- RP Date
- YE 45
- RP Location
- Kessica Prime
OOC Note: @Ametheliana and @SchererSoban JP 
Kessica Prime
Planet Surface
Forward Command Center
Evening had descended on the northern region of Kessica's continent in a quick blink. A full moon lit the glittering freshly fallen snow around the hastily set up base. In the starport itself it was harder packed where battle had tread it down and the lights on the Yamataian and Uesureyan outpost modules warmly illuminated the odd armor part that had broken in the carnage.
The legion and its combatants had settled into a routine between their forward command post and the formerly Mushhuvurthyar starport that they had taken up residency of. Now, though, many of those that had seen battle during the day were resting or drawing up plans for the day ahead. It was below freezing but the barracks had been given heaters to keep the joint forces that were not in starships at the beechhead and in starships warm.
In the communications outpost Taiyou Hoshi was unarmored. Her blue and white hair was up in a ponytail and shone with some residual hemosynth that she had left in as a sort of gel to keep her hair plastered to her head. Though she had survived the battle, the captain had ordered the onsen of the Kaiyo be filled with hemosynth and had taken a quick soak to heal her wounds after battle. Now she gripped a nautical compass tightly in one hand second naturedly as she looked from her datapad readouts to a large unfurled map on the table in front of her.
Though there would be a lot of movement south, the commanders ––Hoshi included–– needed more information on the next installation that they would be striking. The captain looked up with an expectant smile as someone entered the communications tent, then her face fell and she looked back down.
"Expecting someone?" the operative, Effy, asked. She was a silvery-haired elf in with a field jacket over a shibui suit. Her bangs bounced over a woven golden circlet with a central blue gem, cresting eyes of the same color that narrowed at Hoshi. Though Effy had worked with the captain before, a gnawing jealousy seeped into the uneasy grimace she wore.
"Someone else," Hoshi said before her deep blue eyes lit as again the doors opened. "That someone!"
To the former ranger he was greeted by a familiar sight as he stepped into the hut. Seeing a familiar face so far away from home was a welcoming sight especially being his former commanding officer.
As he stood at attention he said, "Heisho Soban reported as ordered". Seeing an operative nearby he wasn't sure if he was interrupting "Ah sorry was I interrupting a private briefing Taisa?"
"Wouldn't have started without you," Hoshi said with a smile. "You two are going to scout the next enemy installation for us. Though there was enough satellite imagery on this starport to at least get our foot in the door, countersurveillance measures down south are built up a lot more. There are two cities and outposts between us and the enemy installation where forces will be positioned."
"But I want to know what's between this city and outpost in the center," Hoshi said, bringing her finger across the center of the continent so that she was pointing out the cities and the area between them. "If there's any changes in terrain, roads with bottlenecks, or anything that could be advantageous in blocking one from the other, I want to know."
Wulf was listening to the briefing intently. Just looking at the map he could see the goal and the plan looked right. Seems like intent was to avoid costly urban engagements and instead do a bypass and breakthrough but knowing what was there was key.
Pointing at the map "If we get inserted close to the mountain it should help protect us from sensors till we get on the ground". Using his finger to draw, "We could then make our way on foot and check out the defenses and the avenues of advance on the target". Smiling as he finished "Shouldn't be too bad unless we want to try a aquatic insertion via the lake here?"
"That will be a last resort," Hoshi said. "We have a lot of forces to move. That leads me to your secondary objective. We need to know what numbers our enemy possesses." The small pink Taisa breathed in heavily, weighted by the words she was about to say to her old crewmen. "I only started working with you again, so be careful. It'll likely be a difficult infiltration and you have quite the night ahead of you. But we need the numbers and your feet on the ground information badly."
Wulf could only smile at the prospect at the tough night ahead "No worries Taisa I'll get it done besides I always love the challenge". His smile not faded "Well if its going to be a long night we better get to work so there is no delays" Looking to the other operative "I assume your ready to go ?"
"Ready as ever," Effy nodded to him, then gave a curt bow to Hoshi.
"Have fun," Hoshi chimed to the otherwise quiet elf, then repeated to Wulf, "Be careful." The sides of her lips had stayed upturned in a smile, though, and she added, "I know you will be."
Mountainside
Drop Off Zone
"Lead us down," Effy said. With the shuttle that had taken them there overhead of the slope, now, she had turned to Wulf Soban expectantly. "You were on the Taisa's ship before, then?"
