|
|
Post by MP on Mar 13, 2022 23:14:36 GMT -6
By the time the call was made, Sohl was already waiting for them at the bunker. The place showed signs of recent tidying, old food removed and some cursory dusting, but the smell of neglect still permeated the air. It was likely the most activity the place had seen in some time.
Sohl was standing over an assortment of maps, some topographic, some building plans, and some drawn in his own hand. All shared the same red mark at the city's edge, but it didn't seem to please him. He was biting his lip in a way that marked a particularly difficult problem, and when the latch clicked, his gaze still had an absent cast as he glanced up.
|
|
|
|
Post by tsukikoko on Mar 14, 2022 3:51:26 GMT -6
Victoria's arrival was signalled first by the distant roar of a vehicle engine, muffled both by distance and the walls of the bunker. It ceased further away than one might expect, even taking into account said muffling, but the humanoid didn't wish to leave a vehicle right outside as an easy visual sign of current activity in the bunker.
Silence followed for a fair long while after the engine was cut, but once the latch clicked and she ducked her way inside, the reason for her delay was rather apparent; the muscular legs and torso of Viktoria's frame were clad in heavy, dark armour plating, the construction of which matched no current military issue, or any other organisation, for that matter. The legs alone added an extra foot or so to the feline's height, more akin to her stepping inside a suit of futuristic power armour than simply wearing ballistics protection.
Which, really, wasn't far from the truth.
While she couldn't replicate her old battle armour exactly - for the materials just simply didn't exist yet - the feline had called in various acquisition favours and made grateful use of her cabin-mate's fiery abilities to graft something remarkably similar. It had been her project since the Atol crisis became known to her, expedited after Koji and Sjira's attacks; an endoskeleton frame, with powered units to increase her strength and stamina running throughout, finished with dark alloy plates.
The Terrine was kitting herself for war.
To save power, Viktoria hadn't activated the energy source of her armour (which might also explain why she wasn't wearing all the pieces), so there was no dampening as she stepped heavily into the room, tipping her head slightly.
"Hallo Sohl. Vas fast as could be."
|
|
|
|
Post by Salandis on Mar 15, 2022 0:31:39 GMT -6
Raine made his way into the main room from the deeper levels, where a connecting tunnel had been carefully dug some time ago. He looked uncharacteristically grim, with circles under his eyes and a notable absence of any alcoholic beverage to hand.
He had also clearly raided his display rooms, as he was wearing an old, knee-length brigandine coat over a quilted doublet, armored boots and vambraces. The sword belt featured an old spartha short sword, on which also hung a helmet and neckguard, and opposite that was a coiled whip. He hadn’t worn them in a very long time, but he had ensured they were cared for… and they still fit perfectly.
He stopped dead as he walked in and saw Viktoria. He was rather forcibly reminded that she was a space marine, and that even this armour would be a primitive second to what she was used to. Even so, it looked somewhat like she was wrapped in a light battle tank. “That’s… impressive. Ah would say ah hope we don’t need it, but well we might.” He firmly suppressed the urge to ask more, and if one could be made his size, since undoubtedly it would be powered and that always caused problems.
Instead he stepped around to the maps that had been laid out over the main table and looked at Sohl. “Thank you fer the call. What have ye found?”
|
|
|
|
Post by MP on Mar 17, 2022 19:32:57 GMT -6
Sohl offered them both a small smile of welcome, noting the signs of Raine's fatigue. That was an look that seemed to have worked its way into every face. Raine, Father, the medical staff - nearly everyone these days except Viktoria, still as solid and immovable as always. Privately, he wondered if she would have betrayed some exhaustion with more human features. Probably not.
"He's back to guarding the shoe factory on Windon," he said, wasting no time. "They've had him going between that and Castor maybe three times a week. Transporting supplies, furniture, gemstones, I think. But the scent changed two days ago. They're always on rotation, but I smelled the same group this morning. Viktoria -"
He slid several plastic bag across the table, carefully sealed and utterly spotless except for the interior. Some had careful clipping of grass, broad and unblemished, the better to hold the scent. Others had bits of discarded wrappers, napkins, things a person might discard after a meal. Sohl had evidently not hesitated to check the trash.
"I brought samples again. You'd know better than me. But I haven't smelled the first or third shifts, at Castor or the walk over. And I've been watching for 48 hours now."
The number was important to earth humans. They ran their schedules around it. They traveled. They slept. Sohl had kept careful watch over the Soundless bases, surveying the place from impossible heights, beyond scent or human notice. These Soundless didn't travel long distances by car or boat, and there was no telling if they'd really left, or when they'd be back. Sohl glanced down at the maps, his eyes as keen as a circling hawk's.
"They haven't come out. I haven't seen a hair of them. They've either gone, or they're busy with something inside. There's fewer with Marchelute when he moves to Castor, and I think we have a chance."
