ic Revanche: Under the Sword (IC)

[TheAbsurdist]

 

From the impact came a screeching sound, like rivets scrapped hard across volcanic glass.  Tendrils shot up and then roiled down, to brace her as she rose back up.  Bliss' expression can't only be described as a 'smile', baring the beak she had behind her lips.

 

She threw her arms down, and the tendrils snapped down, crossing and slamming to the ground.  The force, the speed of it created a cavitation in the air itself before the shockwave of it snapped out, away from the impact.  They scattered, which was as good a response as she could hope for, of course she didn't about the furniture, or anything else that she destroyed.  "That's it... give me a challenge!  Struggle for me!" was the Xuli'pan's exultant, trilling, cooing cry.  This wasn't anger, this was pure joy.

 

She uncoiled and leaped to try and position herself between the enemy, and her team while she was in scary moment of violent zen.

Edited January 26, 2017 by TheAbsurdist

[Thevshi]

GM 

Bliss' shockwave tore through the market, smashing makeshift stands that had been set up and scattering merchandise.  The large insectoid bounty hunter was the closest to Bliss, and had started to try to dodge out of the way of the concussive force, but a chunk of synth-wood caught her lower leg and sent her toppling to the ground as the shockwave struck.  But the hunter was still able to somehow roll with the impact, and springing back up to her feet with incredible agility, seemingly unharmed. 

Suul had a fraction of a second more before the shockwave reached him, and had dove behind a more solid building and out of the path of the concussive force. 

As Bliss' shockwave dissipated, a group of four station peacekeepers could be seen running toward the scene from behind the Voidrunners. 

Up on the opposite side of the Spinal Core, the sniper was back on her feet having dodged out of the path of Ruby's cryo rockets.  Ice had formed over the building, but the bounty hunter did not let that slow her down as she leveled her weapon once more and focused on the area where the intense fight was taking place.  This time Roulette was in her sights, as she took a careful breath and fired off another shot, which caught the Zultasian on the left shoulder, causing his body to twist slightly from the impact, but he otherwise managed to remain on his feet. 

Suul reemerged from behind the cover he had dove behind, both pistols in his hand once more as he unleashed a barrage of laser fire at Roulette.  Several beams of bright energy struck the Zultasian, but he twisted away at just the right moment, and they glanced off with minimal effect. 

The insectoid bounty hunter rushed forward, closing the distance between herself and Bliss once more.  "We will do far more than struggle."  She promised as she sprung to one side, causing Bliss to turn to face her before leaping high into the air and flipping over the Xuli'pan, coming down behind her as the large weapon in the hunter’s hand came up to slam into Bliss' chest just as she spun around.   

The blow once again knocked Bliss off her feet, as she landed in the middle of the now empty market street a dozen feet away.

[olopi]

As Kresh arrived at the scene of combat, there was a sense of relief. It appeared that so far, there had been no casualties. Adding onto that, it seemed that everyone at the scene was involved somehow. No non-repairable damage so far, that was a positive.

 

Yet, the situation wasn’t all great. There was a lot happening at the scene of combat itself, and even more in the vicinity. Multiple attackers, and it wasn’t entirely clear who had what reason to do what here. And, truth be told, it didn’t matter. If they’d decided to start fighting in the middle of a market, that was good enough of a reason to put a stop to it. And then, maybe, work out everything afterwards.  

 

As she floated there, just above the ground, her shield’s green glow became more intense, now enough to light up the close vicinity. And suddenly, translucent surfaces, in the same shade of green, began to appear. One large one, blocking off the area of combat on all sides, including the top. And then, more, drawn inside the already existing cube, separating the various attackers from each other where possible. It did not actually stop people moving through, but hopefully the combatants wouldn’t immediately notice that.

 

And, as she was moving to a more central position in the market, she began to speak, her voice booming over the sounds of combat and destruction.

