering. The metallic thud of footsteps catches her attention and she is quick to draw her pistol, the 'briefcase' picked up and held behind the back of her legs as a mean of shielding it.

"Hawkins, deploy the El-Em-Gee- Coll, Heavy arms ready, rifles give her a field of fire and unload on sight- Take the frakkers out hard and fast," is Contin's command.

Sofia is indeed, a great flying monkey. Give her a fez and she's good to go. She dutifully turns the samples over and moves to find something to duck behind. "Here sir, please take cover too." They aren't in armor after all - and for all the meatshields in the world, Sofia should probably not wear her magnetic underpants.

Frowning a bit as he hears the sounds, Samuel readies his weapon very quickly. Moving into a good position to fire now.

At this point, Kincaid taking point means sliding up behind the first barricade he can find, an overturned lab table or somesuch. He takes a knee, so that he can both be scout and shooter, bringing the sight up to his eye. Here we go.

Coll calls back, "On it, Sergeant." She's sitting in the center of the room, but she's dropped to a knee barely outside of cover, ready to fine.

Ryker nods to Constin "On it" says the man and takes a couple steps back. He looks around to find a good spot and then moves behind of what it seems to be a big ass table. The M80 is secured there and he gets it ready to fire. Time to kill some tin cans. "Ready to fire."

And the sound of whomping footsteps comes closer still as the shiny chrome figures we all love to hate, a squad of Cylon Centurions comes into view, their autocannons readied.

<COMBAT> Kadena passes.
<COMBAT> Cent5 attacks Constin with LMG - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Sofia passes.
<COMBAT> Samuel fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent1 with Rifle AP but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent1 with Rifle AP - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent2 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent3 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent4 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent5 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent1 with Lmg - Moderate wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent1 with Lmg but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent2 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent3 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent4 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent5 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kincaid fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent1 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent1 with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent1 with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Constin fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent1 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Head.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent1 with Rifle Ap - Serious wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent2 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent3 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent4 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent5 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Coll uses a Missile He!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Cent4 - Critical wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent4 - Moderate wound to Right Leg.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent4 - Critical wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent4 - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent4 - Critical wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent4 - ARMOR on Left Arm stops the attack!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Cent5 - Critical wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent5 - Serious wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent5 - Serious wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent5 - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent5 - ARMOR on Right Hand stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent5 - Serious wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent5 - ARMOR on Right Leg stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent5 - ARMOR on Right Hand stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent5 - ARMOR on Left Hand stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent5 - ARMOR on Left Foot stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent5 - ARMOR on Right Foot stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Cent4 attacks Coll with LMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent3 attacks Ryker with LMG but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent2 attacks Samuel with LMG - Moderate wound to Left Hand.
<COMBAT> Cent1 attacks Ryker with LMG and MISSES!

<COMBAT> Cent1 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Cent4 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Cent5 has been KO'd!

And the dogs of war are unleashed, autocannons spin and the initial wave of Centurions seems to be stymied by unfavorable conditions, heavy weapons, and the well-planned defensive posture that the Colonials have taken. Focused gunfire by the Marines combined with the ridiculously big gun Coll is slinging have managed to hold them back, and knocked out the majority of the first wave. Still, like the walking dead of popular myth, they /keep coming./

Bullets shred and dance around Coll as she leans forward in her kneeled position. It seems like she'll never fire before she squeezes that trigger. Nothing happens for a split second and she panics. Then it happens. Firing these things outdoors is one thing. Indoors, totally something else. The sound of a hammer hitting metal is followed quickly by a massive boom. The shell doesn't even have to travel that far. She was aiming for the wall beside the Centurion. The round hits its head and explodes, instead. The Centurion disappears in a shower of flame and fire while the one next to it gets sliced into small pieces by the shrapnel. "HOLY SHIT!" Coll yells, tumbling backwards with the shot. Someone lied to Constin. She brought a HEAT round. Lauren is somewhere between a grin and sheer panic as she scrambled back undercover with the G48. She's trying to reload as fast as she can, but its going to take a few seconds. "RELOADING!!!" Fumble, fumble. Metallic clink as she rips the expended shell out of the gun.

Whoa. Sofia boggles and nearly falls over as Hades itself seems to be turned loose in the room. Centurions and Marines with big guns and explosions. And holy crap. There's no words. Instead she might peep out and pop off a shot or two but she's content to stay where she is. "Yay Coll!" She does offer once her ears stop ringing.

Constin is concentrating on laying down heavy fire in support of the rest of the fireteam, the assault rifle braced and the movements controlled with clenched arms. A cylon bullet impacts his chestpiece, but does nothing worse than cause the sergeant to rock back briefly where he stands. Then, Coll's rocket hits. "Thatta girl," Constin grits through clenched teeth, firing off the next focused burst on the remaining pair of centurions.

"…couldn't be easy…noooo, not easy," comes the uttered comment from Kadena. She has kept herself close behind the taller Marine…or Marines, as the case may be. Not the bravest but it isn't her job to be brave. It's her job to keep alive in case others get hurt and need her as well as get her 'gifts' back.

Ryker narrows his eyes at the incoming group of Cylons. It doesn't take long for his finger to squeeze the trigger and let the heavy rounds fly to the targets. With the mix up of fire and the big boom caused by Coll's weapons, he's not clear on what happened at first but then…he sees two Cylons are left. "We'll probably have more company!" shouts Ryker as he takes a more daring stance, aiming at the tin duo.

There is more WHUMP, WHUMP, WHUMP in the background. This initial wave was not alone. Also, the detonation, combined with explosive smoke, shrapnel, and Gods-know-what-else have probably alerted every Cylon on this side of the the station's level.

