<> <> <> <> <> <> <> * Vera does some walking. * Ian walks! And looks around. "We're not in Red Kansas any more." * Katherine has been walking the whole time! Gasp. She says sarcastically, "No wonder you're world famous, Ian. You can percieve what no mortal man could see." Like the Space Jesus? * Threnody just looks... exhausted. And bloody, since he's been beaten up kinda badly. He's hanging toward the back, and says, with uncharacteristic sardonic tones, "Freaks always inspire public curiosity. Look at our parents." * Rochelle clunks along in her suit. She's partially to blame for Thren being beaten up kinda badly, but she doesn't glance at him; rather, she's stealing a look or few at Neko every once in a while. * Katherine smirks to herself at Thren's comment. <> "Well, we're not too late." * Katherine peers at the light. "Yeah, speaking of curiosity." <> <> "It's amazing they got the one through it. He must have dislocated something." Like his brain? Who? * Threnody turns and stares at Hettie. "The Old One. They fit it through that hole, you know." < Oh. Well, good. I hope it hurt. A lot. * Katherine peers. "Maybe it's like a cat." "A lot like it. They lack a collarbone." There's actually known Old One physiology? And here I thought it was a big grey monkey. "There is for me and mine. We've trailed them across twelve worlds." <> "All, excepting Sleythin, destroyed." Hmm, why not you? * Threnody sighs and looks back toward City Hall. "Somebody beat them to the punch on Sleythin anyway," he murmurs darkly, glancing at Vera. Ah "Knowing where to hide, mostly." * Katherine grits her teeth for a moment then shakes her head slightly. "Nnh." Ah <> <> "The device I have to get to is behind the light show. Once they figure what we're up to, they'll come at us full force, so we've got to have some defenses set up. Right now they probably don't even know we're coming." < (-"+>>) You kidding? With the army they just sent at us? "None of them got out, did they? Kat and Rochelle can tell you, most of their forces are to the east involved in a battle." Only they knew exactly where to find us. * Katherine mutters, "They're not supposed to be killing. Much." Malcom and Dorian were waiting for us. They knew we'd be there. <> * Rochelle blinks, too. <> "Are you sure that wasn't just chance?" * Ian nods. "They were definitely waiting." * Vera nods. "Positive. Malcom wouldn't have bothered to come out there if he didn't know I'd be there too." "How would they have known?" * Vera cups her chin. "Come to think of it, he found me at Roch's apartment, too." * Katherine rolls her eyes. "Fantastic." * Threnody sighs and glances at Hettie. "Because Dorian had Anders in thrall. For a very long time." He shrugs, rubbing his arms with his hands, as if he were cold. "Telepaths have excellent memories." <> "Well, there goes my plan. Has anyone got a better?" Not really. * Rochelle shrugs. "Do they know about you, Mad?" "The Old Ones? I don't think so..." (Door.) * Fitzroy pipes up. "How about distractions? A feint of some kind?" * Vera nods. "Could work. You wanna do that, Kat?" We don't have a lot of resources to work with, but if we fake a couple of attacks, we may be able to sneak in. * Ian nods. * Katherine looks at the wall for a moment, then, "Might as well. I'll make a great distraction." She chuckle as the suit begins to change color... black and red and horribly familiar to anyone who's seen Chako before. "A fucking fantastic one." (Too bad that takes a while and will make her burst a blood vessel in her brain.) I suggest a main attack and a fake sneak attack. That way a third group can have the least resistance and attention to get in. <> * Threnody blinks, trying to follow what Hettie's writing. He's in no shape to volunteer for the distraction anyway. * Katherine grits her teeth as the suit changes color. (For reference, I hate you all. I vow no channel splits ever in any following ATC games.) (That one won't last.) * Threnody glances at Hettie, then at Kat. He gives an almost sad sigh. "Why are you rushing off to die?" He breathes out. "Do you hate your mother that much?" * Katherine lets out a slow breath once the color change is done. Then she looks to Thren. "I'm the toughest and fastest one here in this suit. But we don't need a second sneak attack. The rest of you just get up there and do it." <> "I'll need about five to ten minutes to shut it down, and I'm not sure what will happen when I do." Sounds fun. * Threnody glances around at everybody else. "Not