"Are you telling me that Recover-all Co, The data recovery company has put its money and time in to branding us all as unwanted?!" - An Unnamed Commander for the Hell-hounds PMC yelling at his higher ups.
-June 7th, 2053
"Of course you do.. So tell me Fen, what exactly would this plan entail?" I asked leaning over the edge and firing down in to the large mass of Antithesis that's trying to find their way in to the casino across the street. Only to see quite a few car sized bears come around a corner they are absolutely covered in black quills with a layer of green below them. They rush pulling quills out and tossing them at the defenders. "Is that a-.."
Yes that is a model 5 as said before don't get hit by them or at least wait until you have a few points saved up for patching up. Oh And not to alarm you too much, but your friends on the other side are getting hit.
"Fuck that!" I said as I aimed for the closest and am just about to pull the trigger as the Model 5 gets cut down by a hail of bullets from the casinos upper floor. Seems like they hated that just as much as I would have, I thought quickly aiming for one of the one furthest away and firing hitting it once causing it to stagger, but it kept moving. I fire again this time it went down during this time the thrid one got cut down much like the first. Aiming for the last of the Fives I fire only for it to get hit by the people across the street making it hard to say whom of us got it.I will reward you partial points for that one. As it seems only fair. Now the big Boom or.. Rather the loud and heavy plan as is the perfect name for it. You will need to get the Class I Esoteric one-time use Explosives. And then head down toss out a few Class I resonators. Its a type of grenade that creates a sound resonance, that inturn breaks down the target they are programmed for instead of going boom. Not as fun those but still useful. Alongside those you will need something like MK I Gravity shaker. Those are fun little thing that Pulls everything towards it in heavy pulls in quick pulses making it quite impossible to pass them for anything in the single digits with the execption of a model Six they can power through it but are usually slowed down a bit instead of face-planting the ground with every quick pulse.
I kept shooting as Fenris spoke picking off targets every now and then and before long I ducked down behind the wall. The ammo counter in the corner of my eye was reading 20 rounds left "That sounds good and all. So I toss them out somewhat evenly and what Just sprint using them like a.. wall?" I asked before glancing over the edge again at the mass of dead antithesis in front of the casino. "And how many of these thing are there down here? I mean there is almost a wall of dead over there."
Antithesis swarms like this one can be quite large and they at this point might have more then one hive spawning in more of their numbers. The defensive line down there is a losing battle. And the more that get killed the more of them will come running. At least until the killing of them out does the hive production capability.
"In other words quite similar as they did teach this in school.. I think I will admit that I wasn't paying attention then" I said as I ran out of ammo sitting down to take a deep breath "I need a reload"
You currently got 446 points. That would be enough to start the plan and still have some left over. Shall we start with the making things almost going boom?
And new purchase:
-One magazine of Laser guided 4.2MM AP rounds -25 points
Points remaining: 421
I grab the new magazine as I fiddle with the old one after a few attempts managing to remove it and slot in the new one before slamming it down and in with a click. “Why does this one have to be so complicated to reload. And yes Fen lets do it. And hope I don't get eaten or shot.. Or both.” I said before standing up and starting to move towards the stairs.
I could reload it for you if you asked. It would be quicker. And
Unlocking Esoteric single-use explosives – 50 points
Stopping before heading down. “Fen how.. Am I to carry all the grenades needed for this? Its not like I got many pockets and I think they need to be easy to reach.”
I could offer you a bag catalog. They are really good bags some could even be armored! Just an other 50 points.
I laugh softly as I slowly push the door open to the stairwell only for a tentacle to streak out and miss my head, the strike landing just under the shoulder-pad of the armored trench coat tossing me backwards back in to the room with a surprised yell of pain “Argg,, Wha-” As I speak a model four drops down from the ceiling and pushes the door fully open. In a panicked move I move the rifle to aim pulling the trigger five times the three first shots hitting the wall one hitting the model were its shoulder should be. The final round going hitting something vital as if falls down flailing a bit.
“Fuck! What was that?! Damn that hurts. I think that I need one of those Nano things again.”
I told you didn't I? Model 4's likes to lay in ambush. And
New purchase
1 x Class I Nano-Regenerative Suite -20 points
I move one hand to grab the box that appears just to grab the inhaler and taking a deep breath before pulling myself to sit against a wall. “I hope these things aren't addictive in some way other then helping you recover from wounds. And Fen.. Wasn't this thing suppose to stop those?”