Firing off his shots at the Cylons, Samuel stumbles backwards a little bit as the Cylon that was using him as a target actually manages to hit him in the hand. Glancing down to the blood for a few moments, he readies his weapon again, aiming for those two Cylons he can see.

<COMBAT> Ryker fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent2 with Lmg - ARMOR on Neck stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent2 with Lmg - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent2 with Lmg - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent2 with Lmg - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent2 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent3 with Lmg - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent3 with Lmg - ARMOR on Neck stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent3 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent3 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kincaid fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent2 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent2 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Neck stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent2 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Head.
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent2 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent2 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent3 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent3 with Rifle Ap - Serious wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent3 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent3 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kadena passes.
<COMBAT> Cent3 attacks Kincaid with LMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Sofia attacks Cent2 with Pistol AP - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Samuel fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent2 with Rifle AP - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent2 with Rifle AP - Moderate wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent2 with Rifle AP - Moderate wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent2 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent2 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent3 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent3 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent3 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent3 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Constin fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent2 with Rifle Ap - Serious wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent2 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Head.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent2 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent2 with Rifle Ap - Serious wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent2 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent3 with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent3 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Head stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent3 with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent3 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Coll passes.
<COMBAT> Cent2 attacks Constin with LMG but MISSES!

<COMBAT> Cent2 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Cent3 has been KO'd!

And one. Two. Three. Kincaid lines up the shot. He puts the firing selector to burst. He pulls the trigger. Bam! The Cylon gets hit right in the middle part. Just like in training. But as two are left, he changes his selector, laying down fire on the two Cylons still left standing. "Firing!" he shouts, putting down heavy fire on the two centurions. The bullets from the one Cylon shooting at him bounce harmlessly off of the table in front of him.

Sofia closes an eye. The tip of her tongue sticks out a little and she pops a Cylon in the chest with a pistol round. It doesn't do much, but hey- it's hard not to help a little, right? She looks to Kadena and seems relieved for the massive Marine support. "Holy cow." It's a pain train.

Lab equipment, furniture, and Cylons alike are shredded by the focused fire of the holed-up humans. There's a splash and a disgusting spray as flesh and biomechanical components and organs go flying. A cloning tank explodes in an ear-piercing shatter. It's a mess. But it's a mess those Centurions aren't walking away from. However — more just keep coming.

Coll is still struggling with the gun. The spent shell rolls across the ground in front of her as bullets pepper the terminal she's hiding behind. Sparks fly and distract the hell out of her. One flies down her armor and she spends the next four second slamming her back into the console to try and put it out. That..that's gonna leave a mark. She finally gets her shell out, gloved hands fitting it in at the wrong angle. "Godsdamnit!" she yells over the gunfire.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Oh how would he love to have a Cuban Cigar, or the BSG Universe equivalent. Ryker is firing away and hitting the targets, getting nice and pretty bullet holes one those shiny armors that they have. The two Centurions that were left, are now down, but more are on the way. "Let them come!" shouts Ryker in near frenzy.

Samuel fires off his shots now, nodding a bit to himself as the need to reload comes up. Turning and heading for the nearest thing to take cover behind, he dives for it now, making sure to get behind there and reloaded.

Constin pours lead into the two survivors of the first wave with unerring accuracy, before ducking down into partial cover to eject his spent clip and slam a new one into place. The expected hail of cylon bullets can't be far behind.

<COMBAT> Constin reloads.
<COMBAT> Samuel reloads.
<COMBAT> Ryker fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent6 with Lmg - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent6 with Lmg - ARMOR on Head stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent7 with Lmg but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent7 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent8 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent8 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent9 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kadena passes.
<COMBAT> Cent8 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Cent8 attacks Constin with Lmg but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent8 attacks Constin with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent8 attacks Ryker with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent8 attacks Kincaid with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent8 attacks Samuel with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent8 attacks Sofia with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Constin with Lmg - Serious wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Cent6 attacks Ryker with Lmg - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Sofia attacks Cent6 with Pistol AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kincaid fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent8 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent8 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent8 with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Right Leg.
<COMBAT> Coll passes.
<COMBAT> Cent9 attacks Samuel with Lmg - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).

<COMBAT> Cent8 has been KO'd!

The next wave of Centurions is here. And they're making it clear that they're not going down without a fight. Not this time. They will make their hated enemy pay dearly for entering this place, and even as one falls, another exacts a price in blood. There are /still/ more coming.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Yes, yes Ryker keeps firing. This time however, it seems that, either their armors are good, or he's not hitting a damn thing. This said, that doesn't stop him from keep firing. He is completely unaware of what's going on around him right now, so he doesn't know if someone got hit or not. Heck, he doesn't even know if /he/ got it.

Constin never should have taken cover- that was his first mistake. He only ever gets shot when trying to take cover. No sooner does the fresh clip feed into his assault rifle than one among the hail of cylon bullets slams into his helmet. The curved steel is generally very good at deflecting lead, but this round catches it flush, and Constin stumbles back into the corner, chinstrap snapped by the bullet which pierced his helmet, blood pouring down his face in an instant. "Mother FRAKKER!" the sergeant roars, too stupid to realize he should be dead.

Coll finally gets the round jammed back into the tube. She swings the end back on and locks it down, slapping it hard. "COLL UP!" she warns. The woman adjusts her seat before sliding back out and leaning much more forward this time, her grounded leg stretched out to brace behind her. She can hear three of them. More coming. But she can only see one. There's but barely a moment to aim before the Crewman squeezes the trigger.

Holy bananas. Sofia winces at the next wave of Cenarions comes. The shots make her ears ring. "Sarge- er-" Holy frak, the dude is still standing. With all this holyness, Sofia might be sainted soon or something. She huffs and does her best to take potshots at the Cylons.

