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Nobles of Null is a forum based roleplay site where sci-fi and magic collide. Here, Earth remains fractured and divided despite humanity reaching out to the stars. Worse still, the trans-human slaves of one major power have escaped, only to establish their own Empire, seething with resentment at abuses of the past. Even the discovery of aliens, though medieval in development, has failed to rally these squabbling children of Earth together with its far darker implications. Worse still, is the discovery of the impossible - magic. Practiced by the alien locals, nearly depleted and therefore rare, its reality warping abilities remains abstract and distant to the general populace. All the while, unseen in the darkness of space, forces from without threaten to press in. For those with eyes opened by insight, it is clear that an era is about to end, and that a new age will dawn.
Chapter 3: Fire and Ice
- Thread starter Ray of Meep
- Start date
Kharthus0716
Member
Caleb looked down at the bodies. There was something wrong here. If they were in on it, why would they need to kill their employees? Unless...
"Sir, what if Omnigrow wasn't in on it? What if they were ambushed, killed off, and this place was set up as a trap for whoever was chasing after the culprits"
With that, Caleb took a look under the desks and around the room, looking for explosives. The basement seemed like the best place to set up such a thing to bury anyone chasing them.
"Sir, what if Omnigrow wasn't in on it? What if they were ambushed, killed off, and this place was set up as a trap for whoever was chasing after the culprits"
With that, Caleb took a look under the desks and around the room, looking for explosives. The basement seemed like the best place to set up such a thing to bury anyone chasing them.
*THUNK*
Coming out from Mari's cloak was a Beach-ball sized drone with four arms positioned equi-distant around his mid-section. An array of cameras on the ball-section helped it navigate as it followed Beta-team, stopping by at each desk to connect, download data, and generally prepare the machine for useful recovery once this was all finished. The drone quickly trying to 'make safe' as much data as possible.
The rest of Mari would continue forward with the Lancers, staying a few steps behind them. Certainly combat drones were a problem. Doubly-so if they were air-gaped or whatever other sort of security they had on them. There was no time for something clever, so she switched up the electronic attack: Jamming wifi-signals in the area (but leaving a channel open for the lancers!) so that the robots at least wouldn't receive any further orders.
Then there were the gun-shooters off in the distance.
Human.
Less-susceptible to being hacked in their current state of "Using guns" instead of "Listening to Social Media" She was pretty sure that given 5-10 minutes she'd have them turning on one another if only she knew what their online handle was.
No Matter
She held out her Projector with a single arm and started to employ sonic and optical jamming techniques to blind and deafen the attackers.
Color Projection: Full Saturation
Sound Level: 11
Bass: MAXIMUM
Her handheld device projected a bright, loud, music video right into their stupid faces.
Coming out from Mari's cloak was a Beach-ball sized drone with four arms positioned equi-distant around his mid-section. An array of cameras on the ball-section helped it navigate as it followed Beta-team, stopping by at each desk to connect, download data, and generally prepare the machine for useful recovery once this was all finished. The drone quickly trying to 'make safe' as much data as possible.
The rest of Mari would continue forward with the Lancers, staying a few steps behind them. Certainly combat drones were a problem. Doubly-so if they were air-gaped or whatever other sort of security they had on them. There was no time for something clever, so she switched up the electronic attack: Jamming wifi-signals in the area (but leaving a channel open for the lancers!) so that the robots at least wouldn't receive any further orders.
Then there were the gun-shooters off in the distance.
Human.
Less-susceptible to being hacked in their current state of "Using guns" instead of "Listening to Social Media" She was pretty sure that given 5-10 minutes she'd have them turning on one another if only she knew what their online handle was.
No Matter
She held out her Projector with a single arm and started to employ sonic and optical jamming techniques to blind and deafen the attackers.
Color Projection: Full Saturation
Sound Level: 11
Bass: MAXIMUM
Her handheld device projected a bright, loud, music video right into their stupid faces.
"If there's a deeper conspiracy, we'll find out soon enough." Eberhard grimly noted to Caleb. He wanted to speak further, but the sound of an explosion ripped through the walls and floor.
