RP: YSS Eucharis [Mission 12.3] Red Snow

Armundo stared at the enemy neko for a few more seconds before he sighed and looked back out the viewport " Maybe you can ." he said. He was a bit of a bleeding heart, esspecially when it came to females. He hated seeing them fighting tooth and nail, dying, getting maimed and injured, it was very depressing. Neplislian females were so rare, it was only natural for him to feel protective and saddened when they got hurt.

He turned over his shoulder to look at the prisoner again " Please...just do me a favor and behave yourself. I don't want to see anymore blood today." he said "If you're sweet, I'll make you something good when we get back to the ship.." he said, blinking " Well..." he added, remembering that he couldn't use either shoulder " I'll try at least." he said, wilting a bit, turning around in his chair and sighing, wondering when the Taisa would get back.

Sune had been keeping alert while listening to the discussion between Hanako and the NMX neko. When he spotted two parasites Sune was not sure if the Neko responsible for this or not, and at this point in time he did not care. Action was needed. he reacted to the immediate threat as quickly as possible multitasking as he did.

He launched himself into the path of the parasites, firing his forearm weapons at the parasites in sub-machine gun mode.

Telepathically he sent a message to Hanako, his sense of urgency causing him to not use his normal etiquette. "Hanako look out, two incoming parasites!"

Ramiro was starting to get worried. He figured the team would have been inside by now, and that they probably would have reported in. He paced the small length of the ship, thinking to himself. "What's taking so long?" He asked the prisoner, "We should have heard something by now." He went back to one of the systems and scanned the surrounding areas as best he could. I hope something bad hasn't happened to them. And if the Taisa get's hurt, it's goodbye to the prisoner...

Sune managed to bodyblock one of the two parasites, which hit his chestplate hard and bounched off with a hiss, wriggling as it fell before catching itself in midair using anti-gravity. His cannons hit the other, frying it but not stopping it. It slammed into Hanako's side as she tried to duck out of the way, the force of it knocking her sideways and into the stairway railing. Her NSP clattered to the ground as she frantically pulled the monster free of her body armor, revealing it had left a dent with a small hole. As she shoved it away it lifelessly flopped to the ground.

Meanwhile, the other parasite recovered and sped directly under Sune and headed for the Taisa.

Just then Frigg let out a shriek as a third parasite appeared from inside the complex and slammed into her from behind. She fell to the ground and blood splattered the walls as it began to burrow into her body.

Takeyu spun around, cursing himself for keeping his eye on the Neko in case she tried anything. His eyes followed the parasite that June had hit and was going after the Taisa, he spun around and opened fire on the parasite from the step he was on. Then he jumped down and in front of the Taisa, blocking the path of the parasite as he brought his rifle up and brought it down on the parasite when it got close - using his armor's systems to track it and then attack.

Meanwhile he deployed two drones to assist in the taking down of the parasite and the other that went up to Friggs and began to chip away at the parasite that was on her. He couldn't do anything really to help her, his concern, and only concern, was the Taisa.

Sune could not fire at the parasite streaking towards Hanako so he had to leave it in Takeyu's hands. However, the need to stop the arrival of more parasites was paramount.

Sune looked for the control mechanism for the door, meanwhile he sent a message to the others of the team.

Jalen-Chui to Away Team,
Situation has hit the fan. Seems the Mihhu became aware of the plan to infiltrate and liberate the Nekos. They are currently zombifying all the Nekos. Prepare for possible hostile action. Once we deal with the current problem here, we will make our way back to the Tank. Out.

Click to expand...

Spotting the door control Sune hit the close button. He could not afford to take his attention from the doorway to help Frigg, at least not until the door was closed and sealed.

Taking time to try to shoot at the parasite caused Takeyu's attempt to block it to be way too late. The monstrous creature slammed into Hanako's crotch to avoid her torso armor, and began trying to eat its way into her body.

When the thing hit her, Hanako let out a cry of pain and began trying hold it back. In response it bit off her thumbs and ate them. Finally Takeyu's rifle shot a huge hole through it's head and it fell to the ground, dead.

Meanwhile, Sune caught a glimpse of a crab-type Mishhuvurthyar on the other side of the doorway just as it shut.

Meanwhile, Frigg coughed up blood as the parasite entered her body most of the way, squirming furiously as it hurried to get in and take control. "Get...it...oucccckkk."

"Nayacesen, we have a disable this door, there is a crab-type Mishhu on the other side. I will tend to the NMX Neko, we need to get out of here fast because I am certain it has company." He called out as he reached into his butt pack and pulled out his medical kit. He opened it and reached in and pulled out the laser scalpel.