Peek out. Line up the shot. Switch the firing selector to 'burst.' Confirm the shot. Squeeze the trigger. Just like in training. One-two-three the bullets hit the Cylon, sending it clattering to the ground. Just time to do the same thing with the next one shooting him.

Now with the injuries happening Kadena snaps out of her fear, the combat forgotten for the sake of having to help. Rushing over to Constin, she drops the heavy pack from her back and sets the other case down, that one a lot more carefully, before she looks at the Sergeant closely. "Hey, Sarge." She starts to assess his wounds, everyone else ignored for now.

<COMBAT> Kadena treats Constin:
< Head (Serious): successful
<COMBAT> Cent9 attacks Coll with Lmg - ARMOR on Head stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Samuel fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent6 with Rifle AP - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent6 with Rifle AP - Serious wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent6 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent7 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent7 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent7 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent9 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent9 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent6 with Lmg - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent6 with Lmg - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent6 with Lmg - Serious wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent7 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent7 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent7 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent9 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent9 with Lmg - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Kincaid fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent6 with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent6 with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent6 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Constin fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent9 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent9 with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Abdomen.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent9 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Right Hand.
<COMBAT> Coll uses a Missile He!
<COMBAT>
<COMBAT> EXPLOSION! Right Next To Cent9 - Critical wound to Head (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent9 - Serious wound to Right Foot.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent9 - Critical wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent9 - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent9 - Critical wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent9 - Serious wound to Left Foot.
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent9 - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent9 - ARMOR on Right Hand stops the attack!
<COMBAT> SHRAPNEL! Cent9 - ARMOR on Neck stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Cent7 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Kincaid with Lmg but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Kincaid with Lmg but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Samuel with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Samuel with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Coll with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Coll with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Sofia with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent6 attacks Kincaid with Lmg but MISSES!
<COMBAT> Sofia attacks Cent7 with Pistol AP - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!

<COMBAT> Cent6 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Cent9 has been KO'd!

In the chaos of this battle, the Colonials hold. They hold the lab at all costs, in fact, and it's a damn stroke of luck that all the humans are standing. Even as wounded as some of them are. Still, the heavy weapons manage to dam the river of Cylons. But more of them just keep on coming. So it's easy to miss little things. Like the sudden spark of the large machine hooked to that deactivated Centurion in the corner. There's a flash, and a surge, and the angry red eye flickers to life amidst the carnage. As this happens, it comes — on line. And groggily (if a machine can be called such) it raises its gun arm. But here's something interesting - it isn't pointing at the Colonials. Rather, the doorway. The /other/ Cylons.

Kincaid ducks his head down, but still the helmet remains peeking out of the table from where he's ducked. One bullet left. "Reloading!" calls out the Lance Corporal. Kick out the spent magazine. Grab the new one from the belt. Slap it in. Just like training. Except here the Cylons are actually shooting at him.

It's a damned quickdraw. -DING-BOOOOOM! The Karlstov fires once more and lands against a metal support beam right by the Centurian. At the same moment, Coll's target fires. She doesn't get to see the round impact and shred her target this time. A round from her enemy slams into her helmet and blows it clean off. Coll's stance, while sturdy this time, falters as she drops the G48 to the deck and rolls back behind cover. Hands fly to her neck in desperation, trying to find the wound. Its almost exactly what happened last time when she was hit so severely. Though as the Cylon on the wall rises, Lauren's eyes go wide and she reaches out for the gun once more. Reload. FAST.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! Plenty of bullets left on Ryker's M80, and he doesn't intend to stop firing. Since more Cylons are coming into view, he focuses his fire on the ones right in front of him, just like everyone else. Soon enough, to more gone and he just continues to fire since new ones are on sight. He, hasn't spotted that the Crazy Centurion is now /helping/ them. What are the odds of that.

Constin barely waits until Kadena has staunched the flow of blood from his head, before Constin, wiping one hand ineffectively at his eyes to clear the bloody veil, unloads a burst at the nearest silver target. Constin has yet to notice the activation of the centurion inside the lab, so intent is he on keeping up volume of fire on the door.

Cylons? What Cylons? Oh, those down on the floor? Samuel gets more shots fired off, and ducks down as the incoming shots are on the way, avoiding getting hit this time. Moving his left hand up to adjust his helmet, he blinks at the blood on it, but forces himself to fire off another round at the enemies.

Sofia is peeping out like some demented mole. Her eyes widen and she gasps. Bullets and shrapnel and Lords knows what go flying by. Sofia just doesn't have much time to think about ANYTHING but pinging off a shot and clinging desperately to cover. She pauses. "Heywaitaminute…" That's not a really well polished Marine…

<COMBAT> Ryker fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent10 with Lmg - Light wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent10 with Lmg - ARMOR on Left Arm stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent10 with Lmg - Critical wound to Head.
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent11 with Lmg - Serious wound to Neck.
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent11 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent11 with Lmg - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent7 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent7 with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent10 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Cent10 attacks Constin with LMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent10 attacks Constin with LMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent10 attacks Kincaid with LMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent10 attacks Ryker with LMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent10 attacks Samuel with LMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent10 attacks Sofia with LMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Sofia attacks Cent7 with Pistol AP - Moderate wound to Chest (Reduced by Armor).
<COMBAT> Samuel fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent7 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent7 with Rifle AP - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent7 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent10 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent10 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent10 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent11 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel attacks Cent11 with Rifle AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Kincaid reloads.
<COMBAT> Kadena treats Samuel:
< Left_Hand (Moderate): successful
< Chest (Moderate): successful
<COMBAT> Crazycent fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Crazycent attacks Cent10 with LMG - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Crazycent attacks Cent10 with LMG - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Crazycent attacks Cent10 with LMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Crazycent attacks Cent11 with LMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Crazycent attacks Cent11 with LMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Crazycent attacks Cent11 with LMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Crazycent attacks Cent7 with LMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Crazycent attacks Cent7 with LMG and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent10 with Rifle Ap - ARMOR on Neck stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent10 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent10 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent11 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent11 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent11 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent7 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent7 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Coll passes.
<COMBAT> Cent7 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Kincaid with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Kincaid with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Samuel with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Samuel with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Coll with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Coll with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Sofia with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent11 attacks Ryker with LMG but MISSES!