to put too fine a point on it, but... just one Old One is enough to keep the entire Europa Team at bay, and they really are as good as the stories say. Maybe better." He half-turns back to Kat. "You want to fight it alone, and that's... stupid." * Threnody shuts his eyes. "We started this together. We should end it together." * Katherine looks at Thren funny. "I don't plan on fighting an old one. Damn, if there's another old one out there, we're fucked." <> (Miss anything?) * Katherine steps towards Thren and puts a metal hand on his shoulder. "Don't plan on dying quite yet, Thren." * Rochelle lets out a breath. Her eyes unfocus for a moment, then she shakes her head and looks away. * Threnody recoils from the touch rather visibly, stepping away. "No, but you're ready to," he says quietly. "Let's get this over with." <> (So, recap of the plan for the GM plz?) (Kat draws attention to herself, while... uh, everybody else wanders in and gets shot by sniper fire.) (Essentially.) * Katherine looks to Thren for a moment and says back, "Yeah, well. Telepaths." Then she turns away herself, helmet closing over her head, finishing the Chako look. Her speakers crack, "So, any additions to the plan, or should I get moving?" You sure you don't need some help? * Katherine shakes her head. "The old ones are the important thing, and we're already stripping away firepower for the distraction. This thing's a high speed tank on two legs. Only thing that'd help would be a spotter." * Fitzroy nods. * Katherine glances around and then says to everyone, including Neko, in an enthusiastic voice, "It's the final hour for the old ones here. Take care of the damn thing fast, people." (HOld on a minute, dammit) (Ha.) (Moogle's taking his sweet time) (You had 8 whole minutes!) 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fitzroy (2d6-4) and gets a natural 6 for a result of 2. I just hope Anders didn't predict this, as well. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fitzroy (2d6-1) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 8. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fitzroy (2d6-1) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 4. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fitzroy (2d6-1) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 9. Kat, I've got a camera with a good view of the front of the courthouse. I'll watch your back as best I can with that. Let's get going. * Katherine nods and taps her head, saying over comms, ~ I'll hear ya. ~ Good luck, everyone. < <> (We won't go too much longer tonight.) <> "Are we ready?" * Rochelle stands there, looking vaguely frustrated, the expression a bit odd on her. But she doesn't say a word. * Katherine looks back over the group for a last moment before she turns and heads towards the hall, her speed building as she goes. * Threnody blinks. Suddenly he's the leader. However, after a moment he composes himself, taking a deep breath. "Yes. Let's get moving." (So... move already!) Lead on. * Ian nods, and turns away from the map. (Fitzroy looks toward the direction he will eventually be turning and thinks about moving sometime in the near future.) * Fitzroy starts off to the courthouse. * Threnody runs his hands through his hair, then sets off toward City Hall at a reasonable pace. Apparently he's hit second wind, or something of that nature. (or city hall. WHichever.) <> <> * Rochelle walks along, still looking frustrated. <> <> We need to stay out of sight as much as possible. <> It'll be useless if we're seen on the way in. * Threnody glances around, then back at Hettie and Vera. "I think you should stick with her," he says to Vera, indicating Hettie with a nod of the head. "If anything's coming, you can keep them at bay from a distance." Yeah, I got that. I suck at guarding others, though. * Threnody flashes Vera a faint, tired-looking smile. "If it comes close and it's not us, shoot it. Should be fairly simple." * Vera nods. "Can do." <> * Threnody springs the second trap by singing Edelweiss at the top of his lungs. * Threnody actually just keeps creeping along carefully. (The giant disembodied head of Julie Andrews appears! Roll init!) * Ian tiptoes, which is quite a trick with webbed mecha feet. * Vera moves silently, clinging to the shadows. She's rather good at it. * Rochelle shakes her head, again, and walks along. "Hope this works," she says quietly. * Fitzroy whispers loudly, "Guys! Purples ahead. On the steps." Four of them. * Vera draws her gun. <> <>