Fall from Heaven - RPLOG
From Flexible Survival
Participants
Date
8/4/2012
Log
Everyone who answered the call to join the excursion is briskly ushered into the meeting area and encouraged to pay attention to a man in a simple black suit with shades. Were it not for the tufted leonine tail that swishes behind him, he'd easily be mistakeable for human. "Everyone please be quiet for the debriefing." he states, his tone flat and emotionless. In the middle of the meeting table, there is a smooth, glossy table of varnished 'wood' upon which a film projector sits. It's aimed at a projection screen toward the back - looks like you're in for a slideshow, if you keep your eyes front. "Save all questions for the end of the show." he encourages all of you, as two more men in equally nondescript suits close - but do not lock - the doors behind you all.
Anbessa pads into the room with his red and black striped paws in his pockets, stretching his arms casually as he looks to the man in the suit. He nods, quietly just taking a spot near a wall as he stares around the room casually, his silvery eyes glancing to each person that comes into the room after him. He looks casual honestly, if you diden't count the large Claymore sword resting on his back.
Onris takes the closest seat sipping off hir thermos as shi wonders what shi got herself into.
A lithe Nekomata takes her seat at the meeting table, curious what this mission will be like. She's been in danger before, but with all the armor she's wearing, none of the scars are visible. Her white coloration may seem out of the ordinary, though she's more focused on the projector. Solixis quickly reviews the summons she answered before returning her attention to the leonine-tailed man.
Malikai makes his way in, behind the first small group of incoming agents, shifting his rather large frame through the doorway, and ducking down. A quick glance of the room is given, a short "Hrrgh..." rumbling out of his throat while he locates a comfortable seat to flop into, lounging back and raking his claws across the underside of his neck. The other hand casually shifts the laser pistol out of his pocket, idly examining the weapon with one eye, while the other remains fixated on the projection screen. He didn't seem to be paying all that much attention to anyone else entering the area, not even so much as a glance to the ones he'd followed in.
Taking a seat next to the nekomata, Redd grins at seeing several familiar figures in the room, before turning towards the the speaker. Always nice to see old friends again.
Redd's entrance is closely followed by the soft padding of four paws, the clicking of claws on the floor. Unassuming, a Coyote makes its way into the room behind him, throwing a slight glance side to side at the other figures in the room. Perhaps she's Redd's pet, or something?
The man who previously smoke gives a brief nod, and the lights in the room dim almost as if in response. He reaches out to turn on the projector, and a single grainy image appears. Those who are familiar with the area might know it as far northern Fairhaven, though they wouldn't be at all familiar with what looks like an entire city block's worth of wreckage beyond its borders. "At 0700 hours - that's 7:00 AM to the uninitiated - this spontaneously appeared close to Fairhaven." the man states, his tailtip twitching in ill-suppressed agitation. "Your task, should you choose to accept it, is threefold: first, you are to ascertain if there is any threat to Zephyr or the citizens of Fairhaven. Second, you are to determine how this wreckage got to its current position, especially how it did so without alerting anyone. And finally, you are to recover any salvage and return it to Zephyr for proper disposal and/or utilization." Upon finishing his mini-speech, he nods once more and the lights come up, though the projector remains on (albeit with a much less visible picture thanks to the lights). "Any questions?"
Anbessa smiles to the familiar faces that enter the room, waving to them before he turns his attention back the the presentation. With his tail idly flicking from side to side, he stares at the pictures with slightly suprised, yet curious intent, listening to the explaination with a quiet flick of his ears... After the presentation though, he does speak up a little. "Well, I got no questions, but I am in. Maybe something worth of getting in there... Plus, I am curious what caused it." He says, smiling a little bit as he quietly thinks to himself... Probably thinking about what he may find!
Onris glances to each of those that follow hir, a slight nod offered out of politeness. At the sight of Redd shi relaxes visibly, still convinced he is a diety among mortals. She watches the brief brief briefly shrugging. "When we start?"
Solixis frowns as she looks over the wreckage, surprised at its size and sudden appearance. "Any sounds reported from that area prior to its appearance? This doesn't look like natural decay by any means. Curious about who did it. You can count me in, by the way."