<COMBAT> Cent10 has been KO'd!
<COMBAT> Cent11 has been KO'd!

Oh crap, indeed. As more Centurions fall, the remaining attacker does something very human-like. Even as it sprays fire indiscriminately like a lawn sprinkler at whatever it can see, its head turns to eye this new attacker. The /other/ Centurion. And so it adds it to its field of fire. One could almost read the surprise on its glowing red eye. Meanwhile, the other Centurion that was just 'activated' ambles to its feet after spraying fire in turn and starts to dash towards its counterpart, ignoring the humans and firing a concentrated stream of autocannon rounds. Ouch.

Coll watches the CrazyCent fire off a burst towards something she can't see, but it seems like its shooting at the enemy. She doesn't waste time stripping out the spent round and slamming another one home. Rear end swung and locked, handle slapped into place. The Crewman swings around from behind cover but doesn't aim at the Centurian that is still attacking all of them. No, her sights settle on the insane Centurian as it banzais right past her. However, she doesn't fire. Yet.

Kadena snorts. "Yeah, you're welcome too," she grumbles before scrambling again, this time dragging her belongings behind her, Samuel her target. Maybe he'll be a bit more cooperative and let her treat him without pulling the heroic-yet-wounded soldier act on her.

With two more Centurions down, Ryker only sees one left in front of him and that focuses his fire on the poor tin can. Now, now he does see the Crazy Centurion and he goes 'what the hell' the first thing he spots is that the Crazy one is aiming at the, maybe not so crazy one? This is why, he doesn't switch his aim.

"What the…?" Samuel begins, firing off until his weapon is empty again. Ducking back just in time to avoid the incoming shots, he stays down on the floor now, working on reloading his rifle, otherwise keeping silent.

The new magazine clicks into the rifle with a loud CLACK. And then Kincaid brings himself up again, aiming right at the remaining Centurion's center mass. The bullet continue to rattle against his make-shift table as cover.

Constin takes a step back up to his feet, after unloading on the enemies. Focusing fire on the remaining Centurion, the unexpected charge of the Centurion-in-dogtags isn't noticed until the trigger has already been pulled and the target acquired. Hey, he's got a headwound, it's distracting. Kadena's snark goes completely unnoticed by the sergeant.

Sofia is just peeking out and taking potshots. Everything is slowing down, but seems to pass by so fast at the same time. Funny how adrenaline works. She's only got her pistol, but she's either brave or dumb depending on how one takes it. "Buddy Cylon?" Blink. She seems puzzled that the crazy one is helping.

<COMBAT> Kincaid fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent7 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent7 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kincaid attacks Cent7 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Kadena attempts to treat Samuel but SAMUEL has no treatable wounds.
<COMBAT> Cent7 fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Coll with Lmg - COVER stops the attack.
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Coll with Lmg - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Crazycent with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Kincaid with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Ryker with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Cent7 attacks Samuel with Lmg and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Samuel reloads.
<COMBAT> Ryker fires a 3 round burst!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent7 with Lmg - Serious wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent7 with Lmg - ARMOR on Abdomen stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Ryker attacks Cent7 with Lmg - Moderate wound to Chest.
<COMBAT> Crazycent attacks Cent7 with LMG - ARMOR on Chest stops the attack!
<COMBAT> Constin fires fullauto!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent7 with Rifle Ap - Light wound to Left Arm.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent7 with Rifle Ap - Moderate wound to Right Arm.
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent7 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent7 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent7 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent7 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin attacks Cent7 with Rifle Ap and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Constin's weapon clicks empty.
<COMBAT> Sofia attacks Cent7 with Pistol AP and MISSES!
<COMBAT> Coll takes careful aim at Crazycent.

<COMBAT> Cent7 has been KO'd!

As the last attacking Centurion falls, just clearly outmanned and outgunned, a peculiar situation ensues. Even as its guns were a bit stiff and not the most effective on the block, the strange Centurion, who was wearing the Colonial dogtags fires again and sees its bretheren-turned-enemy fall. And its angry red eye scans, turns about. Its arm then momentarily drops as the autocannon embedded in it folds inward and inert, disarmed. It looks about the ruined facility and the currently-human inhabitants and its head — bows.

There are no more Centurions coming that can be heard.

Finally, it brings its arm up again and points it at its own head, still bowed. The autocannon comes out again. And it lingers. The gun is pointed at its own head, its eye looks upwards one last time straight across the chamber at Coll.

Kincaid gets to his feet, his heart still pounding loudly in his chest. It must be like a timpani. Or at least it seems like it to Kincaid. "Sarge!" he calls out to Constin. "You all right? We need to get going?" He moves up to try to lead the way out if that is what's on the agenda.

Pause. Sofia tilts her head as the crazy Cylon bows and points a gun at its head. "Hey… who were you? Should I take your dog tags back?" She offers quietly. "The um, help was pretty cool…" She offers. She's trying not to get underfeet of the medical treatment. "How far in were we going to go?" She asks quietly, for now watching the bowed Cylon. She stops and curtsies back to it. It pays to be well mannered. She watches the injured with some worried, but her attention is torn between two places.