His eyes flickered between them. They had more experience between them. They would recognize an opportunity or they would see dangers he hadn't. Sohl's voice was slightly apologetic.
"I don't know how long they're gone for, and I couldn't get inside to check." He didn't have the knack of Father's commands, or his brazenness. "But they try to avoid open disturbances, so if we hold them up for long - I thought I should tell you now."
Before their window closed. Already, Sohl worried he had waited too long, wasted a potential chance. It was such a fine line, between being certain and being late.
|
|
|
|
Post by tsukikoko on Mar 18, 2022 2:55:24 GMT -6
After Raine entered, Viktoria gave the man a light double pat on the shoulder, before turning her attention to Sohl, all military-business.
When the packets were handed to her, the feline carefully unsealed each one close to her flared nostrils, allowing each confined scent mix to hit her as potently as possible. One ear cocked to the side at one packet in particular - a candy wrapper, no less - and she spent a little longer investigating it than the others. In the past, she'd done this to be certain of a scent, knowing how important each piece of information could be to their success. A moment later, she gave a short, sharp nod,
"Da. Iz same. Not even ozerr group trrrace."
The feline's attention moved then to Sohl's maps, one scarred hand reaching out to tap carefully tap a location with one claw - her fingers, evidently, were a little too broad for where she wished to point out. The speed and accuracy with which she moved to the spot were unspoken proof of how many hours she'd pored over each document, tracing topography and planning ambush locations... both for themselves and where the enemy may hide.
"Zis best to strrrike."
The area she pointed out was a natural rise in terrain, converted into a tunnel at some point to allow vehicle access without a long diversion around, only to be abandoned (or perhaps privately 'acquired') somewhere down the line. A brief section, it was the most sheltered spot along the route and previous scouting of the area, via Sohl's aerial abilities and her own long distance scopes, had shown just how little eyes on the outside could see in. The Terrine herself had risked a trip on foot under the cover of darkness and a fierce storm, the better to destroy her scent, in order to ensure no hidden doors or trap points had been created inside the tunnel, but there really was nowhere. As an added bonus, the thick walls of the tunnel, coupled with dirt and hillside above, blocked nearly all signal from phones or other devices.
"Iz blocking seen frrrom outside orrr sky, hyave beforrre checked inside, no place forr Soundless ambush. Orrr ah- quick rrrreinforcement. Electronic and rrradio signals mostly iz blocked. Iz also prrrevent flying frrrom Marrrch-e..lute."
From her direct jump into tactics, it seemed Viktoria also thought this to be their best opportunity, though she did pull away from the map to cross her arms in serious thought, after.
"But I am zinking iz likely grrroup know arrre, ah- vulnerrrable. Iz best time to attack, but ve should larrrge rrresistance expect." The scarred humanoid tapped her armour. "I am built forrr firrrearrrms combat, ah, prrrotection. But zis grrroup iz also, ah- magic hyaving, da?"
Now she looked to Raine and Sohl, knowing her own knowledge of the supernatural, magic or otherwise, was much more limited.
|
|
|
|
Post by Salandis on Mar 18, 2022 19:20:02 GMT -6
“Magic, yeh can leave some of to me,” Raine said. “Assuming ah can keep up with you, that is. Magic directed at me generally won’t work, but magic directed near me, at around a 2 meter range, won’t work as well. Unless ah get shot.” He smiled, “Try not to let me get shot.”
He touched the maps, trying to visualize the tunnel and terrain internally. “Ah’ve been told there are spacial distortions present in some of these places.” He said, glancing at the factory. “I cannae predict how ah will react, or the area around me. It may be ah align with the warped space, but also ah may behave as though it isn’t there. Worse, if ah get close to whatever is generating the warp it’s even possible the effect will collapse.” He grimaced, rubbing his nose. “Ah have'nae done a lot of experimenting, and usually keep my dampening aura to mah skin. Obviously ah will'nae be doing that in an assault. If it’s all the same ah'd rather nae go in and find out the hard way.”
He looked over the tunnel site again. “Much easier to hit between runs, and if they're forced to keep schedule then they’ll probably be undermanned on the move.” He looked up at Victoria and went on, “Ah will need to stay as close as ah can on yeh six to give yeh as much protection from magic as possible. Fer a quick ambush, that should hopefully be enough.”
|
|
|
|
Post by MP on Mar 19, 2022 2:42:46 GMT -6
"I can help with the magic."
Sohl smiled, and the expression was uncannily like his father's.
"Koji's been teaching me about etheric energy and how it channels to magic. I can't use it myself, but I can cut them off from ambient energy sources if you keep their attention off me. Maybe..."
He thought about it. Sohl wanted to promise more, but he'd never practiced the trick in a life or death scenario. It wouldn't be safe to over-estimate.