Renee, Zana, and Jamison would find themselves stunned and thrown to the floor, having been in point blank range of a makeshift chemical bomb hidden in one of the droids. Their HUDs were blaring with warning signs. High temperature burns that partially melted the skin of their armor and nearly through the biosuit where the armor failed to protect. Shrapnel, plastic and metal debris of the surrounding, damaged robots stuck into every craves on the front of their bodies.
Zana being in melee with one of the droids was especially close to the explosion. Seconds after being stunned, she came to her senses with a sharp pain in multiple parts of her long body, her HUD warning her of multiple minor rib fractures.
Then there were still the two guards at the end of the hallway to contend with. Mari was doing an okay job at keeping them at bay with loud noises and bright lights, but they soldiered on, taking pot shots at the Lancers struggling to get off the ground. It was only a matter of time before a stray bullet found their mark.
Shepard coldly remarked to Eberhard, Beatrix, and Caleb. "Go help your teammates. We'll take this route from here." With that, she and Froststorm kept their rifles raised and headed down the hallway.
Renee, Zana, and Jamison would find themselves stunned and thrown to the floor, having been in point blank range of a makeshift chemical bomb hidden in one of the droids. Their HUDs were blaring with warning signs. High temperature burns that partially melted the skin of their armor and nearly through the biosuit where the armor failed to protect. Shrapnel, plastic and metal debris of the surrounding, damaged robots stuck into every craves on the front of their bodies.
Zana being in melee with one of the droids was especially close to the explosion. Seconds after being stunned, she came to her senses with a sharp pain in multiple parts of her long body, her HUD warning her of multiple minor rib fractures.
Then there were still the two guards at the end of the hallway to contend with. Mari was doing an okay job at keeping them at bay with loud noises and bright lights, but they soldiered on, taking pot shots at the Lancers struggling to get off the ground. It was only a matter of time before a stray bullet found their mark.
Shepard coldly remarked to Eberhard, Beatrix, and Caleb. "Go help your teammates. We'll take this route from here." With that, she and Froststorm kept their rifles raised and headed down the hallway.
Beatrix frowned, both at the sight of the bodies and Caleb's suggestion. That would figure, she thought, possibly framing a company or two to pull their parent country into the fray. "Yeah," she said, hearing the explosion on the other side of the floor, "let's make sure we won't get shot in the back while we're sorting things out."
Charging back the way they'd come, Bee groaned when she saw her comrades covered in plastic shrapnel. "What the f..." she started, before biting back the response. "Someone follow me and pull Zana back," she said, firing her pistol as she advanced, stepping around the snake-form and kneeling to cover as much of her body as possible with her shield.
"20th century pop, really?" Beatrix asked Mari, joining in the flashing lights with her built-in shield lights.
Charging back the way they'd come, Bee groaned when she saw her comrades covered in plastic shrapnel. "What the f..." she started, before biting back the response. "Someone follow me and pull Zana back," she said, firing her pistol as she advanced, stepping around the snake-form and kneeling to cover as much of her body as possible with her shield.
"20th century pop, really?" Beatrix asked Mari, joining in the flashing lights with her built-in shield lights.
One of the bullets took Castle in the left shoulder shatting the bone and remaining lodged there. The grunt rolled over slamming the metal barricade into the floor where it covered the lower half of thehallway, and himself from further incoming fire. Gritting his teeth he raised his broken arm and the heavy weapon deployed, The robotic arm supporting the flesh and bone one as much as the gun. Making sure to avoid shooting his team mates Castle opened fire in the direction of the two guards.
Poe
Member
Renee felt a burning on her left forearm as the chemical corroded through the biosuit there, but she managed to kick back a stray robot and opened fire at the robot's torsos and heads. "Mari, can you-" the Frenchwoman winced audibly as she spoke over the comms channel, "Can you shut off the droids?"
DUCATISLO
Member
Žana grunted while she felt that sharp pain she had to stick to the ground now slithering like a snake to keep some pressure so she doesn't fracture any bones. "OK ok...I'm still barely good..." being also pulled back with her team she then thought this would be a good time to also use one of her grenades as she threw one far just around the corner now haveing 1 left. "have a pineapple asshole!" it was a good thing she could still move even if prone
Kharthus0716
Member
"We really should make our way down the hallway we were designated, so perhaps we will have the chance top flank them." He siad it, but there was no conviction to it It was clear he thought what Bee was doing was the right move.