Last Centurions is down, Ryker finally lets go of the trigger and turns to look at the Crazy Ass Cylon…he notices it's actions and so, the man doesn't even try to attack the thing. "What…" asks the man outloud, looking at the Centurion. He now notices that Constin is hurt, he also sees Kincaid approaching him. Him? He just looks at the Centurion again, and dares to take a step forward.

Constin is blinking rapidly as he unloads the rest of his clip at the last of the eleven centurions which had attempted to storm their gun position. Either a symptom of having blood in his eyes, a concussion, or both. Thus, it takes him a moment after his aim shifts to the crazed centurion-in-dogtags, to realize his weapon is empty. Woodenly, he reloads, keeping his eye as much a spossible on the unknown quantity throughout the action. He had drawn a breath to speak, but as the Centurion 'disarms' it prevents the need for his words. "Headcount!" he manages in answer to Kincaid's imploring, eyes still not moving from the sole remaining cylon.

The console Coll was hiding behind finally disintigrates, the whole thing falling to the side as if sawn in half by machinegun fire. As it does so, a round finds Coll and punches her right in the stomach. She coughs, doubling forward slightly with the hit, but her attention is still on that CrazyCent. The Karlstov's crosshairs are focused center-of-mass on that thing, just waiting for its guns to turn on the Colonials. She mutters something to herself as if trying to talk herself into shooting it. Then the gun is coming up. Here goes nothing. "TIBAKAS! DROP! THE! GUN!" she yells with every ounce of officer left in her, the command as hard as she can make it.

Kadena looks up from her crouched position and then starts to get her shit together, field kit shouldered, the kit with the specimens grabbed in her off hand like before. One last look to the innjured before nodding, at least of the impression that they're both ambulatory and able to get to the Cerberus before needing further treatment.

"What the…?" Samuel offers to nobody in particular, as he watches the remaining Centurion, blinking a bit. Starting to get to his feet again, a bit slowly now. "Thanks," is offered quietly to Kadena.

It's the most human thing (even discounting the obvious 'surprise' on the part of the last one before it got toasted) one can note anyone having seen from a Centurion before. At the name mentioned by Coll, its head arcs to one side to study the woman. Its gun, though, remains affixed on its own head and there is just the weakest of gestures that it makes. It shakes its head slowly, whirring from one side to the other.

And then the autocannon opens fire. Into its own head, and the head ends up bursting in a mass of sparks and debris, leaving a smoking hole. It topples to the ground with a loud, horrible THUD. After crashing into some other wet, messy debris. It's done for.

Those purple readouts, the ones that were not shot up, are now very clearly doing something different, as well. It doesn't take a trained eye to see it. They're drifting to one side. The side the team was progressing in before they got sidetracked here. /Someone/ Clearly is telling Alpha to go this way.

Sofia watches the Cylon a moment, as there's no response to her dogtag query. If no one rushes over, she'll quietly go retrieve the tags. There's a faintly sad look. "Well. Either way, the help was appreciated. Thanks, metallic dude," These words spoken with appreciation and a solemn tone. Poor feller. She pauses, "Huh? Hey, is that display moving? Is everyone okay?" She's been a little startled by Coll's yell, but the ADD Queen is at it again.

"We're all here, Sarge," promises Kincaid, though he pauses to take a quick headcount of those in the room. "Come on. Move out. Let's go. Arrows didn't treat us too bad before." He moves to the other side of the room to take point, waiting for the Marines to form up.

Kadena kneels down and grabs a piece of the closest Centurion. It shouldn't be too big, perhaps a 'hand' or something of like size, it too added to her small collection of things to be studied later although this one's not put in her case. This is held in her hand.

Constin swallows once, tasting copper and schooling his face into the same glare he'd worn on the way in. "Let's move, people. Wolfe! Out the door, now. Kincaid, take point. blaine, rear. Lets go, lets go-" the words are of the proper volume, but not quite as sharp and clipped as the sergeant's orders usually are. He turns his head to the side and spits before speaking over the comm.

[Into the Wireless] Constin says, "Bravo- Alpha. Lead. Met heavy resistance- extracting now."

"…" Well, um. Awkward. "Hey, did they have a name on 'em?" Sofia looks around. Must've… missed someone taking the tags. She looks confused and a bit sad. "well. Sorry, whoever you were. I'm not very fast - but it's the thought." See you, metal dude. She nods and obediently heads on out the way she's directed.

Coll watches the whole reaction from the Cylon and her aim falters. The sight drops from her eye and she stares at the thing as it blows its Cylon brain to bits. She's left speechless. That..that was not what she was expecting at all. Round still in the tube, she slowly rises with the barking from Constin. She hasn't even noticed his headwound. Lauren nearly knocks trays off the table as she makes her way towards the exit, her eyes still on the Centurian.

She mutters something to Sofia: "S. Tibakas."

Awww, it blew it's head off. Ryker stops cold when this happens and looks at Coll. The man blinks a couple times and then turns around to hear Constin's orders. Walking back to the table, he picks up the M80 and gets ready to leave. Rifle's got their orders, he just follows the one order given to him at the start. So, he steps ouside the place, ready to follow the oh so pretty lights.

[Into the Wireless] There is a quick response. "Copy that, Alpha-Lead. Nothing but — it's like they were experimenting here on anything in the human body they could get. Haven't found any resistance so far. Just — yeah, you notice we're gettin' some weird feedback on these monitors? Too many coincidences."

Samuel blinks a little bit as he watches this, nodding a bit again. "Will do, Sarge," he offers to Constin.