"Maybe one or two mages at a time. I'll focus on ones who look like they're channeling something big, or trying to call for help. I can't stop the ones using internal energy or catalysts, though. We'd have to destroy those if we see them."
He looked to Raine.
"I can try to stabilize the area for you too. It would mean I'd have to stay back or out of sight, though. I can't focus on fighting and still manage it."
|
|
|
|
Post by tsukikoko on Mar 21, 2022 8:48:03 GMT -6
As she listened to her two companions, Viktoria nodded. While she didn't understand the intricacies of magic, how it could be combatted, or these 'etheric energies' Sohl mentioned, she did understand the need for him to concentrate and remain untargeted. She was grateful, too, for Raine's assertion that he would be close to back her up, which would allow the feline to focus on the type of physical combat she was good at.
"Iz best, I am zinking, if you arrre staying back, Sohl. Vould be dangerrrous to mission, if Rrraine iz by distorrrtions affected." The humanoid's lips peeled back in what might have been the equivalent of a smile. "I can be, ah, most attention drrrawing. Make biggest tarrrget for bullets." As she spoke, Viktoria raised on hand, her claws extending. "Hyave, ah- acquirrred rrrecently ability. Should help."
To demonstrate, the humanoid abruptly sliced open the skin of her own arm with her claws. Only a few seconds later, the wounds knitted themselves back together, leaving no trace aside from a stain of red, that she soon wiped away. Certainly, the power she'd gained in the factory had been a very useful one.
"Vhen next rrun iz?" Her gaze slid back to Sohl, knowing he'd been keeping the closest eye on schedules. "Ve do not vant to vait. Ozerrr grrroups arre, ah- rrreturrrn likely, da?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Salandis on Mar 23, 2022 23:50:18 GMT -6
Raine nodded, and then tapped the maps again, tunnel and factory, tunnel and factory. Finally he straightened. “I like the tunnel. I dinnae ken we can afford them reinforcing before they move.” He looked at his allies. “The defenses are light now – we should strike now, and the window be closing.”
He tapped the factory again with emphasis. “We know his guard is reduced and hasn’t been changed. Sohl, if yeh can stabilize this space warp around us then it’s worth striking the factory hard and fast while they’re weak. We get in, we disable the lightened defenses, we get Marchelute and we get out.” He swallowed hard a moment, and then went on. “We can recon and reassess when we get there and relocate ta the tunnel if it has changed. But we need ta move, and move fast.”
|
|
|
|
Post by MP on Mar 28, 2022 23:17:00 GMT -6
Readying the saddle was a matter of minutes. But the flight felt like hours. Sohl's vents strained against the weight of his riders - rocks, the both of them - and diving to regain momentum was always dangerously close to a plummet. He'd developed a permanent ache at the base of his neck by the time they reached the target, and Sohl had to flatten his mane completely to prevent a belly flop.
He recovered, slowing to a glide through the upper canopy, nostrils flared for scents of the patrol. They'd come down among a wooded stretch just north of the freeway. Remote and sheltered enough to screen them from watchful eyes, close enough to make it to the tunnel in one light jog. On human feet, even. Oh, it would be good to be human again, and riderless. As soon as they were sure of their approach.
The tiercel's eyes were wide and alert as they wound their way closer, moving between unseen patches of air. It wasn't about control, Father said. It was about guiding. Borrowing. Convincing like realities to come together. Stability was the natural desire of reality, and this place wasn't as bad as some. He could hold this together. Only -
Only, he must be doing something wrong. There must be some disconnect he hadn't seen. There was no scent of brimstone at all - and who could miss that scent?
One black-tipped ear angled back toward Viktoria in unspoken question. Sohl turned his nose to the wind and began to coast forward, diagonally left, then right, letting her catch as many scents as she could. Why was there no scent? Of brimstone. Of anyone.
|
|
|
|
Post by tsukikoko on Apr 1, 2022 0:58:52 GMT -6
Viktoria's nostrils flared, the huge ears atop her head swivelling, just as a cat's might, to catch every wayward sound or scent in the vicinity. It could be a case of reality's... oddity, of late. But, no; a songbird there, the tentative hop and scent of a rabbit here, insects and the warm smell of dirt abound. Nothing was wrong with scent, there was just none of Marchelute's to be found. To say nothing of prey animals in the area, that surely meant...
"Iz not herrre." The feline said simply, her bright green eyes turned towards where the patrol should have come. Where the space between her shoulder blades should have prickled with the build of approaching combat, there was nothing. "Somezing hyas changed."
Now her gaze pivoted between Raine and Sohl, looking for signs of epiphany between the pair as she asked,
"Hyave ve ozerrr interrrest points? He iz firrrst defending, ah- factorrry, place I beforrre hyave been. Hyad Soundless girrrl inside. Could rrre-rrroute hyave occurred?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Salandis on Apr 8, 2022 17:23:33 GMT -6
Raine’s ears were still ringing slightly. Flying in the open air was something he had never thought to do again, and it seemed faster then – had it been 80 years already? But they had slowed to a glide, gently drifting near the earth, and Raine was grimly turning his mind to the conflict ahead.