 

“By the powers giving to me by the Del- … The Praetorians, I command you all to stand down and drop your weapons. Do not resist, or I will be forced to take action against you.  You have 5 seconds to comply. “

[Thevshi]

GM 

As the glowing energy fields began to go up around the various combatants, many of them tried to start moving clear of the fields Barrier was lowering in place as she came to a halt hovering over the scene of the conflict.  Kazzan Suul's reflexes once again proved superb, as he dove to the side and rolled out of the area Barrier was enclosing, coming back up to his feet outside of the main cube.   

Bliss also was able to move just out of the path of the descending energy barriers, moving more on instinct than planned action, given she was still recovering from the last hit by the insectoid bounty hunter with the large double bladed weapon.  The hunter proved unable to match that however, hesitating just a bit too much before the glowing fields descended around her, trapping her inside.   

Others chose not to try to avoid being confined by the glowing fields, as Roulette remained where he was, willing to see where this latest development led. 

[Thevshi]

GM 

Trapped within one of the glowing fields put in place by Barrier, Ruby took the time to focus her aim on Kazzan Suul, waiting for a chance for the field to go down to take the shot if the hostilities continued. 

It was quickly apparent they were not going to cease so easily, as a insectoid alien covered in dark blue chitin stepped out from behind one of the nearby buildings.  It was holding a energy weapon in one of its thin arms, but it did not use that weapon, instead sending a blast of psychic energy at Bliss, which further staggered the Xuli'pan.

[Brown Dynamite]

Roulette looked up at Barrier, over at Bliss who seemed to be in pain, and finally at everyone else in the battlefield.  Immediately he began calculating different angles to bank his shots.  Over.  And Over.  And over again.  At some point he started mixing in nonsensical angles.  Calculating math at a rate that was no less than headache inducing.  Which was of course his aim.  There was a psionic pest that needed something to focus on, and Roulette was all too willing to oblige.

 

The best conmen didn't have silver tongues.  No, it was silver ears that got the job done.  Roulette was always paying attention.  He knew how badly Zuul wanted him caught.  He knew the Praetorians for all their annoying people's defense force rhetoric were useful in one regard.  They were entirely predictable.  With Ruby accounted for, Bliss was the only unpredictable variable left on the field.  "So Zuul.  I guess you're going to have to let us go.  If you want any chance at escaping.  Too bad, you came so close.  At least you get to tell your bosses all about the day you almost caught Stahnze Turk.  Maybe mention how almost all your men were captured too.  Tsk, tsk"

 

Roulette was egging him on.  Luring Zuul to try and attack him.  Not sure if the protective barrier would hold, but at the very least it would make the other party look like the more aggressive one.  Assuming Bliss didn't lash out at them first.  Which Roulette admitted could go either way.  But, if things worked out just right the trio could escape in the commotion.  

[Thevshi]

GM 

A group of four station Peacekeepers were nearing the scene of the disturbance, all four armored figures approaching with their weapons drawn.  But as they reached about a block away, a larger figure, almost as tall as Barrier, emerged from the shadows of a alleyway, stepping between the Peacekeepers and the others.  The figure held in his two meaty hands a large energy weapon, which he leveled at the Peacekeeper, before it started emitting a rapid stream of energy bursts which quickly filed the air.   

The Peacekeepers barely had time to react before they were knocked off their feet by the barrage of energy blasts, which blew apart several of the makeshift merchant stands and blasted large chunks out of the walls of several of the more solid buildings in the path of destruction.  When the barrage ended, the barrel of the large weapon was smoking, as all four Peacekeepers lay unconscious among the debris that littered more than a block of the nearby area. 

On the opposite side of the Spinal Core, the sniper once again lined up her aim, shifting back to her original target, even as Ruby tried to sight in Kazzan Suul.  With a small smile, she pulled her trigger, another concentrated blast of energy streaking across the space between the two sides of the Core.  Just as the blast approached the energy fields Barrier had put in place, it shifted its phase modulation, allowing it to pass unimpeded past the forcefields and striking Ruby dead on. 

Meanwhile Kazzan Suul scowled as he leveled his twin blaster pistols at Roulette.  "You greatly overestimate your worth Turk."  He snarled.  "You and your friends presented an excuse to cause an incident, nothing more." 