Wulf had been completing his pre-drop ritual rechecking his type 41 rifle. When Effy spoke up he was surprised at it had been a quiet ride. Looking up to her from the bench "Yup, served on the Kaiyo during the war". Smiling as he remembered his time on that lovely ship "Served as recon the element part of the crew". As he slapped the magazine back into his gun with his check complete. "I take it you also served with Taisha Hoshi as well?"
Blinking as she looked from Wulf's rifle to his face, Effy replied, "You can say I've helped her." Effy wanted to further distinguish the difference between serving under her, but held her tongue. He was obviously thinking of fond memories and it struck her that maybe there was more there than she had initially given the captain credit for.
"After you," Effy said as she stood, readying to leave with as she slung a backpack over both shoulders and double checked her SiZi on her thigh.
Wulf nodded at what Effy had replied. Guess it was a different type of relationship instead of the bond of crew. As the shuttled thudded down on the ground he quickly moved out into the clearing. Rifle raised and sweeping the area looking for any hostiles or other threats. Not seeing any immediate threats he gave the all clear. Looking quickly to his bracelet to reconfirm direction to the target area he quickly gave a quick hand signal for them to keep moving forward.
There was a breath of relief from Effy as they got off the shuttle and started trekking. The mountainside was more temperate than the northern region they had been in earlier for the briefing. These woods were full of the fresh smell of evergreens and the muskier ones of the damp vegetation beneath. The vibrant sights of which were fully illuminated in the moonlight. Everything was cast in a pale glow, spotlighted by the pale orb overhead.
After a few minutes, Effy spoke, "Hunters say the best nights to go out are nights like these with a full moon."
Wulf hadn't paused as he was always looking for threats as they moved forward. This was his element and he loved the fresh air. Hearing Effy spoke he was surprised by the Elf "Yeah nothing beats a hunt under moon light". As he gently moved passed a bush so not to make sound. Still worried about being spotted by anything he still kept his voice low "I take it your not a hunter then?"
"My family wanted other things for me. Xiulurians think the pen is mightier than the sword," Effy breathed in, a short hiss of sound as she chose the same footsteps that Wulf had made in front of her. "But I picked it up anyway. What about you?"
Wulf nodded along as he walked with Effy " No idea what the family wanted, was an orphan and put into a military orphanage at the capital". As he checked his bracelet one more time to make sure they were still on track he moved forward. Keeping up the conversation, "Not exactly a choice but keeps ya focused on many important things". As he stopped to hold a branch to let Effy slide past "Hard to beat that I think".
With a sidling motion past the branch and a gracious nod, Effy said, "That's very true. Never been a dull moment since I joined up. Keeps you sharp."
They had made it to the where the ground leveled out more substantially. The deer trails spread out before them in hard to spot lines amongst brush and grasslands. In the distance looked to be a paved road with something edging it, possibly a rail line. Nearby were the flickering grid-squares of city lights. To its left was the glittering reflection of light from the lake, partly obscured by the terrain between them and it.
Wulf paused as he looked out into the grasslands and the start of the city lights. This is where it was going to get interesting as though there was cover; this was the start of where it got dangerous.
Taking a knee at the trench line, he asked, "Do you see any patrols or anything we have to avoid on the way in?"
Effy booted up the enhanced visuals on her visor, scanning the area with thermals and infrared. "There seems to be a checkpoint of some kind on the road near the lake. The city's not gated. I think we've also got some suburbs along the road near the city, but they're just empty houses." She couldn't really say much for the far outpost as it was out of range.
Wulf nodded along "Alright mark the checkpoint for later at least". As he checked on his visor as well he checked to see how the suburb looked. From what he could tell it looked pretty standard and should give them amble cover to move further into the city. "Alright let's take the suburban route but watch for any parasites that might be hidden in the grass".
Effy was sure to keep an eye out as they passed through the overgrown grasses and local habitat. Their route took them through abandoned homes and apartment complexes next. The black triangle of the Uesureyan Empire was on many of the buildings. One of which was lightly scuffed and Effy looked resolutely from the tarnished insignia to the road ahead and made a mental note of the wear and tear on the buildings.
Wulf was sweeping the area as they moved. Any of these abandoned could be a host of threats that could quickly overwhelm them if they weren't careful. Though they were derelict that didn't mean they contained the enemy. Though thankful so far they had avoided all threats so far he spoke quietly "Let's find an apartment complex high enough to give us an overwatch of the target base". Guessing that they may have not cleared out the nearby civilian buildings from their compound it was his hope they might be a safe vantage point.