Sofia looks briefly disappointed by her slowness. She just nods. "Fair enough," She shakes it off. "Tibakas," She echoes. Despite the misinformation she's given on the initial, that's alright. It's the last name that counts really. Right? Right. She just takes a deep breath. "I wonder if they're trying to guide us to clear this out or what." Or something REALLY SINISTER.

Kincaid charges off on point through the hallways, looking to follow where the lights are pointed. He has, at least, a mostly full clip in his rifle. He speculates as he moves: "It's like they somehow got — the human consciousness into the computers — or something. Like there's something controlling the place."

As the team gets a move on, if they're following the 'arrows' it's clear that they are being led somewhere further into the station. There are more labs like the one they got caught in. Dozens of them, in fact. Twenty long minutes pass without enemy contact until they reach a huge, rounded, spokelike chamber, with a series of open blast doors as big as the lab arch, each.

It is here, that there are dozens of strange purple consoles laid out - it looks like a bridge of some kind. Maybe a Cylon version of a CIC. Multi-level, with railings overseeing some trough-like streams of glittering, transluscent liquid. More of those tanks line the walls, like the ones at the edge of the lab.

There are other tanks here, too. With the same goo. They look like bathtubs, in fact. There is row after row of them. Row after row. All empty — save one.

There is a woman in there, pale, half-submerged, unclothed and looking pale and weak with sopping wet hair. There are some biomechanical-looking cords hooked to her body. Her face is familiar, though. It is the face of one recent Cylon prisoner. Her eyes are half-closed, but there is a rapt smile upon her face.

Wandering around the station, Coll seems a bit shell-shocked by what she just saw. But the Crewman slowly starts coming back around. When they enter the chamber she stops and looks around. "This just keeps getting more and more weird." There's only a glance to the woman in the bathtub, the face unrecognized.

Constin keeps trudging along with the rest of the squad- adrenaline is a helluva thing, until they reach this- bathtub bridge. Weapon up, as is his ingrained habit, Constin eyes the half submerged 11 copy, approaching slowly. "Cylon designation eleven.. You hear me?" the marine voices toward the smiling cylon-in-a-tub.

Kincaid is now the first — not the last — to enter the chamber with the weird thing in it, and so circles the basin, pointing his rifle down at the Cylon found there, for it seems to be the thing to do. He glances at Constin as he calls out to the thing, and then to the thing in the tub.

Hey! It's the Eleven. She tilts her head. She looks like she's not really sure how to react to the labs and - now Eleven. "Miss Eleven. She always struck me as more of a Lucielle or - Lucy? Hmmm," Ponder. "She - That's Eleven," Sofia informs quietly. "I think she likes art," Nod. The Engineers carefully inches over. "Hey… are you alright?" She peers. Half-closed and a smile. Either she's at peace or, who knows what. At least this time Sofia's not faceplanting into her cleavage. "Wonder if she helped or if she could've known or remembered," Sofia is squinting. Even though Sofia was zorched by radiation, she's made an odd peace with it.

"I was wondering…when you'd get here." There is a weak cough on the part of Eleven. "Sorry that was not as smooth as I would have hoped. This is more difficult — than I " Another pained cough as she practically hacks up a lung. "Listen. There is not much time. A Cylon relief fleet is en route and I don't know that I could delay them. I know you have more questions than I have time to answer. So I have provided some of them. On that console. There is a small module rewired." She stretches out a finger towards one of the rows of consoles against the railing a level up. "A small white box. Next to it there is a vial. Fill the box with the vial and take a computer aboard your ship and tune its Wireless transponder to One One Gamma Nine. Just — use one you have no intention of using for anything else. I wouldn't hook it to your ship's systems." Another cough.

This dispensed, she turns from Constin who initially contacted her, to Sofia. The weak smile is transferred. "Hello. I am — I am well enough for this last task. That is enough. And I know my name, now. Major Tillman was right. I am Atropos. I am the cutter of the thread."

Ryker spots the same thing everyone else did, the Cylon, number Eleven. The man approaches the tub and kneels down next to it. "She's…hooked to this" says the man, mostly to himself. And then, he submerges his hands in that gooey thing. "This…" And he touches Eleven's skin. Her arms…you perverts. But then she speaks and he takes his hands out, all gooey looking, yuk.

The others are followed behind now that the shooting has stopped, Kadena looking around. The recording device is still running (hopefully it has an audio option to go along with the video!) which means Eleven and those talking to 'her' is saved. "Careful," she warns when she sees the Cylon reach out. "I…Eleven, was it? May I take a sample of the…that substance, please?"

Coll see's people moving towards the woman in the tub and wanders over near it, only glancing to the face every few seconds. Her eyes are on the high railings. She isn't listening to the Cylon until it mentions knowing Tillman. The Deckie wheels on it, eyes blazing. Anger rises in her like a flame to gasoline. "You!" Her grip tightens on the recoilless rifle. She looks like she is about to finish the job Tisiphone started.

Kincaid swings his rifle over at Coll, training it on the deckhand. "Don't even, Crewman!" barks out the Lance Corporal. "Don't make us put down another assassination attempt this week. It's just getting old." His eye focuses down his sight.

"Hawkins, keep your damn hands out!" Constin barks sharply as Ryker reaches into the goo. A terse breath let out as the Sergeant adds oin the heels of the 11's words, "Wolfe, locate the described vial and box. And for FRAK's sake nobody-" Then Coll shrieks and Kincaid aims. "Donut, let the gun hang, that's an order. EVERYbody, lets get this shit and get the hell out, already." Headwounds make for a cranky Constin.