With that he began rapidly pulling the triggers of his energy pistols in quick succession, sending a small barrage toward the forcefield that surrounded Roulette.  The first blast managed to break apart the forcefield, but Roulette was easily able to dodge aside from the subsequent blasts as he was now free from the smaller forcefield. 

Over inside her energy cage, the insectoid bounty hunger slammed her wide double bladed sword into the field with tremendous force.  The forcefield held, but cracks formed along its surface.

[olopi]

Of course, nobody listened. Nobody ever listened. But such was the fate of the Praetorian. The times making a big entrance ever worked in stopping violence were rare. At least some times it delayed it. But no, nothing. Her barrier did some work, catching the various attackers (and, until things were cleared up, they all were)’s attention, and allowing people who were still caught in the vicinity to flee.

 

Of course, some people didn’t flee. Some approached the scene. Peacekeepers. Usually Barrier’s allies in cases like these. And probably this time too. And then, another one appeared on the scene, and managed to take them all out. Not just them, but everything in the area. That much collateral damage was enough. Clearly, words wouldn’t cut it. It was time to speak their language.

 

And so, within moments, Barrier shot off, towards the attacker who had just attacked the peacekeepers. At that point, there were no moral concerns. So, Barrier charged towards the attacker, feinting an attack with the side of her shield’s edge, but instead hitting him with a headbutt, and while she had the chance, following up with her knee. And before he knew it, she had a proper grip on his arms, trying to wrestle his weapon upwards, away from her body, and meanwhile, his body into a more favourable position.  

[Brown Dynamite]

Roulette narrowed his eyes behind the comfort of his visor.  He wasn't insulted by Kazzan's words.  But, they were worrying all the same.  He didn't like playing into someone else's hands.  Especially when those hands were part of Khanate bounty hunters.  Or as Roulette deemed them thugs for hire.

 

"Bliss, I know it goes against your better nature.  But, it's time to retreat.  Unless you want to fight all the cops coming our way and fall into whatever trap this blurwarp has cooking.  "  He took quick aim and calculated the angles needed in his head before firing an optic blast of hard light that reflected on impact against Kazzan.   The shot would ricochet off  his chest and move from hunter to hunter.  With Roulette having taken note of their last known position.  

[TheAbsurdist]

"Go piss yourself, you Lor ape-puppet!"  And then Bliss  swore, loudly, in her native species tongue.  Roulette was familiar with them, even if he didn't know them.  However, however it was also a code, among complaining about the mammals, and the reptilian species, she was pretty much saying for him to beat a retreat.  Without speaking in a language that most people were familiar with.

Teamwork worked, sometimes.

She then shot her tendrils down to the ground, and braced back against them and then she shot at Barrier.  Aiming for her.  Probably.  Though she missed, but that didn't matter too much as she shot over and sailed towards the other side of the room.  "Come and get me stink apes!"

[Thevshi]

GM 

Roulette’s blast had managed to hit Kazzan, the Jaas bounty hunter and the large bounty hunter that was fighting with Barrier.  Kazzan managed to roll with the blast, seemingly unhurt as he was quickly back on his feet, while the other two each appeared hurt by the attack but also remained on their feet. 

Across the Core, the sniper on a building above the melee aimed up (from her perspective) once more, zeroing back in on the prone form of Ruby.  Taking a moment to line up the shot, the bounty hunter fired once more, the blast streaking quickly across the space between them, once again phasing through Barrier’s forcefield and striking Ruby squarely once more.  Ruby gave out a small cry of pain as the blast hit before crumpling back to the ground, this time unconscious from the continued hits. 

Kazzan raised his twin pistols and aimed them over towards Bliss as he started running over towards the Jaas bounty hunter.  He again let out a quick series of blasts, one after the other, all aimed at Bliss.  But only the first struck true, hitting her squarely and knocking her off her feet and onto the ground, dazed and badly hurt. 