They are quite safe to use in that regard. And the armored plates will but it seems that it managed to hit just below it as there is a gap there. But nothing vital got hit and you will be up and running again soon. But now that you are a bit safe perhaps we should talk a bit about a plan of action?
“Fuuck..” I said moving my legs to sit in a way that I can rest my rifle against one of them pointing towards the door. “That.. Might be a good idea. Damn I'm starting to get tired though feels like an entire day has passed.” I said before shaking my head. “So the idea. Is run over there.. And try to get out? Oh and I want bag catalog of yours”
Understood. Unlocking Class I adaptive combat bags -50 points
New total: 301 points
As for whats next you might want to arm your friends with better weapons and see if you can't break the line. Retreating back to a more secure location is a good start. If possible you should look in too some defensive catalogs to once in a good location. This isn't a perfect plan but it will increase your chance of survival and that of your friends.
Nodding slowly before getting up. “I guess that I will have to make the rest of the plan over there with them then. Get me a suitable bag you pick what kind I.. I trust you Fen.” I'd say as I moved to the door and looked inside nothing there then slowly walking down the stairs rifle ready.
Oh I get to pick! Sadly no boom in this one but..
New purchase.
Class I Lynx-corps Grenadier shoulder bag. (Armored) -20
New total: 281 points
As I walked a dark shoulder bag with a glowing white skeletal smile appeared around my shoulder. The shoulder-strap glowing a soft white and pulsing with a soft cyan in a similar way to the mask. As I look down I can see that the bag has got gray mesh openings that will allow me to reach in to different compartments to get grenades easily without the risk of them spilling out from movement.
“Fen.. is there more to this bag or is it just expensive?” I'd ask as I stopped by the door at the bottom of the stair taking a deep breath and reaching for the handle.
Evan wait. You need to get the grenades before we head out and to answer your question, there is more to the bag. It can prepare the timers of the grenades from your augs and keeps them from moving around as you move. And it will push the grenades up towards the top so that its always the same length of draw to get one.
I stopped and turned to lean my back against the wall sighing “So it is a really useful bag for someone and not to steal your word. Likes things to go boom..” Laughing for myself a moment. “You really want me to use explosives that much? And grenades. How many will I need?”
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Yes! Please please please! The more boom the better if you ask me. But anyway you will need to refill it as you run. I can handle that part just give me the green light to buy things when they run out for this run. Now as you might have seen there are four different compartments in the bag. Each can hold up to five standard size grenades. More for smaller and larger can make it so that less compartments can be used. Now for this run I recommend that you get five resonators and five gravity shakers. As you run you will want to toss one gravity shaker for every second resonator. I will also note that the resonators will cost two points more then normal as they will need to stick to the ground as not to be moved around by the shakers. Shall I get the grenades?
“Go for it and yes keep me from running out until I get a cross.” Taking deep breath I open the messaging feature on my augs.
Evan: Tell the people over there to not shoot the blurry thing that's running towards them. I'd really hate to get shot.
Jack: Got it.
Looking at the replay I blink slowly “Must be really busy if he didn't question that one..”
New purchases:
5x Class I resonator MK I – S “Sticky” -35 points
5x Class I MK I Gravity shaker – 25 points
new total: 221 points
With that the shoulder bag got pulled down a bit as it got a fair bit heavier. Looking down I now see two grenades one looking like a round ball with a button on top the other looking more like a cylinder with a glowing band of cyan and small grinning specters floating around it. “Fen.. Why does it look like that?”
I have no idea what you are talking about. Don't stop no matter what and keep tossing them. If worst comes to worst you will have to use your rifle. Oh and if you look at the shoulder strap you will find a hook for your rifle close to the bag itself. Use it.
Looking down I do find a small black hook a just a tiny bit above the bag itself. Looking at my rifle I notice that at the back right before the start of the stock there are some wider openings likely for some kind of weapon sling or such. Taking out one resonator as I grip the door handle, “here goes nothing..” I said pulling the door open rifle held in one hand ready to pull it up in case of trouble. Nothing on the other side of the door as I move towards the open doorway leading in to the backed square.
Pressing down on the button before tossing the grenade a short bit a head of me half way through the air it starts letting out the most horrible wailing sound drawing the attention of more then a few Antithesis models and they charge in only to start to fall a part legs crumbling just before they can get through. And I sprint with all I got. Tossing the second one and the first of the shakers. Once the shaker lands the it starts to work a soft whomp could be heard every half second and with each of those an almost eerie cyan glow pulses out lighting up the area around it drawing,even more attention. I see a model 4 run in to the zone and sending its tentacle out towards me only for it and its tentacle to get slammed in to the ground along with an other whomp. I keep running reaching down and grabbing grenades to throw them and only fumbling twice. About half way I run out of grenades only for the bag to be refilled, the sudden change in weight causes me to stumble forward a bit just as a quill hits my shoulder-pad cracking it. I glance to the side only to see a model 5 preparing an other spike as its head explodes from a shot up a head.