Malikai rocks his head from side to side, eyeing the image with a certain amount of interest all his own, not just because of what might be found, but the entire story surrounding it. "Hrgh... so we're the hired guns, is that it? No special equipment being provided to... collect all that crap?" His voice came out in a low grumble, both hands shifting to the small laser pistol, flicking the safety switch on it on and off, then holding it up - pointed away from others - to give the sights a quick looking through, apparently inspecting the weapon itself for flaws or the like. "... Junk guns..." he muttered, under his breath. "... Need something with more kick..."
"Have you got any images of the area prior to this morning? Like, was it suburbs, fields, wooded, what?" Redd taps idly on the table as he speaks. "I mean, something must have been there other than debris, and what sort of material is it? Brick? Metal? Plastic?"
The coyote doesn't say anything. She just watches the screen, and takes a turn to look at each person as they speak. Certainly puzzling. It very well did look like the cogs in her head were turning, as she put her forepaws up on the table to support herself, and cocks her head at the screen.
Questions are answered, one by one. "The moment you get outside." the man informs Onris, while Solixis gets a slightly more detailed answer: "Nothing was recorded in the area. No witnesses have come forward. It wasn't there, and now it is." Sounds like it's a bit of a mystery. Malikai gets a cold, impassive look. "You *are* the special equipment." states the dark-haired host in a passionless, steady meter. His motions are even and conservative, his expression inscrutable; even a neophyte would be able to tell that this man is a professional. Redd's answer comes, "Fields. Flatland. It's outside city limits. As for what's there, that's what we want *you* to find out. Preferably before something feral - or worse - gets into something dangerous." His answers given, he looks among each agent and asks once again, "Questions?"
Anbessa continues to just stand there, watching each of the other agents as they speak out their questions... Though he does see Malikai tinker with that peashooter of a laser pointer they call a gun at Zephyr, making the Talakai raise an eyebrow as he listens in. He then wags his tail, smiling as he gets an idea for later before looking back to the others, already ready to get to work as he waits for any further questions to be voiced.
Onris shakes hir head to the lion, as shi more closely surveys each of the others. She starts a mental tally of her perceptions of each figuring hir life we
Onris shakes hir head to the lion, as shi more closely surveys each of the others. She starts a mental tally of her perceptions of each figuring hir life will be in there hands soon enough.
A frown crosses Solixis's faces as she studies the image. "Last question from me: how overt or covert do you want this operation? doesn't matter to me, I just want a better feel for how to approach the issue." Her twin tails flit about behind her, glowing softly.
Malikai snorts, quietly, looking now to each of the other agents - five others, that made six total, including himself. "...Hrh. Funny..." he muttered, straightening up and slipping the little laser pistol into his pocket, giving his clawed fingers a dangerous flex while he let the others speak, apparently finished with his own questioning.
"Assuming we're approaching on foot, how should we get this stuff back? Call back and ask for a flatbed or something?" Redd stands, pushing the chair back a bit, and ruffles the other coyote's fur between the ears. "I'm no pack mule, after all."
Smokie closes her eyes and leans into the ruffle from Redd's paw. All very good questions, but still, the Coyote didn't have anything to add. Watching, quietly scheming. A well-trained pet, or perhaps maintaining a visage? A little shake of her scruff, and she was ready to go. Everyone else was asking the questions for her, after all.
The man nods, his brow wrinkling almost imperceptibly as he notes Solixis' question. "A city block just materialized within close view of the north side of town. 'Covert' went out the window the moment this became a situation. Go in guns blazing, sneak in, nuke the site from orbit, we don't much care. The safety of Zephyr and the citizens of Fairhaven comes first, salvageable goods second, everything else after." Redd gets a calm, stoic look in reply to his question. "Prioritize. Bring back the most important items first. Go back for more if and when you can. You've done this before." Smokie is glanced at as well, as if she were being included in that statement.
Onris stands quietly as hands move from weapon to weapon and the reassurance the contact with a tried and true friend brings. "Get in, look around, grab the good shit, get out. Sounds easy as pie." hir tone is much more apprehensive then hir words.
Solixis nods, getting up from her chair. "Worked with a few of these people before, I think we can handle this." She gently fingers the oversized polearm on her back, the hum of nanites activating surrounds her. "Ready to go when everyone else is."
Malikai snaps his attention over to Onris, snorting an amused chuckle while scooting his seat back, and moving up to his feet. He had his 'partner' picked, at the least, taking a stance near Onris while shoving his hands into the pockets of his ACU pants, dragging his tail across the floor in a languid motion. "... Well, let's get this show on the road, already."