"Understood, Heisho," Effy said with a nod. She looked over her shoulder before turning back to the buildings before her. There were a few that edged the town nearer the checkpoint that matched his description and she picked the one on the Southern edge. "There."
She spent short time on the door, cycling a lockpick's parts through the lock with a quiet intensity until she hugged the wall of the building and let Wulf take point as she turned the knob slowly. There was no movement immediately, but once inside it was obvious the streets had been picked clean. There were two bodies huddled near the door, dead for a long time now. They were clad in deteriorated teal clothes of the Uesureyan Empire.
Wulf could only look disinterested in the corpse as he made sure they wouldn't be joining them. As Effy had opened the door he took point rifle raised and scanning for threats. He had to be careful though the enemy had a disregard for the dead it didn't mean there couldn't be traps. As he scanned around and not seeing the threats "Let's find a stairwell and move quickly, who knows what might be lurking here".
Effy shuffled her kabuto helmet's from infrared to thermal as she scanned the bodies and then the hallway. "Aye." She said as she swapped to lowlight and set about finding them a stairwell down the hallway. As she passed, one of the doors slowly crept open behind her with a groan, making the operative turn on a dime with her Shibui's palm projector quickly aimed at the door.
Seeing Effy spin around he was locked on the same door. Creeping next to the door held up his left hand, counting down three, two, one. At the end of one he opened the door and entered the small apartment. Quickly sweeping left to right he saw nothing but an exposed opening to the exterior wall. Giving the clear signal and feeling a gentle breeze "Looks like just the wind due to the deteriorating status of the building". As he motioned for them to move back to the hall way "Looks like there was more of a fight here then let on".
"Alright, this way." Effy nodded as she turned about. "If I were Uesu I wouldn't be so forthcoming about losing, either." She made her way to the stairway whose open door creaked with the same low groan of dull metal on metal. Effy slid past it and checked above then below before nodding to Wulf. She took methodical steps upwards on the near rusted stairs before finally getting to the roof's door.
It was open just a crack and she sidled to the side of it, watching Wulf get into breach position as well. She peaked through the opening, then her helmeted head turned quickly to Wulf with a more urgent stare. Three of her fingers went up in front of her torso and she relayed the visuals from her helmet to his. There was a small grouping of seemingly Nekovalkyrja huddled around one another in the closest corner of the roof. Their teal uniforms and bright hair colors were vivid in the pale cast of moonlight from above.
This was Wulf's worry during the mission. Due to the enemies unique properties if former allies could be a thrall in the enemies army. Also with them on the target and the clear. Pulling out his type 33 service pistol made sure to check the silencer on it. His hope was to use the stun setting and if they where friendlies could recover them. As they where stacked up he nodded to Effy to do the breach.
The elf tapped the door softly, opening it in a slow controlled manner that kept it quieter than the ones they had encountered below. When the door opened the ears of one of the Neko twitched and swiveled, picking up the almost indiscernible sounds of the pair that were on them. The other two stayed where they were while the third had instinctually backed behind a vent and, thus, behind cover.
Following the elf he quickly moved towards any cover nearby. Seeing as there cover was blown he wondered why the other two had no reacted. Taking a glance he tried to see if there was any way to close the gap as he didn't know if they where armed. As he peaked he took as risk "Identify yourself" trying to speak quietly enough so not to echo too far while letting the neko still hear him. It was a risk but hoped it would buy time to figure out if they where friend or foe.
"Huh?" One of the two stood, turning towards him in a disarmed fashion. "Soldiers of Uesureya. We've been stranded here. Who are you?"
"Are you here to help?" The second asked, still sitting.
Looking at them was abit surprised thinking they would all be Neko. Abit worried if they where soldiers why they wouldn't react more. Keeping his pistol leveled at them. Motioning with one hand "Stand up and take two steps forwards with your hands up". Wondering how their companion would react "How are you still out here" he asked inquisitively.
The two looked between themselves at his order. The one on the ground stood slowly, but she was pulling up something from the ground with her. As she did, Effy changed her position next to Wulf. She was pointing her palm at the other end of the vent and shot, but the Neko there had been quick enough to roll on the rooftop and avoid the fire before drawing back into cover behind a storage closet. One of the two Neko leapt towards Wulf while the other raised a rifle, shooting its automatic fire at the Yamataian pair.