Inside one of Barrier’s forcefields, the insectoid bounty hunter with the large double bladed melee weapon once again took a swing at the field around her, but this time her blow was not well placed and the blade glanced harmlessly off the field, keeping the hunter trapped inside.

[olopi]

It appeared that at least one of them now move to retreat. Barrier’s primary job was not to capture anybody, but to avoid any collateral damage that the shootout would cause. So people running away was, to her, something entirely positive. Of course, when the people running away got hit and injured, that didn’t really help.

 

So in the end, she was at the same situation she’d been in before. She wasn’t entirely sure about who was aligned with whom, but from what she understood, one of the parties was clearly winning at this point. And with her stuck fighting somebody, she wouldn’t be of much use in avoiding further violence.

 

Placing her shield between her and her opponent, she backed off by flying backwards a few steps, before landing again. From there, she had a better view of the situation, and got ready for any attacks heading her way, and to stop any further collateral damage. All the while drawing some additional attention towards her. “Over here!” At some point they’d either break off or station security would respond in full force. Hopefully.

[Thevshi]

GM 

I believe this is a good opportunity to disengage.  The Jaas bounty hunter mentally communicated to Kazzan Saul and the other hunters it was in a mental link with.   

I generally agree.  Kazzan replied.  But we need to be sure all of us can get clear. 

Agreeing with that sentiment, the Jaas hunter aimed its blaster rifle at the forcefield surrounding the other insectoid hunter, taking a careful shot that stuck the field, sending further cracks along its surface.

[Brown Dynamite]

Roulette halfway to turning around in understanding and readying for a full-on sprint Roulette caught sight of Ruby falling unconscious and Bliss looking like she was on her last limbs.  He slowed down and groaned under his breath as he readied for what he was about to do.  There was no saving Bliss or Ruby at the moment.  They were as good as caught, the break out would have to happen later.  He knew that.

 

And yet the blast of concentrated light erupted from his visor all the same.  Dead set on a collision course with Kazzan.  It was reckless.  And not in the way he considered fun.  But, if the others were going to be captured.  The least he could do is make sure is give Kazzan a token.  Something to make him regret ever picking that fight.

 

Not that he was going to stick around to finish the job this time.  Alright, dead sprint to the ship.  Hide from security, and think of a plan to rescue fr..familiar people.

[Thevshi]

GM 

Roulette's optic beam flashed across the now deserted bazaar right toward Kazzan Suul.  For a brief moment it looked as if the agile bounty hunter might dodge the blast, but it managed to catch him squarely, blasting him off his feet and sending him into a wall next to the Jaas bounty hunter where he landed on the ground, clearly hurt and dazed. 

Back over where he had been fighting Barrier, the large bounty hunter saw the attack and started over toward his leader.  "You will pay for that!"  He called out, leveling his large energy weapon at Roulette and once again releasing a stream of energy blasts that filled the air towards the Zultasian.  But Roulette was able to dive to the side of the torrent of energy blasts, even as some of the abandoned merchant stands were blasted apart.  Several bursts struck the forcefield holding the insectoid bounty hunter and this time the barrier did not withstand the barrage, collapsing after a brief flicker and freeing the hunter trapped inside. 

Over on the building above Roulette, the bounty hunter sniper that had been focused on Rudy now set her sights on the last standing Voidrunner.  But she mistimed her shot as she tried to track the rapidly dodging Roulette, and her blast blew a small hole in the ground a few feet away from him. 

As Kazzan pushed himself back upright and shook off the effect of Roulette's blast, a antigrave vehicle pulled up near him and the Jaas hunter, driven by a tall, lean, red and white scaled reptilian driver who held up a small automatic blaster weapon as he looked over to the other hunters, ready to cover them. 

The insectoid hunter with the large bladed melee weapon leap toward Roulette, quickly covering the distance between her and the Zultasian, swinging her melee weapon as she came close.  But Roulette managed to duck underneath, causing the wide blade to pass harmlessly overhead.  The hunter continued past, moving over closer toward the antigav vehicle.

