[Taocow PBEM] Chapter IX - In The Ruins Of Old Chicago

[Aaron Clausen]

> [Osiris]
> With the last of the CS foot soldiers taken care of, Osiris takes one
> last look around before making a quick exit towards the team's hovercraft
> as he keys his comms "Yo Bongo, Osiris here; I am coming to you. Is my
> mount in the vehicle?"
>
> The old CK zig zags his way to the hover craft hoping to use as much cover
> as he can just in case there are any snipers out there.
>
> Dashing up into the transport, Osiris helps Lady Frost to a chair and seeing
> one of the others help her with the wound he moves over to his faithful
> mount and pats it gently on the head. As Kyle's voice echoes through the
> hovercraft's cabin, the old knight flicks his face shield up showing a stern
> face worn by years of fighting and hardship. He heads up to the craft's main
> turret and mans the guns, hoping to give Kyle a hand.
>
> Talking to no one in particular the knight says "Well folks, if any of you
> have any tricks up your sleeves this would be the time to use it.....Bongo!
> You got any smart ideas partner?"
> [/Osiris]

[GM]
Osiris reaches the turret just in time for the Deadboy's to start a new round
of fire.  Osiris opens fire and hits one of the Deadboys, blowing the poor
bastard back about fifteen feet.
[/GM]

> [Ted]
> Ted takes one look back over his shoulder before climbing into the hover
> craft.  He notices Angelica and Alex standing  by her bike. He calls to
> them both, then curses, "Do they have a death wish or something?"
>
> Ted jumps down and tries to round them up so they can all get out of here.
> [/Ted]

[GM]
Ted immediately comes under fire, but easily dodges the shot as he runs
towards Alex and Angelica.
[/GM]

> [Lady Frost]
> A small smile hit Frost's lips as she hears Bongo's attempted bluff.  But
> she is still ticked.
>
> "OK Bongo, care to tell me why you people didn't hightail it to McGuane
> like I said!?  Let's get moving.  Even I can't stop a bunch of missiles."
>
> Glancing back at the small group of passengers. "We've got people out
> there still."
> [/Lady Frost]

[OOC]
Just for Lady Frost's info, Alex and Angelica are in fact standing at the
entrance to McGuane Park.
[/OOC]

> [Talas]
> Talas follows Lady Frost into the hovertruck. Once inside Talas says to
> Frost "Lady Frost Once you feel safe returning to your other form I may
> well be able to heal your wounds if you wish." Talas then turns back to
> look out the door and scans the ruins for targets of opportunity, and
> comrades in need of covering fire.
> [/Talas]

[GM]
Talas strafes the Deadboys with his AT-600 railgun.  Despite a rather poor
shot, Talas manages to hit two of them, blasting them back and forcing them
to take cover.
[/GM]

> [Bongo]
> "I've done far too much leaving folks behind of late, darlin'..." Bongo
> growls as he frantically begins to maneuver the hover vehicle around --
> partly to get closer to the others and partly to make it harder on the CS
> troops to actually hit their target.
>
> Glancing behind him to see how many people have actually boarded the
> vehicle, a pained expression crosses his muzzle.  "Looks like I may not be
> done yet, either..."
> [/Bongo]

[GM]
The first missile misses the hovervehicle, but the second is a much better
shot.  Bongo just barely yanks the vehicle out of the way, and the missile
hits a building with a large explosion.  Bongo is forced to try to to keep
control, which he does with skill.

The Death Head transport and the new hover cycles are moving into
a flanking formation, obviously trying to surround the hover vehicle.  Three
detach themselves and make for Kyle's SAMAS.

"This is your final warning." a voice booms over both Kyle's and Bongo's
radios.  "Land immediately or you will be destroyed."

Not waiting for a warning, a laser cannon strafes the hover vehicle.  Bongo
tries to move out of the way, but is unable to, but it's clear that these
are warning shots as they do little more than melt the paint.
[/GM]

[Meanwhile...]

> [Angelica]
> Angelica looks over at Alex. "you hear it too, don't you?" Angelica picks
> Alex up and takes flight, heading towards the sound of Rod's voice.
> [Angelica]

> [Alex]
> "What the hell is going on" Alex demands as she is roughly picked up
> [/Alex]

> [Angelica]
> "Rod has been seperated from us, and I think I hear him calling me!"
> [Angelica]

[GM]
As Angelica and Alex plunge into the woods, Ted breathlessly catches up.
As they cross the threshold, the whole world seems to shift.  The trees
seem bigger than they were outside the park, the sun larger and warmer,
and the ground damp and spongy.  The grip of winter is broken in this
place.

A path, marked by small white stones leads deeper into the woods.
Angelica and Ted feel a peculiar urge to go on, but Alex has no such
compulsion.

The voice of Rod Black beckons from deeper in this strange forest.
"Quickly." he says, and Alex notes that his tone unusually pleading.
"You have to save us.  We're in pain.  So much pain.  Please."
[/GM]

-- 
Aaron Clausen   mightymartianca at gmail.com

Palladium Rifts PBEM:
http://members.shaw.ca/selfreferential/rifts_pbem/