Firing off a quick few shots at the one that leapt at him while trying to avoid the rifle fire. As they closed the distance he called out "Get the one behind cover I got these two". Hoping the stun rounds would work he fired full blast hoping they weren't to augmented and would go down quickly.
While Wulf fought against the two, Effy slunk towards the storage shed. She put herself against the wall of it and moved around its perimeter. Her helmet switched to thermals and she pinpointed where the other was before coming up on her. The supersoldier Neko was ready, though, and she gripped Effy's wrist in a hold that the elf couldn't easily release out of. Effy initiated her suit's clothblades. Fabric of the suit stiffened and wrapped around the Neko on her, contorting her as much as she was contorting Effy's arm.
Meanwhile, the Neko firing and being fired upon by Wulf were just as avoidant. The one without a gun had acrobatically maneuvered out of his gunfire and closed the distance between him and her at the same time.
"We're always going to still be here," She said as swept a leg at his own, trying to knock him off balance or at least engage a close quarters fight. "We're not like you." Unlike her, the one shooting was wearing a flak vest. Despite that, she had taken a hit and slumped slightly, as if the stun had partially worked. For a moment she stopped firing.
Wulf pulled back, he knew fighting a neko as a unaugment human was not a good feat to attempt. As he pulled pulled his pistol in close so not to allow the charging neko grab the weapon. "You're going to call everyone here with that damned gun fire so I don't think you'll be here long either". As he pulled further back he fired off quick shots at the neko. He knew distance was the key for this but he also hoped they react his words.
"Good." With a smile she twisted around, falling away from the gunfire and to his side. In that moment she looked from Wulf to her fallen sister, then to where Effy was fighting the other Neko. The elf had gotten a hold on her with the clothblades and hit her elbow into her chin, making the Neko yowl in protest. Effy was quickly pulling away and detaching; she didn't want a parasite to transfer from it to her. She backed up, seeing Wulf in combat and the Neko glancing her way. Effy raised her palm quickly and fired her plasma projector at her, making Wulf's combatant's focus stay on Effy instead of him.
It seemed his fear was confirmed, looks like they were the enemy. As Effy drew his opponent's sight he took a few more steps back into the stairway he knew he had to end this quickly. Pulling a stun grenade he called out into the private comms "Flash out". He hoped the operative would turn off the helmet audio sensors to protect her from the flash.
"Roger that," Effy called back as she absconded behind the rooftop storage shed and turned her sensors off. There was still the Neko she was fighting somewhere close by, so she unholstered her SiZi and held it at the ready.
Wulf steadied his pistol as he heard the distinct sound as the flash went off. He rushed back out at the door. He didn't have long as he scanned quickly for the neko he engaged a moment ago. As he drew a bead and fired off a full round this time going lethal. It was now or never and he couldn't hold back any longer.
The elf heard the lethal shots, she ducked out of cover behind the rooftop shed. Her shot was just as sinister as her SiZi fired one of its less interesting but more deadly rounds. In the broad light of the full moon she was able to see the scene like a spotlight was on it.
"I'll search them," Effy said as she made for the pockets of the woman she had shot. "Check the street."
Effy found an NMX key card she pocketed and in the front of the woman's jacket a ration of the enemy's make.
"Certainly not friendlies," Effy said, straightening to follow Soban.
Wulf nodded to the request as he holstered his pistol. As he moved to the edge of the building he took a quick look over the terrain. As of this moment he didn't see any movement but that didn't mean it would last for longer. Calling back to the operative "Clear for now though shouldn't be for long".
As he looked back to see her pocket something. "Find something of use?"
"ID card. If we're lucky it's still usable, or at least usable where we're going," Effy said. She started scanning the terrain, trying to get a good look at it. "I think we've got enough intel on what's between the outpost and town. We should move on to secondary objective and get numbers on the enemy troops."
Wulf nodded as he kept watch for the streets.
"That sounds good, lets sweep the outskirts of the town then move to the main area then."
He did another check though gun fire did ring out he thought a response element would already be here. Looking to the operative " So that gun fire did ring out should we just focus on speed and getting to that center point now, we can fly as close to the deck as possible to avoid further detection"
"These outskirts seem like a pretty deserted part of town," Effy noted. "I wonder what they were doing up here. Anyway, I'm behind you."