Sune turned to face Frigg and grabbed the parasite as tightly as his armor clad hand could and pulled to keep it from getting further in. Then he switched on the scalpel with his left hand and; he then proceeded to use it to kill the parasite by driving it through the creature and into its brain. It was crude, but effective, and there was not time to do it kinder.

"Taisa's armor has been punched sir," commented Takeyu worriedly as he glanced at the Taisa's armor then scowled at his own weakness. He then spun his rifle around and placed one additional shot into the parasites just to make certain they were dead.

He wanted to check the Taisa's armor, but knew that if that Mishhu got through the door they'd have more problems to deal with, he turned back around and quickly ran up to the mechanism.

Instead of just screwing with the mechanism, he pointed his rifle at it and blasted the controls then ignited his Aether Blade and jammed it into the seam between the door and the wall and began to wield it shut.

"Ma'am, please tell me that parasite didn't get anything into you..." he asked the Taisa telepathically.

Hanako rolled under stair railing just in time to avoid serious burns from Takeyu's activated aether blade and crashed into a frozen puddle down at the bottom of the cavern with a painful splat. As she lay there, she could feel the hot pain on her face like a sunburn and she could smell her hair slightly singed. The bloody wound between her legs stung badly and her bitten-off thumbs were an awful sight to see.

After a moment to recover she crawled around for her dropped pistol, feeling a little drowsy. "I think I took a minor dose of Mishhu sedatives," she said. "You need to think before you light that blade up. You almost set me on fire!"

Hanako found her pistol and carefully managed to put in back in her holster using her remaining fingers on both hands. She then pulled off her gloves and tried to concentrate on healing her hand injuries.

"We have not captured the NMX cloning center data yet. Do you two have enough firepower to take out that crab?" she asked. "I would like to finish this mission."

Takeyu stopped his wield and checked it for a moment, then glanced down at the Taisa. He had been so concerned with making sure the crab didn't get to them, or open the door, he had neglected the presence of his superior officer and mentally bashed himself for being so stupid again, for the second time in less than a few minutes. Yea, when we get back to the Eucharis, think I'll ask the Chui to scan my brain.. maybe it got knocked around during the ambush.

"My apologies Taisa, I wasn't thinking straight," was the best excuse he could use - and in fact - it wasn't entirely an excuse either since it was true. He could feel the adranaline pumping through his veins and took in a few deep breaths, tunnel vision.

"I believe so," he glanced over at Sune to see what the officer would say. He knew the forearm weapons may be enough to punch through the crab, but in preparation he switched his forearm weapon to submachine gun mode.

Sune considered the situation and Hanako's request. Proceeding with her goal was tantamount to suicide, they were under equipped, understaffed and she was not adequately protected.

"Ketsurui-Taisa, I strongly advise against proceeding as planned. While Nayacesen-Heisho and I can probably take down that Crab Mishhu. Our position has been compromised. More forces including parasites and most likely Rippers will be converging on our position. We already know two Mindy's are no match for Rippers. Further more we have no idea where the information center is, and our 'guide', has been injured as well.

There is also the threat to you, you are not in power armor and you were very nearly infected by a parasite. Proceeding forward would make your infection a surety. Which would give the enemy access to all your tactical and strategic knowledge. That constitutes an unacceptable risk to the Star Army and the Empire.

It is my recommendation that we abort. And call in an air strike on the facility. It would be nice to have that data, but the benefits do not outweigh the risk. "

Cavern

Hanako mulled over her options aloud. "We could teleport my armor in along with a couple of more crew members or we could try another entrance," she suggested. "But I think you are right, Sune. This facility is large and very hardened against orbital attack, but we have the luxury of being able sustain fire on it for some time. Our best option is to go back to Karina and get her to transmit us a map file so we can target the cloning center precisely. That would..."

BAM!

Hanako looked up. The doorway on the stairs was bulging outward.

BAM!

A Ripper armor's aether blade came through the door, and then ignited and went down through the lock. The enemy kicked open the door. There was quite the army on the other side.

"Back to the tank!" Hanako yelled, getting up and making a dash for cart on the rail platform.

- - -

Tank

Karina curled up in a ball in the corner of the tank's passenger area. "They're all gone," she sobbed. "My sisters..."

"Nayacesen-Heisho, you heard the lady, move out. We will use our Power Armors to provide her with what protection we can."

Sune scooped up Frigg with his left arm and slung her over his shoulder. He then activated his right forearm shield and set his weapon to Charge for beam mode and started moving behind Hanako. As he retreated the weapon indicated ready and he fired the beam at the head of the Ripper.