Following behind Bee, Caleb made notes of the mess that was the hallway where their companions were now sprawled across the room. He pulled the two pistols up, and opened fire upon looking around the corner, trying his best to take out the two guards at the end of the hall. He was trying to lay down suppressive fire, giving everyone the chance to get into better cover.
Following behind Bee, Caleb made notes of the mess that was the hallway where their companions were now sprawled across the room. He pulled the two pistols up, and opened fire upon looking around the corner, trying his best to take out the two guards at the end of the hall. He was trying to lay down suppressive fire, giving everyone the chance to get into better cover.
Despite the two guards' previous advantageous position, having temporarily disabled three of the Lancers, they couldn't withstand the weight of the professional mercenaries for more than a few minutes. Mari's blinding lights and deafening music disoriented them, distracting them from a grenade that discretely bounced from the edge of the walls, rolling down to their feet. When they realized the danger, it was too late, thrown violently backwards and sideways with their lower limbs turned into bloody messes. The combined fire of the entire group of Lancers ended their misery.
Eberhard crouched behind Beatrix's and Jamison's shield wall, drawing a can of biofilm and sprayed it over the big man's wounded shoulder. The biosuit was already doing its job, steadily zipping and twisting to seal itself backup, further aided by the cocktail of drugs and nanotech contained in the biofilm. Of course, true recovery will have to be done back at base. The co-owner of the Lancers took stock of the situation. In one unlucky stroke, half of his employees were now injured and couldn't be trusted to perform at full capacity. Fortunately for him, he made friends with the local forces.
"Bee, Sidewinder, link up with TF52 at the server room." He ordered them, and went on to treat Renee's burns. It was apparent that he was avoiding Zana for as long as possible, most likely due to his lack of understanding in snake anatomy. It was true; as he spoke, his suit was pulling urgent care guides from all available databanks, information on best handling practices of treating broken bones coming onto his HUD.
Eberhard crouched behind Beatrix's and Jamison's shield wall, drawing a can of biofilm and sprayed it over the big man's wounded shoulder. The biosuit was already doing its job, steadily zipping and twisting to seal itself backup, further aided by the cocktail of drugs and nanotech contained in the biofilm. Of course, true recovery will have to be done back at base. The co-owner of the Lancers took stock of the situation. In one unlucky stroke, half of his employees were now injured and couldn't be trusted to perform at full capacity. Fortunately for him, he made friends with the local forces.
"Bee, Sidewinder, link up with TF52 at the server room." He ordered them, and went on to treat Renee's burns. It was apparent that he was avoiding Zana for as long as possible, most likely due to his lack of understanding in snake anatomy. It was true; as he spoke, his suit was pulling urgent care guides from all available databanks, information on best handling practices of treating broken bones coming onto his HUD.
Kharthus0716
Member
Caleb turned to Renee and Jamison, taking stock of their wounds. He was not happy about having to leave teammates behind, but they were in good hands. "Yes sir, do you need any assistance before we leave/"
He stood up, pistols aimed down the hall, making sure there were no more targets and started slowly making his way down the hall.
He stood up, pistols aimed down the hall, making sure there were no more targets and started slowly making his way down the hall.
Poe
Member
Renee hissed, swearing under her breath in French before giving Eberhard a pained nod. She watched Caleb leave, frowning at her inability to follow and complete the mission. She felt like a failure. She should have accounted for the robots, as a former Commander. Her fist clenched hard and her teeth ground together audibly in irritation, causing a small squeaking sound to emanate by her mouth.
Mari would wait for the rest of the group to continue down the hallway before following them.
Mari certainly had words for Beatrix..."It is 20th century PUNK you sycophant"
But then it was back to business, checking the rooms and the computer terminals in them as the squad cleared them.
Mari certainly had words for Beatrix..."It is 20th century PUNK you sycophant"
But then it was back to business, checking the rooms and the computer terminals in them as the squad cleared them.
Jamison grunted as he felt the bullet roll around again the shattered bone in his shoulder luckily the biofilm dulled it enough to be bearable. The giant lug using his good arm forced himself to his feet and picked up his barricade ready to continue the mission, though in this case he’d be relying on the expsuit for assisting hid aim more that usual.