Wulf nodded to hear agreement before leaping off the building. He waited for the last moment before activating the plasma engines before heading off towards the objective.
Kessica Prime
Planet Surface
Forward Command Center
Evening had descended on the northern region of Kessica's continent in a quick blink. A full moon lit the glittering freshly fallen snow around the hastily set up base. In the starport itself it was harder packed where battle had tread it down and the lights on the Yamataian and Uesureyan outpost modules warmly illuminated the odd armor part that had broken in the carnage.
The legion and its combatants had settled into a routine between their forward command post and the formerly Mushhuvurthyar starport that they had taken up residency of. Now, though, many of those that had seen battle during the day were resting or drawing up plans for the day ahead. It was below freezing but the barracks had been given heaters to keep the joint forces that were not in starships at the beechhead and in starships warm.
In the communications outpost Taiyou Hoshi was unarmored. Her blue and white hair was up in a ponytail and shone with some residual hemosynth that she had left in as a sort of gel to keep her hair plastered to her head. Though she had survived the battle, the captain had ordered the onsen of the Kaiyo be filled with hemosynth and had taken a quick soak to heal her wounds after battle. Now she gripped a nautical compass tightly in one hand second naturedly as she looked from her datapad readouts to a large unfurled map on the table in front of her.
Though there would be a lot of movement south, the commanders ––Hoshi included–– needed more information on the next installation that they would be striking. The captain looked up with an expectant smile as someone entered the communications tent, then her face fell and she looked back down.
"Expecting someone?" the operative, Effy, asked. She was a silvery-haired elf in with a field jacket over a shibui suit. Her bangs bounced over a woven golden circlet with a central blue gem, cresting eyes of the same color that narrowed at Hoshi. Though Effy had worked with the captain before, a gnawing jealousy seeped into the uneasy grimace she wore.
"Someone else," Hoshi said before her deep blue eyes lit as again the doors opened. "That someone!"
To the former ranger he was greeted by a familiar sight as he stepped into the hut. Seeing a familiar face so far away from home was a welcoming sight especially being his former commanding officer.
As he stood at attention he said, "Heisho Soban reported as ordered". Seeing an operative nearby he wasn't sure if he was interrupting "Ah sorry was I interrupting a private briefing Taisa?"
"Wouldn't have started without you," Hoshi said with a smile. "You two are going to scout the next enemy installation for us. Though there was enough satellite imagery on this starport to at least get our foot in the door, countersurveillance measures down south are built up a lot more. There are two cities and outposts between us and the enemy installation where forces will be positioned."
"But I want to know what's between this city and outpost in the center," Hoshi said, bringing her finger across the center of the continent so that she was pointing out the cities and the area between them. "If there's any changes in terrain, roads with bottlenecks, or anything that could be advantageous in blocking one from the other, I want to know."
Wulf was listening to the briefing intently. Just looking at the map he could see the goal and the plan looked right. Seems like intent was to avoid costly urban engagements and instead do a bypass and breakthrough but knowing what was there was key.
Pointing at the map "If we get inserted close to the mountain it should help protect us from sensors till we get on the ground". Using his finger to draw, "We could then make our way on foot and check out the defenses and the avenues of advance on the target". Smiling as he finished "Shouldn't be too bad unless we want to try a aquatic insertion via the lake here?"
"That will be a last resort," Hoshi said. "We have a lot of forces to move. That leads me to your secondary objective. We need to know what numbers our enemy possesses." The small pink Taisa breathed in heavily, weighted by the words she was about to say to her old crewmen. "I only started working with you again, so be careful. It'll likely be a difficult infiltration and you have quite the night ahead of you. But we need the numbers and your feet on the ground information badly."
Wulf could only smile at the prospect at the tough night ahead "No worries Taisa I'll get it done besides I always love the challenge". His smile not faded "Well if its going to be a long night we better get to work so there is no delays" Looking to the other operative "I assume your ready to go ?"
"Ready as ever," Effy nodded to him, then gave a curt bow to Hoshi.
"Have fun," Hoshi chimed to the otherwise quiet elf, then repeated to Wulf, "Be careful." The sides of her lips had stayed upturned in a smile, though, and she added, "I know you will be."
Mountainside
Drop Off Zone
"Lead us down," Effy said. With the shuttle that had taken them there overhead of the slope, now, she had turned to Wulf Soban expectantly. "You were on the Taisa's ship before, then?"