As I get closer to the casino I see that one of the broken windows is empty so I dive through it only to hear a started cry and someone yelling “Wha--.. Aaaggh ghost?!” Before hearing a blast and feeling myself getting thrown back hood falling back from my head canceling the fuzzy effect. “Ouch...” I say slowly as I rub over the plate thats covering my chest.
Looking up I see a man in a fine suit clearly not someone from the undercity holding a shotgun its barrel having been sawed off just at the end of the wooden hand-rest as Bill had just run over and pushed the barrel away from me. Bill glaring at the man“We were told -NOT- To fire at the blurry figure. What part of Not is it that you rich fuck don't understand?!” He roared at him.
Jack PoV
Having just spotted a group of model 5's as Evan sent his message about not shooting something blurry moving towards them. He'd sent a quick reply before speaking up loud enough for it to carry. “If you see something blurry running towards us don't shoot it!” Hearing Bill repeat it down stairs. Picking off the fives one by one when suddenly a most horrible wailing sound came from the other side of the street looking towards I could see a blur moving towards us objects flying away from it and Antithesis melting as they ran towards it. Just as I was about to start scanning for high value targets again I saw an other object land and emit a pulsing eerie cyan glow as a model 4 ran in to it and got pulled to the ground. And then I saw it a model 5 tossing quill towards the blur I snap my rifle to it and fire looking back I see the figure. It had to be a person or something at least sprinting towards one of the windows down below.
Turning back to keep shooting as I hear the shriek from below followed by Bills roar. I quickly turn and run to the stairs motioning for one of the gang's casino guards to take my place at the window. Stopping just below the stairs I see something strange, Bill holding the barrel of a sawed off shotgun that a young man in a fine suit is holding. Clearly one of the guests from up above that was here for an 'adventure' In the undercity, and on the floor leaning against the wall I see Evan. Wearing a dark trench-coat that was glowing along the hem and pulsing that very same cyan colour I had seen those objects give off. He was rubbing his chest as he looked towards the man. The mask Evan was wearing having a glowing skeletal grin edges of which pulsed in that same cyan. “Evan? What..” Looking to the rifle that was attached to a bag in the same dark colour and the grenades peeking out of said bag I couldn't help but grin. “Oh Don't tell me that you got sam'd boy” Before laughing as Evan just nodded in response.
This caused some of the people reloading magazines to look over towards me. I then calmed myself with a grin as I spoke up “Hound's! Attention!” I called out and five of the people reloading went stiff before pushing their feet together looking at me. Other gang members also stopped and looked over. Three of the people shooting out the window did get quite stiff backed at the command but they kept shooting. “We might be able to get out of this alive after all boys and girls. I said as I motioned towards Evan. Bill having let go of the now quite pale upper class idiot and having turned towards me. “That we might whats your orders Sarge?” Bill asked and I grinned. “Well first get him a chair to sit on and lets talk.”
Evan PoV
Turning my head as I heard Jack speak I raised an eyebrow and in my mask I turned my auig to mute. “Hounds? Any idea what that is about” I asked Fen.
From what I can see some of the people that reacted to his words got the insignia of the old Hell-hounds PMC tattooed to their arms. My best guess is that they are former members of that unit. It was disbanded a few years back most former members leaving the area.
I gave the smallest of nods to Fen as Bill reached me and offered me his hand I grabbed it and pulled myself up. Before following the man to a chair by one of blackjack tables. Looking around the room it was quite large having all kinds of casino games and a stage in the back. Around the stage were a lot of people huddled together. Then Jack and a man I had not met before came over to me. He was taller then I was by about a head with short black hair brown eyes and an olive skin colour clearly fit. His face having some lines of age showing around the mouth. “So you must be Evan. Name's Roberto head of the casino security” The Hispanic man said with an easy grin as he reached out his hand. I took it. “Nice to meet you” I said releasing his hand to pull my mask down. “You really did end up becoming a Samurai did you? When?” Jack asked as he looked at me with a mixture of concern and a glimmer of hope
I spoke with a nod. “It was when the wall exploded.. back in the alley..” Moving my leg a bit at the memory before shaking my head. “But that's not too important we need a plan to get to the pit or anywhere with a wall I'd say.” Jack just nodded. “We do but I'm not sure we have the guns to do it. Or the manpower even if we had guns for them. I don't want to arm most of the people here. Quite a few of them.. owe us a fair bit of credits after all. Too risky” He shock his head. I frowned at that for a moment then looked between them. “I might be able to help a bit with that.. Might be able to afford a few rifles and some of those grenades I used to get over here. We could use that to push out and move towards the Pit. It isn't that far after all.”
