[Taocow PBEM] Book 3 - Chapter XVII - Return to Hoburn Hill

[Aaron Clausen]

>>> [Alex]
>>> On the standard radio push using the standard scramble that they already set up,
>>> "Scout Hawk to main team, something went wrong with our teleport, we are on top
>>> of one of these skyscrapers. Trying to find a solution to getting down."
>>> [/Alex]

> [Vesper]
> "Stair well looks safest, I don't trust that rusty ladder."
>
> Vesper waits for Alex and then makes his way to the stairwell testing it and heading
> down.
> [/Vesper]

> [Alex]
> "If we take the stairs, it will take a while," Alex answers. "No way we can get down
> in time for them not to be able to escape."
>
> "Even repelling would take some time but you don't have any training."
> [/Alex]

> [Vesper]
> "Yeah I never trained for anything like that, I am afraid the stairs it is
> if we want to get down in one piece and be of use to anyone."
> [/Vesper]

> [Alex]
> "We could risk calling for a sky cycle but there are potentially issues with that as well,"
> Alex suggests. "Could get shot down however."
>
> She takes a moment, "This is the best way. I will clip my line and go down. Once I reach
> the end, I will tug and you detach. I will attach and you come down. We will tag  team this."
>
> "If there any places where the stairs are gone, figure something out."
> [/Alex]'

OOC: The way I am reading this, Alex intends to go down the stairs,
using the line to make sure that if the stairs should collapse, or
they come to a point where the stairs have collapsed, that they don't
fall.

[GM]
The stairs are every bit as tricky as Alex and Vesper could have
expected. Centuries worth of water have eroded away large portions of
the concrete stairs to little more than rusted steel rebar and powder.
At times, Alex is essentially forced to climb, but with the line to
keep them safe, even missteps do not lead to any serious falls.

Still, it is backbreaking work, and seems to take a long time. Fortune
is on their side, however. As they descend, they find the general
structure of the building is in better shape, and the erosion of the
stairs less and less, until they can descend relatively safely, though
there are still spots where the stairs have collapsed.

As they descend, Alex and Vesper note signs of more recent occupation.
Here and there they see evidence of fires with animal bones, and in
some cases humanoid bones. Clearly the denizens of the ruined city
lead a somewhat barbaric life. Where access doors are missing, they
can glimpse the floors they pass; long wide hallways stretching off
into the darkness, here and there illumination from what must be
windows. There are more signs of occupation; mattresses sprawled on
floors, more fire pits, clothes hanging from lines. Both adventurers
can smell cook fires.

The stairs here are very well tended, and there are signs of recent
repairs; wooden or beaten metal steps replacing missing or damaged
concrete steps. It's then that Alex's keen eyes catch movement a floor
down on the stairwell, and the slight "crunch" of a booted foot
treading on concrete fragments.
[/GM]

[Meanwhile...]

>>> [Oz]
>>> He switches to the encrypted guard channel he uses with his troops. "Prepare to fall
>>> back to the ship. Be ready to go on my mark."
>>> [/Oz]

>> [Jacek]
>> Jacek replies in Euro on the encrypted channel, "Just give us the
>> word. This is getting very hot, and who knows what kinds of
>> reinforcements these attackers may have."
>> [/Jacek]

>>  [GM]
>> As Jacek is replying, Oz notices the energy weapons fire under the
>> bridge as well, seeing it strike and then sever the tentacle. The
>> stump, bleeding a yellow ooze, disappears under the water. There's
>> someone underneath that bridge.
>> [/GM]

> [Oz]
> Oz curses to himself in a language that isn't German, careful the words
> don't go out on the radio. He cues the guard channel back up. "Pull out
> and get back to the ship. We're not taking on a giant monster. I'll be 15
> seconds behind you." Oz continues to watch the fight and bombard the
> far side of the bridge with a curtain of grenades.
>
> He radios Alex and Vesper. "We're pulling out. This is too hot for soldiers
> to handle on our own. If you have any juice left I suggest you try to get
> back to the ship."
> [/Oz]

OOC: I'm assuming Alex responds.

[GM]
Jacek and a couple of his men offer covering fire as Oz heads back
towards the ship. When they round the top of the hill, they are once
again protected from weapons fire, giving them some respite. It is
good fortune that thus far the ship remains unmolested, and indeed,
whoever is attacking them can not or will not openly move up the
hillside.

Captain Neeson drops lines to help everyone aboard, and notes the
missing the adventurers. "What are your instructions, Sir Osmar?" she
asks. "The ley line storm is still a factor, so taking off could be
risky."
[/GM]

[Meanwhile...]

> [Ted]
> The lizard man glances around, looking for a place to catch his breath
> where nobody can shoot at him.
> [/Ted]

[GM]
The bridge itself offers some cover. Ted sees Oz, the borg Jacek, and
their men rounding the top of the hill. Once out of sight, Louissa's
would-be captors stop firing, and a number start scurrying towards
Louissa's prone form. As Ted is analyzing the situation, a child-like
voice shouts from below him, under the bridge itself.

"They be lookin' for breeders," the voice says to a stunned Ted.
[/GM]

-- 
Aaron Clausen
mightymartianca at gmail.com

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taocow Rifts PBEM" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to taocow-rifts-pbem+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to taocow-rifts-pbem at googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taocow-rifts-pbem.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.