[olopi]

At this point, the situation was clear enough. One side was winning, what remained of the other retreating. The arrival of yet another criminal didn’t make it all easier, neither did the forcefield separating one of the combatants.

 

It appeared that the winning party was also breaking off at this point, probably realizing they were about to outstay their welcome. Or they were planning something else. Judging by the organization of it all, this had not been not some unplanned skirmish. So there probably was more to come afterwards.

 

But for now, her main job was making sure there was no further damage. A few market stalls were a shame, but replaceable. Whoever the injured ones were, if they were important enough for an attack of this size, that meant that they couldn’t be allowed to be taken. Barrier readied herself, the power of her shield flowing through her as she got ready to appear next to either of them should any more combat happen.

[Thevshi]

GM 

With the large Praetorian keeping herself positioned to protect Bliss and Ruby, the bounty hunters continued their move to retreat from the battle.  The Jaas hunter also took a parting shot at Roulette, but unlike his companions managed to hit the elusive target.  While the blast stung, Roulette managed to remain on his feet. 

The insectoid alien then moved over to the antigrav vehicle and climbed into one of the back seats.

[Brown Dynamite]

Roulette continued his own retreat.  The sharp pain in his shoulder from the errant blast a reminder that he couldn't just turn his back and sprint away.  Instead, he kept his eyes on the criminal bounty hunters and fired an optic blast towards the antigrav vehicle they were looking to make their exit in.  Though from his perspective the vehicle could also have been what they planned on transporting the Voidrunners in.  Either way, it had to go.

 

The shot struck true.  But, the vehicle proved more resistant than the ocular powered hero expected.  Next time, I pick the market we go shopping in.  Not that anywhere he would've picked somewhere that would've been smoother for them.  The bounty hunters were perpetually unlucky.  

 

"At least this time a tower isn't falling on me."  Roulette whispered to himself as he began to form the necessary calculations for his next optic blast.

[Thevshi]

GM 

The large bounty hunter continued moving until he was next to the antigrav vehicle.  But instead of climbing in he leveled his large energy weapon toward Roulette's retreating form.  Flipping a switch to change the setting, he fired a single powerful blast at the Zultasian.  But the attack missed widely, blasting a chunk in a building a bit in front of Roulette.   

The large bounty hunter gave a grunt of frustration as he shook his weapon slightly, as if he could somehow get it to aim better that way.

[Thevshi]

GM 

With her head clearing, Bliss was able to climb back to her feet over where she had been knocked down after the last attack that hit her.  The bounty hunter started to try to limp away from the fight once more, but was not able to make too far given how badly she had been banged up. 

Up on the opposite side of the Core, the sniper kept her sights focused on Roulette, particularly given the Zulistian had aimed an attack at her group’s escape vehicle.  Taking a moment to reset her aim, she once again fired a shot across the several hundred feet that separated her side of the Spinal Core and the other side.  But once again Roulette just dodged to one side as he fired, causing her blast to miss him completely. 

Over where the other hunters were, Kazzan Suul climbed up onto the antigrav vehicle, also taking aim at Roulette to try to further dissuade him from attacking their vehicle.  The bounty hunter fired both his pistols, the twin blasts striking true as they knocked Roulette off his feet and down to the ground dazed.  "Lets get out of here."  He stated to the other hunters around him. 

The reptilian driver had been aiming his energy weapon at Roulette as well, but seeing his boss take the Zulustian down, he instead lowered his weapon and prepared to get them out of there once everyone was aboard.

[olopi]

From what Barrier could tell, it was playing out just how she’d expected. The attackers were breaking off without taking anybody with them, which meant that chasing them, while still urgent, was no longer as much of a priority. Whoever the other party was, they were injured enough that somebody would need to tend to them. And more security staff still wasn’t in sight. Clearly there had to be more than four officers stationed in the area? She presumed that there was a chance the attackers had planned for that too, as some more blasts flew through the area.

 

At that point, everybody was separated enough for her to spring back into action. The green flow that heralded her forcefield appeared between the vehicle and those they had attacked. This way, the only way the attackers had was to escape, without any further attacks. And with that done, she walked over towards the one that had tried to attack her and was now running away. Just because they were injured didn’t meant she could not question them.