Speaking of buying things. I recommend you get some MK 1 Distortion grenades! They are so much fun I promise. But now you did kill a few antithesis on the way over and was still doing so until just a moment ago with the last shaker. So!
Enemies eliminated
38 (11 Assist) x model 3 = 325 points gained
8 (4 Assists) x model 4 = 90 points gained
Grenade refill.
5x Class I resonator MK I – S “Sticky” -35 points
2x Class I MK I Gravity shaker – 10 points
New total:531 points
Blinking slowly then shaking my head speaking out loud “Fen.. What on earth is a MK 1 Distortion grenade?” Earning me a few looks from people around us. As Jack and Roberto just chuckled. “And how many do we have that we can arm?” I asked Jack and Roberto the latter nodded and spoke. “I have eight guards here. And we also got twelve more members that came in from the street along with Jacks team so twenty five myself included.” He said before tapping his cheek. “I guess we could arm some of the people working for us here too. That would be an other six”
“So thirty one people I'm not sure I could arm that many. But the guards and Jacks team will be possible. I think.. Fen?”
Yes you should be able to arm at least those thirteen and have some points over. I would recommend a simple Class I Combat Assault rifle. For 5 points each for the guards and Roberto. And then a Class I Self adjusting marksman's rifle for 10 points for David. The rifle adjusts the sight so that is always zeroed and comes with an integrated scope. Then an other Tunnel sweeper semi auto shotgun for 10 points for Bill. As for Martin. You do not have any melee weapons so I'd say going with a Heavy slugger pump action Shotgun for 10 points. The Heavy slugger shoots a quite large solid round. And lastly. For Jack I'd recommend a Roaring auto carbine MK.2 for 10 points a selective fire carbine that comes standard with a seventy-two round magazine. And ammo and spare mags for all of them It would come out to 137 points.
I looked looked across the table. “Roberto get your guards to come here and pick up a new rifle and some magazines.” I said with a smile standing up Roberto grinned before turning and walking away quickly. Jack looked to me and raised an eyebrow. “And not forgetting your old friends now are you?” He asked and I shock my head. “Oh no you will get weapons too.. Just a bit more personal ones. Have them drop by and I'll make sure to arm them.” Said then leaning back in the chair. “Fen go for it. Put the weapons and mags on the table for the guards. And the teams on the floor beside me.
No problem!New Purchases
9x Class I Combat Assault rifles = -45 points
1x Class I Self adjusting marksman's rifle = -10 points
1x Class I Tunnel sweeper semi auto shotgun = -10 points
1x Class I Heavy slugger pump action Shotgun = -10 points
1x Class I Roaring auto carbine MK.2 = -10 points
13x Assorted ammunition =-52 points
New total: 394 points
Half a second later nine simple looking short barreled rifles with curved magazines and fixed stocks integrated reflex sights black and gray with soft cyan streaks going through the pain appeared on the table along with a stack of four spare mags with each rifle. On the floor beside me boxes appeared and as I looked down one of them got highlighted in my augs
That one is for Jack
Jack took in a deep breath before shaking his head. “You really did get Sam'd not that I did doubt it nowhere else to get that gear down here while running around. Damn boy you got lucky.” I leaned down and flipped the lid open to reveal a rifle that looked like someone had taken a heavy machine-gun and scaled it down a bit. A thin short barrel that had what looked like cooling fins along it at a backwards angle leading to a hand-guard with a built in vertical grip. The receiver was quite slim leading back to a stock that looked like it had been taken off a heavy machine-gun, along with a standard grip. The magazine was a round drum oddly enough it didn't seem to have any sights. Leaning down to pick it, it was heavy and as I pulled it out of the box a red glow started just over the receiver tilting the weapon I saw it was a hologram of a sight. Then I looked over to Jack. “Not too sure about that boy thing anymore.” I said before handing him the quite heavy rifle. “Hopefully you can put this to good use though.”
He took the rifle and looked it over as I passed four spare mags over the table. “Oh but isn't this something.” He said taking the rifle and looking it over. Then looking back up to me. “And as for that. What should I call you?” He asked.