Sofia peers at Eleven and smiles weakly. "Sorry about that. It's appreciated," She nods. "And - because it can talk to it?" She considers. "Um. Thanks for the help then." She'll kinda miss their helpful Cylon pal in a way. It's a sort of bittersweet feeling. On one hand? A frakking Cylon that zorched her. On the other? She's been helping. She blinks at Coll. "She's actually been helping us a bit, it's really confusing in a way. But in another it's kind of nice." Maybe there's room in the universe for Cylon and people? Hm, maybe not that accepting just yet. Still. There's a kind of sadness. It's hard to see her so weak. "I hope I didn't offend with the sketch book if you remember that," She offers. "But um, is there anything else-" A question for Sofia in turn? Either way, she moves over to peer at the console. Hmmm. Peer.

"I don't care if anyone thinks she helped. She ruined my chances," Coll growls looking between Sofia and Kinkcid. She fingers the trigger on the G48 but hasn't lifted its bulk towards the 11 yet. She's keeping out of eyesight of it, though. Doesn't wanna frag herself, most likely.

"Yes I am. I am joined with this station. Partially. But I need your help to finish the task, I'm — well, /unable/ to do it alone." She glances up at Ryker, addressing him first. " At Coll's outburst, she lets out another laugh, although this one bears — strange, it's a touch of sarcasm. "Relax, relax, all of you. Anyone who wants me dead will have their way soon. It is part of my task. This knowledge needs to die with me. And this station - it is a Birthing Hub. It was one of the facilities where my people were created. But this one — this was perverted. In an attempt to follow God's commands, we were attempting to make more of our kind. This does not work. It has never worked, and we don't know why. But I know this is not the way now. For your kind or mine. Listen, I have looked upon the face of God. Or your Gods. There is more to it than either of our people know and I've learned something that I need to share, that you need to make /my/ people understand as well as your own. God's Justice. And God's Love. There is a divinity in the universe that makes no difference between human or Cylon. And when we frak up? We frak up. So maybe you can help fix the mess we made."

To Sofia. "I got it. And I left something behind that I made with it. You should have it." And now, to Constin — "You need to affix the cables in this reservoir to the console with the box. And set a timed detonation. I will overload this station's systems. And it will be the end of this sorry project. Once and for all."

A little turn of her head as Eleven adds, "Take..what you will. But this place is cursed."

Kadena is halted by the words 'cursed' and 'perverted'; in this context it is especially forebodin but she promised herself she'd get what she could and it's because of that that a vial is pulled out, this time from a pouch built into her biohazard suit. "I am sorry if this hurts," she says before dispensing a small amount of the strange matter into it, it then put into the case with the other samples when she's done.

Ryker lifts his gaze and looks at Constin, he arches one eyebrow and says nothing but he shakes his head and that can be noted. His hands are out already and he shakes them on cleans that thing on his gear. Well, it's something. His attention returns to Eleven, and then he stands up. With the M80 in hand, he now looks at Coll, and then Kincaid.

"Chances?" Sofia looks confused. "Thanks," Sofia smiles at the mention of something left behind. She will take what Eleven pointed out. "I appreciate it then." She seems sympathetic in a way, towards Coll - though Sofia's made an odd peace with her condition. She doesn't say any more. She just gathers up the information Sarge directs her to. "Got it!" She beams. "Either way, it um - well, was nice to meet you," She nods at Eleven then looks confused again. What is this odd sadness? For a Cylon? She just blinks fast. "I-" Right. Got the stuff. Don't think about it. "Good luck on the other side then. Hopefully it's more peaceful over there huh?" She's baffled honestly. Why feel bad for a cylon? She looks confused. "I am so frakking confused. Right, I've got the box and vial. Appreciated." Fidget. She does not look comfortable.

Kincaid takes a deep breath, but lowers his rifle, no longer training it on Coll. One, he has orders. Two, it looks like Eleven is going to be self-destructing anyway. Which of those two makes him lower his weapon is up for debate.

"I volunteered for martyrdom before I understood it." If Kadena's sample-taking bothers her, she makes no note of it. In fact, she ignores it. "I just found a better mission. That's all." Eleven states simply, as she discusses her impending end. "No resurrection. Although I learned a great deal this one time. I sent you what knowledge I could. In that box. And when I pass into God's hands, maybe - maybe then I will know more." Her head flips to Coll and her eyes narrow as she coughs again. "I know no apology can rescind what I have taken. But I hope that — " Her lips press together. "Remember what I said about mistakes? This is all I can do to right them. It is not enough. But it is — something." Suddenly, she twitches in the tub and her voice raises in pitch. "Hurry. Please, finish the work and prime the device. I will set it so you can safely leave but there isn't much time. I can hear the station and through it, I can hear our Fleet. They are coming. You should warn your people to be ready."

Kincaid gestures at Constin. "I'll relay to the Fleet, Sarge. Let's book it out of here." Kincaid seems antsy — after all, she did say there was a Relief Fleet coming — and perhaps with good reason for it. He places his hand on his helmet, speaking on his wireless.

[Into the Wireless] Kincaid speaks quickly on the line: "Shuttle Bus, Alpha-Two. Advise Cerberus Actual that we've come upon a — a copy of the Eleven. She states that a relief fleet of Cylon basestars is en route. We will be booking it back to you after activating self-destruct charges here, but the Fleet needs to be ready to jump out as soon as we're back onboard, if not sooner."

About this time, there are footsteps and the sound of presence. Human presence encroaching on the chamber as the members of Bravo Team are all present and accounted for. "Heh. Good Gods. I need to lay off the purple shit." One lanky marine states, shortly before the Sergeant gives him and evil look. "Shut it. Bravo Team present." He adds, looking about.

"I'm so very sorry," Kadena whispers before straightening from her crouch. "I suppose it's time. Thank you all," she then says, looking from face to face, an odd time to be showing appreciation and an odd set of circumstances to be grateful for but she can't help herself.