Smokie yips happily at the suggestion to get the show on the road. She hops down off the table, tail wagging almost. Just a short little Ki-yup. She goes over to the door, where she sits back on her haunches, as if gesturing to hurry up.
Seeing that the group is anxious to get moving, the lion-tailed human nods to the door guards, who open the door for the lot of you. "Backup will be sent if necessary and available." he says in parting. "Good luck." Once you've filed out of the meeting room, the doors are again closed after you, leaving you on the third floor of the Zephyr building, entirely up to your own devices. What will you do?
Onris adjusts hir mask slightly as shi looks to the other members. "So... Umm.. Should we establish a chain of command or...?"
Solixis stretches as she heads for the stairs, everything ready for her job. "I think a chain of command would be best. At least a leader and designation of roles."
"We should probably start walking, since it doesn't seem that transportation is provided." Redd pulls a small rifle from his bag and pulls the sling over an arm. "Comeon, it ain't gonna clean itself up!"
Smokie trots alongside happily, bobbing her head to a tune only she hears with her oversized ears. Going on a mission- yeah! Gonna go for a walk! Hell, she's so happy, she doesn't think it'd be out of place at all to throw out a couple yips. Come on, folks, pick up your paws! (Boundless Coyote optimism?
As the group leaves the area, the sounds of other agents can be heard in the lobby, chatting about this and that and occasionally being more than a little intimate. It seems that the sudden appearance of wreckage north of town is a popular topic of the day, and there are even some making plans to go and explore at the earliest opportunity. It seems that if you want to be among the first there, time is of the essence!
Onris shrugs and follows behind the coyotes then stops in hir tracks as they approach the lobby. "You guys think we could hitch a ride on the 'copter?"
Solixis shakes her head. "Better to approach on foot, since I don't like flying in the choppers. And Redd, you okay with leading or should I? I think between all of us, you and I have the most experience with these kinds of missions."
Malikai grumbles, loudly, looking between the entire group, flexing his fingers in his pockets while staying a bit behind and to the right of Onris, briefly flashing his teeth in a faint chuckle. "... Long as I get to chew on a Feral, don't really care how we get there."
"I'll lead the way then. Onward!" At this, the coyote starts to run at a decent rate. "Doubt we need a heli to go a half dozen blocks at most. Or hell, take the heli, we'll make it a race!" Redd yells back over his shoulder at those who were still standing in place.
Smokie blinks for a moment, before tilting her muzzle down and chasing after Redd, her four legs rolling and her blunt claws pulling herself forward over the ground. Damn Coyotes, always such unpredictable things, always having their good intentions go wrong.
Time passes, a few of the people in the lobby leave, including some of them that were discussing paying these new 'ruins' a visit. Whatever you decide upon, it's clear that if you don't pick something soon and go, there might not be anything left to pick up...and considering the obviously lackluster skills of some of the more bombastic new recruits, you might be saving more lives than you had originally intended! Redd, at the very least, makes a decent beacon to follow. Even a few other agents start following him, based on the premise of following someone who looks like he knows what he's doing!
Anbessa also is easilly able to follow Redd on his two feet, the silent Talakai staying quiet throughout the run as he keeps up with the Coyote with ease. Even with lugging around the massive sword on his back, he finds ease in his movements as he keeps up side by side with Redd, his eyes sometimes glancing to the other agents before keeping his eyes ahead and on the job.
Solixis runs after Redd, glad for the exercise and that she's not the one in charge. She takes to a higher vatage point whenever able to scout the ruins better.
Onris follows at a run until they leave the building then leaps into the air and spreads her wings. Powerful flaps bring hir over Redd shortly. Shi keeps pace two stories above the party eyes scanning constantly for danger.
Malikai puts his own powerful legs into motion, gradually building speed until his feet are driving into the ground, propelling the lumbering wall of muscle into a sprint fast enough to catch up with the 'yote's. Once he's up with them, he's able to drop the pace enough to conserve his energy, maw left open to allow deep breaths to pull in, and flow out in practiced rhythm.
Smokie continues to pump along at a steady pace next to Redd, four paws over the asphalt and aging concrete of the city. Her tongnue hangs out the side of her mouth and her tail flails to keep her balance. Just a coyote running with the wind.