[Thevshi]

GM 

Barrier's forcefield spread out to provide separation between Kazzan's crew and the Voidrunners, but as it turned out Kazzan’s bounty hunters were not primarily focused on leaving the scene.  Even as Barrier wondered about the station peacekeepers, more were coming into view, closing in from various directions toward the scene of the fight. 

The last of Kazzan's hunters climbed aboard the antigrav vehicle and hit shot off into the air, speeding down deeper into CoVic station.  As it went, several peacekeeper antigrav vehicles came flying into view, some going in pursuit of the hunters, while a pair of others came to hover over the scene of the battle. 

Just as Barrier started over towards Bliss, two figures flew into view from the upper portion of the Spinal Core.  They came down to land in Bliss' path and Barrier quickly recognized them as two of her fellow Praetorians that had once served the Delaztri Empire, Magnetar and Pulsar. 

"Barrier."  Magnetar stated when he spotted the towering Lyankan.  "It would appear you have brought the situation under control.  It is good to see you again old friend." 

The other Praetorian looked over at Bliss, holding up one hand.  "Hold right there.  We still need to investigate what took place here.  Besides, medical assistance is on the way as well."

[TheAbsurdist]

Bliss straightened, which caused a flicker of pain across her features.  Or annoyance.   Possibly gas.  Xulip'ans were not known for being terribly expressive, apart from snarls and glowers.  She was positively Lawrence Olivier compared to the rest of her people.  "You imagine I recognize your authority, go rut a Fraelian Whale.  Or bite me Stink Ape."  Snorting she made to move past him.  It was going to go more sideways, she knew that.  Ruby was out, they needed to get out of here, have a couple jumps out before their absence was realized.

She didn't like the Praetorians.  Meddling Lor puppets.

Sure they were useful against the Communion.  She was more than happy to grab the remainder of the Voidrunners and make a break for it.  Which she sent a sign to Roulette, through another Xuli'pan swear.

[Brown Dynamite]

Roulette was busy laughing at himself while laying on the ground in pain.  He could've made an escape.  The Voidrunner was a distance away, but near enough for him to avoid being questioned by the second noisiest people in the galaxy.  Coming shortly behind the Star Knights.  CoCiv Peacekeepers would probably not be too keen on whatever explanation Bliss had to offer.  No doubt about which appendage could find its way into which of their collective orifices.

 

That image brought a smile to his face.  "Doctor first!  Then we'll talk.  Also, bring us Alusian Ale.  The good stuff"  Roulette demanded.  While the Voidrunner had a working infirmary.  Bliss and himself were far from trained military medical personnel.  A breakout could come after getting treated.  Besides, these guys would hopefully maintain a close enough eye on Kazzan for the Voidrunners to get their revenge.  Assuming they could do their jobs half-decently.

 

Bliss is not going to love this.  But, three of us battered and beaten.  Dozens of them.  Fresh and armed.

[olopi]

Backup at last. And, Barrier had to admit, at the most important time. It was the aftermath that required a large amount of manpower, just to keep everything under control. From what she could tell at first glance, there wasn’t anything that required her immediate attention, no injured civilians, no burning buildings. So she turned towards to her fellow Praetorians.

 

“It is good to see you too, it has been some time. “

 

She turned to look over at Bliss. “I must admit, I did not expect my arrival to CoVic to be this eventful, I had expected to return to active duty without much in terms of activity. But I suppose the action always happens when one least expects it. I arrived on the scene as combat was already happening, but I believe this may have been a planned assault, and with them fleeing forwards, I request you contact whoever else is in the area, there may be more fighting soon.“

 

And with that done, she addressed the Voidrunners. Judging by their tone, she still had ample reason to keep her guard up. “You will be treated soon. With the condition you’re in, I suggest you do not try anything risky. “ All the while, she took a few steps towards Ruby, making sure both of them were aware of what she was doing.