Sofia grunts softly. Either way, she tilts her head. No resurection? She peers over. She nods at Kincaid. "I have the box and vial. Thank you," A nod to Eleven. She just goes quiet after that. It's respectful - torn between Coll and Eleven. She likes them /both/ and well, frankly she's been zorched too. It's a lot of confusing things mingling into a muddy brown feeling like watching your best friend leaving. Sure, it's gonna happen - but that doesn't mean it's pleasant or ending neatly tied up in a bow. She is stuck with a sad, dazed look on her face. She blinks fast. "Right. Let's - go before we're all toast." She blinks at the marine commenting on the purple shit and just … gives him a confused look. She's heard of smoking things. She's heard of window licking. Heck, she's heard of moonshine. But … purple shit's a new one on her. She shakes it off.

When Coll is addressed, she keeps her eyes on the tub. "Nothing." That's all she says in reply, nearly spitting the word. Her left hand opens and closes into as tight a fist she can make - which isn't terribly tight. When the other Marines arrive, Lauren just turns and walks out. She looks mad as hell. If there were somethign around here to put her fist or boot through, she probably would. Let them work. She's going to guard the door.

[Into the Wireless] The sonorous voice of Colonel Pewter booms over the Wireless. "Alpha Team, Cerberus-Actual. We copy. Will notify Alert Vipers and keep the battlegroup on high alert until you return. Be advised, we're not sticking around. Actual out."

"Don't be sorry for /me./ I've lived. Just take heed of what I am providing you there. Also - seek out some of the other models. Individually. But do it /carefully/. I've found that some of them are willing to talk. You have —" Eleven states, coughing again, "More in your midst. I cannot tell you his name, but one of us has joined your cause. I didn't know this until now."

One of the demo team starts shuffling about as Eleven's instructions are carried out, the man gestures towards Sofia, "Give me a hand here an' hook this up, will ya?"

"I'll remember and pass on the word to the proper people within our command. Rest well, Eleven. Wherever you might go after this, I hope you find peace." Kadena leaves after that, going to stand by where Lauren has taken up watch. There's nothing left for her to do here. Everything else depends on the teams' safe return to the Cerberus where her next bout of work will begin.

"You heard the man, team," Constin voices curtly aloud on the heels of Pewter's comm chatter. "Alpha Team, rig up the charges as instructd, Bravo Team-" he looks to the new arrivals. "Advise you all take lead in double-timing it back to the Raptors. Alpha will be just a tick behind you." Kincaid's communication is met with a nod, while sofia and Kadena are greeted with the short words, "Pick it up, people. Cut the chatter and let's take care of business."

"Thanks," Sofia nods at Eleven. She's not ungrateful - really. She's just confused. Why does she feel bad for Eleven? Especially when Coll is angry? Should Sofia be angry? Is this bad? Is Sofia a toaster lover? Isn't righteous anger, well, righteous? But the sketchpad and art… She is baffled. And soon pulled out of her thoughtstorm. "Huh? Oh, sure!" She smiles at the man and moves to help him hook up what he's pointing out. Work is a welcome distraction. "Here we go."

"I already have." Eleven says, simply. "Time the charge for twenty minutes. I — have to get ready. This will require concentration. So, this is good bye." She says it slowly, but casually, like telling the kids she's going off to the store. And with that, her eyelids flutter closed. And then, all is still.

Kincaid takes a deep breath. One of them has joined their cause? Well, then. Kincaid keeps his rifle down, but at the ready. Almost set to go. Almost set to go.

"Bye," Sofia waves a little at Eleven. Either way, she's helped rig it up, grabbed the things and will follow along. "Hey… um, Coll? We can talk sometime," Nod. "I think I've missed a lot." Sofia hadn't gotten to see Penny since the incident either. But still. Not wise to wallow in confusion, nor does she have much to think on as she makes sure she doesn't get exploded.

It is said that luck is a fleeting thing. Undependable. Unnknowable. It is also said by some that there is nothing in this universe left to chance. The theories are as varied as the people who spout them.

It is said too, that no deed goes unnoticed in the eyes of the Gods. Maybe it was like Eleven said - some things cannot be atoned for. Maybe an apology isn't enough and some messes cannot be cleaned up. But for now, in the wake of every indignity the Cylon race has visited upon humanity, there are some small pockets of resistance that have refused to die out along with the billions snuffed out on Warday. There have been some small victories, a Raider squadron here, a Basestar there. But it's always been a one-sided war. As the landing party makes its way back towards the docking bay of the station, who knows what the last things that go through that Cylon's head are? Regret? Satisfaction? Peace? She has shown them all. And what of the others she speaks of? What of the Cylons who may yet be turned? What of the Cylons who still yet want nothing but to finish the work they started? Was this war started out of fear? Hate? Or something else?

There are no easy answers. Anyone will tell you that. As the team piles into their Raptors, all hands are present and accounted for, and this Cylon structure, the biggest anyone has seen yet, glistens silent and black in the starshine as the transport ships high-tail it back towards the figure of the Battlestar Cerberus, as she stands ready. And just as Eleven stated, there is a flash behind them as they go pouring into the Landing Bay and the familiar jump countdown reverberates through the Battlegroup's loudspeakers.

Ten. Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, and — not even as the countdown finishes, the station rattles in the distance. It starts to vibrate, sending off waves and waves of energy fluctuations, radiation, and Gods know what else. And then it just — erupts in a flash of light and shrapnel, sending piece by piece of it through the void as it emits a shockwave towards everything in its immediate vicinity.

And right then, with all hands secure, the last known Colonial Battlegroup's FTL engines prime and wink out of existence as space shifts, jumping to safety, leaving behind a trail of wreckage. And hope. Hope for humanity. For the giant has been struck in the eye, and this war will never be the same again.

Maybe it is true what they say. Maybe there /is/ luck in odd numbers.

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