“Yes, sir,” Beatrix replied to Eberhard’s order, keeping her frown to herself. I’m the medic, I should be tending to them, she thought. Hope he knows what he’s doing, she mentally added before following Caleb down the hallway.
“Sorry, cyborg, but I’ve heard top 100 pop more punk than that,” Bee said, shrugging as she readied her shield and pistol, keeping her eyes out for more enemies.
“Sorry, cyborg, but I’ve heard top 100 pop more punk than that,” Bee said, shrugging as she readied her shield and pistol, keeping her eyes out for more enemies.
There were more important things to discuss than just grabbing some data off of computers now, "What are you talking about? Ramones were formative to the early years of Punk and helped establish the Punk Rock! Their concerts often failed to sell out and they were considered commercial failures in their time. They are no Woody Guthrie but dismissing them as Pop is ridiculous!"
DUCATISLO
Member
žana made her way to the server room door just a bit away from it to catch up with the other team. she looked a bit hurt but adrenaline is keeping some oof that pain away and a quick patch up.
she would look at the other team and grab a flash bang and hold it next to her giving them a sign what to do before they enter.
she would look at the other team and grab a flash bang and hold it next to her giving them a sign what to do before they enter.
Eberhard looked behind him as Jamison and Zana disregarded his implied request to rest and stay behind. Instead he put both hands on Renee's shoulders. "You're fine." He assured her, as he stood up to guard the hallway.
The rest of the Lancers will have met up with Froststorm and Shephard, their coats painted with freckles of blood, their gazes behind their goggles stony, emotionless. Froststorm glared at Zana's hand gestures and the flashbang in her hand. "Nonlethal? Typical Commonwealther making our jobs harder." He sneered, stowing away his assault rifle, drawing out a laser pistol instead, designed to permanently blind the target. Shephard pulled out a canister of teargas. Despite their complaints, they came prepared for such an operation, though the humaneness was questionable at best.
Through the live stream of surveillance footage, the room behind the door was relatively empty, the servers in liquid tanks slotted into the walls. Instead, the livable area of the server room resembled a lounge with a couple of desks, monitors on them and mounted on the walls and a couple of food storage cabinets. Three remaining guards had a couch blocking the door, themselves crouching along the backwall, aiming nervous at the entrance. One of the monitors was lit up with code scrolling up ominously.
"On your mark." Shephard made a gesture with her head at the Lancers. "These are your men."
The rest of the Lancers will have met up with Froststorm and Shephard, their coats painted with freckles of blood, their gazes behind their goggles stony, emotionless. Froststorm glared at Zana's hand gestures and the flashbang in her hand. "Nonlethal? Typical Commonwealther making our jobs harder." He sneered, stowing away his assault rifle, drawing out a laser pistol instead, designed to permanently blind the target. Shephard pulled out a canister of teargas. Despite their complaints, they came prepared for such an operation, though the humaneness was questionable at best.
Through the live stream of surveillance footage, the room behind the door was relatively empty, the servers in liquid tanks slotted into the walls. Instead, the livable area of the server room resembled a lounge with a couple of desks, monitors on them and mounted on the walls and a couple of food storage cabinets. Three remaining guards had a couch blocking the door, themselves crouching along the backwall, aiming nervous at the entrance. One of the monitors was lit up with code scrolling up ominously.
"On your mark." Shephard made a gesture with her head at the Lancers. "These are your men."
Jamison heard the words non lethal combined with the image in his hud and took up the rear guard position looking down the corridor in case someone or some thing decided to blindside them. He did feel a bit bad about forcing Bee into the position of meatshield but say what you will about Jamison but he wasn’t stupid. He also had the excuse of not having a non-lethal option, other than his hands. This also would let him come in guns blazing wh- if things went fubar.
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Poe
Member
Renee didn't really know what was happening between the conversation about punk and Eberhard patching her up, but she eventually pulled herself up, nodding her head towards Eberhard before lifting her gun with a wince. She made a move to continue and follow the others, before turning back towards Eberhard. "Do we follow, sir?" she asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. She didn't want to mess this up by being injured, but Renee was the type of soldier to not give up until she lay dying. With the affirmative received, she headed after Jamison, heaving her gun up towards her chest as she stalked towards the rest of the group.
She took a role at the back of the breach team, training her gun on the door.
She took a role at the back of the breach team, training her gun on the door.