“Iz not Herre.” He heard, and he shook his head to help clear his ears. "Could he have already gotten to the factory?" He tried not to shout, aware his hearing was the least acute of the group, but he hoped he was loud enough to be heard. “Could he be still travelling?" He thought a moment, trying to ignore the sinking feeling of an opportunity missed. "Can we tell which way he might have left?"
He tried to not sound concerned. His companions were excellent trackers, surely finding where he went would be easy - the trick would be getting ahead. The tunnel came to mind, but it would only be helpful if it was the right way…
|
|
|
|
Post by MP on Apr 17, 2022 1:36:50 GMT -6
Sohl remembered the factory all too well. But to sneak the corrupted thing that Marchelute had become into the heart of the city, without their knowing? Sohl turned his nose back toward the factory, struggling skyward again. If Marchelute hadn't been this way today, then he must still be at his post. Vehicles left sour trails he could scent and taste. Magic took manpower, and that left scents. Between the two of them, they knew most of the Soundless here by Viktoria's nose and Sohl's long distance vision, enough to know transportation wasn't so quietly managed.
His hearts thrummed quietly as they flew, the air rushing through his gently parted jaws. If he had waited too long to call Raine and Viktoria - if they'd missed their window, or alerted the Soundless, or any number of mistakes - but no. Sohl's pupils teetered. There was the hint of a familiar scent.
The smell hung around the factory like a fog. Marchelute hadn't left this morning. Hanging high above the factory, a contrail-thin silhouette amid the clouds, Sohl angled an eye back toward his passengers, ears pinning back. Something was different. Something was off. Why wasn't the ifrit and his guard with the shipments? Why were they gathering now?
The Soundless seemed restless. Some loitered at their posts like nervous deer, and the sight made Sohl ease further into the cloudbank for safe measure. Through the windows, he could see figures coming and going. Speaking, though his ears could pick up nothing from this distance. They were waiting for something, he was certain. Not on alert, but near to it. It reminded him of a shambler, ready to draw back into its shell.
After what seemed like an age, the patrol hurried out. There was Marchelute, or what was left of him. And there were his guards, rushing into their vehicles, urging the ifrit along. Sohl eased forward without prompting, following the contingent as it moved out - not towards the usual mountain road, but towards the coast. This had never been part of the routine.
Yellow eyes followed the road as far as he could see, to the jagged horizon of buildings and the distant blue of the sea. He couldn't understand what they were doing. Nor was he certain what to do. None of their planning had accounted for this. One ear angled back toward his riders in silent question.
|
|
|
|
Post by tsukikoko on Apr 28, 2022 7:25:13 GMT -6
Viktoria's muzzle turned to the wind, ears forward and gaze fixed on the activity below. Her jaws parted slightly. There was an instinct, unspoken sense, a knowing, pulsing in her chest and digging between her shoulder blades. A trill of excitement lanced through her nerves, unbidden.
This, she recognised. This, above near all else, she knew.
"Zhey prrreparre forr varrr."
Now the feline scanned the convoy's upcoming route, a silent timer ticking down in her head as she caught sight of the distant buildings. If they drew closer to civilisation, or the open coast, the chances of a successful, uninterrupted mission dwindled significantly. But they still had a few miles of patchy, forested wilderness ahead. There was still a chance.
"Get ahead Sohl. In trrreeline, drrrop me. Out of sight keep. I vill block rrroad. Cannot lose zis chance." Viktoria's fingertips brushed against where her monoknife was holstered, but she didn't yet draw it. One emerald eye glanced back at Raine, her pupils notably swollen with building excitement. "You arrre rready forrr battle, Rrrraine?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Salandis on May 20, 2022 4:16:59 GMT -6
Raine made out the blurred vehicles below, blinking away tears. It was the convoy, as described, but going the wrong way. At least two of… some kind of vehicle, damn this airspeed. Worse than the rickety biplanes of the great war. Several men attending each thing, and more yelling at the twisted creature those bastards had made of Marchelute. But something about the way they moved, the pitch of their voices as it carried in the wind…
‘Zhey prrreparre for varrr,” Viktoria said, and Raine bared his own teeth. “Aye, someone’s thrown a spanner in the works, right enough.” They were going the wrong way and all worked up, something must have gone very wrong somewhere.
But Viktoria was already issuing commands to be dropped in front of the convoy. Raine felt his heart start to race and embraced the adrenaline surge. “Ready for battle, Viktoria,” he grinned. “Drop me behind them afterwards, Sohl. Vik will bunch them up, aye, and I’ll break their back.”
|
|