Wulf had been completing his pre-drop ritual rechecking his type 41 rifle. When Effy spoke up he was surprised at it had been a quiet ride. Looking up to her from the bench "Yup, served on the Kaiyo during the war". Smiling as he remembered his time on that lovely ship "Served as recon the element part of the crew". As he slapped the magazine back into his gun with his check complete. "I take it you also served with Taisha Hoshi as well?"
Blinking as she looked from Wulf's rifle to his face, Effy replied, "You can say I've helped her." Effy wanted to further distinguish the difference between serving under her, but held her tongue. He was obviously thinking of fond memories and it struck her that maybe there was more there than she had initially given the captain credit for.
"After you," Effy said as she stood, readying to leave with as she slung a backpack over both shoulders and double checked her SiZi on her thigh.
Wulf nodded at what Effy had replied. Guess it was a different type of relationship instead of the bond of crew. As the shuttled thudded down on the ground he quickly moved out into the clearing. Rifle raised and sweeping the area looking for any hostiles or other threats. Not seeing any immediate threats he gave the all clear. Looking quickly to his bracelet to reconfirm direction to the target area he quickly gave a quick hand signal for them to keep moving forward.
There was a breath of relief from Effy as they got off the shuttle and started trekking. The mountainside was more temperate than the northern region they had been in earlier for the briefing. These woods were full of the fresh smell of evergreens and the muskier ones of the damp vegetation beneath. The vibrant sights of which were fully illuminated in the moonlight. Everything was cast in a pale glow, spotlighted by the pale orb overhead.
After a few minutes, Effy spoke, "Hunters say the best nights to go out are nights like these with a full moon."
Wulf hadn't paused as he was always looking for threats as they moved forward. This was his element and he loved the fresh air. Hearing Effy spoke he was surprised by the Elf "Yeah nothing beats a hunt under moon light". As he gently moved passed a bush so not to make sound. Still worried about being spotted by anything he still kept his voice low "I take it your not a hunter then?"
"My family wanted other things for me. Xiulurians think the pen is mightier than the sword," Effy breathed in, a short hiss of sound as she chose the same footsteps that Wulf had made in front of her. "But I picked it up anyway. What about you?"
Wulf nodded along as he walked with Effy " No idea what the family wanted, was an orphan and put into a military orphanage at the capital". As he checked his bracelet one more time to make sure they were still on track he moved forward. Keeping up the conversation, "Not exactly a choice but keeps ya focused on many important things". As he stopped to hold a branch to let Effy slide past "Hard to beat that I think".
With a sidling motion past the branch and a gracious nod, Effy said, "That's very true. Never been a dull moment since I joined up. Keeps you sharp."
They had made it to the where the ground leveled out more substantially. The deer trails spread out before them in hard to spot lines amongst brush and grasslands. In the distance looked to be a paved road with something edging it, possibly a rail line. Nearby were the flickering grid-squares of city lights. To its left was the glittering reflection of light from the lake, partly obscured by the terrain between them and it.
Wulf paused as he looked out into the grasslands and the start of the city lights. This is where it was going to get interesting as though there was cover; this was the start of where it got dangerous.
Taking a knee at the trench line, he asked, "Do you see any patrols or anything we have to avoid on the way in?"
Effy booted up the enhanced visuals on her visor, scanning the area with thermals and infrared. "There seems to be a checkpoint of some kind on the road near the lake. The city's not gated. I think we've also got some suburbs along the road near the city, but they're just empty houses." She couldn't really say much for the far outpost as it was out of range.
Wulf nodded along "Alright mark the checkpoint for later at least". As he checked on his visor as well he checked to see how the suburb looked. From what he could tell it looked pretty standard and should give them amble cover to move further into the city. "Alright let's take the suburban route but watch for any parasites that might be hidden in the grass".
Effy was sure to keep an eye out as they passed through the overgrown grasses and local habitat. Their route took them through abandoned homes and apartment complexes next. The black triangle of the Uesureyan Empire was on many of the buildings. One of which was lightly scuffed and Effy looked resolutely from the tarnished insignia to the road ahead and made a mental note of the wear and tear on the buildings.
Wulf was sweeping the area as they moved. Any of these abandoned could be a host of threats that could quickly overwhelm them if they weren't careful. Though they were derelict that didn't mean they contained the enemy. Though thankful so far they had avoided all threats so far he spoke quietly "Let's find an apartment complex high enough to give us an overwatch of the target base". Guessing that they may have not cleared out the nearby civilian buildings from their compound it was his hope they might be a safe vantage point.