Takeyu didn't argue and jumped back from the door and kept pace with Sune and the Taisa. Using his left forearm he turned briefly toward the Ripper and let off a series of aetheric sub-machine shots at it before switching to his right and bringing up the forearm shield to protect the Taisa.

He then began to charge up the left forearm for a beam shot.

The Ripper power armor took several hits to the head and chest but it wasn't defeated. A second Ripper pushed it out of the way, ripping the doorframe out of the concrete, followed by three more and a swarm of parasites and bloody zombie nekos silhouetted in the light from the doorway.

Hanako was at the rail platform now, and she hit the first switch she found, which flooded the cave with light and made the NMX horde visible.

"Oh..." she said, rushing onto a large flat cart. The labels were written. in Trade. She pushed the throttle hard and fell back onto the cart platform as it took off. "Move out!" she yelled. As the cart rushed through the gorgeous crystal caves, Hanako could see parasites catching up to it. She leapt up, pulled out her pistol with her still-healing hands and braced herself against the railing and began picking them off. "I should have brought my sword," she said aloud.

Anyone that didn't follow Hanako would be caught in the horde and killed with extreme and unnecessary overkill. It was time to haul ass!

Sune accelerated can caught up with the cart. He launched his NSD's with instructions for them to engage the parasites. He then dropped Frigg into the cart to free his hand. Not wanting to take up too much space in the cart but not wanting to worry about keeping up with it. he straddled the side of the cart with one leg in and the other out and used the armors strength to hold him in place.

He switched his right forearm weapon to SMG mode and began spraying the incoming parasites. This so not good.... we can shoot them and they will just keep sending more. We need a way to seal the tunnel... wait...

With the passage way zipping by, Sune reached around and stuck his left arm into his back and withdrew the Light Armor Service Rifle w/SLAG attached.

"Taisa, this might be more effective against the parasites, its got a full load of SLEX grenades in it." He said extending the weapon to her while he kept his forearm shield deployed and a steady stream of deadly aether bolts zigzagging behind them.

Takeyu leapt up onto the cart, while still firing away at the Ripper - then switching targets to the parasites to join Sune in suppressing them. He gritted his teeth, keeping a close eye on the Taisa and Sune while also keeping up a steady stream of Aetheric fire on the enemy.

While it may have seemed like Helen was on some sort of vacation, she was not, she was doing her job watching the rear of the group, and with the retreat, the 'rear' of the group became the most important part to defend as her Kylie skimmed along the ground, and she brought her aether projectors to bare. "Taisa! Get down and stay down, I'm going to light them up... furthermore; if we all end up as zombies, before then, I want you to know I told you so." She spoke to the group as a whole, before she went about unleashing a pair of steady beams of aether into the following horde, followed by a pair of shots from her shoulder-cannon, aimed to the back of the group to disrupt their advance.

As Helen skimmed along the ground, Helen came to the firm conclusion that carrying on as they were was not going to end up well for them, then she glanced back to see Sune handing the launcher to Hanako. "Bringing the cave down won't do much good, they'll just mow right through the rock and ice unless we bring the whole thing down." Helen spoke her doubts, before she decided to make the situation come to a sharp conclusion. She unleashed a few more rounds from her shoulder cannon... oddly, aiming past the horde, and for beyond the door behind them all. After the confined aetheric explosions, she carefully targeted the last round in the magazine.

"Sune, Takeyu, move into line-of-sight between the Taisa and the location that my rail gun has targeted! Fire in the hole!" Helen instructed sharply, before she unleashed the last round in her magazine, a special-occasion round of sorts, a single antimatter round which she made sure to target beyond the door, and inside of the facility. Clearing the shot's path with an extended blast from her forearm projectors, she unleashed the round to follow the same trajectory as the aether which lead the way prior to the shot.

With the round in-air, Helen focused the CFS of her Kylie to greater improve protection to the forward section, weakening the cohesion of the universal distortion in the rear of the field, to better favor defending the group from the inevitable surge of heat from the blast that was to come, as well as keeping the oncoming horde from advancing as she skimmed the ground to continue the retreat.

Reika escorted the cart now carrying Hanako, facing back towards the incoming NMX horde. She let loose the full fury of her available firepower in her own attempts to slow the enemies pursuit.

When Klein announced 'fire in the hole', Reika instinctively moved between the cart and the NMX and activated her suits energy cloak. Abruptly Reika's vision went white as SAINT officer's special round detonated deeper in the facility. Hopefully her shield would provide sufficient energy protection against the heat and abundant gamma radiation that typically accompanied anti-matter explosions.