"Understood, Heisho," Effy said with a nod. She looked over her shoulder before turning back to the buildings before her. There were a few that edged the town nearer the checkpoint that matched his description and she picked the one on the Southern edge. "There."
She spent short time on the door, cycling a lockpick's parts through the lock with a quiet intensity until she hugged the wall of the building and let Wulf take point as she turned the knob slowly. There was no movement immediately, but once inside it was obvious the streets had been picked clean. There were two bodies huddled near the door, dead for a long time now. They were clad in deteriorated teal clothes of the Uesureyan Empire.
Wulf could only look disinterested in the corpse as he made sure they wouldn't be joining them. As Effy had opened the door he took point rifle raised and scanning for threats. He had to be careful though the enemy had a disregard for the dead it didn't mean there couldn't be traps. As he scanned around and not seeing the threats "Let's find a stairwell and move quickly, who knows what might be lurking here".
Effy shuffled her kabuto helmet's from infrared to thermal as she scanned the bodies and then the hallway. "Aye." She said as she swapped to lowlight and set about finding them a stairwell down the hallway. As she passed, one of the doors slowly crept open behind her with a groan, making the operative turn on a dime with her Shibui's palm projector quickly aimed at the door.
Seeing Effy spin around he was locked on the same door. Creeping next to the door held up his left hand, counting down three, two, one. At the end of one he opened the door and entered the small apartment. Quickly sweeping left to right he saw nothing but an exposed opening to the exterior wall. Giving the clear signal and feeling a gentle breeze "Looks like just the wind due to the deteriorating status of the building". As he motioned for them to move back to the hall way "Looks like there was more of a fight here then let on".
"Alright, this way." Effy nodded as she turned about. "If I were Uesu I wouldn't be so forthcoming about losing, either." She made her way to the stairway whose open door creaked with the same low groan of dull metal on metal. Effy slid past it and checked above then below before nodding to Wulf. She took methodical steps upwards on the near rusted stairs before finally getting to the roof's door.
It was open just a crack and she sidled to the side of it, watching Wulf get into breach position as well. She peaked through the opening, then her helmeted head turned quickly to Wulf with a more urgent stare. Three of her fingers went up in front of her torso and she relayed the visuals from her helmet to his. There was a small grouping of seemingly Nekovalkyrja huddled around one another in the closest corner of the roof. Their teal uniforms and bright hair colors were vivid in the pale cast of moonlight from above.
This was Wulf's worry during the mission. Due to the enemies unique properties if former allies could be a thrall in the enemies army. Also with them on the target and the clear. Pulling out his type 33 service pistol made sure to check the silencer on it. His hope was to use the stun setting and if they where friendlies could recover them. As they where stacked up he nodded to Effy to do the breach.
The elf tapped the door softly, opening it in a slow controlled manner that kept it quieter than the ones they had encountered below. When the door opened the ears of one of the Neko twitched and swiveled, picking up the almost indiscernible sounds of the pair that were on them. The other two stayed where they were while the third had instinctually backed behind a vent and, thus, behind cover.
Following the elf he quickly moved towards any cover nearby. Seeing as there cover was blown he wondered why the other two had no reacted. Taking a glance he tried to see if there was any way to close the gap as he didn't know if they where armed. As he peaked he took as risk "Identify yourself" trying to speak quietly enough so not to echo too far while letting the neko still hear him. It was a risk but hoped it would buy time to figure out if they where friend or foe.
"Huh?" One of the two stood, turning towards him in a disarmed fashion. "Soldiers of Uesureya. We've been stranded here. Who are you?"
"Are you here to help?" The second asked, still sitting.
Looking at them was abit surprised thinking they would all be Neko. Abit worried if they where soldiers why they wouldn't react more. Keeping his pistol leveled at them. Motioning with one hand "Stand up and take two steps forwards with your hands up". Wondering how their companion would react "How are you still out here" he asked inquisitively.
The two looked between themselves at his order. The one on the ground stood slowly, but she was pulling up something from the ground with her. As she did, Effy changed her position next to Wulf. She was pointing her palm at the other end of the vent and shot, but the Neko there had been quick enough to roll on the rooftop and avoid the fire before drawing back into cover behind a storage closet. One of the two Neko leapt towards Wulf while the other raised a rifle, shooting its automatic fire at the Yamataian pair.
Firing off a quick few shots at the one that leapt at him while trying to avoid the rifle fire. As they closed the distance he called out "Get the one behind cover I got these two". Hoping the stun rounds would work he fired full blast hoping they weren't to augmented and would go down quickly.
While Wulf fought against the two, Effy slunk towards the storage shed. She put herself against the wall of it and moved around its perimeter. Her helmet switched to thermals and she pinpointed where the other was before coming up on her. The supersoldier Neko was ready, though, and she gripped Effy's wrist in a hold that the elf couldn't easily release out of. Effy initiated her suit's clothblades. Fabric of the suit stiffened and wrapped around the Neko on her, contorting her as much as she was contorting Effy's arm.
Meanwhile, the Neko firing and being fired upon by Wulf were just as avoidant. The one without a gun had acrobatically maneuvered out of his gunfire and closed the distance between him and her at the same time.
"We're always going to still be here," She said as swept a leg at his own, trying to knock him off balance or at least engage a close quarters fight. "We're not like you." Unlike her, the one shooting was wearing a flak vest. Despite that, she had taken a hit and slumped slightly, as if the stun had partially worked. For a moment she stopped firing.
Wulf pulled back, he knew fighting a neko as a unaugment human was not a good feat to attempt. As he pulled pulled his pistol in close so not to allow the charging neko grab the weapon. "You're going to call everyone here with that damned gun fire so I don't think you'll be here long either". As he pulled further back he fired off quick shots at the neko. He knew distance was the key for this but he also hoped they react his words.
"Good." With a smile she twisted around, falling away from the gunfire and to his side. In that moment she looked from Wulf to her fallen sister, then to where Effy was fighting the other Neko. The elf had gotten a hold on her with the clothblades and hit her elbow into her chin, making the Neko yowl in protest. Effy was quickly pulling away and detaching; she didn't want a parasite to transfer from it to her. She backed up, seeing Wulf in combat and the Neko glancing her way. Effy raised her palm quickly and fired her plasma projector at her, making Wulf's combatant's focus stay on Effy instead of him.
It seemed his fear was confirmed, looks like they were the enemy. As Effy drew his opponent's sight he took a few more steps back into the stairway he knew he had to end this quickly. Pulling a stun grenade he called out into the private comms "Flash out". He hoped the operative would turn off the helmet audio sensors to protect her from the flash.
"Roger that," Effy called back as she absconded behind the rooftop storage shed and turned her sensors off. There was still the Neko she was fighting somewhere close by, so she unholstered her SiZi and held it at the ready.
Wulf steadied his pistol as he heard the distinct sound as the flash went off. He rushed back out at the door. He didn't have long as he scanned quickly for the neko he engaged a moment ago. As he drew a bead and fired off a full round this time going lethal. It was now or never and he couldn't hold back any longer.
The elf heard the lethal shots, she ducked out of cover behind the rooftop shed. Her shot was just as sinister as her SiZi fired one of its less interesting but more deadly rounds. In the broad light of the full moon she was able to see the scene like a spotlight was on it.
"I'll search them," Effy said as she made for the pockets of the woman she had shot. "Check the street."
Effy found an NMX key card she pocketed and in the front of the woman's jacket a ration of the enemy's make.
"Certainly not friendlies," Effy said, straightening to follow Soban.
Wulf nodded to the request as he holstered his pistol. As he moved to the edge of the building he took a quick look over the terrain. As of this moment he didn't see any movement but that didn't mean it would last for longer. Calling back to the operative "Clear for now though shouldn't be for long".
As he looked back to see her pocket something. "Find something of use?"
"ID card. If we're lucky it's still usable, or at least usable where we're going," Effy said. She started scanning the terrain, trying to get a good look at it. "I think we've got enough intel on what's between the outpost and town. We should move on to secondary objective and get numbers on the enemy troops."
Wulf nodded as he kept watch for the streets.
"That sounds good, lets sweep the outskirts of the town then move to the main area then."
He did another check though gun fire did ring out he thought a response element would already be here. Looking to the operative " So that gun fire did ring out should we just focus on speed and getting to that center point now, we can fly as close to the deck as possible to avoid further detection"
"These outskirts seem like a pretty deserted part of town," Effy noted. "I wonder what they were doing up here. Anyway, I'm behind you."
Wulf nodded to hear agreement before leaping off the building. He waited for the last moment before activating the plasma engines before heading off towards the objective.
